Couponing 101, part 4

in my opinion, the secret to truly saving money - substantial savings, i mean - using coupons, is to match your coupons with what's on sale.

think about the products you use everyday - shampoo, toothpaste, bar soap, dish liquid, laundry needs. if you're 100% brand-loyal, that's okay (there are certain things i'm brand loyal about, too!) but if you're willing to be flexible, at least with some things, that's where savings can really add up.

now think about the foods you and your family like...what do you like to have in the fridge/freezer/pantry?

some things, like milk and lettuce, it's hard to stock up on!

(not impossible, though. you certainly can freeze milk with no problem. but it does taste different after you thaw it, and it's best for cooking.)

if you can invest even a little extra into your grocery and household budgets - to shop for things at their best prices - it truly does save money in the long run!

a good example is dish liquid - Dawn, Palmolive, Ajax. it regularly goes on sale for under a dollar, and occasionally you'll find 25¢ coupons (particularly in the P&G Brandsaver coupon inserts that come out periodically)

do you know how much your groceries actually cost? if you make yourself a Price Book - it can be a notepad or even just the back of a junk mail envelope - and jot down the price of things you buy regularly, then you can compare the prices at different stores.

you may be surprised at where you can find the best deals!

....but i have to say, i'm not a fan of driving all over town just to get a lower price on a few things. it's not worth the time, gas, or wear & tear on your car)