Computer Couponing

I used to spend hours each week perusing the Sunday coupons, clipping those I might use, sorting/filing them, checking the grocery ads, flipping through my coupon box to find any usable coupons, and sorting out expired coupons. Not any more. For the past 1 1/2 years, I have used my computer to simplify it all. With no more than an hour of time per week, I saved $572 with coupons last year (and brought in $248 with rebates [after postage], plus got lots of free or nearly free offers that make great gifts and stocking stuffers). These numbers may not impress all of you, but they make it worth my time. The cost of living is relatively low where I live. I feed a family of 6 on $60/week, and spend $10.50/week on non- foods (cleaners, TP, etc.) I don't buy a lot of convenience foods, which seem to have a lot of applicable coupons.

Get a filing cabinet or large box and 26 file folders (or use an accordion file). Number 1-26 on the front of each folder, and 27-52 on the back (i.e. 1 and 27 share a folder, 2 and 28, etc.) These numbers correspond to the weeks of the year. January's first set of Sunday coupon booklets go in folder 1, the next week's in folder 2, and so on. (Use a calendar to figure it out if you start in the middle of the year.) I subscribe to three different Sunday papers (because I like them), so I have three sets of coupons. You could also get extra coupon booklets from neighbors (after they have clipped the ones they want), your newspaper carrier, recycle "dumpsters", work, etc. It's the extra booklets that make this process worthwhile.

Stack like booklets together before you file them. The ones on top in the folder become booklet "A"; the next set is "B"; some weeks have a "C." Then each sheet of paper in the booklet has a number. The cover is sheet "1", the next piece of paper (its front and back) is sheet "2," etc.

The code "3/b/7" means that the coupon you are looking for is in week 3's folder, in the second (set of) booklet(s), on sheet #7 (either the front or the back). No more clipping, filing, discarding coupons you don't end up using. (When all the folder's coupons have expired, you just dump them.)

Almost every computer applications program comes with a simple database. I use WordPerfect Works' database, which I got five years ago. It does everything that I need it to for this application. I have also set this up on Microsoft Works' database, but it's not as easy to work with. Get out your manual or click the help files and set up a database so it has the following "field" heading across the screen (and listed in each "record"): "W/B/S," "AMT/QTY," "PRODUCT," and "EXP ."

Sit down at the beginning of each week and enter your coupon data into the program. (Each coupon fills one "record".) You only enter the coupons you will possibly use. (I don't enter cat litter, dog food, sugary cereals, coffee, etc.) Throw away "garbage" ad pages or pages with no interesting coupons. Keep pen and scissors handy so you can clip recipes, free coupons, rebates, etc. Each "record" will contain vital information. "W/B/S" means week # / booklet / sheet #. It tells where to find it. (You have to count pages as you enter the data. If something is on the back cover, I type "back" instead of a page number, i.e. 27/a/back.)

"AMT/QTY" tells you the value of the coupon, and if you have to buy more than one. Be creative here. Ziploc sometimes has 2 coupons on a page, one for a single product, and one for a double purchase. I combine them in the same record to save time, but type ".35;.75/2". The ";" tells me that there are two different coupons. "B1G1F" means buy one get one free.

"PRODUCT" needs to have lots of room in its field. (Either specify that if the program asks you how many characters, or click and drag the space out, depending on your program type.) Enter brand name, then specifics like size, liquid or powder, specific flavor or scent, etc. ** Use shortcuts (abbreviations) consistently**: liq/pow, TP,TPaste, TB (=toothbrush), deo, shamp/cond, 18+oz (=18 or more ounces), etc. Don't use capital letters unless necessary. The object is to save keystrokes. Use a main heading when possible, i.e. enter apple-cinnamon Cheerios under "Cheerios--app/cinn", etc. Include other information at the end, if desired (like "rebate" or "sweeps entry.")

"EXP" tells when it expires. I have always used M/D/Y format, but you could omit the year to save keystrokes. At the end of each month, run a search for recently expired coupons, then delete them from your database. Check the manual or help files on this. (Also delete coupons you know you have used, as you go.)

When you reach week 27 and need the other side of folder 1, you can also run a search to see if there are any unexpired coupons still in "1/*/*" (or whatever format your computer uses) before you clean out the folder. But coupons rarely go more than 13 weeks without expiring.

I have my database sort my records first by PRODUCT (alphabetically), then by EXP, then by W/B/S. I can find a coupon by scrolling down through the alphabetical list, or typing in the first word, which takes me directly there. (Each database is different.) At any given time, I have up to 550 coupons on file.

Before you shop, scan the ads for items you need or know are a good price, then highlight them with a marker. Turn on the computer and see if you have any matching coupons. Write the W/B/S and AMT/QTY code next to the item in the ad. Transfer the information to your grocery list, grouping items as to where they are located in the store. Copy the coupon code to the list, too. Grab your file box, clip only the coupons you need, and write the W/B/S code on the margin of each so you can return it if you end up not using it. I keep my list and coupons in a coupon holder with different stores' names on each divider.

That's all there is to it. The first few weeks may be time consuming as you set it up and figure it out. But I'd quit clipping coupons if I had to go back to the way I used to do it!!

Do you have a time or money saving idea that wasn't included in this article? Please send it to tips @stretcher.com. We get the best ideas from our readers!

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