Places to get coupons??

Have gotten a couple of messages asking me where to get coupons. 


First off, it is illegal to "buy" coupons.  However, it is NOT illegal to pay someone for their time to cut, sort, gather, and clip coupons for you. 


I "sell" potluck envelopes of coupons myself and I am charging you for the postage, the envie to put them in and the time I sit and clip and sort them.


I "purchase" mine from an individual I met on A Full Cup you can go on there and click on the FSOT (for sale or trade) forum and click on "Full inserts".  There you can always find someone to get the full inserts from.


There are also places online that "sell" coupons.  I have personally used the following 2 and have been very pleased with their service!  (There are others that I'm sure are just as good, but I don't have personal dealings with them, therefore don't feel as though I can honestly endorse them)


The Coupon Clippers was the first one I ever used.  I used them for a long time.  Then I started using Coupons and Things by Dede and was very pleased with her service as well.  I will say that I prefer Coupons and Things because she sells full inserts and her individual coupon prices tend to be lower (though it's only by a cent or two , because individual coupons aren't costly anyway)  Shipping is the same at either place.


I truly think once you get "into" the savings and the things you can get for free (though this last week or two isn't a good example of the awesome deals out there, because the awesome deals tend to cycle.. so in a few more weeks should be some AMAZING deals) you'll be more apt to want to continue to invest a little time in this.


My biggest suggestion to those with kids that wonder how they can spare anytime away from their kids to do this is to get them to help you!  Kids love to cut and sort and things like that.  Make it family fun time! 


Put in the effort and you will be rewarded!


As always if you want to learn in a bit more detail all of the different stores (I simply post the scenarios to the ones I use) then please please please check out A Full Cup.  I am not an owner, moderator or anything like that.  Just a die-hard fan!


Till next time...

Register Rewards & Extra Care Bucks.

CVS has a Rewards card that you use.  For certain items purchased you get Extra Care Bucks good on your next purchase in CVS.  I refer to these as ECB's.  CVS Treats ECB's as cash.  


Walgreens does not have a Rewards card, but they do offer Register Rewards on certain items purchased.  I refer to these as RR.  Walgreens treat RR's as a coupon.  That's where it gets a little tricky and I mention in the scenarios that you need a "filler" item.  You can only use 1 coupon per item you purchase so since Walgreens counts the RR as a coupon then you need to have a small item to "use" that RR on. (so to speak)  I always suggest either getting a pack of gum, something off clearance (like right now the VD stuff is on Clearance).  So for example at Walgreens you have $2.00 RR from the week before and you go in and you buy 3 shampoo's that you have 3 coupons for and you want to use the RR to make your oop cheaper.. you will have to have a filler item.


oop= out of pocket.


I hope that explains it a bit better, if not please message me or leave a comment here and ask!  


Till next time...

Scenarios and deals for the week of 2-21-10

Did you get your Sunday coupons today?  Hope so!  Here we go! 


CVS **you must use a CVS Rewards card here**


You will do 2 separate transactions here.  In other words you will have them ring up your order on two separate "orders"


First transaction:
Colgate Max Fresh toothpaste $2.99 get ECB for $2.00 limit 1
use the coupon from today's Smart Source 1.00/1 (this is a .01 money maker w/ ECB)
oop(out of pocket): 1.99 + Tax and you get a $2.00 ECB)


2nd Transaction:
Airwick Air Freshener $5.99
use coupon from last sunday $5.00 off pay .99 out of pocket 
**watch for a giveaway from me concerning this**
Bumble Bee Tuna is on sale for .49 a can buy 5 cans =$2.45
Go to this link and print off a coupon for 1.00/5 cans
http://www.bumblebee.com/Promotions/OnlineCoupon-12-16/Registration.aspx


Total bill:  8.44
Minus:  5.00 coupon for Airwick
           1.00 coupon for Tuna
           2.00 ECB (from the toothpaste)
Total it will cost you:  .44 + tax


Total haul from CVS:  Toothpaste, Large Airwick Air Freshener, 5 cans of tuna
Total cost:  $11.43 (with sale prices)
Your Cost:  $2.43


**You will not see a ton of GREAT deals posted for CVS.. mostly because I don't think you can get "your money's worth" for going there.  However if you can get an 80% savings like the above scenario, then it's worth a quick trip in there.


***If you want to do these scenarios just as I suggested all you have to do is copy and paste the scenario into notepad, print it off and trim it down to where it tells you what to do.. attach your coupons with a paper clip and head to the store.




(There will be another blog explaining ECB's and RR for those that aren't familiar)


WALGREENS


Before I even list the scenario's I want to tell you about the Excedrin deal.  You can go to this link Excedrin Deal and you can do a couple of different things.  If you check EVERYTHING except Excedrin you will get a snail mail coupon for a coupon for a FREE bottle of excedrin.  OR if you check excedrin and a couple of other things you will have the ability to print a 2.00 off excedrin coupon.  AFTER you print the coupon hit the arrow back button till it goes back to the page to print the coupon again.  DO NOT WORRY this IP (internet printable) coupon will have two different coupon #'s.  This is legit.  I would never steer you wrong.  They let you print it twice.  But only twice.  Now, with that said, I am going to list the scenarios as if you print the 2 coupons, but this will be to purchase EXCEDRIN MENSTRUAL ONLY! So, if you don't need the Menstrual then do the first case thing.. select everything except excedrin and get your snail mail coupon for a free bottle of excedrin and just leave the excedrin deal out of your scenario.


Onward..


Most all of the deals this week are based on last weeks coupons... so I don't have a lot of scenario for what's in this sunday's paper. But.. watch for a giveaway concerning this! 


This will also be like CVS you will have two separate transactions.


