Is the Sunday Newspaper a Wise Buy?

Many have asked me, "How valuable is it for you to get the Sunday newspaper with the coupon inserts?" Well, I think the best way to answer is for you to look here, here, and here. Without coupons, these deals wouldn't have been nearly as good. To get the Tribune delivered to your house for $1/week, check out my post here!

Of course, we don't live off cereal. (In fact, sometimes I trade it for whole, unpasteurized, organic milk from my parents' farm.) But when I can find healthy cereal at a great price (like 6 boxes for $1.16), I stock pile as much as I know we'll use.  However, I do believe in good nutrition. We eat fruits and vegetables every day. We drink organic milk. We try to eat a fresh green salad every day. I love making my own bread. Yes, we do eat desserts, although it's a rare occurrence for me to buy packaged desserts and cookies (but we do love good ice cream!).  My point is: there's a balance. Scoop up those great deals, but don't forget to eat your green and orange veggies every day! 

My favorite place to buy greens: Sam's Club. Pick up a 16 oz. box of Organic Spring Green Mix for around $3.99!!

Chicago Tribune for $1

If you are new to couponing and need to subscribe to the Chicago Tribune, go here and enter code x581 to have the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday papers delivered to your house for $1/week.

Couponing Basics - Part 1

Here are a few steps to help you start saving BIG on your groceries, toiletries, and around-the-house expenses.

1. Buy the Sunday newspaper. Ironically enough, I'm telling you to buy to save. However, this step is worth it! Pull out those coupon inserts! Clip the coupons you know you'll use, and file the rest of the insert in a file folder labeled with the date the insert was issued. Choose the major newspaper for best value coupons (i.e. Pick the Chicago Tribune over the Chicago Sun-Times). The number of inserts varies from week to week, so don't worry if there's only one insert the first week you buy the paper. In addition, ask friends and family to give you their unused inserts.
   
   
2. Stock up when the prices are lowest. Pay attention to the "loss leaders" at the grocery stores. If you know prices, and the sale price is the lowest you've seen at a number of stores, then stock up. It's even better if you can match the sale with coupons!
   
   
3. Be willing to try different brands. When I started serious "couponing," I found myself trying lots of new brands. In fact, I started buying far fewer store brand and Aldi items because I could get name brand products cheaper when on sale and/or combined with a coupon. In some cases, you might not be able to budge on your favorite brand, but if you can, go ahead and give it a try!
   
   
4. Be an observant shopper! Be constantly on the lookout for clearance items and coupon dispensers throughout the store. When our Jewel marked down Domino Brown Sugar to $1/bag, I bought a few and used the coupons in my coupon holder to get some pretty cheap brown sugar! Make use of those coupon dispensers throughout the store (blinkies, they're called). If you'll use the item being advertised, pick up a coupon or two and file it in your coupon organizer. Very likely, that item will go on sale, and you'll be able to use the coupon when the price is right! When Kraft cheese was on sale recently, I was so thankful to have picked up coupons a few weeks earlier. This resulted in my getting FREE cheese.
   
   
5. Learn the coupon policies of the stores in your area. Store coupons (Target, Walgreens, and other stores issue these) can be stacked with manufacturer coupons. Also find out:
   * Do any stores accept expired coupons? (Many Jewel and Dominick's do!)
   * Do any stores in your area double coupons? (I have yet to find any Chicagoland stores that do this.)
   * Do they Price Match? (Wal-Mart is famous for this one.)
   * Do they accept competitor's coupons? (Jewel's policy has been to accept competitor's manufacturer coupons.)
   
   
6. Get ready to make a quick weekly stop at CVS and Walgreens. You'll be amazed at how cheap you can get some common household items including razors, toilet paper, shampoo, napkins, snacks, and more! In the days ahead, we'll talk about these two stores in detail.

Sunday Coupons

This week, we'll be learning some of the basics of couponing. But here's your first assignment: pick up a Sunday paper and save the coupons. The Sunday newspaper is the most valuable source of coupons you will get. This is what I do:

• Purchase multiple copies
• Clip the ones I know I'll use
• File the rest in a file folder labeled with the day's date

Most Dollar Stores carry the newspaper for $1, and around here, Menards sells it for $1 too. The larger metropolitan area newspapers (i.e. The Chicago Tribune or New York Times) usually carry the higher value coupons, so opt for one of these if you can.

If you're curious as to what coupons will be coming out, check out Taylortown Preview.