Coupon101: A Couponer's Lingo Guide

        

This is lesson 5 of a Multi-Part Series here at TheFrugalFreeLoader.com

To catch up on the previous lessons first, go here!

Before we dive in to learning how to put our coupon stash to best use,
It's important that we go over some of the acronyms and phrases you
will see a lot of! This guide will come in handy as you start your journey
of couponing! I have compiled a list of all the words I can think of that
you are going to run across. They are in alphabetical order for quick reference!

BLINKIE - Coupons that are found in little machines attached to store shelves,
                    Often have blinking lights and dispenses coupons one at a time.

BOGO  -  Buy One Get One also seen as B1G1

BTFE    -  Box Tops For Education, Found on General Mills products,
Schools get $0.10 for each Box Top Redeemed

CAT      -  Catalina, Coupons and deals that print out of a special machine,near cash register.

DND - Do Not Double (In reference to wording on coupons)

ECB - Extra Care Bucks, Earned at CVS for special purchases, to be
used on your next purchase.

EXP -  Concerning Expiration date of a deal or coupons.

FLIP -  Food Lion Internet Printable Coupon

GM -General Mills, refers to their coupon insert in Sunday Papers.

INSERT - Referring to the coupon booklets found in Sunday Papers.

IP -  Internet Printable 

ISO - In Search Of, often used for coupon trading.

IVC - Instant Value Coupon, Found in Walgreens weekly sales ads.

MIR -  Mail In Rebate.

MQ - Manufacturer Coupon

OOP - Out Of Pocket. Amount of money actually spent.

OYNO - On Your Next Order Coupons and deals you receive from one purchase,
to be used on your next.

P&G  Proctor and Gamble Usually in reference to the coupon insert.

Q -Coupon

RC -  Rain Check, given when a store is out of stock on a sale item.

ROLLING - Term Used, especially for Drug Store deals, when using your earned
store "bucks or coupons" from a previous transaction to buy more products that
produce more Free "bucks and coupons" This method is used to keep your OOP
low! (We will go over this more in a later lesson!)

RP -  Red Plum, A Sunday Coupon Insert

RR-  Register Reward, Earned at Walgreens on special purchases to,
be used on your next purchase.

PEELIE - Coupons that are found stuck on products, you remove them by
"peeling" them off.

SCR - Single Check Rebate, Rite Aid rewards program.

SS - Smart Source, Another Sunday Coupon insert

STACK -  Means Using a Manufacturer coupon WITH a Store Coupon
on the same product.

TEARPAD  - A Booklet or Pad of coupons attached to a display or found on a counter, You tear a coupon from the pad to use it.

UPC - Universal Product Code- The barcode found on coupons and merchandise to scan.

WAGS - Nickname for Walgreens.

WYB - When You Buy, A deal you are going to receive when you buy a product.

YMMV - Your Miles May Vary, or Your Manager May Vary.
In the coupon world, A certain deal may be at one store, but not at another.

Did I forget any? Let me know!

Stay tuned for Lesson 6 of the Coupon101 Series!

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Coupon101: Know your Store, Coupon Policies and More

This post is part of a Multi-Part series here at TheFrugalFreeLoader.com. You can

catch up on the earlier segments by going here!                                                     

In past lessons we have learned what coupons are and the purpose they serve,
where to find them and how to organize them. If you have been following along
then I think by now you probably have some coupons gathered and organized
in a way that you feel comfortable. In this next lesson, I am going to go over
some Store policies when it comes to using coupons.

Stores can be very different when it comes to accepting coupons. Some, such as
Aldi, may not even accept them at all!  This is why it is very important to have a
pretty good understanding and feel for how the store(s) you will be shopping at
will handle your coupons.

Many stores have their coupon policies online, and it is a good idea to print them
and keep them with your coupons each time you shop. You will find that sometimes
the cashier may have a problem with a coupon, or maybe something that they don't
understand. If you are following that store's policy and have it printed to show, it
will help things run more smoothly.

You can check out the Store Policies page here for a list of links to various store
coupon policies. If you cannot find your store in the list, try going to that store's
website and see if you can locate their coupon policy. If no coupon policy can
be found online, then you may try emailing their corporate office and asking them
to send you their policy by email, or I suggest going to the store and asking the
manager about their store's coupon policy. I would also take notes while the
manager is explaining them. He/She will be more likely to be more specific and
careful in explaining how things work if you are there writing them down. You
will also be less likely to confuse any info they are giving you.

So, what are some of the differences you may find from store to store when it comes
to couponing?

You may find that some stores double the face value of a coupon. The price that will
be doubled varies from store to store. Some stores may be $0.50 some as high as
a $1! Sometimes stores will have special events where they even triple coupons!
There may be limits such as how many coupons you can bring in, or how many items
you can buy. This also varies by store.

You may also find that some stores will require you to register for shopper cards to
take advantage of their sale prices. Most of the time these are free and are the size
of a credit card or fit on a keychain. You will also want to know which days that
the store(s) you will be shopping at run their sales. CVS generally runs Sunday -
Saturday, however there are many that will begin their sales a day early! That can
be helpful to know when trying to grab an awesome deal before it's gone!  Many
grocery stores run their sales Wednesday - Tuesday. Again, this varies so it's
best to learn all you can about your favorite stores. The more in the know you
are, the better your grocery budget is going to look!

