Smart, Savvy, Saver

Simple Steps to be a Smart, Savvy, Saver: (Don't get overwhelmed, this is EASY)

• Learn where to find coupons
• Learn the coupon lingo
• Learn to use a Coupon Binder and how to clip your coupons
• Learn your store coupon policies
• Learn to "stack" your coupons and how to "match" coupons with sales and promos
• Learn how to use rainchecks
• Start your stockpile

1. Start building your coupon library. Where do you get all of those coupons?

WEEKEND NEWSPAPER: In my area we receive our coupon inserts in the Saturday and Sunday papers; however the majority of you will want to purchase the Sunday paper to receive all your coupons. I always get the DOUBLE INSERT PAPER. It has double the coupons for a cheaper price than purchasing them separate. ALWAYS CHECK to make sure the paper you are purchasing has the coupons inside. I've been bummed a couple times…got home…and no coupons! That’s the worst. Usually on holiday weekends there are no coupon inserts but sometimes they surprise you, so always check. The coupon inserts are as follows: RedPlum, Smartsource, Proctor & Gamble and sometimes General Mills. Go to sundaycouponpreview.com view the Coupon Insert Schedule and see what coupons will be in the coming weekends inserts! Most of the coupons in the paper will be Manufacturer Coupons.

INTERNET SITES LIKE: coupons.com, smartsource.com, redplum.com, etc. I will also give you a daily update on what other printable coupons are available.

BLINKIES and TEAR PADS: Blinkies are little machines that spit out coupons and tear pads have coupons attached to them. Be on the look out for these at all times! They are usually next to the product you are buying on the store shelves.

PEELIES: These are coupons and offers attached to products. These are ONLY for the customer purchasing the item. It is NOT okay to peel off coupons from items you are not buying!

CATALINA MACHINE: This is the little machine that prints along with your receipt. Sometimes it has advertisements for upcoming Catalina deals and such, sometimes it spits out extra coupons! Always check!

MAGAZINES: Several magazines feature a few coupons per month…don’t let those get away! Some are FREE!

ALL YOU magazine features over 40 coupons each month!

STORES: Many stores, especially drugstores like Walgreens will put out their own monthly coupon booklets to be used exclusively in their stores. CVS and Walgreens feature online printable coupons so check their websites every week! The great thing about these is that these are store coupons that can be stacked with a manufacturer coupon, which makes for some great deals! Another way they promote coupons is in their weekly ads, so don’t forget to check those out.

EMAIL YOUR FAVORITE COMPANIES DIRECTLY: Just ask! I try to email about 15-20 companies each month to compliment them on a quality product. In response they mail me coupons! It only takes a few minutes of your time and the majority will respond with coupons. These coupons are usually higher value than ones you find anywhere else. To avoid bombarding your inbox with junk mail, I would definitely open a separate email account through yahoo just for this purpose.

MAILERS: If you sign up with different companies they will usually mail you promotional offers and coupons periodically.

INSIDE PRODUCTS: Make sure to check inside the products you buy. Also sometimes manufacturers will put coupons on the box, so don’t throw away anything without checking for coupons first!

LOAD ELECTRONIC COUPONS TO YOUR STORE LOYALTY CARD:

Another great way to amp up your coupon savings is by loading them directly to your store’s loyalty card (example: Kroger Plus Card). It is very convenient…never forget your coupons again!

3 easy steps to instant clip-free savings

1. Register your store card on each electronic coupon website
2. Check the coupons you wish to load
3. Swipe your card at checkout and coupons are automatically deducted

Click on the links on the side under Digital Coupons to start loading!

Make sure to PRINT your list of digital coupons to keep with you at all times. This makes for some great deals  on the spot!

Sometimes these coupons are stackable with a paper coupon. It depends on your store, which site you loaded it from – and sometimes it just depends on coupon system at the store! It's very unpredictable so it doesn't hurt to try!

