I HEART SUPER KROGER!
Sorry about the silence, we were out of town and my son is not feeling well, again.
Last night I made a quick stop at Walmart to pick up some nearly FREE salad dressing. Walmart sells their 16 ounce bottles of Kraft for $1.58 everyday. Kraft has a $1.50 coupon in last weekend's paper- making each of these dressings $.08 each! Woo Hoo!
I'm ready for warm weather and pasta salads- some of these dressings will be perfect!
A Michigan based company, MIPRO Consulting, is offering $10,000 to a local Michigan charity with the catch that the winning charity must receive the most votes...
Here is the page to vote: http://www.miproconsulting.com/mipro-gives-back/finalists/
TWO of my favorite charities are on the list:
Community Sharing, the food pantry that I LOVE to donate food, clothing and personal care items to.
Raincatchers, the organization that brings the means for clean drinking water to the poorest families in Haiti.
Please take a moment and cast your vote, and if you'd like, let me know who you have voted for! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Grocery Total: $95.86
Earlier in the week, as a last hoorah to cold weather, I made chili.
Dave, my husband, LOVES his chili to be very spicy. I on the other hand, prefer more of a tame chili. We compromise by having Dave add hot sauce to his chili.
Dave added a splash of each bottle to try to figure out which was his favorite.
Aside from the Emerils- a gift, all of the other sauces were FREE after coupons.
Dave had a hard time deciding his favorite... all of them were yummy!
Normally priced at $3.49- YIKES!!!From an email...
Coupon Clipper: Where do you find the coupons?
Our Sunday papers are hit and miss with them around here, sometimes they are loaded other times they have very few.
Since My daughter's arrival we are spending around $200 a week on groceries, in my opinion this is too much. So I am trying to shave the bill in any way possible.
Me: Purchasing the multiple copies of the Sunday paper will yield the greatest coupons.
Having multiples of the same coupon allows you to really stock up when there is a great sale- because you are receiving the sale price + the coupon (or possibly doubled) value for the discount of the item. 3 coupons = 3 products purchased at the lowest price possible.
Keeping a stock of frequently used foods, hygiene products and household items at home after purchasing them for the lowest possible price helps to keep those same items off of your grocery list when they are not on sale and you do not have a coupon.
It is true that sometimes the papers are hit and miss with whether or not there are great coupons, but keeping them filed and organized until they are either spent or expired will help save an unbelievable amount of money!
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: I'm just starting to try out this "coupon thing" and I saw on the Target blog about this week's free deals. This will be my first attempt at the free thing so I have three questions:
1) How many of the printable coupons can I print legally?
*Each computer is legally allowed to print 2 coupons (more computers= more coupons) The site will deny further requests so don't worry about doing anything illegal!!!
2) How do I know if there is a limit on how many I can buy?
*If there is a limit to your purchase the sales ad will specify (look for the fine print!).
3) How do I know that they will let me use two coupons on one purchase? (i.e. the Pledge deal)
*Stacking coupons (using a store and a manufacturer's coupon one one product) is always allowable by stores who offer their own store coupons (for example: Meijer mealbox coupons from Meijer) and who also accept Manufacturer coupons. This includes CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Target and Meijer. Kroger offers store coupons on Kroger brands.
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: I want to thank you for all your knowledge.
I have saved over $500.00 in groceries and I have way more in my house then I ever would have.
I went to Rite Aid last night and switched my husbands prescription. Got my $25.00 gift card and used it to purchase some Zyrtec. It was on sale at Rite-Aid for $18.99 and I had a $4.00 off coupon. I also purchased some other things( Zantec, halls etc). It would have been $60.00 oop and instead it was $21.73 which included my husbands $20.00 copay for his Nexium.
This is truly life changing. I am taking a trip to Lansing to go to Kmart to stock up with coupons doubling up to $2.00.
Also.....this cutting coupons gives me a way higher appreciation for $1.00. It has just been incredible. THANK YOU!
Me: I am so excited when I hear these kinds of stories... clipping coupons allows me to be able to be a stay at home Mom and to care for my family in incredible ways... it is so rewarding for me to be able to have the opportunities to teach others!
From an email...
I just wanted to share a success story that I did Sunday. Maybe you could benefit too!!!
Target was running the Quattro and Intuition razors on sale for 6.99 with a 5.00 gift card when you bough 2.
This weeks coupons included a 4.00 off each, one for Schick Quattro and one for intuition. I went to target to make my snag and low and behold the shelves were already mighty bare. I had a total of 6 coupons, 3 for each. To my extreme surprise two of the 3 Intuition razors I was going to purchase had a 3.00 off now, making my total coupons worth 30.00 in hand.
