ABC's of Coupons

This is a picture of the zipper binder that I keep my coupons in. I'm a coupon clipper, but I am by no means the Queen of Coupons. You know those you see on TV who buy a cartload of groceries and only pay $4.62. That just never happens to me, but I try my best to match up coupons to sales. I take my binder with me to the store if I come across a good deal on an item and I can quickly check for a coupon. I have a Kroger near my house and usually shop there. They double coupons up to .50. So a .50 coupon will become a $1.00 off and I like that.



Now for a peek inside the binder. I have an alphabetical listing of general products in the store and the aisle they are on if I get stumped and can't find something. Next I have an alphabet index that I use. I have tried various ways of organizing coupons over the years and found that by filing them by the first letter of the product name made it much easier to find when I'm in the store.



I use baseball card holders to put my coupons in. I try and make sure the product name and the expiration date is easily visible. It requires some creative folding sometimes. Wal-mart carries the baseball card holders.


In the back of my binder I do have a few tabs that I use frequently and place a variety of different products in them. ie. Pillsbury, Kraft, and paper products and soap/detergent. I'm usually not brand loyal with paper products and soaps/detergents. I buy what is on sale and what I have a coupon for.

I will admit that it takes some time to keep this organized and occasionally I'll fall behind with the "stuffing" part. But over all this binder system has saved us quite a bit of money over the years at the grocery store and drug store.

Also, another tip: If you have a coupon organizer put your name and phone # on it or in it.
I've had the store call me and tell me my binder was there. I had left it in the cart I used and at checkout they had bagged my groceries in the cart in front of me.

A Blurb from the Burbs - IV

It's 2009 and I don't know about you, but I'm looking for ways I can be more frugal this year.
I've checked out several books from the library (reading the frugal way - no buying - just borrowing).
These are the books I've checked out and mostly read/skimmed/glanced over....

Living Rich for Less by Ellie Kay

Frugal Luxuries by Tracy McBride

The Frugal Woman's Guide to a Rich Life. Edited by Stacia Ragolia

The one I found the most helpful is The Frugal Woman's Guide to a Rich Life.
I read this idea and have used it now for a couple of weeks. It works. So I'm sharing it with you...
* Purchase a small bottle of generic liquid fabric softener.
* Put one cup of the softener in a container
with one cup of water.
* Place the lid back on and give it a little shake.
* Cut a 4x6" sponge into four squares.
* Soak the sponge(s) in the mixture.
* Throw an unsqueezed sponge in the dryer
with your clothes.
* Placed the dried sponge back in the mixture.

I realize this is such inspiring photography. Sponges floating in fabric softener sitting on top of my dryer. Sorry, I just like having a picture with my post. Breaks up all those words. [and for the visual learners among us....I need pictures. :)]

I know I've posted about fabric softener before, but I read this and like this idea so much better than the vinegar one.

Check out my other Blurbs:

How to save on your electric bill:
Blurb from the Burbs III

How to save on lunch meat:
Blurb from the Burbs II

If you have a frugal idea, let me know. I'd love to read it.

A Blurb from the Burbs - II

I came across this great way to save on lunch meat and just had to share. While watching Good Morning America (Paige's favorite) one morning, they had a segment on saving money at the grocery store. Those segments always intrigue me so I made sure I paid attention. They had this family on...you know the family of six who only spends $300 per month on groceries blah blah blah.... The husband of the family suggested that you purchase a cooked ham and have them slice it at the deli counter. Yes, shopping is a family affair at their house....not ours....trust me. When Buster goes to the grocery store we have to get Mapquest involved.

Sooo, I decided to try this. I went to my Kroger and back in the meat section like where the bacon and pre-packaged lunch meats are I found a cooked Jennie-O Turkey Ham. It weighed two whole pounds. It was $4.99. I thought that was really good $2.50 a pound. I went back to the deli with my 2 pound turkey ham and asked the nice young man behind the counter to slice it thin for me and he kindly obliged. So if your kiddos like ham sandwiches in their lunch...try this for some $$$$ savings. Remember go to the deli to get it sliced not the meat counter.

P.S. If I can get this family of four down to a $300.00 grocery bill, you can bet I'll be blogging on that ;)