Part 2: Getting Started in Couponing

“You saved how much?”

This is a question I hear a lot. The next question is usually, “How did you do that?” It’s simple, really. You just match coupons with store sales to maximize your savings. It’s not difficult, but it is time consuming if you don’t have the proper resources. And the proper resources begin with a healthy stash of coupons. A large supply of coupons is going to be your most valuable tool for saving money and lots of it!

Here are some of the most popular places to find coupons:

1. Sunday Paper - This seems obvious, but it really is the very best resource for manufacturer coupons. There are usually two coupon inserts: SmartSource and Red Plum. Once a month, Proctor and Gamble releases a coupon book full of savings too. This insert is referred to as “P&G”
2. Blinkies - You know those cute little blinking machines on the shelves of your local grocery store? Those machines are called “Blinkies” and so are the coupons that come out of them. These coupons are rotated once a month and are provided by SmartSource.
3. Peelies - Peelies are the coupons that are stuck onto the product. They are often in the form of a sticker.
4. IP- In coupon world, “IP” stands for “Internet Printable” and refers to a coupon that is printed from the internet. There are several resources for this type of coupon.
5. Catalinas - The machines that are located by the cash register and produce coupons are called Catalina Machines (because they are made by the Catalina company). The coupons that are printed from those machines are also referred to as Catalinas. Catalinas are triggered by items or combinations of items you purchase.
6. Hang-Tags - Hang-Tags are often found around bottle necks of everything from shampoo to olive oil.
7. Home Mailers - By getting on the mailing lists of various companies, you will find that you will start receiving coupons in the mail. Most of these coupons that are sent directly from the manufacturers are high value coupons.
8. Free Samples - Every so often a company will offer a free sample of their products. These samples often come with high value coupons.So, there you have it! The most effective ways to accumulate a nice supply of coupons.

Part 1: Coupons 101

This is the first in a Coupons 101 Series. These articles were originally published on http://www.sgmradio.com/ as a part of my monthly article, "The Frugal Life".

There are a few fundamental building blocks that have to be in place in order for you to really succeed in the art of couponing and frugal living. Overcoming some mental hurdles and some common misconceptions are key. One of the first stumbling block aspiring coupon users face is brand loyalty.

Up until a few years ago, I had used the same brand of hand soap, same toilet paper, same dish soap, soup, laundry detergent, shampoo and moisturizer for most of my life. I used to be terribly loyal to the particular brands I was used to. I was used to these brands and to me they were the best on the market. For whatever reason, I though these were the best smelling, the best working or the best value. I was loyal to a fault. And when I embarked on my new coupon venture, I looked long and hard for coupons for MY brand of toothpaste, shampoo and juice. Rarely did I find what I was looking for and when I did, I would be disappointed that 15 minutes of internet searching just saved me .25 (minus the cost of the ink and paper to print the stupid thing).

As I forged on in my couponing venture, I soon learned that I really needed to change the way I thought about the products I used in my everyday life. I really needed to abandon the mindset that the brand I was used to was the very best on the market. Truth is, I could probably find someone else who was every bit as loyal to the product that was on sale as I was to the products I liked and longed for. I had to change my mindset from going into the store in search of XYZ toothpaste to simply going into the store to buy toothpaste. Period.
Through product samples and freebies and because of the great deals I found using coupons, I soon found other products that I liked just as much as I had liked their competitors… the ones I had been loyal to all my life. In fact, I found that there were other products out there that did the job better, smelled better, lasted longer or lathered more than those products that I was so sure were the “best” on the market.

It may not be as adventurous assailing down the Amazon River or backpacking across Europe, but coupons have broadened my horizon, broken down some long held misconceptions and added a little “Indiana Jones” like thrill into my weekly grocery shopping trip. A trip to the grocery store used to be mundane, if not boring. Now, I find it fun! I love to see how much money I can save in a single trip or even how much money I can MAKE in a single transaction.
Before you break into this world of coupon clipping, sale watching and deal scoring, take some time to think through the products that you use everyday and assess which brand loyal products are because of preference and habit and which brands are necessary (due to allergic reactions or other important reasons). Deciding that your hair will be just as soft with another shampoo and your tummy just as full with another type of canned ham, is the first mental step in learning to use coupons and sales to drastically decrease the amount of money you spend on everyday products.

Coupon Wording

There always seems to be confusion regarding coupon usage and the wording

What does "Limit one coupon per purchase" on a manufacturer's coupon mean?

