Couponing 101: Part 7

We are on Part 7 of my Couponing 101 series.  If you are just joining us, you can go back and read Parts 1-6 to get started.  

Last week I talked about how to shop at CVS for FREE (or pretty close to it), so this week I am going to continue with CVS.  If you haven't checked out Southern Savers, go take a peek now.  Here you can read her current CVS post.  Scroll down to the bottom of the post for scenario ideas.  I'm going to shorten her scenario to show you how to get something for FREE with your ECB from last week.

If you played along, last week you bought the Revlon Nail item for $3.99, used your $1 off Revlon Grow Luscious mascara or Color cosmetic product coupon from the SS 2/13, paid $2.99, and got back $3 ECB.

Here is the scenario for this week:

Buy:
(1) Theraflu daytime severe cold & cough trial size, 1 pk., 99¢ (get 99¢ ECB back)

(1) Crest Clinical Gum Toothpaste, 4 oz, $3.49 (get $2.50 ECB back)
(1) Charmin Fresh Mates $2.50
 

Use:
-$2 off Theraflu product printable
-$1 off Crest toothpaste 4 oz + or liquid gel, PG 2/27
-$1 off Charmin Freshmates wipes, Booklet in select PG products
-$3 ECB (that you received last week)
Total Due: nothing!
Get Back: $3.49 ECB ($2.50, 99¢)

So you own $0 and you have $3.49 in ECBs to use next week!  Isn't that great?!  You can keep rolling these ECBs week after week!!

I hope you all are enjoying my Couponing 101 series.  There are plenty of FREE resources out there to help you on your Couponing journey.

Couponing 101: Part 6

We are on Part 6 of my Couponing 101 series.  If you are just joining us, you can go back and read Parts 1-5 to get started. 

So, have you been collecting those coupon inserts?  Have you tried to get some things on your shopping trip using multiple coupons?  If so, I'd love to hear about it!

Today I want to talk about CVS and how you can literally shop there for FREE!  This really took me a while to understand at first.  I would read the CVS posts each and every week and read about their Extra Care Bucks and I still didn't get it.  Maybe you are in the same boat I was. 

Then one day the light bulb came on and I got it.  From that day on CVS was my best friend.  :)  I was in there at least once a week, the cashiers knew me, the managers knew me, and thankfully the CVS near me has great employees who don't mind the customers using lots of coupons (they are very patient).

So let me break it down for you.

Extra Care Card
Before you can save any money at CVS you first need an Extra Care Card.  You can sign up for one HERE and learn more about it HERE.  If you rather not wait to get your card in the mail though, you can go to your local CVS and get one immediately. 

Extra Care Bucks
Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) are rewards that you receive when you purchase a qualifying item.  You may have noticed that in your CVS weekly ad this past week you will get $3 in ECBs when you buy any Revlon Nail product for $3.99.  You start by having the cashier scan your card at the register, purchase your Revlon Nail product for $3.99, pay for it with your own money, and then attached to your receipt you will get a coupon worth $3 in ECBs.  You can use this $3 to pay for any future items at CVS (with a few exclusions).

So you may be saying to yourself, "The was not free at all."  Well, you do have to purchase the first item yourself to get started!  Once you get over that, you can start saving and possibly shop for FREE.

Rolling Extra Care Bucks
Once you have made your first purchase, you can start rolling your ECBs.  That means you can purchase new ECB deals with your previously earned ECBs (plus coupons) and spend little to no money out of pocket, while earning new ECBs for future products.

Finding the Deals
Southern Savers is my favorite website for finding the CVS deals!  She not only lists all the deals each week, at the bottom of each post, she lists the best scenario to save money.  She literally does all the work for you.  I usually just skip right down to the bottom of her post and buy exactly what she does (minus any diapers).  Here is her post for CVS Weekly Ad 3/6-3/12.

So if you wanted to get started this week, here is one scenario:

Transaction #1
Buy:
(1) Revlon Nail $3.99
Use:
-$1 off Revlon Grow Luscious mascara or Color cosmetic product, SS 2/13
Total Due: $2.99
Get Back: $3 ECB

You would get back $3 ECB and save that for next week.  If you had $3 ECB from last week, you could use it here and basically get this product for FREE. 

I hope this all makes sense.  It is a little confusing at first, so just follow along each week and you will get the hang of it!

Couponing 101: Part 5

We are on Part 5 of my Couponing 101 series.  If you are just joining us, you can go back and read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 to get started. 

I mentioned in Part 3 of my series that one of my favorite coupon sites is Frugal Coupon Living.  I shop at Publix and she lists the sales for them each week (she also lists several other grocery stores if there is not a Publix near you).

Savings Example

I wanted to show you another example on how you can save BIG money each week with coupons.  This posts lists the deals from Feb 23/24 to Mar 1/2. 

