Definition of "Old Way Determination"

Determination:  The definition from Noah Webster 1828.  n. The act of determining or deciding.  2.  Decision of a question in the mind; firm resolution; settled purpose; as, they have acquainted me with their determination.  

*Mentioned only once in the Holy Bible:  Zephaniah 3:8

We are moving towards a judgment time.  It will come when Jesus comes for his church.  It begins then and ends when he returns to rule over his earthly kingdom.  There are many who think this statement a fairy tale, but for those who have been born again, it is very much a reality.  For us (who are born again), it will be a time of jubilation.  For mercy has flown down to us through our Redeemer’s blood.  The time of Great Tribulation is an ominous certainty for those who do not believe.  For as God says through Zephaniah 3:8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. (KJV)

 

I believe that there was a time when this certainty for the unbeliever was such a reality to believers that they actually lived their lives in such a way as to draw more to the gospel of Jesus.   If you question my statement I urge you to take a walk sometime around an old graveyard and see what is written on the old believers tombstones.  That “old way determination” came straight from their knowledge of the word.  From a desire, like their Lord’s, to see people saved from God’s determination to judge man’s sinful hearts.  That determination of the old time believers has encouraged me to be more for Jesus.  To live my life so those around me will see him.  What a process, what a Savoir. 

Determination:  The definition from Noah Webster 1828.  n. The act of determining or deciding.  2.  Decision of a question in the mind; firm resolution; settled purpose; as, they have acquainted me with their determination.  

*Mentioned only once in the Holy Bible:  Zephaniah 3:8

We are moving towards a judgment time.  It will come when Jesus comes for his church.  It begins then and ends when he returns to rule over his earthly kingdom.  There are many who think this statement a fairy tale, but for those who have been born again, it is very much a reality.  For us (who are born again), it will be a time of jubilation.  For mercy has flown down to us through our Redeemer’s blood.  The time of Great Tribulation is an ominous certainty for those who do not believe.  For as God says through Zephaniah 3:8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. (KJV)

 

I believe that there was a time when this certainty for the unbeliever was such a reality to believers that they actually lived their lives in such a way as to draw more to the gospel of Jesus.   If you question my statement I urge you to take a walk sometime around an old graveyard and see what is written on the old believers tombstones.  That “old way determination” came straight from their knowledge of the word.  From a desire, like their Lord’s, to see people saved from God’s determination to judge man’s sinful hearts.  That determination of the old time believers has encouraged me to be more for Jesus.  To live my life so those around me will see him.  What a process, what a Savoir. 

Couponing 102 Part 5: Should I Keep Track of My Savings?

Couponing 102 Part 5

Should I Keep Track of my Savings?

Yes, keeping track of your savings is a wonderful encouragement.  I have come away from a shop thinking I did poorly only to go home and find that I had a great one.  Couponing, to me anyway, becomes a game.  I am constantly trying to out do my previous savings.  It is also a job.  Since I am retired I have treated couponing as a way to bring in an income.  In the month of January I was able to save over $100 by using coupons.  I think that is a wonderful start to a new way of grocery shopping! 

I keep all of my reciepts in my binder. From the reciepts I am able to see which store has the best savings, which store I tend to spend the most at, and  I use them to update a excel spreadsheet that shows the money spent before the coupon total, and the after the coupon total.  Once again, it is a great motivator.

This post ends my coupon tutorials.  I am hoping to upload videos to enhance the teaching so that more of you will begin to have the same blessings that I have had while couponing.

Couponing 102 Part 5

Should I Keep Track of my Savings?

Yes, keeping track of your savings is a wonderful encouragement.  I have come away from a shop thinking I did poorly only to go home and find that I had a great one.  Couponing, to me anyway, becomes a game.  I am constantly trying to out do my previous savings.  It is also a job.  Since I am retired I have treated couponing as a way to bring in an income.  In the month of January I was able to save over $100 by using coupons.  I think that is a wonderful start to a new way of grocery shopping! 

I keep all of my reciepts in my binder. From the reciepts I am able to see which store has the best savings, which store I tend to spend the most at, and  I use them to update a excel spreadsheet that shows the money spent before the coupon total, and the after the coupon total.  Once again, it is a great motivator.

This post ends my coupon tutorials.  I am hoping to upload videos to enhance the teaching so that more of you will begin to have the same blessings that I have had while couponing.

Couponing 102 Part 4: How Do I Build My Stock-Pile?

Couponing 102 Part 4

How Do I Build up My Stockpile?

Building a stockpile from scratch can be overwhelming but just remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day.  You should start with a budget and decide how much of your budget should be devoted to your stock-pile or if you like, your pantry.  As you begin couponing you will notice that many coupons are for more than one product.  The excess of that purchase can go to your pantry. Watch for sales, combine the sale with your coupons and begin adding those purchases to your stockpile.   

This is where your stock-up price list will be handy.  When I first started I use the stock-up-price-list I found from the krazy coupon lady.  http://thekrazycouponlady.com/stock-up-price-list.pdf

I have over the past couple of months saved this stock-up-price-list to an excel spreadsheet that I have tweak to my categories.  I use the weekly fliers to build a buy price list that reflects the cost of items locally. 

The following list I found while searching the web for ideas on how to build my stock-pile.  I can’t for the life of me remember where I found it.  So, if it is yours I am truly sorry.    

