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How to Organize Coupons and Grocery Lists

SO many of you have asked me how I organize all my coupons.

I started out by getting the Sunday paper and only cutting out the coupons that I knew that I would use. (I had no idea that I could free items or even make $$ off of coupons then so I had no need for extra coupons) I filed my chosen few into an accordion file folder like this one...

I took this to the grocery store with me and that was that.

Then I started reading money saving blogs with these crazy lists of how you could match up store deals with coupons and get insane deals and even free stuff!! (Who knew that I would end up being one of those blogs! :) I was so mad at myself for throwing out all those old coupon inserts that I didn't think I needed!! So, I then moved on to a system like this one so I would have access to all the coupons from the Sunday paper...

great system, I know!

I would label each Sunday paper insert with the date. When I would make my weekly shopping lists (that I would get from other blogs and websites), I would see 4/05 RP for Kraft coupon and I would search through trying to find the Red Plum insert that had the 4/05 date on it. Then, I would look for the coupon in the insert and then cut it out. This took me hours!! So, I moved on to a system like this one...

I filed the coupon inserts according to type and date. This was easier and less time consuming but wasn't quite good enough for me. If I was going to the store and needed to buy cat litter, I didn't really feel like looking through an online coupon database like this one http://www.afullcup.com/ and then searching for the coupon through my files.... so this is what I do now....

I bought a photo box at Target for $2.50 and then used scrap scrapbooking paper...because it is pretty thick.... and some old label tabs that I had from teaching. I glued the tabs to the scrapbook paper and then added my categories. So, my coupons are no longer labeled by date or insert but they are so easy for me to use when I am not getting something that came off of a list like this one... And yes... I have been known to bring my box into a grocery store! I get some looks for sure :)

I'm Organized, Now what?

I take a look through the grocery deals from the weekly store I go to and I copy and paste the deals that I am planning on using into a Word doc. and label it by store name. I them print out my lists and cut them so I have a small sheet for each store that I am planning on visiting that week. I then find the coupons that I need that matches the list and add them to an envelop for that store with the list.

My envelops look lovely I know but if I am couponing to save money... I didn't see any reason in spending $$ on the envelops that were going to go in!!

Coupon Binder-

Another way of organizing coupons is the coupon binder. This uses baseball card inserts and this way each coupon is easy to see when you are flipping through the binder.

Here are some other great resources about organizing coupons....

Bargain Briana- Mega File Box

Coupon Organization by clipping from Canned Laughter

Sisterly Savings uses the Couponizer.

My Good Cents uses an envelope system.

Laura, the Organizing Junkie discusses how she organizes by using a coupon organizer.

Rachel utilizes the coupon binder.

The Simple Dollar also utilizes the coupon binder.

Keren uses a coupon binder.

Mommy Snacks use a file box.

The Centsible Shopper uses a small file box.

Do you have any other way of organizing coupons? Leave a comment and let us know about it! Thanks :)

Doubling and Tripling info

Coupon doubling and tripling is one of my favorite things about couponing!! Here are a few faqs about it.... Coupon doubling basically means that the store will DOUBLE the coupon that you have (usually up to .99). So, if you have a .50 off coupon and your store states that they will double it, then you will be getting $1.00 off the item that you are purchasing. Times and days when double coupons are offered vary from store to store, so check with your local store for days that they offer them.

Make sure that the coupon you want to use does not say “Do Not Double” on it although rare, they are out there and would not be doubled or tripled by your store. Also, some stores require you to join their store member program and you’ll have to present the program card before the coupons will doubled or tripled.

I have gotten SO many items for free by using double or triple coupon days in conjunction with sale items. Here is a list of some grocery stores around the country that have double coupon programs. (Thanks, Grocery Coupon Guide!) for this amazing list! Over the next few weeks, I will be working on my own list so if you know of others not on this list, please email me at cheapcheapblog@live.com or leave a comment below and I will add it to the list

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusettes
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
Nevada
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin

CVS Deals 4/12-4/18

Here are the best deals at CVS for the week of 4/12-4/18. If you see something I missed please add it to the comments.

New to CVS? Click HERE for all the details about Extracare Bucks.

