coupons
Envelope Coupon System – Save Money On Food
Using the envelope system (or money jar budgeting system) for your budget is a wise idea. Using the same system for money saving coupons is also a great idea! Take a few envelopes or a small purse-sized accordion file (I bought mine at the dollar store) and organize your coupons.
Before you go grocery shopping, consider looking at your coupons while you make your shopping list. Do this while you check the newspaper flyers for sales and great deals. When you can find a deal on something that you’ve also got a coupon for, this can help the savings really add up!
Looking at your list of coupons weekly can make it easier to save money instead of letting the coupons expire and organizing them by the type of coupon you have in the file will also make it easier to sift through your coupons to get ready to shop. Consider coupon swapping with friends as well in order to get more coupons you’ll actually use on your favourite brands.
After your list is ready, use a paper clip to attach your coupons to the list and off you go! Don’t forget to bring your coupon envelope with you in case there’s an extra unadvertised deal when you’re at the grocery store.
Bonus Budget Tip:
When you get home, figure out how much you saved and physically add that money to an extra jar or envelope that’s a slush fund for your holidays, a big ticket purchase or even just for your rainy day fund.
A lot of people save $20 or more weekly on their grocery shopping with their coupons. Keep in mind that it can be tempting to buy something just becuase you have a coupon. Carefully determine whether:
a) you need the item
and
b) whether the discount really makes the purchase worthwhile.
Happy Couponing!
Money Bytes: The Internet Can Help You Get Canadian Freebies
The internet is a great source of money saving tips and advice. If you’re in Canada, here are two great resources for you:
1. Great Canadian Forum. Formerly Canadian Freebies and Stuff. This forum is filled with useful tips and freebies, contests and free samples information for Canadians. I’ve signed up with all sorts of free programs and received loads of freebies from this site.
2. Save.ca is a website that allows you to select coupons you want mailed to you. This is great, especially if you don’t have a printer. A lot of online sites allow you to print coupons but Save.ca mails them to your house within a few business days. There are usually a few dozen to choose from and some are quite valuable with several dollars off items as well as buy one get one free deals.
A lot of companies will let you opt in to their site and provide updates of contests, free samples, product surveys and other useful info plus provide perks such as free magazines as well
You’ll find lots of free sources of great information online regardless of where you live. Do some searches on freebies and see what comes up. It might be your lucky day!
Saving Money On Groceries: Planning Essentials
When you spend a lot of money on groceries but find you haven’t got enough to feed the family for two weeks it can be frustrating. This happens with lack of planning. Spending thirty minutes a week planning meals, making a shopping list and clipping coupons can do more than save you money, it can save you time and frustration as well.
Not only does a weekly shopping tip save you money on food but it’ll save money on gas as well.
Tips for minimizing shopping hassle while saving money:
-Gather grocery store flyers, scissors and an envelope for coupons
-Make note of how much is available in your money jar for groceries
-Peruse the flyers for sales items to help you plan your menu
-Plan your menu for a specified number of days that coincides with your budget amount
-Figure out how much you’re saving with coupon use. (Read the linked post to find out what to do with those savings!)
Not only will you save time and stick to your money jar budget but you’ll enjoy it during the week. It’s nice to have less stress by making some double duty meals as well. (You might even consider ordering an e-book with 100 days of meal planning)