January

• After Christmas Sales
• National Oatmeal Month
• National Beef Month
• National Meat Month
• National Tea Month
• National Soup Month
• Super Bowl

January is a good month to purchase winter clothes. You can catch sweaters and other cold weather gear as much as 70 percent off. You can also pick up Christmas wrap, bows and ribbon.
January is National Oatmeal Month. You can expect to find oatmeal BOGO (Buy One Get One free). It’s a good idea to buy year’s supply of oatmeal in January (or February for National Hot Breakfast Month). If you under calculate how much oatmeal your family will eat, don’t worry. Oatmeal will go on sale again in September for National Better Breakfast Month.
January is also the month to stock up on tea and canned soups. You can usually find these deeply discounted.

Keep an eye on the meat sales. If you have a pressure canner, set aside some time to put up meat.

January also brings Super Bowl sales. You can expect excellent prices on chips, salsa, soda and snacks.

February

• National Canned Food Month
• National Hot Breakfast Month
• National Snack Food Month
• National Cherry Month
• National Potato Lover’s Month
• Sweet Potato Month
• Celebration of Chocolate Month
• Valentines Day Sales
• Chinese New Year

Plan on purchasing breakfast foods like pancake mix and maple syrup in February. You can usually pick these up BOGO.
February is also a good month to restock your canned foods and boxed potatoes. You won’t likely see sales on canned foods and boxed potatoes again until November. So plan accordingly.
The Chinese New Year is celebrated in February. Promotions include soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, noodles and stir fry ingredients such as bamboo shoots and water chestnuts.

If you have a sweet tooth then you have probably already finished off your Christmas candy. Replenish your stock after Valentines Day. You can usually pick up chocolate and other candies for up to 70 percent off.

March

• St. Patrick’s Day
• National Red Cross Month
• National Noodle Month
• National Frozen Food Month
• National Peanut Month
• National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month
• National Celery Month
• National Flour Month
• Spring Cleaning

March is National Red Cross Month. If you have not already done so, March is a good time to sign up for a CPR/First-Aid Class. You can also expect to see some excellent sales on first-aid kits and other items. You can usually pick up band-aids at half price.

St. Patrick’s Day is in March so expect the best price of the year on corned beef. I plan on getting a couple extra and canning them.

March is also National Noodle Month—you can pick up all kinds of noodles BOGO. Frozen foods are also on sale.

Typically, March is an excellent month to purchase peanut butter. But given the bad peanut harvest in 2011, we may not see really good peanut butter sales until the back to school sales hit in August (and that’s if we have a mild winter in the South, and farmers can plant early).

March is also National Celery Month. I buy a dozen or so, chop them up and freeze them. (I can usually find them BOGO in March and then again in November.)

Flour goes on sale in March. Pick up enough to last you until the holiday baking sales kick into full swing in November.

In March, the worst of the winter is usually over and folks start thinking about spring cleaning. Expect to see all kind of cleaning products on sale.

April

• Easter
• Daylight Savings Time

There are not very many good grocery sales in April—think self-denial. No body wants to advertise indulgence during Lent.

There are some good non-grocery items on sale in April. Daylight Savings Time brings sales on batteries, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide monitors.

You can pick up hams half price, on sale for Easter dinner. Pick up a few because hams tend not to go on sale very often. April and December are the two months when you can find half price ham. So make sure you buy enough to last you through Christmas.

May

• Memorial Day Sales
• National Barbeque Month
• National Hamburger Month
• National Salsa Month
• National Strawberry Month
• National Salad Month

This is a great month to stock up on condiments. You will find mayonnaise, catsup, mustard, barbeque sauce, steak sauce, and other such products on sale BOGO. Newspaper inserts start running coupons for these products in April. Hold on to your coupons, and use them for the BOGO sale. (Most stores will let you use two coupons when buying BOGO items.)

If you miss a sale, don’t worry. Such items will go on sale again during the next two months. But do note that the sales on barbeque and picnic items are typically better in May than in June or July.

If you purchase pre-made hamburger patties, May is the month to stock up on them. You can usually find sales up to 40 percent off.

May is the best time to make strawberry this and that. Next year, I want to put up some strawberry jam.

Keep an eye out for picnic items such as paper plates and plastic utensils. Around the summer holidays, you can usually pick these up for half price.

June

• National Dairy Month
• National Iced Tea Month
• National Seafood Month
• Adopt-a-Cat Month

We are now half way through the year, and the stores of butter you put in your freezer from last Thanksgiving are running low. Count of some excellent sales on butter and other dairy products. Buy enough to last until November.

July

• Fourth of July
• National Hot Dog Month
• National Baked Bean Month
• National July Belongs to Blueberries Month

This is the best month to put up blueberries. I love blueberry jam and plan to put up at least 36 pints, more if the economy hasn’t complexly collapsed.

July is also the month to buy a year’s supply of hot dogs. At this time of the year, you can print off or clip coupons for $1 off Ballpark Franks. Use these coupons when Ballpark is BOGO, and you’ve just paid 75 cents for a package of hotdogs.

This is also the time of year to restock your year supply of baked beans. You can find all of the various brands on sale BOGO.

August

• Back to School Sales
• National Peach Month
• National Coffee Month

The back to school sales are usually pretty good. You can pick up products such as peanut butter, lunch meat, drink boxes and the like for half price. Ziplock bags usually go on sale too. And you can find all kinds of coupons for $1.

