I was lucky enough to have grown up watching my Mother and Grandmother cut and use coupons.  That was like watching them both cut money out of the Sunday Paper.  The Parade Magazine was one of the first publications to print coupons.  I did not realize how important, cutting coupons would be until my first year of college.

I would get my allowance at the first of each month.  A letter stuffed with coupons would come to my dorm room.  That was so fun to go shopping and use them.  I had much needed money left over to keep me within a budget for the month too.  

Then in 1998, I was placed on disability.  So now I have only one source of income.  So the coupon habit that I learned in college is helping me today.  I  clip the coupons and place them into one of those 13 pocket folders that you can get at a office supply store.  They are made for checks, but are sturdy enough to hold coupons and labeled index card dividers.

I also study the sale adds for the local grocery store chains.  Some chains offer double and even triple off with their coupon redemption.  Read the fine print of those adds too.

I like to even match them up with rebates.  So in fact, one can get paid to try an item.  For instance this past month, there was a $1.00 coupon for a new pain reliever.  The same week one store had a rebate for the product, and it was on sale.  So I purchase it for $3.99.  I gave my $1.00 off coupon to the cashier, and paid $2.99.  Then I went home and filled out a rebate to try it free and followed the instructions.  I mailed it to the address on the filled out rebate form, and got a check back for $3.99.  I got paid one Dollar to buy the product.  On my income, that is a big blessing.  Just wanted to share what I have learned over these short years.  Have a good day and thanks for the short read.

Y.B.I.C.

A.E.K.D.B.