Women at work and their tips, challenges, advice, complaints, and experiences

About a month ago I offered you ideas on getting a coupon exchange started with coworkers or friends and family.  Knowing how to use coupons is only half the battle - no one person can gather up all the coupons she needs on her own!  That's where an exchange group comes in handy.  Most folks read different magazines and visit different websites during their days, so a group of people will find many more opportunities to save than a single person can - in a much more timely manner! 

One of the essentials of creating a coupon swap, however, is knowing what is actually of use to your participants, rather than just cutting out every coupon you see and hoping someone will use it.  If you are coming across a bunch of random or unknown products and your group is made up of folks who use name-brand, easy to find products - well, the more unusual items are wasting your time and energy for clipping. 

Here's a list that you can copy and paste into an email to send out to participants in your coupon exchange.  Have them go through their cabinets and pantries and insert their favorite/most used brands in the document, then send it to whomever is facilitating the group.  Maybe you'll want everyone to have a copy of everyone else's list; maybe you'll have one person who keeps all the lists and does all the sorting.  That is up to you.  The most important part is that somebody, somewhere, knows what is useful (and what isn't!) for the group's members.  That way everyone can save!

BABY: diapers, food, cereal, formula, bottles, etc.

BAKING: cake mixes, flour, sugar, brownie mix, frosting, etc.

BREAD/BREAKFAST: cereal, oatmeal, cream of wheat, bread, etc.

BEVERAGES: juice, soda, water, coffee, tea, etc.

CANNED/DRY MIXES: soup, veggies, fruit, rice, spaghetti, pasta, Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper, etc.

CLEANING: detergent, soap, fabric softener, cleaning fluids, bleach, etc.

CONDIMENTS: mustard, ketchup, mayonaisse, spices, tabasco, Ragu, pickles, etc.

DAIRY/MEAT: cheese, hotdogs, yogurt, milk, butter, margarine, Squeeze Parkay, etc.

FROZEN: pizza, veggies, tv dinners, ice cream, Cool Whip, etc.

HBA (Health and Beauty Aids): deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, OTC meds, (again Over The Counter meds), body wash, bar soap, makeup, hair care

PAPER: feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, etc.

PET: cat food, dog food, kitty litter, treats, etc.

MISCELLANEOUS: batteries, coffee filters, water filters, DVDs or CDs, restaurants visited frequently, etc.

(Hat tip and special thanks to Workerette Cheryl Hart for providing this list - and getting MY couponing group started with both the list and her extensive couponing/refunding knowledge!  For more Frugal Friday posts, visit hostess Crystal Paine at Biblical Womanhood.)