Extreme Couponing Tip: Prepare Shopping Trips a Week Early
Extreme Couponing Tip: Prepare Shopping Trips a Week Early
This week’s Extreme Couponing Tip is on preparing and planning your shopping trips a week early–if and when possible. I know this seems like a long shot, as most of you are probably thinking “I struggle getting my shopping trips organized for THIS week, how am I going to plan for next week?” This might take some practice, however if you’re able to start even a small amount of planning a week in advance, I promise this will help keep your couponing experience less stressful, more efficient and ultimately you will be able to take advantage of more deals at better prices if you’re just prepared!
You’ve Got the Resources
Here at LRWC we give you the edge up– we offer preview ads and deal ideas to many of the stores we do matchups for. These previews are offered several days before the start of the sale. This gives you time to prepare a list of the items you know you need as well as a list of the items you know you want to stock up on based on the sale and coupons that are or will be available. Even if you simply put a coupon aside in a special bin on your desk or folder and set it aside for next week, this will save you tons of time the following week. There is nothing worse then knowing you printed a coupon and cannot find it. Or actually there is something worse…finding the coupon AFTER the sale is over! Yep, I’ve been there. If you know the item will be on sale next week or in the next few weeks, simply put it aside to save yourself time and effort when you want to use it.
I use stackable trays and labeled them with the stores that I frequent. When I print or clip a coupon that I know I will be using at one of those stores soon, I just throw it in the bin. When it’s time to really sit down and prepare my shopping trip, more then half of my coupons are already there waiting for me. No more finding coupons after the sale is over and lots of less time and effort each week since I try and prepare ahead. This technique has definitely helped me make extreme couponing even easier.
Now it’s your turn…do you prepare your shopping trips in advance?
If you are new to couponing, you may want to check out the Couponing for Beginners section where you will find a lot of answers to your questions.
Yes, I plan ahead with the Shoprite Preview ad. Order my coupons from Ebay on Tuesday. By the time the sale starts, my coupons are here!!
Happy Shopping
Thanks for the idea. I have an extra set of stackable trays that will now be put to good use. I had recently started writing on the coupon page as I printed them which store and week but like this better. I have a request – the preview deals – can they be marked so that they can be selected and added to “My List” so they can be printed at the same time I’m printing the coupons?
I definitely appreciate all the ‘extras’ I’ve been able to get since I started following LRWC.
i do this with my drug store shopping and it totally saves me time! i wish i could do this with my grocery shopping, but i shop at foodtown and can only get the ad 1 day early…
I use an envelope system. I label envelopes with the store names and then as I see what is on sale for the next week, I put the coupon in that store’s envelope. I print my list, put it in the envelope and take the envelope to the store with me.
I plan a week ahead, write it down my transactions.then tape it to an envelope. I usually can only do it for CVs and Walgreens, my regular market is cheaper than Ralph’s, albertsons. No coupons for the stuff i buy there. :/ Wish I had a shop rite! I always see such good deals posted for that store
I’ve been doing this for a while and it’s great. I do my shopping on Saturday for Shoprite. I finish pulling that weeks coupons after I make a list off of the shoprite preview for the following week. It helps a lot because sometimes the items I want are cheaper the next week once I review the preview. I also use an envelope system. Have 1 for each store always in front pocket of my binder so when I finish pulling coupons I want to use that week I also start pulling some of next weeks coupons. Big thanks to you and the website for allowing us to plan early!