2.COUPON LINGO... What do all those letters mean??

There are some things you need to learn in order to make couponing EASY.
These are some of the most common abbreviations and couponing words used on this blog. Make sure to read the Coupon Policies section for some very important information.

$1/1 $1.00/1 = $1.00 off of 1
BLINKIES = Coupons in a little machine next to the product. They spit out one coupon every few seconds. It is OK to take more than one.
BOGO/B1G1 = Buy One Get One
CATALINA = Coupon printed at register after purchase
CNP = Coupon Near Product (similar to BLINKIES)
CRT = Customer Receipt Tape (CVS receipt coupons that print after your purchase)
DND = Do not Double (Some coupons have this)
DOUBLE COUPON = Coupon that grocery store doubles in value
EB/ECB = ExtraCare Bucks (CVS)
FAR = Free After Rebate
GM = General Mills (Newspaper insert)
IP = Internet printable coupon
IVC= Instant Value Coupon (store coupon)
K = Kellogg’s (Newspaper Insert)
MANUFACTURER= The company who produces the brand items. Example: Kraft, Kellogs, etc.
MATCH-UPS = on this blog, you will see posts for CVS, KROGER, and WALGREENS. These posts are MATCH-UPS of the in store weekly ads that have been matched with the best coupon available to make the items VERY cheap or FREE.
MFR= Manufacturer
MIR = Mail in Rebate
Money Maker = When an item is on sale and offers an ECB or RR and you match a coupon with a higher value than the sale price. Example: Revlon Lipstick is on sale 2 for $7 and you receive $2 Extra Bucks when you buy 2. You have 2 coupons for $3 off 1. Your Final Price is $1.00 Money Maker. You will not receive cash. You will receive the Extra Bucks.
OOP = Out of Pocket
P&G = Proctor & Gamble (Newspaper Insert)
Peelie = Coupon you peel off package you are buying. Don't peel off coupons from packages you are not buying!!
RP= Red Plum (Newspaper Insert)
RR = Register Rewards (Walgreens)
SS= Smart Source (Newspaper Insert)
TSSS= The Smart, Savvy, Saver
STACKING = Using stores allow multiple use of coupons – manufacturer’s & store coupons or rebates.
TEAR PAD = A pad of coupons or MIR near a product or on display
WCB= coupon inside the Walgreens Coupon Book
WYB= When You Buy
YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary (Depends on certain store policies/factors whether the deal will work.)
X = Expiration date/ expires on

ON MATCH-UPS:
When you see  match-ups for the weekly ads, they will look like this:

Snickers Peanut Butter Squares 4 for $2.00 Receive $1.00 Extra Buck
Buy 8
Use 4 B1G1 Free Snickers Peanut Butter Squares RP 2/6 = this means the coupon is in the Redplum Coupon  insert for Feb. 6
Pay $2.00 for 8 and receive $2.00 Extra Bucks
Final Price: FREE

If you have your coupons filed away in your binder and labeled correctly(by date and coupon insert type), this coupon will be a snap to find.

3. Organizing your coupons [Method 1: The Coupon Binder]

The absolute best Binder I have come across is the Large Capacity Case It Binder. The reason I love this binder is 1. It has a ZIPPER!! This is very important in case you drop your binder, your coupons won't go flying everywhere. 2. It has a large capacity 3" O ring to hold all your coupons without falling apart. 3. It has a 5-color tabbed expanding file to store all your weekly ads and grocery lists. 4. It has a handle, making it super easy to carry around, as oppose to one without a handle that you would have to carry like a book. 5.It also has a pocket for your scissors, pens, calculator, etc. I made the mistake of buying three binders looking for something sturdy and I finally came to this one. So don't skimp on your binder. See if you can find a coupon or find it on sale but if you don't, buy it anyway. It pays for itself on your first shopping trip using coupons.

You are going to need a few things to put in your binder.