Some stores may accept competitor coupons, which can make for a great deal when
combining a sale and manufacturer coupon in the mix! There are many other factors
that can differ from store to store. I highly suggest getting to know your store and it's
policies before you start your couponing journey. It's also quite helpful to get to know
your cashiers and managers. It makes for a much pleasant shopping experience when
you and your coupons feel welcome!

Go to Lesson 5: A Couponer's Lingo Guide

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Coupon101: Coupon Organization

This is Lesson 3 of the Coupon101 section of my blog. If you have not reviewed

the two previous lessons yet, you may do so Here!

This lesson is long overdue, and I apologize for such a long delay in getting it posted.

In lesson 2, we covered where to find coupons, so now that you have started gathering

coupons from various locations, you need a place to store and organize them. That is

what I will cover in this lesson, I will go over the various ways in which you may find
helpful to organize your coupons.

-DECIDE THE KIND OF COUPONER YOU WANT TO BE-

First thing to keep in mind, is there really isn't a wrong way to organize your coupons.

You need to focus on a way that is easiest and most helpful to you and your lifestyle.

Some things to take into consideration are:

•  How much spare time do you have to commit to clipping and filing coupons?
• Will you be coupon shopping for just your necessities, or hope to catch every deal you can find?
• Will you be shopping at a couple of your main stores, or branching out to any store offering a deal that day?                                  
• Do you mind lugging in your huge stash of coupons, or would you like to be simple and discreet while you coupon shop?                                      

These questions are important and can really help you decide which method will be

easiest for you, as well as the most enjoyable! The more organized you get with your

coupons, the more deals you will easily find. However, the more organized, the more

time you will have to commit to keeping up with it.

KEEP IT BASIC METHODS

When you are new to couponing, I always suggest to keep it small and simple just

for now. It can be overwhelming and mistakes and confusion can happen easily if

you take on too much too soon.

Starting out, I suggest filing your coupons in envelopes, Small accordion type file or

a box or small tote and use the index card method. These organization methods keep

couponing very simple. It is easy to file, sort and to keep organized. 

In these methods, you stick to clipping and filing only the coupons you know you will

mostly likely use. For instance, if you have a baby and aren't Brand specific on the 

diapers they wear, you should clip any and all diaper coupons and file them in a baby 

category. Then when you need diapers, you can check all your local store ads and

compare prices along with coupons you have on hand and find the best deal that
week! The same goes with other items in other categories. 

Clipping only the coupons you are most likely to use keeps it very simple.

If you were to clip and file every coupon you find using a basic method, you're going
to end up with a huge mess and a lot of time in the store thumbing though coupon
after coupon to find the right one. Not to mention the time it will take with the upkeep
of finding and removing all the expired coupons. I have made a video on two
organization methods, The Index card method, and envelope method.

-Basic Coupon Organization Methods-

You can also clip and file your coupons into small photo albums, that will make it 

easier to take along with you.

-FILING AND STORING AT HOME METHOD-

If you aren't comfortable with taking a filing system in the store with you, or maybe
you just don't have the time to do more than run in, grab your items and leave, then
you may find helpful setting up any filing system at home and making your list and
gathering your coupons before you leave. Just keep the coupons with your form of
payment so you don't forget to hand them over at checkout!

Filing and storing at home can be good when sticking to a budget
and can prevent impulse buying or keeping you in the store longer than you
want to be. However, with this  method you are more likely to miss out on
deals you could have gotten if you had all your coupons with you.

-THE CLIPLESS METHOD-

Another way to file your coupons is the Clipless Method. Since most coupons are
found in Sunday Inserts, All You Magazine and other booklets some people  may
find it easier to not clip them out and file only the inserts and booklets away. For
this method, you would write the date the insert was released on the outside cover
of each insert so that you can refer back to it easily as needed.

When I first started couponing, I did the clipless method. I found it great for the fact
there was no clipping or filing. This method may be great for some, however it was
not working for me.

A huge con for me with this method was I found myself spending way too much time in 

the store flipping through inserts, trying to remember where I saw a coupon I just
"knew" I had seen somewhere! Then if I found it, I had to clip it right there in the store. 

Sometimes I would run across a really great deal and thumb through all my inserts

and just can't find the coupon I am looking for, or sometimes I find it, but it's one

that has already expired.  

I am a deal shopper. Sometimes I go into a store just to see if they have any

new price cuts or closeouts. So I really need an organized binder so that it

can take me right to the coupon I need if I have it.  I also disliked the fact

with the clipless method it is very hard to weed out expired coupons

because coupons in each insert tend to have varying expiration dates.

I have a hard time leaving my binder at home or in the car even. It seems each time
I do, there is always an amazing deal that I can't take advantage of because my
coupons aren't with me. 

-THE BINDER METHOD-

If you are the type of person with lots of time on their hands, or wants the ability to
grab any deal they see, then I recommend the binder method! In this method, you
clip and file many coupons, usually in specific categories or orders. The binders are
carried with you during your shopping trips and makes it very easy to take advantage
of extra savings on top of sales because your coupons are filed away and easily found
 when needed.

