So, how did you do in your shopping last week? It's time to 'Fess Up and tell us how much you saved!
I am sorry I don't have any spectacular savings to report this week. I did not see any items I needed to stock up on. So, I used it as a meat stock up week. I bought a bunch of hamburger and chicken and filled my already packed freezer. It would be nice to see more coupons for meat. And every once in a while there are Perdue chicken coupons and I've even seen coupons for ground beef. But they are few and far between. So I just try to buy meat at the lowest sale price. I buy boneless skinless chicken breasts if it is under $2 a lb. And I try to get ground round/chuck for under $2 a lb also. Those are my "buy now" prices for meat.
I am having trouble getting on the Mr. Linky site this morning. So, just paste a copy of your blog into the comment section or leave your totals as a comment.
Time to 'Fess Up!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Some great Walgreens starter transactions
I stumbled on a blog at Couponing101 with some easy Walgreens starter transactions and thought I would pass it along to you! This can be done even if you don't have any coupons and will allow you to get some Register Rewards to have for future Walgreens sales. Here's the blog!
Feel free to ask me any questions. Drugstore transactions can be tricky and confusing. Believe me, I am still learning how to do the drugstore deals myself!
It is a great week at Walgreens full of deals and a great week to dip your toe in the drugstore waters!
Feel free to ask me any questions. Drugstore transactions can be tricky and confusing. Believe me, I am still learning how to do the drugstore deals myself!
It is a great week at Walgreens full of deals and a great week to dip your toe in the drugstore waters!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Catalina....not just for salads!
Think Catalina is just a kind of dressing for salads? Well, think again! In the coupon world, a "Catalina" is a coupon that prints out at the end of your grocery order in some grocery stores(like Kroger). And our good friend Jenny at Southern Savers has created a new page on her website dedicated to listing all the catalina deals. If you have a Kroger(or other store with a catalina machine) near you this page will help you find all the great catalina deals!
~All Thanks to God~
Thursday, March 25, 2010
New Publix coupon booklet
Southern Savers is reporting that there is a new Publix coupon booklet found in the store! It's called Personal Concierge. Go here to see what is inside. I hope to find it in my store soon....
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Random tips
Coupon Doubling
If you have a store that doubles coupons, make that your new favorite store! Generally, if a store doubles coupons, it will only be for coupons that are .50 or less. Sometimes stores like Food Lion, Ingles(?) and K-Mart will randomly run sales where they will double or triple coupons up to .99. So, be sure to watch out for those sales and take advantage of them, if you are able.
Stockpiling
In my opinion, stockpiling is essential to saving money with coupons. I don't mean bomb shelter stockpiles. I'm just talking about buying enough of a product to last you until that product goes on sale again. In the south, most sales run on a 6-8 week cycle. It just makes sense to buy 6 boxes of cereal for $1($6 total) than it does to buy a box each week for the next 6 weeks at $4 a box($24 total). You've saved $18 right there on just one product. Imagine what you can save if you do that with every product you buy. At the end of the year, the savings will be substantial!!!
Overage
This is my favorite part! Overage is when the amount of coupons you have exceeds the price of the item. The overage amount will then be deducted off of your total grocery bill. Let's say Pantene shampoo is on sale for $3. You have a store coupon for $2/1 and a MQ for $2/1. Use both of those coupons and you've got $1 overage! Most stores (like Kroger, Publix, CVS, Rite Aid and Walmart) will allow overage. Always be sure to check your store's coupon policy. There are a few icky store managers that will reduce the amount of your coupon to the price of the item. One specific Publix in my area will not allow overage. I was so glad I called first before setting out to shop at that store! Always always always buy any item that gives you overage. I do not care if it is overage on depends undergarments and you are 20 years old...you buy it. I don't care if you are a bald woman and it is men's hair color...you buy it. I don't care what the item is, or that you will never in a million years, ever use that product...you buy it! That is money off the total of your grocery bill! Take it! Donate it to a homeless shelter, nursing home, school, battered women's shelter, anywhere it will be used. But whatever you do, don't pass up free money sitting on the store shelf! I like to pretend that overage is a coupon for an item I don't have a coupon for. Like expensive cokes that I don't normally buy. Also, a store should never have to pay you to leave. Always find something to purchase with your overage. Even if it's a candy bar. We have a great system now where everybody wins. Let's not be greedy and mess that up :)
B1G1/BOGO
BOGO/B1G1 at a grocery store means that the item will ring up at half price. Even if you only buy one item, you still get that item for half price. And yes, you can use coupons for each item.
BOGO/B1G1 at a drugstore means that the first item will ring up at full price and the second item will ring up free. ALWAYS buy both items at a drugstore. Remember that you can use coupons for each item. Even for BOGO items. Also, if you have an item that is on sale BOGO, and you have a coupon that is B1G1, that makes the item free! The first item will ring up full price. The second item will ring up free. Scan the coupon and then the clerk will enter in the amount of the full price item to be taken off. You'll just have to pay the tax. If you have other coupons for that item, use them also to get overage!
Example:
Covergirl makeup B1G1 9.99
Buy 2 foundations 9.99
Use one, B1G1 coupon (makes them free)
Use one, $1/1 coupon
You will have $1 in overage
Which coupons to clip and carry with you
I love the insert system. But there is only one drawback. Clearance items. You'll never be so upset as to find your favorite shampoo on clearance for $2 and know that you have a $3 coupon for it...at home...in your uncut insert. This is where the binder system(where you clip every stinking coupon at once) would come in very handy. But, for me, I just don't have that kind of time. So, I have come up with a system that works for me. I keep my inserts whole. But I do clip coupons for items that I think I might run across on clearance somewhere. Items like makeup, hair color and shampoo are things that I find on clearance and closeout quite frequently(usually at drugstores). There are always new colors, fragrances and packaging for toiletries which constantly puts the "old colors, etc" on the clearance aisle. Making it a great deal for you if you have the coupons with you! (lots of overage possibilities!)
For more tips, click here.
For some really great short video tutorials click here.
I highly highly recommend watching the video tutorials. I have learned so much from Jenny at Southern Savers!
I hope I have explained everything in an easy to understand format. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. I love to see other people saving lots of money and enjoying the thrill of it as much as I do!
If you have a store that doubles coupons, make that your new favorite store! Generally, if a store doubles coupons, it will only be for coupons that are .50 or less. Sometimes stores like Food Lion, Ingles(?) and K-Mart will randomly run sales where they will double or triple coupons up to .99. So, be sure to watch out for those sales and take advantage of them, if you are able.
Stockpiling
In my opinion, stockpiling is essential to saving money with coupons. I don't mean bomb shelter stockpiles. I'm just talking about buying enough of a product to last you until that product goes on sale again. In the south, most sales run on a 6-8 week cycle. It just makes sense to buy 6 boxes of cereal for $1($6 total) than it does to buy a box each week for the next 6 weeks at $4 a box($24 total). You've saved $18 right there on just one product. Imagine what you can save if you do that with every product you buy. At the end of the year, the savings will be substantial!!!
