Question: How/Where Do I Start?! Part 2 (Let’s Start A Stock Pile)

In Part 1 we discussed the first 3 steps to getting started in response to a frequently asked question of:  How/Where do I Start?!  Here’s a summary:

 

1.  Buy a newspaper and cut out coupons to start your stash

2.  Read the Getting Started Tab

3.  Pick your store that you want to try matching coupons with sale items and get familiar with their coupon policy.

 

After you have done these, you are ready to research your store’s sale items!  I have chosen United/Market Street just to make it easy.  If you have never shopped at United then don’t pick that one because it will be unfamiliar and more difficult for you. 

 

For new couponers, I’m sure you probably have a list of a few things you are low on and need to buy so, let’s start there.  The old you would be almost out of items and have to go to the store right away or starve.  You repeat this cycle about every two weeks to replenish your supplies and you buy just enough to last you until the next two weeks and then do it all again.  Right?  Ok, that’s what I did and that’s the old way.

 

Here’s how you will be shopping from now on:  “What’s on sale PLUS do I have a coupon for that sale item?”  If the answer is yes, then it goes on my list. 

So…

After you shop like this for about a month or two, you will have a lot of non-perishable or frozen items on hand called your “stock pile”.  You will no longer just have 2 boxes of XYZ that you paid $1.50 for and that will last you two weeks.  You will now probably have 10 boxes that you got for .25 cents and those will last you until the next time they go on sale and more coupons are released again for it!

 

So, for now take your list to the store and get what you need but let’s also, start building your stock pile:

 

First:  Go to the sale items I have matched up with coupons for the store you picked (found at the top, under Grocery Stores tab).  I’m using United/Market Street sale items for this example.

 

Second: You will notice the items on sale and if there is a coupon to match I have it listed in red under the sale item that it matches.  I call those coupon match-ups.  Some sale items don’t have coupons, but they can still be a good deal.  Let’s look for the BEST deals though by searching the list for items with coupon match-ups.  Click the box next to the items you want to buy and at the bottom of the list select “print list”.  This feature will bring up your grocery list and the coupons I have listed underneath them on your computer (it doesn’t send to printer yet at this step.)  You might notice that you only have a few items you want to get from this store.  That’s normal because you are only getting the best deals.  I usually get to shop in the “fewer than 15 items” check-out lane.

 

Third:  Print any printable coupons you need that are listed under the sale item (FYI, it will make you download a coupon printing program the first time you print that is used to keep these coupons legitimate and prevent fraud.  The coupon program will only let you print up to 2 coupons per computer or per email address etc.)  Also, I usually go ahead and look through my coupon stash for the matches as well.  Then print my grocery list when I have printed and found all my coupon matches.

 

Fourth:  I put my list and all the coupons in my envelope marked “United” and it’s ready to go to the store next time I’m ready or near United (I keep my store envelopes in a bag with my coupon books and I have them on me at all times).  Just be sure you go within few days or watch your expiration dates etc.  Grocery sales run Wednesday to Tuesday (Drugstores, Target, Walmart are Sunday to Saturday) so, if your coupons are good for a while, you can plan your trip accordingly.  I usually stop at the store on the way home from work, gym, etc.  I don’t make it a Saturday event – that’s the old way.