Where to find coupons and Organizing them...

or more like where I find coupons.

I find coupons in my mailbox, in the local market that comes once a week, in the newspaper, on facebook and online at various website.

Some of the websites I go to for coupons are:

• Save.ca
• brandsaver.ca
• websaver.ca
• gocoupons.ca
• not to mention the various product websites
• more coming

Check your stores for tearpads, instore coupons, peelies and in store brochures.

Magazines often have coupons in them but remember to read the coupon as some magazines are from the USA and the coupons can not be used in Canada.

Contact the merchant directly... I get some awesome coupons this way. If you like Chapman's ice cream then email let them know and then ask for a coupon. Most of this can be done via email.

Let your friends know you are collecting coupons... if they are not using the flyers we get with them in maybe they will pass them on to you and your family to use.

Get together with others that use coupons and trade for ones you will not use for ones you will use.

Keeping your coupons organized is very important because if they are not organized you will not use them and using them is the whole point of having them. I used to organize mine in a binder but I have switched to a bag I guess you would say... it is organized into various sections that suit my family like:

• snacks
• breads
• crackers/cookies
• cereal
• dairy
• yogurt
• freezer
• cleaning products
• medicine
• baby
• pet
• you get the idea....

I will have some pictures to post before I post this to the internet I hope... life can get busy but I plan to add pictures. :)

Maximizing your Coupons

I have heard from many people that you only get coupons for items that are normally really expensive and this can be true when you use a coupon on an item at a regular price but trust me I don't use my coupons when things are at regular price. I like to maximize the benefit of using coupons so I wait until it goes on sale. It is easy to wait when you already have a stock pile and you don't need to run out and get the item at a moments notice. (now you see why I have a stock pile)

Read the weekly ads: to compare prices and see where the best deal is.

Match coupons: match the coupons you have to the sales. This is made easier for me by going to a wonderful website that basically does this already for me. smartcanucks.ca It really has been a valuable resource for as far as couponing and finding out when deals are coming up.

Price Match: Some stores will price match as I said previously mentioned... Walmart and NoFrills are good for price matching.

Make a list: I always go with a list in hand so I do not miss any thing and it makes it easier for checking out and handing over my coupons.

Rainchecks: Remember to get a raincheck if they are out of an item so you can still get the deal at a later date.

Very Important Coupon Tip:

• read your coupons and double check the expiry date

Getting through the Check Out.... with coupons and price matching

The check out lane is so important when couponing. I know for me I first put the stuff up that I have no coupons for and will not be price matching.

I always go into the store with a list... a list of items I will be using coupons for and a list of items I will be price matching. Remember to bring your flyers you are price matching too. If you don't bring your flyers you can not price match.

If you are local to me... I am just letting you know that Freshco will only price match two items.. but if you go to Walmart they will price match all flyers for you and No Frills will also. Just a little tip from someone who does a lot of price matching.

As I put the items up I have coupons for... I put the coupon right with the item making the cashiers life a little bit easier if you ask me.. I am always thanked for doing this. I figure if it makes the line go smoother then I will continue to do this.

If I am price matching a few items from a store I put the store flyer on the belt with the items and coupons if I have them also. Again making it easier for the girl ringing me through. I will also say that I always choose non-peak times to shop... so I am not holding the line up at all. It really does help a lot if you do this.

Things will go smoother the more prep you do. That is something I have figured out over the years and I want this process to be as smooth as possible.

Coupons coming out this weekend...

A new SmartSource will be available in newpapers across Canada this coming weekend. Here is a complete list of all the coupons available:

B0G0 Scrubbing Bubbles toilet cleaning gel
$1.50 off Goodnites underwear
$4.00 off any 2 dinners at Red Lobster
$3.00 off at Red Lobster
$1.00 off Purell large
$1.00 off WUB3 or more Purell products
Buy one Glade automatic room spray refill and GO starter kit FREE
$2.00 off on Glade decor scents holder
$1.00 off Glade decor scents refill
$0.50 when you purchase any 2 Glade aerosols
$1.00 off Tresemme
$1.00 off Nature Valley Granola Bars
$1.00 off Fibre 1 bars
$1.00 off Betty Crocker Fruit Flavoured snacks
Lysol No Touch MIR
FINSIH QUANTUM MIR
$1.00 off Noxzema product
$1.00 off Clorox Bleach
$2.00 off any 2 Ziploc brand products
$1.50 off Pullups
$1.00 off Pull-Ups flushable wipes
BOGO Scrubbing Bubbles
$1 off Fantastic Trigger

Not the best assortment but some I will definitely use.

