Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Ten Levels of Becoming a Karate Coupon Master {Part 1}

Much like the Art of Karate {please tell me you can hear Ross from Friends saying this with the accent on the end}, there are many levels to the art of couponing.

After I took a class recently, you let me know that you’d be interested in hearing about it, so I’m here to serve! The biggest thing I can emphasize to you is that you can do as much or as little as you’d like to do. Not everyone will have the time, energy or gusto {oh how I love “gusto”} to be a master coupon user. Anything will help, but the overall knowledge of what options are out there will hopefully inspire and encourage you to move on to the next level.

You cannot start out as Mr. Miyagi. You have to do a lot of waxing and painting first. So let’s start with the basics, Daniel-son.

1. White Belt- You realize that there are coupons available and you use a $2 coupon on a razor. This makes you immensely happy and you buy yourself some other treat to make up for the $2 you saved.

2. Gold Belt- You decide to use more than one coupon and you are super proud of yourself. You even deny yourself the Snickers bar {that you totally deserve} at the check out counter.

3. Orange Belt- You start to realize that you can use coupons on items that are ON SALE and then you do a dance in the aisle.

4. Blue Belt- You really start to care about things you never thought about before: food planning, freezer and pantry space, sale items and coupons that go with them.

5. Green Belt – You read the newspaper or websites to find out what is on sale for the week ahead and plan your shopping and family meals accordingly.

6. Purple Belt- You print and use online coupons. You abandon all pride and talk to your local grocery store manager about their coupon policies. {“Is it possible that I could use competitor coupons, a doubled manufacturer coupon and a store coupon on one item? Puh-leeease?”}

7. Brown Belt- You buy more than one newspaper and subscribe to store publications or magazines that you know have good coupons in them.

8. Black Belt - You stock up on sale items and only buy what is on sale AND what has a coupon.

9. Grand Champion- You navigate 2-3 stores with ease and only shop their sale items with coupons availble.

10. Mr. Miyagi- You have reached a level of zen that allows you to have a couponing “system”, a binder or storage box for your coupons and the people at the grocery store hate to see you coming. You have achieved a level on “one-ness” with your couponing and you have a certain level of satisfaction that only few have managed to attain. You spend less per week on your groceries than you would on a haircut.

In part 2 of this post {planned for Thursday}, I’ll let you know where I am on the chart and some tips that have helped me that you can use!

So, where are you on the Belt Chart of Couponing?

I love posting to my friend Amanda’s Top Ten Tuesday at Oh Amanda. She was recently chosen to go on a blogging trip with World Vision to the Dominican Republic in May and I am THRILLED for her and the rest of the group going! Please join me in praying for them and their journey. I know it will be amazing!

27 comments:

Sabrina said...

I would say that I have a multi color belt. I print coupons from the internet and I also get coupons from a newspaper (coupons from my grandmother's newspaper so I don't pay for them!) I do have a binder to put my coupons but I don't check to see what is on sale before I use my coupons. Haven't gotten to the point of planning my meals around the coupons either. AND it def works if you REMEMBER to BRING the little binder w/ the coupons IN it. Sunday I missed out on a buy one get one free for my laundry detergent b/c I left it at home. I did decide later to go out and get it only to find that my coupon had expired on SATURDAY!! There is a great website where you can get lots of coupons.... southernsavers.com They also have people that let you know where THE sales are. Happy Clipping!!!

dawn said...

i am between a white and gold belt--and my budget shows it! I always tell myself I don't have time for the hassle. I am most proud of myself when I actually shop and put real food on the table. Menu planning about half the time...that's where I'm at. Is there hope for me?

Jenny said...

I'm between orange and blue belts, but I would like to overachieve and move up a belt. I just lack the time or motivation at the moment to make that happen. I did use a handful of coupons at Target today AND some of the items were already on sale, so I felt very positive about it. I'm not into double-digit (or more) savings yet, however. So, please teach me Oh Wise One! :) Wax on, wax off.

amydc said...

I too, sport a multi colored belt. I am bits & pieces from purple through Mr. Miyagi. I have really racked up from the drugstore deals. We have enough toothpaste, tampons, deodorant & bodywash to last possible a year. (When toothpaste is free or .25 why not stock up???) I was (a lot) overwhelmed at first, so I told myself- just get the drugstores down first. So thats what I did. I figured out how to effectively shop there & that gave me the confidence to tackle groceries. I never shopped @ Publix b/c "I couldn't afford it". Now,I LOVE PUBLIX!!!!!!!!! I'm hooked. :) Looking forward to Thursday's post.

Lyn said...

You are such an AWESOME writer!

Nashville TV Show said...

