Miz Couponista Clipping Coupons Before Coupon Clipping Was Cool!

I’ve been itching to use some of the coupons I’ve rounded up. I got up early and decided to visit Walgreens and then Target. I’m kind of self conscious posting my outcome. I’m not a coupon virgin, but I’m far from becoming an expert. I guess all that matters is that I’m happy, and I am!

I didn’t put EVERYTHING in my pictures nor did I list everything. I just wanted to point out the deals I got.:-)

Walgreens total before coupons: $38.94. – WAG $5.40+MFR $9.75 = Total spent $23.79

Almay Wake Up Powder $12.99. The clerk MAGICALLY pulled out $1.00 MFG making it $11.99.
Almay Get Up and Grow Mascara $7.99. Almay is currently B1G1 1/2 off so I got $3.00 deducted PLUS the clerk had a $2 off coupon making it $2.99!
Sally Hansen Vitamin lippy $4.99. MFG $1 and the clerk at WAG for $2 making it $1.99.
Phazyme $4.99. MFR $1 + WAG $2 = $1.99
Excedrin Tension Clearance $2.59. MFR .75 + WAG $1 = .84

TARGET

Target total before coupons: $91.89. – Target Coupons $5.29+ MFG $15.99 = Total spent $65.10 This does not include in store specials, so I actually saved MORE. 😛

Chex Mix $1.79 – MFR .50 = $1.29
Wheat Thins $2.99 – MFR $1 = $1.99
Quaker Chewy 2/5 – $1 = $4
Oscar Mayer Bacon normally 2/$6.98 I got them at 2/$2.09 = $4.18 Savings of $2.80
Red Baron Pizza $2.99 – MFR $1 = $1.99
Nivea Lotion $4.47 – Target Q $3 + MFG $1 = .47
Nivea Body wash $2.39 – Target Q + MFR $1 = .39
Gillette Body Wash/Deodorant Wash $3.99 + Deodorant $3.49 = $7.48 – MFR BOGO $3.99 = $3.49
Colgate Tooth Brush $3.24 – MFR $1 = $2.34
Halls Cough Drops $1.03 – MFR .50 = .53
Tylenol Precise Heating Pad $6.99 – MFR $5 = $1.99
Visine Eye Drops $2.85 – MFR $2 = .85
Reese 2/.79 – MFR BOGO .79 = .79

Yes, I use all of these products! Once I learn to be patient I will save my coupons and get better deals as well. There are a few things on my list I could have got for less, but nooooo I was dying to use some of my coupons. *blush*

~D

If you surf on over to Wendy’s website, you’ll be able to print off a $1 coupon. (You must sign up for their newsletter) I thought it was toward any menu item, but it’s not. You can only use it for their hot ‘n juicy burgers or their premium chicken sandwiches. I also found out you can’t print it right away. It is sent to you via e-mail that takes a while to get. It finally showed up a few hours after I signed up.

Guess what I’m having for lunch tomorrow? 🙂

~D

Shout out to the fabulous website Sunday Coupon Preview!

They offer previews of what goodies we can expect to find in our Sunday papers. As always inserts vary by region. I for one am not as lucky as my neighboring states. I get the shorter end of the stick, BUT I’m not going to complain! A good couponer will always find a good deal regardless of where they live and I strive to do that.  🙂 Here is May’s schedule. For a more in depth list visit their website

May 1— Smart Source, Red Plum and Procter & Gamble

May 8— Smart Source and Red Plum

May 15 — (2) Smart Source and Red Plum

May 22 — Smart Source and Red Plum

May 29 — No Inserts scheduled (Memorial Day)

~D

I love getting snail mail. Ever since I moved out on my own and got my own mail box I’ve been cloud 9.  I remember racing to the post office first thing every morning to see what envelopes or packages were waiting for me.  Before long along with getting my very own mail, I got my very own bills. NO FUN!

