If you read my Coupon Standoff post, you know how important it is to know the policies of the stores you are shopping at! Some people even suggest printing out each store's policy to carry with you, in case you run into problems with the cashiers. (Many aren't adequately trained in the coupon department!) To make it super easy for you to know different stores' policies, I have listed several here. Feel free to print them off and carry them with you, but make sure that you know the rules before you try to coupon in a store!
If a store that you frequent isn't listed here, just Google "(store's name) coupon policy." Please let me know if there are more stores you'd like me to add! :)
Walmart
Kroger
CVS
Dollar Tree
Dollar General
Walgreens
Target
Rite Aid
Meijer
Giant Eagle
Monday, April 29, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
How I organize my shopping trips!
I wanted to take a minute to share with you all how I organize my trips to the store! You already know about the coupon caddy that I use, but I want to give you a sneak peek at how I plan the trips.
I browse through local ads and use websites like Kroger Krazy and Coupon Mom to find the best deals on items I need and have coupons for. Then, I grab one of my grocery shopping sheets and fill it out!
Here's the fun part- I will send a PDF file of my grocery list to anyone who wants it! Feel free to use it for your own personal couponing. Comment below (or on my Facebook page) with your email address and I will send it to you. Thanks for reading! :)
I browse through local ads and use websites like Kroger Krazy and Coupon Mom to find the best deals on items I need and have coupons for. Then, I grab one of my grocery shopping sheets and fill it out!
The different columns are:
Quantity: the number of the item I intend on purchasing
Item: the brand name of the item and specific quantity (ex: Bounce dryer sheets [40 count])
Cost per: the cost per item
Total: the total of the quantity of items before coupons
Coupons: coupons I have plus any store discounts
Final total: what I expect to pay after store discounts and coupons
I have the first "Total" to help when I am shopping an event like "Save $5 when you spend $25." While I don't actually intend to spend $25 of my money, I need to make sure that the total of my items before coupons is $25.
Here's the fun part- I will send a PDF file of my grocery list to anyone who wants it! Feel free to use it for your own personal couponing. Comment below (or on my Facebook page) with your email address and I will send it to you. Thanks for reading! :)
Saturday, April 27, 2013
The Standoff
Well, I had my first coupon standoff today. I have been so afraid of this day because I wasn't sure that I knew enough about different stores' coupon policies, but I stood my ground when I was challenged and... read on to see what happened!
Last week, I went to Dollar General and, on my receipt, got a coupon for $5 off of $25 today only. So, this morning, I sat down and planned my trip based on current sales and coupons I had. My list was:
6 Renuzit air fresheners ($1 each/used a buy 3, get 3 free coupon)
1 Poise wipes ($3.50/used a $3 off coupon)
5 Bounce dryer sheet boxes ($2 each/used a $3/3 coupon and a $1.50/2 coupon)
2 Glade candles ($3 each/used a $1.50 coupon)
Without coupons, my total was $25.50. To use the $5 coupon, the total needed to be $25 before taxes, so I was good to go! I took Thomas (my husband) with me and we picked up all of our items and headed to check out. The cashier rang up the items and then asked me for my coupons. I gave her the $5/$25 coupon first (which she pushed to the side) and then the others. She scanned my other coupons first, and then she informed me that she wouldn't be able to scan the $5/$25 because my purchase was no longer $25. I quickly corrected her and told her that the $5/$25 one should have been scanned first, and she continued to argue. She called over another cashier who agreed with her (even after I explained that the $5/$25 was supposed to come first).
I very politely told the cashiers that I would be more than happy to take my coupons and leave without my items (fully intending to go to the DG on the other side of town), and they then called over the manager... who told them I was right! The cashiers were both incredibly embarrassed (especially because there were 10 people in line behind me at that point), but I was very proud that I stood up for myself.
I was able to do this because I knew their coupon policy. It is so important to know (or carry a copy of) stores' coupon policies in case something like this happens to you. Had I not known for sure that I was right, there is no way that I would have stood there and argued for 10 minutes. In the end, though, I got my $5 off which brought my whole purchase down to under $10! (And I got another $5/$25 coupon for next Friday... let's hope they have themselves together before then!)
