How I Coupon!

I have had several people ask me I go about Couponing. I admit, I learned most of it HATING all the time Mom made me clip, sort, ect...  all those coupons as a kid..  But when I do the things that she taught me I can save quite a bit.  BUT...  with the way things are now a days,  we are all tightening our belts.  I have made it my goal to work at taking our monthly grocery bill down by about $100-$150 a month.  So I have taken a leaf from a friends book, The Deal Detecting Diva. (or DDD) on Face Book.  So let's start with her.

1)  I read blogs!!!!  Deal Detecting Diva, Coupon Divas, Passion for savings, Raining hot coupons,  My Coupon Fever, Crazy Coupon Lady.  These ladies are Awesome at finding deals. Recently I purchased 4 boxes of huggies wipes,, you know the $11 dollar ones.  I purchase them for $5.99 each & no shipping!

2)  Ad match ups!!!  Several Ladies match up the coupon inserts with the weekly ads.  I read the DDD for this, but I know several do these.  I look at this so I know what is on sale that I should have a coupon for. Unless I already used it of course.  :)

3)  Meal plan with the ads in hand...  I try to make my meal plan for the week based off of the ads.  Not always easy or able to be done.  But I try to..  Snacks and such  only if I have a coupon or it's on sale preferably both.

4)  My Coupon Box (Actually a Binder).  Mine is divided up by categories.  I have a sorting mat that is divided up the same way that I got from the couponizer.  Mark helps me sort so this is the way for us.  I use the 4 pocket postcard protectors.  I like them better than the baseball card ones.  I just have more pages for some item like personal care,  and I divide these up into categories to, ie...  canned goods has a pocket for soups and one for veggies ect....  

Checkout Coupon Diva!  She has a good video for this!  http://coupondivas.com/how-to-make-a-coupon-binder-that-saves-you-money

5)Plan the trip to the store.  Whatever store I go to I make a list try to stick to it, and pull the coupons I need in to a page in the front all ready to go at checkout.  I make notes on my list as to quantity ect....  If the store doesnt' have an item then  I pull that coupon and put in a separate pocket to refile.