So, here I am. Starting another blog!
This time it was encouraged by many friends and so I'm excited to share awesome deals with you & my shopping trips. I just got into using coupons about 2 or 3 weeks ago, so my backlog of coupons is slim so far but it's encouraging to have been able to see savings already!
I only know what I've experienced so far, so although I don't know much, I'm excited to share what I already know with you.
Here's a little about my Couponing method.
1. We currently subscribe to 2 Sunday-only papers for Salt Lake City, Utah. We chose to do the Salt Lake Tribune ONLY (as I believe you can only get 2 copies max of each Sunday paper in SLC so if you wanted 4 - you'd do 2 SLTribune and than 2 Deseret News.) We paid $50 a year for each paper so it was $100 total, although it seems like a GIANT sum at first.. Guaranteed, if you follow through with it - it will pay off! (If anyone needs to place an order, click
here to email me)
2. I've read blog after blog after BLOG and in my attempt to be frugal, we've decided to give couponing a try. It mostly stemmed from the fact that when I was 5 1/2 months pregnant, my husband got laid off and we needed an immediate way to be right on in our food budget and not feel like "oh we ran out of shampoo", "oh i need more gel" ALL THE TIME.
3. I'm beginning to start to get the hang of things and realizing that when shopping & using coupons.. Cashiers/Customer Service clerks don't always know everything. I've had 3 major shopping trips using coupons and 2 out of the 3 times, I was told something inaccurate (ie. "I can't take this coupon because it's $6 off razors and you only have $4 worth of razors.") I'll post each individual stores coupon policy to print out & bring with you - when in doubt, always review the coupon policy & ask for a Manager.
4. I don't really have a SPECIFIC shopping day in the week. Typically, it has become Tuesday nights - I try and plan my best for that - but often times, I'll run out midweek to take advantage of the deals. When I plan my meal plan, I plan for 7 days. Often times, we may end up doing something different than I planned on night.. therefore I'll have an extra meal and end up shopping on the 8th day instead of the 7th. It's really up to your family and how you guys do it. I often will make meals that are WAY too much for Kc & I, so my work lunches typically end up being leftovers.
5. I typically shop at Walmart. If there's deals happening at Walgreens or Rite Aid (both are within blocks of my house) I'll make a stop there on my way to Walmart (which is ALSO a few blocks from my house) but I'll typically get all my food at Walmart.
6. On that note - shopping at Walmart, get very familiar asking for a Rain check. It's a super easy and pretty painless process most times (Unlike last night when the Customer Service person told me they don't do rain checks. Ha! and I showed him where the binder was, filled it all out for him, etc.) They are very simple but they are convenient. After shopping at a certain Walmart that ALWAYS busy & was out of stock of everything, I tried another Walmart that wasn't as busy and that allowed me for time to "practice" using coupons and trying them out... plus, they always have at least ONE of the items in stock when there's a big sale. So, although it's further from my house .. it's easier for me. So, if you decide to shop at Walmart.. find one you like and run with it. Also, it doesn't hurt to find out when they restock the shelves (they restock every night!) but find when they restock the super popular products and when they're shelves are full.
My Walmart is Wednesdays and Fridays, I can usually take ALL my rain checks and get what I need on those days or I'll push grocery shopping to Wednesday to make one trip a week.
7. Get familiar with couponing terms. There are MANY terms to get familiar with as you start to coupon. Here is an explanation of them:
BLINKIES = In-store Smart Source coupons near product, usually from red blinking box
BOGO or B1G1F or B1G1 Free = Buy One Get One Free
BTFE = Box Tops for Education
B&M = Brick & Mortar, as opposed to an online store
CAT or CATALINA = coupon dispensed at register after purchase
CRT = Cash register tape
DND = Do Not Double
DOUBLE COUPON = coupon that a grocery store doubles in value
FAR = Free After Rebate
FREE ITEM COUPON = A coupon that allows you to get the product completely free
GDA = Good Deal Alert
HBA = The health and beauty aid section in the grocery store
IVC = Walgreen’s Instant Value Coupon ( Found in the monthy EasySaver Catalog )
IP = Internet Printable Coupon
MFG = Manufacturer’s Coupon
MIR = Mail In Rebate
NED = No expiration date
OOP = Out of Pocket
OYNO = On your next order
P&G = Proctor & Gamble Coupon Insert found in the Sunday Newspaper
PEELIE = Coupon that you peel off the package
Q = Coupon
RP = Red Plum Coupon Insert found in the Sunday Newspaper
RR = Register Rewards (Walgreens)
SS = Smart Source Coupon Insert found in the Sunday Newspaper
STACKING = Using a store specific coupon with a MFG coupon (most stores allow this)
TEARPAD = A pad of refund forms or coupons found hanging from a store shelf or display
TMF = Try Me Free
TRIPLE COUPON = A coupon that a grocery store triples in value
WYB = When You Buy
+Up Rewards = Register Rewards (Rite Aid)
8. Often times, deals with be combined with using, say, a Walgreens Printable coupon (from somewhere like Coupons.com) + a Manufacturer's coupon (MFG) and so a printer will be VERY handy. Since you can print EACH coupon 2x from the same computer on Coupons.com. So, if something goes on sale.. and say it's a Walgreens printable + MFG coupon combined to make it free.. Well, I'll have 2 MFG from the Sunday papers & I can print 2 coupons from Coupons.com and get 2 for free.
9. There are often plenty of deals that you need to ask yourself "Do I REALLY need this?". I find that beginning couponing, there are SO many deals that it can be overwhelming at first.. and I want to try out EVERYTHING. And so I encourage you, use a few coupons and buy some thing that will be like .27 to try out using coupons/how they work (even if it is something like cough drops) but than for things that may cost a bit more, buy things that you truly need. Or else you will have this HUGE Stockpile of things you will never use. For example, something like Laundry Detergent may go on Sale for $1. I make my own Laundry Soap in my house so I'll pass on an offer like that. That's just my personal discretion - and I'll tend to buy that way, so you won't always see everything that's on sale in my Shopping Trip pictures.
10. My 10th and final word of wisdom, DON'T BE A SHELF CLEARER. Although it can be pretty easy to convince yourself that you NEED 50 blushes when they are free, leave some for everyone else and be considerate. It's not fun to try and save on things when your family actually needs them, to go to the store and find they are all gone. It's just becoming my biggest pet peeve of all time.
So that's the beginning of things I've learned SO far.
Also be sure and follow RELIABLE sources for Coupon Deals. These blogs/Facebook Pages are ones that are accurate with prices, deals and things that are currently on Sale. Here's my list of referrals:
- Coupon Clippin' Daddy
- Adventures of a Couponista
