Getting started???
So many people ask me everyday “How do you do that?” Then I will smile and wish I had a handout or some amazing list to tell them that is 100% fool proof for everyone. That is not the case! I will try and give my best tips here on how to get started, Please e-mail or comment me your questions and I will do my best to respond! However please note I am NOT a expert and do make mistakes at times if you can handle that I am human, we are game.
Email:
MrsMartiniOCD@live.com
Here are the basic steps:
1. Breathe !!! You can get your mind twirling over a million different deals and things to know. Take things one step at a time. I know it is exciting to think of the hundreds of dollars you are going to save however remember that it will take time to get there. You can not get EVERY deal out there and some will come and go. You will miss some and score others all in the same week. So relax and have some fun with this!
2. Get a Organized system in place that will work for you. There are some that you can buy out there with a simple internet search however I find them spendy and do not meet the needs for my family. (Remember this is for you and your needs, not someone else. What works for them will not always work for you!)
This is what I use:
A. 3 ring ZIP up binder (zippers are good!!! They hold everything together and in one place. Open binders not so much.) Also a special note : Bight colors are nice! You will be less likely to leave it behind in the cart if it is bright pink! Nothing worse then loosing your whole binder! It is like a child…..
This is what I use:
A. 3 ring ZIP up binder (zippers are good!!! They hold everything together and in one place. Open binders not so much.) Also a special note : Bight colors are nice! You will be less likely to leave it behind in the cart if it is bright pink! Nothing worse then loosing your whole binder! It is like a child…..
B. Tabbed Dividers with categories of your coupons. I have researched different ideas right now I use the method of most used categories like : milk, meat, freezer, hair and face, diapers, ect… However the other method Alphabetical like: S- Shredded Wheat, J- Jello, M-milk and So on… Now that I have a lot of coupons this might be harder to do. But some people love this idea and would use no other way. You really just have to think about what will work for you. And if it does not do not be scared to change things around.
C. Base Ball Card holders or Photo holders to store coupons. These keep things with a clear view of what you have. If you are not able to see it you will not use it trust me ! I have come across so many coupons that I have had some place sitting there not even a hour after leaving the store to purchase that item. This makes me so mad at my self. I know that it is only $1 but then I start to think of what I could have gotten with that extra. So keep your coupons handy and open for where you can get to them. The holders that I prefer are the Ultra that can be found reasonable at Target. They come in packs of 35, so if you are just starting you will need at least 2. *** Deal idea: Look for the sales that are giving away gift cards with purchase. Then you can use these cards to get supplies you need.
3. Start looking for coupons EVERYwhere! We make it a game with the kids to see what ones they can find at the stores. Remember you may not use that coupon at that time or place however you may later or next month. There are Blinkie machines, store ads and then also peelies (coupons on items) Do NOT take the coupons off the items you are not purchasing ! These are for the person who gets the product. Just my ethics there!!! You will also want to start getting the Sunday Newspaper. Talk to everyone you know and ask them if you can have their coupons that they are not using. I promise most people have no problem giving them to you, all you have to do is ask. If not I know that the cost of the paper here is only $2 that is nothing when you think that you possibly could save $100. Also I get my papers in larger amounts such as at least one per family member. If there are some really good coupons that week or my favorite the Albertson doublers get more! Also there are coupon sites all over the internet! Get them and print them out. Make sure to set your printer to grayscale. No need to waste color ink on your coupons. Coupons.com is one of my most used sites. You can get 2 coupons per computer. Once you have clicked on a coupon link then you will need to use the back button and hit it about 3 times and the same coupon will print.
C. Base Ball Card holders or Photo holders to store coupons. These keep things with a clear view of what you have. If you are not able to see it you will not use it trust me ! I have come across so many coupons that I have had some place sitting there not even a hour after leaving the store to purchase that item. This makes me so mad at my self. I know that it is only $1 but then I start to think of what I could have gotten with that extra. So keep your coupons handy and open for where you can get to them. The holders that I prefer are the Ultra that can be found reasonable at Target. They come in packs of 35, so if you are just starting you will need at least 2. *** Deal idea: Look for the sales that are giving away gift cards with purchase. Then you can use these cards to get supplies you need.
3. Start looking for coupons EVERYwhere! We make it a game with the kids to see what ones they can find at the stores. Remember you may not use that coupon at that time or place however you may later or next month. There are Blinkie machines, store ads and then also peelies (coupons on items) Do NOT take the coupons off the items you are not purchasing ! These are for the person who gets the product. Just my ethics there!!! You will also want to start getting the Sunday Newspaper. Talk to everyone you know and ask them if you can have their coupons that they are not using. I promise most people have no problem giving them to you, all you have to do is ask. If not I know that the cost of the paper here is only $2 that is nothing when you think that you possibly could save $100. Also I get my papers in larger amounts such as at least one per family member. If there are some really good coupons that week or my favorite the Albertson doublers get more! Also there are coupon sites all over the internet! Get them and print them out. Make sure to set your printer to grayscale. No need to waste color ink on your coupons. Coupons.com is one of my most used sites. You can get 2 coupons per computer. Once you have clicked on a coupon link then you will need to use the back button and hit it about 3 times and the same coupon will print.
4. Take a class! There are several out there to take. I offer one here send me a e mail or watch the Blog and I will have dates and times for you! This is a great idea because you will learn so much more hands on and asking questions to a live person! Not to mention to make a few friends along the way. I love sharing deals and hearing about my friends deals! This is supposed to be fun!
5. NOW GO! Get to the stores and go shopping ! Don’t be scared to ask the clerk where something is, or if that is the correct coupon for that item! That is why they are there! If something doesn’t work the way you think it should take the time to find out why! Don’t worry about the person behind you, they can wait and would expect you too if they were paying too much! Also keep your transactions smaller so you can see if there are errors or not. If you have $200 in groceries at one time then you might have a hard time finding the errors and TRUST me the stores have them.
There will be more posts later ..... I am sure LOTS ! This is just a start!
Happy Shopping ~ Mrs.Martini
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