How do you keep track of the deals?

[mmb1996]

We are suppose to keep track of the deals?

I am very disorganized and still manage to do pull together enough deals to have a nice stockpile working. I really need to pay attention to this thread myself.

[Jillibean]

I use a notebook with each store name on the top just like a previous poster mentioned. But who can blame you for taking some time off from the deals (not lazy). As a parent of a child with special needs too (my DD has Down Syndrome and is 4 years old) I am just amazed that you are able to do everything that you do. We are always going to speech, physical and occupational therapy so I try to pick up a deal here and there on the way to save gas.

[ggmsmolly]

One of the easiest ways for me to keep track of things is a Microsoft Access database that I set up. That way I can sort by expiration, if there are special incentives (rebates/refunds), etc. If I have taken advantage of the incentive, when it was sent and received. It takes getting organized but a spreadsheet or database will help considerably.

[Whispered]

hi all! :)

I'm a visual person myself, so I bought a 2008 wkly planner, at 99 cents store, of course!! lol
(if they're not 2008, simply change the dates

This way , bc people here are sooooo fantastic about letting us have, the store specials, wks or months in advance...

for each month, / Week
i can write down whats going to be on sale and whats free for the month.

I'm a sharpies girl, lol.. and i also keep separate pages, for Wags ( in Green) and Cvs ( in orange)
and it fits right in my purse, or huge bag, which i usually end up lugging around

so its right there, w/ me, when shopping and if i have a coupon for that item, i simply mark above
it a small c and circle it.

My organizer is a small photo book, and i put the coupons in there, Cvs , walgreens, each grocerystore, all have their separate pages...

I don't like lugging around big things, i have trouble enough w/ the small!! lol

but this works excellent for me!!
Plus, at the back, in my notebook, I write down
BEST PRICES... so i know where, to not overspend.

In the front, I wrote down, what i need to work on, for my stockpile.

My deals and savings.. I keep in the computer.. in Yahoo email!!.. that way they're never lost and i don't have to deal w/ paper stuff...
ohh i also keep my receipts, in another small photo book... so if I find i got too excited and overspent on a deal, the receipts are right there..
I mark them on the top w/ the date..

wow, i'm much more organized then i thought!! LOL
b ut.. i'm finally learning that its worth it!!

and I LOVE seeing how much I save and for me,
I use the Real price, not the sale price.. for how much i saved..

Keeping track, to me, is essential!!
bc it really makes you look at how much you saved.... and how much I improve.. lol

Happy hunting all
blessings and joy
Whispered~

ps: lol not for my ego, but to know if its worth my time, l'd appreciate knowing if this helped. ;)
thanks~

[Wysiwyg101]

Originally Posted by ggmsmolly One of the easiest ways for me to keep track of things is a Microsoft Access database that I set up. That way I can sort by expiration, if there are special incentives (rebates/refunds), etc. If I have taken advantage of the incentive, when it was sent and received. It takes getting organized but a spreadsheet or database will help considerably.

Would you be willing to share that database (not necessarily the data) with the rest of us who also have MS Access? That sounds pretty cool.

Rick

[amy s]

I second that!
Esp if we are far away from one another, it would be really helpful. Thanks to any of you who have already done so!

[chitownmelli]

I have a cheap dayplanner (DH got it free from a vendor at work for me) and on the left hand side, it has a lined space --- I write what stores I am watching there. The rest of the page is set up like a calendar and the spots for each day are exactly the same size as the small post it notes, so I note down what I am after that day and if I run out of space (like on sunday when I wanna hit CVS and wags so I don't miss the deals!), I just set a post it note or two on top of the day. I wish I could tell you that I was organized beyond that, but I suppose it is a start.

Congrats by the way on being strong enough to have 4 little ones AND work! I know a lot of people do it, but I know I would have a hard time juggling the two! well, and finding time to sleep - wow!

[My3Girl5]

Originally Posted by Whispered hi all! :) I'm a visual person myself, so I bought a 2008 wkly planner, at 99 cents store, of course!! lol (if they're not 2008, simply change the dates This way , bc people here are sooooo fantastic about letting us have, the store specials, wks or months in advance... for each month, / Week i can write down whats going to be on sale and whats free for the month. I'm a sharpies girl, lol.. and i also keep separate pages, for Wags ( in Green) and Cvs ( in orange) and it fits right in my purse, or huge bag, which i usually end up lugging around so its right there, w/ me, when shopping and if i have a coupon for that item, i simply mark above it a small c and circle it. My organizer is a small photo book, and i put the coupons in there, Cvs , walgreens, each grocerystore, all have their separate pages... I don't like lugging around big things, i have trouble enough w/ the small!! lol but this works excellent for me!! Plus, at the back, in my notebook, I write down BEST PRICES... so i know where, to not overspend. In the front, I wrote down, what i need to work on, for my stockpile. My deals and savings.. I keep in the computer.. in Yahoo email!!.. that way they're never lost and i don't have to deal w/ paper stuff... ohh i also keep my receipts, in another small photo book... so if I find i got too excited and overspent on a deal, the receipts are right there.. I mark them on the top w/ the date.. wow, i'm much more organized then i thought!! LOL b ut.. i'm finally learning that its worth it!! and I LOVE seeing how much I save and for me, I use the Real price, not the sale price.. for how much i saved.. Keeping track, to me, is essential!! bc it really makes you look at how much you saved.... and how much I improve.. lol Happy hunting all blessings and joy Whispered~ ps: lol not for my ego, but to know if its worth my time, l'd appreciate knowing if this helped. ;) thanks~

Your post was very helpful to me!

[MarineWife13]

Originally Posted by Whispered hi all! :) I'm a visual person myself, so I bought a 2008 wkly planner, at 99 cents store, of course!! lol (if they're not 2008, simply change the dates This way , bc people here are sooooo fantastic about letting us have, the store specials, wks or months in advance... for each month, / Week i can write down whats going to be on sale and whats free for the month. I'm a sharpies girl, lol.. and i also keep separate pages, for Wags ( in Green) and Cvs ( in orange) and it fits right in my purse, or huge bag, which i usually end up lugging around so its right there, w/ me, when shopping and if i have a coupon for that item, i simply mark above it a small c and circle it. My organizer is a small photo book, and i put the coupons in there, Cvs , walgreens, each grocerystore, all have their separate pages... I don't like lugging around big things, i have trouble enough w/ the small!! lol but this works excellent for me!! Plus, at the back, in my notebook, I write down BEST PRICES... so i know where, to not overspend. In the front, I wrote down, what i need to work on, for my stockpile. My deals and savings.. I keep in the computer.. in Yahoo email!!.. that way they're never lost and i don't have to deal w/ paper stuff... ohh i also keep my receipts, in another small photo book... so if I find i got too excited and overspent on a deal, the receipts are right there.. I mark them on the top w/ the date.. wow, i'm much more organized then i thought!! LOL b ut.. i'm finally learning that its worth it!! and I LOVE seeing how much I save and for me, I use the Real price, not the sale price.. for how much i saved.. Keeping track, to me, is essential!! bc it really makes you look at how much you saved.... and how much I improve.. lol Happy hunting all blessings and joy Whispered~ ps: lol not for my ego, but to know if its worth my time, l'd appreciate knowing if this helped. ;) thanks~

VERY HELPFUL!

[katielou07]

I am fairly new at all this saving thing too... I read the sunday ads, decide what I need/ want.. check out my coupons and extra savings and then circle in the ad what I want and what coupons to use... I keep it all together so when I go in the store, I have the ad with the items circled and a handful of coupons to go along... it seems to work out ok... not the most technical method, but it works for me!!