$2.00/2 Coupon Eight O'Clock Coffee

Go here and get a $2.00/2 coupon for Eight o'clock Coffee!

FREE Nexcare Bandages at Walmart

If your heading out to Walmart you might want to check out the Nexcare banages to see if they are on rollback for $1.00. If so here is a deal to snag them for FREE!!

Nexcare Bandages $1.00
-use $1.00/1 coupon printable
or use $.55/1 coupon from 5/1 SS
= As low as FREE!!

Photo Credit ...Thanks, I Heart the Mart!

Coupon Lingo

Hey Guys!!  I know we have some new people checking out the site recently and would like to take this time to tell you about our "coupon lingo" we say around here. I know some newbies might be wondering what are they talking about...Let me explain our language!!

B1G1 or BOGO = Buy one get one free

Blinkies= these are in store coupons that are in a little black box hanging next to the item that the coupon is for. There is a little red blinking light on the box

Catalina or CAT= coupon dispensed from the catalina machine at the register after a purchase. These can only be redeemed at the store where you received the catalina

DND= do not double

GM= General Mills

Hangtags= a coupon or form that is hanging around the bottle or neck of an item

Inserts= a booklet of coupons that your find in the Sunday's paper

MIR= Mail in rebate

MM= money maker...this is where you make money after a coupon or rebate

MQ= this is a coupon that was issued by a manufacture

OOP= out of pocket

OYNO= on your next order ( this is wording usually on a catalina or register reward coupon)

PEELIE= a sticker coupon that you will find on a package

P&G= proctor & gamble ( Sunday coupon insert)


POP= proof of purchase...required for a refund or other offer taken from a package


PRINTABLE= internet coupon that you will print out of your computer


RC= rain check...slip of paper a store will give you that will extend a sale 


RP= Red plum ( sunday's insert)


RR= register rewards


SCR= single check rebate ( this is for Rite-Aid store)


SS= smart source ( sunday's insert)


STACKING= when you use a store coupon with a maunfacture coupon


TEARPADS= coupon found in store at a display case


WAGS= walgreens


WYB= when you buy


Hope this helps you understand.


 

How do I Organize My Coupons!!

If you want to be successful with couponing you MUST be organized!!!  I have done quite a few organizing techniques that I have found throughout the blogging world and I am going to tell you about a few that work for me. Remember what works for one person may not work for you.  Just tweak it until its perfect for you.

So let me help you out:

1. Coupon file 

This is a good beginner coupon file. It can fit easily into your purse and is very inexpensive ($1.00).  You can find these pretty much anywhere.They have 6 slots for you to categorize however you please.

I had mine for about 2-3 months then it was so full I couldn't fit anymore inside.  I was having a hard time finding the coupons I needed.  I would have to pull them all out and fiddle through them in the store. Such a hassle...I needed to upgrade and fast.


2. File your coupons


This is a really good way to organize your coupons if you are SUPER busy but still want to coupon and save money. All you need is a file, your Sunday coupons and a black sharpie marker.

When you get your Sunday's paper all you have to do is write the date (ex: 10/24) and you file it...DONE!!  Then all you have to do is keep checking my site for the store deals that I post every week.  When there is a coupon from your Sunday's insert I will let you know if its a SS, RP or P&G and the date will follow (EX: RP 10/24 insert)

3. Coupon Binder

If your going to do this method you will need:
1. A binder (If your going to turn into a coupon diva then I recommend a 3 inch binder like mine) Some people like the ones that zipper because if it falls all your coupons won't fall all over the place.  I find those are to small for me because the largest one I saw was a 1 inch or 1 1/2 inch)
 
I LOVE this method because I have ALL my coupons with me when I go to the store. If I find something on clearance I can just pull out my coupon binder  and go. I am never caught without my binder. Sometimes there are unadvertised sales and I just hate finding a great deal and don't have my coupons with me.



