HOW YOU CAN GET STARTED

1. ORGANIZATION is KEY! Buy a small plastic accordion case (not the large file-sized ones) or something that you will use to place and divide your coupons.

2. Sign up for/Buy the Sunday paper. If you are purchasing it from a store, always check to see that they are inside before you purchase it.

3. Cut all the coupons.

I recommend you cut them all because many times buying something new can be cheaper than what you currently use.

Also, there are times that items are on sale/clearance for less than the value of the coupon you have. EX- recently Rite-Aid had Physician's Formula make-up on sale. The item I purchased was just over $2. My coupon was for $5 off... therefore the difference served as a credit toward the other products I was purchasing.

4. Find an organizational system that works for you

In my accordion file, I set it up so that coupons are divided as follows:

*I keep my reward cards and individual store coupons in the front*

-Frozen foods

-Refrigerated foods

-Snacks and Drinks

-Bread/Cereal/Baking

-Non-Perishables (Canned goods, rice, condiments, et)

-Paper and Cleaning Products

-Medicine/Health care

-Shaving/Brushing/Deodorizing (razors, cream, mouthwash, deodorant, etc.)

-Beauty (hair care, make-up, lotion, etc.)

-Misc. (candy, batteries, light bulbs)

*If you have more/fewer dividers, you can make necessary changes.

*You may want to organize your divider with the stores you shop at in mind: organize it as the store organizes their products.

5. Check the ads

-To save time, check the ads and take out the coupons you plan to use before you leave the house.

-Also, look at the ads just after you cut your coupons, while they are fresh in your mind.

-If you have competing stores (Stop n Shop/Shaws or Rite-Aid/Walgreens) look at both ads before heading out.

6. Do a quick walk through of every aisle

It doesn't take long- just keep your eyes out for the sale/discounted tags that your establishment uses.

7. Find your stores "Clearance/Special Sale" area for GREAT deals.

8. Have a calculator or use the one your were given

You'll want to figure out:

-if it's worth it

MAKE A RULE FOR YOURSELF so you don't buy things you don't need... I only buy things that I don't need if they are under $1 and I know what I will do with it-- ex. donate it, give it to a friend, make it into a door prize at a function/party, use it as a reward for children, etc. * I recently used these "unnecessary purchases" and created bathroom baskets for a few friends' weddings, prizes for showers, and door prizes at our NYE party.

-if buying the item w/coupon is cheaper than another/store brand

----------------

I'm sure that there is more, and I will do my best to get to everything in time! Please feel free to ask questions!!

Make a list of items you'd buy/things you would do if you had the extra money. After each visit to the store, look at your coupon and see how much you saved. When you have "saved" enough, look to your list and find something to cross off!

Hoping to Help You Save...

Kelly