[bradys09]

Hello! I am new to the coupon world. I went to the store last night and saved around $50 dollars. My total bill was $244 and after coupons it was $191. I am recently married and we have six kids and have full custody of all of them. I need help with organizing my coupons. I have them all in a coupon separator right now and in categories, but do I need to take out the coupons I am going to use at the store before I go? It took me forever last night at the store due to having to dig through all my coupons. And do I need to go to more than one store each time I go shopping? When I go major shopping I will spend anywhere between $400-$500 each time. I also need help with navigating and using this site....I feel stupid not knowing..... I like this site and would like to get everything I can out of it. Any help and info would be great. Thank you very much.

[NAVE704]

I always make it a habit to plan my shopping trip beforehand, and yes I do set aside the coupons which I know I will definitely be using on that day. Also I have found that a coupon binder works better than a separator because it is easier to see the coupons you have this way. Another tip would be to make sure you have your coupons ready to go before you check out this usually makes the cashier very happy!

On a final note yes, sometimes you do need to make trips to more than one store in order to get the best deals. Personally I first work on stockpiling staple goods such as soap, shampoo, peanut butter, pasta, etc. Then I make separate trips to purchase food items I usually don't have coupons for such as poultry and other meats.

Hope this helps.

[Kiri]

I will take my big binder to the store if I have plenty of time to walk through and look for unadvertised sales. But most of the time I plan my trip and pull out all the coupons I need ahead of time. This makes the time in the grocery store go faster and keeps me from buying things I don't need.

I will go to more than one store to stockpile things.

[redheadinkc]

In my binder, I have slots for each of the stores I shop and as I plan my trip, the qs I'm planning on using go into there for easy access. I still take my binder in as you never know when a good deal might rear its pretty head.

As far as navigating the site, I would recommend clicking on "new posts" each time and just scrolling down through there. You can also exclude certain stores from showing up in your feed

Good luck!

[pattysullivan3]

I try to plan my trip ahead of time & write my list on an envelope & put the coupons I am using in it. I bring my coupon binder with me in case I see a deal or clearance but try to stick to my list & the sales. It has saved me tons just sticking to my list! Good Luck!

[brook6]

also, check the forums for the stores you already shop at...there you will find the current deals
use Forum Jump at bottom of page

you can add more stores, if you see a deal you want, but you don't have to go to multiple stores...you will just miss those deals

there is definitely potential for savings, if you are spending > $100 each trip

[bradys09]

Thanks to all for the help. I am going to look into getting a binder....I have heard that it is to difficult to do or not as easy. Any advice on how to set up the binder? I am going to start making a list and pulling out the coupons before I go. I just always thought that it would be to difficult in making a list, being there is 8 of us, so sometimes it seems so overwhelming all the stuff I have to get...... Thanks again....this site is awesome.

[LaLax2]

Originally Posted by bradys09

Thanks to all for the help. I am going to look into getting a binder....I have heard that it is to difficult to do or not as easy. Any advice on how to set up the binder? I am going to start making a list and pulling out the coupons before I go. I just always thought that it would be to difficult in making a list, being there is 8 of us, so sometimes it seems so overwhelming all the stuff I have to get...... Thanks again....this site is awesome.

i started with a accordion style coupon holder but it was getting to difficult to pull out my qs i had a rubber band around it to keep it closed i presented the binder idea to my hubby after reading that all the cool cats had a binder so one day he surprised me with one honestly i love it i can see all my coupons + it makes it easier to shop (btw it depends on the person some find it easier some find it hard to have a binder) when we go grocery shopping i take my binder with me even though i take a list because we do spend about $3-400 i shop store to store but thats only for the sale items which then ill take the coupons need put them in an envie

[busylizzy]

OK well from one HUGE family to another!!! Welcome! I have four children and my fiance has 2 and when we get together either for dinner or a day trip like the park.....FOOD IS AN ISSUE! So, I also found AFC and couldn't be happier. Recently joined and have been all over the site and got TONS of ideas. Anyway, the binder is a must have (atleast i think so). The best thing to do is make a list as everyone has mentioned and put the must haves on it first. I ALWAYS HAVE to buy milk, bread,eggs and cereal. There biggies in my house. After that, I go through my store ads and yes, I go to atleast 4 different stores that are close by. It's sooooooooooo worth it. Welcome!!!

[KrissyK81]

I second having the coupon organizer, list and coupons all ready to go. My favorite stores have shopping lists that you can make on their website. So I basically go shopping virtually, add items to my cart and then print my list. It even tells me what aisle my item is in . That's my two cents!