Silk Soymilk - 1/2 Gallon $5/2
$.75 SS 2/6
$.75 Publix Coupon Yellow Advantage Buy Flyer
=$1

Remember that you don't have to buy two to get the sale.  So Soy Milk is on sale for $2.50 each.  If you combine 1 coupon from the Publix Yellow Advantage Flyer and 1 coupon from the SmartSource in the Sunday paper on 2/6 you can save $1.50.  So that Soymilk which was $2.50 is now only $1! 

There are a ton of couponing sites out there, so search around and remember that all the work is already done for you.  You just have to find the website that is right for you and keep saving those coupons!

Tracking Your Savings

So now that you have saved some BIG money, how can you keep track of it?  A reader (and friend) reminded me last week about making a spreadsheet.  It can be as simple or as detailed as you would like it.  The spreadsheet that I used just tracked my total spent and total saved on groceries and toiletries each week.  If you shop at a store that lists your total savings, it is as easy as looking at your receipt for the amounts. 

If that is not detailed enough for you, you can track the savings on each item you purchase.  That may take a little more time, but then you can compare how much you spent on it the next time it is on sale. 

I hope this Couponing Series has been helpful for you.  I'll continue to add to it each week.  Next week I plan to post about how to save money and shop at CVS for FREE!

Couponing 101: Part 4

We are on Part 4 of my Couponing 101 series.  If you are just joining us, you can go back and read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 to get started. 

If you have been following me from the beginning, you have about a month worth of coupons saved up.  Hopefully you have organized them in some way, separating out the inserts from the Sunday paper:  SmartSource (SS), Red Plum (RP), and Procter and Gamble (P&G).  You should also be placing the date you received them on the top of the insert.  If not, go back and read Part 1.  :o)

Today I am going to give you a few tips before heading out to your store of choice. 

*  First, find out the store's coupon policy.  Does the store double or triple coupons?  Do they take competitor store coupons?  It also helps to keep a copy of the policy with you in case you run into a problem with the cashier.  You can also just call the store and ask what their coupon policy is.

*  Start small.  Before going to your grocery store and trying to buy everything on your weekly grocery list with coupons, make a separate "test" trip and purchase only a few of the deals you found online. 

*  Don't be brand loyal!  Before I started couponing, we were brand loyal to many items.  Thinking back though, I'm not even sure why.  Maybe because our parents used the same brands.  If you can try new things, you will be able to buy what is on sale, use your coupons, and save $$!!

I hope these tips have been helpful!  Continue saving those coupon inserts and I'll resume with Couponing 101: Part 5 next week!

Couponing 101: Part 3

Welcome to Part 3 of my Couponing 101 series.  If you are just joining us, you can go back and read Part 1 and Part 2 to get started.  Today I am going to show you how to match up your coupons with your grocery store's sales ad.

Last week I introduced you to a few coupon sites, one of which is called Frugal Coupon Living.  This is one of my favorite sites because it lists the sales from the grocery store I shop at, which is Publix.  Now I know that many of you may not have a Publix near you, but you can use this same method for any grocery store.  As a matter of fact, Frugal Coupon Living also lists Kroger, Harris Teeter, Harveys, and a few others.

If you didn't get a chance last week, get yourself acquainted with her Publix post this week.  This post lists the deals from Feb 2nd or 3rd to Feb 8th or 9th.  She lists all the guidelines right at the top of the post for Publix.  Here they are for you (these are important to know)!!

1. Publix Takes Competitors Coupons. 

2. On B1G1, use TWO coupons because you are getting TWO items.

3. You do not have to buy 2 of the B1G1 items to get the sale price (In many FL locations you do have to buy both items. Check with your local store, though).

4. Always combine store and mfr coupons when you can.

5. Many Publix locations double manufacturer coupons that are $.50 or less (Tallahassee and most FL locations do not!)  Mine does not.  :o(

6. Some Publix sales start Wednesday to Tuesday, others are Thursday to Wednesday.

I am going to give you an example of one of the sale items from her site and explain what it means.

B1G1 Breakstone’s Sour Cream – 16 oz $2.25
$.55 printable (IE) printable (FF)
= $.58 each

Since the sour cream is on sale for Buy 1 Get 1 FREE (B1G1), you can use TWO coupons because you are buying TWO items.  Publix always has B1G1 sales, so you can really save big if you collect those coupons!!  The sour cream is $2.25 for 2 or $1.12 for 1.  Use TWO $.55 printable coupons, which she gives you the links to (IE means Internet Explorer and FF means FireFox).  Once you print one coupon you can usually hit the back button to print another.  You will save $1.10 on both sour creams, making them just $.58 each!  YAY!

