2. I have a basket that has small envelopes labeled to store all of my coupons. I have three categories – Food, Personal and Home. Some people have a binder with baseball card holders, others have an accordion file. Experiment with a system until you find one you like.
The Binder Method is another option. Here is a video example
3. I take my coupons in the car like I do my purse! I do not always take it into the store, but it is in my car if I need to run back out to get one! And you know I have! Especially if I find a clearance item – you can stack a coupon against a clearance item and get it for basically nothing!
4. COUPON FRAUD – yes, there is such a thing. I clean out my basket often to make sure I have all the expired coupons out. Since I am saving so much weekly, I do not want my favorite stores to eat the cost for my mistakes. They have to eat the price of the coupon if it is expired. You are not allowed to photocopy a coupon, but you can print them off the internet. Locally, everyone accepts internet coupons (some Publix/Kroger cashiers say they do not, but ask them to check with Management – they DO). Internet sites that have coupons use cookies and only allow you to print one coupon, sometimes two.
5. ALL YOU magazine is really cheap ($1.84) at WalMart and is always loaded with coupons. If you read blogs to find the deals, you will always see coupons found in this magazine! I plan on subscribing in the Fall during FUNDRAISERS at the school. *****Click on the Helpful information section for $18/2 years.
6. Keep you receipts. I put all of May’s in an envelope, June, July… I have recently started sending off for rebates!!! This is free money, especially if you paid pennies for it to begin with! I check out the rebate section on http://www.afullcup.com/. Print out the forms of items you have bought, fill it out, get the UPC code and locate the receipt for the item and you have FREE money! I have also downloaded a Rebate Software from Refunding Cents that is great! http://www.refundcents.com/
7. I save all of the envelopes from junk mail to use for couponing. I write my list on the envelope and put the coupons inside. I like to put a paper clip on the envelope and when I actually place the item in the buggy, I pull out the coupon and clip it to the envelope. It makes it easier at check out. I may have 4 coupons for mayo, but decide to only buy two. I like having every possible coupon in the envelope. When I get home I file back the unused ones for another time.
Most store ads place their best deals on the front page (loss leaders), except for Publix. They have BOGO throughout the whole ad. I like to sit and "study" the ad. I write out M, T, W, TH, FR, S, SUN on one side of the envelope and will plan our dinner menu as to what is on sale. We typically eat the same thing for Breakfast and Lunch so I do not write these out.
8. To learn how to do CVS read this . And to learn about Walgreens.
9. Here are a few tips that many new shoppers at CVS may not be aware of:
1. If they are out of an advertised item you can ask for a raincheck. CVS rainchecks do not expire, therefore once the item arrives in stock you can get it at the sale price.
2. Make sure they write down the price minus any extra bucks you would have received. At least, that's how my store does it. For example, if a toothbrush was on sale for $2.99 and I was supposed to receive a $1 ECB for purchasing it, my store gives me a raincheck for that toothbrush at $1.99. I'm not sure if all CVS do it this way but it doesn't hurt to ask.
3. Sometimes stores will substitute another brand for the brand that was on sale if they run out of the sale item. Last week my store was substituting Cottonelle toilet paper for the Charmin.
4. Most stores change their weekly prices on Saturday afternoon or evening for the next week. During these few hours on Saturday, both week's sales prices and Extra Bucks promotions are valid.
10. Here are my suggestions for where to look for scenarios (transactions put together for you by CVSers). First, KeepingTheKingdomFirst hosts a $5 CVS Challenge each Sunday and you can go there to see how to do a transaction (or multiple transactions) for $5 or less. Great for a beginner, because you spend a limited amount of cash and end up with some ECBs to use next time.
11. When you are checking out and have more than 10 coupons, hand the cashier ONLY 5 at a time. They may ask for all of them, but hold on to the rest and let them know you need to watch them go through. Often, I have handed them 20 at one time and later get home to find they only scanned 18 of them. By then it is too late to say anything. I think it also helps cashiers scan them properly and not skip ones because they are only dealing with a few at a time.
There are two main ways to stretch your dollars further:
Increase your income and lower your spending.
Do both simultaneously for the greatest impact.
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