The chicken or the egg? (the coupon or the sale)

[Ashenstar]

So, one of the best ways to get the most out of your coupons is to use them with a sale.
How do you other forum member keep track of it all?
Do you look through the weekly sales and then see if you have coupons to match?
or
Do you look in your coupons that you need to use and see if any stores have a sale.

[JulieDB]

That's how I do it. At this point though I don't have a lot of coupons so I can usually remember what I have. I got all excited this past week thinking I could get free ketchup. But then I discovered that the ketchup on sale was not what I had the coupon for.

[Ashenstar]

Awww, that's too bad.
I'm also trying to figure out how to keep track of my deals and where they are. I have this coupon for pasta....but I need to wait until this date when it's on sale. I have a coupon for this candy....but I need to use that coupon at this store.

[shans3boys]

Grocery ads for my area come out on Wednesday, but I look at the store forums here to get a head start. I love the matchups, but will always look at the paper ads, too.

I try to see what I can stock up on for this week, and then buy the normal staples (milk, eggs, bread) at my Kroger.

If it's a big list, I create a spreadsheet for it all. It helps me keep track of how many of each item I'm buying. Otherwise, I just use notepad paper and paper clips. I've tried the binder method and it's just too much!

I have a flip folder for multiples and a box for ones I know I'll be using soon.

[LHath6]

A lot of websites have coupon matchups. That's what helps me. They will tell you which insert the coupon was in or give you a link to an IP. I just google the store name and coupon matchup ex: dillons coupon matchup

[Justmeinflorida]

I know I'm a newb and all but this is what I've done so far...I went to the
store deals section on here and looked at what was on sale, then looked through my meager coupon stash to see if I had a q, if not I'm not getting it unless I absolutely need it. There's also some helpful links to printables, I've managed to get quite a few of them for various items and so far this week my shopping will be better then it's ever been ( I used to think I was getting a great deal with just doing BOGO ). BTW when printing printables don't forget to hit your back button on your computer...that way you can print it twice .

"Store Deals HCW Section"

I don't have a lot of coupons because I just started really couponing and missed last Sundays papers but I've joined a RAOK and traded with a few great ppl and I'm waiting on my envies.

[auntrae378]

every1 does it their own way...

i get the ads each week and sit down with my bug binder of coupons. find coupons to match with the sales.

I have a envelope for each store so I can pull coupons as I make a list when I am going thru the ads.

Then I plan my trips to each store. Plan meals around the sales and it works for our family of 4.

Sometimes holding a coupon for a few weeks can pay off. There will be a better deal a few weeks after the coupon comes out.

Just make sure you know what you are buying and go only for that. don;t get confused or stressed in the store or it can throw you off..

[$Saving!]

every1 does it their own way...

i get the ads each week and sit down with my bug binder of coupons. find coupons to match with the sales.

I have a envelope for each store so I can pull coupons as I make a list when I am going thru the ads.

Then I plan my trips to each store. Plan meals around the sales and it works for our family of 4.

Sometimes holding a coupon for a few weeks can pay off. There will be a better deal a few weeks after the coupon comes out.

Just make sure you know what you are buying and go only for that. don;t get confused or stressed in the store or it can throw you off..

That is exactly how I've shopped for over 20 years - make the list and stick to the list, (I also do the envelope per store routine, makes it very easy to not get confused) rarely impulse purchase unless something fantastic is on sale and unplanned. Like a few months ago when during a super coupon event, the meat associate was marking down packages of maple flavored Oscar Mayer bacon to 99 cents a package because they were three days from expiration sell by dates. Bought 6 and put them in the freezer No coupons for them available anyway but it was an unplanned purchase well worth the cost!

With the nature of sales cycles in stores, it's easy to want to buy everything you can when a sale comes along and use as many coupons as you have, but like you say, unless you know your prices very well, a better sale could be down the road. That is something that comes with experience, knowing your local store sale cycles and knowing when you might expect to see better deals than what is being offered in a particular week.