Couponing 101

Give it some time. Couponing is simple

I only got to the expert level of couponing by working at it & that involved some hit & miss. And I'm still learning. I normally pay 5 to 10 percent for a item and that is usually the tax part of the item.


From my experience couponing you should never pay for things like toothpaste, deodorant, home fragrances, make-up, lotion, dog treats, frozen vegetables, razors, soap, shampoo, or candy, School Supplies, toilet paper and the list is endless. These are all things that can easily be free after combining a coupon with a sale price. However, its taken some time for me to find that I don't need to spend more than $1 on a 12-pack of Coke
Once I find a super low price, I stock up & don't pay more than that amount again. Since I have a stockpile - I don't have to. I can use my stockpile until the sale comes around again. And it will come around again.

If you start couponing tomorrow (SUNDAY) and get at least 2 coupon inserts a week you will start seeing your free stuff in about 4 to 6 weeks. You might have to hold onto that coupon till the item goes on sale. But rest assured it will go on sale and you will get it for next to nothing.

Coupons basic’s

Where to find them:

1) Sunday Newspapers - These are the biggest sources of coupons. To find additional copies, check recycling bins or ask your family/friends if they are using theirs. There are anywhere from none to three inserts per paper. For a preview of upcoming coupons, click here.

Newspapers- If there are 4 insert’s in the newspapers then I might buy 10 papers. The cost of the paper will be given back with the use of the coupons

COUPON INSERT SCHEDULE:
September
9/6 — Procter and Gamble
9/13 — Smart Source & 2 Red Plum
9/20 — Smart Source & Red Plum
9/27 — Smart Source & Red Plum
October
10/4 — Smart Source, Red Plum, & Procter and Gamble VERY GOOD
10/11 — Smart Source & Red Plum
10/18 — Smart Source & Red Plum
10/25 — Smart Source & Red Plum
November
11/1 — Smart Source, Red Plum, & Procter and Gamble VERY GOOD
11/8 — Smart Source & Red Plum
11/15 — Smart Source & Red Plum
11/22 — Smart Source
11/29 — No Inserts scheduled
December
12/6 — Smart Source, Red Plum, & Procter and Gamble VERY GOOD
12/13 — Smart Source & Red Plum
12/20 — No Inserts scheduled
12/27 — No Inserts scheduled

2) Mail - You can sign-up for coupons from Red Plum

http://www.redplum.com/Pages/ViewArticle.aspx?articleid=3173

3) Free Samples - Signing up for free samples is a great way to get some higher dollar coupons. I'd advise creating a separate email address for "freebies."

4) In-Store - You can often find coupons called "blinkers," which are the little machines that spit out coupons by the products they are for. There are also "tear-pads as well. You can sometimes even find "peelies" right on the products themselves.

5) Printable Sites - Two of the big printable sites are Coupons.com and Smart Source. These coupons rotate week after week and sometimes even have maximum printings that when the limit is reached, they are pulled off the site. So if you see one you think you might need, you should print it. (You can usually print two per computer.) Other sites are Cool Savings and Ever Save.

Show example of Smithfield Bacon Coupon

6) Blogs - Blogs are a great place to find coupons. I stumble upon several at my fellow blogger's sites throughout the week.

7) Search Engines - If you are looking for a specific coupon, just type the brand name followed by the word coupon and you might be able to find one that way.

8) Join Groups/Surveys - There are some groups you can sign-up for that will offer/mail you coupons from time-to-time. Some are:
Vocal Point
Shoppers Voice
Upromise
Ebates
Cashbaq

9) Manufacturers Websites - More and more manufacturers are hosting coupons on their own sites now. If you use a lot of a particular item/brand, check their website to see if they offer coupons. If they don't, email/mail them and request some. I've gotten a few this way.
http://www.couponsinc.com/corp/source/cp_clientlist.asp This site has them by name

10) Magazines - By far, the magazine with the most coupons lately has been All You magazine, which you can only get by subscription or at Wal-Mart. The price of the magazine is well worth the coupons inside. Make sure you check your magazines to see if there are some inside.

