Miz Couponista Clipping Coupons Before Coupon Clipping Was Cool!

WOW I had no idea there were so many abbreviations.

BLINKIES ~ In-store smartsource coupon dispenser with red or green blinking light.

BOGO ~ Buy One Get One Free (also B1G1F or B1G1 Free)

BTFE ~ Box Tops for Education

B&M ~ Brick & Mortar, as opposed to online store

CAT or CATALINA ~ Coupon printed out at register after purchase.

CRT ~ Cash register tape

DND ~ Do Not Double

DOUBLE COUPON ~ Coupon that store doubles in value

ECB ~ Extra Care Bucks from CVS Pharmacy

ETS ~ Excludes Trial Size

EXP ~ Expires

FAR ~ Free After Rebate

GC ~ Gift Card

GDA ~ Good Deal Alert

HBA ~ Health & Beauty section in store

IVC ~ Instant Value Coupon from Walgreen’s found in EasySavor Catalog

IP ~ Internet printable coupon

MFG ~ Manufacturer’s Coupon

MIR ~ Mail In Rebate

NED ~ No Expiration Date

OOP ~ Out Of Pocket

OOS ~ Out Of Stock

OYNO ~ On Your Next Order

P&G ~ Proctor & Gamble

PEELIE ~ Coupon on package that you can peel off.

PSA ~ Prices Starting At

Q ~ Coupon

RP ~ Red Plum

RR ~ Register Rewards from Walgreen’s

SCR ~ Single Check Rebate, Rite Aid monthly rebates program

SS ~ Smart Source

STACKING ~ Using an in store coupon with a MFG coupon

TEARPAD ~ A pad of coupons or refund forms found hanging on shelf or display next to product

TMF ~ Try Me Free

TRIPLE COUPON ~ A Coupon a store triples in value.

UPC ~ Universal product code, bar code

+UP Reward ~ Rite Aid reward program

WINETAG or WT ~ A Coupon usually found for $ off meat/cheese/produce with purchase of wine.

WYB ~ When You Buy

YMMV ~ Your Milage May Vary ( Your success of the attempt may vary at your store)

Silly question, but where can you find coupons? 🙂 Welcome to MY version of Couponing 101.

SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!

• Get a subscription to your local paper. (Most papers offer a Sunday only option if desired.)  Every Sunday except holidays most papers have coupon inserts from SmartSource & Redplumb. The 1st Sunday of the month often has a 3rd insert from Proctor & Gamble,GM,Campbells or Kelloggs/Keebler.
• Ask friends/family for their unwanted coupons.
• Talk to your paper carrier and ask if they’ll give you their extra inserts. They often toss them.
• Ask permission to dive in local recycling bins.

INTERNET AKA Internet Printables

The newspaper is no longer the only place to score great coupons. The internet has a plethora of great sites.  Make sure you have plenty of ink!  *before you sign up for deals you might want to consider setting up a separate e-mail account to avoid messages getting lost in your spam folder.

Most Internet Printables have print limit of two coupons per computer. After printing your first coupon (or set of coupons) just hit the back button on your browser to print another coupon. Also note that many of these sites require that you download special coupon printing software. I haven’t had any issues with the programs from the sites below, but that doesn’t mean you may not run into problems. I’m lucky to have my own personal computer geek to fend off viruses.

• Coupons.com
• Shortcuts. com
• The Coupon Network
• Smartsource
• Red Plumb
• Target coupons
• All You (magazine)

Before you go overboard and print everything you see ask yourself:

1. Will I use this coupon?
2. Is it a high-value coupon?
3. Is there an upcoming deal for this coupon?
4. Is the coupon for a product I will use or I can donate?

Do not make copies of  coupons. It is illegal!

GROCERY STORE

• Store Ads ~ Usually at the front of the store. Also found at check stands and in newspapers on Wednesdays & Sundays. Some stores require that you spend a minimum amount before coupon is valid and they usually have limits.
• Peelies ~ Manufacture coupons stuck right on packages. Be careful to read disclaimers.  Some stores have peelies that become void if you take them off.
• Tear Pads~ Pads of coupons sitting next to or around product.
• Blinkies ~ Dispensers with blinking lights (to get your attention) usually placed on shelf directly in front of product.
• Loyalty Cards ~ Some stores like Safeway have programs that let you load coupons onto your card. No clipping or worrying about forgetting your coupons.
  

I’m off to do some clipping. Next lesson will be organization. In my case, attempting to become more organized.

~D

I started talking about couponing in my other blog and got the brilliant idea to (ok my BF Steve told me to) just start a new site dedicated to my new obsession.

So far nobody is taking me seriously that this can really work. Everyone just chalks it up to “She saw “The Show” about couponing on TV and is jumping on the bandwagon”. Pffft whatever! As previously stated in my other blog, I’m no stranger to using coupons. I’ve just decided that I need to kick it up a notch.

I realize it’s going to take major time and commitment, not to mention a few extra bucks to get started. I’m going to make it so worth my while though. Aside from putting food in our bellies for less, I’m making a goal for myself. I want to save enough money within the next year to get a new car. I also want to waltz into Animeals and local food banks with sacks of food.

~D