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Couponing Basics: A Beginner’s Guide to Couponing and the Language used on Coupons sites.
First Step: Decide where to get your Coupons from.
The Sunday newspaper: The most common place to find coupons. Either buy the newspaper in your area at a local store or have it home delivered. The Monroe Evening News is the cheapest in my area. They also tend to have some very high value coupons. The Toledo Blade is great for the Toledo area as well.
Use the Internet: Here you can find great sites that have free printable coupons. My favorite’s are coupons.com, Smart Source, coupon network, Kellogg’s and Procter and Gamble –this is their new online shopper card program very cool. Now P&G will send you a coupon booklet full of great coupons and all you have to do is ask. Just click here to get started. Note that several manufacturers have websites for different products and simply going to Google and searching the sites will lead you to many great coupons.
EBAY, EBAY, EBAY! I can not stress this enough. It is easy to find cheap coupons from sellers. You can also use a Coupon Clipping service and when I find one I am willing to promote I will add that info. I have used a few in the past and the issue I have had is slow shipping.
Ask your friends and family for coupons: If they get a newspaper but usually throw out the coupons they will probably be happy to give them to you.
Store coupons: There are many varieties of coupons that you can find in the store such as peelies and coupon dispensing machines-called blinkies- provided by the manufacturer.
Senior Citizen homes: These are also a great way to get unwanted coupons. You can also make the time to visit on Sundays and improve the quality of life for the residents. This is a WIN -WIN for all involved.
You have Coupons now what do you do with them?
ORGANIZE!
COUPON BINDER: This is a must have. This does two things for you…if your coupons are clipped and in a binder then you will always have them with you incase you run across an unadvertised deal in the stores. Secondly, if you clipped them you know them. This means that if you grab a store ad you are more likely to spot deals knowing what coupons are out there.
Coupon Database: If you prefer to file by insert no worries. You can always go to a coupon database like mine here and find out which insert what coupon came from and you are in business for that shopping trip.
Loyalty Cards: Make sure you get a loyalty card from every store you shop at. Walgreens is one of the only stores that does not have one. They have Register Rewards and we will discuss that in a bit.
STORE POLICY: Know them all. Print them out and have them on you at all times. I provide a store policy for each store I post match ups to.
Stacking coupons: Walgreens is a great example of a store that allows this. This is when the store allows you to use their in ad coupon with a manufactured coupon. Double the fun right?
*Note – most stores will only allow you to use 2 printable coupons per like item. Example: if you printed off a coupon for .50¢ off of Ragu then you can only use two of them to purchase 2 Ragus for that transaction.
GET YOUR GAME FACE ON FOR GAME DAY!
Weekly Ads: Read the weekly store ads to see what is on sale. They all have ads right online no need to stare at ad papers! While you are looking at the ad match up sales with your coupons and see what will save you the most money.
Price match: If you like, go to Wal-Mart with your ads from other stores and they will price match. This only makes sense if your coupon’s value is not affected by the lack of doubling at Wal-Mart. It is; however, a great way to get a product your store may be out of stock on.
Make that list: Only get what you went for unless you find a great deal to cheap to pass on, lists keep us very focused.
Leave the kids at home: Shopping with kids brings about the I want’s and I need’s…don’t do it! lol.
Make a Price book: Write down the everyday prices of the products you purchase. This will let you know right away if the sale is really any good. It really sucks to pay $1.00 on a $10/10 sale when the regular price is .89¢….exactly!
Rain checks: If they are out of an item get the rain check and get it for the highest amount you can. Most stores rainchecks do not expire or are at least 30-60 days good. This gives you time to get more coupons or wait for better ones.
Shop early: Early bird gets the worm! You can also find out what day and time the store gets their delivery truck. When items are being stocked this is a great time to get what you came for.
If it is cheap to free then size does not matter: The cost per unit of the bigger box of cereal may be less than the smaller one but with coupons and sales the smaller box is likely a better deal.
Checking Out: Make sure every thing scans correctly. I personally have someone else with me on large purchases so they can load the items on the belt while I watch the prices and coupons to make sure every thing scanned correctly.
Check the Receipt: If you think something is off take a minute to look before you leave. The customer service department can fix things easier if you catch a mistake before leaving.
~COUPON LANGUAGE~
Here is the need to know of online coupon lingo:
$1/1 -This reads “$1 off of 1 item.”
$1/2 -This reads “$1 off of 2 items.”
SS – Smart Source coupon insert, comes in the Sunday paper.
PG – Proctor and Gamble coupon insert, comes in the Sunday paper, normally the first Sunday of the Month
RP – Red Plum coupon insert, comes in the Sunday paper.
BOGO- Buy one get one free.
WYB- when you buy.
OYNO – on your next order. My personal favorite because it means buy this many and get this much back!
OOP – out of pocket. How much cash flash!
RR – Register Rewards – this is Walgreens only and they are manufactured (not store coupons) coupons that are just like paying with cash. How to use these little babies is a tutorial all of its own.
CATALINA – The machine used to print out these awesome coupons.
MIR – mail in rebate
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