The Commandments of Couponing!

The Commandments of Couponing:

1~ Plan meals from your pantry, freezer, and stockpiles, NOT the store!
Know what you have on hand and what you need to complete meals. You want to be shopping each week for great sales, free and almost free items, you do not want to be buying things from the store that are NOT at their rock-bottom price.

2~ Make a list! Less time in the store = Less money spent!
Have your game plan ready. Make your list from the flyers and your coupons, add on those items you will need this week for meals, and stick to the list. The exception to this rule is, of course, when you find items that will be free or almost free after coupons.

3~ Know the regular prices of items in your store.
The more you know, the better you'll do, if you know that Cheerios are usually $4.00 a box, when it goes on sale for $3.50, you'll know that is NOT it's rock bottom price. Create a price book with your most frequently purchased products in it. This will help you along the way.

4~ Don't Shop Hungry!
Before you go to the store with your list in hand, eat a little something and have a large glass of water. If you feel full, not just "not hungry", you'll find that sticking to your list a lot easier.

5~ Leave the kiddo's at home.
There is nothing worse than trying to stick to a list and a budget, only to have your adorable children imploring you to buy Kellogg's Apple Jacks when your list, coupons, and budget all say you're getting Rice Krispies! Well, perhaps getting to the register only to find that Baby Emily has eaten, shredded, or just scattered your coupons from one end of the store to the other!
So, unless your kids are old enough and willing to help you, leave them at home if you possibly can.

6~ Bring ALL your coupons in the store with you.
Unless you are very good at sticking to a list and don't want to take advantage of those items that are on clearance sales, you had best bring the coupons in with you. At the very least, have them in the car so that you can make a quick run to the car for the needed coupons.

7~ Expect to get Sales and Free items, do NOT expect to get overages!
Negatives (overages) do happen, but it's best to not be set up for the heartbreak. Plenty of planning is necessary for deals that may turn negative.

8~ Get the Rain check NOW!
When you find that the store is out of the item that you want, go directly to customer service and get the rain check for the items. You may also find out this way that they have some in the back or in another part of the store, but more importantly, you will remember to get the rain check before leaving the store! Many times I have arrived home and then remembered that I needed to get a rain check.

9~ Check prices of generic, store brand, and other brands before using your coupons.
The ultimate goal is to save money. If you have coupons for 55¢ off Bumble Bee Tuna and it is $3.59, but the same size of Chicken of the Sea Tuna is $2.25, Buy the Cheaper Tuna!

10~ Never Photocopy a Coupon!
Photocopying coupons can get you banned from the store or even a fine. Not to mention the black mark it leaves on all coupon users.

11~ Complete Smaller transactions.
If your store only doubles 3 or 4 coupons per transaction, you will want to put together smaller transactions to take advantage of the double coupons.

12~ Do NOT impulse buy!
You will be amazed at how much money you will spend if you allow yourself to impulse buy. If you see that candy bars are on sale, but you're not sure if its the best deal... wait! Research the price with other stores, look for coupons, and THEN, once it has been added to your list, buy it.

13~ Shop other stores!
We all have our favored store. The one where we know all the cashiers and they know us and it's almost like meeting up with old friends at each store. Don't be loyal to this store. No ONE store has all the best prices in town, your store may have the best prices on Milk, but the store down the road has the best prices on Bananas. This is another reason for your price book.

14~ Find the method that suits YOU!
Does it work for you to shop once a week? 3 times a week? every day? Do you need to file your coupons alphabetically? by aisle? by store? Do you file in a box, in a binder, in an accordian file? Do what you need to do to make it work for YOU. YOU are the one using the system.

And the Golden Rule of Using Coupons....
Break Away From Brand Loyalty!
Manufacturers make money from your brand loyalty, you do not save money from it. Be flexible in the brands that you purchase. Is there really a difference in flavor between Hunt's Ketchup and Heinz Ketchup? Not a very noticable one! So why not buy the one that is SO much less expensive.