Couponing 101: Creating and Organizing your list
Make sure you read all of the Couponing 101 Series here.
So you are all ready to start planning your coupon trip. These are the steps that I go through while planning my shopping trip.
Creating the list
With a memory like mine, having a list is essential. I would be lost without it. Without a list, I would have to wander through the store, probably twice – wasting time and money from loading unnecessary items in my cart.
Shopping list = money saved
I make my list a little differently than some people. I like to use Steno Pads to write my list. (If you don’t have a steno pad you can also just draw a line down the middle!) I have a different list for each store that I plan to go to.
The first thing I do is I go to this week’s ad match ups. If it has a stock up symbol I add that item to my list (on the left hand side). On the right hand side I put important information (for example, must buy 2 or part of a spend $10 get $5 ECB promotion). You will notice some (c) marks next to some of the item names on my list. Each (c) represents a coupon. This makes it easy to count how many coupons I should have and double check that I have them all.
I gather and print my coupons at the same time I add items to my list! I put them in an envelope with the store’s name on the front.
After I list the stock up items I go back and add any other items that I need that week. This is where meal planning and keeping a stocked pantry helps you keep your money in your pocket! (Don’t worry a meal planning series is coming after the couponing series finishes!) 🙂
Then I fold up my list, add it to the envelope and stick the envelope into my Couponizer. Everything that I need for the store is inside the envelope. Organized and convenient.
Check back tomorrow for setting up coupon transactions!
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