Clip the coupons you know you will use. By now I know which products I can always get for free so I always clip those coupons too.

Arrange them in a file folder. I used this photo organizer that I got at Hobby Lobby (with a 40% off coupon, of course). One time I left it near the check-out register and didn’t realize it was missing until 3 days later. I almost called in an emergency order of xanax and I don’t even take meds. Luckily the store had it in their lost and found. One lady saw me carrying it around and said “I like your purse”. Oye.

I always have coupons leftover that I didn’t clip, but I might be able to score free goods with in a few weeks if a special sale is going on, so I save the other coupons for about 4 months. I have a very sophisticated storage system. It involves a Sharpee and a plastic bag. Write the date the coupons came out on the bag.

Why do I label the bags with the date, you ask? Becuase the blogs will essentially say “Hey if you use the $1 off Suave coupon from the RedPlumb coupon instert from 5/15 you can get free Suave Deodorant”. Couldn’t be easier for me!

Then I store the bags in a pile in my garage. Sure, you could get a filing cabinet for these, but why spend some bucks when my system is free?

The people on Extreme Couponing have crazy spreadsheets and spend upwards of 20 hours a week comparing deals. I have a job, hobbies, a veggie garden to tend to, 3 menaces, and a husband that I’d like to see so I don’t have time for that.

There are several blogs I follow that already break-down the deals. I like the CentsSaved.com blog because the blogger is local to Colorado so she compares ads for grocery stores in my area. She always features Freebie Fridays so I have a one-stop shop each week knowing where I can score free goods. There are bloggers all around, so I’m sure you lucky Wegman’s folks can find some online.

Target.com has coupons that you can print directly from their web site. You can combine a Target coupon AND a manufacturer’s coupon for one item. Target often has coupons for their clothing too. I got $5 off denim coupons and wouldn’t ya know, their jeans were on clearance for $4.98. I got all of this stuff for $.31:

Walmart allows “overage” meaning if you buy dental floss for $.88 and your coupon is for $1 off, they give you the extra $.12 credit towards another product. I LOVE this policy because I was once able to use my overage to buy free-range chicken. I use the term “buy” loosely as I only paid around $.37 for over $60 worth of stuff.

My biggest deal yet was when a store manager PAID me $2.34 to take baby formula, lotion, cupcake papers & orange juice. I saved 107%! I was actually telling the manager to let me purchase a magazine so I didn’t have a negative balance. I don’t want her getting into trouble and I don’t want coupon policies to become more strict because of situations like this.

I like to be fair when it comes to coupon policies and I don’t nag the people if they forget to take a nickel off my order when I bring re-usable bags. I have my favourite cashiers that know what I do with the goods so they don’t give me a hard time.

One other tip is to have a coupon buddy. My cousin Mo (who lives in NY) and I e-mail each other a list of items we want from the coupon inserts each week. She likes snacks for her kids, I take toothpaste and deodorant because I know those are always free and I can donate those items. We spend $.44 each week in postage to mail the coupons but we save more than enough with the coupons we exchange. Find someone to share coupons with.

Have ya’ll seen the Extreme Couponing show? What do you think?

You can let us know what you like, what you want to hear more about, or just to say hello. We love hearing from everyone, and remember that anyone can see the comments you leave.

Miss everyone!

Bob and Jen