Hi! My name is Maureen of Save and Share with Coupons and I am excited to have the opportunity to share some great couponing tips with the fans of Macaroni Kid Robinson, North Hills, Cranberry and City of Pittsburgh!
I want to help you save for your family and to encourage you to share with your community. I want you to have money left over so you can spend more time with your family doing the fun things that Macaroni Kid shares with you each month.
I started this business because I saw a need for families to stretch their paycheck every month. I also saw a need for our local food pantries. Working families need more and more help with food, I know I can help, and so can you.
I have been teaching others how to save using coupons in order to have more money to take care of their families. It is a blessing to me to show anyone and everyone how to get items you need for free (or almost free). I love helping others and using coupons, so this is a perfect way for me to combine them.
I encourage and challenge everyone I meet to try and get one free or low cost item a week to donate to their local food bank. Everything is needed and it all adds up to help.
My coupon class is where I teach the basics of couponing, organizing and how to plan a shopping trip. I enjoy meeting new people and hearing how much they saved after learning how to organize and plan.
(You can always email me at saveandsharewithcoupons@gmail.com) if you are interested in hosting a class at your local library, church or even your home.
Some of my tips are online at my website saveandsharewithcoupons.com. You are able to print coupons, search my database for any coupon you need, sign up for my daily newsletter, and find out what the best deals are for the week at your favorite store. I would love for you to visit my site and let me know what section is your favorite.
Each month I will be sharing a tip to help you on your couponing journey.
The first tip I like to teach is organization. That is the key to saving the most money with your coupons. There are a few different ways to organize; I use a binder and a file system. It’s all about what works for you.
The first thing you need to do is start saving the coupon inserts from your Sunday Paper. How many inserts you get each week depends on your need. I tell people they should get 1 newspaper for each member of your household. I would get 6 papers a week. I now have my dad and friends saving for me, so I only need to buy 4 each week. I will be asking for more inserts from friends and family so I can have more coupons to help with the food banks.
If you have neighbors or family that are not into couponing, they can give you theirs so you don’t have to pay for extra papers.
Next, you should get a permanent marker and date the top of the insert. The date is listed (in very, VERY tiny print, you will need your reading glasses) on the side of the insert at the fold, either on the top or right in the middle, depending on the insert.
Inserts that come once a week are the Smart Source (SS) and the Red Plum (RP). Once a month you can get the P&G. Once in while there is a General Mills (GM) insert that I love. It always has my Progresso soup and Chex cereal coupons.
(The Smart Source, P&G, and GM are typically in the Post-Gazette or Trib. The Red Plum comes in my mail once a week, but can also be found in the Washington Observer in some areas.)
Once you date the insert, you need to store the insert in a folder or in a box so you can access it later when you plan your next shopping trip. (You can use the coupon database on my website to search for coupons you need.)
Or you can go through the insert, cut out the coupons you know you use frequently, and then file the rest of the insert in a folder or box for later use. The cut coupons will then be filed in your binder in different size pockets.
Another great tip if you have multiples of the same insert is to turn them into one insert. You lay the entire insert out separately, and then match up pages from the remaining inserts. I like to staple them together, usually on the picture of the coupon because that makes it easier to cut them and keeps them all together.
Now you are organized and ready to start shopping! I will be sharing more in the next newsletter, if you would be willing to help me, I would love for you to send any questions you may have. I will feature your questions in my future articles.
I hope this has helped you consider using coupons and encouraged you to donate to your local food bank. If not, donating your coupons to a friend is still helping.
Be sure to check out my website and also join my Facebook page Save and Share With Coupons to keep up on all the daily deals and finds, giveaways, classes, coupon exchanges, donating to the military with Carra Cares With Coupons, connecting with others and more.
Happy Couponing!
~Maureen
You can also comment below if you have any questions! We will send them directly to Maureen!
