Where to Find Coupons

I had this question from a reader today:

I am just now getting started with couponing and I have one simple question: where oh where do you get all your coupons??????

I am prepping for my first coupon shopping trip at the beginning of November so I could use your wisdom.

-Stacey

Honestly, I just subscribe to the paper, Stacey. This seems to supply PLENTY of coupons for me. One trick I have learned is to get a bigger city's paper, instead of the town that I live in. From what I have heard, larger towns with more grocery competition are supplied with more coupons from manufacturers, and this was definitely true in my case. I bought both for a week or two and compared. So after that, I cancelled my home town paper subscription, got online and subscribed to a Sunday only subscription from the bigger city.

The other thing I do is keep my eye out for good printable coupons online. If I see a promotion going on somewhere, I'll often just do a google search for, say, "Robitussin printable coupon," to see what I can find.

And finally, I have been known from time to time to search our local newspaper recycling bin for coupon inserts that people throw away. There are almost always free coupons to be had. Most of the time though, the coupons I get from one Sunday paper are enough for me to keep up with!

My friend Crystal recently posted about accumulating coupons, so you might want to check out her article.

And if you're interested in how to organize coupons, this is what works for me.

Stocking up

I started couponing last October, and at first, the whole thing seemed so overwhelming to me. All the clipping and organizing of the coupons, looking for the deals, finding time to shop (with kids???)... was it really worth it? I mean, I was shopping at Aldi and Walmart before Crystal introduced me to couponing, and we weren't spending that much on groceries and household products.


But I have come to really appreciate the quality we are able to afford now...nicer cuts of meat (marked down, of course!), name brand items, medications, fancy cleaning products, and the cushiest TP money can buy. :) You do not even want to know how thin the TP was that we were previously using. Ouch! I have always been a tightwad. It's just my methods that have changed.


We were shopping a week to 2 weeks at a time, and by the end of those 2 weeks, the pantry and fridge were almost completely bare, unless of course we had run to Dillons for a few things during that time and completely blown our budget.


I have slowly developed a habit of thinking ahead, buying non-perishables and things to freeze, when they cost significantly less than normal or the Aldi price. This enables our little grocery budget to stretch further than I ever thought imaginable. And then when I go shopping each week, I can spend part of my money on fresh produce and the rest on the deals to be had that particular week.


Here's one example of how to stock-up this week:

Dillons/Kroger stores are advertising a sale on certain Post cereals this week for 4/$10, and $4 is automatically taken off the receipt at the end, making them 4/$6. If you have coupons for $1 off 2, you can use 2 of these per transaction, making them 4/$4.

A friend of mine recently ran across this promo that Post is running at the same time, making this an even sweeter deal. If you buy 4 of the "Healthy Classics" (Shredded Wheat, Raisin Bran, and Bran Flakes), a $3.00 catalina will print after your receipt, which you can use on anything at Dillons. This essentially makes the boxes of cereal 4/$1 or $.25 each!!!

The best part about this is that you can roll the $3.00 catalinas and use them to purchase your next set of 4 boxes, so you will only spend a dollar plus tax on each subsequent transaction.

At $.25 a box, I can afford to stock up on these kinds of cereal!


The other huge benefit for us has been having an abundance of extra food and household products to share with others. We LOVE this part of couponing! Even though I don't necessarily need more shampoo right now, if it is free or pennies, I will always choose to buy it (provided I have the money in the budget) because we know so many people we can share it with. Not everyone has the time or ability to go to more than one store each week, so why not share some of the deals we are able to find? This can be a huge blessing to others. And of course we love having plenty of food for impromptu get-togethers and entertaining friends. We like our friends, what can we say? :)


I quit my very part-time job about a month ago, and so now I am officially a stay at home mom. And I have to say, couponing helps so much when you're living on one income! I never dreamed that I would be that lady in the line forking over a huge wad of paper to the teenage cashier. But you know, when I spend $14.00 and he tells me, "You've saved $59.46 in coupons and store sales," with a bewildered look on his face, I just have to smile. That was NOT going to be me. But the Lord has a way of doing that, stretching us a little sometimes, and I am very thankful.

