Before embarking on your couponing quest you need to at minimum print out a copy of the store's coupon policy. Read them. Keep them with you. On several occasions I've had to 'educate' a cashier on their store policy and having the policy in hand really helps.
Here are links to a few of the more prominent stores I use - check your local area stores websites or ask them for a copy if the store doesn't have a website.
I keep a copy of the coupon policy for each store I frequent in a legal size colored envelope (i.e. Red for Target, Blue for RiteAid, White for Safeway, etc.) and I label them in the upper right corner where a stamp would normally go. You don't have to get that fancy about it, but it makes it easier for me to grab what I want in a pinch. I also use these envelopes for organizing which I'll talk about later.
Make sure you know your store’s policy for doubling coupons. I don't have any stores in my area that provide this but stores that do have a limit on how much they'll double. They also have policies on the number of coupons for the same type of item that can be doubled. Again, just be sure to do your homework and find out what the store's policy is for doubling coupons.
KNOW THE LINGO
Acronyms pop up in every circle and couponing is no different. Here is a list of acronyms and abbreviations that I use in my posts and that many other sites, forums and companies use.
- BOGO aka B1G1 – Buy One Get One. Likewise B2G2 - buy 2 get 2 and so on.
- B1G1F – Always means, Buy One Get One Free.
- DND – Do not Double
- EXP – Expiration Date - I also use just "X" sometimes
- IPQ - Internet Printable Coupon
- Q - Coupon
- MFG - Manufacturer
- WYB - When You Buy
- MIR - Mail In Rebate
- PSA - Prices Starting At
- SCR - Single Check Rebate
- ECB - Extra Care Bucks
- GM – General Mills -A Sunday paper supplement coupon insert
- P&G – Proctor & Gamble - A Sunday paper supplement coupon insert
- RP – Red Plum - A Sunday paper supplement coupon insert - some mid-week also
- SS – Smart Source- A Sunday paper supplement coupon insert
CUSTOMER LOYALTY/CLUB/REWARDS PROGRAMS
Most stores have customer club/rewards/loyalty cards. If they have one, be sure to sign up for it! Make sure to use it each and every time you shop to get the maximum savings possible. Sale prices, promotions and discounts all linked to the use of your card. The register coupons you receive at check out are also linked to your card and/or shopping history linked to that card. Be sure to check into the stores website to see if they have any "partner" companies you can earn store points with by shopping there. For example, this past year I was getting United Airline miles for every dollar I spent at Safeway. I redeemed these points through other partners of United for restaurant gift certificates and I used the airline miles to purchase a rental car for my vacation this year.
ORGANIZING YOUR COUPONS
You may be asking - but what do I do with all the coupons I get after I get them? How will I keep them in order?
There are many different methods and everyone is different. I've been doing this long enough now that I've tried it all. I've tried boxes sorted alphabetically. Binders sorted by category. I've tried sorting by expiration date and any number of combinations in between. I am going to share with you what has worked for me but again, everyone is different with different needs. Try something and if it doesn't work - fine tune it until it does work for you. That's what I did.
I like using THE COUPON WALLET. They have so many cute ones now with matching accessories. Years ago I won mine and it is just plain and basic but it's VERY functional and that is what matters to me. It came with pre-printed divider cards with categories on it. I turned them over and labeled them alphabetically (i.e. A-B, C-D, E-F, etc.) and I file my coupons by product name. For example if I see a special on Oil of Olay and want to know if I have any coupons for that, I go to "O" and look. For me, doing it this way is much more efficient than any other way I've used.
I have a divider tab labeled for RESTAURANT coupons, FREE coupons (I put all coupons for free items together here) and a divider for OTHER stores (i.e. Pet Stores, Car Washes, etc.)
Store Specific coupons I keep (you guessed it) in the color coded/labeled envelopes along with the stores coupon policy.
What about all those "Club Cards"? What do you do with those? Well, I don't like to bog down my purse with any more than I have to and I don't like to carry a bulky wallet either, so I purchased a business card holder and I keep all my club cards in that alphabetically. I also keep any gift cards I have in this holder. I have a section in this same holder for all my other membership cards (i.e. Costco, Library, AAA, etc.) that I don't use daily.
I keep the small key ring style cards that you often get with your wallet style club cards on a carabiner clip that I put on a lanyard. I keep this lanyard set in the zippered section of my purse so that I have with me for unplanned trips or if I'm with friends and we end up at the store unexpectedly.
I have an iPhone so I have an "app" (it's called CardStar and I believe it was free) that keeps track of all my club cards on it. It's complete with number and bar code. Alot of stores still don't like using those and would rather take my 'hard card' but I think as time moves forward, more and more stores will be 'up on the technology'.
I keep the following in a reusable bag by the door:
- Coupon Wallet
- Business Card Holder
- 6" X 9.5"Spiral Notebook
Oh, I label everything! I use free address labels and add my phone number in pen to them and put them inside my business card holder, my coupon wallet and I have a 'bag tag' style one that I've attached to my lanyard holder. My reusable bag also has a 'bag tag' style label on it with my information. Hey, stuff happens and things get misplaced. If you're a busy person on the go all the time, it's bound to happen. I figure if it does I up my chances of having it returned if my information is on it.