Hand sanitizers and disinfecting wipes also go on sale in August. Keep an eye on the coupon inserts and match up BOGO sales with coupons.

August is the time of year to put up peaches and peach jam. I would like to make some peach syrup. That just sounds awesome over pancakes.

You can also find coffee at it’s lowest prices of the year. My family likes Chock Full of Nuts which has been running about $12.99 for the large can. In August, I can find this brand for $6.99. Think “one year supply” here.

Summer items begin to go on clearance. Keep an eye out for charcoal, lighter fluid, paper plates and plastic utensils, sunscreen and insect repellant.

September

• Labor Day
• National Chicken Month
• National Honey Month
• National Better Breakfast Month
• National Mushroom Month
• National Rice Month
• National Preparedness Month

Labor Day marks the last of the summer barbeque sales. Make sure you have a year’s supply of hotdogs, catsup, mustard and the rest because such items rarely go on sale in fall and winter.

The best sales in the month of September are breakfast foods. You can find oatmeal, pancake mix, syrup, bacon, sausage, and other breakfast foods at rock bottom prices.

In September, I bring my supply of honey up to one-year levels. For the rest of the year, honey sales are hit and miss. The cheap made in China honey goes on sale frequently. The good stuff goes on sale in September.

Also, keep an eye out for summer clearance sales, especially on clothes. I live in Florida and wear summer clothes for at least 10 months out of the year. So I purchase summer clothes on clearance, and either give them as Christmas gifts or save them for next year. Check out online sites such as eddiebauer.com or llbean.com for 70 percent off sales. You can pick up high quality clothing at rock bottom prices.

October

• Halloween
• National Apple Month
• National Tomato Month
• National Pasta Month
• National Dessert Month
• National Seafood Month
• National Pork Month
• National Eat Country Ham Month
• National Chili Month
• Adopt-a-Dog Month

In October, all things apple go on sale—applesauce, apple juice, etc. This is the idea month to put up apple pie filling, apple butter and chutneys.

October is National Pasta Month. This is not that big of a deal, as pasta goes on sale frequently.

October is also National Tomato Month. Canned tomatoes and pasta sauce will also go on sale, as will ravioli and other such foods.

If you purchase canned chili, it usually goes on sale BOGO in October. And, of course, don’t forget about the candy sales.

October is also Adopt-a-Dog Month and dog food manufacturers have some good sales on dog food, especially Pedigree.

November

• Thanksgiving Sales

Save your money because in November you will find the best deals of the year on groceries. Baking goods such as butter, sugar, flour, chocolate chips, etc. go on sale.

The week of Thanksgiving is the best sales week of the year. Stores offer deep discounts to get you in the door. Shop carefully. The loss leaders are excellent. But keep a keen eye on prices because regular items are often marked up significantly.

Cool weather has begun in most of the United States. Expect sales on canned soups, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

December

• Christmas Sales

The holiday sales will continue through Christmas and New Years. I like to pick up several hams. I slice some into ham steaks and dice some as well. And then throw them in the freezer. This is also a good time to can ham. Make sure you buy enough to last you through Easter, as hams don’t go on sale that frequently.

Other items for Christmas dinner will be on sale as well—potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cornbread dressing, etc.

Couponing 102 Part 4

How Do I Build up My Stockpile?

Building a stockpile from scratch can be overwhelming but just remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day.  You should start with a budget and decide how much of your budget should be devoted to your stock-pile or if you like, your pantry.  As you begin couponing you will notice that many coupons are for more than one product.  The excess of that purchase can go to your pantry. Watch for sales, combine the sale with your coupons and begin adding those purchases to your stockpile.   

This is where your stock-up price list will be handy.  When I first started I use the stock-up-price-list I found from the krazy coupon lady.  http://thekrazycouponlady.com/stock-up-price-list.pdf

I have over the past couple of months saved this stock-up-price-list to an excel spreadsheet that I have tweak to my categories.  I use the weekly fliers to build a buy price list that reflects the cost of items locally. 

The following list I found while searching the web for ideas on how to build my stock-pile.  I can’t for the life of me remember where I found it.  So, if it is yours I am truly sorry.    

January

• After Christmas Sales
• National Oatmeal Month
• National Beef Month
• National Meat Month
• National Tea Month
• National Soup Month
• Super Bowl

January is a good month to purchase winter clothes. You can catch sweaters and other cold weather gear as much as 70 percent off. You can also pick up Christmas wrap, bows and ribbon.
January is National Oatmeal Month. You can expect to find oatmeal BOGO (Buy One Get One free). It’s a good idea to buy year’s supply of oatmeal in January (or February for National Hot Breakfast Month). If you under calculate how much oatmeal your family will eat, don’t worry. Oatmeal will go on sale again in September for National Better Breakfast Month.
January is also the month to stock up on tea and canned soups. You can usually find these deeply discounted.

Keep an eye on the meat sales. If you have a pressure canner, set aside some time to put up meat.

January also brings Super Bowl sales. You can expect excellent prices on chips, salsa, soda and snacks.