Last week, I went to Dollar General and, on my receipt, got a coupon for $5 off of $25 today only. So, this morning, I sat down and planned my trip based on current sales and coupons I had. My list was:
6 Renuzit air fresheners ($1 each/used a buy 3, get 3 free coupon)
1 Poise wipes ($3.50/used a $3 off coupon)
5 Bounce dryer sheet boxes ($2 each/used a $3/3 coupon and a $1.50/2 coupon)
2 Glade candles ($3 each/used a $1.50 coupon)
Without coupons, my total was $25.50. To use the $5 coupon, the total needed to be $25 before taxes, so I was good to go! I took Thomas (my husband) with me and we picked up all of our items and headed to check out. The cashier rang up the items and then asked me for my coupons. I gave her the $5/$25 coupon first (which she pushed to the side) and then the others. She scanned my other coupons first, and then she informed me that she wouldn't be able to scan the $5/$25 because my purchase was no longer $25. I quickly corrected her and told her that the $5/$25 one should have been scanned first, and she continued to argue. She called over another cashier who agreed with her (even after I explained that the $5/$25 was supposed to come first).
I very politely told the cashiers that I would be more than happy to take my coupons and leave without my items (fully intending to go to the DG on the other side of town), and they then called over the manager... who told them I was right! The cashiers were both incredibly embarrassed (especially because there were 10 people in line behind me at that point), but I was very proud that I stood up for myself.
I was able to do this because I knew their coupon policy. It is so important to know (or carry a copy of) stores' coupon policies in case something like this happens to you. Had I not known for sure that I was right, there is no way that I would have stood there and argued for 10 minutes. In the end, though, I got my $5 off which brought my whole purchase down to under $10! (And I got another $5/$25 coupon for next Friday... let's hope they have themselves together before then!)
Friday, April 19, 2013
Unspoken Rules
If you've ever tried using more than a few coupons in one trip to the store, you've probably run into a few people (typically cashiers and anyone in line behind you) who give you a hard time. People will say that your coupon usage is annoying and that it's just wasting time. Some cashiers seem to be under the impression that people who use coupons are trying to steal from the store.
Here's the thing: it's going to happen. People are going to be rude.
They're going to say stuff.
Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do about it.
There are, however, things you can do to cut down on comments like these. After much research (because I didn't want to be "that" person in the store), I found a few coupon etiquette tips that I'm always careful to use.
1. Use coupons correctly. If the coupon says, "Not valid on trial or travel sizes," don't try to use it on the smaller sizes and get frustrated when it doesn't work. If the coupon says, "One coupon per household," don't try to use several in one transaction and be offended when the cashier won't accept them. Also, don't copy coupons. It's stealing.
2. Don't clear shelves. This is something I see on TV all the time that drives me crazy! People will walk up to a shelf of product (toilet paper, granola bars, etc.)and take every single one. Then, the next person will come (only wanting one or two of the product)... and there is nothing there. It's happened to me several times, and it is incredibly frustrating and annoying. Don't be one of those people. If you have 100 coupons that you really, really, really want to use, try going to several stores or spacing your purchase out over the course of several days.
3. Shop during off-hours. This is for your own sake, the sake of the cashiers, and the sake of other shoppers. If you are trying to browse shelves and sift through coupons while people are pushing past you in the aisles, it's tough for everyone. Likewise, if you are trying to use many coupons during a busy time and the cashier is worried about the 12 people in line behind you (and having to deal with their crankiness after having to deal with your coupons), they are probably going to be less-than-friendly. But, if you're shopping when there aren't many other shoppers there for you (and the cashiers) to worry about, it will be a more pleasant experience for everyone!
4. Make sure your coupons are valid. Please, please, please make sure you do this before you attempt to check out. It happened to me once- I was trying to use a Dollar General coupon at Walmart (for a buy-3-get-3-free deal) and the cashier looked at the coupon, looked at me, and explained the problem. That only took a few seconds, but then he had to go back through and re-scan each of the items and remove them from my bags. It was really embarrassing. Making sure your coupons are valid also includes ensuring that you're using them before they expire. The store may accept them (if the cashier isn't paying attention), but the store may not be reimbursed!
