• Happy Homemaker Cindy
• Common Sense with Money
• Mommy Snacks

So back to the coupon binder. My system has definitely evolved and been refined over the last two years of couponing. And yours may too. If you are looking to get started find a system that seems right for you and try it out. If it isn’t working, consider a new system. Evaluate what is working for you and what isn’t. What works for one person might not work for you. Here is what I have used in the past.

Coupon Binder #1

When I started I cut out ALL of the coupons every week and slipped them into baseball card sleeves, divided by section of the grocery store and placed in a small 3 ring binder. One thing that has always worked for me is using a zippered binder. It is great because if my toddler gets a hold of my binder or I accidentally drop it, or I am trying to carry 2 children and my coupons, I don’t have to worry about it dropping and losing all of my coupons.

Anyway, I would cut and sort, cut and sort. The problem with this system for me is that I was ALWAYS cutting and sorting. I grew weary.

Coupon Binder System #2

I’m not sure where I heard her say it, but once upon a time Jill said that she just kept the coupon inserts intact and then she cut the coupons out that she needed based on the couponing sites and what she had found to be on sale. I thought this was crazy. I was wrong.

I didn’t want to totally go to Jill’s system so I would cut out the coupons I was fairly certain I would use, I would file them in my baseball card system. Then I would three hole punch the leftover coupon inserts and put them in a separate notebook. I would do research before I go to the store and clip my coupons and then I would only take the binder that included the clipped coupons.

Eventually I found that rotating the coupons in the baseball card holder system was also time consuming and was taking away from actual time spent at the grocery store. I also realized that 98% of the time I follow the blogging sites and they list coupons by insert. Therefore, cutting any coupons out was not very effective.

Coupon Binder System #3

So here is where I am at now. I have the baseball card inserts but ONLY for loose coupons that I get in the mail or receive as promotions. Otherwise, I leave the coupon inserts intact, three-hole punch them, mark them with the insert date and place them in my binder in FRONT of my baseball inserts.

I moved up to the 4-inch binder so that I only have one binder to lug around (even though it is huge). This ensures that I don’t leave coupons at home.

Before I go to the grocery store I do my research and cut or pull out any coupons that I am sure I am going to use. I keep a spare pair of scissors in my binder as well so that I make sure that if I need a coupon while I am at the store that I can cut it out easily.

With tools like my iPhone I can always look up coupon match-ups on location if need be. It is a win-win for me.

I love, love, love this binder! Yes, it is an affiliate link, but seriously, this binder has it all. It has pockets for me to slip in those Kroger coupon books when I get them. It zips. I can store all of my inserts without having to leave any of them at home. It has a  handy small pocket in the front for me to stick those coupons I plan to use on that visit. And it comes with a strap for wearing on my shoulder if I want. SCORE!

Like I said, not every system works for everyone. What system works for you? Or are you looking to start a new system? I would love to hear what works for you!

**Don’t forget to give Jen some $4 love – today is day 2 of the Celebrate Jen Campaign!

**Also, the Marriott $250 gc contest ends today (6/30) at NOON EST!

I mentioned earlier this month that Cellfire was doing some updates and bringing you some great contests and savings. One of those contests is that you can win a $100 gift card to your local grocers right here! Woot!

Today’s feature product is Bisquick. The coupon right now for Bisquick on Cellfire is $.50 off 1. There are plenty of recipes that once a month mom has featured that use Bisquick. Here are a few:

• Sausage Balls (November 2009 Menu)
• Stuffed Pancake Cupcakes (February 2010 Menu)
• Easy Taco Bake (February 2010 Menu)

What recipes do you like that call for Bisquick! Link up!

And don’t forget, this is part of a month-long Cellfire contest. Just as a refresher here is the details of the month-long contest:

Throughout the month of June they are giving YOU the opportunity to win a $100 grocery gift card. (By my calculations that is about one persons portion of the summer menu costs.) Over the course of the month I will be highlighting 3 of the coupon specials throughout the month. Each time I talk about the products you will have a chance for up to 3 entries. So if you respond to this post and the additional 3 as many times as you are allowed you could enter up to 12 times! (I promise, I will make entries easy on you.)The 3 products I will be featuring are Bisquick, Yoplait Cups and Chex Mix. Why am I telling you? Because this is a cooking blog and I LOVE to see you share your own recipes and ideas for serving these products. So keep that in mind as we move through the month of June.

THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED THE DRAWN WINNER WAS DEBBIE FELLOWS.