February

• National Canned Food Month
• National Hot Breakfast Month
• National Snack Food Month
• National Cherry Month
• National Potato Lover’s Month
• Sweet Potato Month
• Celebration of Chocolate Month
• Valentines Day Sales
• Chinese New Year

Plan on purchasing breakfast foods like pancake mix and maple syrup in February. You can usually pick these up BOGO.
February is also a good month to restock your canned foods and boxed potatoes. You won’t likely see sales on canned foods and boxed potatoes again until November. So plan accordingly.
The Chinese New Year is celebrated in February. Promotions include soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, noodles and stir fry ingredients such as bamboo shoots and water chestnuts.

If you have a sweet tooth then you have probably already finished off your Christmas candy. Replenish your stock after Valentines Day. You can usually pick up chocolate and other candies for up to 70 percent off.

March

• St. Patrick’s Day
• National Red Cross Month
• National Noodle Month
• National Frozen Food Month
• National Peanut Month
• National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month
• National Celery Month
• National Flour Month
• Spring Cleaning

March is National Red Cross Month. If you have not already done so, March is a good time to sign up for a CPR/First-Aid Class. You can also expect to see some excellent sales on first-aid kits and other items. You can usually pick up band-aids at half price.

St. Patrick’s Day is in March so expect the best price of the year on corned beef. I plan on getting a couple extra and canning them.

March is also National Noodle Month—you can pick up all kinds of noodles BOGO. Frozen foods are also on sale.

Typically, March is an excellent month to purchase peanut butter. But given the bad peanut harvest in 2011, we may not see really good peanut butter sales until the back to school sales hit in August (and that’s if we have a mild winter in the South, and farmers can plant early).

March is also National Celery Month. I buy a dozen or so, chop them up and freeze them. (I can usually find them BOGO in March and then again in November.)

Flour goes on sale in March. Pick up enough to last you until the holiday baking sales kick into full swing in November.

In March, the worst of the winter is usually over and folks start thinking about spring cleaning. Expect to see all kind of cleaning products on sale.

April

• Easter
• Daylight Savings Time

There are not very many good grocery sales in April—think self-denial. No body wants to advertise indulgence during Lent.

There are some good non-grocery items on sale in April. Daylight Savings Time brings sales on batteries, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide monitors.

You can pick up hams half price, on sale for Easter dinner. Pick up a few because hams tend not to go on sale very often. April and December are the two months when you can find half price ham. So make sure you buy enough to last you through Christmas.

May

• Memorial Day Sales
• National Barbeque Month
• National Hamburger Month
• National Salsa Month
• National Strawberry Month
• National Salad Month

This is a great month to stock up on condiments. You will find mayonnaise, catsup, mustard, barbeque sauce, steak sauce, and other such products on sale BOGO. Newspaper inserts start running coupons for these products in April. Hold on to your coupons, and use them for the BOGO sale. (Most stores will let you use two coupons when buying BOGO items.)

If you miss a sale, don’t worry. Such items will go on sale again during the next two months. But do note that the sales on barbeque and picnic items are typically better in May than in June or July.

If you purchase pre-made hamburger patties, May is the month to stock up on them. You can usually find sales up to 40 percent off.

May is the best time to make strawberry this and that. Next year, I want to put up some strawberry jam.

Keep an eye out for picnic items such as paper plates and plastic utensils. Around the summer holidays, you can usually pick these up for half price.

June

• National Dairy Month
• National Iced Tea Month
• National Seafood Month
• Adopt-a-Cat Month

We are now half way through the year, and the stores of butter you put in your freezer from last Thanksgiving are running low. Count of some excellent sales on butter and other dairy products. Buy enough to last until November.

July

• Fourth of July
• National Hot Dog Month
• National Baked Bean Month
• National July Belongs to Blueberries Month

This is the best month to put up blueberries. I love blueberry jam and plan to put up at least 36 pints, more if the economy hasn’t complexly collapsed.

July is also the month to buy a year’s supply of hot dogs. At this time of the year, you can print off or clip coupons for $1 off Ballpark Franks. Use these coupons when Ballpark is BOGO, and you’ve just paid 75 cents for a package of hotdogs.

This is also the time of year to restock your year supply of baked beans. You can find all of the various brands on sale BOGO.

August

• Back to School Sales
• National Peach Month
• National Coffee Month

The back to school sales are usually pretty good. You can pick up products such as peanut butter, lunch meat, drink boxes and the like for half price. Ziplock bags usually go on sale too. And you can find all kinds of coupons for $1.

Hand sanitizers and disinfecting wipes also go on sale in August. Keep an eye on the coupon inserts and match up BOGO sales with coupons.

August is the time of year to put up peaches and peach jam. I would like to make some peach syrup. That just sounds awesome over pancakes.

You can also find coffee at it’s lowest prices of the year. My family likes Chock Full of Nuts which has been running about $12.99 for the large can. In August, I can find this brand for $6.99. Think “one year supply” here.

Summer items begin to go on clearance. Keep an eye out for charcoal, lighter fluid, paper plates and plastic utensils, sunscreen and insect repellant.

September

• Labor Day
• National Chicken Month
• National Honey Month
• National Better Breakfast Month
• National Mushroom Month
• National Rice Month
• National Preparedness Month

Labor Day marks the last of the summer barbeque sales. Make sure you have a year’s supply of hotdogs, catsup, mustard and the rest because such items rarely go on sale in fall and winter.

The best sales in the month of September are breakfast foods. You can find oatmeal, pancake mix, syrup, bacon, sausage, and other breakfast foods at rock bottom prices.