11) Free Periodicals - Some stores will have local news books that have local area coupons inside. (For Chicago, try Chicago Parent and Family Time)

12) eBay - There are several coupon clippers that sell their services and send you coupons for a fee. Just type in the product and the word coupon to see what's available. Be sure to go through Ebates to earn 3% more.

13) Forums - There are several great forums out there to check into. The top ones I've found are WeUseCoupons, HotCouponWorld and AFullCup. You have to register at each of them, but it's free.

14) Store Websites - Make sure you sign-up for your local store's loyalty programs and register at their websites so you can get emailed coupons. Here's a list of some stores with their links. You can also sign-up to have them pre-loaded at Shortcuts or Cellfire.

15) Phone Book - Don't forget to check your phone book for coupons for your local area businesses.


Here are a list of common sites that regularly offer coupons:
Coupons.com
Smart Source
Pillsbury
Very Best Baking - Nestle
Family Cents
Eat Better America
Box Tops for Education
Red Plum
Target Coupon Generator
Shortcuts.com
Cellfire.com


Join a Coupon Exchange - Anyone interested in starting one in our area?

Where to use them:
Every Store you purchase from use a coupon. Whether it’s .25 off or 2.00 off. Use the coupons for your purchases

Stockpiling:

In order to truly stockpile...you have to have more than 1 coupon. You can only use 1 coupon per item, so 1 coupon will get you only 1 item. Stockpiling requires more than 1 coupon...which is why I always get 10 newspapers or more per week. I get mine for free from family, friends, and neighbors. I encourage you to do the same.


Stockpiling is where I am now. (SHOW PICTURES) When I find something that is free I buy as many of that item as I can get for free. WHY? Because even if I don’t use it I always know someone that does.

Example: Reese’s Candy bars 90 candy bars from Target free. Everybody loves candy!

General Mills Cereal: 1.00 coupon/they are .99 at Target



Coupon Lingo

B2GO- Buy two get one free BOGO

CRT- cash register tape aka receipt

ECB- Extra Care Bucks- the store credit that prints on receipts from CVS

IVC- Instant Value Coupon from Walgreens

MF Q - Manufacturer's coupon

OOP- Out of pocket - The amount of money you spend

Peelies- the coupon found on the package

Q - Coupon

Rain Check- when a store is out of a sale item get a rain check so you can still take advantage of the sale price when the item comes in
RR- Register Reward - Walgreens form of a Catalina

Stockpile- multiples of the same item

UPC- bar code of an item

Blinkies - Coupons that are spit out of those automatic boxes in the aisles at the grocery store. eQ - Coupons that are loaded on your store card (like Kroger). Usually through Cellfire, eShortcuts and P & G.

CVS

Tip #1
If you don't have a CVS card, stop by your local store, and fill out an application. You will get your card right away. I also recommend picking up the weekly ad, and the Extra Value Book ( a booklet that lists all of the EBC deals for the month). Normally, all of these items are located together in a centrally, easy to see location. However, if you can't find it, just ask a cashier, and they will show you where it is. After receiving these items, you will need to scan the ad, and booklet for "Free after ECB'S" offers. If these are items you or someone else in your family may use, then this is a great place to start!

Tip #2
I highly recommend shopping as early in the week, or month as possible. The deal products sell out very fast!

Tip #3
Start Simple. Start by only purchasing a couple products at a time. Once you learn the CVS game, you'll then be able to attempt the more complicated deals.

Tip #4
Only shop at CVS for the deals that are listed on this blog,
other websites or blogs, or from the CVS weekly ad. As soon as you start buying items NOT on sale, you will start spending quite a lot. You will still need to do bargain shopping at other stores as well.

Tip #5
In order to play the CVS game, I've found that usually every week, I'll buy at least one thing (that produces ecb's) which we might not need, or use. However, I know that I can use these items to donate, giveaway to friends, or family, or sell at a yard sale. My goal is to earn as many ecb's as possible, pay as little out of my pocket as possible, and leave CVS with bags full of products. Even though I might buy something that we don't necessarily need, I know that in return, I will receive ECB's, that I can then use to purchase the things that we do need, or want, with only paying very little out of pocket. However, you need to remember to primarily only buy what you will use & work on your stockpile.