I got myself 4 new razors and my hubby 2. When I made it to the checkout, I chose a wonderful cashier who was more than excited about my deal. I received 6 expensive razors, $15.00 worth of gift cards and my debit was for $13 and change.
So essentially they paid me to take home those razors.
I then turned around and used my gift cards and more manufacturers coupons, ( like the Mott's applesauce, I scored 2 6 packs for .14 a piece) to purchase my household items for the next 2- 3 weeks and only spent $35 and change.
I am so thankful I came to your class. It has made an impact, not to mention I am winning some serious points with the hubby as he and my daughter were with me yesterday and he was quite impressed on my steal of a deal.
Now I just need to tackle and understand the diapers and wipes and start my stockpile there.
Me: Woo Hoo! I scored the same deal as you... I bought 6 razors, but I bought them in three transactions... I rolled the $5 GC into each purchase.
Way to score some brownie points with the family!
Grocery total: $51.52
Grocery Total: $81.89I have received many sad emails from shoppers who are so disappointed in the Cottenelle disappearing from our Kroger stores. I'm with ya...
It is so hard to know exactly what you are purchasing in the TP/paper towel world before you actually bring it home, remove the plastic wrapping and give it a try. The good news is that if you are not satisfied with the product you can simply return it to the store for a full refund (or just suffer until the package is finished.)
When trying new brands, I recommend purchasing a small sample size of the product (or just be willing to make a large return). Give it a healthy shot and decide whether this could be your brand of choice.
We used to be loyal only to Quilted Northern TP in our house. Quilted Northern is really nice and does have coupons from time to time in the Sunday paper, but when I could purchase a large quantity of Cottenelle at CVS using ECB's (store reward money) and gift cards from transferring my prescriptions I stocked up... like a mad woman on a TP mission!
When I learned of the Kroger FREE TP it was icing on my TP cake... little by little I stocked up on Cottonelle for future use.
The same deal (at CVS) that turned my loyalty to Cottonelle, also had 8 roll packages of Bounty paper towels (again, our family's favorite) as part of that promotion. I picked up 4 packages of 8 roll Bounty to last us for a long time as well.
All of this for a shameless plug for stockpiling: purchasing several identical items that your family needs/consumes on a regular basis; such as toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo, diapers, wipes, cereal, pasta...
Stockpiling helps your household to have the luxury of the lowest prices on the items that you purchase - over a longer time span than the sale runs (weeks, months maybe even a year or longer...)
*For example: If I purchase 3 tubes of toothpaste when they are on sale for $1 (from the regular price of $2.50) AND I use a coupon for $.50 at a grocery store that doubles coupons... I will receive all 3 tubes of toothpaste for FREE. That would mean 3 months of FREE tooth brushing for my husband and myself! (I like FREE!!!)
Stockpiling also keeps your week to week grocery budget down because you don't need to purchase small quantities of almost every single product that is used in your home.
If every week you are looking for 1-5 items to stock up on, then your list will be shorter because the majority of the items that you will need for the week will already be at home (excluding dairy, breads, produce and maybe meats). And your overall grocery bill will be lower because the items that you are stocking up on will be sale prices on items with the added savings of coupons!
Back to the toilet paper and paper towel savings. My rule for our family is to get as much as I think that we might use in a year, as these items will not expire, when I can get them on a ridiculously low sale. It may seem silly to stock up for a year... but it has been AWESOME not to have had to put these two items on my grocery list or have had to PAY for these items in nearly a YEAR! Woo Hoo!
The CVS deal that I alluded to earlier, was last Spring... maybe April or May. The deal running was if I purchased $20 worth of Cottonelle & Bounty products I would earn $10 back in ECB's. I think that it was limit 3 transactions per card... and so I stocked up as much as was allowable!
I'm keeping my eye open for this sale to come around again...
In the meantime, if you are needing to purchase TP or paper towels for your family, I recommend purchasing them at a drug store with your store rewards. You may not be rolling your rewards, but you will be purchasing items that your family will definitely use and you will still be lowering your grocery budget.
I'll post about the CVS deal if I catch wind of it... until then, I hope this post has helped.
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: Hi. I met you at the clearance display at Walgreen's today.
I understand that Walgreen's is discontinuing their current rewards and easy saver booklet sometime soon. Do you have any info on their replacement strategy? And when it will take place?
I just started to figure out their current system to get good deals and now they are changing it??
Me: I have heard that Walgreen's is discontinuing their rebate program as of May 1. Live it up in April!!!
