I keep reading different blogs of feeding the families of 4 or 5 for $1200 or LESS a YEAR using coupons, rebates and free items. I really do not how they can do it. I use coupons, buy on sale but still spent between going out to eat and groceries $400 to $600 a month and there is only 2 of us.
We do not go to expensive places to eat, sometimes have a coupon to reduce our bill or get a senior discount.
I am adding a couple of these blogs to my site so I watch their progress. I plan on asking if they eat out and if so much how much is that amount a month. That needs to be added into the total budget. I know if we cut out the eating out I could cut ours in half. But that would not be a $100 a month would be $250 a month maybe. As I watch their progress maybe I will get some insight from these bloggers and cut my expenses some. Hope you will watch with me their progress and my progress. If you would like to be added to my watch site I would love to hear from you.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Guide to using coupons
Guide to using coupons
Here’s a guide for different options involving coupons
Use coupons in the Sunday paper. Look through the ads, cut out the products you use and redeem them. It’s a pretty simple strategy. Buy two papers if you need extra coupons.
Use coupons in conjunction with sales. Get a copy of the weekly flyer for your grocery store and buy items that are on sale and you have a coupon for. If your store offers it redeem the coupons on a "double-coupon day."
Learn the fluctuations in prices. Keep a price book to determine when a sale item is truly a good buy. After tracking the prices for awhile, you’ll learn to spot a great price without your book.
Stock up on rock-bottom prices. Using your price book, when product hits it’s lowest price, use all your coupons for that item and stock the pantry. The rule of thumb is to buy about 12 weeks worth, as that is the typical time before the item will hit a rock-bottom price again.
Use a service to tell you what to buy. There are sites that specialize in putting together lists of the above information for you. They match the sales, coupons, and rock-bottom prices:
Grocery Guide
Coupon Mom
The Grocery Game (paid site)
Trade or buy coupons. Need more coupons for that terrific sale? Use a coupon trading site or clipping service to purchase multiple quantities of the coupons you need.
Trading Sites
Coupon Forum
Coupon Chix (now a paid site)
Coupon Trader Central
Sites to Buy Coupons (Clipping Services)
The Coupon Clippers
The Coupon Master
Here’s a guide for different options involving coupons
Use coupons in the Sunday paper. Look through the ads, cut out the products you use and redeem them. It’s a pretty simple strategy. Buy two papers if you need extra coupons.
Use coupons in conjunction with sales. Get a copy of the weekly flyer for your grocery store and buy items that are on sale and you have a coupon for. If your store offers it redeem the coupons on a "double-coupon day."
Learn the fluctuations in prices. Keep a price book to determine when a sale item is truly a good buy. After tracking the prices for awhile, you’ll learn to spot a great price without your book.
Stock up on rock-bottom prices. Using your price book, when product hits it’s lowest price, use all your coupons for that item and stock the pantry. The rule of thumb is to buy about 12 weeks worth, as that is the typical time before the item will hit a rock-bottom price again.
Use a service to tell you what to buy. There are sites that specialize in putting together lists of the above information for you. They match the sales, coupons, and rock-bottom prices:
Grocery Guide
Coupon Mom
The Grocery Game (paid site)
Trade or buy coupons. Need more coupons for that terrific sale? Use a coupon trading site or clipping service to purchase multiple quantities of the coupons you need.
Trading Sites
Coupon Forum
Coupon Chix (now a paid site)
Coupon Trader Central
Sites to Buy Coupons (Clipping Services)
The Coupon Clippers
The Coupon Master
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