B1G1= buy 1 Get 1

wyb= when you buy

EBC= Extracare Bucks that you will get back for your next transaction

Free:

Sobe Life Water- B1G1 (prices start at $1.79)
Use B1G1 printable
Final- FREE!

Vitamin Water 20 oz- 5/$5

Use $1 cpn from 4/5 SS (regional cpn)

Final-FREE

Softsoap Scrub 18oz body wash is $4.99

Use $1 cpn from 3/29 SS

Get $4.99 back in ECBs

Final- FREE plus $1 moneymaker! (Limit 1)

Colgate Enamel Protect, Sensitive Whitening Toothpaste, or 360 Sensitive Toothbrush- $3.99
Use .75 cpn from 2/22 or 3/29 SS or $1 printable HERE

Get $3.99 ECBs

Final-FREE plus .75-$1.00 moneymaker! (Limit 2)

Other deals-

Dove Hair Care- B1G1
Use $1.50 cpn from 3/15 RP

Final- varies

Irish Spring Bar soap 8pk or Softsoap refill 40oz- $4.99

Use .50 cpn from 3/29 SS
Get $2 back in ECBs
Final- $2.49 ( Limit 1)

Pert 2 in 1 shampoo or conditioner 13.5 oz, Sure solid 2.6-2.7 oz or spray 6 oz - 2/$5

$1 Pert printable
$1 Sure printable
Get $2 back in ECBs wyb 2
Final- .50 each (Limit 1)

Kotex Lightdays 105–135 ct, pads 28-44 ct or tampons 36 ct- 2/$9 (buy 2)
Use 2 of these cpns: $1, $.75, or $.75 cpn from 2/22 SS and 4/5 SS or

$2/2 printable
Get $2 back in ECBs (wyb 2)
Final Price: $2.50-$2.75 each (limit 5)

Shick Quattro Razor or Trimmer- $8.99

Use $4 cpn from 3/22 SS

Get $4 back in ECBs

Final- .99 (Limit 1)

Venus Embrace or Breeze Razor w/ 2 cartridges- $7.99

Get $4.99 back in ECBs
Final- $3.99 (Limit 1)

Baked Lays- 2/$6
Use $1 cpn from 3/8 SS
Final- $2

7UP, Canada Dry, A&W or Sunkist 12pk- 3/$11

Get $3 back in ECBs
Final- 2.67 each (Limit 1)

Raisin Bran, Corn Flakes, Corn Pops Rice Krispies, Apple Jacks, or Fruit Loops -$2
Use $1 cpn from 4/5 RP

Final- $1

CVS Diapers B1G1

CVS 101- Transaction Scenarios- (Week 1)

Transaction #1

1. buy 1- Colgate Enamel Protect Sensitive Whitening Toothpaste or 360 Sensitive Toothbrush for $3.99

minus .75 when you use .75 coupon from the 2/22 or 3/29 Smart Source Coupon Insert
Final- $3.24 + Tax Out of Pocket
**$3.99 Extra Bucks will print off with your receipt

Transaction #2

1. buy 1 -Softsoap Scrub Body Wash for $4.99
minus $1 when you use the $1 coupon from 3/29 SS
Pay with the $3.99 Extra Bucks you earned from Transaction #1
Final- $0 Out of Pocket
**$4.99 Extra Bucks will print off with your receipt

Transaction #3

1. buy 2; 2 of the same or 1 of each- Pert Plus 2 in 1 Shampoo or Sure Solid for $2.50 each
2. buy 1- Colgate Enamel Protect Sensitive Whitening Toothpaste or 360 Sensitive Toothbrush for $3.99
minus $1 printable for Pert Plus and/or $1 printable for Sure

(make sure you have a printout for each item that you are buying)
minus $1.00 printable for Colgate
Use $4.99 Extra Bucks from Transaction #2
Final- $1.00 + Tax Out of Pocket
** $5.99 Extra Bucks will print off with your receipt for your next visit

So in the end you will spend $4.24 out of pocket today but you will earn $5.99 for your next visit so you will be making $1.75!!

(As always, fill free to add any of the other deals mentioned above as your Transaction #4 and use the $5.99 EBCs you earned from Transaction #3)

I'd love to hear how you do at CVS this week!!! Keep me posted....especially you newbies :)

Why Sample??

