This is why I need to get my coupons organized.  Today I ran out to get 5 boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios. They were priced at $1.99 and I had 5 $.55/1 coupons (doubled). Price including tax $5.24. I’m sure there are better deals out there, but considering that box is normally $3.69 or something like that I find $1 to be well worth a special trip out to Safeway. If you happen to make it out there before Wed, and have some Honey Nut Cheerio coupons I highly recommend it.

Of course, I was also there yesterday.  When I saw the sale.  Why didn’t I get them then? It’s all because I only carry the exact coupons I plan to use on a given trip, and I carry them folded in my purse at that. Not the best organizational method by any means. I have a coupon accordion folder with enough pockets for each store and I fill that with an envelope for each store, but even that would not have prepared me for the unadvertised sale I came upon purely by accident, if it’s not in the flyer, then I can’t price match it either. So I end up going to a store well beyond my normal shopping area…even though I was there before :(

My friend, and so many others, scans the inserts every week and cuts out the coupons she is likely to use and the high value ones, she may use if a good deal presents itself.  Me, I leave the inserts in the newspaper until a deal presents itself and I have to go paper diving for the elusive coupon. Again, not the best strategy. The irony is, that I could tell you the best and most commonly used methods for coupon organization, but so far none have really worked for me.

I have a ton of projects in mind, from organization, to new Haphazard Hobbies and Culinary Catastrophes, and of course any deals I happen to come across. My plan is to take you all along for the ride. In my second year of running this blog, I have become aware that Starting to Save, involves more than just using coupons. Meal planning can save you money, which ties into good organizational habits. Being able to make something for your child, rather than buying it can certainly save you money. Learning to iron, can save you a trip to the drycleaners, and so on. It’s amazing all the things you can change that allow you to save more money.

Let’s see how many of these I can add to my saving repertoire. Stay tuned.