Overage
This is my favorite part! Overage is when the amount of coupons you have exceeds the price of the item. The overage amount will then be deducted off of your total grocery bill. Let's say Pantene shampoo is on sale for $3. You have a store coupon for $2/1 and a MQ for $2/1. Use both of those coupons and you've got $1 overage! Most stores (like Kroger, Publix, CVS, Rite Aid and Walmart) will allow overage. Always be sure to check your store's coupon policy. There are a few icky store managers that will reduce the amount of your coupon to the price of the item. One specific Publix in my area will not allow overage. I was so glad I called first before setting out to shop at that store! Always always always buy any item that gives you overage. I do not care if it is overage on depends undergarments and you are 20 years old...you buy it. I don't care if you are a bald woman and it is men's hair color...you buy it. I don't care what the item is, or that you will never in a million years, ever use that product...you buy it! That is money off the total of your grocery bill! Take it! Donate it to a homeless shelter, nursing home, school, battered women's shelter, anywhere it will be used. But whatever you do, don't pass up free money sitting on the store shelf! I like to pretend that overage is a coupon for an item I don't have a coupon for. Like expensive cokes that I don't normally buy. Also, a store should never have to pay you to leave. Always find something to purchase with your overage. Even if it's a candy bar. We have a great system now where everybody wins. Let's not be greedy and mess that up :)
B1G1/BOGO
BOGO/B1G1 at a grocery store means that the item will ring up at half price. Even if you only buy one item, you still get that item for half price. And yes, you can use coupons for each item.
BOGO/B1G1 at a drugstore means that the first item will ring up at full price and the second item will ring up free. ALWAYS buy both items at a drugstore. Remember that you can use coupons for each item. Even for BOGO items. Also, if you have an item that is on sale BOGO, and you have a coupon that is B1G1, that makes the item free! The first item will ring up full price. The second item will ring up free. Scan the coupon and then the clerk will enter in the amount of the full price item to be taken off. You'll just have to pay the tax. If you have other coupons for that item, use them also to get overage!
Example:
Covergirl makeup B1G1 9.99
Buy 2 foundations 9.99
Use one, B1G1 coupon (makes them free)
Use one, $1/1 coupon
You will have $1 in overage
Which coupons to clip and carry with you
I love the insert system. But there is only one drawback. Clearance items. You'll never be so upset as to find your favorite shampoo on clearance for $2 and know that you have a $3 coupon for it...at home...in your uncut insert. This is where the binder system(where you clip every stinking coupon at once) would come in very handy. But, for me, I just don't have that kind of time. So, I have come up with a system that works for me. I keep my inserts whole. But I do clip coupons for items that I think I might run across on clearance somewhere. Items like makeup, hair color and shampoo are things that I find on clearance and closeout quite frequently(usually at drugstores). There are always new colors, fragrances and packaging for toiletries which constantly puts the "old colors, etc" on the clearance aisle. Making it a great deal for you if you have the coupons with you! (lots of overage possibilities!)
For more tips, click here.
For some really great short video tutorials click here.
I highly highly recommend watching the video tutorials. I have learned so much from Jenny at Southern Savers!
I hope I have explained everything in an easy to understand format. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. I love to see other people saving lots of money and enjoying the thrill of it as much as I do!
~All Thanks to God!~
Monday, March 22, 2010
Free Kraft Cheese
Kroger's Mega event is extended this week! Which means when you buy 8 of the participating items, you get $4 off at the end of your bill. Kraft Cheese is included in this sale for .99. Publix has an in store dispenser for $2/2...making it free when you buy 8 bags of cheese and use 4 coupons!
Here's the ad match-up from Southern Savers:
Kraft Cheese 6-8 oz or Cheese Singles 12 oz at 99¢ ea
-$2/2 Kraft Shredded Cheese in-store dispenser (makes both FREE)
-$1/2 Kraft or Cracker Barrel Natural Cheese shreds or chunk in-store dispenser
The $1/2 coupon can be found at Kroger which makes it .50...still a great deal. But, if you have a Publix close by, free is even better!
I didn't want to post this deal until I was sure Publix still had the in store dispensers. So, I went at lunch and sure enough, my free cheese golden tickets were still there :)
Stockpile tip: Shredded or cubed cheese will freeze just great!
Happy Saving!
~All Thanks to God~
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Fess Up Monday!
It’s time to make your confession. Just how much did you save and how much did you spend? If you have a blog about what you saved, and want to link to over to it link up using Mr. Linky.
If you didn’t blog about it, write your confession in the comment section. You can be as detailed or as simple about it as you want.
Here’s what I did at Kroger on Friday:
(Forgive the poor photo quality, my camera would not cooperate!)
That is:
15 Powerades,
3, 2 liter cokes,
gallon of milk
7 bags of Kraft cheese.
Order Total: $8.84
Total saved: $46.92
Your turn! Go ahead, don’t be shy…Fess Up!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Websites that I Heart
So, you know how to gather coupons and you can read and speak coupon lingo. Now what do you do? You search the weekly ads and coupon match ups for the items you need from my favorite websites!
My Top 4:
Southern Savers
She posts the weekly ads with coupon match ups each week for all the grocery stores in the South. She also has an option that allows you to print your grocery list from her weekly ad post. I print that list and then I fold the paper in half. Inside that paper is where I put all the coupons I plan to use for that shopping trip. When I put an item in my buggy, I pull out that coupon and either paper clip it to the front of the list, or put it in a ziploc baggie. That way, when I get to the register, all the coupons I need are all ready to hand to the cashier.
Honestly, the Southern Savers website will give you all the tools you need to be a successful couponer. All that I have taught you, has come from Jenny, the guru at Southern Savers. Jenny rocks!
I Heart Publix
If you have access to a Publix, that is my store of choice. IHP is a great site because she posts an early preview of the weekly ad on Monday! Publix runs their ads from Thursday to Wednesday(Wed to Tues in some areas). So, the early ad post gives me plenty of time to gather my coupons for the sale ahead of time. On Tuesdays, she will post what she calls Super Deals. I love the Super Deals! Be sure to check out her website if you shop Publix.
Hot Coupon World
I use HCW when I need a specific item and want to find out if there is a coupon out there for it. They have a coupon database that lets you search for coupons for specific items. Say you really need some Visine, but it's not listed in any of the weekly ads. That's when you go on the HCW coupon database and see if there are any coupons for it. Sometimes you will need things that are not on sale. Especially when you are just starting out using coupons and don't have your stockpile built up yet.
A Few Shortcuts
She doesn't do all the weekly ads or matchups. I think she just does a small highlight of the Publix ad each week. But this girl has some really great deals and coupons that she regularly posts. She also posts recipes that are budget friendly. I just really love her posts!
Other favorites are:
Couponers United
Money Saving Mom
Deal Seeking Mom
Saving Cents with Sense
Common Sense with Money
There is another big coupon website that lots of people use called CouponMom. Check it out and see if you like it. For some reason, it just did not click for me. But there are lots of people who swear by her methods. She also has a coupon database and the weekly ads listed by state. So, if you're not in the south, she might be a big help to you!