If you are new to sampling, here is a heads up. You usually have to fill out some info about yourself before they will send you a sample. Usually there is a * by the required info. If there isn't one by email or phone #, you don't have to list it. If they do require you to put down an email address, they may send you ads from time to time....this is why I always use my old college email account that I never check anymore. Why samples?? Samples are great for trying something new, the samples of lotion and shampoo are great for vacations and they will usually will send you high value coupons with the sample. Any other questions about samples....please comment or email me!! Happy sampling!

CVS- The Basics

Since I’ve started this blog, there have been a lot of readers who have emailed with questions on how CVS works. What are Extra Care Bucks and do you really get these items for FREE!!! CVS was one of the last stores that I added to my weekly shopping when I first started couponing becuase it was incredibly overwhelming and confusing to me. I didn't understand why people were doing 2 or 3 transactions and I didn't have a clue what Extra Care Bucks were. I spent a good few hours researching asking friends how to “do” CVS when I first began so for those of you that have been too intemadated to step foot into a CVS....I will be walking right beside you for the next 3 weeks. Follow some simple advice and these transaction list and you will be good to go!

First off, you need to know where your local CVS store is located. Check HERE for the closest store.
Now, you will need to apply for a CVS card. You can do this online or in-store. If you do it in-store, you can begin using your card right away, so this is the best option. Always have the cashier scan your card before they start ringing up your transaction. You won’t be able to get any of the deals without your card.

Once you have signed up and received your CVS card, you are ready to do your first CVS transaction. I recommend you start off with only one or two items. Keep it very simple so that you can learn the ropes and gradually branch out into doing more complicated deals.

Starting on Sunday, I will have a list of good easy deals that you can try out. Note that this first week, you will have to put out some start up money but you will get Extra Care Bucks (EBC's) when you checkout that you can use when you check out from here on out.

Almost every week, there are one or two items which are advertised as completely free after ECBs. What this means is that you will buy the item....paying out of pocket for it and then you will receive a printout at the end of your receipt which will be for the amount of the item purchased. This coupon is called an “Extra Care Buck”. You can use this coupon on your next purchase just like a gift card.

The items that I state are "FREE", they are not entirely free in that you paid for it out of pocket, however, once you have paid for the item out of pocket and earned an ECB, you can then use that ECB you earned to pay for the next transaction. You want to keep rolling your ECBs over and over and over, so your goal should always be to use the ECBs you earned from your last transaction, to buy something in the next transaction which will earn you the same amount or more ECBs than you spent. Make sense??

My stockpile is very well stocked so when I plan my weekly trip, I try to spend as little money out of pocket as possible...usually just pennies... and then I roll over my ECBs to be the same amount or more as the ECBs I spent.

The way that you can accually MAKE MONEY at CVS is when the item you are buying is actually less expensive than the ECB or you have a coupon for an item that would have been free already after EBC's.

For example- Let's say that this was on my list for the week....

M&M Chocolates- $1.00 each

use .50 cpn from the 3/29 SS

get $1 EBC

Final- .50 proft!

So your chocolate would ring up for $1.00 (before tax), after the .50 off coupon you would pay out of pocket (or with your ECB's) .50. Then you would get a $1 printout EBC with your reciept for your next transaction!! Thus...this was a "moneymaker".

Most of the time, there is a limit on how many of an item you can buy per card which will generate ECBs. Usually it is somewhere between 1-5 and will be stated in small lettering underneath the deal in your ad or on the list that I create on the blog.

There are weekly deals and monthly deals. The weekly deals are advertised in the weekly fliers and the monthly deals (which are good for the entire month) are advertised in the monthly ECB booklet, which should be available at all stores all month long.

The next step into more complicated transactions is to start stacking CVS coupons and manufacturer’s coupons along with the ECB deals.

When you are checking out and doing a more complicated transaction, you will want to make sure and have your coupons in good order so that your transaction goes smoothly. The best way I have found to do this, is to give your manufacturer’s coupons first, and then give your ECBs. If you have an ECB that is for more than what your total is, they can either manually reduce it down and just take off the amount for your total (and thus you lose the rest of your ECB), or you can add on another small item to make up the difference.

