Combating Gasoline Prices by Using Coupons

Why I became the Coupons 101 blogger.

The use of coupons in planning my purchases had been just a convenience. If I forgot a coupon and needed to purchase an item, I said, "oh well! Maybe I'll remember next time." Of course by then the coupon had expired.

As the cost of gasoline increases, my purchasing power decreases. My husband is a self employed floor installer. He travels all over the city and uses a van for business. He needs to meet with customers, give an estimate for the work and later if he gets the job drive back and do the work. His profits are down due to the increased fuel costs.

In order to compensate for this, I make hunting, organizing and using coupons a part of every day. By doing this, I have saved more money than the cost of gasoline.

I plan meals based upon the coupons I can use. I look for new recipes to match the coupons. My family is eating better than before.

To get started couponing I did several things.

1. I made a list of the foods we use every day.
2. I made a list of the health and beauty products we use everyday.
3. I made a list of the cleaning products we use everyday.
4. I made a list of the pet products we use everyday.
5. I made a list of other products that we use.
6. I made a list of products that we waste-lettuce goes bad, meat spoiled, etc.

There are reasons that I wasted coupons in the past.

1. I left them at home.
2. I let them expire.
3. I forgot I had it.
4. I could not find it.

Here is the first big secret I want to share on Coupons 101.

Get organized! There are as many ways to do this as there are people in the world. Each of us have a certain way of doing this. I have tried at least 5 ways over the years. I used a coupon saver wallet, a file box like a recipe box, a rubber band, a paper clip and so on.

Today, I use a loose leaf binder with plastic see through slots. I organize the binder with colored tabs. On the front of the binder, I put an index reminding me what coupon is behind each tab.

I have a special tote bag with my binder in it. I call it my coupon tote bag. I never leave home without the tote.

Next lesson in Coupons 101, how to find coupons.