Tell me about your typical day checking deals/coupons

[bkmomto3]

I'd like to know if you have a routine that you follow to check on deals/coupons.

Do you check sites, like cellfire and shortcuts daily? Do you work on coupons on certain days of the week?

I like to read how others do things in the hopes that I can implement some of those actions into my schedule.

Thanks!!!!

Bonnie

[zoeys_mom]

I check the board regularly. Usually just hit the new posts button to see what goodies people are talking about. I read my email. I have a few coupon buds that clue me into deals as I do the same for them.
I spend my lunch hours walking different stores looking for hidden sales etc. I find it calming, lol.
I know, I really am not much help! Im a NUT

I dont check shortcuts and cell fire EVERY day, but I do check it ALOT! I call it research

[tag1229]

Good question, I'd like to know as well. I sometimes feel overwhelmed keeping up with everything and wanting to get the best deal on everything. I used to get on here for guidance all the time but I had baby #3 almost 4 months ago and have been busy lol. I'm back and ready to have some fun!

[Lindseyjarenjayden]

Well I am a SAHM so I check it everyday throught the day in between all my mommy things so Im nuts about coupons so Im not a normal researcher. LOL ;)

[Cynthiabutterfly]

Wednesday we get our grocery ads, so I spend an hour or two looking them over, making my list, and sorting coupons. I'll usually visit cellfire and shortcuts at the same time to match coupons then.

Thursday I go to the coupon clippers site and preview the upcoming coupon inserts, and buy coupons from them on Sunday, if there are any that I didn't get in my paper, or extras that I need.

Saturday I shop, and Sunday I look thru the Sun-sat ads (walgreens, CVS, Target, etc), making the necessary lists (for next Saturday) and clip my coupons.

[Grandma Lewis]

I keep a spiral notebook by the computer that I use for CVS and Wags. As the sneek peek ads are posted I make a page for each week. I note in the top corner the last thread I have read. Every couple of days, I will go back to the ads to see what deals have been posted. Because my stores get their trucks late in the week, I try to shop on Saturday mornings, the last day of the sale if I can't get what I need/want on Sunday mornings.

I check the ads each Wednesday as soon as they are posted and make a shopping list on an envelope that I designed. I use one envelope per store to write my list and put the coupons I will need inside. If it's a Mega sale, I will create a spreadsheet of my deals and print that instead of writing on the envie.

On Sunday, I get my papers and file the inserts after taking a peak. I also order extra coupons from The Coupon Clippers.

Every couple of days, I remember to check the database for potential trades.

When I receive a trade envelope, I put it front and center on my desk until I leave feedback. Then I pull out the coupons and file them in my binder.

When I have time, I go to the database and seach for each insert by the date and update my have/wish list.

Towards the end of the month, I go through my binder to pull any coupons about to expire to add them to the weekly envelopes if I am going to use them and I pull the expired at the same time.

On an irregular basis, I will pull the oldest inserts from the file and look through to see if there's any coupons still in date. If so, I refile the insert. If not, I toss the inserts.

This seems to be the best way for me to stay organized. The only thing I don't like about my system is that there have been coupons in the inserts that I would have used if I had remembered that I had them.

The only other problem that I have is on those odd occassions that I need to make an emergency run to the store, I don't usually have my coupons with me nor do I have the time to look for a coupon. But this is rare. I usually have everything I need on hand.

I'm trying to get in the habit of emailing 3 companies a day, but so far, I haven't been very sucessful at that. So I'm working on a spreadsheet that contains links and a list of products so that I will have a rotating list to follow. Then I will only have to open the spreadsheet each day and click on the links. Once I have completed the list, I will start over, which should be every 3 months.

Ok, now you all now, I truly am OCD

[zoeys_mom]

Ok, now you all now, I truly am OCD

One thing that might speed up you perusing your old inserts.
You can go to the database and do a search like 11-07-08 RP. Then you get all the coupons that came out that week. I use this feature when I am doing my havelist. It saves a little time.
You could do the same when you are looking to see if you can purge any inserts.

I like your system GML. It is neat and tidy just the way I aspire to be

[chriscree]

Saturday I buy the early edition of the Sunday paper, this lets me know if it is worth it to buy extras on Sunday.
Then on Sunday night we(my Dh&2DS) cut all the coupons and I put in my binder. this is movie night so we have pizza and do this as a family.
Monday I go thru the cvs, walgreens, etc. adds. make a list pull q's.
Tuesday or Wed. when I get the grocery add I make my list. pull q's
Thursday I hit all the stores I want or need to go to.
I am on HCW all the time so if I see a hot sale I pull the envie for that store and add the item and pull the q's.
I do not buy or trade that often but I do look for peoples wish list and mail them what they are looking for if I am not going to use them.
all toll it is probably about 1 hour a day handling the adds and coupons. but alot of time spent shopping in the stores and on HCW.