Now that grandma and everyone else uses E-Mail my snail mail box gets lonely. I even get electronic bills. BAH! To tame my craving for mail I have more magazine subscriptions than I can keep up with. It’s kind of sad going to Barnes & Noble for something other than a book and realizing you already get half of what they offer delivered to you.I enjoy reading so why not? It’s usually cheaper to subscribe anyway. 🙂 Finding coupons in my magazines is a bonus. Finding out how to get stuff for FREE is AWESOME!

From magazine advertisements, to product websites, and referrals from friends I’ve found myself filling out freebie requests at a constant. There was a time I’d get something in the mail every other day. I had enough tampon/pad samples to last me months. I’m thinking I didn’t have to buy them for close to a year. NO JOKE! When I did run out, I had the sweet little coupon that came with them to buy more. Same scenario with shampoo/conditioner and body washes.

Here are some of my favorite sites. I either get e-mails alerting me to new offers, and/or I follow them on FaceBook and Twitter.

• Hey, It’s Free
• I Love Free Things
• I Crave Freebies
  
• Sweet Free Stuff
• Free Stuff On Facebook

Something to think about….

Create a separate e-mail address for these sites. It keeps your regular mail free from being overrun with offers and possible spam.

Always read the privacy policy on retailer sites especially if you’re giving out your snail mail address. Be aware of how your information will be used.

Opt out of related deals. Some offers come bundled with newsletter subscriptions or related e-mail messages. This can lead to lots of unwanted spam.

~D

When I first started using coupons I was really lazy about it. I would clip them, stuff them in an envelope, then forget about them. I decided to start keeping them in my my checkbook, but they made it bulky. When I would fish them out, they’d all spill out and fall to the floor. I still ended up tossing more (due to expiration) then actually using them.

A few months ago I bought a small accordion folder.It worked out better until my little pile of coupons became a mountain. A few days ago I got this. It was $10. The baseball card holders were $4.50 for a pack of 30.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/MizPandora/DSCN0227-1.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/MizPandora/DSCN0228-1.jpg

I am loving my binder! I keep my scissors,weekly ads, unclipped inserts and a calculator all arranged nicely. To prevent it from spilling out (I’m a klutz) it zips up all nice and snug. 🙂 I still need another pack of baseball card holders (I have 30, and for optimal organization you need 60) and category inserts, but that will come together in time.

My mom asked if I was going to tote it around with me when I go shopping? WHY NOT? I don’t care what anyone thinks. If they knew they could save $$ by doing it many of them would too!

Gone are the days where I am at a store and smack my forehead because “I know I have a coupon for that somewhere”.

~D

Here are some links to few store policies on coupons. I recommend printing out the ones of the stores you shop at the most. I keep them in my coupon binder. 🙂 Keep in mind these may vary by location and it’s ultimately up to the store manager if they’ll accept your coupons or not.

SAFEWAY

TARGET

WAL-MART you can print out a nifty PDF file with their policy.

ALBERTSONS

CVS (Not found online) but some called Corporate and they faxed  THIS

WALGREENS

KMART (not found online)

By all means, if you find any of the above policies that I’m missing or newer versions feel free to share!

~D

Sometimes I find a coupon and think it’s too good to be true. I don’t want to take it to the store and ask the cashier. If it is indeed fake it would be embarrassing. Not only that they may become wary of all the coupons I try to use.

Fear of counterfeits sometimes causes stores to reject Internet coupons altogether. Each store sets its own policy about coupons, and the policy can vary even within chains. Go HERE to see a list of stores I found policies from.

REMEMBER

• Don’t ever copy coupons. There are many security features included on printable coupons that assign a user ID to them and allow them to track back to you. Look for special software to download that can ensure bar codes are printed correctly. Reputable companies like Coupons com, SmartSouce, and Redplumb offer it free.
• Never pay money for a coupon. Really? Why would you want to anyway? That’s were most fake coupons come from.
• HERE is a site that you can type in the bar code from any coupon to see if it’s counterfeit or not.

~D

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