In September, I bring my supply of honey up to one-year levels. For the rest of the year, honey sales are hit and miss. The cheap made in China honey goes on sale frequently. The good stuff goes on sale in September.

Also, keep an eye out for summer clearance sales, especially on clothes. I live in Florida and wear summer clothes for at least 10 months out of the year. So I purchase summer clothes on clearance, and either give them as Christmas gifts or save them for next year. Check out online sites such as eddiebauer.com or llbean.com for 70 percent off sales. You can pick up high quality clothing at rock bottom prices.

October

• Halloween
• National Apple Month
• National Tomato Month
• National Pasta Month
• National Dessert Month
• National Seafood Month
• National Pork Month
• National Eat Country Ham Month
• National Chili Month
• Adopt-a-Dog Month

In October, all things apple go on sale—applesauce, apple juice, etc. This is the idea month to put up apple pie filling, apple butter and chutneys.

October is National Pasta Month. This is not that big of a deal, as pasta goes on sale frequently.

October is also National Tomato Month. Canned tomatoes and pasta sauce will also go on sale, as will ravioli and other such foods.

If you purchase canned chili, it usually goes on sale BOGO in October. And, of course, don’t forget about the candy sales.

October is also Adopt-a-Dog Month and dog food manufacturers have some good sales on dog food, especially Pedigree.

November

• Thanksgiving Sales

Save your money because in November you will find the best deals of the year on groceries. Baking goods such as butter, sugar, flour, chocolate chips, etc. go on sale.

The week of Thanksgiving is the best sales week of the year. Stores offer deep discounts to get you in the door. Shop carefully. The loss leaders are excellent. But keep a keen eye on prices because regular items are often marked up significantly.

Cool weather has begun in most of the United States. Expect sales on canned soups, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

December

• Christmas Sales

The holiday sales will continue through Christmas and New Years. I like to pick up several hams. I slice some into ham steaks and dice some as well. And then throw them in the freezer. This is also a good time to can ham. Make sure you buy enough to last you through Easter, as hams don’t go on sale that frequently.

Other items for Christmas dinner will be on sale as well—potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cornbread dressing, etc.

Couponing 102 Part 3: How Do I Read The Weekly Ads?

Couponing 102 Part 3

How Do I Read The Weekly Ads?

Ok, I want to admitt something to you.  Before I started couponing I never even looked at a sales flier.  I was the one who set down made out a menu for the week then went about creating a grocery list.  Crazy, but true.  Now I realize that it takes some understanding of how the marketing team creates a flier.  Many times an item is listed in the flier that isn't on sale. However, they most all follow the same rule in their ads.  You will find the best deals on the first and last pages of the flier.  Stores will also always have a loss leader on their fliers (a product that the store is willing to take a loss on in hopes that you will do all of your shopping with them).  Your attention should remain on the first and last pages as you create your list.

Whatever meat is listed on the front page is usually going to be your best deal of the week. Planning your meals according to those sales will help you  purchase your meat for the week at the lowest price out there. The other items on the front and last page will help you add to your weekly menu and also allow you to buy items for your stockpile at a lower cost. The back page of a sales flier will generally have produce on it. Plan your produce for the week based on what is on the best sales on the back page.  Remember that your freezer can be a wonderful tool for stock-up items, when buying at a low price, and repackaging when you get home.

The inside of the circulars have smaller pictures and smaller products. Make sure you read everything and look at the pictures closely. You can usually count on the items shown in the picture being the exact ones on sale, but not always, so be prepared for that reality when you get to the store. It is frustrating though when the ad says that Daisy sour cream is on sale and shows a picture of regular sour cream, light sour cream and fat free sour cream. Then you get to the store and only the regular is on sale. The ad will usually say something like assorted varieties or varieties vary. Meaning you don't know until you get to the store which ones are on sale.

Your sales ad will be divided up into sections; canned goods, refrigerated products, health and beauty, etc. This does make it easier to read. When I read store fliers I always have my stock-up price list beside me so I can check to see if the sale is really a good price for the item. Example: is the frozen pizza on sale 2 for $10 a good deal. I have noticed since I started reading the sales fliers each week my memory of previous sales alerts me to this. Don't buy items that you aren't on sale (and a coupon to match that sale) unless you absolutely need that item. You will find that it will be on a better sale again soon and you should just wait and stock up at that time.

Sales vary a ridiculous amount - from being listed on sale but actually still being full price - to being a loss leader, and of course everything in between. Reading the sales fliers carefully each week will get you familiar with the different sales offered on products, so you will know when a really good deal comes along. And when it comes along, you should stock up as much as possible to last until the next really good deal comes along. It won't be long; most sales run on 6 week cycles. Over time you will start to realize which items seem to always be on a great sale and which items seem to rarely go on sale.

One of the tricks a grocery store sales flier will try to play is instead of listing the item $1 each, they list it 10 for $10. They are trying to get you to believe that you need to buy 10 of them to get the sale price. (I do however shop at Gerbes and they often have sales where you are to buy 10 items within the sale to get them at a sale price. I have got to register and realized that I was 1 item short and was charged the full price of all the items.  So be diligent in your study of the store flier). This is almost always not the case and you can treat these sales as if they were $1 per item sales. The same goes when something is listed 2 for $5, the items are really just $2.50 each and you can buy however many you would like.

