I’ve been using The Food Storage Network to help me plan, acquire, and use food storage. They have great advice, books, posts, and downloadable spreadsheets to help you out. This weekend, since I’ve finally gotten my homework under control (for the present), I’m going to do some massive couponing, studying of grocery ads, and grocery shopping to help build up our food storage. My goal is to get about 1 month’s worth of food over the next month or so, and then build it up to enough food for 3 months.
I have my coupons filed in a filing cabinet. I have several months worth, including double or triple sets of coupons for weeks that friends and coworkers gave me their coupons. I’m going to go through each coupon packet and:
- If it’s a coupon I’ll use (and it hasn’t expired), I’ll add it to my coupon spreadsheet, which lists the coupons I have and where they’re filed.
- If a coupon flyer has no coupons that I will ever use, I’ll toss it in the recycling bin.
After I’ve gone through my coupons, I’ll go through this week’s store flyers for local grocery stores and pharmacies. I’ll write down prices for items that I need for my food storage, and then make a list of things to shop for at each store, along with the coupons that I’ll need.
I have coupon organizers that I’ve made from sheet protectors. If there are any coupons that I’ll need at the store, I’ll consult my coupon spreadsheet for their locations, cut them out, staple multiples (of the same coupon) together, and place each coupon (or coupon set) in the pockets of my coupon organizers sheet protectors. I’ll take the sheet protectors (not the binder, it’s too bulky) to the store with me and be able to see my coupons easily.