This particular wording seems to be the most confusing for cashiers and has caused many a legitimate coupon deals to go bad. Many cashiers believe that "Limit one coupon per purchase" means that you can only use 1 coupon for your entire order or only one of a particular type of coupon for an entire order. This is not true. I actually means that you can only use one coupon for each item that you are buying. For instance, if I were to buy a can of soup and a loaf of bread and I have one coupon for the soup and one coupon for the bread. I am "purchasing" these items and I have ONE coupon per purchase. The coupon does prohibit me from buying a can of soup and a loaf of bread and using two manufacturer's coupons on the soap or the bread. I can only use 1 coupon per item. It does not mean that you can only use 1 coupon for your entire order. If a cashier tries to convince you that you are only able to have one coupon per order, you can either ask for a manager or explain to them that it would be no different than if you were to each item separately. Also, the limit on a manufacturer's coupon does NOT mean that you can not use a store coupon along with your manufacturer's coupon. Unless either coupon specifically prohibits it or a store has it in their coupon policy, it is fine to use both a manufacturer's coupon AND a store coupon on the same item. Store coupons usually have a limit as to how many items you can purchase with that coupon and it is usually stated clearly on the coupon. Almost every manufacturer coupon has "Limit one coupon per purchase" printed on it.

What does "One per transaction" on a manufacturer's coupon mean?

Fortunately, the wording "One per transaction" does not appear on too many manufacturer's coupons. These types of coupons indicate that you are not supposed to use two like coupons in a single transaction. For example, if I were to buy 2 cans of soup and had two of the same coupons, I would not be able to use both coupons in a single transaction. I would simple do two transaction at the same time. I could only use 1 coupon even though I'm buying 2 bags. (they've since changed that rule).

What does "Limit one per person" on a manufacturer's coupon mean?

It's not likely that you will see "Limit one per person" written on a manufacturer's coupon. It would be almost impossible for them to track whether or not a person is using more than one of a particular coupon. The only time I've encountered this is on free product coupons. You may see this printed on a store coupon. This is especially true with some stores' double coupons. They track this via your rewards or loyalty card. It is more likely that you will see wording like, "Limit one coupon per shopping trip" or "Limit one coupon per day per family" or something similar.

I hope this helps to clear-up some confusion regarding coupon usage.

Walmart's Coupon Policy

It's wise to familiarize yourself with the coupon policies for each of the stores you frequent. To my knowledge, Walmart allows their managers at the local level to modify their coupon policy. Target, on the other hand, has a corporate policy that all stores must follow. I would recommend that you ask for the coupon policy at each of the stores you shop at. Here is Walmart's coupon policy:

• Walmart Will accept: Competitor Coupons, Printable Manufacturer Coupons, Newspaper Manufacturer Coupons.
• Walmart will price match a Competitor (just take the ad in)
• Walmart Will Not:Take One Store Coupon (competitor) and One Manufacturer for a single product. (1 Coupon Per Item)

Please verify this information in regards to your local store.

Quick Tips for Beginning Couponers

Here are a few tips for all of you who are new to "Couponing":

• Buy multiple copies of the Sunday Paper. Ask family, friends, neighbors and even co-workers to save theirs for you as well.
• Choose 1 store to start couponing at. Learn their coupon policy, how their sale cycles work (from Sunday through Saturaday or Wednesday through Tuesday)!
• Don't be afraid to ask questions. Ask me! Ask others you know who have had success and don't be afraid to ask a store manager questions regarding coupon usage.
• Realize that you are not going to be able to participate in every sale or snag every good deal. Start small and work your way into being a coupon master.
• When most stores offer sales such as "$2/3" or "$4/5," you don't have to buy the 2 or 4 to get the sale price. You can buy 1 or 2 or 10 and they will all be the same price.

Be sure to catch our series on Coupon usage starting on Monday, July 13!

Albertson's: General Mills Promotion Explained

Spend $25 in participating products & Earn a $10 Catalina

A Catalina is the coupon that prints at the register at time of check-out. The company that makes the machine is Catalina, therefore the coupons that print are referred to as a "Catalina" coupon. These coupons are good on your next order.

• View Albertson's Ad here
• Plan your shopping trip before you leave for the store.
• I put my coupons and a list of items to purchase in snack sized ziplocks.
• I find it helpful to write out a master list of items and then separate the orders at the end.
• Buy enough products to total $25 before tax and coupons per transaction.
• You can "ROLL" the Catalina deal. This means you can do 1 transaction to get the $10 Catalina and then do a 2nd transaction, use the 1st $10 Catalina to pay for the second transaction and get another Catalina!

Sunday Paper Reminder

It's Sunday!! Don't forget to buy multiple copies of your Sunday Paper!!