If you don't Facebook...you should! Facebook is my "go to" place for coupon deals. It is a great way to keep up with all these websites in one spot. They all have Facebook pages you can become fans of. Then, as they post deals, it shows up right away on my Facebook page. I'm also seeing more and more freebies and coupons found on Facebook lately! Hello, my name is Leigh Ann and I am a Facebook junkie....
If you have other websites that you love, please share them with the rest of us. I'm always hunting for the next great deal....
Next blog will be random tips...
My Top 4:
Southern Savers
She posts the weekly ads with coupon match ups each week for all the grocery stores in the South. She also has an option that allows you to print your grocery list from her weekly ad post. I print that list and then I fold the paper in half. Inside that paper is where I put all the coupons I plan to use for that shopping trip. When I put an item in my buggy, I pull out that coupon and either paper clip it to the front of the list, or put it in a ziploc baggie. That way, when I get to the register, all the coupons I need are all ready to hand to the cashier.
Honestly, the Southern Savers website will give you all the tools you need to be a successful couponer. All that I have taught you, has come from Jenny, the guru at Southern Savers. Jenny rocks!
I Heart Publix
If you have access to a Publix, that is my store of choice. IHP is a great site because she posts an early preview of the weekly ad on Monday! Publix runs their ads from Thursday to Wednesday(Wed to Tues in some areas). So, the early ad post gives me plenty of time to gather my coupons for the sale ahead of time. On Tuesdays, she will post what she calls Super Deals. I love the Super Deals! Be sure to check out her website if you shop Publix.
Hot Coupon World
I use HCW when I need a specific item and want to find out if there is a coupon out there for it. They have a coupon database that lets you search for coupons for specific items. Say you really need some Visine, but it's not listed in any of the weekly ads. That's when you go on the HCW coupon database and see if there are any coupons for it. Sometimes you will need things that are not on sale. Especially when you are just starting out using coupons and don't have your stockpile built up yet.
A Few Shortcuts
She doesn't do all the weekly ads or matchups. I think she just does a small highlight of the Publix ad each week. But this girl has some really great deals and coupons that she regularly posts. She also posts recipes that are budget friendly. I just really love her posts!
Other favorites are:
Couponers United
Money Saving Mom
Deal Seeking Mom
Saving Cents with Sense
Common Sense with Money
There is another big coupon website that lots of people use called CouponMom. Check it out and see if you like it. For some reason, it just did not click for me. But there are lots of people who swear by her methods. She also has a coupon database and the weekly ads listed by state. So, if you're not in the south, she might be a big help to you!
If you don't Facebook...you should! Facebook is my "go to" place for coupon deals. It is a great way to keep up with all these websites in one spot. They all have Facebook pages you can become fans of. Then, as they post deals, it shows up right away on my Facebook page. I'm also seeing more and more freebies and coupons found on Facebook lately! Hello, my name is Leigh Ann and I am a Facebook junkie....
If you have other websites that you love, please share them with the rest of us. I'm always hunting for the next great deal....
Next blog will be random tips...
~All Thanks to God~
Get ready to "Fess Up" on Monday!
I know a lot of you are newbies at this whole coupon thing. And I remember when I first started out how excited I got the first time I saw the huge savings at the bottom of my receipt. I wanted to share how much I saved with everyone! Heck, I still get excited and want to share my savings and inspire others to save too(that's what my blog is all about!). So, since my blog is called "Confessions of a Save-Aholic," I thought it would be fun on Mondays, to "confess" to each other just how much money we are saving! I will post a blog each Monday called "Fess Up Monday" where we can post how much we spent and how much we saved. If you have a blog and want to share pictures of what you bought, I will make it an option to link up your "confessional blog." Don't worry if your spouse thinks you are nuts for taking a picture of your groceries. Pretty soon, they'll be wanting to show off what you saved to everyone they know too! If you don't want to blog about it, you can simply write your savings confession in the comment section.
So, save your receipts from this week's shopping trip and get ready to "fess up" on Monday!
~All thanks to God~
New Publix store coupon booklet: One Stop One Store
I told you I would post whenever there are new store coupon booklets at Publix. Well, I Heart Publix is reporting that there has been a new booklet spotted called, One Stop One Store. It has store and manufacturer coupons in it.
Here is the link at I Heart Publix to see all the coupons in the booklet. Looks like it's full of household items. I hope this one will turn up at my store soon!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
How to speak Coupon!
So, have you checked out any of the coupon websites I've mentioned like Southern Savers or I Heart Publix and felt like it was typed in a completely different language? Well, it kind of is. It's the language of coupons. Think of this blog as your Rosetta stone crash course in coupon lingo!
Southern Savers has a full list of coupon lingo HERE. And from that list, I would say these are the most important ones you should know:
B1G1, BOGO, B1G1F – “Buy 1, Get 1 Free” (another example B2G1 - Buy 2 Get 1 Free)
$/$$ - X Dollars off when you buy(wyb) XX amount of dollars
.50/1 - Fifty cents off one item (Another example would be: $1/2 - One dollar off of 2 items)
.50/3 - Fifty cents off 3 items
Blinkies - Coupon dispensed near product, in the store (usually from a “blinking” red box)
Catalina - Coupon dispensed at the register at the time of purchase (on separate paper)
Peelie - Coupon that you peel off the package
Tear Pad - Pad of refund forms or coupons found hanging from a store shelf or display
IP - Internet Printable (a coupon you print off the internet)
MQ - Manufacturer coupon
MIR - Mail in Rebate
OOP - Out Of Pocket
PG - Proctor & Gamble Sunday insert coupons
RP - Red Plum Sunday insert coupons
SS - Smartsource Sunday insert coupons
GM - General Mills Sunday insert coupons
FLIP - Food Lion Internet Printable
WYB - When You Buy
ECB - Extra Care Buck (CVS)
RR - Register Rewards (these are the Catalinas that print out at Walgreens)
SCR- Single Check Rebate (rebate system at Rite Aid)
This is an actual example taken from Southern Savers for an item on sale this week at Publix. (Can you tell I am a huge Southern Savers and Publix fan yet?)
Gorton’s Grilled Fish 2ct $3 ea
-$1/2 Gorton’s Product Yellow Advantage Buy Flyer (store coupon)
-$1/2 Gorton’s Grilled Item SS 1/03, SS 2/21
-$1 off Gorton’s Grilled Item SS 1/03
-.55/1 Gorton’s Item SS 1/24
-.60/1 Gorton’s Item February All You Magazine
-.50/1 Gorton’s product printable (use with store coupon makes it $1.50 ea)
Let's break it down:
-$1/2 Gorton’s Product Yellow Advantage Buy Flyer (store coupon)
This one is a store coupon out of the Publix yellow advantage buy flyer, located at the front of the store.
-$1/2 Gorton’s Grilled Item SS 1/03, SS 2/21
This one is a coupon for $1 off when you purchase 2, and it can be found in the Jan 3 and the Feb 21 "SS" SmartSource inserts.
