Ever since gasoline prices began resembling roller coasters, so many of us have been trying to figure out a way to get ahead of the curve.  After years of trying to discern the patterns of rise and fall, I had to give up simply to preserve my sanity.  Case in point:  Just last week I was in the car with someone who had a cell phone app that notifies him before local gas prices increase.  By the time we passed the first gas station less than 10 minutes later, the price had increased 20¢ per gallon.  So rather than trying to predict the unpredictable, I have opted to do what I can to reduce the amount of gas I put in the car.  I will be sharing these new habits with you through a new series called Pump Up The Savings.

The first tip is to make sure that your gas cap is on tight.  Gasoline is very volatile, so the vapors escaping will deplete the volume of gas in the tank even when the vehicle is not running.  This becomes all the more important as the outside temperature rises.  A loose gas cap can result in a 10% reduction in mpg.

In our first Get Clippin’ post we learned about 4 sources for acquiring coupons.  Today we are going to discuss an additional coupon source – friends and family.  Whether we are perusing the Sunday circular or flipping through magazines and newspapers, none of us have a need for all the coupons that we come across.  So why not share the ones that you are not using?

How to share coupons with others

• Closest friends and family:  My mom and I swap coupons on a regular basis.  Since I know what foods she buys, I clip coupons for her as I am clipping my own.  I just put hers in another pile and give them to her when I see her.

• Coupon Get-Togethers:  Coupon exchanging is a nice way to spend an hour or so with some friends once every week or two.  A pot of coffee or tea with a little something to nibble on, a pile of coupons and good friendship, lets you catch up with your pals while you stock up on coupons.

• Coupon Circle:  For those who can’t coordinate their schedules with their friends’ schedules, a coupon exchange is not out of the question.  In this case you will have to pass your extra coupons off to those in your circle.  This means that you will have to choose a coupon circle that includes people that you see on a regular basis – coworkers, family members, parents picking kids up from school, etc.  When I belonged to a coupon circle, we wrote the names of the members on each circular or envelope that was passed around.  As each member finished clipping what they wanted, they crossed their name off the list and passed it on to another.  The coupons just keep going round and round until every name is crossed off the list.

• Coupon Combo:  There is no reason why you can’t take advantage of all the above coupon-sharing ideas!

Coupon clipping is a team sport!  Gather your team members, get clippin’ and pinch those pennies!!

Here’s a checklist for you to gauge your progress.

1. Create household budget
2. Update household budget monthly
3. Create grocery spending log
4. Update grocery spending log monthly

Since the budget and grocery spending log are already created, #1 and #3 should be pretty easy to check off the list.  The challenge is working on #2 and #4.  Getting and staying organized is a good start.  To keep track of spending you need to keep track of your receipts.  A simple filing system is key.  A small investment in a coupon-size expanding pocket file will allow you to keep receipts organized until you can update your budget.  Label tabs to correspond to line items in you household budget.

Follow a simple updating process and prevent receipts from piling up and getting out of control.

• Update household budget
• Update grocery spending log.
• Keep receipts for items that may need to be returned.  File them by date and periodically purge those that are past the return date.

When you return home from shopping, file your receipts.  At the end of each month, follow the above procedure to keep your budget and spending log updated.  By doing so, you can easily see where you need to make improvements in your penny pinching.

Congratulations Dana of Port Orange, Florida the May 2013 winner of over $200 in coupons!!  Dana was eligible for this contest as a result of registering with MsPennyPincher. com.  Subscribers receive email updates each time new information is posted and can create and use their own personal change purse to save their favorite posts.  Be sure to register for your chance to win this monthly drawing.

If you are the person that grabs a bottle of water at the convenience store or from a vending machine each day, this set of reusable bottles will pay for itself in less than 2 weeks.  Even if you are more frugal and purchase your bottled water in bulk, you will still have this set paid for in about a month.  If you drink more than one bottle of water a day or live in a multi-member household, there is no reasonable argument for continuing to purchase water in disposable bottles.

I am fortunate to live in a town where the tap water is actually cleaner than bottled water.  And it has a great taste!  If this is not the case for you, the purchase of a filtering pitcher or tap filter is still more economical than the perpetual purchasing of disposable water bottles.

Before you get too excited and shop without thinking, remember that patience pays off!  When ordering from Amazon.com, be sure to take advantage of FREE Super Saver Shipping, which requires a minimum order of $25.  So if you don’t have items that need to be ordered right now, pop this one into a wish list and wait until you need enough items to total $25.

Make the switch to reusable water bottles and drink up the savings!!