Hey there everyone! Here is the coupon blog I have been promising. All of this information comes from a packet I made when I was an RA in college. I taught a program on how to coupon, and this was the resource I gave to all my students. I hope they learned something. :P I started off with referencing the infamous show, "Extreme Couponing." I debunked several of the myths associated with the show, and then used it to lead into the rest of the "How-Tos."
To give a bit of backstory, I started couponing when I was in high school. My mom was the one that started getting into it due to the recession. Since my father is a real estate attorney, it hit us first and it hit us hard. So in order to save money, my mom found a couponing class and went from there. Once she saw how great it was, she started getting me into it. Since I could drive, and since I was the oldest child that was always willing to run errands, she started giving me coupons and telling me exactly what to do. It started making sense after a couple months, but I didn't start doing it on my own until I was a senior in college. By then, I was tired of eating campus food and I had my own room for the first time, so I had plenty of space to stockpile! What a blessing it was for me to learn this skill early. It has REALLY helped in my marriage since we have been unemployed, but it's also been something I enjoy. I enjoy the thrill of waking up early and going to the store to get stuff for free. I enjoy knowing that I have a "secret" whenever I shop. I enjoy knowing that I never have to pay full price for laundry detergent, toothpaste, shampoo, and cereal, just to name a few. And, as my blog states, I think it's important to find joy in everyday chores so that I can better serve my family with a happy heart. And if I can enjoy weekly grocery shopping, that makes things a lot better for both my husband and me!
Feel free to holler if you have any questions!
To give a bit of backstory, I started couponing when I was in high school. My mom was the one that started getting into it due to the recession. Since my father is a real estate attorney, it hit us first and it hit us hard. So in order to save money, my mom found a couponing class and went from there. Once she saw how great it was, she started getting me into it. Since I could drive, and since I was the oldest child that was always willing to run errands, she started giving me coupons and telling me exactly what to do. It started making sense after a couple months, but I didn't start doing it on my own until I was a senior in college. By then, I was tired of eating campus food and I had my own room for the first time, so I had plenty of space to stockpile! What a blessing it was for me to learn this skill early. It has REALLY helped in my marriage since we have been unemployed, but it's also been something I enjoy. I enjoy the thrill of waking up early and going to the store to get stuff for free. I enjoy knowing that I have a "secret" whenever I shop. I enjoy knowing that I never have to pay full price for laundry detergent, toothpaste, shampoo, and cereal, just to name a few. And, as my blog states, I think it's important to find joy in everyday chores so that I can better serve my family with a happy heart. And if I can enjoy weekly grocery shopping, that makes things a lot better for both my husband and me!
Feel free to holler if you have any questions!
Things to Know when Watching Extreme Couponing:
1) Most stores limit the amount of coupons per person per day.
· Grocery stores such as Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods
limit each customer 20 coupons per person per day.
2) Most stores limit the amount of identical coupons a person can use.
· Many grocery stores only allow each customer to use up
to three identical newspaper coupons and two online coupons.
3) Stores rarely give you money back.
· If there is going to be a negative amount due back,
registers will often round the number up to $0.00
HOWEVER…
· There is still lots to learn about couponing from the
show. They give lots of tips on organization and storage of coupons and food.
· Plus it’s just plain entertaining, so enjoy
cautiously!
To Get Started…
1)
Sign up for the savings cards
at grocery stores
· VIC at Harris Teeter
Ø Go online to harristeeter.com and sign up for E-VIC
for even more savings
· My Lowes at Lowe’s Foods
· Kroger Plus at Kroger
· MVP card at Food Lion (please note: FL does NOT double
coupons)
· And many more!
· Just go into the grocery store and request a savings
card and they’ll set you up
2) Make a habit to get the Sunday Paper
· Make sure it is a newspaper of a big city because
those typically have the coupons
· Newspapers are sold in front of and inside Harris
Teeter and Lowe’s Foods.
· I would recommend getting two to start off with and
maybe get up to three once you really get into it
· Make sure you have quarters if you are getting them
out of a dispenser!
· CHECK THE PAPERS BEFORE YOU BUY THEM!
Ø You usually have to buy them out of the old
traditional pull-machines, so check the papers before you close the machine to
make sure the coupons are there. People sometimes steal them.
3) Get your coupon organizer!
