Apparently...........

....more people care about coupons then I thought!!

Many of you wanted more info on coupons and my system. Let me start off with a little disclaimer: I am by far no expert in this and my methods may not work for everyone!

I did manage to get free groceries, but this was the first time it's ever happened, so that's why I posted about it. All the stars were aligned and I had all the right coupons to cash in on a good promotion at Albertsons - normally I only save between 35-55 percent each time I shop.

Here are a couple of websites I use --

First of all, you gotta use the store loyalty cards to really jump start your grocery savings - to me it's just ridiculous to shop without them. Most of the great store promotions are centered around using the loyalty card.

COUPON MOM: I started back in October following a website called Coupon Mom that was featured on an Oprah episode. The website is free, you simply register with an email address. On the website they have an e-book that tells you all about the system and how to navigate the website. It's an easy system really--they take the grocery circulars and make them into a list, showing you what's on sale and how much you can save. Then they tell you where to find the coupons that correspond to some of the sale items to save you even more. What I like about this website is that they also have lists for other stores like Walgreens and Target. There are also coupons on the site you can print at home to save even more! Check it out.

GROCERY SMARTS: This is a website that I only found out about in the last few months through other coupon loving friends. Grocery Smarts actually teaches classes in people's homes to show you their system step by step. I couldn't attend the classes that a couple of friends had, so I logged onto the website and read their instruction sheet and was able to figure it out. After a little research I realized their system was very similar to the Coupon Mom system I was already using - pairing coupons with what's on sale that week at the grocery store. I use Grocery Smarts for Nevada and I know they have lists for Utah, but other states I'm not sure. Grocery Smarts website is free as well, but it does require a passport code that you enter to view the shopping lists. There are also links on their website for printable coupons as well. If you are in Utah or Nevada and interested, here are two links you can follow that should take you directly to the right pages.
Grocery Smarts - Nevada
Grocery Smarts - Utah

Where do I get my coupons? They are just the coupon inserts from Sunday's newspaper. It wasn't until I got into this system that I found out our local paper doesn't carry all the available coupon inserts every week. I was frustrated because I was missing out on a lot of good deals because I didn't have all the right coupons. Through a Grocery Smarts blog I discovered a website where you can order whole coupon inserts. Some of you may think I'm nuts for doing that, but for me it's totally worth it. The website is CouponDede.com

This is definitely a new way to shop for me. It's more than just saving on your weekly grocery shopping - it's also about finding those great deals and stocking up on things you use all the time. I'm pretty sure I have a good 3 or 4 month supply of food on hand and I never run out of anything anymore. It doesn't just apply to food either - its toothpaste, shampoo, soap, diapers, cleaning supplies, etc.

And those of you in Las Vegas, click on the link I have over there on the right hand side - it's a great blog I follow that links you to the Grocery Smarts websites, plus a wealth of information to get you started and to learn more about the Grocery Smart system.

I won't bore you with any more details --If you still have questions about anything, feel free to email me and I would be more than happy to explain more or give you any tips I can.