-$1 off Gorton’s Grilled Item SS 1/03
$1 coupon found in the Jan 3 Smartsource insert
-.55/1 Gorton’s Item SS 1/24
.55 coupon found in the Jan 24 Smartsource insert
-.60/1 Gorton’s Item February All You Magazine
.60 coupon found in the Feb. All You magazine (this is a GREAT magazine to subscribe to for the coupons!)
-.50/1 Gorton’s product printable
.50 coupon that you can print from the link she posted. (If your store doubles coupons .50 or under, this coupon will be $1)
Now, go test yourself on a website like Southern Savers or I Heart Publix and check out their weekly ads for your store. See how fluently you can speak coupon!
Any questions?
Southern Savers has a full list of coupon lingo HERE. And from that list, I would say these are the most important ones you should know:
B1G1, BOGO, B1G1F – “Buy 1, Get 1 Free” (another example B2G1 - Buy 2 Get 1 Free)
$/$$ - X Dollars off when you buy(wyb) XX amount of dollars
.50/1 - Fifty cents off one item (Another example would be: $1/2 - One dollar off of 2 items)
.50/3 - Fifty cents off 3 items
Blinkies - Coupon dispensed near product, in the store (usually from a “blinking” red box)
Catalina - Coupon dispensed at the register at the time of purchase (on separate paper)
Peelie - Coupon that you peel off the package
Tear Pad - Pad of refund forms or coupons found hanging from a store shelf or display
IP - Internet Printable (a coupon you print off the internet)
MQ - Manufacturer coupon
MIR - Mail in Rebate
OOP - Out Of Pocket
PG - Proctor & Gamble Sunday insert coupons
RP - Red Plum Sunday insert coupons
SS - Smartsource Sunday insert coupons
GM - General Mills Sunday insert coupons
FLIP - Food Lion Internet Printable
WYB - When You Buy
ECB - Extra Care Buck (CVS)
RR - Register Rewards (these are the Catalinas that print out at Walgreens)
SCR- Single Check Rebate (rebate system at Rite Aid)
This is an actual example taken from Southern Savers for an item on sale this week at Publix. (Can you tell I am a huge Southern Savers and Publix fan yet?)
Gorton’s Grilled Fish 2ct $3 ea
-$1/2 Gorton’s Product Yellow Advantage Buy Flyer (store coupon)
-$1/2 Gorton’s Grilled Item SS 1/03, SS 2/21
-$1 off Gorton’s Grilled Item SS 1/03
-.55/1 Gorton’s Item SS 1/24
-.60/1 Gorton’s Item February All You Magazine
-.50/1 Gorton’s product printable (use with store coupon makes it $1.50 ea)
Let's break it down:
-$1/2 Gorton’s Product Yellow Advantage Buy Flyer (store coupon)
This one is a store coupon out of the Publix yellow advantage buy flyer, located at the front of the store.
-$1/2 Gorton’s Grilled Item SS 1/03, SS 2/21
This one is a coupon for $1 off when you purchase 2, and it can be found in the Jan 3 and the Feb 21 "SS" SmartSource inserts.
-$1 off Gorton’s Grilled Item SS 1/03
$1 coupon found in the Jan 3 Smartsource insert
-.55/1 Gorton’s Item SS 1/24
.55 coupon found in the Jan 24 Smartsource insert
-.60/1 Gorton’s Item February All You Magazine
.60 coupon found in the Feb. All You magazine (this is a GREAT magazine to subscribe to for the coupons!)
-.50/1 Gorton’s product printable
.50 coupon that you can print from the link she posted. (If your store doubles coupons .50 or under, this coupon will be $1)
Now, go test yourself on a website like Southern Savers or I Heart Publix and check out their weekly ads for your store. See how fluently you can speak coupon!
Any questions?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Gathering Coupons Part 3: Store coupons and how to stack them
So, we have our newspapers and we know how to print coupons from the Internet(hopefully on used paper with black ink if you are super frugal like me). Let's talk about store coupons and how to "stack" them. This is the fun part!
Did you know that you can use more than one coupon at a time? At most stores, you are allowed to use one store coupon and one manufacturer coupon per item. I say at most because even though I have never encountered one, there might be a store out there who does not allow 2 coupons. It's always a good idea to check your store's coupon policy before you make your plan of attack rather than get shot down at the register. It doesn't take a minute to pick up the phone and call ahead to ask the manager what the store's coupon policy is. Most chain stores have a basic policy they follow. But sometimes they do vary from store to store! Call ahead. Back to store coupons....
Publix will have store coupons located in their green and yellow "advantage" sale fliers located at the front door. From there, go on a coupon treasure hunt throughout the store. Look for coupon displays or ask at the customer service desk if there are any coupon booklets available. Please only take a couple/few. Be kind and leave some for the rest of us!
Kroger will mail you store coupons if you sign up and get a store loyalty card from them.
Target has store coupons on their website available for you to print.
Food Lion also has coupons on their website to print. These are referred to as FLIPs (Food Lion Internet Printables).
I don't know about Ingles or Bi-Lo because they don't have stores in my area. But if you shop there(or anywhere else for that matter), call the store and ask about store coupons and how you can get your hands on some.
Walgreens and Rite Aid also have store coupons that are usually located at the front of the store in Walgreens or in the weekly store ad. I'll cover drugstores in depth later. It's a whole other ball game when it comes to drugstores!
I will try not to make this a Publix blog, because I know not everyone has access to a Publix. But let me just give you a scenario of how it works to stack store coupons and manufacturer coupons(MQs) on top of a sale at Publix:
Did you know that you can use more than one coupon at a time? At most stores, you are allowed to use one store coupon and one manufacturer coupon per item. I say at most because even though I have never encountered one, there might be a store out there who does not allow 2 coupons. It's always a good idea to check your store's coupon policy before you make your plan of attack rather than get shot down at the register. It doesn't take a minute to pick up the phone and call ahead to ask the manager what the store's coupon policy is. Most chain stores have a basic policy they follow. But sometimes they do vary from store to store! Call ahead. Back to store coupons....
Publix will have store coupons located in their green and yellow "advantage" sale fliers located at the front door. From there, go on a coupon treasure hunt throughout the store. Look for coupon displays or ask at the customer service desk if there are any coupon booklets available. Please only take a couple/few. Be kind and leave some for the rest of us!
Kroger will mail you store coupons if you sign up and get a store loyalty card from them.
Target has store coupons on their website available for you to print.
Food Lion also has coupons on their website to print. These are referred to as FLIPs (Food Lion Internet Printables).
I don't know about Ingles or Bi-Lo because they don't have stores in my area. But if you shop there(or anywhere else for that matter), call the store and ask about store coupons and how you can get your hands on some.
Walgreens and Rite Aid also have store coupons that are usually located at the front of the store in Walgreens or in the weekly store ad. I'll cover drugstores in depth later. It's a whole other ball game when it comes to drugstores!