Buy one get one free (B1G1) sales can be so confusing. Sometimes the ad will state that you have to buy two to get the sale price. Many times though, you can purchase just one and get that item at half price. So, is the store selling the B1G1 product at half off or do you have to actually buy two products to get one free. Once again, study your flier. Know your options and if you aren't sure, just ask the clerk checking out your groceries.

Knowing and reading your coupons is so important. I try to shop at a store that doubles coupons or a store where you can print thier store coupons on line to stack with your manufacture coupons.  Target is one of those stores that have thier own coupons. Knowing how to read your coupons will help you to read your store sales flier better. All those products on the inside pages that are on sale, but not great deals can quickly become great deals when you have a coupon. A $.50 off coupon doubled, gives you $1 off of the item. This is why you should analyze your sales fliers carefully. I have my coupon binder by me while I go through the sales ad so that I can match the sales items I need with a coupon. 

Every couponer has thier own way of preparing thier couponbase.  I buy 1 sunday paper for every member in my family.  I correlate the inserts, putting like pages together, and cut my coupons out.  Then I have made index cards to match my categories.  As I cut out my coupons I place them on the index cards for easy filing into my binder. I then take my store fliers, my coupon binder, and the list I have prepared from www.couponmom.com , www.savingatthelake.com , or www.southernsavers.com to build my shopping lists.

I shop at varies stores each shopping trip.  I have 2 grocery stores that I pick up meat, produce, and dairy from depending on who has the best sale.  And then I hit the chain stores to pick up stock up items for the pantry.  Since I am retired now I make a day out of it.  I just throw a freezer bag I got from Sam's in the trunk and put perishable stuff in there while I run to the other stores.

I think that being willing to shop at more than one store and comparing the sales fliers to each other I  save the most money on my grocery bill. Try hard to read the sales fliers every week so that you are familiar with the great sales, the good sales and the not so good sales. Also get organized before you hit the store. There is nothing worse than standing in the middle of an aisle trying to read the sales flier and then trying to see if you have a coupon to match to it. Taking the time ahead of time will make your shopping experience easy and quick. Knowing how to read your sales flies will help you save the most money at the grocery store.

Couponing 102 Part 3

How Do I Read The Weekly Ads?

Ok, I want to admitt something to you.  Before I started couponing I never even looked at a sales flier.  I was the one who set down made out a menu for the week then went about creating a grocery list.  Crazy, but true.  Now I realize that it takes some understanding of how the marketing team creates a flier.  Many times an item is listed in the flier that isn't on sale. However, they most all follow the same rule in their ads.  You will find the best deals on the first and last pages of the flier.  Stores will also always have a loss leader on their fliers (a product that the store is willing to take a loss on in hopes that you will do all of your shopping with them).  Your attention should remain on the first and last pages as you create your list.

Whatever meat is listed on the front page is usually going to be your best deal of the week. Planning your meals according to those sales will help you  purchase your meat for the week at the lowest price out there. The other items on the front and last page will help you add to your weekly menu and also allow you to buy items for your stockpile at a lower cost. The back page of a sales flier will generally have produce on it. Plan your produce for the week based on what is on the best sales on the back page.  Remember that your freezer can be a wonderful tool for stock-up items, when buying at a low price, and repackaging when you get home.

The inside of the circulars have smaller pictures and smaller products. Make sure you read everything and look at the pictures closely. You can usually count on the items shown in the picture being the exact ones on sale, but not always, so be prepared for that reality when you get to the store. It is frustrating though when the ad says that Daisy sour cream is on sale and shows a picture of regular sour cream, light sour cream and fat free sour cream. Then you get to the store and only the regular is on sale. The ad will usually say something like assorted varieties or varieties vary. Meaning you don't know until you get to the store which ones are on sale.

Your sales ad will be divided up into sections; canned goods, refrigerated products, health and beauty, etc. This does make it easier to read. When I read store fliers I always have my stock-up price list beside me so I can check to see if the sale is really a good price for the item. Example: is the frozen pizza on sale 2 for $10 a good deal. I have noticed since I started reading the sales fliers each week my memory of previous sales alerts me to this. Don't buy items that you aren't on sale (and a coupon to match that sale) unless you absolutely need that item. You will find that it will be on a better sale again soon and you should just wait and stock up at that time.

Sales vary a ridiculous amount - from being listed on sale but actually still being full price - to being a loss leader, and of course everything in between. Reading the sales fliers carefully each week will get you familiar with the different sales offered on products, so you will know when a really good deal comes along. And when it comes along, you should stock up as much as possible to last until the next really good deal comes along. It won't be long; most sales run on 6 week cycles. Over time you will start to realize which items seem to always be on a great sale and which items seem to rarely go on sale.

One of the tricks a grocery store sales flier will try to play is instead of listing the item $1 each, they list it 10 for $10. They are trying to get you to believe that you need to buy 10 of them to get the sale price. (I do however shop at Gerbes and they often have sales where you are to buy 10 items within the sale to get them at a sale price. I have got to register and realized that I was 1 item short and was charged the full price of all the items.  So be diligent in your study of the store flier). This is almost always not the case and you can treat these sales as if they were $1 per item sales. The same goes when something is listed 2 for $5, the items are really just $2.50 each and you can buy however many you would like.

Buy one get one free (B1G1) sales can be so confusing. Sometimes the ad will state that you have to buy two to get the sale price. Many times though, you can purchase just one and get that item at half price. So, is the store selling the B1G1 product at half off or do you have to actually buy two products to get one free. Once again, study your flier. Know your options and if you aren't sure, just ask the clerk checking out your groceries.