I have also heard that Walgreen's will step it up in the Register Rewards department. I'm going to miss the rebates as well, but I will look forward to earning many many more store rewards.
Hang in there, I'm sure that you will adjust just fine!
FYI: I was in the clearance section with coupons... I LOVE coupon overage!!!
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: I just went to CVS to buy the following items (i'm copying the deals directly from "It's Hip To Save":
Crest Pro-Health Enamel Care $3.49=$3.49Ecb (limit 1)Use the $1 coupon from the 2/8PG Final cost FREE, plus a $1 moneymaker!
Schick Quattro for Women or Intuition Plus Shaver $8.99=$3Ecb (limit 1)Use the $4 coupon from the 3/22SS
Final cost $1.99!
Dry Idea Clinical solid or roll for $7.99=$5Ecb (limit 2)Use the $2 coupon from here
Final cost .99!
Post Trail Mix Crunch, buy one at $4.59 get one free Purchase two and use two $2 coupons from here
Final cost 2/.59, just .30 per box!
Not one single item was marked as I thought it would be (based on what I was finding on "It's Hip To Save" and other blogs). So, I left with nothing. I know I've messed up in the past where I've mixed two different weeks of deals. But, I just double checked and these deals are from her "CVS 3/22-3/28" post. I was hoping to use a $5 off $25 coupon that expires today. Can you offer an explanation?
Me: Do you remember this happening about a month ago? CVS is test marketing a change in their weekly flyer... and us lucky Michiganders (as well as Floridians) are the Guinea pigs. CVS, with their 'pilot program,' is hoping to find out whether fewer items with much better pricing sells more merchandise or whether more products with fairly standard sales and ECB offers will earn them better sales.
*I think that this is just a week where it stinks to be us!
You could try printing an ad from another state (google a zip code if you need to) and print off the pages with the items that you were hoping to purchase, maybe your store manager would be willing to honor those prices. Good luck!
From and email...
Coupon Clipper: I have a Kroger question for you:How should I use the skinny red Kroger coupons that I get in the mail?
Do I consider them store coupons and stack them with a manufacturers coupon and use them at Kroger?-OR-Do I consider them manufacturers coupons, and use them at another store such as Meijer when they are having a sale on that item?
Thank you for your advice! I love saving money!
Me: I have to laugh at this question... I received a phone call from a friend just today asking the same question... it was a marital dispute; Husband VS. Wife.
The husband thought that the coupons were only allowable to be spent at Kroger and the wife thought that because they are manufacturer coupons that they could be spent at any store that accepts coupons.
The wife was correct!
Manufacturer coupons are manufacturer coupons. Kroger may place their logo on the coupon, but that is just them being tricky trying to make you think that it is only spendable at their store. I personally just clip (with my sharp scissors, of course) the logo off of the coupon and I spend it as I see fit.
Sorry to have to relay this message...
In my local area (SE Michigan) Kroger has pulled the 4 single roll packages of Cottenelle toilet paper from the shelves. Sad. No more FREE TP.
I have investigated and it seems that Kroger had been receiving an influx of illegal IP (Internet printable) coupons. The companies that host online coupon printing have made it possible to ONLY print two coupons per computer so that the manufacturer's are able to monitor how many coupons could potentially be redeemed. If we could legally print as many coupons as we'd like to have then stores' shelves would always be empty.
Photocopying/scanning coupons actually hurts all of us, like with the lack of 4 pack Cottonelle's at Kroger. If this is something that you are currently doing, please stop. Sheepishly I'll admit that I did this twice when I first started couponning- I had no idea that it was wrong. I still feel guilty!
Using a scanned/copied coupon is actually considered coupon fraud and can get you in some really big trouble. Kroger has actually been left footing the bill on many packages of Cottonelle, as the manufacturer can refuse to reimburse the store for accepting fraudulent coupons.
Receiving FREEBIES at the manufacturer's known expense is awesome!!! Otherwise, just play by the coupons rules!
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: Question:
Kroger had buy one get one children's Advil sale. On each package was a $2 off now coupon. I bought 3 and got 3 free....and tried to use 6 coupons, but the cashier said I could only use coupons on the 3 I bought....is that correct?
Me: Many stores leave it up to the discretion of the cashier whether or not you can use coupons on the FREE items... I always try, but some cashiers just refuse. FREE is FREE, but FREE plus is even better... I'd just save the coupons for the next sale. Sorry!
From an email:
Coupon Clipper: Can I ask: the coupon booklet in the pharmacy....is it still there? Is it the one with diaper coupons?
