How to Save on Groceries Using Coupons

You've probably all read magazine articles or seen TV talk shows with "Coupon Queens" who buy hundreds of dollars worth of groceries for pennies on the dollar, right? I'm proud to say that I consider myself a Coupon Princess and am doing my best to shop my way to Queen!

Let's face it, most of us would like to save money at the grocery store. As a single mother to three growing children, I really need to stretch our budget as far as it will go. One way I save a lot of money is by using coupons and rebates to buy my groceries. Yes, I did say a lot of money. I routinely cut my grocery bill by 50% or better. My monthly grocery bill averages $200 for a family of 4-6 (the fluctuation is a whole other story...). This total includes food, paper items such as tin foil and toilet paper, personal care items, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and laundry products.

Getting Started

The biggest key to consistently save a large amount is to get yourself and your coupons organized. There are many systems advocated on the web and other places. Some of these systems can cost you quite a bit. My opinion? KISS!

Keep ItSimple, Stupid!

Whatever system makes it easy for you to keep and find your coupons will work! Any system that works for you is fine, but remember if you can't find it, then you can't use it. Personally, I have two flip top plastic boxes that I use. One is for personal use and the other is for trading with other couponers. Sometimes a particularly good sale will come along and I'll dip into my trade file. My files are divided using large index cards with tabs cut into the tops. I mark each one with a category, such as Baby or Paper Products and file my coupons accordingly.