Please feel free to Google for more coupon etiquette! Don't be "that" person... :)
Here's the thing: it's going to happen. People are going to be rude.
They're going to say stuff.
Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do about it.
There are, however, things you can do to cut down on comments like these. After much research (because I didn't want to be "that" person in the store), I found a few coupon etiquette tips that I'm always careful to use.
1. Use coupons correctly. If the coupon says, "Not valid on trial or travel sizes," don't try to use it on the smaller sizes and get frustrated when it doesn't work. If the coupon says, "One coupon per household," don't try to use several in one transaction and be offended when the cashier won't accept them. Also, don't copy coupons. It's stealing.
2. Don't clear shelves. This is something I see on TV all the time that drives me crazy! People will walk up to a shelf of product (toilet paper, granola bars, etc.)and take every single one. Then, the next person will come (only wanting one or two of the product)... and there is nothing there. It's happened to me several times, and it is incredibly frustrating and annoying. Don't be one of those people. If you have 100 coupons that you really, really, really want to use, try going to several stores or spacing your purchase out over the course of several days.
3. Shop during off-hours. This is for your own sake, the sake of the cashiers, and the sake of other shoppers. If you are trying to browse shelves and sift through coupons while people are pushing past you in the aisles, it's tough for everyone. Likewise, if you are trying to use many coupons during a busy time and the cashier is worried about the 12 people in line behind you (and having to deal with their crankiness after having to deal with your coupons), they are probably going to be less-than-friendly. But, if you're shopping when there aren't many other shoppers there for you (and the cashiers) to worry about, it will be a more pleasant experience for everyone!
4. Make sure your coupons are valid. Please, please, please make sure you do this before you attempt to check out. It happened to me once- I was trying to use a Dollar General coupon at Walmart (for a buy-3-get-3-free deal) and the cashier looked at the coupon, looked at me, and explained the problem. That only took a few seconds, but then he had to go back through and re-scan each of the items and remove them from my bags. It was really embarrassing. Making sure your coupons are valid also includes ensuring that you're using them before they expire. The store may accept them (if the cashier isn't paying attention), but the store may not be reimbursed!
Please feel free to Google for more coupon etiquette! Don't be "that" person... :)
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Tips for your first few trips- Part 1
Lots of people who are just starting out get super excited about all of their coupons and want to use all of them right away... and I advise against that! If you start off too strong, you will get burned out, frustrated, and may even give up on using coupons. If you ease into it gradually, though, you will quickly learn the ropes and become a confident shopper!
The best way to start is... small. Find a store in your area that does price-matching. Walmart stores, for example, will price-match any store within 50 miles. Choose a few items to price-match and be sure to bring in the competitor's ads, in case they give you a rough time. Walmart workers are notorious for giving customers a hard time with price-matches and coupons. (Tip: when price-matching, tell the cashier as soon as you begin checking out that you are price-matching certain items. Then, as they scan each item, tell them the price-match price [or show them the ad, if they want]. It may also be helpful to separate the price-match items from the other items!) (Tip: when doing price-matches and using coupons, try to find a young cashier. They seem to be much more understanding and patient!)
I did price-matching for several months before I began using coupons. It's a great way to save a few dollars and time running around town! Be aware, though, that even if Walmart is matching other stores' prices, you will begin to save lots more money when you use coupons and shop at stores that double them! :)
When you're ready to use the coupons you've collected clipped, and filed, go into a store that you know well, armed with only a few coupons. There's no need to go to every store in town with every coupon in your Sunday paper! The first time I went to Kroger with the intention of really using coupons, I had 2 coupons for small tubes of deodorant, 2 coupons for bigger tubes of deodorant, and 2 coupons for body wash. I didn't know whether they would double or if they would even work. (I was very skeptical after many failed attempts to "coupon.") To my surprise, they all worked (and doubled to $1!) and I walked out with all 6 products for under $6! I called my mom and told her about my GREAT shopping trip and my new tiny stockpile, and I was hooked!