Make sure that you go with a good detailed list so you know what you are looking for when you get there.

For the next 3 weeks.... I will be making a weekly CVS trip list for you if you would like to try it out. We will start out small and then add the more complicated transactions. Make sure that you are getting the Sunday paper and that you have a printer that you can print online coupons on. And as always...please let me know how you do or if you have any other questions.

Coupon Language Abbreviations

Here some some abbreviations to take note off...

B1G1/BOGO- Buy One, Get One
CC- Competitor Coupon
CPN- Coupon
EBC- Extracare Bucks (CVS)
ESC- Easy Saver Coupon (the booklet located in the front of Walgreens)
ESR- Easy Saver Rebate (Walgreens)
FAR- Free After Rebate
IP-Internet Printed Coupon
MFR- Manufacturer
MIR-Mail in Rebate
P&G- Proctor and Gamble (Sunday paper insert)
RC- Rain Check
SC- Store Coupon
SS- Smartsource (Sunday paper insert)
RP- Red Plum (Sunday paper insert)
RR- Register Reward (Walgreens)
WYB- When you Buy

Let me know if there are any others....

Couponing Basics- Where, What, and How??

For those of you new to couponing or just interested in how this all works, this post is for you!  I will be posting a few things a day that will hopefully answer any questions that you have.  If I don't, please comment and let me know what topics you would like me to cover.  Grab a drink and sit back... this is a long one!

Question 1 - Where do you get coupons??

1. Sunday paper- This is the best way to stock up on TONS of great coupons. If it is a great paper one week, go out and get another paper because chances are, you will be able to get some fabulous deals before they expire.

2. Walgreens hidden coupons!! - Walgreens has additional coupon booklets in the cosmetics and pharmacy department. Just ask for the coupon booklet and they will hand one over to you!

3. Printable Coupons- Printable coupons are great because the value is higher than the Sunday paper most of the time. After you print a coupon, hit the back button and then refresh and most of the time, they will let you print at least 2 per computer!! I had a Clean and Clear coupon last month that printed 10 times!!!  **Do check to see if they double or triple because some do not.

4. Free samples- Almost all free samples found HERE will send you coupons for those product when they send you your sample.

Question 2- What is this crazy language 1/12 SS??

This is usually how I will do my postings.... Example: from Walgreens

Reynolds Aluminum Foil- $2.08

after in ad cpn $.89 and 

$1 cpn from the SS 2/08

Final- FREE

• This means that the $2.08 is the sale price that is listed in the store.  
  
• Ad in coupons (cpn) are found in the Walgreens' flyer located in the Sunday's paper or at your local store when you walk in.  
  
• The $1 off coupon from the SS 2/08 means that there was a $1 off coupon in the Smart Source insert (SS) of the Sunday's paper on February 8th (2/08).  
  

Stores will never let you pair up two manufacture coupons but they will almost always let you use their store coupon with the manufacture coupon.  When the above coupons are given, the final price for the foil is tax only.  ***Please note that if your cashier tells you that they can't do your transaction because the coupon is higher than the price, hand over the manufactures coupon 1st, then the store coupon.  This usually works.  

Question 3- How much work is involved?? 

Nothing in life is completely free.  Just like these deals, time, organization, and patience will need to be invested.  I have always pinched pennies at the grocery store but I went from spending around $400 a month...not bad.... to $200 a month for not only groceries but pet and baby supplies as well!  So, the few hours I put in a week are worth the savings for our family. 

Organization is also very important to help save you time and stress when you go to the store.  I try and organize my store list by how the store is laid out.  For example, I have all the produce coupons on top and the frozen foods on the bottom.  My list is also in order with my coupons so I don't have to go back and forth all over the store with a toddler.  

The most important thing is to start small and don't make a huge list of deals and then head to the store.  You will probably end up super confused and frustrated.  Try a few things a week and then add a few more and so on.  Also, if you are new to couponing, don't try and go to 5 stores in your first week....unless you have already become an addict!!  

Other topics that I will cover this week are CVS extra bucks, rebates, register rewards, and how to organize your coupons.