Filing system

No shopping for a few days - so thought I'd post the info about my coupon "filing" systems.

Uncut coupons - These are for my un-cut inserts. They are filed by date & insert (6/1 RP, 6/1 SS, 6/1 GM). I just go through and clip the ones that I know I will use. Then I file them so that when a sale comes around I just go back through and clip the ones I need for the sale.These are also portable - so I can pick up the crate and take it to a different room when I wanna clip. I usually will go through each insert and staple each of same pages together so I can clip "in bulk". This comes in handy when I get 20 (or more) of each insert from Dumpster Diving.

Cut & Filed coupons - These are the coupons I've actually clipped. I have them sorted into envelopes by category. The lid snaps closed on all 4 sides, in case the box gets dropped (which happens too often I'm afraid). If I have leftover coupons that I had clipped for a sale I end up filing them in here - among the ones for the items I'm always buying.

Unfiled, Uncut, & Receipts - These are the ones that I've cut (or need to cut - like IP) and need to file. The wipes box on the left is how I "file" my receipts. When I get home from shopping I stack them in here, then at the end of each month I put the receipts into an envelope. This makes it easier to go back and look for a receipt if I need it for a rebate or something.

This filing system works for me. The only time I don't like it is when I'm at the store and find something on clearance that I KNOW there's a coupon out for. With the cost of gas, it's not worth it to go home & clip the coupon and then go back out to the store.

June 3rd, 2008 - Meijers & Target

My husband got off work early because of the weather, so I had some "free" time without the kids.

I ran to Meijers to try some of the current catalina promotions, stock up 11 for $10 items while there was still stock, use up some free coupons, & use a raincheck. I also needed some more fruit in the house. I walked out with:

• 7 bags Chex Mix ($1 sale, $1 cpns or $0.50 cpns doubled)
• 3 Sprite 2 Ltrs (raincheck $0.88, $1 off winetags)
• 8 Purina Carvers dog treats ($3.25 sale, mfr coupons for free items)
• 1 tub Meow mix cat food ($0.52 sale, mfr coupon for free item)
• 8 Purina Chew-Eez lickity Sticks ($0.99 sale, cat deal - Buy 4, get $4 cat)
• 1 16oz bag Purina cat chow ($1.89 sale, mfr coupon for free item)
• 1.87 lbs bananas ($0.94 sale, $1 winetag)
• 1 cucumber ($0.67 sale, $1 winetag)
• 1.03 lbs apricots ($1.02 sale, $1 winetag)
• 1.23 lbs nectarines ($1.40 sale, $1 winetag)
• 1.38 lbs peaches ($1.57 sale, $1 winetag)
• 4 lbs strawberries ($2 sale each, $1 winetag each)

I had some other items but they didn't accept my coupons for them - so I returned them. After netting my shopping receipt with the receipt for the return THEY PAID ME $0.55!!!

I stopped at Target on the way home to get some more razors & try the Pantene gift card deal. I got:

• 1 Venus Embrace razor ($9.44 sale, $4 mfr cpn, $2 Target cpn, B2G $10 gift card deal)
• 1 Gillette Fusion Power razor ($7.99 sale, $4 mfr cpn, B2G $10 gift card deal)
• 2 Pantene shampoo bonus packs - 16 oz shampoo w/ 2 trial sizes attached ($3.79 sale, $1.50 mfr cpn, B3G $5 gift card deal)
• 1 Pantene conditioner bonus pack - 16 oz shampoo w/ 2 trial sizes attached ($3.79 sale, $1.50 mfr cpn, B3G $5 gift card deal)

I paid $15.19 using my card gift earned yesterday. And I just earned $15 more in gift cards from this order.

I had a frustrating experience with a manager (2 actually) at Meijer - but in the end today's trip worked out in my favor anyway!

June 2nd, 2008 - Target

I went to Target to try out a few of their gift card promos that are active this week.




I got:

• 6 bags Dove chocolate (sale $2.50, used (3) B1G1F cpns, (3) $1.50/1 cpns)
• 4 bags Hershey's Bliss chocolate (sale $2.50, used (2) B1G1F cpns, (2) $1.00 cpns)
• 1 Spiderman pop-up clothes hamper (B-day gift, clearaned for $4.88)
• 2 Gillette Fusion power razors ($7.99 sale, (2) $4 cpns, Buy 2 get a $10 Target gift card)
• 2 Gillette Fusion Power razors BONUS packs w/ shave gel ($6.78 clearanced, (2) $4 cpns, Buy 2 get a $10 Target gift card)
• 2 Venus Embrace razors ($9.44 sale, (2) $4 mfr cpns, (2) $2 Target cpns, Buy 2 get a $10 Target gift card)

I spent $23 OOP and left with $20 in gift cards (I used 1 of the $10 gift cards to pay for my candy). So in the end it was like paying $3 for everything.

June 1st, 2008 - Jewel

The coupons I ordered arrived yesterday, so I made a trip to Jewel to use them up.


