So if you`ve read through the other 2 couponing segments, you should have your coupons organized, filed and ready to go by now.  If not, go back and read Coupons ~ How To Get Organized, and then come back here when you`re ready.

Now we`re ready to search the ads. This process is obviously easier if you have the ads in front of you, by means of the Sunday newspaper, but it is possible to view the ads online at your favorite stores too.  But for now, let`s just keep things simple and proceed as though you have the ads right in front of you.

Now remember, you should already have your coupons from the Sunday paper clipped and sorted in your organizer.  So before you even start going through the Sunday ads, pull out the Sunday coupon inserts and get clippin`.  This may be a fun thing for you children to help you with, if you have any. Just remember to gently direct them to cut on the dotted lines and leave all the barcodes intact! I`ve had some friends with some very young, eager coupon cutters, who went a little crazy with the scissors.  For those little ones, I would suggest giving them some coupons you know you`re not going to use, and let them have at it.

Ok. So where were we? Oh yes, the Sunday ads. Since you just clipped and sorted the coupons from that paper, hopefully the coupon items are still fresh in your head.  (This will be to your advantage as you search the ads AFTER you`ve already clipped and sorted your coupons. Get it? Great!)  Ok. Moving on. As your`re searching through the ads, start making a small list for each store you plan on going to that week. (I use lined notebook paper, and once my list is complete, I put it in the front of my coupon binder, so it`s the first page I see when I open it.)

On your list, write down the item you want to buy, the price of it, and if you have a coupon to go with it. You may even have two coupons to go with it, if the store allows double coupons such as Albertsons.  They have their own `Double Coupon` coupon that you can combine with your Sunday paper insert coupon.  Another idea that many couponers use, is when you`re looking through the grocery store ads, some couponers plan their weekly menu around what`s on sale for that week. I think that`s a smart idea, if it fits within your family`s food preferences.

Once you`re done going through the ads, DON`T THROW THE ADS AWAY! Keep them with your binder. I picked up a binder bag (a tote bag) at a garage sale last summer in a free bin.  I carry my binder in it wherever I go, and it not only protects the binder, it also holds all of the ads for the week.

Now you may ask, why would I need the ads if I`ve already gone through them? Good question!  Keeping the ads with you serves 3 important purposes:  First, you can double check your list, if you have time, before you go in. Secondly, if there is a problem at the registers, you can just pull out the ad and state your case.  Thirdly, and my favorite reason, is PRICE MATCHING!  Keeping the ad with you, is money. Literally!  I have saved more money price matching than I ever imagined.

Now I`m not going to go into Price matching on this page, but I do go into more detail about it in another section on my blog.   So if you`re not familiar with price matching, I will touch on this in a future blog page.

Now for all of you who have your coupon organizers ready and have done your Sunday ads homework, get out there and save some money! Good luck!