Couponing Basics

Here are some basics on how the "coupon game" works:

1. Get started SLOWLY. Couponing can be very overwhelming at first. Start small, such as making a commitment to collect the coupons from Sunday's newspapers and get them organized (see my separate post on coupon organization). It honestly took me an entire week to research and learn the "coupon game" before I was ready to venture out on my first shopping experience. Don't think you will learn the "coupon game" overnight. It takes time and patience, but pretty soon, you'll be doing it like a pro! My first few weeks of couponing was nerve-wracking until I realized this actually does work and allows us to save a lot of money.

2. Create a "junk email account". Sometimes getting a good coupon does require you to register on a particular site, which you will then get a lot of junk email from. Creating a "junk email account" will stop these emails from being mingled in with the emails you actually WANT to receive.

3. The "coupon code" is: SALE + MANUFACTURER COUPON + STORE COUPON = AWESOME SAVINGS! Here's an example: Crest Pro Health Toothpaste on SALE for $3.49. When purchased, you get an ECB (CVS) or RR (Walgreens) for $2 to use towards your next in-store purchase. You can also combine a MANUFACTURER COUPON with the sale price, making your purchase even cheaper than advertised. Without using a coupon, your final price after the sale and ECB or RR would be $1.49. Let's say you also have a coupon for $1 off that tube of toothpaste, so your final cost has now gone down to $0.49 total. Not bad for a tube of brand name toothpaste. I've looked at Wal-Mart and Dollar General for cheaper prices, and haven't found any yet.

4. There are ways to "make money" off of purchasing items on sale. There's nothing better than getting paid to take an item from a store. I've gotten multiple toiletry items this way: Colgate toothpaste was sale at Walgreens one week for $3.49. When purchased, you would get an RR for $3.50 to use towards your next in-store purchase. I also had a manufacturer coupon for $1 off a tube of Colgate toothpaste, so I actually paid $2.49 out of pocket, but my RR still printed for $3.50!

5. On Buy One Get One items, you can use two coupons, because you are getting two items, even though one of those items is FREE (yes, this actually works).

6. Take the time and hand your coupons to the cashiers one by one. This will ensure all coupons have been scanned. Yes, the line behind you will be held up by this, but you can avoid angry people simply by checking out at the Cosmetics Counter in Walgreens. CVS usually doesn't have a long line of people at once, and if they do, it's usually others who "coupon" as well, so they're more understandable. You can always turn around, smile and apologize as well. When people behind you see how it's working, they just may have questions too!

7. Printing coupons at home will use a lot of your paper and ink. Look for paper sales and stock up then. Get printer ink refilled for less at Walgreens ($10 black, $15 color). Only print what you will actually use.

8. BE FLEXIBLE on brands. There are a lot of awesome coupons and sales out there if you’re willing to break free from brand loyalty.

9. Learn to stockpile, especially on groceries, when there is an incredible sale. Hy-Vee now has new weekly “Hot Deals”. Stock up on these hot deals items and build your meal plan for the week around the sales. You will spend a lot less on a weeks worth of groceries for your family, but come home with quite a bit more.

As always, comment below with questions.