If I had started with many more coupons, I know I would have been super stressed out and maybe not even tried to use them. But, since I started small, I was able to handle it! I still don't have a ton of things in my stockpile (and still call it my "tiny stockpile,") but it's slowly growing! I love knowing that I have enough deodorant to last for several months and that my husband won't have to use my shampoo when his bottle runs out.
[I'm trying to upload a picture of my tiny stockpile... it isn't working!]
Stay tuned for more tips for your first trips! :)
The best way to start is... small. Find a store in your area that does price-matching. Walmart stores, for example, will price-match any store within 50 miles. Choose a few items to price-match and be sure to bring in the competitor's ads, in case they give you a rough time. Walmart workers are notorious for giving customers a hard time with price-matches and coupons. (Tip: when price-matching, tell the cashier as soon as you begin checking out that you are price-matching certain items. Then, as they scan each item, tell them the price-match price [or show them the ad, if they want]. It may also be helpful to separate the price-match items from the other items!) (Tip: when doing price-matches and using coupons, try to find a young cashier. They seem to be much more understanding and patient!)
I did price-matching for several months before I began using coupons. It's a great way to save a few dollars and time running around town! Be aware, though, that even if Walmart is matching other stores' prices, you will begin to save lots more money when you use coupons and shop at stores that double them! :)
When you're ready to use the coupons you've collected clipped, and filed, go into a store that you know well, armed with only a few coupons. There's no need to go to every store in town with every coupon in your Sunday paper! The first time I went to Kroger with the intention of really using coupons, I had 2 coupons for small tubes of deodorant, 2 coupons for bigger tubes of deodorant, and 2 coupons for body wash. I didn't know whether they would double or if they would even work. (I was very skeptical after many failed attempts to "coupon.") To my surprise, they all worked (and doubled to $1!) and I walked out with all 6 products for under $6! I called my mom and told her about my GREAT shopping trip and my new tiny stockpile, and I was hooked!
If I had started with many more coupons, I know I would have been super stressed out and maybe not even tried to use them. But, since I started small, I was able to handle it! I still don't have a ton of things in my stockpile (and still call it my "tiny stockpile,") but it's slowly growing! I love knowing that I have enough deodorant to last for several months and that my husband won't have to use my shampoo when his bottle runs out.
[I'm trying to upload a picture of my tiny stockpile... it isn't working!]
Stay tuned for more tips for your first trips! :)
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Monday Shopping Trip!
As some of you may know, I wound up in the ER this past Sunday night due to a nasty asthma attack. Because we didn't leave the hospital until very late, I called off of work on Monday. Even though I didn't have to work, I felt amazing when I woke up Monday morning. (It's amazing how great you feel when you're able to breathe!) I decided to make the most of my day off by doing the shopping I wasn't able to do on Sunday (because, you know, my lips were blue).
Yesterday, I posted this picture on Facebook. (The picture does not include my 2 1-pound boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios!) This was my shopping trip that included a trip to Kroger and a stop at Rite Aid. Total retail value was around $85... and I paid around $15. I'm going to break down how I did it!
First stop: Kroger
**Please note that each item listed below was part of a Kroger promotion where if you buy 5 participating items, you get $5 off of your purchase. The "on sale for" price was the price after that sale. Since I bought 15 items, I automatically saved $15 off of the retail price.**
1. 2 1-lb boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios
-On sale for $1.99 each
-I used a $1 off of 2 boxes ($1/2) coupon
-Cost: $1.49 each
2. 1 1-lb box of Lucky Charms
3. 1 1-lb box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch
-Both on sale for $1.99 each
-I used a $1 off of 2 boxes ($1/2) coupon
-Cost: $1.49 each
4. 2 boxes Fruit Roll-Ups
-On sale for $1.89 each
-I used a $.60/2 coupon that doubled to $1/2
-Cost: $1.39 each
5. 2 Downy Unstoppables
-On sale for $3.99 each
-I used 2 $2/1 coupons
-Cost: $1.99 each
6. 4 Satin Care Shave Gels
-On sale for $.99 each
-I used 2 $.50/1 coupons (I had only planned on buying 2 of these [since I only had 2 coupons], but Kroger was out of another product that I had planned on buying 2 of. Since these were so cheap, I grabbed 2 more so that I would have a multiple of 5 purchases to get the sale prices I wanted!)