I will try not to make this a Publix blog, because I know not everyone has access to a Publix. But let me just give you a scenario of how it works to stack store coupons and manufacturer coupons(MQs) on top of a sale at Publix:
Ragu Pasta Sauce, is BOGO $3.35 this week (that makes it 1.67 a jar)
There is a Publix store coupon in the Multiply your Meals & Savings booklet for -$1 off of 2 Ragu Pasta Sauces –
There is a MQ that you can print for -$1 off of 2 PRINT
Use both coupons to pay .68¢ per jar
Pretty cool huh? On a side note: Publix will take competitor coupons as well. Still only one store and one MQ. But, you can stack a Food Lion coupon with a MQ at Publix. This is why I love Publix :)
Next blog will be coupon lingo....
Leigh Ann
~All thanks to God!~
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Gathering Coupons part 2: The Internet.
Gathering Coupons part 2:
The Internet
The Internet
Printed coupons: There are 3 main websites that coupons can be printed from. They are Coupons.com, Smartsource and Redplum. Certain manufacturers like Kraft, Nestle, etc will also frequently make coupons available to print from their websites from time to time. Internet printed(IP) coupons have 2 different kinds of print limits. The first print limit is how many times you personally, will be allowed to print the coupon. Generally, 2 times per computer. Have you got a laptop and a desktop? Great, you've now got 4 coupons! The other print limit is how many coupons the manufacturer decides to release for print. This is why you will want to print the high value coupons right away instead of waiting for the sale. If you wait to print certain "hot" coupons, you risk the manufacturer's print limit being reached and you'll miss some really good deals. You might want to buy a canceled check register so that you have a place to store your printed coupons. You can organize each section however you want.
Here is a sample list of sections to organize them by:
- Personal Care / Medicine
- Cleaning / Other Household Supplies
- Meat / Dairy
- Sauces / Dressings / Condiments / Jellies
- Canned Goods / Soups
- Pasta / Rice / Seasonings / Crackers
- Beverages
- Flour / Baking / Oil
- Cereal / Breakfast Foods
- Paper Goods / Containers
- Baby
- Frozen Food / Bread
- Dessert / Snacks
(my coupon holder)
The IP coupons will "reset" at the beginning of each month and sometimes in between. So, it's a good idea to print the ones you know you will use at the beginning and again at the end of each month(if they are still available or have reset during the month). I don't print tons and tons of coupons out unless one of the websites I follows tells me, "this is a hot coupon, print now!" I usually print a few coupons I know I will use and then print as necessary to match the sales(we'll go over that part soon). A couple tips about IP coupons:
1. When printing coupons, use black ink only. Yes, I am that cheap! I refuse to waste color ink on coupons. I've also been known to print coupons on the back side of old stationary, obsolete training manuals from work, or any other messed up printed paper. Rather than throw all that paper out, print coupons on the backside! You never know what you might find on the backside of my coupons ;-) Remember, I don't even like to pay full price for my news papers, so of course I try pay as little as possible for paper and ink to print coupons with. Told ya I was cheap.
2. From time to time, you will have to sign up on a manufacturer's website in order to print their coupon. So, go now and get a free email account from yahoo or hotmail just to use for coupons. That way, you won't be clogging up your personal email account with offers from those websites.
E-Coupons:
The only store I know of(in my area) that uses E-coupons is Kroger. My favorite store to shop is Publix. But I do go Krogering from time to time and when I do, the E-coupons are great to have! E-coupons are loaded directly on to your store loyalty card. When you use that card at checkout, the coupons are automatically deducted from your bill. You can use paper coupons along with E-coupons for each item. Go to Cellfire or Shortcuts to sign up and load the coupons on to your Kroger card.
Ok, I think that is enough for now! Next blog...coupon lingo.
Free Puffs Plus from Vocalpoint
Did you sign up with Vocalpoint like I told you to? Well, if you did you can go here to request a sample(maybe full size?) of Puffs Plus!
I will be working on my beginner's blog at lunch today. I promise! Ok, back to work for me now...
I will be working on my beginner's blog at lunch today. I promise! Ok, back to work for me now...
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Freebies in my mailbox!
I just love getting freebies! I went to my mailbox today and there waiting for me was a full size bottle of Pantene shampoo from Vocalpoint.
My first thought was that I must blog about this so all my readers can sign up for Vocalpoint. Ok, maybe my first thought was, cool...free shampoo! But my second thought was to be sure and blog about it. If you haven't ever heard of Vocalpoint, you must go now and sign up. They send out tons of great coupons and freebies for people to "try and tell." They send you free stuff, you go on and tell them whether you love it or hate it. I must admit, I am not always great about going back and "telling." But it really doesn't take just a second to do. And it's been my experience that even if you are bad at the "telling" part, they still send you lots of free stuff. From memory, in the last 4-6 months, I have gotten free stock sizes(not samples) of Kashi cereal(twice), Oil of Olay(the $60 bottle), Bounce, Tide wrinkle stuff, Rice Krispies and now, Pantene shampoo. The other great part of Vocal point is the coupons. They always send multiples of high value coupons. Lots and lots of coupons.
I LOVE Vocalpoint! Go sign up here....go on....what are you waiting for?
My first thought was that I must blog about this so all my readers can sign up for Vocalpoint. Ok, maybe my first thought was, cool...free shampoo! But my second thought was to be sure and blog about it. If you haven't ever heard of Vocalpoint, you must go now and sign up. They send out tons of great coupons and freebies for people to "try and tell." They send you free stuff, you go on and tell them whether you love it or hate it. I must admit, I am not always great about going back and "telling." But it really doesn't take just a second to do. And it's been my experience that even if you are bad at the "telling" part, they still send you lots of free stuff. From memory, in the last 4-6 months, I have gotten free stock sizes(not samples) of Kashi cereal(twice), Oil of Olay(the $60 bottle), Bounce, Tide wrinkle stuff, Rice Krispies and now, Pantene shampoo. The other great part of Vocal point is the coupons. They always send multiples of high value coupons. Lots and lots of coupons.
I LOVE Vocalpoint! Go sign up here....go on....what are you waiting for?
A question for my readers...
Wow! I cannot believe I have over 30 fans on facebook in one day! I am truly humbled. So far this blog has just been a bunch of my ramblings about my shopping trips, some with pictures of my goodies, and what I'm learning as I go. There hasn't been much structure. It's been whatever I felt like sharing with whoever happens to be reading.Oh, and welcome to my blog!
Grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, browse through some of the older posts and get inspired to start saving some money. Because we all know, spending....that was so last year!
Leigh Ann
~All thanks to God~
Gathering Coupons Part 1: The News Paper
Coupons...where do you start? Step One of course! In my opinion, step one has got to be gathering coupons. In order to shop the sales with coupons, you have to have coupons, right? Right. The key to getting the most out of a coupon is not to buy a paper, clip out a few coupons(or all the coupons) and immediately take them to the store. I can promise you that you won't save much money that way. You'll get frustrated after clipping all those coupons and give up very quickly. No, the trick, my friends is to wait. Gather the coupons, sit on them and wait for the items to go on sale. Then, you stack them on top of the sales and end up with things like $2 cat litter and .15 deodorant. Now, my friend...you are couponing!