A video of my coupon binder:

As  you can see, the binder method can be the most organized, but does take
quite a bit of time. You must consider the clipping and filing involved each
week when the new inserts come out. To help manage the time better, try to fit
the clipping and or filing during a time that it can be multi-tasked in, or get your
children involved! I'm sure they would love to help you clip and enjoy the time
spent with you while you do it. If clipping isn't there thing, maybe opt to take them
to a restaurant with a play area. You can clip while they play. This has been the
case for me on many occasions! You can also see my clipping method I use
to help speed up cutting time here in a video!

If choosing the Binder Method you will need:

-A Binder (3inch is recommended) 
You may want to opt in for a zippered one, or one with a handle or strap
Depending on the binder you purchase, it can run you $5 - $30.

-Baseball/Trading Cards Plastic Sleeves $6 for pack of 35 at Walmart


-Page Dividers with tabs $1 for pack of 5 at Dollar Tree 
(you will probably need 2-3 of these, it depends on how many categories
you plan to use)

- A Couple of Pocket or prong folders to hold your ads, Store Policies, Etc.


Optional
-Index Cards, or Card Stock (can be cut to fit in the plastic sleeves to make
the sleeves "double-sided")
-Page Protectors
-Extra Binder Pouches (to hold Scissors, Calculators, Pens Etc.)


The binder method is a bit more expensive to set up, but you will
make your money back with the deals you are able to find from
having an organized system! Try looking at thrift stores for your
binder, folders and other supplies. I found my larger binder for
only $0.99 at Goodwill!


This about sums it up for this lesson. Just remember know matter what method you
choose, make sure it is one that will not put more stress in your life.

*If any of you would like to leave a comment and share the type of coupon
organization you have used and what works best for you, it is welcomed!
I would love to read about it and I am sure others would love your ideas!*

The next lesson in this Coupon101 series is Lesson 4: Know Your Store, 
Coupon Policies and More!

What methods would you like to share? Leave a Link to your Coupon
Organization post or post  your methods in a comment below! Thanks 
so much for sharing with everyone!

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Coupon101: How To Build Your Coupon Stash

We just covered  Lesson 1: Anatomy of a Coupon. So now that you know what a coupon is, and how to understand the information found on coupons, it's time to start getting a coupon stash of your own! This post is a bit more lengthy, but just goes to show there are a ton of ways to get coupons!

So, Where can you find coupons?
Coupons are everywhere, In fact, in 2009 there were 528 Billion dollars worth of coupons that were released and only $3.5 billion were redeemed! That's a lot of coupons! There are so many easy sources to obtain coupons that I am certain you can have a huge collection started very soon!   Most options allow you to get coupons absolutely free. Some however, cost a small fee. Once you start couponing though, you will make your money back a few times over!

The Coupon Hunt

Location #1 - Sunday Papers. Finding coupons in your Sunday Paper is one of the fastest ways to build up your coupons. It seems like Sunday comes by so quickly and I am having to file brand new coupons once again! In your Sunday Paper you will notice inserts, such as Red Plum, Smartsource and PG. These inserts are filled with manufacturer coupons for various brands and products. These inserts will be mixed in with all the other store sales papers.

One important thing to note about the inserts in the Sunday Paper is not every city gets the same coupons.
Manufacturers have a set budget for coupons and they try to  issue more coupons in the bigger cities with higher populations. Those big cities may see higher dollar amounts off of products as well. For example, a small city may get a coupon for $0.50 off of Suave Shampoo, where a big city may get a $0.75 off for the same product. The amount of coupons will differ as well. A small city may see 10 coupons in their paper, and the big city right next store may get 50! With that said, you want to make sure if you are buying the Paper on Sundays for the coupons, then pick the paper from the largest city available to you.

My city's newspaper does not have a lot of coupons, so I buy the paper from the next city over, the Chattanooga Times. This paper is still sold in my town, so I do not have to travel to purchase it. But there are still better cities that I can buy from to get a huge amount of coupons, like The Atlanta Journal. I just would have to travel about 40 miles there and back each week to get it. I don't choose that route.

When buying the Sunday Paper, you may wonder how many you should buy. Many couponers go by a rule of thumb to buy as many papers as you have people living in your home. I tend to buy 4 every Sunday. If it is a huge coupon week with lots of inserts or important coupons that I know I am going to need or use, I will buy as many as 8! You can always take a look at the upcoming coupon inserts a few days early HERE.
Knowing ahead of time can be very helpful in your decision on how many papers to buy, or when matching to a sales ad or planning a menu for the week.

Location #2 - Grocery Stores. You can walk into almost any store and find a coupon some where! The first place I check when I enter a store is the area around where they have their sales ads displayed. Sometimes there are coupon books or flyer pages with coupons on them. Sometimes there may be some store coupons available. My next stop is the customer service desk. Ask them if they have any coupons available. This works especially well at Publix! They are always having coupon booklets and flyers filled with great coupons!

