How I Have Time for Couponing

Welcome back!

I have heard it 1000 times.  “I don’t have time for couponing.”  That is what many people say and honestly I could say the same thing.  With a 9 month old, a 2 year old, a 5 year old and working from home I don’t really have “time” either.  But I believe that anything that saves me time or money is worth doing.  Couponing saves me money and since I’ve gotten serious about it, for approximately two months now, I have seen even bigger savings than ever.  To date since March 1, 2009 I have saved $226.  That’s a big savings amount to me.

So, just how do I have time for couponing?  Well, over the past two months I’ve developed some strategies.  I enjoy routine and I like to have a plan.  I believe that with a plan you can accomplish just about anything.  So, first I started reading more couponing or frugal blogs.  I already had a few favorites but quickly found more.  I read:

Deal Seeking Mom

The Centisble Sawyer

$5 Dollar Dinners

Bargain Briana

Then in addition to reading some great frugal blogs I also hang out and find great coupons and deals over at A Full Cup.com ‘the forum site for couponers.  I even became a supporting member because of how much the place had truly helped me.

Finally, at the advice of many of the bloggers and the folks on the forums I created for myself a coupon binder.  This is a huge lifesaver.  Yes, it took me some time to develop mine and some time to put it together as well as time each week to add the coupons, but the organization it provides is priceless.

I do clip coupons and I clip weekly.  I have been getting the paper for several weeks now and will clip the coupons from there.  I usually clip them on Saturday.  I also print coupons as I see some that I need when I’m reading the blogs that I read many times they will point out the high value printables and I”ll print them and stack them with my inserts to clip at my “clipping time”.  I have developed the routine of clipping at one set time.  Last weekend I clipped on Saturday morning.  This week we had a trip out of town to the doctor for my son and I took the coupons with me and clipped on the ride down there as my husband was driving.  My husband was super impressed with how many coupons I had after clipping through just one ALL YOU magazine that I had picked up at Walmart on Thursday.  I am getting a subscription to all you from a Southern Living rep, Lori, because it is a significant discount.  $17.99 for 2 years. I normally pay about $2.49 in Walmart each month for the magazine.

Stay tuned for another post on “How I Plan to Use my Coupons Each Week”.  I’d love to hear how you fit couponing into your busy schedule.

photo credit: lvngwell