Inside your paper you will find coupon "inserts." Usually there will be a Redplum insert and a Smartsource insert. Sometimes there are also P&G(Proctor and Gamble) inserts or GM(General Mills) inserts too. It's different each week. You can go to the Sunday Coupon Preview website each Wednesday to see if it looks like a week you want to buy 1 paper or 3, depending on how good the coupons are going to be. Hmmmm...maybe I will start posting the coupon previews that will be in the paper each week on my blog for you... Now, when you get the inserts, I want you to take a black sharpie and write the date on the front of the insert. Then, find a safe spot to store the inserts. I use an accordion file. It works perfectly for me. Find a system that works for you. Notice I did not tell you to make a pot of coffee, grab the scissors and begin to cut them out? Do not worry about clipping coupons! Yes, you did read that right. It will make you insane, frustrated, and you will give up couponing very quickly if you clip all the coupons at once. We don't need to clip them all because we have wonderful websites like Southern Savers and I Heart Publix, that will tell us which coupons to cut and stack with which sales. This way we are only clipping the coupons we want to use. There are a few other instances where I will clip coupons before a sale, but I will go over that later. For now, just put the inserts aside and and build your coupon stockpile up. I've seen people with their giant binders full of baseball card pages and all their pretty coupons neatly clipped and categorized. How nice for them. I don't know about you, but I am a full time working mom who does not have the time in my hectic life to sit and clip coupons! If you have time to clip each week, and really want use the binder system, I say go for it. Whatever works for you. My preferred system, however, is the dated insert system and that's what I'll be teaching you to do.
I decided to go ahead and post what I have written so far and let you start digesting all this in small bites. I don't want to overload you with so much information at one time that it completely overwhelms you. Let's do it one step at a time. The next blog will be "Gathering Coupons part 2: The Internet." Stay tuned....
Leigh Ann
How to gather coupons:
The newspaper
People always ask me, "how many news papers do you buy each week?" I think they expect me to say something crazy like 20. The answer is, 2. On occasion, if I know of a high value coupon in the paper, I might buy 3. I am blessed enough to have a guy who sells them for $1 on a corner near my house. So, on the way to church every Sunday, we stop and get 2 papers for $2. Well, actually, I get 6 papers for $6 because I pick them up for everyone else in my office too. I have heard that sometimes you can find the paper at the Dollar Tree on Mondays or can buy them discounted at drugstores late on Sunday evening. I have also bought discounted papers at Walgreens on Mondays. Maybe you have a neighbor, friend or family member who gets the paper and throws the coupon inserts out(oh the horror!). Ask them if you can have the coupons. Take a stroll through your neighborhood on recycling day. Find out what the gas station on the corner does on Sunday night with all their left over papers. There are ways around paying full price for anything, even newspapers!The newspaper
Inside your paper you will find coupon "inserts." Usually there will be a Redplum insert and a Smartsource insert. Sometimes there are also P&G(Proctor and Gamble) inserts or GM(General Mills) inserts too. It's different each week. You can go to the Sunday Coupon Preview website each Wednesday to see if it looks like a week you want to buy 1 paper or 3, depending on how good the coupons are going to be. Hmmmm...maybe I will start posting the coupon previews that will be in the paper each week on my blog for you... Now, when you get the inserts, I want you to take a black sharpie and write the date on the front of the insert. Then, find a safe spot to store the inserts. I use an accordion file. It works perfectly for me. Find a system that works for you. Notice I did not tell you to make a pot of coffee, grab the scissors and begin to cut them out? Do not worry about clipping coupons! Yes, you did read that right. It will make you insane, frustrated, and you will give up couponing very quickly if you clip all the coupons at once. We don't need to clip them all because we have wonderful websites like Southern Savers and I Heart Publix, that will tell us which coupons to cut and stack with which sales. This way we are only clipping the coupons we want to use. There are a few other instances where I will clip coupons before a sale, but I will go over that later. For now, just put the inserts aside and and build your coupon stockpile up. I've seen people with their giant binders full of baseball card pages and all their pretty coupons neatly clipped and categorized. How nice for them. I don't know about you, but I am a full time working mom who does not have the time in my hectic life to sit and clip coupons! If you have time to clip each week, and really want use the binder system, I say go for it. Whatever works for you. My preferred system, however, is the dated insert system and that's what I'll be teaching you to do.
I decided to go ahead and post what I have written so far and let you start digesting all this in small bites. I don't want to overload you with so much information at one time that it completely overwhelms you. Let's do it one step at a time. The next blog will be "Gathering Coupons part 2: The Internet." Stay tuned....
Leigh Ann
~All Thanks to God~
Friday, March 12, 2010
A little bit of Rite Aid inspiration!
Samantha gathered her coupons for the Rite Aid deal listed here on Southern Savers and away to the store we went!
Here's what she got:
1Gilette Fusion shave gel $4.99
1Gilette body wash $4.49
2 John Freida conditioners $10
1 John Freida shampoo $5
1Almay eyeshadow $7.49
1Almay eyeliner $7.49
2 Oral B toothbrushes $5.48
2 Covergirl mineral makeups $25.98
Before sales and coupons: 70.92
after coupons and sales, order total: $5.97
She will get back in rebates:
$5 Almay
$5 John Freida
$1 Oral B
That means she got paid $5.03 to shop!!!
Now....who's going to start shopping the drugstores??????
Here's what she got:1Gilette Fusion shave gel $4.99
1Gilette body wash $4.49
2 John Freida conditioners $10
1 John Freida shampoo $5
1Almay eyeshadow $7.49
1Almay eyeliner $7.49
2 Oral B toothbrushes $5.48
2 Covergirl mineral makeups $25.98
Before sales and coupons: 70.92
after coupons and sales, order total: $5.97
She will get back in rebates:
$5 Almay
$5 John Freida
$1 Oral B
That means she got paid $5.03 to shop!!!
Now....who's going to start shopping the drugstores??????
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Calling all CVS virgins!
Ok all you CVS virgins! This blog's for you. I wanted to tell you about a simple CVS scenario to get you started in the wonderful world of CVS. This will also let you start a deodorant stockpile. Now, don't get scared away at the word stockpile. I am not talking bomb shelter stockpile! It just makes more sense to buy 6 deodorants all at one time for .15 each than it does to buy 1 deodorant a month for $2.50 each. Right!? Of course it does! So, get a tote, cause if you get into CVSing, you'll be filling it up in no time and "shopping" from your stockpile rather than the store.
Here is the deal:
Starting this Sunday CVS will give you $5 in Extra Care Bucks(ECBs) when you buy $15 in Dove or Degree products. This is also a great way to get your first ECBs that you can then use to "roll" each week.
Here's what you do:
Buy 6 Degree deodorants at $2.50 each
Use 3 of these coupons $3/2 Degree deodorants
I printed 2 Degree Girl ones, and one Degree Men. Print the ones you will use more. You can print each coupon 2 times per computer. Just hit your back button and click resend after the first coupon prints to get a second print.