· I am a big fan of using the accordion folders to
organize my coupons.
· Some
people cut them out and put them in a binder in trading card page protectors. I
don’t because I lack the time and patience, but that is also an option!
Once you’ve done these things, you’re ready to
go!
LEARN THE LINGO!
BOGO: Buy one, Get one [free!]. You do NOT have to buy 2 in order to get this deal unless it specifically says below the price tag.
WYB: When you buy
RP: Red Plum. This is one of the types of newspaper
coupon inserts.
SS: Smart Source. Another insert.
P&G: Proctor and Gamble. Another insert.
Buy
2, Get 3 Free: Harris Teeter has this
promotion as well as Lowe’s Foods sometimes. If you buy two items at full
price, you get three free. You MUST buy all 5 to get the deal. Can be an
awesome deal.
Meal
Deal: a Harris Teeter promotion. Can
get all items involved in deal for a listed price. Can use coupons in addition.
Usually a good deal, but not always.
Super
Doubles: Coupons up to $2.00 are
doubled. This means that you can save up to $4.00 on an item!
Triples: Coupons up to either $.99 or $1.00 are TRIPLED. If
there is a triple event going on, call the store and ask for more details. That
one penny can make a HUGE difference!
.75/1: This is the way to know what coupon value you are
looking for. This means the coupon is 75 cents off 1 of the particular item.
1.00/2: 1 dollar off two of particular item.
E-VIC
Special: You can get an additional
discount if you are signed up for E-VIC. TOTALLY worth it!
Gas
Rewards: Lowe’s Foods promotion. For
every certain amount you spend in a month, you can get $.05 off of gas at participating
Wilco Hess Gas stations.
E-Offer: Lowe’s Foods promotion. Same as E-VIC at Harris
Teeter.
GROCERY DEALS RUN WEDNESDAY-TUESDAY SO
SHOP ACCORDINGLY
How To Look at a Coupon
ALWAYS check expiration date. And read the fine print-
is it off 1? 2? Is there a limit on the amount of coupons of this type you can
use?
Look for DO NOT DOUBLE OR TRIPLE- this could mean you
won’t get the deal you’re hoping for…
1) Get rewards cards for each
store
· Walgreens: Balance Rewards
· Rite Aid: Wellness +
· CVS: ExtraCare
2) Learn how each store handles
rewards back
· Walgreens: Walgreens has two
forms of rewards back. There are Balance Rewards Points (BR) and Register Rewards
(RR). Balance Rewards Points load right to your card and are available to use
upon your next purchase if desired. 1,000 points=$1.00. Register Rewards print
off at the bottom of your receipt. Treat them like CASH; store them in your
wallet until use. These are in dollar values.
· Rite Aid: Rite Aid uses +UP
rewards that are in dollar values. These will automatically go on your card for
use upon your next visit. However, you can request for them to print at the
bottom of your receipt. Just ask the cashier. I personally prefer them this
way.
· CVS: CVS has ExtraBucks.
These print at the bottom of your receipt and are also in dollar value.
3) Use coupons in conjunction
with items that give you rewards back and shop away!
Important things to Note:
o
Drugstores do not double coupons. They are just taken at face value.
o
Store rewards have expiration dates, especially the print ones. Make
sure you use them!! You’re literally wasting money if you forget them.
o
Drugstore deals run SUNDAY-SATURDAY, so shop accordingly.
o
Drugstore deals will cause you to spend more in cash for the items, but
you will get back store rewards (basically store credit) so if you make a point
to shop at drug stores, you really are saving a lot of money.
o
To give a quick example, let’s say CVS is running a deal on Tide
Detergent, making it $6.99 on sale, with $3 ExtraBucks rewards. This means that
you would hand the $6.99+tax in cash to the cashier and you would receive $3
rewards back. So in reality, you only spent $3.99. Now say that you have a coupon
that gives you $2.00/1 that you also use on the detergent. This will make the
price you pay the cashier $4.99+tax, and you will still get the $3 rewards,
making it $1.99 total spent!!
Various Resources and Websites:
Centsible Saver: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/centsiblesaver/home
Smart Shopper: http://www.wral.com/5onyourside/smartshopper/
Southern Savers: http://www.southernsavers.com/
Online Coupons: http://www.coupons.com/
Saving Star: https://savingstar.com/
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