1. Clear sheet protectors (you will use a lot of these)
2. Clear 3 pocket page dividers
3. Sticky tabs
4. Small scissors
5. Small calculator
6. Pens or sharpie, paper clips

Here's what you're going to have to do every Sunday.

1. Print your coupon list from SundayCouponPreview.com . You will print out that weeks lists for  SS, RP, P&G, Etc. Make sure you print the date and the name of the coupon insert at the top of the page. If you have 4 of each insert, write a big 4 on your list so you'll know how many you have each week. As you use them, just mark them off your list as you go so that you can keep track of what coupons you do and don't have.
2. Once you get your coupons in the Sunday Paper, you have to organize them. Put all the SS together and put them inside ONE sheet protector and place the corresponding list in the front of the stack so that you may easily see what coupons your insert is carrying. Do this for each coupon insert: RP, P&G, and so on.
3. Get a sticky tab to put on each sheet protector and place them cascading down to get to them easily. Label them by date and type of insert. (Example: SS 2/6) It's a good idea to color code the labels. For example: All my redplum are RED. All my SmartSource are GREEN. All my P&G are BLUE. All my GM are YELLOW.
4. Now put your coupons inside your binder. As your coupon library grows, you will want to put the newer coupons in the back. That way the expiring coupons will be easier to get to. As the unused coupons expire, you will just remove them by taking out the sheet protector and you wont have to move anything around. The newer coupons will just be placed towards the back.

This method allows you to keep track of your coupons and allows you to find your coupons easily when using the match ups here.

* There is a little trick I use that helps keep my coupons even more organized. Let's say you have 6 P&G coupon inserts in your sheet protector. If you want to use a coupon for toothpaste and you are going to use all 6, you will have to cut out all 6 coupons one at a time. Well, in order to do only one cut, this is what you do:

When you get your coupon inserts on Sunday, take a little more time to get them organized like this( you might want to do this on the floor if you have a lot of inserts):

1. Make a stack of each insert.
2. Start with one insert and separate and stack each different page. Discard any pages without coupons.
3. Now stack those stacks all together and put them in your sheet protector .

Your coupons are now all together so that you can pull them out and cut at the same time.

This method allows you to take ALL your coupons with you on your shopping trips, which is what I do. That way you won't miss out on HOT deals you find on the spot that are not advertised in your paper! And let me just say, it happens very often.

Method 2: Filing & Envelopes

This method is mostly used by those of us who don't have much time to keep up with a binder. I use it some times too when I'm running around like a chicken without it's head.
What you need:

• A small file box and file folders
• Envelopes, Legal size

1. Each Sunday, you will file away your coupon inserts in your file box, with the corresponding Coupon list from SundayCouponPreview.com.
2. When you see our match-ups here, clip only the coupons you will need and put them in envelopes labeled with the store name. Pull them out when your ready to pay and you will be in and out of the store in no time.

The bad thing about this method if you use it ALL the time is that you miss out on deals you find in the store that are not advertised. Then you end up wasting more time going back home to get your coupons and taking extra trips to the store.

Method 3. Clipping ALL your coupons.

This method will certainly take up the most time. It involves clipping all your coupons. Every Sunday. Yikes!
The only problem with this method is, if you print out your list of coupons and then try to look for them in the corresponding insert, it will be very difficult because all the coupons will be clipped away. You will have to flip through your binder until you find the right coupon you are looking for, and sometimes you won't have it because you already used it in a previous transaction and just forgot about it. However, if you label your binder alphabetically, you will be able to

What you need:

• Binder
• Trading card holders (plenty of them)
• Dividers with tabs (about 17) OR Dividers with the letters of the alphabet on the tabs.
• Make Categories to put your coupons in OR alphabetize by BRAND NAME. Example: Kellogs, Crest, Pantene, etc.