Here is how you can participate today (leave separate comments for each thing you do for your entry to count – up to 3 entries allowed):

1. Leave a comment about what you use Bisquick to make.

2. Tweet this: Win a $100 grocery gc from @cellfire & @onceamonthmom – find out more here – http://onceamonthmom.com/cellfire-update-bisquick/

3. Leave a link – provide a link in the linky above or in the comment section to your favorite recipe using Bisquick.

• Coupons.com (you can also get to coupons.com through the ad in the right side bar)
  • $1.00 off 1 Welch’s Juice
  • $1.00 off 2 Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls (not on Oct menu but coming in Dec)
  • $1.00 off 2 Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Pasta (not on Oct menu but coming in Dec)
  • $.50 off 2 Pillsbury Pie Crusts
  • $1.00 off 2 Progresso Products (not broth or soup)
  • $.50 off 1 Progresso Broth (not on Oct menu but coming in Dec)
• Cellfire
  • $.50 off 1 Progresso Broth
• P & G eSaver
• Shortcuts.com
  • $.50 off 1 Progresso Broth
• Upromise

Happy Couponing

I will agree with you that signing up for all of these things can get a bit overwhelming, but this is a REALLY good one if you are a OAMM cook. Each month they send you an email notification with their latest and greatest coupon offer. This month it is $1.00 off Pledge. Many times in the past it has been for Ziploc products and I know we all go through a truck load ton of those!

So don’t miss out on your opportunity for some easy savings for your once a month cooking days. Go sign up today!

Grocery List Items:

• Yoplait Kids Zone: Save $.80 when you buy TWO any flavor Yoplait® products listed: Yoplait® Go-GURT® Yogurt – Yoplait® Trix® Multipack Yogurt.
• Yoplait® Fiber One®: Save $1.00 when you buy any flavor Yoplait® Fiber One® Yogurt Multipacks.
• *Coleman Natural Bacon: Save $1 when purchasing a nitrate-free Coleman Natural Hickory Smoked Bacon.

Other coupons to note:

• Honey Nut Cheerios®: Save $1.00 when you buy Honey Nut Cheerios® cereal.
• Cottonelle®: Save $.25 on any ONE (1) 4-pack or Larger COTTONELLE® Toilet Paper.
• Huggies® Diapers: Save $1.00 on any package of Huggies® Diapers.
• Hamburger Helper®: Save $.75 when you buy THREE any flavor Hamburger Helper® Tuna Helper® OR Chicken Helper® Home Cooked Skillet Meals.
• Betty Crocker® Fruit Snacks: Save $.50 when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor Betty Crocker® Fruit by the Foot®, Fruit Gushers®, Fruit Roll-Ups® OR Fruit Roll-Ups® Fruit Stickerz ® Fruit.
• Nature Valley Granola Bars: Save $.40 when you buy ONE BOX any flavor/variety Nature Valley® Granola Bars.
• Fiber One® Bars: Save $.40 when you buy ONE BOX any flavor Fiber One® Chewy Bars.
• Betty Crocker® Cookie Mix: Save $.40 when you buy any flavor 17.5 OZ. OR LARGER Betty Crocker® Cookie Mix.
• Betty Crocker® Supreme Brownie Mix: Save $.75 when you buy TWO any flavor Betty Crocker® Box Supreme Brownie Mixes.
• Trix® Cereal: Save $.55 when you buy Trix® cereal.
• Chex Mix®: Save $.50 when you buy any flavor 4.5 OZ. OR LARGER Chex Mix® OR Chex® 100 Calorie Snack.
• Betty Crocker® Cake and Frosting: Save $.50 when you buy BOTH Betty Crocker® Cake Mix AND Betty Crocker® Frosting (any flavors/varieties).
• Yoplait Cups: Save $.50 when you buy SIX any variety Yoplait® Yogurt cups OR any flavor Yoplait® Original OR Light Smoothies.
• Betty Crocker® Fruit Flavored Shapes: Save $.40 when you buy ONE BOX any variety Betty Crocker® Fruit Flavored Shapes.
• Betty Crocker® Warm Delights: Save $.50 when you buy ONE any flavor Betty Crocker® Warm Delights® Bowls OR Betty Crocker® Warm Delights® Minis Bowls.
• Chex Mix® Bars: Save $.60 when you buy ONE BOX any flavor Chex Mix® Bars.
• Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters: Save $1.00 when you buy ONE BAG any flavor Nature Valley® Granola Nut Clusters.
• *Chex Mix® Flavors: Save $1.00 when you buy any 4.5 OZ. OR LARGER Barbecue OR Sour Cream & Onion Chex Mix®.
• *Coleman Natural Hot Dogs: Save $1 when purchasing a pack of nitrate-free Coleman Natural Beef Hot Dogs.

  *(Indicates regional deals that are available only in some areas. Please check cellfire.com for details)

• Coupons.com (you can also get to coupons.com through the ad in the right side bar)
  • Yoplait or Yo-Plus save $1.00 on a four pack
  • Yoplait Yogurt save $1.00 on six
  • Many more in the kids cereal, snacks and lunchbox favorites too
• Cellfire
  • Save $.50 when you buy SIX any variety Yoplait® Yogurt cups OR any flavor Yoplait® Original OR Light Smoothies.
  • Save $1.00 when you buy any flavor Yoplait® Fiber One® Yogurt Multipacks.
  • Many other great coupons including an exclusive $1.00 off Honey Nut Cheerios (1)
• P & G eSaver
• Shortcuts.com
• Upromise

Happy Couponing

• Coupons.com (you can also get to coupons.com through the ad in the right side bar)
  • $.45 off 6 Yoplait yogurts
  • $1.00 off 2 Philadelphia Cream Cheese
  • $1.00 off 2 Kraft Shredded Cheese
  • $1.00 off 2 Breakstones or Knudson’s sour cream
  • $1.00 off 1 General Foods International instant coffee
• Cellfire.com
  
• P & G eSaver
• Shortcuts.com
• and if you haven’t already signed up for the Kraft community where becoming a member gets you access to lots of free printable coupons, you can do so here.

