It's Sunday! Go grab your Sunday paper (or head to the store and get one) and start your strategic shopping plan.
The way I shop has changed dramatically ever since I was introduced to coupons. During this process, I have learned how to take shopping circulars and plan what I need based on what is on sale and what I have coupons for.
*First, let's go ahead and squash the idea that you can't use coupons on name brand items and bring it below the price of generic items. YOU CAN get name brand items for MUCH cheaper than generic if you follow my smart shopping plan! Also, coupons are available for organic items. You just have to take some time to look for them. Come back here and check my deal watch list. Organic coupons are always listed, AND make sure you buy your healthy produce when its on sale! :)
Now, you can read about my smart shopping plan. Read how I shopped in the past and how I shop today!
My old way of shopping:
1. Head to the store (sometimes without a list.)
2. Throw things in my cart that I thought I needed that were NOT on sale and had NO coupons for.
3. Get home only to feel that I spent too much money for nothing.
4. Forget a few items and have to go back again in the next couple of days.
My new way of shopping:
1. Study all circulars from Sunday newspaper. (Wal-mart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, Food Lion)
2. Find what is on sale that I need to stock up on.
3. Search/Print the coupons that I have to match those items. Make sure I check to see if I have coupons to stack (coupon stacking=using a manufacturers coupon AND store coupon) Print coupons at Coupons.com and Redplum. Check out Target Coupons also.
4. Check out the buy one get one free items and see if I have two coupons for each item to use (You can use one coupon on the buy one, and one coupon on the free item!)
5. See what coupons I have that will help me score free items (Example: Dawn Dish soap is on sale for .99, I have a coupon for $1.00 off for that dish soap=FREE!)
6. Check to see if I can get any free items with Register Rewards (Walgreens) or with rebates.
7. Make my list of sales and coupon match-ups.
8. Go to the store during the week with my coupon binder and stock up on sale items, using my coupons at the register.
9. Repeat the process next week.
10. Enjoy your savings at the store AND your savings in your bank accounts!
Are you a smart shopper? Do you have a smart shopping plan? If not, do you think you will start using some of the ideas listed above? Let me know by leaving a comment!
Hats off to you for taking the time to do this. When my kids were little and I didnt work I did exactly the same thing. Now I think I am just lazy so I let hubs do the shopping! LOL Great tips though and they really do work. I used to save a bundle.
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I don't use coupons on groceries. OCCASIONALLY, I will use one if it's attached to something I'm buying anyway. IE- this weekend there was a peelie on the salad. BUT I NEVER, I buy processed foods and everything we buy is organic. We shop at Whole Foods and on a bad week our grocery bill is 75 dollars. Though, typically we range between 45-60 a week.
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