Knowing and reading your coupons is so important. I try to shop at a store that doubles coupons or a store where you can print thier store coupons on line to stack with your manufacture coupons.  Target is one of those stores that have thier own coupons. Knowing how to read your coupons will help you to read your store sales flier better. All those products on the inside pages that are on sale, but not great deals can quickly become great deals when you have a coupon. A $.50 off coupon doubled, gives you $1 off of the item. This is why you should analyze your sales fliers carefully. I have my coupon binder by me while I go through the sales ad so that I can match the sales items I need with a coupon. 

Every couponer has thier own way of preparing thier couponbase.  I buy 1 sunday paper for every member in my family.  I correlate the inserts, putting like pages together, and cut my coupons out.  Then I have made index cards to match my categories.  As I cut out my coupons I place them on the index cards for easy filing into my binder. I then take my store fliers, my coupon binder, and the list I have prepared from www.couponmom.com , www.savingatthelake.com , or www.southernsavers.com to build my shopping lists.

I shop at varies stores each shopping trip.  I have 2 grocery stores that I pick up meat, produce, and dairy from depending on who has the best sale.  And then I hit the chain stores to pick up stock up items for the pantry.  Since I am retired now I make a day out of it.  I just throw a freezer bag I got from Sam's in the trunk and put perishable stuff in there while I run to the other stores.

I think that being willing to shop at more than one store and comparing the sales fliers to each other I  save the most money on my grocery bill. Try hard to read the sales fliers every week so that you are familiar with the great sales, the good sales and the not so good sales. Also get organized before you hit the store. There is nothing worse than standing in the middle of an aisle trying to read the sales flier and then trying to see if you have a coupon to match to it. Taking the time ahead of time will make your shopping experience easy and quick. Knowing how to read your sales flies will help you save the most money at the grocery store.

Couponing 102 Part 2: How Do I Prepare For Shopping?

Couponing 102 Part

How Do I Prepare For Shopping?

Get yourself organized

·        Create a Grocery Check List based on what is on sale and the coupons that you have collected.  I find that using www.couponmom.com, and www.southernsavers.com helps with this.  These sites do all the work for you and are easy to use.

    Here is another option for helping with a list.  http://www.mygrocerychecklist.com/

·         Have your store ads along with your inserts handy

·         Log into your blog (example. www.couponmom.com and I also use a blog here at the Lake www.savingatthelake.com that helps with the local grocery store)

1.      choose your store

2.      make your list of sale items, saving atleast 40% is what you want to shoot for

3.    print your list

4.      Combine store sales with coupons

How Do I Shop?

          

·     Be Prepared. I find that the more prepared I am the better my shop goes.

·     Shop with a Partner.  Shop with another Couponer, there is strength in numbers.  However, you might find it less stressful at first to go it alone. 

·     Know your list and your coupons.  I shop more than one store so I make sure to have the coupons for that store attached to that store's grocery list.

·    Take your coupon base.  I always take my binder with me; you never know when you will find an item on clearance that you have a coupon for.  I love it when that happens.

·     Rain checks.  If an item on sale at the store is out of stock, get a rain check. (not every store will give out rainchecks.  Be sure to check your store's coupon policy and the sale ad.  If it states "while products last" the store won't give a raincheck)

·    Buy small.  If the coupon says "off any size" then buy the smallest size. This is usually a better price deal, but not always so, do the math.

·     Be flexible.  There will come a time when the store doesn’t have the item you have a coupon for or you will get to the shelve to find it empty.  Don’t fret.  I have been able to buy items a week or so later after the start of the sale. Remember, sales are on a 6 week cycle.

·    Organize your basket.  I try and make sure that every coupon I have matches perfectly with the items.   Reviewing saves time at the register.

·    Choosing the right cashier.  Yes, it does make a difference.  Look for one that seems friendly and doesn’t have a long line of impatient shoppers. 

·    Watch the sale.  You will want to keep track as much as possible during check out making sure all of your coupons have been scanned. 

·    Pat yourself on the back.  Yes, it is a lot of work but well worth the effort.  Give yourself a pat on the back for you labor. 

Couponing 102 Part

How Do I Prepare For Shopping?

Get yourself organized

·        Create a Grocery Check List based on what is on sale and the coupons that you have collected.  I find that using www.couponmom.com, and www.southernsavers.com helps with this.  These sites do all the work for you and are easy to use.

    Here is another option for helping with a list.  http://www.mygrocerychecklist.com/

·         Have your store ads along with your inserts handy

·         Log into your blog (example. www.couponmom.com and I also use a blog here at the Lake www.savingatthelake.com that helps with the local grocery store)

1.      choose your store

2.      make your list of sale items, saving atleast 40% is what you want to shoot for

3.    print your list

4.      Combine store sales with coupons

How Do I Shop?

          

·     Be Prepared. I find that the more prepared I am the better my shop goes.

·     Shop with a Partner.  Shop with another Couponer, there is strength in numbers.  However, you might find it less stressful at first to go it alone. 

·     Know your list and your coupons.  I shop more than one store so I make sure to have the coupons for that store attached to that store's grocery list.

·    Take your coupon base.  I always take my binder with me; you never know when you will find an item on clearance that you have a coupon for.  I love it when that happens.