Beginner couponing for Canada and Stock piling

I know couponing in Canada is very different then couponing in the USA. There was a show on TLC called extreme couponing but to me it was WAY over the top.

I have a stock pile so I don't have to run to the store for every little thing when I need it. I only have things in my stock pile that my family will use. I do not stock pile items we won't use. It makes no sense to buy an item because it is really cheap or even free if I will never use it. It is wasteful of my resources and since we are a family of limited resources I choose not to waste them.

Now for creating a stock pile...you only want to buy things when they are on sale or at a really good price. Sales typical cycle on a 3 month rotation or so I have found. As you get couponing you will realize how the cycle works even more. To get the best benefit you want to shop for items when they are sale and try to get enough of them until the next cycle they come on sale.

I also want to stress how important it is to always rotate your stock pile so that the items at the front are the ones that will expire first so it is those that you are grabbing to use first. This will help avoid you tossing out items that have expired. Keep the newer items at the back and keep rotating them forward as you buy more. (hope this makes sense)

As a do stock pile or create it I always think of how much my family will use in a 6 month period and have that on hand and usually not any more than that. This really helped my family when my husband lost his job a few years ago we were able to live off of our stock pile for a long time. Saving our resources for other things needed in our home. (like our mortgage, bills, etc.)

Check out this list:

Brown sugar
Indefinite shelf life, stored in a moistureproof container in a cool, dry place.

Coffee, canned ground
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 1 month refrigerated

Coffee, gourmet
Beans: 3 weeks in paper bag, longer in vacuum-seal bag (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)
Ground: 1 week in sealed container

Coffee, instant
Unopened: Up to 2 years
Opened: Up to 1 month

Diet soda (and soft drinks in plastic bottles)
Unopened: 3 months from “best by” date.
Opened: Doesn’t spoil, but taste is affected.

Dried pasta
12 months

Frozen dinners
Unopened: 12 to 18 months

Frozen vegetables
Unopened: 18 to 24 months
Opened: 1 month

Honey
Indefinite shelf life

Juice, bottled (apple or cranberry)
Unopened: 8 months from production date
Opened: 7 to 10 days

Ketchup
Unopened: 1 year (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)
Opened or used: 4 to 6 months (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)

Maple syrup, real or imitation
1 year

Maraschino cherries
Unopened: 3 to 4 years
Opened: 2 weeks at room temperature; 6 months refrigerated

Marshmallows
Unopened: 40 weeks
Opened: 3 months

Mayonnaise
Unopened: Indefinitely
Opened: 2 to 3 months from “purchase by” date (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)

Mustard
2 years (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)

Olives, jarred (green with pimento)
Unopened: 3 years
Opened: 3 months

Olive oil
2 years from manufacture date (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)

Peanuts
Unopened: 1 to 2 years unless frozen or refrigerated
Opened: 1 to 2 weeks in airtight container

Peanut butter, natural
9 months

Peanut butter, processed (Jif)
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 6 months; refrigerate after 3 months

Pickles
Unopened: 18 months
Opened: No conclusive data. Discard if slippery or excessively soft.

Protein bars (PowerBars)
Unopened: 10 to 12 months. Check “best by” date on the package.

Rice, white
2 years from date on box or date of purchase

Salad dressing, bottled
Unopened: 12 months after “best by” date
Opened: 9 months refrigerated

Soda, regular
Unopened: In cans or glass bottles, 9 months from “best by” date
Opened: Doesn’t spoil, but taste is affected

Steak sauce
33 months (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)

Tabasco
5 years, stored in a cool, dry place

Tea bags (Lipton)
Use within 2 years of opening the package

Tuna, canned
Unopened: 1 year from purchase date
Opened: 3 to 4 days, not stored in can

Soy sauce, bottled
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 3 months (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)

Vinegar
42 months

Worcestershire sauce
Unopened: 5 to 10 years (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)
Opened: 2 years

Staying on budget

Today I went to Shoppers Drug Mart and Bulk Barn with a very small budget. My budget for today's purchases was $25. I love when I can challenge myself to stay on budget.. and it works. :)

First stop Shoppers Drug Mart... now grant you it was redemption day so that does help me stay on budget.