While you are shopping, if you have time try to make a quick trip down each aisle. You will notice little machines stuck to the shelves that have a blinking light. These are known as "Blinkies" and usually have a coupon to dispense for a product located on that shelf. Most of the time when you see these blinkies, that item will be going on sale within the next couple weeks so its usually a better idea to hold onto them instead of using them when the item is only regular price. How many Blinkies should you take? The coupon etiquette varies from person to person, however I believe that taking 2 is sufficient. If you happen to go to another store and they have the same blinkie, I think its ok to take 2 from that one as well. Its all part of being considerate so that others can have a chance to snag a coupon and great deal too!

While you are browsing the aisles you may notice products with coupons stuck to them also known as "Peelies" Many couponers, and myself feel these are not ok to take unless you are buying that product at that time. Those coupons are placed on the product for the consumers who are buying that item. I don't believe there is really a law on that. Again it is just a matter of being considerate and using good coupon etiquette.

Another type of coupon you are sure to find in a grocery store is a "Tearpad"  Think of it like a post-it note pad full of coupons. These pads of coupons will generally be glued to a cardboard display of a product or on the shelf. The same etiquette applies to tearpads as blinkies. Take two.

You may also notice coupons laying beside matching products. These are often left by "coupon fairies", nice people who help others by sharing coupons they won't be using by laying them next to the product its intended for. If this is a coupon for a product you are definitely going to use, then consider it a gift. On a side note, make sure to look at the expiration date as sometimes, people leave expired coupons next to the item. I guess that is their way of disposing of them? But if you plan to send off your expired coupons to military families overseas, then you should collect the expired ones you see as well.

Some grocery stores have clubs and programs you can become a member of online. Others like Kroger and Publix, offer magazines that are mailed to you during different times of the year filled with store and manufacturer coupons! Many grocery stores have a loyalty card program where you get the sales when your unique card is scanned. Sometimes coupons are printed at the register when you use these cards.

Location #3 The Internet. There are various websites that offer great coupons that you can print at home.
Sites such as, Coupons.com, Smartsource.com and Red Plum.com are among the most popular. These sites will have a list of coupons you can print. Most coupons are allowed to be printed 2 of the same per computer. The coupons on these sites are constantly changing and tend to even reset them at times so you can print more!

Facebook can be your best friend when you are looking for coupons and deals online. A company or brand always has a coupon or freebie to be had somewhere! Some of them are simply amazing. If you do not have a Facebook account, I would suggest getting one just to keep up with your favorite brands!  While your there Friend me!

Another way to find coupons online is to go straight to the companies website. Alot of sites will have a tab or link on their page stating Promotions, Freebies or coupons. Think of some of your favorite brands and then take a look at their website for printable coupon offers! If a site does not have any coupons to offer, consider sending them an email. Let them know what you think of their product or request a sample or coupon. Many times they will happily send you something for your time and feedback! Be sure to leave your address in the email!

Make sure to sign up for company newsletters or join a companies online clubs. They are known to send their members emails with upcoming deals and coupons that only members can print! Also  make sute to sign up for free samples when you see them. They often come with coupons!

Coupons can even be purchased online! There are coupon clipping sites that have massive amounts of individual clipped coupons and even whole inserts often for just pennies! Places like Coupons and Things by DeDe is a great place to go if there is a coupon that you missed in a Sunday Paper! You can even bid at ebay for coupons!


Location #4 - Magazines. Coupons can be found in many magazines. Especially those on the subject of women, or home. All You is the best magazine for coupons! They put out an issue each month with some really great high dollar coupons in them. You can purchase All You at Walmart for about $2.50 an issue or get a subscription All You (6-month) to try for only $10! I always make sure to get two copies each month! I have gotten many of my free items shopping using the coupons from All You magazine combined with a sale!






Location #5  - Your Pantry. Lastly, coupons can be found in  your own home! Make sure to look inside boxes before you throw them away. Often there will be surprise coupons printed on the inside of a box. Maybe even a little folded coupon inside a product.

As you can see coupons are everywhere! Once you start collecting them all, your gonna need a place to put them and a way to organize them to maximize your savings. That is what we will talk about with the next lesson....

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Coupon101: Anatomy of a Coupon

In this very first lesson, I am going to talk about Coupons. You may find this basic, however I am starting at the beginning and then easing up to the really complicated stuff!


So what is a coupon?
A coupon is simply a piece of paper which entitles you to a discount on product/s.

There are Manufacturer Coupons - Coupons that come from the company or makers of a product.
These coupons are put out in hopes of getting a consumer to try a product at a discount, liking it and wanting to buy more at regular price in regular intervals. Also there are Store Coupons- Coupons that are released and used only at an individual store. These coupons are put out in hopes to entice you to come into their store to buy the discounted item in hopes that you will make other purchases in that trip as well.

What happens when you use a coupon?
When making a purchase and using a manufacturer coupon, the store will send in that coupon and be reimbursed by the manufacturer for the face value of the coupon plus a small shipping and handling credit of around $0.08-$0.12 per coupon. When using these types of coupons, even if you are getting an item for free, the store still views it as a sale because they are getting their money back.

When making a purchase and using a Store Coupon, the dollar amount of the coupon is out of the stores budget. Each store has budgets set aside for promotional things such as events and coupons. This is where your discount comes from. They aren't reimbursed for the transaction but often times the consumer buys more things during their trip that they would not have made without knowing of the special buy.

Both Manufacturer and Store Coupons can be found in Flyers, Home Mailers, Inserts, and even printable online.