Total due: $6+tax
Get back $5 ECB's!
Save your ECB's for the next deal that gets you more ECB's and keep rolling them over and over and over! It's like having CVS currency and you want to buy as much as you can using their currency instead of real money. Make sense?
Now, I want to know who does the deal and how was your "first time?" Was it all you thought it would be.....
Happy Saving!
Warming up to Rite Aid
So, my drugstore of choice has always been CVS. Walgreens makes you stand on your head while doing jumping jacks over the moon in order to get all coupons to scan. And in the words of Jenny(Southern Savers), when the register beeps, it's game over and you go home. There are no overrides. You just go home. Never seems to work out well there for me. I had a very ugly, bad experience at Rite Aid one time over how many internet printed coupons I could use that left a bitter taste in my mouth. I never went back since then. Until today. Today was a great Rite Aid trip! I actually made .51 to shop there today! Here's what I got:
That is 2 Cover Girl foundations, 2 CG mineral powders, Almay eyeshadow and Almay eyeline(my favorite eyeliner by the way!). Order total: $4.49 and I will be getting back $5 in Rite Aid's "Single Check Rebate" (SCR) program. So, I made .51!
How did I do that???
Cover Girl face products are Buy One Get One(B1G1) right now and I had a 2 B1G1 coupons from the news paper(P&G 2-7 insert).
Which made the CG items FREE!
The Almay eye products were B1G1 @$7.49 with a $5 SCR when you buy 2 products.
On top of that, I used a $3 off $15 Rite Aid coupon. Print here
Making my order total $4.49.
I added it up and had I paid full price it would have been $64.34. Not even counting the rebate, I saved 59.85!! Yes, I know drugstore prices are way higher than Target and Walmart. But you still could not have gotten all that I did for $4.49 plus a rebate at any supercenter in the world!
Yes, think I am warming up to Rite Aid....
Here is a link to the Southern Savers Rite Aid weekly ad if you'd like to check out all the current deals there. I think I am going back for some free John Freida products after work. I'm on a Rite Aid roll!
That is 2 Cover Girl foundations, 2 CG mineral powders, Almay eyeshadow and Almay eyeline(my favorite eyeliner by the way!). Order total: $4.49 and I will be getting back $5 in Rite Aid's "Single Check Rebate" (SCR) program. So, I made .51! How did I do that???
Cover Girl face products are Buy One Get One(B1G1) right now and I had a 2 B1G1 coupons from the news paper(P&G 2-7 insert).
Which made the CG items FREE!
The Almay eye products were B1G1 @$7.49 with a $5 SCR when you buy 2 products.
On top of that, I used a $3 off $15 Rite Aid coupon. Print here
Making my order total $4.49.
I added it up and had I paid full price it would have been $64.34. Not even counting the rebate, I saved 59.85!! Yes, I know drugstore prices are way higher than Target and Walmart. But you still could not have gotten all that I did for $4.49 plus a rebate at any supercenter in the world!
Yes, think I am warming up to Rite Aid....
Here is a link to the Southern Savers Rite Aid weekly ad if you'd like to check out all the current deals there. I think I am going back for some free John Freida products after work. I'm on a Rite Aid roll!
~All thanks to God~
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
66 cent Fruit Chillers at Publix this week !
Wanna get started couponing? Here's a super easy deal to whet your coupon appetite....
Starting this Thursday(3/11) at Publix, DelMonte Fruit Chillers will be 3/$5. That makes them $1.66 each. Go here to print a $1 off coupon that will make them .66 each! The great thing about this particular coupon is that there doesn't seem to be a print limit (after your coupon prints, hit your Back button and then click on resend for it to print another copy). Which means you can print as many coupons as you want instead of the usual 2 per computer limit that most printed coupons have.
My one year old just loves these things so I will be stocking up on them. Perfect for all this nice warm weather we are about to have!
Hi Studio M readers!
I just found out that my sister-in-law, Misti over at Studio M Designs sent me some new readers! I'm nowhere near the awesome blogger that Misti is. But I do get on here and try to inspire others to use those coupons!
If you are interested in using coupons, there are 2 favorite websites that I follow faithfully.... I Heart Publix and Southern Savers. To get started, check out the short video tutorials at Southern Savers and see if she makes sense to you.
Jenny at Southern Savers also has a very simple beginner's guide HERE to help you understand the very basics of couponing.
I am also happy to answer any questions you have about coupons.
Thanks for checking me out!
Leigh Ann
Oh....and for those of you who read my blog already, go on over and check out Misti's blog at Studio M Designs. She's the queen of beautiful decor. You'll find lots and lots of great decorating ideas from Misti!
If you are interested in using coupons, there are 2 favorite websites that I follow faithfully.... I Heart Publix and Southern Savers. To get started, check out the short video tutorials at Southern Savers and see if she makes sense to you.
Jenny at Southern Savers also has a very simple beginner's guide HERE to help you understand the very basics of couponing.
I am also happy to answer any questions you have about coupons.
Thanks for checking me out!
Leigh Ann
Oh....and for those of you who read my blog already, go on over and check out Misti's blog at Studio M Designs. She's the queen of beautiful decor. You'll find lots and lots of great decorating ideas from Misti!
~All thanks to God~
Friday, March 5, 2010
CVS Scenario Challenge
Hhmmmm....so I wonder if I can follow Jenny's(Southern Savers) CVS transactions she has listed without my head completely exploding in the store? I am tempted to try it. She's got 5 transactions listed. It's like she's daring me. She only recommends doing 4 transactions in one trip because in her words "there are only 4 corners in a buggy!" ha ha Am I brave enough? Am I up to the challenge?
Here's the rundown:
Hmmmm....do I dare???? Just for fun to see if I am even capable....
Here's the rundown:
Scenarios
- Here is an idea of how to group items together to pay the least out of pocket.
- Transaction #1
Buy:
(1) Oral B Cross Action $4
(2) Nivea Lip Care $2.99
Use:
-.75/1 Oral B Cross Action PG 2/21
B1G1 Nivea Lip Care RP 2/07
-$5 ECB
Total Due: $1.24
Get Back: $6.99 ECB ($2.99, $4) - Transaction #2
Buy:
(4) Raisin Bran $2.50 ea
Use:
(2) -$1.50/2 Raisin Bran printable
-$6.99 ECB
Total Due: 1¢
Get Back: $5 ECB - Transaction #3
Buy:
(1) Oral B Cross Action $4
(2) Pantene Hair Products $3.48 ea
-.75/1 Oral B Cross Action PG 2/21
-$3/2 Pantene Products PG 3/07
-$5 ECB
Total Due: $3.21
Get Back $6 ECB ($4, $2) - Transaction #4
Buy:
(1) Gillette Fusion $8.99
(1) Tide Detergent $5.97
Use
-$4 off Gillette PG 2/07
-$1 off Tide PG 2/07
-$6 ECB
Total Due: $3.96
Get Back: $5 ECB ($4, $1) - Transaction #5
Buy:
(4) Stayfree Pads $3.89
Use:
(2) B1G1 Stayfree RP 1/3
(2) -$1 off Stayfree printable
-$5 ECB
Total Due: 78¢
Get Back: $8 ECB
Hmmmm....do I dare???? Just for fun to see if I am even capable....
