Couponing from the basics...

Melissa Grande aka:The LVF Coupon Chick
is mom to 3 wonderful children and a
loving wife.

Warm Winter Greetings to the fans of the Lehigh Valley Fashionista! It is an honor that I am able to “virtually” meet all of you today & be a part of such a fun online community! Have you ever watched those couponing shows on TV & became intrigued about saving money at the grocery store? Ever read those frugal living blogs & thought to yourself “I could do that!” Maybe you haven’t started yet because it seems overwhelming. Or maybe you just don’t think you have the time OR the energy.

As a veteran, local “couponer”, I can help you learn the ropes. I’ll start by telling you a little bit about myself. My name is Melissa and I started using coupons about 5 years ago. I have three kids & let me tell you that I rely on finding the best deals to stretch our dollars further! On average, I save approximately $600 a month (or more!) on everyday items we use in our home. This includes everything from groceries to toiletries to household care items.

It takes some time to learn how to save that much every month, but I can help you start saving money THIS week (yes, RIGHT NOW!) in TWO easy steps. Ready?? First, find some coupons! Next Sunday, pick up your local Sunday paper & save the coupons. Did you know you can print coupons online? Well, you can! So while you are waiting for Sunday, you can print coupons TODAY!Coupons.com has a wide selection of coupons available to print. Also, smartsource.com & redplum.com have great & frequently changing selections, as well. Second, look at your local grocery store ads & match up the coupons you have to the best sales in the ads. The way to save THE most money weekly is to buy (and stock up on) items on sale, especially when you have a coupon to match the prices. If you have a grocery store that will double coupons, this will allow you to save even more money! Most stores in our area have a limit to how many coupons they will double per item. Before you shop, remember to check with the customer service desk to get their latest coupon policy. Many stores will list their coupon policy on their company website, also.

Now that you have all these great coupons, how should you organize & store them? My advice is to start small while you are learning. The wallet size accordion type folders work best in the beginning. Many dollar stores & art stores sell them for around $1.00, so it’s also an economical choice. The size of the folder is also an advantage, as it’s easy to carry in your purse & pull out whenever you need them. Label the dividers into categories that work for you, such as “canned goods”, “toiletries”, “baby items” etc… and keep your coupons separated in the folder under the appropriate category. Before you go shopping, simply pull the coupons you want to redeem & put them in a separate envelope or paperclip them together. Easy, right???

Now that you’ve gotten a quick start at couponing, I hope you will join me in saving some money this week! And I look forward to seeing you back here again NEXT WEEK where we will continue to learn how to save even more money in the Lehigh Valley & surrounding areas! Happy Shopping!