You can tell the difference between the two by how the coupon is worded. Which brings me to the next area.

What does everything mean on a coupon?

(note- Not all coupons are set up alike. Some areas, such as where to find the Expiration date, may be in a different spot on different coupons.)
1. This is the area where it states who issued the coupon. Manufacturer coupons can generally be used at any store that sells the product and takes coupons. You may also notice the wording "Do Not Double" or "Not Subject To Doubling" around this area on some coupons. This means that the manufacturer will not honor more than face value of the coupon. Some stores double and even triple coupons. When the coupon states do not double, it is up to the cashier to supress the coupon from doubling. The Cash Register will automatically double it anyway unless the  barcode at the bottom of the coupon begins with a 9. (These are always programmed not to double at the register)

2. This is the area where you normally find the expiration date on many coupons. This date listed is when the coupon must be used by. There are some exceptions, like U.S. Families Stationed overseas can use coupons on base for up to 6 months past the manufacturers expiration date. You can see more info on that HERE.   

3. This area tells you how much you can save using this coupon. When using the coupon shown above, you would get $0.50 off your purchase. If you are at a store that doubles, you will get $1.00 off your purchase, however some stores only double coupons up to a certain amount. Check with your stores coupon policy for more info on that.

4. This area gives specific instructions to you the consumer as well as the retailer/cashier. It is important to follow the instructions so that the store can be paid for the product and makes them want to continue to accept coupons. Following the instructions makes for a much easier transaction as well for you!  For example, if a coupon states "One Per Transaction", then you can only use one of those coupons during that order being checked out. Many times it is ok to separate the transactions so that you can buy more than one of those items using the coupon. However some stores may give you a bit of a hassle when it comes to that. Especially if the wording says "One Per Customer".  If a coupon states "One Per Purchase" that means one per Item in coupon terms. Many cashiers and even managers can be confused by this wording. It basically is telling you that you cannot use two of the $0.50/1 coupons to buy the 1 item making you have $1.00 off of one. Always familiarize yourself with the stores coupon policy and make sure to bring a copy with you to make your trip a little more hassle free should problems occur at check out. You will also note that this area shows the instructions for the store to get credit back for the coupon they just accepted.

5. This area is going to inform you what you are saving money on. The wording of this area is very important, as it tells you and the cashier what items and quantity you must buy to get the discount. If you aren't careful and specific with the items you are buying, the register may not accept the coupon, or if it does, the store may not get their money back for the items that you did not correctly buy. For Example, the coupon above states any of the Knorr Rice or Pasta Sides. So this should be an easy coupon to use because its not too specific other than you must buy two of the product. The coupon above will not work on just one Knorr product. Sometimes you will have a coupon, lets say for ketchup, and it will say a certain size bottle or larger. So if you have $1 off coupon for a 24oz. bottle or larger, then you shouldn't grab the 16oz bottle of ketchup and expect it to work.

6. Last, This is area is the Barcode. Each coupon has a specific UPC barcode that will tell the register just what to do with it when scanned. It holds the data telling the register to make sure the right quantity was bought, the right product was bought and how much to take off the total. Sometimes for unknown reasons or computer glitches, a coupon UPC will beep with an error. This may happen just because the register doesn't recognize the UPC. If this happens, the cashier will probably double check the info on the coupon with what you purchased and if everything looks ok, will manually enter your coupon amount off.


    STORE COUPONS

With a store coupon the information on the coupon is going to pretty  much work the same way, however the UPC or Code is not going to work anywhere but their store. The reason is because the UPC or PLU# on these coupons are store specific. Some will work in that store by scanning, and some will have a code for the cashier to key in. If you shop at a store that accepts competitor coupons, you will notice that they will manually enter their competitor's coupon dollar amount in because their system is not going to recognize this code as a coupon. One thing to keep in mind with store coupons is that the amount you are saving is deducted from the stores budget. So if you have a manufacturer coupon for the same product you should be able to use both coupons to really see some good savings!


    INTERNET PRINTABLES

There are many internet printables out there, and lots of great deals to be had when using them!
They are set up pretty much the same way as any other coupon, but are printed in your home. Internet printables can be issued by manufacturers as well as retail stores. One of the main differences you will notice with coupons you print online is the code that I have circled in red above. To help prevent fraud, most internet printables each have their own unique code. In most cases you will be allowed to print 2 of the same coupon per computer, before the site lets you know you have printed your maximum allotted amount. The codes above prevent people from making copies of the coupons. This is fraud and should never be done! Sometimes you will find a PDF version of a coupon. These don't have a specific code on them, so unless the coupon states otherwise, you can print and use as many of these as your store allows. Be careful though, PDF coupons are one of the biggest when it comes to Fake coupons. If you think a coupon looks suspicious, try doing a google search on that coupon to see if anyone has reported it as a fraud.

I hope this segment has helped you out in learning about different types of coupons.
Check back for the next segment which will be about finding coupons... How to Build Your Coupon Stash

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Easy Coupon Clipping - Lesson #1

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Understanding how to shop at Publix for best savings!

I have put this in another post but decided 
I would put this in its own post and inside
Coupon101!


Things you need to know about Publix!


