- First, I have assembled all the necessary tools on the computer desk (that I spent a half hour yesterday cleaning off, so that I could have a spot to mess up, again).
- I have perused all the grocery ads (paper and virtual) for loss leader deals.
- I have assembled all the pertinent coupons. Matching coupons to sales prices is one of the most lucrative ways to use coupons.
- Of course, I had the help of a friend! This little bad boy is in the top five of my favorite frugal tools. It's name is the i slice, you can find your very own at a Harbor Freight near you, or HERE. I use it for cutting out coupons, cutting recipes out of magazines (and the newspaper), cutting gift wrap, trimming scrapbook paper, and opening packaging. In fact, I am so in love with it, that when I lost it last year, I ripped the house apart trying to find it, and was so depressed, that I went around in a funk for weeks. All my family members ended up buying me several for my birthday (probably so I would stop moping around). P.S. You'll be happy to know I found the original in the gift wrap box this Christmas (Oops! My bad!)
- Now the plan of action has been committed to paper. I do much better staying on track (and not FORGETTING something), if my list is itemized. Every store I need to stop at has a separate list of the items I am going to buy there. The asterisks next to some of the items means I have a coupon for it. My to do list is in order, from starting to stopping point. When I have finished I will have driven a circle of the entire town. That way I don't have to back track and waste fuel.
- Naturally, I have had my morning beverage to fortify my before the big trip!
Well, I guess, I had better hurry and get started on my quest. My list will take me several hours, and my little boys get home from school at 2:30pm. My great adventure, awaits....................!