Happy Couponing

Over the weekend (you may have missed it) came a new reminder and opportunity to sign up for the Kraft Community. This is a great site for getting recipes, coupons and much more! As I mentioned before, the Slow Cooker Saucy Meatballs recipe on May’s menu came from this site.

There are also great coupons that you can print off once you are a member of the site. I love opportunities like this because these are coupons that you don’t have to buy a paper to get, just point, click and print! Here are some that you will want to get for May’s Grocery List:

• Philadelphia Cream Cheese – $1.00/2
• Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs – $1.00/2
• Kraft Dressing – $1.00/1
• Kraft Shredded Cheese – $1.00/2
• Grey Poupon – $1.00/1
• Oscar Mayer Bacon – $1.00/2
• Breakstone’s Sour Cream  or Knudsen Cottage Cheese/Sour Cream- $1.00/2
• Kraft BBQ Sauce – $1.00/1
• Claussen Pickles – $1.00/2
• Kraft Miracle Whip – $1.00/1
• Kraft Mayonnaise – $1.00/1
• And many more that aren’t on our grocery list!

Not only will they work for your May Grocery List, but since they don’t expire until the 10th of June I will take these coupons into consideration when planning the June menu.

You can also go here to print out more coupons from Kraft. And don’t forget the great General Mills/Bisquick sign-up as well, yet another opportunity for great coupons.

Thanks, Stretching a Buck, Abundant Food Savings and Money Saving Mom!

One of the recipes on our menu this month comes from the Kraft foods website. Right now, you can sign up to get lots of menu ideas and recipes. I know I am always looking for great new recipes, especially ones that are going to utilize great coupons. So click on the picture above and sign up for their recipes and menu ideas today!

And don’t forget the great coupons and recipes you can get from General Mills by going here!

Another great site to check out if you haven’t already done so is Cellfire.com. You can load coupons right to your Kroger (or affiliate) card for more great savings. Cellfire also does lots of great coupons for area attractions and restaurants that you can have right on your cell phone. I have been using this service for several months now and LOVE it! You simply save money by showing them the code on your phone. I have saved money at coffee shops and pizza places as well as on my monthly groceries. Check it out for yourself.

Other sites that you may want to check in to load up on coupons are: P & G eSaver and Shortcuts.com.

I was excited to meet Tricia & Cortney of Once a Month Mom at the BlissDom Conference in Nashville, and even more excited that they included me, a non-Ohioan (I’m from Virginia), in their activities! They’re fantastic!

I was so intrigued by the once a month cooking concept that when I got back home I immediately sent them an email to ask for a guest post on how to get started. In turn, they asked me for a post on how to save on groceries, so here are 7 tips to save big on food.

1. Get a Store Loyalty Card. Okay, most people have a store savings card to get the special prices in the weekly ads, but don’t overlook those mailings and emails from the stores. Both Kroger and Harris Teeter have been known to send out coupons for free products, as well as special members-only offers.
2. Load Up on Electronic Coupons. Another benefit to having a store card is being able to add coupons to your cards to be redeemed at check-out. These are still new, so they’re not available everywhere yet. Kroger shoppers can go to Shortcuts.com,  Cellfire or P&G eSaver to find coupons to upload. Safeway shoppers can access P&G eSaver right now.
3. Keep Your Eyes Open for Printable Coupons. I love printables, so hit Coupons.com or  SmartSource.com for great coupons to print and cut out. It also pays to visit your favorite brands, like JohnsonsBaby.com and BettyCrocker.com for great printable coupons. Use these coupons when grocery items are on sale to maximize savings!
4. Stock Up During Buy-One-Get-One-Free (BOGO) Sales. BOGO sales are great on their own, but you can also use one coupon on each item. So if you get two items, make sure you use two coupons. This is a great way to save big!
5. Stack Your Coupons. Some retailers, like Target and Walgreens, offer coupons that can only be used at their stores. Use these coupons along with manufacturers coupons on the same product for extra savings. By doubling up you may even get products for free or nearly free.
6. Look for Double and Triple Coupon Deals. Some grocery stores double or triple coupons and often only on certain days of the week. Check your local stores and shop the days when they’re multiplied.
7. Snag Rebates and Free-bates. Look for rebates and free-bates which refund you the full purchase price. You can make money in some cases when you use a coupon and then get a full price free-bate. The ads for these deals can lure you in so don’t forget to send in the forms.

Erin Gifford blogs at CouponCravings.com to share the best grocery, retail and drugstore deals. She can also be found on Twitter at Twitter.com/CouponCravings.

It’s not exactly on our OAM Grocery List but there are $5 off and $3 off Huggies coupons in this months line-up! Those are some coupons I can get excited about!