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Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
what I have learned about couponing
Since I have been couponing, only for 1 month now, I have learned alot! Here I am going to share a few tips and tricks with you that I have found from different websites and just exploring the web.
When starting out couponing, start slow. If you try to do too much at once you could get overwhelmed and end up not saving much at all.
Always have more than one coupon with you. That helps when there are really good sales going on.
That brings me to when to use the coupons, you save the most money when you match up a coupon with a sale. If you have a buy one get one free(BOGO) coupon, then try to find another coupon for $ off 1. For instance, if you want to buy Dove body wash and you have a BOGO coupon, try to find a coupon for...say .50 off 1 because you can always use them together. (Known as stacking) A good example is Walgreens(Wags) has Dove deodorant on sale for 4 for $15.00. I have a coupon for BOGO plus I have a coupon for $2.00 off one. So the scenario goes like this:
Dove 4/$15 Which makes them $3.75 each
Coupon 1-2 Bogos = Saves 7.50 plus owing $7.50 plus tax(With me so far?) :)
Coupon 2- 2-$2.00 off one- I have 4 coupons but I only need 2 because the other 2 are free, so that is $ 4.00 off 7.50
Total after coupons(OOP)= $3.50 plus tax
So we paid only $3.50 for 4 Dove deodorants. Not bad huh? We went from $15.00 for 4 to $3.50 for 4. Now that's what I call savings!! That is how Stockpiling starts.
WAIT!! Not done yet, just when you thought it couldn't get better, it does! When you shop at Walgreens you earn Register Rewards(RR) to use the next visit. (Some do more than one transaction just so they can use register rewards on their purchase, I have not been brave enough to do that yet.) Now because I bought the 4 things of Dove deodorant, I also received $5.00 in RR for my next visit.( You can look at it like Monopoly money) So you can look at it this way..... I paid OOP $3.50 for my deodorant but I MADE $5.00 towards my next purchase. That is what is called a money maker! I pretty much got my money back for what I paid, plus a little extra! These are the deals that we love!
CVS is another good one to shop at. CVS gives out "Bucks" just like Walgreens on certain products as well. When starting to shop as CVS be sure to purchase a reusable bag and tag and have a CVS card. (Free to sign up for). Have them scan the tag with your card before each purchase, and after 4 scans of the tag, you get a dollar back for your next purchase. Also, be sure to scan you card in the Catalina machine to see what kind of coupon you can get out of there...some can be great! I know of people who have gotten $10.00 off Physicians Formula makeup which is an AWESOME coupon!
Coupons can save you the most on Health and Beauty items, you will find grocery (food) items that you can use but its is best not to be a certain brand lover to use these coupons. If you only use Kraft dressing then you maybe missing out on a FREE bottle of dressing by another company. So keep your mind open to new products and you'll save a ton of money!
When I started couponing, I kept reading that people were "purchasing" coupons. I thought" Why would they purchase coupons, that's crazy!" Well, after I began, I understood why they do. I don't feel like buying 4,5,6 papers every Sunday just to get multiple coupons, its cheaper to use a coupon clipping service, that way you get the coupons you want and not have to pay $10.00 for Sunday papers and only use a few coupons out of them. When purchasing coupons, they are only .05-.10 a piece and they can be purchased from Ebay or other clipping services. At the bottom I will post links to several sites to check out that will help you in your coupon endeavors.
These are just a few hints to help you to get started.
When starting out couponing, start slow. If you try to do too much at once you could get overwhelmed and end up not saving much at all.
Always have more than one coupon with you. That helps when there are really good sales going on.
That brings me to when to use the coupons, you save the most money when you match up a coupon with a sale. If you have a buy one get one free(BOGO) coupon, then try to find another coupon for $ off 1. For instance, if you want to buy Dove body wash and you have a BOGO coupon, try to find a coupon for...say .50 off 1 because you can always use them together. (Known as stacking) A good example is Walgreens(Wags) has Dove deodorant on sale for 4 for $15.00. I have a coupon for BOGO plus I have a coupon for $2.00 off one. So the scenario goes like this:
Dove 4/$15 Which makes them $3.75 each
Coupon 1-2 Bogos = Saves 7.50 plus owing $7.50 plus tax(With me so far?) :)
Coupon 2- 2-$2.00 off one- I have 4 coupons but I only need 2 because the other 2 are free, so that is $ 4.00 off 7.50
Total after coupons(OOP)= $3.50 plus tax
So we paid only $3.50 for 4 Dove deodorants. Not bad huh? We went from $15.00 for 4 to $3.50 for 4. Now that's what I call savings!! That is how Stockpiling starts.
WAIT!! Not done yet, just when you thought it couldn't get better, it does! When you shop at Walgreens you earn Register Rewards(RR) to use the next visit. (Some do more than one transaction just so they can use register rewards on their purchase, I have not been brave enough to do that yet.) Now because I bought the 4 things of Dove deodorant, I also received $5.00 in RR for my next visit.( You can look at it like Monopoly money) So you can look at it this way..... I paid OOP $3.50 for my deodorant but I MADE $5.00 towards my next purchase. That is what is called a money maker! I pretty much got my money back for what I paid, plus a little extra! These are the deals that we love!
