Coupon Sunday

Welcome to my blog! If you've reached me than it is probably safe to assume that you are someone who is attempting to save money in the naked city. I hear you and I personally feel your pain! A little about me: I am a divorced, mother of five (three children, two dogs & a hamster), college instructor, and soon to be re-entry graduate student. I like to enjoy the best that life has to offer for myself and my family. So how is that possible in today's economy? Believe it or not, a lot easier than you think.

I have been a restaurant junkie for many, many years! You have to admit that the concept of dining out is amazing. You are hungry. You have a taste for, let's say Italian. You gather your loved ones, arrive at your destination, order, eat, pay and leave! No shopping, preparation, or cleaning. But alas, have you taken a close look at your credit card statements from month to month? Well, I don't know about you, but mine have been nothing short of ridiculous! So, I decided that President Obama isn't the only one who feels it's time for a change...

Coupon Sunday: Not to be confused with my favorite "holiday," Superbowl Sunday; Coupon Sunday is the granddaddy of them all when it comes to grocery store coupon savings. The Los Angeles Times is my private jet to grocery store euphoria. The Times is currently running a tremendous special that I believe is worthy of posting. With one phone call to (800) 326-5500 and $1.99 a week, the Thursday-Sunday Times, will be delivered to your doorstep. In addition, a $10 Vons gift card is included along with ALL ACCESS. All Access is the electronic version of the paper that will be delivered to your email address at no additional charge.

Time: I have had many friends say "I would love to clip coupons, but I just don't have time!" In reality, we all make time for activities that appeal to us. So my response is, "I don't have time to waste money." If we can spend time watching television, mindlessly surfing the web or picking fleas off the dog (oh I'm sorry, that's something my dad used to do to our dog)...than we have time to clip a few coupons.

Another time waster in the coupon world is what I call "doing too much." There are many ways to locate coupons these days. Newspapers, sale papers, magazines, coupon websites, etc. My #1 rule is to not overdo it. I focus mainly on the Times and the Sunday sale circulars (my favorite is CVS Pharmacy). I prefer "paper" coupons over "cyber" coupons. But, that is just MY preference. The key is to find the one or two sources that work for you and utilize it.

In addition, don't be what I call a "sale whore." Only clip coupons for items that you use, need or want. Don't hoard coupons for items that have no use in your household. I have a good friend that is a single, working mom with a son in college (out of state). She is known for going to Costco and returning with items she cannot use. Her reasoning is "It was on sale!" My response is "I understand, but you bought a months' supply of cat food and you don't own a cat!"

Coupon Organization: Ok, now that you have chosen your coupon source and clipped ONLY the coupons that pertain to items specific for your family, it's time to organize them in such a way that you do not become overwhelmed and discouraged. Choose a ready made or personally created small storage box or folder for your coupons. Be sure to use dividers to separate items by your favorite market's aisles or your own purchase habits. For example, divide your coupons by "Aisle 1, Aisle 2, etc." or "freezer, meat, hygiene, kids' lunch, condiments, dairy, etc." And as mentioned previously, too many unnecessary coupons can innundate your storage box. A good rule of thumb is to always remove expired coupons each time you add new ones. Keep your storage unit in your car so that your coupons are easily accessible even during those impromptu trips to the market.

Finally, my favorite tip for coupon usage is to get the maximum bang for your buck by using coupons on SALE items. Unfortunately, the glory days of "double coupons" are pretty much over. I make up for this new economic downturn by practicing the art of self discipline. No matter how much I want an item, I know that it will eventually be on the "sale block" (pun intended) soon. SAVE those coupons for the day the item is on sale AND you will trim (pun intended again) a tremendous amount of money from your grocery bill. Eating in is not always the easiest or most glamorous way to dine; but it sure will make your credit card statement a whole lot easier to stomach!

Stay tuned for my next blog when I discuss economical ways to build your library!