#1 They are awesome! They have the nicest,
      most helpful employees! They try really
      really hard to have plenty of stock with
      their sale items. When it happens they
      are out of something, they gladly write
      you a raincheck!

# 2 Publix doubles coupons up to $0.50!
      So your $0.50 coupons you have are
      really worth $1.00 at Publix!

#3 Publix accepts competitors coupons.
     Like Bi-Lo, Food Lion and the one in
     Ooltewah accepts Target as well. I have
     never tried the drugstore coupons but if
     any of you know if they work please let me
     know! 

#4 You don't have to buy both items in a BOGO
      sale. So if you just buy one, it will ring up
      half off!

#5 If you do buy 2 BOGO items you can use 2
     coupons this is where you will maximize your
     savings!

#6 Publix puts out massive amounts of store
     coupons! They are everywhere in booklets
     and flyers. It's crazy! Look around the store,
     check the front and most  important, ask the
     customer service rep! ALSO Go HERE to
     sign up for the 4 different magazines or
     mailers they have, they send great coupons
     that way also! You can stack a Publix store
     coupon with a Manufacturer coupon and
     put that with a BOGO sale, you will
     probably end up with overage.
     Which brings me to ...

#7 Most Publix allow overage. It will only
     work to take money off your other
     purchases, they wont give you cash back.

Florida Publix have a little different set of rules
when it comes to coupons and BOGO.
I'm not familiar with that area, but if someone
wants to comment of email me I will add it in.
   
There are probably more reasons why Publix
is so great, but these are the main reasons!

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Coupon101

Many Couponers have their own way of how shopping and saving work for them. We call it Coupon101.  Many people ask how it is that I can save 70% off of everyday items and most of them name brand. It takes some work but if you are a beginner then I can show you a few tips and tricks and ways to get started easily.

Lesson 1: Starting from scratch

When you are just starting your coupon adventure things can be overwhelming and unorganized. The best thing to do is get organized and stay organized. I suggest getting a Zip up Binder with  2inch or 3 inch rings. I bought mine at Target for $9.99. Next you will need to get some baseball card pages. They can be found on the hobby/baseball card aisle at Walmart for about $6.00 for 35 pages. Next pick up some tabbed subject dividers. You will probably need at least 10 tabbed dividers, maybe more depending on how many categories you want to break your coupons into.
Mine is Broken down like this :
1/Cold Foods
-Fridge
-Freezer
2/Pantry Foods
-Dinners (rice, pasta, canned foods breads etc.)

-Snacks (chips, candy, popcorn nuts etc.)

-Breakfast (cereals, pop tarts, granola bars etc.)

3/Beverages


4/Condiments

5/Household Goods
-Paper Products (plates, napkins, tissue paper, etc)
-Cleaning (Laundry, Disinfectant, Air fresheners, Dish soap etc.)
 
6/Health and Beauty
-Mouth (toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss etc.)
-Hair (shampoo, hair spray, dyes, etc.)
-Body (lotions, soaps, body wash etc.)
-Face ( make-up, moisturizers etc)
-Medicines ( ointments, pain relievers, stomach meds etc)

7/Pets 
(treats, food, litter, medicines etc.)

 8/Miscellaneous 
(Toys, Batteries, Movies, etc.)

 I feel like I am missing some. I do not have my Binder with me at the moment, but this is at my best memory.
You can set your own binder up with however you are comfortable with. Mine just gives you an idea of how to get started.

Once you have your binder ready, you can begin gathering all your coupons you have been clipping and saving. If you don't have many coupons or have no Idea where to look for them, don't worry. In just a couple weeks I am sure you can get an overflow of coupons! Here is where to look!

1. Sunday Paper Inserts- This will be a great place to get coupons. I buy my Sunday paper from my local Dollar Tree and it saves me $0.50 each paper! I have read the standard rule to how many papers you should buy is 1 per household member. I always buy at least 4 papers on average weeks, but if I know it is going to be a great coupon insert I will buy 6-8 copies! You should be aware that coupon inserts vary by location. Smaller cities may only get a very few coupons in their paper. And bigger cities can get them all at times! So stop and think a minute and ask your self, What is the biggest city close to you. Once you decide start looking for locations that make that paper available to buy. Try Book stores, Newstands or you can call the Paper business itself to see where the closest vendor or machine is. But keep in mind that I have heard many times that when people order subscriptions, the coupon inserts aren't always in there.

2. Blinkie Machines- While you are in your local grocery store you may notice there are many machines on the aisle with blinking lights and a coupon sticking out. It's ok to take those coupons even if you aren't buying the product today. I do not recommend taking more than 2 of any same coupon. I feel that it is unfair to others who  may like to have that coupon if there are such limited quantities. Another great thing about seeing the blinkies is that usually it means the item will be going on sale in the next couple of weeks but when it does those blinkies will be removed.

3. All You Magazine- This magazine is GREAT! I have a subscription and its one thing that I look forward to in the mail each month. It is filled with very nice coupons and also has frugal meal ideas, and tips and tricks for cleaning and weight loss. It is a really great read and the coupons are an awesome bonus! There is a link to the right where you can subscribe to All You magazine through Amazon and save some money. You can also find this magazine at your local Walmart store for $2.49 an issue. Either way it has been very informative to have.