-Cost: $.50 each
7. 1 tube of Crest Pro Health
-On sale for $1.69
-I used a $1/1 coupon
-Cost: $.69
8. 1 Formula 409
-On sale for $1.49
-I used a $1/1 coupon
-Cost: $.49
9. 1 Pine Sol (Original Scent)
-On sale for $1.49
-I used a $1.50/1 coupon
-Cost: FREE! (And, seriously, I couldn't be happier. This stuff smells SO great!)
10. 1 tube of Aquafresh Kids Toothpaste
-Sale price: 2 for $3 or $1.50 each (Not part of $5/5 sale)
-I used a $.75/1 coupon that doubled to $1/1
-Cost: $.50
On my Kroger Plus Card, I had a "$5 off your next purchase" coupon from entering a Pillsbury recipe contest.
After tax, the price was $11.40.
Second Stop: Rite Aid
1. 2 14-lb boxes of kitty litter
-Normal cost: $8.99 each
-On sale for $5 each (with Wellness card)
-I used 2 $3.50/1 coupons
-Cost: $3.65
Special thanks to krogerkrazy.com for helping me get such great deals on my purchases!
Monday, April 15, 2013
How to Organize Coupons
I am a firm believer that coupons are the best way to save money on things you buy... but they only work if you know where yours are!
There are probably a thousand different ways to organize coupons. Binders, shoeboxes, plastic baggies, accordion files... if you can think of it, it's probably been done. There is no "best" way for me to tell you to organize your coupons, because each person thinks differently and organizes things differently. I can, however, introduce you to a few different popular ways to organize. You can choose one of these, choose a different method, or mix and match!
Caddy Method
This is my current preferred method of organizing my coupons. It was cheap (my favorite!) and, since I did it all myself, it is completely customized to how I want it. I have it separated into several different sections, and each section has its own categories. The purple tabs are for non-food items, and the pink tabs are for edible items. Target has its own section that holds my Target Web Coupons (which can be stacked with manufacturer's coupons). In the very front, I keep coupons for pet-related items. You never know when pet items are going to be really cheap (or free!), and shelters love getting donations for these kinds of things.
I use this method because it is easy for me to organize my coupons. I put things in the categories that make sense to me, and I know exactly where to look if I need a coupon while in the store. This little caddy is also really easy for me to carry around and stick in the kid-carrying part of my buggy while I'm shopping. Clipping coupons and organizing them like this takes more time up-front (with clipping and filing), but it makes my trips to the store much quicker. When I see an item on clearance, it takes me only a few seconds to know whether I have a coupon for it.
Shoebox Method
This method is one for people who don't want to clip each coupon and file it. With this method, you simply place the weekly coupon inserts in a gallon-sized plastic baggie and mark it with the date. Then, use sites like CouponMom to find out what coupons you need for your next trip. Look in the baggie for the right coupon, and then clip it! Much less time up front, but more time later (as you're sifting and clipping).
There are probably a thousand different ways to organize coupons. Binders, shoeboxes, plastic baggies, accordion files... if you can think of it, it's probably been done. There is no "best" way for me to tell you to organize your coupons, because each person thinks differently and organizes things differently. I can, however, introduce you to a few different popular ways to organize. You can choose one of these, choose a different method, or mix and match!
Caddy Method
This is my current preferred method of organizing my coupons. It was cheap (my favorite!) and, since I did it all myself, it is completely customized to how I want it. I have it separated into several different sections, and each section has its own categories. The purple tabs are for non-food items, and the pink tabs are for edible items. Target has its own section that holds my Target Web Coupons (which can be stacked with manufacturer's coupons). In the very front, I keep coupons for pet-related items. You never know when pet items are going to be really cheap (or free!), and shelters love getting donations for these kinds of things.
I use this method because it is easy for me to organize my coupons. I put things in the categories that make sense to me, and I know exactly where to look if I need a coupon while in the store. This little caddy is also really easy for me to carry around and stick in the kid-carrying part of my buggy while I'm shopping. Clipping coupons and organizing them like this takes more time up-front (with clipping and filing), but it makes my trips to the store much quicker. When I see an item on clearance, it takes me only a few seconds to know whether I have a coupon for it.