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
A Few Shortcuts Giveaway
I only blog about giveaways that I really think are worth winning! This is one of them. Amanda over at www.afewshortcuts.com is giving away a dvd that I would just LOVE for one of my readers or myself to win. It's called What's in the Bible. And it is by the same people who created Veggie Tales. We love Veggie Tales in our house. How can you not love singing produce?! Go on over to A Few Shortcuts and enter to win. Go on....go now!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Tips to get started
So, I went to the Southern Savers coupon workshop over the weekend and it was great! Jenny really knows her stuff. I have been couponing since October of last year. So, that's about 5 months. I was anxious to see how on track or off track I was doing. Turns out I was already doing the majority of things she taught! I did learn new things about rain checks and drugstores. Questions I had were answered. I was also trying to decide if my current system was one I wanted to keep, or if I wanted to graduate to a coupon binder. The answer was suprisingly...keep doing what I am already doing! My system turns out to be the same system Jenny uses. If it's good enough for Jenny, it's good enough for me. The workshop turned out to be mostly a confirmation of things I already knew with some really great new tips and tricks that I did not know. But, I had friends that came, who were brand spanking new to couponing. I kept watching out the corner of my eye to see if their heads would actually explode at any point. I know if I got that much new information in that short amount of time, my head would surely spin round and round and pop right off! So, I thought I would post a blog to hopefully help simplify/summarize some of what Jenny taught.
First off, the system: I stand by what I will call the "insert system." That means to keep the newspaper inserts in a file and write the date on the outside of them. This way, you are not clipping every single coupon and carrying around 3 months worth of coupons with you. How heavy would that be! Then, each week, sit down and go to Southern Savers or I Heart Publix and check out the sales for your favorite store that week (I highly suggest Publix being your favorite store). Print that list out and highlight the items you need as well as writing to the side the things you still need, but are not in sale. Soon, your list of "needed" items on the side will vanish and you will only have to shop for sale items! Another easy way is to use the printable shopping list feature on Southern Savers. Jenny makes it really easy on us! Once you have your list printed out, then start gathering your coupons. Some coupons will need to be printed, some will be cut from your inserts and hopefully, some will be store coupons you have gathered from the store or gotten in the mail. You will have to learn the coupon lingo at first, but it only takes one shopping trip and you will be fluent in the language of coupons. Trust me. I can do another blog on how to read her website if anyone is confused. Your first list and coupon gathering will have your head spinning and you will think to yourself, this cannot be worth it. But wait....just wait until you see how much you saved at the bottom of your receipt! I also promise it will take less and less time each week to prepare. Don't give up. It gets easier.
The first couple of months was a little frustrating for me, because I was still trying to build my coupons up. A sale would call for a coupon that was in an insert 2 months ago and of course I didn't have it. But it doesn't take long and soon you will have access to the majority, if not all, of the coupons listed under the items you need. Also, the first few trips you won't see record savings because you are still having to buy things you need and aren't able to just shop the sales. Remember, you want to get to the point that you only have to shop sale items. The last 2 weeks I did not need one single grocery item. But I shopped the sales anyway to build my stockpile. I am to the point that if I want to take a few weeks off of shopping all together, I actually can!
The second tip I wanted to give is while I love the insert system, there is one drawback. You don't have all your coupons with you in case you run across clearance items that you know you saw a coupon for! So, here is my suggestion....DO clip coupons for things like makeup, hair color, candles and toiletries. These are the things you will most likely see on the clearance shelf. Not very many foods are discontinued, but cosmetics...well there is always a newer shade or better formula that comes out. Which means the older shades/formulas are hitting the clearance shelves! Yesterday, I scored 5 boxes of hair color for free! There was a bin of discontinued hair color for $2 a box at Publix. I just so happened to have 5 coupons for $2 off of each box with me! So, doooooo clip those cosmetic/toiletry coupons out. Those are the only ones I recommend having on hand always.
Ok, I think that's enough for now! Any questions, please, please ask! I want everyone I know to have as much fun saving money as I do.
First off, the system: I stand by what I will call the "insert system." That means to keep the newspaper inserts in a file and write the date on the outside of them. This way, you are not clipping every single coupon and carrying around 3 months worth of coupons with you. How heavy would that be! Then, each week, sit down and go to Southern Savers or I Heart Publix and check out the sales for your favorite store that week (I highly suggest Publix being your favorite store). Print that list out and highlight the items you need as well as writing to the side the things you still need, but are not in sale. Soon, your list of "needed" items on the side will vanish and you will only have to shop for sale items! Another easy way is to use the printable shopping list feature on Southern Savers. Jenny makes it really easy on us! Once you have your list printed out, then start gathering your coupons. Some coupons will need to be printed, some will be cut from your inserts and hopefully, some will be store coupons you have gathered from the store or gotten in the mail. You will have to learn the coupon lingo at first, but it only takes one shopping trip and you will be fluent in the language of coupons. Trust me. I can do another blog on how to read her website if anyone is confused. Your first list and coupon gathering will have your head spinning and you will think to yourself, this cannot be worth it. But wait....just wait until you see how much you saved at the bottom of your receipt! I also promise it will take less and less time each week to prepare. Don't give up. It gets easier.
The first couple of months was a little frustrating for me, because I was still trying to build my coupons up. A sale would call for a coupon that was in an insert 2 months ago and of course I didn't have it. But it doesn't take long and soon you will have access to the majority, if not all, of the coupons listed under the items you need. Also, the first few trips you won't see record savings because you are still having to buy things you need and aren't able to just shop the sales. Remember, you want to get to the point that you only have to shop sale items. The last 2 weeks I did not need one single grocery item. But I shopped the sales anyway to build my stockpile. I am to the point that if I want to take a few weeks off of shopping all together, I actually can!
The second tip I wanted to give is while I love the insert system, there is one drawback. You don't have all your coupons with you in case you run across clearance items that you know you saw a coupon for! So, here is my suggestion....DO clip coupons for things like makeup, hair color, candles and toiletries. These are the things you will most likely see on the clearance shelf. Not very many foods are discontinued, but cosmetics...well there is always a newer shade or better formula that comes out. Which means the older shades/formulas are hitting the clearance shelves! Yesterday, I scored 5 boxes of hair color for free! There was a bin of discontinued hair color for $2 a box at Publix. I just so happened to have 5 coupons for $2 off of each box with me! So, doooooo clip those cosmetic/toiletry coupons out. Those are the only ones I recommend having on hand always.
Ok, I think that's enough for now! Any questions, please, please ask! I want everyone I know to have as much fun saving money as I do.
Happy Saving!
~All thanks to God~
~All thanks to God~
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