Where did you get your Glucerna coupons?
Me: You have to ask about the pharmacy plan at the pharmacy counter... it is a tri fold handout with coupons not expiring until June. I printed the Glucerna coupons out from survivingthestores.com (March 16th).
Happy Walgreening!
Refill or Rebuy?
I sometimes think that someone in our house secretly is drinking our hand soap... YIKES, it is probably me since I am a germaphobe...
I am often irritated by spending good money on products that just disappear... shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper... my list could go on! Since I prefer to purchase brand name items vs. the store or generic I do my research on how to spend the least amount of money and still have the products that I like.
I'd say every six to eight weeks the newspapers bring me a coupon for $.35 off of Softsoap (second only to Bath & Body Works... can I get an Amen?).
$.35 may not seem like a big deal when a single pump sells for $1.49-$1.79 a piece, but if I save my coupon until either Meijer or Kroger has a 10 for $10 sale- plus those two stores double coupons up to $.50, so my rinky dinky $.35 coupon is actually a $.70 coupon- netting me nice hand soap for $.30 (CHEAPER THAN A PACK OF GUM!!!).
I have stood looking at the prices on single pump soaps vs. buying the refill package. The refill packages sell for around $6 and at 32 ounces they are able to refill the single pumps 4 times.
If I use my "$.70" coupon on the refill it will cost me $5.30, divide that by 4 refillings = $1.28 per refill. Really? That's not much savings.
Keep in mind:
1 newspaper = 1 Softsoap coupon & 6 newspapers = 6 Softsoap coupons.
It really pays to invest in multiple Sunday papers.
Grocery Total: $111.35
Ok, I thought I'd give some visuals to Rolling and good spending of Walgreen's Register Rewards.
Transaction #1:
4 boxes of Glucerna cereal $4.99 each.
purchase 4 boxes, receive a RR (Register Reward) for $7
*I have two computers, so I printed out 2 coupons per computer for $5 off any Glucerna product. I paid $0 OOP (Out Of Pocket) and received $7 in RR's!!!
Transaction #2:
3 Johnson & Johnson dental floss $4.29/ sale price $3
paint markers $4.99/ sale $1.25
I used a $3/3 J&J dental products from last weekend's paper
I used the $7 in RR
OOP $.91
Transaction #3:
I purchased 4 packs of Walgreen's brand diapers (I am hoping to have my Huggies last as our night time diapers until potty training is over... I'm one hopeful Mama!!!)
Regular price $9.49/ sale price $4.50
I used a $2 off coupon from the coupon booklet given in the pharmacy (not the activity book), and the register took $2 off per pack.
I spent one of my $10RR from the Huggies deal last week, and my OOP was $.60
Woo Hoo, $1.51 OOP!
Keep rolling YOUR rewards!!!
Bummer, I loved this coupon! I'm tempted to keep one on my fridge in loving memory...
From an email...
http://iheartcvs.com/2009/03/colgate-total-150-coupon-from-aetna.html
Colgate will no longer honor the $1.50 coupon for Colgate Total.
Most grocery stores have a special location for us Bargainista's... CLEARANCE!!!
I call these the use or lose foods (actually it is the use or freeze date). I have scored apples (for making homemade applesauce), bananas (for banana bread) and even lettuce for that nights salad- all at rock bottom prices!
Keep your eyes open to other grocery store deals... in the bread and meat sections as well.
I try to grocery shop earlier in the morning (9ish) or later in the evening (9ish) to score some sweet meat deals.
I may purchase 10 pounds of ground beef with a use or lose bright orange sticker on it. When I get home I will brown all 10 pounds in a stock pot (just getting my kitchen messy ONCE) and I will separate the meat into (10) 1 pound Ziploc packages and freeze. When we decide to make a meal it is far easier to micro the already cooked meat and make taco's, chili, spaghetti or other meals from.
When I purchase fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts with the buy or freeze sticker I place enough chicken for my family to eat for one meal in a Ziploc bag and then I add a marinade. Adding the marinade does two things: a) flavors your chicken while it is freezing and while it is thawing. b) all of the air can be easily squeezed out of the Ziploc reducing the risk of freezer burn.
I actually LOVE getting my meat 40% off, repackaging saves TONS of precious space in my freezer and making dinner faster than usual... now that's priceless!!!
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: I earned RR at Walgreen's on two separate items last week. I went to use them on a 3rd item this week and was told I can't use 2 RR for one transaction....is that true?
I earned ECB's using my card this morning and my husbands's card this afternoon. When I spend them do they need to be spent using the correct card? I also found an ECB on the ground near my car (how CRAZY am I getting now?!)....but of course it wasn't earned using my card....can I still spend it?