Accordion File Method
This method is similar with the one listed above, except that the coupons are organized into an accordion-style folder. This is good for the same reasons mentioned above! This is what I based my caddy method off of, but I wanted something I could carry in my purse all the time.
Binder Method
This method is really great for people who need to be able to see all of their coupons at once. By using a binder and clear page protectors, baseball card holders, and dividers, you can give each coupon its own pocket (and put multiples behind them).
Personally, I don't think I would like hauling around a big binder full of coupons. It seems a little bulky and inconvenient, but it is a great method for those who want everything laid out and immediately visible. However, it is super quick to find the coupons you need!
Shoebox Method
This method is one for people who don't want to clip each coupon and file it. With this method, you simply place the weekly coupon inserts in a gallon-sized plastic baggie and mark it with the date. Then, use sites like CouponMom to find out what coupons you need for your next trip. Look in the baggie for the right coupon, and then clip it! Much less time up front, but more time later (as you're sifting and clipping).
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Where do I get coupons?!
As I see it, there are 2 main sources of coupons: newspaper inserts and the internet.
Newspaper Inserts
There are 3 main coupon inserts that come in the Sunday newspaper:
Redplum (RP)
Proctor and Gamble (PG)
SmartSource (SS)
Obviously, these all have websites as well. You can usually get on the websites and print off coupons that can be different or the same as the ones printed in the newspaper.
How do you get the Sunday paper? Obviously, the first thing that comes to mind is to subscribe. Many newspapers (including the Columbus Dispatch) offer Sunday-only subscriptions so you can have it delivered right to your front door! (Or, in our case, to the parking lot outside of our apartment complex or somewhere in the grass... but that's a story for another time!) Most stores and gas stations also sell Sunday newspapers for under $2. I usually stop at the gas station on Sundays and grab a second newspaper, especially if there are great coupons! (Tip: instead of just picking up the newspaper at the top of the stack, I look through several papers. Sometimes you can find one that has multiple copies of the same insert!)
Internet
Oh, the internet. With all of the information floating around out there, I'm sure that there are thousands of websites that you can use to look at and/or print coupons. Printing coupons from your home computer is quick and safe. You may have to install to install the coupon printer application, but it will only happen once per website. There are 4 websites that I frequent that have helped me save a lot of money (and, just as importantly, time)!
Coupons.com is a website that allows you to view and print pages and pages of coupons. It is a great source of coupons for cereal and other food staples. Currently, there is over $400 in savings available to print. You can usually print 2 of the same coupons per computer.
CouponMom is a handy little website that lays out the best coupon deals for you! It shows current deals (by store and by state) what current coupons match up with those sales, allowing for maximum savings! This site has saved me a bunch of time. Instead of studying each individual store's weekly ad and sifting through my coupon caddy, I just go to this website and see what the best deals are. (Tip: after you create your [free] account, click on "How to Coupon" to learn how the website works!)
The Krazy Coupon Lady is a great site that has tons of information! It has links to help for beginners, but my two favorite parts are the Extreme Couponing link (which shows super deals) and the Brag Lounge, which never fails to inspire me. The Brag Lounge also frequently shows deals that I would have otherwise missed.
Kroger Krazy is a website dedicated to showing you how to save the most money at (you guessed it!) Kroger! This website is amazing. It allowed me to buy 15 packs of Pampers baby wipes for less than $1!
Newspaper Inserts
There are 3 main coupon inserts that come in the Sunday newspaper:
Redplum (RP)
Proctor and Gamble (PG)
SmartSource (SS)
Obviously, these all have websites as well. You can usually get on the websites and print off coupons that can be different or the same as the ones printed in the newspaper.
How do you get the Sunday paper? Obviously, the first thing that comes to mind is to subscribe. Many newspapers (including the Columbus Dispatch) offer Sunday-only subscriptions so you can have it delivered right to your front door! (Or, in our case, to the parking lot outside of our apartment complex or somewhere in the grass... but that's a story for another time!) Most stores and gas stations also sell Sunday newspapers for under $2. I usually stop at the gas station on Sundays and grab a second newspaper, especially if there are great coupons! (Tip: instead of just picking up the newspaper at the top of the stack, I look through several papers. Sometimes you can find one that has multiple copies of the same insert!)
