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Couponing can seem like a foreign language at first but with time it does get easier.  To make this language easier on you, today I'm posting some of the more common abbreviations.

SS - Smart Source (coupon insert)

RP - Red Plum (coupon insert)

PG - Procter & Gamble 

GM - General Mills
 
WYB - when you buy (ex. wyb 4 items, this is the price per item)

OYNO - on your next order

Blinkie - coupon boxes located throughout the store that dispense coupons

BOGO - buy one, get one

Catalina - coupon that prints out at the register

ECB - Extra Care Bucks from CVS

Register Rewards - coupons that print at the register at Walgreens and are to be treated like cash on your next visit

There are literally hundreds more but these are the most common ones.  If there is an abbreviation you would like to know, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email.

Stay tuned as next week I will discuss online coupons.
 

Back to the Basics: Stick to a Few Stores

This is the second post in a series about the basics of couponing and saving money.  I've decided to title the series Back to the Basics.  

I hear from people often that they do not have time to shop for sales because they will have to go to way too many stores.  Here is a little secret I have for you...I rarely shop at more than 1-2 stores a week.

The best grocery store for sales in my area is Dillons (part of the Kroger family).  I've noticed that most of their sales run at least two weeks.  In the past few months, I've been hitting that sale on the first week.  The next week, I do a quick run to Price Cutter as it is just up the street.  I get the basics and any great sales they have.  I've cut my grocery budget by about 25% simply by switching to this method instead of shopping Dillons every single week.

As for other stores, I rarely look at the sales unless I know my stockpile is getting low.  I usually wind up going to Walgreens or Target one to two times a month for great deals on toothpaste, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc but I do not hit every sale at every store each week.  It would be exhausting to do this.

When you are just starting out, start with one store and get the hang of it before adding another.

My favorite blogs to read to get the great deal matchups are:

Money Saving Mom - features matchups for most national stores
I Heart Coupon Deals - local blogger with Dillons matchups

Couponing: Start Small

In the past few weeks, I've had several people ask me about couponing and how I manage to keep our grocery budget so small.  Every time, I was then told it took too much effort and there was no way they could get their bill so low.  With each person, I had to remind them to start small.  Over the next few weeks, I'm going to share some beginning couponing tips and tricks that I have learned over the years.  If there are any questions you have, feel free to leave a comment or email me and I will work them into the series.

Today I simply want to remind you to start small.  Do not expect to save 70% your first trip and do not try to hit 5 stores your first time out.  If you currently do not use any coupons, aim for saving 10% off your next grocery trip.  Once you start feeling more comfortable, try for 15-20%.  My current average is 40-50% at the grocery store with the occasional 70-80%.   Drugstores tend to be a bit higher in savings but that is because I usually only go there to get the deals and nothing else.

Stay tuned as my next entry will be about the number of stores I shop at.