FIRST TRANSACTION:


Gillette Fusion Razor $8.99  
Minus:  $4.00 coupon from last weeks paper
Total oop:  4.99 + tax (you will get a $4.00 Register Reward)


SECOND TRANSACTION:


Venus Embrace Razor $8.99
Oil of Olay Body Wash $ 6.99
(2) Excedrin Menstrual $5.00 (on sale 2/5.00)
Charmin 6 double rolls $3.49 (on sale)
Mento's Gum $.99 (on sale)
***you will need to buy a cheapie filler item here, for example, clearance valentines something for say .10-.25 cents***


Minus:  $4.00 RR from first transaction
Minus:  $2.00 coupon for Venus Embrace Razor (last weeks paper)
Minus:  $6.99 coupon for get free olay body wash with purchase of Venus Razor (last weeks paper)
Minus:  $2.00 printable excedrin coupon
Minus:  $2.00 printable excedrin coupon
Minus:  $.25 charmin coupon (last weeks paper)
Minus:  $.55 Mento's gum coupon (THIS weeks paper)


Total bill:  $25.71 + tax
Minus coupons:  18.79
Equals:  $6.92 **you will also get back a $2.00 RR to use on your next visit, so essentially your cost is $4.92 + tax**


So for about ten dollars out of pocket you get 2 razors, oil of olay body wash, 2 excedrins, a large pack of toilet paper, a pack of gum.  You would have spent this amount at Walmart on just the toilet paper! That's about a 75 % savings.


Now obviously, some of you are going to have more coupons than just 1 (like I do these deals in HUGE quantities.. usually about 10-20 of each thing at a time.. that's how the savings amount I post on facebook are astronomical. I am just listing what you can do with 1 of each coupon.  Again, I just want to show you HOW to do it then you can figure out a way that works best for you.


You could have broken this down into 3 transactions and done the Gillette Razor as one, then the Venus razor and oil of olay as 1, and the rest as the 3rd.  This would have given you $4.00 in Register Rewards to use next time... I was trying to keep this simple.  As soon as I post this blog I am going to go into detail in another blog about Register Rewards and Extra Care Bucks.  Then it will make a bit more sense to you. 


Now.. as for the GIVEAWAY!!! 


I have all the coupons you need FROM LAST WEEK to do these deals.  I DO NOT HAVE THIS WEEKS COUPONS YET.  I order my coupons so I do not get them until Wednesday.  I do know that a lot of you are just starting out, so you're not going to have last weeks coupons.  


I have 10 sets of all the coupons you need from last week to do these deals.  The first 10 people to post under my blog link on Facebook that say, "I want it"  send me your mailing address through PM on Facebook and I will mail these coupons to you tomorrow.   I only ask if you're not going to do these deals and they don't appeal to you, please don't ask for the coupons. No sense in wasting what someone else can use.


So there you have it.  


Until next time...


  

Does couponing take time?

This is the number one question I am asked.  Yes.. it does take time.  How do you work it into your schedule?  Well.. I usually have 10-20 of one insert (coupon inserts that come in the paper.. there are usually a couple of different ones.. like Redplum, SmartSource, General Mills, Proctor and Gamble).  I spread all like coupon inserts out on the floor while watching tv and stack the pages with the like coupons together and then cut out all of them at one time.  I then immediately file them in my binder under the appropriate category.


I use taylortownpreview.com to see what coupons are coming out and how many of those particular coupons I want/need.  I then go to afullcup.com (you will see me refer to this website over and over and over again.. it is the best site out there to help you, teach you , share with you.. it's free to join and you can do so by clicking here:  A Full Cup ) and look up *my* store's forums.  Example:  Walgreens.  I look for their upcoming ad  for the next week, see what's on sale, what matches up with coupons and what I can do to get items for free or very very cheap.  I also look up Kroger's upcoming ad as well as CVS's upcoming ad.  I do this when I have time and then I prepare for my upcoming shopping trip (I always do my shopping on a Friday).


So in answer to the question, Does couponing take time??  Yes it does.. but you're paid very well for your time! 


You will see when I post some scenarios and tell you what to do and when to do it how much you're paid for your time.  


My hope is to give you the basics then let you do what works for you!


Till next time...

Couponing Basics

Learning to coupon may seem like an overwhelming task, but it's really not. There will be a lot of information shared here and you may feel like it's "overload". Just take your time, read it when you can and try to do the easy scenarios I post and you'll catch and figure out what works best for you.

I know most everyone gets the basic concept, but we're going to start right at the beginning and go from there.

Ready? Set?? Go!!!

F.A.Q

Where do Coupons come from? Manufacturers! They want you to buy their products and this is their incentive.

Where do I get coupons from? Newspapers, Tear-pads (hanging in groceries or conveince stores), Blinkies (little machines at the grocery that you pull a coupon out of), Catalina (coupons that spit out with your receipts), Printable coupons at places like www.smartsource.com, www.redplum.com, www.coupons.com, by registering with your favorite manufacturer on their website (you can get snail mail coupons, and printable coupons), on Facebook become a fan of your favorite products official pages (they offer coupons, samples, freebies) Collect sunday paper coupons from friends/family/church members.

How do I know what coupons are coming out in Sunday's paper? You can go to www.taylortownpreview.com and view what coupons are coming out.

How do I organize my coupons? It's whatever works for you. I personally use a case-it binder with a strap that opens on either side. It looks something like the one pictured here. I use baseball card sheets and photo sheets to hold the coupons and separate the pantry, fridge, cleaning, makeup etc area with tabbed dividers. There are people who just simply use an envelope. There is also the box method. (pictured here as well) It's really going to be about what you are comfortable with.

These are the basics of what they are and where to get them. Now.. go get them and meet me back here again!