Tip #6
Always make a plan before shopping at CVS. Every week I always write a list, calculate how much money I am going to pay out of pocket, then I'll gather my coupons, and paperclip them to my list. When you get to CVS, stick to your list, and don't buy anything else (unless of course it's free, a great deal you missed before, or something marked way down on clearance). If you just walk into CVS unprepared 3 things could happen, #1 you'll spend too much money, or #2 a deal you thought was good, turned out not to be, or #3 you'll be there forever trying to calculate everything! Trust me, the more organized you are the smoother it will go!

Tip #7
This is VERY Important! Always, give the cashier your CVS card first! Your ecb's will not print off if you don't give her the CVS card! After the cashier scans all of your items, then give her your special CVS coupons (if you have one).For example: if you have a coupon for $3 off any $15 purchase, or a coupon for $4 off any $20 purchase. Next, hand the cashier your manufacturer coupons. It is very important to give the cvs coupon before manufacturer coupons, because the price may be lower than $15 after your manufacturer coupons. Finally, pay with any ecbs you want to use, then you'll pay the actual out of pocket amount. If you just hand over the whole stack at once, things could get confused, and a good deal could possibly turn bad. So please remember this tip when shopping at CVS!

Tip #8
The Cvs goal is to roll over ECBS again, and again. The first time you do a transaction, you will need to pay money. But if learn to grow your ECB'S, then your next transaction will cost you very little. How do you grow your ecb's? The easiest way is to stack manufacturer coupons with free after ecb deals, to stack manufacturer coupons with any ecb deal, or to purchase any free after ecb deals.

Tip #9
I have learned a lot from reading at Money Saving Mom. Head on over there to check out her CVS deals as well!

Tip #10
Have fun with CVSing, Good Luck, and "Happy CVSing!"




EXAMPLE:

Colgate Toothpaste 2.49 limit 2
Get 2.00 EBC’s

Total cost of toothpaste 4.98
Use 2 - 1.00 off Manufacture coupon -2.00

Actual out of pocket (OOP) 2.98
EBC’s earned 4.00
You are actually now 1.98 ahead
Walgreen’s


Register Rewards- These are very similar to CVS's "ECBS." Basically, a register reward is a special coupon that prints out from a separate machine, (like a Catalina) when you buy -X- amount of products. For example, say if you buy a bottle of Advil, then you'll get a $1 register reward. Register rewards can be used just like a manufacturer coupon, or like paying cash

Unlike CVS register rewards do not roll over. Which means you can’t buy the item then turn around and buy another one and get the Register reward for it. You have to use your register reward for another item that is on sale that week or you can save your rewards for the following week and come out paying nothing.

However, I don’t tend to use Register Rewards much. What I have found with Walgreen’s is if you go into their store. Start with the first aisle and look for the tags that say clearance. These don’t mean that the item is out of date or soon to be out of date. This means they are clearing the shelf either not having them anymore or they have a over stock of the item.

A recent visit Tiffany and I got 8 33.8 oz bottles of Scope. They were clearanced at 2.49. I had 2.50 off 1 manufacturer coupon. So we paid 0 for all 8 of them. That’s stockpiling


KROGER

Kroger is one of the stores that I know will actually give you your savings back in money. I recently went in with 16 coupons for 16 packs of Smithfield Bacon.

Total: 79.84
Kroger Plus card savings: -32.00
16 coupons -48.00
Kroger coupon -3.50
They gave me back -38 CENTS

Getting Started:
I'm sure that most of you out there already have a Kroger's Plus card! However, if you don't have one yet, the first thing that you need to do is to apply for one! Go to the Customer Service desk at your local Kroger store & ask them how to get one! There are several benefits of having a Kroger Plus card!
*Get $.10 off per gallon of gasoline, for every $100 in groceries that you buy. (Points program)
*You can only get the sale price on items, with a Kroger Plus card!


