Ok Ladies and a few Gentlemen,
I thought I would write a quick write up of what I have been doing for coupons these past few weeks. Let me preface all of this with I am not that good and am still learning and I'm not pulling in thousands or even hundreds of dollars for just penny's, but I am saving us money and even able to treat our family to some special items that we don't usually buy, still coming in way under my old budget.
Ok this all started because like many of you, I was caught up with these men and women who are saving so much money and it's seems like some sort of phenomenon. And I like many of you have seen their crazy stock piles filled with things they will not use. So though I was interested, I did not want to still spend money on a bunch of stuff that would fill up my house and not be used. But I did want to save money. So I started looking into couponing and changing a few things about how I shopped.
The first being, I am a die hard walmart shopper, have been since college and thought for such a long time that their great value brand was cheaper than a name brand even with a coupon. Well that is not true on everything and can actually spend way less than the walmart brand and get name brand stuff.
Secondly I didn't even look at the local grocery store adds because I only shopped at walmart, we that again was not smart, and the same with not even looking or trying to find coupons. It's worth the time to do both of these things.
Ok so lets start and see if you can hang in with me, because I fear this may be jumbled, so sorry.
Ok well as many of you know I do make a menu of what we will be eating for the week, just to keep our budget low and not impulse buy, I am still doing this, just my list goes a bit with what is really on sale so I maximize our money.
So adds for us come in my mailbox on Tuesday's (safeway, king soopers, albertson's, sprouts, whole foods, walmart and Target (these may actually come on different days or only come in the sunday paper))
I go through these adds and see what they have as far as really big sales/deals, they also have coupons in the adds as well and they are good for that store only, but you can use that store coupon and a manufacturer's one on the same item. Also many of these stores(safeway, king soopers, albertson's does on a very rare occasion and it will be said in the add) double your coupon so you get even more savings.
Ok that by its self can save you some money, but when we want to add in coupons this is what you do. Start collecting coupons, sunday paper, mailers, online ( I will post some sites at the bottom), and specific brand websites, and store sites. You can print these coupons and/or load them on your store card.
Then I have been going to a few sites that give a list called a store match up, and they will list for you the sale item, the coupon or coupons that go with it and the final price that you can pay. I think this is the step that take the most time. I go to my site(s), write my store name at the top and then make my list from there, on the next post I will put an example up for you.
As I am writing my list I am pulling out my coupons to get with that stores list and printing, finding others on the links it gives. Then I move to the next store, on and on until I hit everything I want or need. Also just because you have the coupon doesn't mean you need to use it right away, wait for a huge sale on the item that is when you end up saving the most money and also on buy one get one free deals, which since there is two items you can use two coupon, maximizing your saving even more.
As far as organizing my coupons I have a little creative memories file folder that I put everything in separated in to different categories to make things easier to find, and as I have realized this week. Even if you won't use the coupons, don't throw them out, file them away somewhere. This week I saw some great free after sales and coupons for some wet wipes and I had thrown out the coupons for it and now can't get those, and I could have had little packets in the car for those messy food times with the boys. So when you get your coupons, clip the ones you will use and file the rest away.
Also I am looking into expired coupons, because you most likely will not use everything before the expiration, but I heard our military can use expired coupons up to 6 months after expiration at commissary so you can give donate to someone you know who could use those. I will let you know what I find out and if you are in the military please let me know. Thanks!
Please let me know if you have any questions, as I have no idea if I have put everything in here.
Some sites I go to for coupons is coupons. com, couponnetwork.com, and if you just search it they will give you a whole list. Some lady's I follow are thekrazycouponlady.com, she has great matchups, livingwellspendingless.com, coupondivas.com These are just a few, but again do a search.
I will post again on a sample match up list that I have for target this week and after I go shopping this week I will give you a picture and complete list of what I bought, and how much it should have cost, against what I actually spent.
I love you all and thanks for hanging in there with me!!
Ok our first stop was to Walgreens. We spent 28.92. Our total should have been 59.74, but we also recieved their register rewards which is cash to spend there so we actually only spent .92 cents there!! Woo Hoo Us!! 