This method is time consuming. You have to clip each coupon you  have and place them in the baseball card slots. With kiddies and hubby in the house this can be hard to pull time aside to do. Some people are to embarrassed to pull it out in the grocery isle to find those unadvertised deals...not me! It's funny because when I go into my local Publix they are waiting to see what deals I am finding that day.  I only go to certain cashiers and they coupon too.  We exchange deals that we have done...its all to funny!!

2. Baseball card inserts. These you can find at your local walmart or target.  My store has them in the section where you can find the baseball cards or pokemon cards. They are not very expensive. I paid about $3.00 for a pack. There are 9 slots per sheet and you will put your coupons in the front and back.

3. Envelopes I also use envelopes when I coupon. (you can use them or not it will be your preference) I have an envelope for each store I use. (Target, CVS, Walgreen's, Walmart, Publix)  When I am making my list to go shopping for the week I will clip all my coupons and put them in the store envelope. I put my coupons, my shopping list and my coupon policy for that store. Depending on the store I will keep my rain checks, register rewards and extra bucks in them too. Then I add the envelope in the see through slot in front of my binder.  I like this because if I make my list to go shopping and never make it to the store until a couple of days later I know exactly what to get from each store and what stores I have to go to.

This part of couponing is definitely going to take time till you find the right way for you. Remember what works for one may not work for all.  It actually took me about 6 months before I found something I was comfortable with.


I hope you all enjoy my post.  If you like my site then "follow me" by clicking the link on the right side of my blog.

New to Couponing...Where do I get started!!

If your new to couponing let me help you out a little bit. You probably have a ton of questions like How do I find coupons? How do you get those great deals with a $.40 cent off coupon?

Honestly couponing is a science. Once you get the basics you will save hundreds of dollars every month. Before couponing I would spend $150 - $200 a week on food alone. When I started my couponing I still wasn't sure what I was doing but I was saving $50 or so on food and household necessities.  Now I budget $100 a week on food and household necessities. ( Yes and I have a family of 5 plus my dog and no I do not eat ramen noodles the whole day..lol)

1.How do you find coupons?

You can start by getting the Sunday's newspaper. You will find the SS (Smart Source), RP (red Plum) and P&G (Procter & Gamble) inserts. You will have all the fliers to all the dept stores, supermarkets etc in your area. I get 4 newspapers every Sunday because I like to stockpile. So I won't run out and have to pay full price.

Another good place to find coupons is on the Internet.  They are called printable coupons. You can checkout your favorite stores on Facebook.  They sometimes have some good deals and coupons.  You may even get FREE stuff from them. So go and check out your favorite sites.

If you are a loyal brand customer ( like I am with Heinz...shh don't say anything lol) You can send them an e-mail or give them a call ( just check the label on the product for the customer service number) and see if they can send you some coupons.  I do not find much Heinz Ketchup coupons so when I call they send me a bunch and sometimes ask if I would like to try other items they have.  They will usually send you high value coupons in the mail.

Here are some links for internet coupons:

Coupons.com
Smart Source
Red Plum
Cool Savings

2. How do you get great deals with a $.40 cent off coupon? 

The trick to couponing is purchasing items that are on sale then add your coupons on top of the sale. If something is BOGO ( Buy 1 Get 1 free) you are purchasing 2 items so you can use 2 coupons even though one of the items are free.  PLEASE UNDERSTAND YOU ARE NOT CHEATING YOUR STORE OR STEALING FROM THEM.  When you use a coupon the store gets a check from the manufacturer. They are still getting paid for that item just not by you :0)

Also check with all the stores you will be shopping at and ask them what their coupon policy is.  You can check their website and print out their coupon policy and bring it with you every time you go shopping just in case. It's nice to whip it out and show the cashier you were right and she was wrong :-)

Some stores have their own coupons. You can stack their coupon with a manufacture coupon for some really sweet deals.

Remember:
Sales + Store Coupons + Manufacture Coupon = LOW TO FREE DEALS!!!

Walgreens Store Info and Tips

Hello everyone!!!


Today's is a lesson all about Walgreen's.  Its really not hard to learn once you start doing it.  When you start checking out other coupon bloggers you will realize there is a special lingo us couponers talk.  If your not familiar with it you will be lost.  So here is a quick lesson. 