Coupon Seminar

If you are interested in an online Coupon Seminar OR a live Seminar to your group (Book Club, Church, Etc), please contact me. Learn valuable lessons on how to save hundreds of dollars every month on your grocery bill!

queenoq@gmail.com

Walgreens: Great Filler Ideas

There has been some confusion amongst my readers about Walgreen's and how their Register Reward's program works. At Walgreens you have to have more products than coupons (this includes manufacturer coupons and Register Rewards). For instance, if you are buy the Bayer Quick release and use a manufacturer coupon and a Register Reward, the register will beep and you will not be able to proceed with your transaction. This is why you have to add an inexpensive "filler" item. This will allow you to proceed with your transaction.

Here are some filler ideas:

• a single pencil (usually found in seasonal aisle)
• a single piece of candy
• a Sunday newspaper (we all buy those anyway!)
• Walgreen's brand facial tissue in the travel size
• Jiffy Pancake Mix

And perhaps my favorite idea... photos! You can upload your photos and order them online. Make sure that you say that you want to pay in the stores. The price per photo is very economical as a filler.

If you have any ideas for great fillers, please feel free to comment.

Reminder: Buy Multiple Copies of your Sunday Paper

Just wanted to remind everyone to pick-up multiple copies of the Sunday paper tomorrow. In many places, advanced copies are available on Saturday. Keep your eye out for these advanced copies. Getting the paper on Saturday means that you can use the coupons for last minute shopping trips before the Sunday - Saturday sales end (Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS and most other stores run their sales on this schedule).

Coupon Seminar

If any of you in the Seattle area would be interested in attending a coupon seminar that I am conducting this Sunday, April 19th, please contact me. Thank you.

"Cutting" Cupon Cutting Time

Cutting coupons can either be a relaxing activity or a stressful nightmare! If you are not relaxed by cutting and sorting... here are a few tips that might shorten your coupon cutting time:

1. Stack multiples of the same ad and cut them all at one time. That"cuts" your time a lot. Be careful when you are cutting that you do not cut the bar code off (or expiration date).

2. Don't clip coupons at all. You can always file your coupons in a file box. Use the headings of Red Plum (Date), Smart Source (Date), P&G (Date), etc. This is a great method if you do not want to clip. The down side is that it requires you to pull and cut all coupons before you head to the store and does not allow you to be flexible to pick-up last minute deals. It's too bulky to carry a file box into a store to coupon (although I've seen it done).

3. Combine both methods by cutting the most commonly used coupons (main-stream food and drug companies) and then filing the rest of the coupons to save time. Don't ever throw away a coupon! Even if it is for a product you will not use, do not throw away a coupon.

Have any coupon cutting tips? Feel free to comment!

Coupon Lingo

Here is a list of important abbreviations, slang and terms pertaining to coupons:

Albies: Albertson’s Grocery Store

Blinkies: Coupon machines with a blinking red light that are found attached to grocery store aisles are called Blinkies. The coupons from these machines are also referred to as Blinkies. The machines are by SmartSource and are updated about once a month.

B1G1 or BOGO: Buy one get one free

Catalina or CAT: A Catalina is name of the coupons that are printed out at the register. The machine that prints these coupons is made the Catalina Company, hence the name of the coupon. These coupons are triggered by certain items or combination of items that you purchase.

Double Coupon: Means the value of the coupon is doubled at the register

DND: Do Not Double.

ESC: Easy Saver Coupon (coupon found in Walgreens Easy Saver Catalog)

ESR: Walgreen’s EasySaver Rebate program. You can get several items free after rebate every month.

FAR: Free After Rebate

FM: Fred Meyer grocery store (Kroger store)

HBA: The health and beauty aid section of stores

IP: Internet printable coupon

MFR: Manufacturer

MIR: Mail in Rebate

OOP: Out of pocket. This is the money you pay out of pocket at a transaction after coupons, rebates and catalinas.

OYNO: On your next order. These coupons will generally come in the form of a catalina.

P&G: Proctor & Gamble. The Proctor and Gamble company often has inserts in the Sunday paper that feature coupons.

Peelie: Peelies are the coupons that are attached to a product itself.

Q: Coupon

RP: Red Plum Sunday insert coupons

RR: Register Rewards (these are the catalinas that print out at Walgreens)

SS: Smart Source Sunday Insert coupons

Stacking Coupons: Most stores allow you “stack“ manufacturer coupons with store coupons for addition

Wags or WAGS: Walgreen’s

WYB: When You Buy offers you a discount or free product (or coupon on your next purchase) when you buy a specified product.