Couponing: Getting started

The best way to stretch your dollar when it comes to grocery shopping is to combine sales with coupons. It really doesn't take that much time to cut coupons and plan your shopping trip, and besides, the savings are worth your effort.

There are a few different places to get coupons. The most popular place is in the sunday paper. There are people who subscribe to extra sunday papers (one per family member) just to get the extra coupons. You can also find coupons online and print them off, or you can get coupon booklets in the mail. Sometimes you can find coupons on products at the store (called peelies).

There are different ways to organize your coupons, but my preferred way is a plastic filing box (see picture). I keep four hanging folders in it. One for SmartSource inserts, one for Red Plum inserts, one for Procter & Gamble inserts, and one for booklets I get in the mail, peelies, etc. You should keep your coupon inserts for about five months.

I use a website called GrocerySmarts.com that helps me match sales in my area with coupons. This makes it MUCH easier to find the best deals. As far as I know, you can only use it if you get a passport from a friend or family member. The passport I use is "studio5". It allows you to see ads for stores in the Salt Lake area, but I think the ads for Albertsons, Smiths, Walgreens, and Walmart would be pretty much the same. Maybe even the Associated Food Stores will be similar in other areas.

It's very easy, but if you need help, just let me know!