4. Printable Coupons- There are various websites that have a variety of coupons that you can print at home.
Most of these coupons can be printed twice per computer. Some Great sites are
Coupons.Com
Smartsource.Com
Red Plum.Com 
Some Stores such as Target and Food Lion offer Printable coupons as well
Also take a look in your cabinets or think of your favorite brand products. Then look up the manufacturer of that brand and see if their website offers any printable coupons or a newsletter to sign up for. Often times those newsletters will contain coupons or special promotions. If no information of that nature is listed you can contact them through email to give them a suggestion or comment on their products. Be sure to include correspondence such as your name and address because often times they will send you coupons for your feedback.

5. If there is a coupon floating around out there that you are unable to get, you can always order them online at such places like:

The Coupon Clippers


OR...


Coupons by DeDe


You can also Check at CouponTom or A Full Cup  to see if there are even any coupons out right now for a select product.


Once you have a nice little stock pile of coupons, you want to have them clipped and filed in their respective categories and slots in the binder. This will make it so easy when you go shopping.
Example: You go to your local store and you see your favorite brand of shampoo marked down.You are thinking, "didn't I have a coupon for that shampoo?" Open your binder to health and beauty/Hair and if you have it, it will be right there! Never miss a deal when you are organized!


Now that Lesson 1 is over you should have a nice little binder with lots of coupons and you should be set to start on your mission of shopping!


Lesson 2 -Head out on your mission

It is always best to have a plan when you go shopping. That way it is harder to overspend. You can use my site to check on certain stores weekly deals before heading out. I will tell you what is in there ad on sale, AND I will tell you if there is a coupon to make that sale even better! When you have a store in mind, select it from the top of my website menu and you should see the latest ad available. Browse through the deals and check to see if you have any of the coupons I  mention. A lot of times the coupons will be printable and I will supply the link for you right beside it. All you have to do is click, print and cut!

There are also coupons that can be loaded on certain store cards such as Kroger. The coupons can be deducted once the item is purchased and your card is scanned.
Such services are:
Cellfire.com
Shortcuts.com
UPromise.com

Once you  have made your list of what you are planning on buying and have matched any coupons up you can head out to the store and save save save!


Lesson 3- Going in Blind

If you make a trip out to a store with no prepared list you can still learn what to look for to get the best deals. Most of the time you want to look for items on sale Buy One Get One. The reason why is because in most stores those items ring up 50% off which means better deals. For Example:
 Store A has Gain Laundry Detergent for $5.99 Reg Price
 Store B has Gain on sale Buy one Get One, or $2.99ea
You decide to buy 2 Gains from Store B for a total of $5.99
You use two $2.00/1 coupons for Gain bringing your total down to $1.99 for 2 Gains!
If you shopped at store B today you would have paid $11.98 for 2 Gains! You just saved 84% off  name brand products all because you knew when and where to shop and how to use your coupons!

You want to make sure that you know each stores coupon policies. I have started a list of them HERE
Also print them out and keep them in your binder so that you know the policies and you can make sure that the cashiers are aware in case of problems as well!


Lesson 4 Knowing how much to buy!

I understand that free items are awesome. During your shopping journeys you will come across free items, items that are going cost mere pocket change and sometimes even items that will give you overage. Keep in mind though that stores will run their sales in loops. You will usually see a repeat of the same sales every 6 weeks or so. It is ok and recommended that you stock up for 6 weeks worth, but not anymore than that because it can become wasteful if not used in a timely manner and also it limits the items available for other shoppers who are in need of the items. We are very lucky to have the opportunity to use coupons and I really dislike seeing it abused. Stick with the stores policies and keep a good moral ground when you coupon.

The best way to know when the best time to buy a product at it's lowest is to keep a Product Journal.
You can take a look and make a list of things that you need to buy each month. Price it at different stores, and as it goes on sale, right down the date and price. One week it may be reg $2.99 couple weeks later it may be 2/$5.00  it may even go 2/$4.00. But at it's lowest most of the time is half off, so when you see the Buy one Get one sale or 50% off sale, its time to buy that Item. If you have a coupon for it as well, Even better!


It can be a lot to take in at first. With each week that you tackle these shopping trips you will get better and better. You will feel  more comfortable in how it works, and it will come together a lot quicker.

Lesson 5 Maintenance

Even when you get the hang of things, It is still important to remain organized. Go through your binder 2 times a month and take out your expired coupons. When your coupons have expired, don't throw them out. They can be sent to U.S. Military families stationed overseas to be used up to 6 months after they expire! You can read more info on doing that HERE


I believe that is enough lessons for today. I will ad more to coupon101 as I think of it!

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Why should you Coupon?

A repost
Yeah, I have been there. Watching people with stacks of Sunday Papers heading to their cars. Seeing them in the Aisles with their folders, ads and piles of coupons looking for the right items.

I didn't get it then. Sure I tried to clip some coupons here and there but when it came down to it I had lots more coupons for products I would never buy. Even if I used the few coupons I clipped it appeared that I would still save more just buying the store brand! I just couldn't understand why spend all that money on those papers and magazines?! Why spend all that time clipping?! I figured how I was shopping was working alright for us so I just didn't want to be sucked into that craziness. Then one day a few months ago I was reading a blog on couponing and some of it started to make some sense. I then watched some Youtube videos from some of these other couponing people and how it worked for them and I was blown away with these people saving 70% + everytime they went in a store.