[allana'smom]

i'm new too but this is what helps me: got 2 checkbook size accordian files(garage sale find but they have them everywhere)one is for drugstores the other for grocery stores. next i have a regular binder notebook with clear plastic page sized envelopes divided alphabetically to hold all my coupons. one day i'm gonna divide the coupons into a grocery store/food product and a drug store product binder. i go to this site and check sales pulling coupons i will need and placing them in the accordian file for each separate store. i also fold up my list for each store and put it with the coupons/store membership cards. i total up my cost before i shop rounding up to the dollar and if there is a big difference i know the cashier didn't give me the sale price or credit my coupons. this last tip is really important as i find each store makes mistakes almost 80% of the time if i'm not paying attention. this takes a while but i do it on my work breaks or while the pasta is cooking whenever i have a free minute. everything goes into a big tote bag that i take with me everywhere. with 2 very hungry teenagers and a husband out of work i need to save every penny. good luck to you!

[brook6]

I keep a pad on the counter, with instructions for ANYONE to write down if they want/need something OR they use the LAST something

if it is not on the list, I might FORGET to get it...so don't cry to me later!

once you start couponing and stocking up on sales, you won't have to get everything every week
you will always have some basics, but those are not the things you would forget anyway

the point of the list is 2 things...
- go through the store ad and make sure you take advantage of sales...sales + Qs = best deals!
- plan your weekly meals so that you have enough of the right things on hand to feed the family [saves 'urgent' trips]

Originally Posted by bradys09

Thanks to all for the help. I am going to look into getting a binder....I have heard that it is to difficult to do or not as easy. Any advice on how to set up the binder? I am going to start making a list and pulling out the coupons before I go. I just always thought that it would be to difficult in making a list, being there is 8 of us, so sometimes it seems so overwhelming all the stuff I have to get...... Thanks again....this site is awesome.

[sassikatri]

If you go to Walmart.....use everyone else's sale ads and they will match others sale prices.
I make out my list on Sunday with the sale flyers, Qs etc and do my major shopping at Walmart. I also shop at Wags for their deals and sometimes buy milk etc with RRs.
Come to this site and read, read, read. So many helpful people here!
Always take your Qs with you....never know when you might find a great deal!
Don't be embarrased or afraid to ask for help here. It's a great site!!!! Gotta love the elephant!!!!!

[mforward]

I have two check size plastic accordian files that I got at WalMart. A binder would be very bulky for me. One file is drugstore and the other is grocery store items (which is larger). We have 6 in our family and a dog. I shop at up to 4 stores each week plus CVS and Walgreens - sometimes Target but that isn't on my usual route. I shop the ads each week by visiting the forums (store specific) - there you will find sale items matched with coupons. The bonus in matchups is they usually tell you where the q can be found - weekly insert, online, mailer, peelie, etc. This will help you figure out if the q is even possible for you to find (some aren't). I make my list each week and put the q's along with the list in an envelope for each place I plan to visit. You can keep your loyalty card(s) with your envelope and list if it is easier for you. I have quite a stockpile now of stuff that we use the most and mostly shop the sales now to fill in. I highly recommend trading other AFCers for q's that you need or joining some trains -this has helped my q inventory alot. Checking daily in the new posts will help you find deals and educate you on how to handle yourself out there with your q's and deals. Just time on the site is such a learning tool. We all learn from each other on a daily basis. Welcome!

[mzsyd]

I'm pretty new at couponing too, but I found a method that works for me. I'm a tiny mom 93 lbs and only 4'11 and I hate to carry a huge 2 inch binder in my purse along with everything I already carry. I bought a sturdy Five Star plastic folder with three prongs (found it on discount for $1.40) and bought baseball card holders. This is ok for me right now, as I don't have a lot of coupons yet!

I do plan ahead what store I am going to too and take out the coupons I know I will use with a shopping list and sort them into Ziploc sandwhich baggies. I take my coupon folder along incase I see somthing on sale. I take out my list from the bag and go from there. I organize my coupons in order with my list to make things easier on me. My list is sorted by groceries, cleaning supply etc. HTH

[leeng]

yOU CAN GO TO WALMART NOW THEY HAVE THEIR BIG BINDERS ON CLEARENCE FOR 3.00 IN THE SCHOOL SUPPLY SECTION....GOOD LUCK....

[bradys09]

Thank you for all your help.....it is helping a lot. I am going to go to Walmart and see if they have it here!! You guys are awesome!!!