CVS is another good one to shop at. CVS gives out "Bucks" just like Walgreens on certain products as well. When starting to shop as CVS be sure to purchase a reusable bag and tag and have a CVS card. (Free to sign up for). Have them scan the tag with your card before each purchase, and after 4 scans of the tag, you get a dollar back for your next purchase. Also, be sure to scan you card in the Catalina machine to see what kind of coupon you can get out of there...some can be great! I know of people who have gotten $10.00 off Physicians Formula makeup which is an AWESOME coupon!
Coupons can save you the most on Health and Beauty items, you will find grocery (food) items that you can use but its is best not to be a certain brand lover to use these coupons. If you only use Kraft dressing then you maybe missing out on a FREE bottle of dressing by another company. So keep your mind open to new products and you'll save a ton of money!
When I started couponing, I kept reading that people were "purchasing" coupons. I thought" Why would they purchase coupons, that's crazy!" Well, after I began, I understood why they do. I don't feel like buying 4,5,6 papers every Sunday just to get multiple coupons, its cheaper to use a coupon clipping service, that way you get the coupons you want and not have to pay $10.00 for Sunday papers and only use a few coupons out of them. When purchasing coupons, they are only .05-.10 a piece and they can be purchased from Ebay or other clipping services. At the bottom I will post links to several sites to check out that will help you in your coupon endeavors.
These are just a few hints to help you to get started.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Military Coupon Program
Hi all,
Sometimes you will clip more coupons than what you need, so in that case, they may expire. Well, don't fret and throw them away....send them to our military families and they can use the coupons for 6 months after they expire! Nice way to help our military families. Follow the link below and help our families over seas.
Thanks and Happy couponing!
Military Coupon Program
Sometimes you will clip more coupons than what you need, so in that case, they may expire. Well, don't fret and throw them away....send them to our military families and they can use the coupons for 6 months after they expire! Nice way to help our military families. Follow the link below and help our families over seas.
Thanks and Happy couponing!
Military Coupon Program
Walmartstores.com: Walmart Coupon Policy
Hi all,
I thought this would be good to post on here. Its always a good thing to print out the coupon policies before you go to the stores because not all the cashiers know it and if they give you a hard time all you have to do is pull out your policy and then you should have no problems. Happy Couponing!
Walmartstores.com: Walmart Coupon Policy
I thought this would be good to post on here. Its always a good thing to print out the coupon policies before you go to the stores because not all the cashiers know it and if they give you a hard time all you have to do is pull out your policy and then you should have no problems. Happy Couponing!
Walmartstores.com: Walmart Coupon Policy
Extreme Couponing Made Easy: Coupon Mom Videos
Hi All,
Here is a video to show you exactually how the savings work in the drugstores. Enjoy!
Thank you Coupon Mom for sharing!
Extreme Couponing Made Easy: Coupon Mom Videos
Here is a video to show you exactually how the savings work in the drugstores. Enjoy!
Thank you Coupon Mom for sharing!
Extreme Couponing Made Easy: Coupon Mom Videos
Stores I have saved money at
Hi All,
I just thought I would give you a heads up on the stores that I have save the most money at during the month of January. (Using my trusty coupon of course)
I live in Northwestern Indiana in a very small community so in that case there are no Walmarts or targets close to me unless I travel to Merrillville and I only do that when I work. (Hooours cut, not much of that going on...lol) Anyhoo..I have learned that shopping at Strack and Vantil has saved me the most in groceries. DH and I went in one night and we shopped the sales with coupons in hand, spent 35.00 and saved $40.00. Cashier looked at me and said "You saved more than what you spent" I said" Good, that was my goal!" So Strack and VanTil is a great one to shop at. Here is the link if your interested or have one nearby.
http://www.strackandvantil.com/
Another good place is CVS. I have mentioned this before but I feel its worth mentioning again. You save alot of money on health and beauty products, get 'bucks' on certain items to use again and use the Catalina machine to get more coupons..win, win there!
Another favorite for couponers is Wags (Walgreens)...once again health and beauty but sometimes a few groceries here and there as well. They give register rewards to use on another purchase so that is great!
For those of you that live close to Walmart and Target, I guess there are good deals to be had to but honestly I'm not a Walmart fan so I don't go there unless I am gonna get a freebie or 2 or 3...you get the point.;) But if you are a Walmart fan, they do take coupons and will price match other store ads..just bring them with you....
Target usually will have there own coupons and you can match up manufactured coupons with their sales and walk away with some great savings but again, I'm not close to a Target so I have to figure gas in for all of this and for me, unless a WHOOPING deal, or I'm that way already, I don't usually go.