I slowly began to understand that couponing is more than just clipping. It is litterally like a formula. A science really. If its followed just right then WOW! It does take some time to learn it, and for me it just gets easier each week.The sales ads that come out is one of the highlights my week. There are just SO many free items and items for litterally pennies. It amazes me! It does make it very hard for me to pay full price for anything now, even after just a few short months of this lifestyle.

Here is an example of how the couponing game can work. (This is just a scenario that actually I got to do back in August but it's expired now)

Lets say you need some dog food. You have a couple $3.00 off coupons for some Purina dog food.

Now if you are like how I was, you just go to Wal-Mart and buy whatever is cheapest the dog will eat. You may consider just buying the $7 Purina dog food and use the coupon for $3 off. Go home with a $4.00 bag of Dog food and be done.

Well what if you researched a little. Publix happened to have that same dog food Buy One Get One Free. Of course Publix price is $7.99 a bag but the sale now makes it $4 a bag. Well that itself is a better deal already than Wal-Mart's original shelf price. But go another step further. Lets just go ahead and Buy 2 bags of the Dog food. Go to check out and you have $8.00 in dog food. Use both your $3.00 coupons. (This is allowed at Publix on BOGO items) You just walked out with 2 bags of Dog Food for just $2.00!


This principle works with alot of other deals. The best deals usually come from BOGO deals and the use of 2 identical coupons.

Also there is something called coupon stacking which means if there is a store coupon for a product as well as a manufacturer coupon for the same item you can use them together making the product super cheap or free! So if for instance the above scenario with the Dog food had a $1.00 off Publix coupon on any Purina Dog food and you had 2 of those coupons, You could have added that to the purchase and walked out with your 2 bags of Name Brand Dog Food absoulutely Free!

This is why couponers buy multiple copies of the Sunday Paper. There are some pretty great coupon inserts in each Sunday paper. The bigger the city, the more coupons you will probably get in your paper.

Well I hope I have helped a few people learn some things. Believe me this is just a tiny bit of info that can help you save. There are even better deals than this out there on all different products. I will try to keep you up to date on any deals I have found so keep checking back!

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A step closer to understanding us Crazy Coupon People

Yeah, I have been there. Watching people with stacks of Sunday Papers heading to their cars. Seeing them in the Aisles with their folders, ads and piles of coupons looking for the right items.

I didn't get it then. Sure I tried to clip some coupons here and there but when it came down to it I had lots more coupons for products I would never buy. Even if I used the few coupons I clipped it appeared that I would still save more just buying the store brand! I just couldn't understand why spend all that money on those papers and magazines?! Why spend all that time clipping?! I figured how I was shopping was working alright for us so I just didn't want to be sucked into that craziness. Then one day a few months ago I was reading a blog on couponing and some of it started to make some sense. I then watched some Youtube videos from some of these other couponing people and how it worked for them and I was blown away with these people saving 70% + everytime they went in a store.

I slowly began to understand that couponing is more than just clipping. It is litterally like a formula. A science really. If its followed just right then WOW! It does take some time to learn it, and for me it just gets easier each week.The sales ads that come out is one of the highlights my week. There are just SO many free items and items for litterally pennies. It amazes me! It does make it very hard for me to pay full price for anything now, even after just a few short months of this lifestyle.

Here is an example of how the couponing game can work. (This is just a scenario that actually I got to do back in August but it's expired now)

Lets say you need some dog food. You have a couple $3.00 off coupons for some Purina dog food.

Now if you are like how I was, you just go to Wal-Mart and buy whatever is cheapest the dog will eat. You may consider just buying the $7 Purina dog food and use the coupon for $3 off. Go home with a $4.00 bag of Dog food and be done.

Well what if you researched a little. Publix happened to have that same dog food Buy One Get One Free. Of course Publix price is $7.99 a bag but the sale now makes it $4 a bag. Well that itself is a better deal already than Wal-Mart's original shelf price. But go another step further. Lets just go ahead and Buy 2 bags of the Dog food. Go to check out and you have $8.00 in dog food. Use both your $3.00 coupons. (This is allowed at Publix on BOGO items) You just walked out with 2 bags of Dog Food for just $2.00!


This principle works with alot of other deals. The best deals usually come from BOGO deals and the use of 2 identical coupons.

Also there is something called coupon stacking which means if there is a store coupon for a product as well as a manufacturer coupon for the same item you can use them together making the product super cheap or free! So if for instance the above scenario with the Dog food had a $1.00 off Publix coupon on any Purina Dog food and you had 2 of those coupons, You could have added that to the purchase and walked out with your 2 bags of Name Brand Dog Food absoulutely Free!

This is why couponers buy multiple copies of the Sunday Paper. There are some pretty great coupon inserts in each Sunday paper. The bigger the city, the more coupons you will probably get in your paper.

Well I hope I have helped a few people learn some things. Believe me this is just a tiny bit of info that can help you save. There are even better deals than this out there on all different products. I will try to keep you up to date on any deals I have found so keep checking back!


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