TIPS AND SAGE ADVICE
I've been doing this a very long time. I use to clip EVERY coupon I came across. I thought I needed to use my coupons right away - hustle, hustle, hustle. I shopped a lot and I bought a lot that I didn't need at the moment - it brought a whole new meaning to "impulse buying". Over the years I've fine tuned my coupon use and tried to maximize my savings while being a responsible consumer as well.
#1 - Unless it's something you REALLY need and the coupon is about to expire - wait! You'll want to maximize your savings by waiting for the item to go on sale.
There are many couponers who say "clip every coupon there is" - I use to be one. However, I've grown to know that "balance" is key in everything - even couponing. Time is valuable and clipping and managing coupons takes time. You know your shopping habits and that of your family and close friends. Over time we've started being mindful of our economy and the massive amounts of packaging in processed foods. If you're busily clipping and managing coupons for things you don't use, you're cutting into your "savings", I think. Afterall, Time is Money! I buy a lot more fresh foods now than in the past, so my coupon needs have changed. I concentrate on items I know my family will use and wait for the sales and then stock up! Why not? Be mindful of a products shelf life - it may have been a great deal - but if you end up not being able to use it because it expired, it's still a waste in my eyes.
#2) Time is valuable. Balance in everything. Clip and save what you'll need and use in a reasonable amount of time and stock up if it makes sense to. A savings isn't a savings if it gets tossed in the trash.
Know the value of items. Create a 'benchmark' list. This is a list of regular items you buy all the time. For example: Toilet paper, laundry detergent, meat, milk, bread, etc. You know the brands you like and what you normally would pay for them and the least expensive place to get them. Ounce for ounce, pound for pound, you should know what the cost is.
I know in my head for the most part now, but if you have a big family and a lot of needs, creating a 'benchmark list' will help keep you from getting sidetracked by unexpected deals at the store. For example - you hadn't planned to buy laundry detergent that day but you walk down that isle and they have a stack of them sitting in the isle with a big sign 3 for $20.00. Holy cow, you think! That sounds great! But I say 'Stop, Drop and Roll' (no, you won't be on fire - well, maybe! hahaha!) Stop and read the ad closely. A lot of times what is sitting in the isle is NOT the product on sale - sneaky, sneaky, sneaky indeed! Drop your list and get out your calculator and 'benchmark list' calculate cost per ounce for each item. If it is lower than your benchmark, nab it and check your coupon wallet for a coupon but if it's not Roll that cart on down the isle!
#3) Create a benchmark list and don't forget to STOP, DROP AND ROLL.
It can be hard to keep track of the prices being charged as the cashier is scanning the items - more than likely you're still putting items on the belt when the cashier starts scanning your items. For this reason BEFORE you leave the store, check your receipt! If you're working with a shopping list you know what you should have been rung up for and you know what coupons should have been credited to you. It's easier to deal with any oversights right then and there than is to find it once you're home. Remember Tip #2 - Time is money and if you have to go back to the store to dispute a missed $1.00 off coupon - you'll waste that much time in gas to get there. Be diligent and watch your receipts.
#4) Check your receipt BEFORE you leave the store!
CALLING ALL COUPONS! GET 'EM!
Here's what you've been waiting for, I bet! WHERE do you get all your coupons! Ok, let the games begin!
There are a lot of different places to get coupons. Here we go..........
1) The Sunday Newspaper is where I begin. There are several inserts by the following companies:
- Red Plum
- Proctor and Gamble
- Smartsource
- General Mills
- Parade - there are OFTEN coupons found in this section of the paper
2) In the store. When I'm shopping I ALWAYS start at one end of the store and go isle by isle (even if I'm not getting anything in that isle) and check the shelves and end caps for coupons! Manufacturers send pads and pads of coupons to stores to post on or near their products - I grab 'em if I think I'll use 'em or know someone who will. Some stores have bulletin boards where they post coupons also. Don't forget to look for the "blinkie" machines in stores!
3) Coupons by mail. One day I decided to open my pantry and take a look at the items I used. I made a list and sat down and googled the company websites for these products. Most all companies have a "Coupon/Special Offer/Promotion" link on their site - Use It! Order those coupons! Get on their mailing list! Why? Because even if they don't have something going on now - they will and you want to be on the list to receive whatever it is!
4) With the onset of the Social Network Media Madness, scores of companies are flocking to Facebook and the like to try to get a bigger audience for their products and services. If you belong to a social network - check out the companies you frequent and see if you can get in line for some savings coupons.
5) Printable coupons. There are several companies providing product coupons you can print on your computer. This usually requires you add a small widget or gadget to your computer that will enable you to print them. Most of these widgets track your use so you can usually print once and then "refresh" or hit the "back button" and print one more time.
MY ROUTINE
I get the paper and take it a part. I take all the advertisements and put them in alphabetical order - even the stores I don't usually shop at because something may come up during the week unexpectedly and find the best price is always a good thing. I take the pile from last week and toss it in the recycle bin.