These are the most common categories:
In alphabetical order:

• AirFreshners
• Baby
• Baking / Cooking / Spices
• Beauty
• Beverages / Drink mixes
• Bread
• Breakfast / Cereal
• Canned Goods / Soups
• Cleaning
• Dairy
• Dessert / Snacks
• Frozen
• Household / Misc
• Meat
• Paper Goods / Containers
• Pasta / Rice / Seasonings
• Personal Care / Medicine
• Sauces / Dressings / Condiments / Jellies 

 You can combine some of these categories according to the aisles in the store to make shopping easier. For example, you can put the Frozen with the Bread because these aisles are usually next to each other at the grocery store. Here's what you'll do:

1. Label your dividers by categories OR alphabetically for brand name  (ABCD...)
2. Each Sunday, sort out your inserts and clip your coupons as shown in this video:
3. Put them in the trading card holders in the correct category or by brand name.

That's it. The hardest part is getting this binder started. If you have the time to clip all those coupons, go for it! I've heard many couponers say that there is no wrong way to organize your coupons. Well, I disagree. If you find a method is NOT working for you, then it's wrong! My advice is to try out the method you are most likely to stick with and is the most convenient for YOU. There are many ways to organize your coupons, but the main point is to JUST ORGANIZE them. If you can't find your coupons right away, then you are spending more time than you are saving money. They say time is money, but I disagree with that too. We can always make more money, but we can't make more time!! Time is so much more valuable than money!!

4. Store Coupon Policies
It is very important that you familiarize your self with each stores coupon policy. PRINT and KEEP a copy of each with you when shopping. I can't stress this enough. Each store is different and you MUST know this before going on your first shopping trip. The CVS coupon policy is not posted online but you can go to our CVS tab to read about it. Click here for Walgreens. Click here for Kroger(this is only for the print-at-home-coupons). Click here for Walmart. Click here for Target.
Once you have your policies printed and you have read them, go to our Drug Store Guidelines tab for all you need to know about shopping at CVS and Walgreens. The two stores you will soon fall in love with!!

5. Stacking and Matching: What is that?
Stacking coupons is simple. It just means that you are going to use a store coupon AND a manufacturer coupon for ONE item. Almost all stores have their own coupons. CVS, Walgreens, Kroger, and Target all have their own store coupons. They will have the store logo or name on them. The manufacturer coupons are straight from the manufacturer and  can be used at any retailer. Check each stores coupon policy to make sure they allow stacking. Most of them do(CVS, Walgreens, Kroger, Target).

Matching simply means that you match the weekly sale ads with the best possible coupon or combination of coupons and rebates available. This takes a little time and practice but it gets very easy after a while.  All you do is write your list, gather your coupons, and go shopping. It's that easy.  If you want to do it yourself, all you do is gather your circulars(weekly store ads you get in the mail) and get your coupons out. Go through each ad and search for coupons that will give you the best deal. Have your calculator and a note pad handy to make your list as you go through the ads.It takes time but saves you money!!

How to get prepared for shopping:

• Print out the match-ups you will be using from our Couponers database.
• Search for your coupons according to the match-ups and clip the right amount of coupons for each deal.
• Use a separate envelope for each store, label it with store name, put you coupons for that store in it. (you can also write a list of items you are buying on the envelope for quick shopping.) If you are doing multiple transactions, label them by numbers.
• Check your math and write your estimate on each envelope to give you an idea of what you might pay.
• Wear something comfortable and take a bathroom break before you head out. It's kinda hard to take your coupons to the bathroom at the store.

6. Rain checks. Why use them?
A rain check is a voucher for an item(s) that is on sale and is no longer in stock. It allows you to come back to the store at a later time and purchase the items(s) for the sale price, even though the sale is over.
There will be times that you go to the store and you won't find the item that was advertised because the store has run out. Ask for a rain check for the maximum limit allowed on the item so that you can come back to the store and buy it when the shelves are re-stocked. You can usually ask a manager when they are going to re-stock. Most of the time it is the following week. By using rain checks you will be able to get ALL the deals you wanted to begin with. Now that is being savvy!!

