Shopping the Sales Cycles:
Learn when is the best time to pay some of the lowest prices of the year with a Sale Cycle List. Certain items are on sale during certain holidays, in-season produce is cheaper, and there are clearances on seasonal items. Knowing when products will be at their lowest prices and combining them with coupons allows you to stock up and save bunches of money.
The Sale Cycle List shows you all the monthly holidays which usually dictates what type of products you can expect to see sales on for that month. Also included is a list of produce that is in season for that month as well as sale items you can expect along with clearances & seasonal sale items.
Before You Begin:
There is a vocabulary all its own for the couponing world. To navigate the different savings, coupon, and sales matching sites, getting familiar with the lingo is a necessity. Check the Savings Vocabulary List to help you get started.
Look at the Coupon List to learn where to start looking for coupons.
You will need a good pair of scissors (or paper cutter), a binder or organizers, 2 notebooks/notepads for lists, different colored pens, access to a printer, and a sturdy bag to carry your ads and coupons in. It is also helpful to be aware of your store's Coupon Policy before you shop. Some stores allow you to stack coupons (for example: use a SC and a MC for 1 item).
Organize your flyers or you can go to each store site where you plan to shop and make an electronic list that you can print or email to yourself and then print.
Savings 101
When to Buy:
Once you have a stocked pantry base (essentials like pasta, rice, condiments, canned goods, and baking supplies), you will be able to really start couponing and saving lots of money. You never buy anything unecessary unless it is on sale and you have a coupon or great deal without a coupon. Checking your sales flyers, coupon lists, and rebate programs to get the best deal will save you money. While you are doing this, write a list of the items you want to buy and note the amounts, coupons, and rebates by each item. I also separate my weekly coupons by store in a separate organizer. Checking online for Sales Matchups is an easy way to see what deals you want quickly. You can check the Coupon Database to match coupons to the sales.