Here's what I got:

5 Jewel napkins (sale $1, cpn $1 off store brand napkins WYB 2 Solo products)
12 Solo plates (44 pk) (sale $2.50, cpn $2.00, $4 cat WYB 4 pkgs)
16 Solo bowls (22 pk) (sale $2.50, cpn $2.00, $4 cat WYB 4 pkgs)
12 Solo cups (24 pk) (sale $2.50, cpn $2.00, $4 cat WYB 4 pkgs)
2 local newspapers ($1.75)
4 Doritos (sale $3.79, B1G1F)
3 gallons milk (sale $2.28)
4 Coffee mate creamer (sale $2.50, $1 cpn)
15 bags marshmallows (sale $1, $3 cat WYB 3 bags)
1 Raid Ant killer (2pk, sale $5.99)
1 Weed & Grass Killer Spray ($3.34 sale)
1 pr sunglasses ($19.99 sale)
1 single serving peanuts ($0.50)


I paid $13.65 OOP. I would have paid less, but forgot to pick up "fillers" in order to get my cost over $4 so I couldn't use my $4 coupons. And I have (8) of the $4 cats leftover to use on future purchases.

May 28th, 2008 - Jewel

We wanted some chips - so I made a quick trip to Jewel.




I got:
1 Jewel tortilla chips (sale $2.00)
1 family size Doritos (sale $4.89)
6 marshmallows (sale $1, Buy 3, get $3 cat)
1 Nestle Crunch bar ($0.44 sale)

I paid $0.45 OOP.

Where do I get my coupons?

Well - no big deals to report lately (although there are a couple shopping trips this week that I am getting ready to do).

I thought I'd go ahead and post how I come across all my coupons.

• I get the Chicago Tribune delivered every week (it has better coupon values that our local paper). I've actually considered bumping up to 2 Sunday papers from there.
  
• I also go out and buy a couple copies of our local paper (more if there's good coupons)
  
• My family saves their coupon inserts for me (usually just my grandma & my great aunt)
• Coupon trades
• Writing to companies for coupons and to get added to their mailing list
• Printing from the internet (can print 2 copies of most coupons per computer)
  
• My most "profitable" coupon source is the recycle bins around my town! Us couponers call this "Dumpster Diving". There are about 10-12 sites where people can drop off their recyclables here in town (no curbside recycling). I like to hit these on Monday mornings and get a "stash" of papers that newspaper delivery people have tossed out. Sometimes I find 20 or more of the coupon inserts this way!
• Newspaper carriers - I don't currently have this "source" but I have in the past. Usually the newspaper carriers have to stuff the papers with the ad/coupon inserts on Sundays. These inserts come in bundles of a predetermined number and sometimes the carriers have extras. My source for this had to give up his route though - so I am still searching for a new one.

I thought this might help those who are new to couponing and give them some ideas of where to get papers from.

May 24th, 2008 - Schnucks, Jewel, Meijers, Walgreens

Did MORE shopping today (hubby loves it! LOL) Did the Meijers trip with my 5 yr old - didn't think we were going to both make it out of the store - made me remember why I don't take him "coupon" shopping with me. LOL

I've also decided I would try to post the price/coupons/deal I use next to the items I purchase. We'll see how long I can stick to that :-)

Walgreens
2 bottles Suavitel (on sale 2/$2.79 - used $1 cpns)
2 Barbosal shaving cream DOUBLE packs (sale $0.99)
9 Kleenex (sale $0.89, $0.50/3 cpn)
$25 Papa Johns gift card
$15 Starbucks gift card

Total was $50.24 and I paid using my Walgreens gift card so $0.00 OOP

Jewel
6 bags mini marshmallows (sale $1.00, $3 cat wyb 3 bags)

$0.06 OOP

Schnucks
2 Solo grips bowls (2/$4 sale, $2 cpn, $4 cat wyb 4 pkgs)
2 Solo grips cups (2/$4 sale, $2 cpn, $4 cat wyb 4 pkgs)
16 Solo paper plates, asst sizes (2/$4 sale, $2 cpn, $4 cat wyb 4 pkgs)
8 Smuckers toppings ($1 sale, $1.25/2 cpn, $0.55 cpn doubled to $1, B3G1F, Rebate - Buy 4 get $4 in movie rental value)
1 5 pk Spill Proof cups ($3.39 sale - no cpns but these tend to mysteriously disappear in our house)

$4.97 OOP

Meijer
2 single string cheese ($0.39 ea - occupied my son for all of 5 minutes)
3 Johnson's Buddies bar soap ($0.99 ea, B2G1F sale, $2.50 off 3 cpn)
9 pk girls underwear ($5.89 sale)
1.43 lb bananas ($0.50 lb - $1.30, $1 produce cpn)
1 bag apricots ($2.42 sale, $1 produce cpn)
6 pk Yoplait drinkable yogurt ($2.69 sale, free item cpn)
3 lb bag apples ($3.49, $3 produce cpn)
6 oz blackberries ($2.50, $1 produce cpn)
3 Edwards frozen slice pies ($1.25 sale, $0.75 cpn)
6 bags shredded cheese, 8 oz ($1.54-1.64 sale, $1 Meijer cpn, $0.40/2 dbl cpn, $0.75/2 cpn)
1 canteloupe ($2 sale, $1 produce cpn)
1 South Beach dressing ($1.67, free item cpn)
3 Bagel-fuls ($1.67 sale, $1 cpn)
1 Vlasic sweet relish ($1 sale, $1 cpn)
2 6 oz boxes raspberries ($2.50 ea sale, 2-$1 produce cpn)
2 pkgs melon chunks ($0.46 clearance, 2 - $1 produce cpn)

$10.72 OOP

So all in all - I spent $15.75 OOP & will be sending in to get (4) $4 movie rental vouchers. Not bad...