[cmaris]

Hi there:

I've just recently started using a price book, too. I wasn't sure if it would really be worth my while at the beginning, but it didn't take long for me to become a convert. WOW does it make a difference.

All the responses to your question have been good, but here's something I haven't seen yet.

I shop at several different stores -- because of price, and because of inventory -- and I have a hard time keeping track of the store coupons they give you at the register. I've devised a system that's made it possible for me to use these coupons more efficiently. (It actually works for any kind of coupon, but I find it's especially helpful for the store coupons.)

My price book is a half-size 3-ring notebook. In the very front I have all my shopping lists, one for each store. I've made up a bunch of small Post-It notes that say "ALBERTSON'S COUPON" and "PETSMART COUPON" -- five or six for each store where I shop -- and I've stuck them on the inside cover of the price book.

When I get a store coupon for a product I use, I take one of the reminder notes for that store and stick it on the price page for that item. For example, if I get a store coupon from PetsMart for cat food, when I get home, I'll put a "PETSMART COUPON" note on the "cat food" page. I always bring my price book with me when I go shopping, so this means that the next time I'm in PetSmart shopping for cat food, I'll see that reminder note on the "cat food" page, and know that it's worth my while to buy it here and now. (I've recently made up some notes that just say COUPON for the generic ones -- another good reminder!)

Many of the store coupons have expiration dates, and I missed a lot of them because I buried the coupon somewhere. This system has helped me to maximize the savings on those coupons, and it's worked really well. I have a plastic pouch in my price book for all my coupons, and I don't have to go shuffling through them before I go shopping -- all the reminder notes are on the product price pages.

I absolutely LOVE my price book -- it's saved me a TON of money. It takes some getting used to, and you have to be really good about putting prices in there, but once you get used to using it, you know immediately when something is a REAL bargain and when the store is just using advertising tactics to get you to buy something. It also helps me to make out my individual store shopping lists, because after awhile you figure out that Store A always has better prices on paper products, while Store B has great buys on meat. So you're always getting the right product at the right store.

Good luck with your price book!

Christina