Here's another example:

B1G1 Krusteaz Muffin or Cake Mix, or Supreme Bar Mix – 16.5 to 21 oz or Sun-Maid Muffin or Cookie Mix – 18 to 18.25 oz $2.59
$.50 SS 12/5
$1 SS 12/5
= $.25 – $.80

Ok, so the mixes are B1G1 for $2.59.  You now know you can use TWO coupons since you are buying TWO items.  If you have been saving those inserts and filing them away in date order (see Part 1) you will still have the inserts from December.  If you have purchased more than one copy of the Sunday newspaper, you will have two sets of copies.  Go to your SmartSource (SS) insert dated 12/5.  If you can pull TWO $1 coupons, you will be able to save $2 on these mixes, making them only $.30 each!  WOW!!  That is a great deal!!

One last example:

Pedigree Complete Nutrition Dog Food – 30 to 32 lb $16.99

$2 RP 1/23
$2 Publix printable
= $12.99

In this example you can combine the store coupon (sc) and manufacturer coupon (mfr), giving you $4 off the product.  You will find the mfr coupon in the Red Plum (RP) coupon insert on 1/23 and the store coupon you can print from the link. 

You can see that couponing may take some time to learn, but the benefits will be huge!  In the first two examples, I saved $3.10 and spent only $1.76!!  That's a 64% savings!!

What is also nice about the lists on Frugal Coupon Living, is that they are all printable.  You can check which items you want to buy and print your list off.  Very convenient!

So keep saving those coupon inserts and I'll continue with Couponing 101: Part 4 next week!

Couponing 101: Part 2

Last week I wrote Part 1 on how to get started on couponing.  I talked about why you would want to start couponing, where to find coupons, collecting coupons, and where to store all those coupon inserts. 

So now you have a few weeks of coupon inserts and want to know what you should do.  The first thing you should do is find a good coupon website that posts weekly deals for the store you shop at.  Here are three of my favorites:

Frugal Coupon Living:  This site got me started with couponing.  I was flipping channels one day in 2009 and Dr Phil was on.  The topic was on Money Saving Tips and Tricks.  Frugal Coupon Living was featured and I was hooked!

Hip 2 Save:  Hip 2 Save is a very popular coupon website and posts about multiple online and in-store deals.  She also runs several giveaways per day.

Southern Savers:  Southern Savers quickly became my favorite site for my grocery and CVS needs!  I shop at Publix for groceries and she posts a weekly Publix list that corresponds with the ads for that week.  She also posts a weekly CVS ad which tells you exactly what to buy.  It's wonderful!!

I think three sites for now are enough to get you started.  You can always search for more, but if you look at too many, you may get overwhelmed.  Take some time this week to browse around each one to get a feel for what they offer. 

Next week I'll show you how to save money on your groceries by using these helpful weekly lists. 

Couponing 101: Part 1

So you want to start couponing but are not quite sure how?  I couponed for about a year, and although I don't as much anymore, I thought I would share some tips!

What is Couponing and Why Should I Start?  Couponing is the practice of matching a coupon with an item in a store.  It's best matched when the item is on sale to get the lowest price possible.  Getting started is easy and can save you a lot of money on items you are planning to purchase anyway.

Where Can I Find Coupons?  There are several places to find coupons.  Here are a few you can start with:

The Sunday Paper
The Internet
In the Mail
In Magazines
On a Purchased Product
In Stores

How Do I Get Started?  Pick one store and start there.  When I started, I went all-in and became quite overwhelmed with all the stores I was visiting.  I spent a lot of time in the car going from one store to the other.  Don't get me wrong, I did save a TON of money...but I also spent a TON of time on doing it.  Try starting with your grocery store first, and once you have that mastered, add other stores. 

Collecting Coupons.  The first thing you need to do is start collecting coupons.  If you don't subscribe to the Sunday paper, you can start now, or just pick one up each week at the grocery store.  Or, if you are like me, check with family and friends who live close by, who can give you their coupon inserts.  It is best if you can get at least two copies of the weekly inserts, but starting out with just one is fine.  Try to collect your coupons for at least a month before you start couponing.  You'll need to have a good supply before you start getting the best deals!

Now That I Have Coupons, What Do I Do With Them?  Good question!  There are several ways people organize their coupons.  I don't like to waste a lot of time on clipping coupons I don't use, so I do not clip coupons until I need them.  I organize my coupons into three-ring binders, based on the type of insert.  For instance, the inserts in the Sunday paper include:  SmartSource (SS), Red Plum (RP), and Procter and Gamble (P&G).  I made one binder for each type.  Once I separate the three types, I would put the date I received them on the top of the insert.  The date would go on the top of all three, I would punch holes in them, place a tab on the end with the date (or separate them with a divider with the date), and put them in the corresponding binder.  The most current inserts go on top.  There is a reason for this method, and I will explain that in the next lesson.

So that is all there is to get started with couponing.  Once you have a few weeks of coupon inserts collected, you can really start saving money on your grocery bills!  I'll continue with Couponing 101: Part 2 next week, so stay tuned!!