[Kristallovesmomof5]

I use a binder with two sides. There is 7 of us and 2-4 teens that hang at my house. See my binder pics here http://www.afullcup.com/forums/serio...ganized-2.html . I bought my pages off ebay and got the binder on clearance on cvs. I order most of my coupons from a clipping service or ebay. As it saves me time. and money. I go newspaper dumpster diving. HTH

[coupondiva55]

Yes, I get all the ads from the stores I go to and get my coupons together for all of them...and that way when I get to the store I know what coupons I need. Please, please, please get your kids and the whole family involved in getting the coupons together as well and clipping too - it makes it much easier and that way they know how is done...it makes it fun!! I have all my coupons in a photo album. I hope this helps!

[bradys09]

It would not let me on to see your pics. It said that I did not have access.

[mcdavis]

lots of ideas here...thanks

[BeckyScott]

A couple of things I do:

I have a 2" binder (I'm going to need an upgrade soon) with a couple packs of card inserts and a couple of full-size-sheet inserts. My binder doesn't zip, but I think next time that's what I'm buying. We already owned the binder (with 6 kids I suspect you have some 3-ring binders around the house, the one I have is one of my kid's old ones from school) The card inserts I found at WalMart in the trading card section up by the registers, I bought two packs to start, I think that was about $7, it sounds like a lot but it will make your life sooooo much easier and you'll recoup that quickly.

I make my grocery list. If there is a coupon for the item, I write "Q" next to it so I remember to get the coupon out, and also to check that I buy the right thing.

At WalMart if I'm price-matching, I'll also write "PM (store name) (price)" next to the item. Sometimes WalMart is still cheaper than the price match, but I have that for reference.

When I get to the store, I get my cart and pull over to the side and get myself all situated before I start shopping. Purse goes in the front basket, mushed around so I can lay my binder open on top of it and it's sitting right there all nice. List laying out on the left side of the pages.

My binder is set up as:

The inside pocket has the current grocery ads for the week.

One big clear page in the front for any Free stuff or anything I absolutely must buy the next shopping trip.

I put stickers on each page like tabs, IDing the category of that page. The card inserts I have didn't have tabs on them. I have some small stickers, about the size of a return address label, folded in half hanging over the end of the page.

The next section is the groceries, and since I go to WalMart, I have it set up by the aisles there. Much easier, if you only go to one store. Then I'm not bouncing around in the binder, I just flip from one page to the next.

The "household" is behind that, and it's only 2 pages.

Then the "HBA", set up by category since I use both WalMart and Wags.

I have a big black clip clipped to the front cover of the binder. When I pull a q out to use, I stick it there, so they're all together when I check out.

Anything with a write-in q or price match I load into a specific spot in the cart and send that through last, so I can be up at the cashier when they go through.

[kithlyara]

After my first few grocery trips to stock up on items took me forever to complete, I sat down and figured out an organizational system that works well for me. Hopefully it will for someone else, too!

I create shopping lists for each of the stores I plan on visiting using a database program. I use Access but Open Office has a free database program that is compatible with Access and other Microsoft Office programs. When I sit down to make my lists, I compile all of my sales fliers and have my coupon box nearby. I then go through each store's sales fliers. As I find items I want/need to buy, I pull any coupons I have and input them into my database.

This is where my shopping lists tend to get a little complicated (as if they weren't already! ) I figure out the total cost I would be paying out of pocket, the out of pocket cost per item, and what each item would cost after receiving Register Rewards/Extra Care Bucks. In case this is confusing, here's an example:

Walgreens had NyQuil/DayQuil on sale for 2 for $10.00 with $5.00 in Register Rewards. I had two $1.00 off NyQuil/DayQuil coupons.

My total cost out of pocket is $8.00 ($10.00 sale price - 2 $1.00 off coupons = $8.00)
My out of pocket cost per item is $4.00 ($8.00 total cost / 2 items = $4.00)
My total cost including Register Rewards is $3.00 ($8.00 total cost - $5.00 Register Rewards)
My total cost per item including Register Rewards is $1.50 ($3.00 total cost including Register Rewards / 2 items = $1.50)

The reason why I do this is because I noticed many stores have sales on the same items at the same time and some stores sale prices are higher than other stores regular prices. The best way I can make sure I'm getting the absolute best deal possible is to figure out what the cost per item is. I have two separate totals for out of pocket and Register Rewards/Extra Care Bucks because I like to know how much I'll be physically spending that day and how much I can expect to get back.

I purchased a combination folder/expandable file that I found in the office supply section of Walmart. It looks like the type of thing people would use to keep their bills and receipts organized to make doing taxes easier. It has 8 folders. Each folder has an envelope attached to the front. A sales flier for each of the stores I shop and a printed copy of my shopping list gets put in the folder. All of the coupons I plan on using at the store gets put in the envelope. That way, a copy of the flier and all of the coupons I need are easy to find. It also helps tremendously to have copies of all of the sales fliers if I'm doing price matching at Walmart.