My purchases:

Swedish Berries (I thought I wasn't at $100)

Christie Crackers 1.99/box

Hershey's candy drops 3.99 ($1 off coupon)

RestorLax 31.99 ($6 off coupon)

Shampoo x2

Hair Spray

Antiperspirant x4 ($6 off coupons)

Waterproof mascara ($2 off coupon)

Lever Soap

Allergy Medicine

Paper Towel

Bacon strips (for the dog)

Milk and more....

$10 Timmies card (Free some deal they were offering)

Total out of pocket - $16.05 (minus $10 gift card) = 6.05

Second stop... Bulk Barn.... In this week's paper and actually I think every week lately they have spend $10 get $3 off.... so we stopped in to treat our girls. Kids have to have treats sometimes too!

The nuts are not for the girls.... oh I had to get the bazooka gum I wanted to read the comics... I loved bazooka joe as a child... anyway.... spent $8.47 here so all in all... I stayed within my $25 shopping budget and I got way more than $25 worth....

I love shopping days like this... my husband was smiling... all the way home with me... he likes when we can shop for so little and get so much.

uBid-Save up to 70% on jewelry order

Save up to 70% on jewelry order
Expires: Ongoing Promotion

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Jewelry Web-$10 off $100 or more order

$10 off $100 or more order
Expires: Ongoing Promotion

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Weight Watchers-Save over 25% on Weight Watchers with 3 months savings plan

Save over 25% on Weight Watchers with 3 months savings plan
Expires: 30 Nov 2009

View More Coupons, Coupon Codes, Promo Codes at Weight Watchers

Shutterfly-12 Free 5x7 greeting cards with any order

12 Free 5x7 greeting cards with any order
Shutterfly Coupon Code : 12GREETINGS
Expires: 11 Nov 2009

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Kodak EasyShare Gallery-40% off any order (New customers only; exclusions apply)

40% off any order (New customers only; exclusions apply)
Expires: Ongoing Promotion

View More Coupons, Coupon Codes, Promo Codes at Kodak EasyShare Gallery

JC Penney-$15 off $75 or more order

$15 off $75 or more order
JC Penney Coupon Code : 20SAVE
Expires: 09 Nov 2009

View More Coupons, Coupon Codes, Promo Codes at JC Penney

Beauty.com-Free Pampering essentials gift set (a $50 value) with $65 or more Darphin products order

Free Pampering essentials gift set (a $50 value) with $65 or more Darphin products order
Expires: 01 Dec 2009

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1 Stop Florists-5% off any order

5% off any order
Expires: 30 Jan 2010

View More Coupons, Coupon Codes, Promo Codes at 1 Stop Florists

GNC-15% off $125 or more order (exclusions apply)

15% off $125 or more order (exclusions apply)
Expires: 30 Nov 2009

View More Coupons, Coupon Codes, Promo Codes at GNC

Things Remembered-10% off orders between $500 - $999 (exclusions apply)

10% off orders between $500 - $999 (exclusions apply)
Expires: Ongoing Promotion

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Jewelry Web-$5 off $50 or more order

$5 off $50 or more order
Expires: Ongoing Promotion

View More Coupons, Coupon Codes, Promo Codes at Jewelry Web

Lane Bryant-$25 off $75 or more order (exclusions apply)

$25 off $75 or more order (exclusions apply)
Lane Bryant Coupon Code : 050009329
Expires: 01 Nov 2009

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Beauty.com-$10 off plus free shipping on $60 or more order (exclusions apply)

$10 off plus free shipping on $60 or more order (exclusions apply)
Expires: 31 Dec 2009

View More Coupons, Coupon Codes, Promo Codes at Beauty.com

Things Remembered-$5 off any order

$5 off any order
Things Remembered Coupon Code : D4K2
Expires: 19 Jan 2010

View More Coupons, Coupon Codes, Promo Codes at Things Remembered