The important thing to remember is the price of gas to take you to the store. If there is a store and you think you can save $10.00 but it takes $10.00 to get there, your not really saving now are you? Those are things I like to figure into my savings before I go on my shopping trips. If I can save over $100.00 or more to travel to Walmart then you bet your boots I'll do it but for me I take little trips here and there or stop by somewhere when I'm already out running errands, then to me its not so bad. I try to match up my ads on Sunday, plan my meals and then on Monday I do all my shopping and grab all the deals I can and in the meantime, I'm saving my gas as well.
I started couponing at the beginning of the year and today I added up all my spending and savings. I spent approximatly $250.00 and saved $220.00! Not bad for 1 month of couponing and it was on all things that we use and need. I don't have much a of a stockpile going yet, but I do have 3 bottles of mouthwash, 2 tubes of toothpaste, 6 things of deodorant and my husband is good on body wash and I have 2 small 45 fl oz. of laundry soap that I got at CVS for less than $1.00, and I have enough Chumky soup to feed an Army! The things I am most proud of is the box of 50 Coffeemate creamers that I got from Staples for free! My goal is to get a stockpile of things going then donate them to a food bank or homeless shelter.
Couponing may take a bit of time in the beginning because you have to get the papers, get your coupons, organize them in a binder and check the sales, but it really is worth all the time and effort you put into it. Get you DH and children involved too. I have a 17 year old who is just so excited when she finds a coupon for something that she likes. I told her and DH nothing will be bought without a coupon and they have both been really good at helping me with that. Its a bit of a lifestyle change but it really is worth it..besides we work hard for our money to just throw it away, save some bit of it and see how much you can save!
I will be posting pics of my binder and instructions if anybody is interested. Well until next time, happy couponing and keep saving your money!
Sincerely,
Coupon mom in training
I just thought I would give you a heads up on the stores that I have save the most money at during the month of January. (Using my trusty coupon of course)
I live in Northwestern Indiana in a very small community so in that case there are no Walmarts or targets close to me unless I travel to Merrillville and I only do that when I work. (Hooours cut, not much of that going on...lol) Anyhoo..I have learned that shopping at Strack and Vantil has saved me the most in groceries. DH and I went in one night and we shopped the sales with coupons in hand, spent 35.00 and saved $40.00. Cashier looked at me and said "You saved more than what you spent" I said" Good, that was my goal!" So Strack and VanTil is a great one to shop at. Here is the link if your interested or have one nearby.
http://www.strackandvantil.com/
Another good place is CVS. I have mentioned this before but I feel its worth mentioning again. You save alot of money on health and beauty products, get 'bucks' on certain items to use again and use the Catalina machine to get more coupons..win, win there!
Another favorite for couponers is Wags (Walgreens)...once again health and beauty but sometimes a few groceries here and there as well. They give register rewards to use on another purchase so that is great!
For those of you that live close to Walmart and Target, I guess there are good deals to be had to but honestly I'm not a Walmart fan so I don't go there unless I am gonna get a freebie or 2 or 3...you get the point.;) But if you are a Walmart fan, they do take coupons and will price match other store ads..just bring them with you....
Target usually will have there own coupons and you can match up manufactured coupons with their sales and walk away with some great savings but again, I'm not close to a Target so I have to figure gas in for all of this and for me, unless a WHOOPING deal, or I'm that way already, I don't usually go.
The important thing to remember is the price of gas to take you to the store. If there is a store and you think you can save $10.00 but it takes $10.00 to get there, your not really saving now are you? Those are things I like to figure into my savings before I go on my shopping trips. If I can save over $100.00 or more to travel to Walmart then you bet your boots I'll do it but for me I take little trips here and there or stop by somewhere when I'm already out running errands, then to me its not so bad. I try to match up my ads on Sunday, plan my meals and then on Monday I do all my shopping and grab all the deals I can and in the meantime, I'm saving my gas as well.
I started couponing at the beginning of the year and today I added up all my spending and savings. I spent approximatly $250.00 and saved $220.00! Not bad for 1 month of couponing and it was on all things that we use and need. I don't have much a of a stockpile going yet, but I do have 3 bottles of mouthwash, 2 tubes of toothpaste, 6 things of deodorant and my husband is good on body wash and I have 2 small 45 fl oz. of laundry soap that I got at CVS for less than $1.00, and I have enough Chumky soup to feed an Army! The things I am most proud of is the box of 50 Coffeemate creamers that I got from Staples for free! My goal is to get a stockpile of things going then donate them to a food bank or homeless shelter.
Couponing may take a bit of time in the beginning because you have to get the papers, get your coupons, organize them in a binder and check the sales, but it really is worth all the time and effort you put into it. Get you DH and children involved too. I have a 17 year old who is just so excited when she finds a coupon for something that she likes. I told her and DH nothing will be bought without a coupon and they have both been really good at helping me with that. Its a bit of a lifestyle change but it really is worth it..besides we work hard for our money to just throw it away, save some bit of it and see how much you can save!
I will be posting pics of my binder and instructions if anybody is interested. Well until next time, happy couponing and keep saving your money!
Sincerely,
Coupon mom in training
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