Couponing 101: Clip Less to Save More?

One of the most frugal things you can do is use coupons (especially ones for free products) to cut the costs of the items your family uses. Of course, I never redeem all the coupons I cut out, but having a system to cut and organize your coupons is guaranteed to shave some serious dollars off your grocery budget if you work at it.

It’s not the concept of couponing I’m calling into question, because I’m sold on that for sure!  But I’ve been doing some thinking if I’m using the best method to achieve my goal. My goal in couponing is to save money while providing not only things that my family can use, but also to allow me to be a blessing to others (refill the church mission closet, help out friends in need, etc.) in a way that I couldn’t do if I had to pay full price for the items. It was a huge blessing to see that, at the bottom of my Kroger receipt last month, my annual savings was over $1,888!

If that were my only goal, I would say that I have achieved it. But part of taking care of my family is making sure I have time for them and all the other important responsibilities that vie for my attention (homeschooling, housework, meal planning, the inevitable interruptions that arise in the house of a pastor…). If I’m spending hours upon hours every week, clipping every coupon I can get my hands on, yet not using even half of said coupons, I’ve missed the mark. (Can I get an Amen?)

I certainly don’t claim to know it all when it comes to couponing, nor do I expect everything I do personally to work in every situation. It’s really a trial and error thing that I like to refer to as “Sift, Shift, and Sail.” Sift through these tips, Shift things to adapt to your particular situation, and Sail on! The key to successful coupon use is truly having an organization system that works for you.

Systems I’ve Tried in the Past

The first method I tried was using a 4 x 6 plastic file box. If you’re just starting out, I highly recommend this method. It’s easy and very portable. I used a set of 4 x 6 alphabet dividers and placed stickers over the tabs to match the categories of my favorite store, Kroger. For instance, medicines are the first thing I see in my Kroger store, so “Medicines” is my first tab category. It is easy to clipand organize into the various categories. I like to study the deals online, make out a list for what I’m getting at each store, and put the coupons inside the envelope for easy checkout. I also include a pen and a calculator in the front of the box. (I’ve also started carrying a few Luv2BFrugal business cards to hand out, because there are times when someone in line or even the cashier asks me how I spend so little out of pocket when I’m shopping, and I got tired of scribbling the web address on little slips of paper. And, of course, I got those FREE, too, at Vistaprint!) It took awhile to max out the box, but when I couldn’t flip through each category easily anymore, I knew it was time to upgrade to a coupon binder.

So I upgraded to a 3″ coupon binder - a beautiful one that even has a handle on the outside for easy carrying and a zipper, so nothing important will fall out. I also got lots of baseball card inserts to stuff each coupon in. Perfectly organized, right? That sounds great in theory, but with my increasing schedule, I absolutely couldn’t keep up with cutting every. single. coupon. out of the inserts every. single. week. Even now, I have a huge bag of uncut coupons in a grocery sack on the floor in the kitchen. (Are you shocked?)

So I’ve decided that it’s time to work smarter, not harder. And I’m also giving you freedom from guilt if you set your coupon binder aside, because I’ve come to the conclusion that if you have internet and a computer, there IS a better way!

Stay Tuned for my “Clip Less” Experiment!

Related posts:

1. Couponing 101: Clip Less to Save More?
2. Couponing 101: Clip Less to Save More? Part 4
3. Couponing 101: Clip Less to Save More? Part 3