Internet
Oh, the internet. With all of the information floating around out there, I'm sure that there are thousands of websites that you can use to look at and/or print coupons. Printing coupons from your home computer is quick and safe. You may have to install to install the coupon printer application, but it will only happen once per website. There are 4 websites that I frequent that have helped me save a lot of money (and, just as importantly, time)!
Coupons.com is a website that allows you to view and print pages and pages of coupons. It is a great source of coupons for cereal and other food staples. Currently, there is over $400 in savings available to print. You can usually print 2 of the same coupons per computer.
CouponMom is a handy little website that lays out the best coupon deals for you! It shows current deals (by store and by state) what current coupons match up with those sales, allowing for maximum savings! This site has saved me a bunch of time. Instead of studying each individual store's weekly ad and sifting through my coupon caddy, I just go to this website and see what the best deals are. (Tip: after you create your [free] account, click on "How to Coupon" to learn how the website works!)
The Krazy Coupon Lady is a great site that has tons of information! It has links to help for beginners, but my two favorite parts are the Extreme Couponing link (which shows super deals) and the Brag Lounge, which never fails to inspire me. The Brag Lounge also frequently shows deals that I would have otherwise missed.
Kroger Krazy is a website dedicated to showing you how to save the most money at (you guessed it!) Kroger! This website is amazing. It allowed me to buy 15 packs of Pampers baby wipes for less than $1!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Anatomy of a Coupon
I know, I know. If you're reading this blog, you probably already know what coupons are. But this post is about more than just defining them, I promise. :)
To begin: a coupon is an advertisement that gives you (the coupon holder) a certain amount off of the cost of a particular item or items. There are several parts to a coupon, which I'll go over... now!
This is a coupon. The information includes: the dollar amount to be taken off, the specific product, the barcode, the limits, the expiration date, and the words "Manufacturer's Coupon." (I chose this coupon because it expired in 2008, is valid only in Canada, and because it showed up on my Google image search.)
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The first part is self-explanatory. If you buy this specific product you will receive this specific amount of money off.
Some coupons say something like, "Limit one coupon per transaction." That means that for each time you pay, you can only use one coupon. If you'd like to use two coupons with that limit, you must make 2 transactions and pay 2 times.
The last part of the coupon I'm going to talk about is pretty important. This coupon says "Manufacturer's Coupon." That means that Rubbermaid produced this coupon, and Rubbermaid will reimburse the store for each coupon that the store turns in (provided that they each have a unique barcode!). You can not use 2 manufacturer's coupons on 1 item. (If you have 2 toothpaste coupons from Colgate, you have to buy 2 tubes to use both coupons.)
To begin: a coupon is an advertisement that gives you (the coupon holder) a certain amount off of the cost of a particular item or items. There are several parts to a coupon, which I'll go over... now!
This is a coupon. The information includes: the dollar amount to be taken off, the specific product, the barcode, the limits, the expiration date, and the words "Manufacturer's Coupon." (I chose this coupon because it expired in 2008, is valid only in Canada, and because it showed up on my Google image search.)
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The first part is self-explanatory. If you buy this specific product you will receive this specific amount of money off.
The barcode is an important of the coupon. Don't cut it off! Most stores won't accept a coupon without a barcode. Each coupon has a unique barcode, and stores get reimbursed for each coupon that they turn in with that unique barcode. If you make photocopies of a coupon, the store will not be reimbursed for each coupon that has a duplicated barcode. If you make 9 copies of a $1 coupon, you are essentially stealing $9 from the store, since they won't be reimbursed for the fake coupons.
The "Limits" portion of a coupon can get a little tricky. Most coupons will have a line that says something like, "Limit one coupon per purchase per visit." Unlike what lots of people think, this does not mean that you can only use one like coupon per shopping trip! Each item purchased is a separate "purchase." If you buy 5 tubes of toothpaste, you have made 5 "purchases" and can use 5 coupons.