Ok. Forget which level I am. YOU are hysterical!!! You definitely have the black belt in awesome posts:)

Rita said...

This is so cute! I think I'm unfortunately Mr. Miyagi in this scale, but man, is it a part-time job. I just need a Daniel-son to come paint my fence...or cut out my coupons! :)

Myra @ My Blessed Life said...

You are awesome! :)

I'm somewhere between purple and Mr. Miyagi, but sometimes I just take a break from it all! :)

Need to get together soon!!!!!

Mary @ Giving Up On Perfect said...

Sadly, I am a mere white belt. On a good day. As in, on the day I actually remember to put the coupon in my purse and then take it out at the cash register.

Stephanie B said...

Hi, my name is Stephanie and I'm an Alabama fan. I admit this on an avowed Auburn fan's blog because-- against all good taste and everything that is houndstooth-- I rank somewhere between the orange and the blue. *sob* I simply MUST do better. If for no other reason than to stop clashing with my inherent crimson-ness. Plus, it might help me save some dough so I can afford a ticket to a Bama game.

Jamie said...

I don't even own a belt...I'm still getting beat up by Johnny and his skeleton-costume-wearing gang. I'm ashamed.

Allison @ Alli 'n Son said...

I'm sadly only a blue belt. Looks like I have more training to do.

Melissa said...

I would say I'm an orange belt moving into the blue belt that really wants to at least be a purple belt! It all does seem so overwhelming to me!

Rachel B said...

I too am multi-colored but average between Green & Purple. I have the tools to be Mr Miyagi but haven't really made the leap yet. I need to get focused on it before summer cause my grocery bill ususally goes up in the summer with all the kids out of school and wanting to snack a lot more.

nicole said...

I'm not even on the chart. Or maybe the first step. I rarely even clip the coupons, much less remember to use them. I'm lazy. I also find that we just don't buy a lot of stuff the coupons are for, or we buy it in bulk. But I know I could save money.

Your list is funny.

Carrie said...

BWAAHHAAA!! These comments are just as funny as your post. Still getting beat up by Johnny and the skeleton gang. Too funny!

I can't believe I'm at black belt level! I think I need to work on being Mr. Miyagi. I need more freebies!

And just to add some encouragement to others - I just spent $68 at Publix and saved $100!

Tammy said...

My coupon belt fell off years ago. I prefer to shop with my pants on the ground....so to speak. ;-)

TexasBobbi said...

I am not even a white belt.

LizzieV. said...

Somewhere in between Purple & Black Belts. (Haven't started hassling the help yet, but often won't even get the BOGO or Buy-&-Try items unless I have a coupon or need it desperately.) And those expired coupons? Go ahead & present them anyway. Sometimes they will accept them as a courtesy anyway, since they likely won't lose money; they have to show sufficient sales for the time period and redeem the coupons in a certain amount of time-- a few days late really doesn't matter accounting/redemption-wise to the business. The worst they can do is say "No," and that's the same as not trying, so go ahead. Let them make your day! (But I so need a good system that won't take over my house.)

Staci said...

Only someone as funny as you could combine couponing and Karate Kid in the same post!

And yes, I can hear Ross ("KaraTAY")

I can't wait to read the rest of your post and want you learned.

Jennifer S said...

I rate myself a 7 1/2 when I'm on my A game. I've skipped the past two weeks but we didn't need anything and I wasn't in the mood.

Julie said...

Very cool post! I'm an orange belt for the most part. While I admire, and am in awe, those who can plan more, I just don't make the time for it just yet!

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty close to a Mr. Myiagi. I don't have a subscription, but I'm at the gas station by 7 am. By 9, I've checked my usual coupon sites, coupons in hand and on the way to Walgreens or Target. I print coupons, I get them from the paper, and the ones that I don't get from the paper, I buy online. I love the RR from walgreens and the $5 gc from target. On a good day, I can can a package of diapers for about $4 plus the gift cards. Just the other day, I saved $17 alone at Target!

holly said...

a) alabama fan comment cracked me up. i used to not let my orange and blue crayons touch when i was little. roll tide! i am a black belt/mr m. i skipped grand champion, b/c i don't want to go to multiple stores. although, if there is a great diaper drugstore deal, i'll hit it along w/ publix.

ohAmanda said...

You are so mr. Miyagi! *sigh* I'm somewhere b/w blue and green...

(ps. thanks for linking up)
(pss. thanks for the world vision shout out and prayers!)

Jennifer Young said...

Oh my word, you are hilarious!! I am a proud Mr. Miyagi. I even keep my prized receipt of -$.16 on my refrigerator!

Dawn said...

orange belt... unless i forget my belt! you know... forget your coupons at home or in your purse?! but i have dreams. big dreams.

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