Coupons Tips for Kroger:

*The first thing that I wanted to share with you is that Kroger has a program called Electronic coupons! E-coupons are coupons that you don't have to clip. All that you need to do is load the coupons that you want onto your Kroger Plus card! When the Kroger Plus card is scanned, the coupon automatically comes off! The best thing about E-coupons is that you can also still use a paper manufacturer coupon for the item as well, for even more savings!
For example only (not a "real" deal) say Tide laundry soap is on sale.
You load the $1 off e-coupon, and use a $1/1 MQ. So you would then get $2 off instead of just $1! It's pretty easy! There are 2 places that you can get e-coupons for Kroger

http://www.softcoin.com/Sites/PG_eSAVER/Page/HomePage/


http://shortcuts.com/


*A Catalina is a coupon that prints out from a separate machine, next to the cash register! On several occasions, Kroger will run a deal, such as buy product A, and get a Catalina coupon for $4 off your next order! Sometimes you are able to do this deal over & over again, and pay very little out of pocket!

*Kroger also runs promos pretty often, when you buy 15 products, or $10 ect. then get $5 off your order automatically at checkout! These sometimes can be very good deals, when you buy the participating products & use coupons!
Remember Kroger doubles coupons up to 1.00

Say you have a .40 cent coupon it would be worth .80 at Kroger
If you had a .55 coupon it would be worth 1.00

Even if they say Do Not Double. Kroger will double them

My local Kroger store also accepts Internet Printable coupons & they work the same way as a regular manufacturer coupon!

*During a Buy one get one free sale, you should be able to use 2 coupons-one for each item to maximize your savings. But, please keep in mind that different stores coupon policies could vary!
*During a sale like 10 for $10 or 2 for $5 (ect.) You do not have to buy 10 products (ect.) you would just get each item for $1 ea. (ect.)

*Tip--Always look through your Kroger Catalina coupons before shopping. And remember to grab your Catalina coupons that print out. And keep your eyes open for good Catalina coupons that someone else has left behind! I have found free coupons for free products, that other people have left behind!

*Kroger’s also mails out a mailer on a regular basis that has Kroger coupons in it! So make sure that your mailing address that is attached to your Kroger Plus card is correct, so that you can receive these valuable coupons!

Rain Checks If any item you were planning on purchasing is out of stock, don't forget to ask for a rain check, so that you can still get the good deal when the item is back in stock!
Earn $ while reusing bags at Kroger! Have you ever noticed the big brown bin at the entrance to Kroger? It is for recycling your plastic bags! So, never throw away those extra plastic bags! Just drop them off in the bin, on your way into Kroger! I always reuse my plastic grocery bags at Kroger! Why? Because for every bag that you reuse at Kroger, you get 5 gas points. Most of you are probably saying, 5 gas points--big deal. Well this is my theory-- every time that I shop at Kroger (at least once a week) I use at least 10-12 bags. If I use 12 bags every week, that is an additional 60 gas points. And in my family-every penny counts! Because eventually it adds up. 60 points times 52 weeks (1 year) equals about 3120 gas points a year. And that is free money in my pocket, just for reusing plastic bags & helping the environment! When I unpack my groceries every week, I put all the bags together into one bag & then I put them right back out in my car, so that the next time that I go to Kroger, I won't forget them.

TARGET

I used to think I couldn’t live without going to Wal-Mart. Now I use Wal-Mart for only free stuff or when I need a bakery item. Or of course when I can get it for free or almost free.

Target has became by favorite store. Why? Because I can walk out of Target with a ton of stuff and have only paid the sale tax’s on it.

The thing with Target is if you get a good clerk she will ring everything up at once. If you get one that is going to follow the rules to a T then you will stand there why she rings up one thing at a time. Why because it says one transaction per coupon on the Target coupons and she takes that to mean she can only do one at a time. I personally don’t mind standing there for free money. But that’s a call you will have to make.

Target has a coupon generator. You can find it here:

http://www.afullcup.com/target-coupon-generator/?referrerid=174726affid=154:10


Combine these with manufacturer coupons and you will walk away with a lot of free stuff!

Remember: Use all the coupons you can for each item. If your in a hurry don't go couponing. You may have to wait to get checked out. Happy couponing