Hi there:

I wish I had a good system to share for collecting, organizing and using coupons but this is a big challenge for me, too. Here is an ADDitude article about making grocery shopping less painful that might be helpful, though.

Good luck!

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Thanks, Anni! I had seen that article and found it very helpful in reinforcing what I know I need to do, but often don't. It also has a few tips I hadn't thought of. I see it also has a link to http://www.grocerycouponguide.com/ and I'm going to check that out.

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Funny you should mention this! I've been trying to implement some order to my kitchen and meals lately, and have just started to clip coupons again. My clipping rules: 1. It must be something I already use or something that I have been planning to try. No coupons for stuff I don't need or that I think I can give to someone else unless I am going to see them that day. Otherwise the coupons will sit in my purse until after they expire. I have a large index card box for coupons. I can also keep a pen and my master shopping list in it. 2. The coupon must be worth using. I'm not going to expend the energy to save 10 cents when I buy 4 of something if I only need one or two, or rarely use it. Two dollars off hair color or makeup that I use, well, now it's worth it! Not that I need hair color, mind you! ;o) 3. I only shop once every two weeks. I hit the grocery store, the warehouse store, and the discount store, walmart or target. That way I only have to remember to bring the coupons with me on those days. Two or three additional trips to the market still need to be made to get fresh fruits and veggies and milk, and other things that can't be kept for two weeks or that run out quickly. I swear, sometimes I think we should invest in a cow! Under NO circumstances do I do these in-between trips. My husband takes these is return for not having to do the "big" shopping. He goes in, and comes out with only the things on the list. If it was me, I'd come out with a bunch of stuff not needed, and probably ice cream, treats and other things we just don't need, but sound good at the time, or because they were on sale. 4. I go shopping after I have finalized the Master Shopping List. How do I know what we need? * The Master Shopping List on the fridge with commonly used items on it. If we need it, circle it or add it one one of the empty lines. Then I will know to buy it. I don't know my teen needs shampoo or conditioner or pimple cream if she doesn't tell me. If use eat the last apple, circle them! I'm not a mind reader, family! lol (I use a customizable list from the MS Works templates on our computer. There are lots of free ones online, too. I just kept looking until I found one that worked for us.) *a quick scan of the pantry, which is now organized in an add friendly way, thanks to the book "Organizing Solutions" that I got from amazon! I can quickly tell if anything has been missed off the list. (When I organized the pantry for the first time, I had FOUR full costco-sized jars of peanut butter, 12 boxes of mac and cheese, which we rarely eat, not to mention SIX cans of pureed pumpkin, only used during the holidays, and don't get me started on my spices!!) *If something we need crosses my mind or gets told to me as someone is flying by, I make a note in my Blackberry and add it to the Master List when I finalize the list. *I spend 15-20 minutes every Saturday or Sunday to create a simple menu for meals for the week, adding items I'll need to make them happen to the main grocery list by circling or adding them. We are savings SO much money just by doing this alone! No more not knowing what to make and deciding to eat out YET again! And we are eating healthier and eating dinner together at the table! I love it! DH or my mom, who lives with us, will usually defrost anything that needs defrosting or remind me. On days I work, I plan meals that are specialties of the night's cook or are easy to make. This is working for us, so far. Hope it helps!

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