If you’ve been following my blog for at least the last couple ofweeks, you may know that I’m assisting my friend Val, at MomChats in her new couponing adventure. We’re also holding a cross-blog conversation in hopes of helping our readers. Last week we blogged about coupon organizing, and this was Val’s next question for me.

Now that I’m slowly getting organized, it’s time to use them. So Lauren, just how do you go about making sure they are actually used? Do you have a software program, spreadsheet, or just good old pen & paper to map out your trip?

I have accumulated quite a stockpile of coupons by saving inserts, printing them and through all of the coupons I’ve collected offline as well. I don’t print every coupon I find, nor do I use every coupon I have, but having a coupon for whatever deal I find is saving me money every time, and that is a very satisfying feeling.

So, in answer to your question Val, here’s how I make sure I’m making the most of my coupon stockpile…

• I don’t use a software program, but I’ve found a way to keep track of things without needing one. Having my coupons organized has definitely helped. I’ve found that CouponInsertsPreview.com posts the coupon insert listings that are coming up each Sunday. I copy these lists into a text document that I keep in a folder on my desktop.
• I receive early-bird previews via email for the stores we do most of our shopping at, plus the paper version in the mail. To help me build my Meijer shopping list, I use Meijer Mealbox.
• Once I’ve got my shopping list built, (sometimes with paper/pen, other times printed out) I use an online coupon database to check for any coupons that will go with what’s on my list. This is where my coupon stockpile really comes in handy. I can look up a product there, then reach for the insert it’s in and clip it as I go along.
• Something else that I’ve found helpful is checking websites that offer coupon matchups for the specific stores I’m looking to shop at that week. I use IHeartWags.com (She runs another site called IHeartRiteAid.com too!) to see what coupons are matched up with what sales items each week. Saves time when someone else has done that work for you.

I may not use every coupon I have, but being organized and spending some time online checking coupon matchups and databases help me make the most of my coupon stockpile. Val mentioned adding coupons to her store’s rewards card, which is something I haven’t gotten into yet. To me, that would be hard to keep track of. So, my question to you Val is how is that working for you? Is it convenient to have your coupons there “with you” on the card?