·     Rain checks.  If an item on sale at the store is out of stock, get a rain check. (not every store will give out rainchecks.  Be sure to check your store's coupon policy and the sale ad.  If it states "while products last" the store won't give a raincheck)

·    Buy small.  If the coupon says "off any size" then buy the smallest size. This is usually a better price deal, but not always so, do the math.

·     Be flexible.  There will come a time when the store doesn’t have the item you have a coupon for or you will get to the shelve to find it empty.  Don’t fret.  I have been able to buy items a week or so later after the start of the sale. Remember, sales are on a 6 week cycle.

·    Organize your basket.  I try and make sure that every coupon I have matches perfectly with the items.   Reviewing saves time at the register.

·    Choosing the right cashier.  Yes, it does make a difference.  Look for one that seems friendly and doesn’t have a long line of impatient shoppers. 

·    Watch the sale.  You will want to keep track as much as possible during check out making sure all of your coupons have been scanned. 

·    Pat yourself on the back.  Yes, it is a lot of work but well worth the effort.  Give yourself a pat on the back for you labor. 

Couponing 102 Part 1: How Do I Organize My Coupon Database?

Couponing 102 Part 1 

            To be successful at couponing you need to build a coupon database and a stockpile. 

How do I organize my coupon database?  (Inserts from Newspapers, Smart Source, Red Plum, General Mills, Proctor and Gamble)

The following are two popular ways to do this:

1.     Take your inserts from your papers and put like pages together.  The idea is to make a booklet by correlating your # of paper inserts together.  Then either staple or clip them into a booklet.  At the top of the booklet you have created, write the date of the Sunday paper.  Do this for each different insert (Smart Source, Red Plum, General Mills, or Proctor and Gamble) and then file them in an accordion file or box.

2.  Another option is to take your inserts from your papers and put like pages together then cut them out to put in a coupon binder.  I prefer this way.  As I am cutting them out I only save the coupons that I will use and I put the others in a bag to be mail to the military families.  

Coupon Binder

Categories for your coupons (the following is an example, you will find that you will need to tweak your categories to represent your family).  I also have sub-categories.  I use small labels for this that I can easily put on each pocket of my 9 pocket coupon page.

1. Business Card Page, for store cards
2. Refund/rebate forms (this page has 3 large pockets)
3. Baking Items
4. Beverages
5. Body Care
6. Breads
7. Canned Foods
8. Cereals
9. Cleaning
10. Condiments
11. Dairy
12. Frozen Food
13. Meats (packaged)
14. Medicine
15. Misc.
16. Oral Care
17. Paper/Plastic
18. Pasta/Rice
19. Pets
20. Salad Stuff
21. Snacks

· Use a small phone/address book as a price book and keep it in the binder.

· Put dark paper in the pockets to enable the use of both sides of the pages.

· Use zipper/pencil pouch for scissors, marker, notepad, and calculator

· Plastic color file folders for your stores ex.Wal-Mart, Dollar General etc. these come in handy to hold store coupons, and the store ads

Store Ads (from newspapers or from the store)

          Right the sale date in the right hands corner this is useful in correlating with your coupons, I put mine in the store folders.

Receipts

·         File by store

·         Use to set up buy list or Stock-up buy list
·    Use to see the savings you have made during shops

Couponing 102 Part 1 

            To be successful at couponing you need to build a coupon database and a stockpile. 

How do I organize my coupon database?  (Inserts from Newspapers, Smart Source, Red Plum, General Mills, Proctor and Gamble)

The following are two popular ways to do this:

1.     Take your inserts from your papers and put like pages together.  The idea is to make a booklet by correlating your # of paper inserts together.  Then either staple or clip them into a booklet.  At the top of the booklet you have created, write the date of the Sunday paper.  Do this for each different insert (Smart Source, Red Plum, General Mills, or Proctor and Gamble) and then file them in an accordion file or box.

2.  Another option is to take your inserts from your papers and put like pages together then cut them out to put in a coupon binder.  I prefer this way.  As I am cutting them out I only save the coupons that I will use and I put the others in a bag to be mail to the military families.  

Coupon Binder

Categories for your coupons (the following is an example, you will find that you will need to tweak your categories to represent your family).  I also have sub-categories.  I use small labels for this that I can easily put on each pocket of my 9 pocket coupon page.

1. Business Card Page, for store cards
2. Refund/rebate forms (this page has 3 large pockets)
3. Baking Items
4. Beverages
5. Body Care
6. Breads
7. Canned Foods
8. Cereals
9. Cleaning
10. Condiments
11. Dairy
12. Frozen Food
13. Meats (packaged)
14. Medicine
15. Misc.
16. Oral Care
17. Paper/Plastic
18. Pasta/Rice
19. Pets
20. Salad Stuff
21. Snacks

· Use a small phone/address book as a price book and keep it in the binder.

· Put dark paper in the pockets to enable the use of both sides of the pages.

· Use zipper/pencil pouch for scissors, marker, notepad, and calculator

· Plastic color file folders for your stores ex.Wal-Mart, Dollar General etc. these come in handy to hold store coupons, and the store ads

Store Ads (from newspapers or from the store)

          Right the sale date in the right hands corner this is useful in correlating with your coupons, I put mine in the store folders.

Receipts

·         File by store

·         Use to set up buy list or Stock-up buy list
·    Use to see the savings you have made during shops