Walgreen's:  I think everyone has a Walgreen's around them.  They can be a little tricky when it comes to couponing with them.  They have what is called Register Rewards or RR.  These coupons will print out after you checkout from the Catalina machine. The Catalina is just the little machine that prints out the coupons. Please ask the cashier if there Catalina is working before purchasing any items. (That is such a drag to have to return everything and go to another Walgreen's)

If an item says you receive $3 RR ....You must spend $3 not $2.99 cause your RR will not print.  Also check the price on the screen cause sometimes there is an unadvertised sale or just rings up a different amount than you planned. 

Another IMPORTANT TIP  If you go and purchase Schick razors and you receive $4RR you cannot go back and purchase more Schick razors and use the same RR cause your your next $4RR will not print. If you have a RR from Loreal and try and buy a different item from Loreal your RR will not print out even though its a different product. Are you getting it so far? Make sure the RR you use is not from the same manufacture cause it will not print out your RR.

You will want to stack your coupons to get better deals on items.  You can use a Walgreen's coupon and a manufacture coupon for the same item.  For example:  The toothbrush is on sale for $1.00 and you get a $.50RR There is a store coupon for $.50 and a manufactures coupon for $.50 so its free...but wait its actually a Money Maker cause a coupon will print your RR for 50 cents so you just walked out of the store with a free toothbrush and they gave you 50 cents for your next visit....SWEET ISN'T IT!!!

Another important tip is you have to have an item for every manufactures coupon you use ( a RR is a manufacturers coupon).  That is when the fillers come in.  A filler is a very cheap item you can find in the store like a candy or something just so you can use another coupon. Remember its just for manufacture coupons not store coupons.  If your using a store coupon, once they scan the coupon it will automatically take off for every item that the coupon is for.

If your buying more than 1 item that has RR, you will have to do separate checkouts cause only 1 RR will print. ( I usually checkout at the cosmetic cashier cause you don't have the long line of people staring at you when you have to do 4 or 5 different transactions.) 

If you know your going to have overages you will want to give the cashier your manufacture coupons first then your store coupons so you can get that extra money to go towards other items you buy.

You want to keep an eye out for clearance items cause you can score some sweet deals. Before going shopping print out there coupon policy and keep it handy just in case you get a new cashier that is not familiar with their coupon policy. One thing you will learn from couponing is being prepared pays off.

If you should ever have a problem with a cashier then ask to speak with her manager if the problem still isn't fixed ( record the name of manager, date and time of incident) and call Customer Service at 1-800 Walgreen's.

Now that you have the basics....Let's go shopping!! 

Welcome!!!

Hey guys!!

I'm very excited to be back. I have to admit I had coupon burnout and couldn't do it anymore.  I have definitely learned my lesson.  A lesson that I would like to share with all of you.

Now that you have started walking down the coupon rode you DO NOT have to run yourself ragged trying to get all those great deals (like I did).  Yes they will be tempting but it's okay to pick and choose your deals. I am guessing everyone will feel like this at one point or another.  I like to think we are doing it right that is why we get burnt out. 

If you are in the same boat as I was or maybe later down the road you will experience what I am talking about here are some good tips you can follow:

1. Take a break:  Put your coupons aside for a few weeks. You should have a little stockpile somewhere to hold you off until you recoup. I do suggest that you still purchase the Sunday's paper. You can just file them or put them aside for when your ready to cut them up and insert into your binder.

2.Slow down:  Maybe you don't want to stop completely (and that's okay) You can just find the deals that are free or bogo (buy1get1) or choose to shop only at your favorite store.

3. Samples and Money making sites:  You can keep checking in with me and sign up for all the wonderful samples that arrive in your mailbox. (Don't you just LOVE getting the mail now) We all still need a little money so you can continue checking in with ebates and swagbucks

I hope some of these tips will help you.  If you have any questions just let me know and I will try and help as best I can.

Let me know of some great deals that you find in your area and how you did it.

I hope you are ready to begin this journey with me and if your ready then LET'S DO IT!!!