The expiration date is another self-explanatory part of the coupon... use them before they expire! :)
Some stores (like Target) have store coupons that are produced by the store. They will not be reimbursed for these coupons, but they are giving each coupon holder a discount.
The really, really great news is that some stores (again, like Target) will allow you to stack a manufacturer's coupon with a store coupon, which lets you save lots of money! Foe example, if you were holding the above Target web coupon and a manufacturer's coupon for $1 off one Colgate toothpaste, you would get $2 off of one tube.
Hopefully this has been helpful! If I have missed something important or not explained well enough, please leave me a quick note in the comment section and I will fix it!
Beginnings
Let's face it- most of us love shopping. Clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, tools and fishing rods (or whatever men buy)... it's all so great!
Groceries? Not so much.
Unfortunately, we need groceries more frequently than we need the other products... but that doesn't mean that all of our money has to be spent on them!
Recently, I have been delving into the world of couponing. Until now, I had occasionally used coupons for an item here and there, but I found that I was usually spending more money than I wanted to just to make the coupon valid! It really didn't work for me, so I brushed it off. Then, like millions of others, I watched in amazement as dozens of people on TLC's Extreme Couponing saved hundreds of dollars on their carts loaded with stuff, all by using coupons! I was inspired after watching the show for a whole afternoon, so again I tried to coupon effectively, and again I failed.
In the meantime, life was happening. My husband and I bought our first car, got insurance, subscribed to cable and internet services, had doctor's visits, and realized that the credit card needed to be paid off eventually... and it was going to be expensive. I decided that I really needed to study the art of using coupons to save money where we could. We bought a printer and a coupon caddy, and I got to work on my research.
It was overwhelming.
I was bombarded with information about manufacturer coupons versus store coupons, which stores double coupons, sales prices, stacking rules, catalinas, ONYO coupons, stockpiles, store policies, and much more. Can you use two coupons on one product? Are clearance items included? Will I have time to coupon effectively with a full-time job? How do those people save so much money?!
Luckily, there were a few websites that helped me sort through the mounds of information. I'll get to them later. The good news is, I have been able to use coupons and save lots of money in just a few weeks! (Oh, yeah... did I mention that this was all over the course of the past few weeks?) I shared my success on Facebook and got lots of responses to the pictures and statuses I posted. Several people sent me texts and emails about my methods and strategies, which is when I decided to start this little blog. Even if it only help a few people learn to save money, it'll be worth the time!
Groceries? Not so much.
Unfortunately, we need groceries more frequently than we need the other products... but that doesn't mean that all of our money has to be spent on them!
Recently, I have been delving into the world of couponing. Until now, I had occasionally used coupons for an item here and there, but I found that I was usually spending more money than I wanted to just to make the coupon valid! It really didn't work for me, so I brushed it off. Then, like millions of others, I watched in amazement as dozens of people on TLC's Extreme Couponing saved hundreds of dollars on their carts loaded with stuff, all by using coupons! I was inspired after watching the show for a whole afternoon, so again I tried to coupon effectively, and again I failed.
In the meantime, life was happening. My husband and I bought our first car, got insurance, subscribed to cable and internet services, had doctor's visits, and realized that the credit card needed to be paid off eventually... and it was going to be expensive. I decided that I really needed to study the art of using coupons to save money where we could. We bought a printer and a coupon caddy, and I got to work on my research.
It was overwhelming.
I was bombarded with information about manufacturer coupons versus store coupons, which stores double coupons, sales prices, stacking rules, catalinas, ONYO coupons, stockpiles, store policies, and much more. Can you use two coupons on one product? Are clearance items included? Will I have time to coupon effectively with a full-time job? How do those people save so much money?!
Luckily, there were a few websites that helped me sort through the mounds of information. I'll get to them later. The good news is, I have been able to use coupons and save lots of money in just a few weeks! (Oh, yeah... did I mention that this was all over the course of the past few weeks?) I shared my success on Facebook and got lots of responses to the pictures and statuses I posted. Several people sent me texts and emails about my methods and strategies, which is when I decided to start this little blog. Even if it only help a few people learn to save money, it'll be worth the time!
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