Contact Companies!

Are you one of those people always wanting a coupon for a specific product you buy but NEVER see a coupon for it? 

   A GREAT way to get coupons you don't normally find is to go straight to the source, the company! Sending them a quick email, letter or even a quick phone call letting them know how much you like/ buy there product or lack of seeing coupons for a product will 90% off the time get you some coupons in the mail! Just make sure you always include your email address and name in the email/letter.

Usually you can do this once a year with the exception of some companies (Turkey Hill allows you to get coupons every month)!

You don't know how many times I have wrote to companies and got amazing coupons!

Why Stockpile?

Why Stockpile?

  I'm sure you've watched the show (although it is extremely fake) Extreme Couponers. Were you see customers buy 400 bottles of Soda. A couponers "secret" to saving money is through stockpiling. Now 400 is a little extreme, but a couponers real aim is getting 3-6 months worth of product stockpiled. Why 3-6 months? Well usually the sale cycles repeat every 3 or so months, something that was on sale in June will more than likely be back on sale in September-ish. 

  A good reason to stockpile is so you not paying full price at any time. Who wants to buy toothpaste when its not on sale at $4.99 when you run out, then when you could have gotten it for FREE and stocked up on it!? 

  Once you get a decent Stockpile of items, you will end up buying less, and spending less. You'll see your savings increase because you aren't buying anything at full price, and the things you are buying your getting for dirt cheap.

 This way also comes in handy when money is lacking, you can pretty much live off your stockpile for awhile!

What is SavingStar?

One of my FAVORITE sites as a couponer, and I'm sure it will grow to be one of your's through your couponing endeavors, is SavingStar! 

    SavingStar is a program in which you load coupons to your shopping card (like an ecoupon) and instead of it coming off on your shopping receipt, your coupon amount will load onto an account on the SavingStar site. After reaching $5 you can "pick your payout" for things like an Amazon Gift Card, Paypal, Bank Deposit, etc. Instead of always picking a payout when I reach $5, I like to keep the amount in there a while longer and use it for Christmas, Birthdays or Emergencies. 

Rolling your Rewards!

A crazy couponer will always tell you to "roll" your rewards. This is a couponers biggest weapon. Rolling your rewards maximizes your savings and lessens your OPT (out of pocket.) It get's a little confusing but once you get the hang of it it saves you so much money! So what is "rolling"...

• Rolling rewards is where you do separate transactions using your rewards (whether it be EB's, RR, UPR, or CAT's) to pay for the purchase, and your purchase produces more rewards.
• Not every store will allow this in the same day. (example: Rite Aid, you have to wait 24hrs to use the reward you recieved)
• Walgreens RR a lot of times will not produce another reward if the reward is though the same company. (example: if you use a RR produced from buying Kraft Cheese to purchase Kraft Mac & Cheese, the RR may not print.)

-Personally, CVS EB's and Store CAT's is the best to roll with as they can be rolled right after a purchase and on anything without any problems. (*Note: Catalina's rarely print out for a post date for use)

Catalina's

Catalina's

• Catalina's are coupons that print out from a machine at checkout.
• Most Catalina coupons are regular Manufacturer coupons that are triggered by a specific product(s) purchase.
• The most sought out Catalina coupons are the "X off you next purchase" which is the best to maximize your savings.
• Here is a good site to find out some Catalina deals.
• A lot of Catalina deals are hidden or only advertised in store, making it hard find them.

Example of a "X off your next purchase" Catalina coupon:

Know your REWARDS!

Know your REWARDS!

CVS

(EB)

• I highly recommend signing up for Beauty Rewards, which you can sign up online or in store. This allows you to recieve $5 in ECB (or EB's as I call them) on ever $50 you spend on beauty products. (the $50 is before coupons!)
• Also do sign up your card online as you recieve $5 EB''s for signing up with your email.
• Signing up will also get you periodically send coupons and money saving offers.
• Scanning your card at the "Red Machine" in the store always produces great CVS coupons to use along with your purchases.

Rite Aid

(UPR)

•  I highly recommend opting out of the new load2card reward system, you can do so by calling the 1-800 number or telling your cashier before making a purchase. 
• Rite Aid also has Single Rebate Checks (SCR) that act as an online rebate.

Walgreens

(RR)

• Walgreens also has a program that produces "Register Rewards" when you buy certain products
• When using RR you need "fillers" if you have more coupons (other then Walgreens coupons) then items.  

Example: If your buying (1) body wash and have a Walgreens coupon and a Manufacture coupon but want to pay with your RR you will need (1) item per RR you use. (usually couponers choose an item, like a pencil, that doesn't cost a lot.

• Walgreens just started with the Balance Reward Point (BRP) system and it is rumored they are getting rid of the "Register Reward" program. 1000 points= $1 but can only be used in 5000 point intervals.

Coupons

Coupons

Quick notes:

• Coupons can be found in many ways. They are in Sunday Papers, online, in stores as peelies, tear pads or blinks, in magazines, at promotional outings, etc. 
• Theres Manufacturer Coupons, Store Coupons, and E-coupons.
• Manufacturer coupons can be used along with Store coupons, This is called stacking!
• You always want to sign up with company's on there website because they periodically send out coupons via mail or email.

Here are a few sites to get you started:

www.coupons.com

www.couponnetwork.com

www.redplum.com

www.grocerycouponnetwork.com

www.target.com/coupons

www.smartsource.com

www.commonkindness.com
www.hopster.com

Coupon and Couponing Lingo

YMMV- "Your mileage may vary", it depends on your store.

OOP- "Out of pocket"

NLA- "No Longer Available"

BOGO / B1G1- Buy one get one free.

BOGO50% / B1G150%- Buy one get one for 50% off

IVC- Instant Value Coupon from Walgreens, deducts amount per item. 

CTR- "Cash Register Tape", mostly talking about CVS Red Machine coupons, or receipt coupons.

MIR- "Mail In Rebate".

One Per a Purchase: This means if you buy (3) products you can use 1 coupon per the purchase of the product, So you can use (3) coupons for the (3) items (unless otherwise stated on the coupon)

One per a Customer: This means you can only use one coupon, Period!

Only 4 like coupons: This means you can only use 4 of the same identical coupon per transaction. (usually P&G coupons)

Cannot be combined with any other coupon: This means you cannot combine with a B1G1, % off, or X amount off coupons. *This does NOT mean you cannot combine it with store coupon! (which is what most people mistake it for)*

Cannot be combined with any other offers: This means you cannot use a military discount, Senior Citizen discount or any other discount with this coupon.