Your first shopping trip...
Go prepared. Set up your coupons with the method that best works for you.
Have your coupon policies with you.
Have a calculator, scissors, and note pad with you always.
Print out your match-ups and have your coupons ready.

Try not to make things complicated for yourself. If you prepare well at home, things should go smoothly at the store. Be polite to your cashier. You have to understand that there are some couponers who don't understand the coupon policies and "throw a fit" at the register, which gives all of us couponers a bad name. Your cashier has seen the worst of them, trust me. The cashiers are just doing their job and none of them want to lose it. Occasionally you will get someone unwilling, but if you go prepared, you will be ok. I remember my first shopping trip with coupons. I got so nervous it wasn't even funny. But I was prepared and it was awesome when the cashier was “WOWED” as she rung up all my coupons and my total was $0.36 for 7 items. She said: YOU GO GIRL!! I was thrilled to say the least!!

Make sure your items match your coupon EXACTLY by size of the product and amount of products needed for the coupon to work. Don’t give your cashier extra work. Do your math before you get to the check out counter so that you know what to expect. Your cashier will love you for this!

ONE LAST NOTE:
The Managers at each store have the final decision on what coupons they will accept. There has been times that I just can’t use a coupon no matter how hard I try, simply because the register beeped and the cashier or manager won’t take the time to override it or put the transaction through correctly. In this case I tell them I don’t want the item. I don’t stress over it because the item will most definitely go an sale again and I will have a coupon for it again. It’s not a big deal. It is a bit frustrating if you had a plan at home and aren't able to get everything on your list at the store because they won't take your coupon or it is out of stock. But don’t sweat it! Use your coupon policies or get a rain check!

Your favorite items are not on sale. So....
It's understandable that we get addicted to a certain type of product and we rarely find our selves trying other products. This is quite normal when you find a product you really love. However, when you start couponing, there will be LOTS of products you have never tried or ever thought about trying, that you can get virtually free. Now, wouldn't you try it for free?? If you want to have your shelves full of soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet tissue, beauty products, food, trashbags, well you get the point, you have to take advantage of what is on sale. And, the product you so much love will eventually go on sale and you can stock up on it as well. But in the meantime, try new stuff. You might love it too!!

Building your Stockpile
Let me start by saying "This does not mean -clear out the shelves at each drugstore"! Please don't get greedy!! A stockpile should not be full of things you never use or ever intend to use. It should not have expiring food sitting there going bad for no good reason. You should not be clearing the shelves at each drugstore just because an item is free. Stockpiling for each person is different but there should be limits.

This is what I mean:

• A family of 3 will not need to buy 10 shampoos all at once. The item will most likely go on sale again and you can keep your stockpile going then.
• Start to build a stockpile of the most common things you use but do it slowly. 3 shampoos at a time will do the job and keep you from buying the product when it is not on sale.

Even then, your stockpile will grow faster than you think and you will soon run out of room to put your items. Don't start hoarding just because you feel the need to coupon. I know couponing is addicting but try to find the balance.
If your house has coupons and newspapers ALL over the place, SLOWDOWN and take breather. I've seen this happen far too many times and it turns something fun into something stressfull. Take a month off if this is happening to you. Don't worry about the sales you are missing out on. They ALWAYS come back. Take this time to organize your stockpile. Rotate items so that they don't expire. USE what you will and DONATE what you won't. There are always friends and family that will gladly take some things off your hands. There are also food banks that could really use the extras that are driving you nuts!

And please...
Don't let couponing take over your life. Use these methods to improve your life. Pay off that debt that's been lingering around for years. Save for that vacation you have been wanting. Put some money away for your retirement. Take some YOU time and splurge for yourself. Have fun. Be kind. Share what you have learned with others. DON'T GET GREEDY.