Frugal Fridays: Look to God for Provision

I've been thinking a lot recently about my reasons for attempting to become more frugal. In all honesty, I feel like such a phony sometimes. We have not experienced true financial hardship that so many people do - we are very aware of that. The Lord has been so generous with us, and we are truly thankful for that. So yes, I could spend more than I do on groceries each week. (And I'm sure I could stand to spend a little less on clothes! :) Is having plenty reason enough to relax about budgeting? The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that the Lord desires this of me instead- to look to HIM for our provisions, instead of the paycheck.

I so appreciated Maryanne's post about our provisional God. I just happened upon Maryanne's blog a month or so ago, and I have to say, from what I've read so far, I think if we lived in the same town, we'd be friends for sure. She puts into words exactly what I've been pondering in my heart too. And check out the way that, even though she's attempting to need less, the Lord still provides small things...things like a $2 children's table and chairs at a thrift store, because that's the kind of God He is. He delights in knowing and caring for us intimately! Isn't it incredible to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ?!

I've been praying in the car before we hit the Goodwill or a garage sale, and I guess Ethan's been picking up on it. I don't really know how it happened, but now we pray together for things that we'd like to find. Ethan was so perplexed the other day when we didn't find what we had prayed for. He kept looking all over the store, asking people if they had seen "a black headboard for Mommy's bed." I thought it was so funny and sweet at the same time. I love his eyes of faith, and I loved getting to talk to him about how we respond when God doesn't give us what we want. We can trust Him - He will always provide for us! We just have to be willing to wait.

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Frugal Fridays: Save Money on Meat

It's Frugal Friday! Here's my tip:

As I've mentioned before, my husband is a meat guy. Not your typical meat and potatoes guy, just meat. And so, around here, a meatless meal is not appreciated much. But those of you who make it your aim to be frugal with the money the Lord has given you (a Biblical concept, stewardship, 1 Corinithians 4:2) know that meat is the most expensive part of your meals. It eats up a lot of our grocery budget, actually. So how can you please the meat-loving hubby and still retain some resemblance of a budget? Here's some tips for fellow meat-lovers:

Buy whole chickens and boil/crockpot them until done, de-bone the meat, and freeze in meal-sized portions in freezer bags. Shredded chicken is great for Mexican dishes, BBQ chicken sandwiches, casseroles, soups, chicken salad, and lots more. And it's very economical, at usually $.63 - $.79 a pound!

Buy in bulk when there is a good sale going on. For instance, Price Chopper is having a 4 day sale (ending Sunday) with boneless skinless chicken breasts and tenders at $1.33 a pound! This is an amazing price! If you have the freezer space, stock up. Potentially you could get enough to last you until the next sale, and then you won't have to spend the upwards of $2-$4/lb that you normally would.

Shop for manager's specials on meat that needs to be eaten soon or frozen. Two stores that mark down meat frequently are Dillons and Sam's Club. Dillons places orange stickers on the packages, and frequently the prices are 50% reduced or more! I have most often found these when I've shopped early in the morning (before 9 am) or after 9 pm. Sam's Club also uses orange stickers that read, "Reduced for Quick Sale." I have a business membership, so I typically shop at 9:30 am (regular hours start at 10 am). They always have lots of marked down meat when I'm there, so I'm sure there would still be some if you got there right when they open.

Process your meat when you get home from the grocery store. This tip has helped me a ton! Since I buy in bulk, my freezer is frequently so full I can barely shut it! :) When I get home from buying a lot of ground hamburger, whole chickens, etc...I usually put it all in crockpots (say, 5-6 lbs of hamburger/pot) and let it process on low all day. After you wash and drain it, divide into meal-sized portions. These usually take up less space in the freezer and are easier to stack. Plus, it gives me a head start on making dinner! I usually put a little less than a lb of hamburger in a freezer bag for our family of 4. This stretches the meat a little further, and we never notice the difference.

So these are my tips. What are yours?