Me: Some Walgreen's store employees think that only one RR (Register Reward) can be used per transaction- when RR's are actually a Manufacturer's coupon for FREE money on your next purchase. Each item sold is allowed to have one Manufacturer's coupon per item. Next time an employee tells you that, ask them to try scanning the RR and it should scan. Most likely the employee was trying to keep his/her register from beeping.
CVS's Extra Care Cards are specifically marked with a series of numbers that are identical to the numbers that print on your ECB's (Extra Care Bucks). Your ECB's AND your coupons earned by scanning your card, are specific to only that card and so you may not use them with another card. Bummer for the person who lost their ECB's!
I was very excited today with what I was able to save.
Thanks so much for teaching me the best way to use my coupons!
Total Spent $3.34
Total tax paid $1.04
Number of coupons used: 8
R.R. earned: $8
Total Saved $45.21 + Caregivers Marketplace of $8.50
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: Hi! I was at your party last night (Friday) I think I missed this part....The coupons says "one coupon per purchase"..... how do you use multiple coupons? Or what do you say when they tell you that you can only use 1 coupon?
Me: When I have a 'limit one' coupon, I ask if the cashier minds if I use them all in one transaction, or if they'd prefer me to make my purchases in multiple transactions.
Usually I am able to just use all of my coupons in one transaction. This is where it helps to know your store employee's. My favorite cashiers see me coming and they know I will have nearly a million coupons bulging from within my purse...
Grocery Total: $100.69From an email...
Coupon Clipper: I scored big at Walgreen's with the Huggies. Here's what I got.....and like you, I heart math. :D
6 jumbo packs of diapers + 3 jumbo packs of wipes = $78
coupons used: 9
coupon value: $39
R.R. earned: $30
Total Savings: $69 + Caregivers Marketplace of $6.78
Total Cost=$2.25
Oh....and I don't know if the cashier was right or not, so I didn't push it, but that $1 off coupon from the activity book says that it can't be used with any other offer, so I couldn't use it. Is that true? Or, is he wrong?
Me: Awesome job saving!!! I used that same activity book coupon with no problem! I'm surprised! Since it was a Walgreen's coupon it should not have been a problem!
After being out of town for the last two weeks in February and coming home pretty sick, I just couldn't get my donations together... until today!
Here are my items to donate that I have been collecting for the past six weeks. Due to the HUGE number of tubes of toothpaste, hair care items and glucose monitors my total donations are $1,185. Yay!
Year to date Community Sharing donations: $1,835!
Year to date tubes of toothpaste donated to CS: 154!
If you think that you cannot donate, start with the FREE items that are easily collected, such as toothpaste. This month's donation is a collection of mostly FREE items. I only spent $16.50 + tax on all of these items! I actually even made $58 in store rewards! It is awesome to be able to help other struggling families while still maintaining my own families budget.
Grocery Total: $89.04I've been asked by several people to share my Quiche recipe since I posted that I bought the Pilsbury pie crust to make Quiche with. I actually will probably start sharing more of my simple and easy recipes here as well. Lucky you!!!
Cheddar and Bacon Quiche
3oz bacon bits
6oz shredded cheddar cheese
1 uncooked pie crust
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1c. half and half, although we will use whole milk
Preheat oven to 400* Mix all ingredients (sans crust) well and place into the pie crust and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350* and continue baking for 35 more minutes. Let your quiche cool for about 5 minutes before serving.
Some stores have 'systems' for getting you the BEST deal on the items just by handing your coupons to the cashier in a specific order.
At Walgreen's it is important to remember to hand the cashier:
1. Walgreen's coupons
*7 day coupons from inside the weekly flyer.
*Monthly coupons from the Easy Saver Catalogue (pick up in the store's entrance).
2. Manufacturer coupons
* Sunday paper type coupons.
*IP's (Internet printables)
3. Register Rewards
I think I have CVS figured out! 
#2 Spent $22.09, Saved $20.57, 
Ah, the joys of multiples!
Multiple computers in our house= multiple Huggies coupons.
Multiple coupons= multiple transactions.
Multiple transactions= multiple AWESOME deals.
Multiple AWESOME deals= multiple benefits!!!
OK, so I have spent all of my Huggies $3 & $5 coupons. Did you reprint the coupons? If you were among the first to print, the coupons have been reset- meaning that you can print them again! Yay! Visit www.coupons.com to try it out.
I brought home $240 in Huggies product (before tax). I spent $35 and received $60 in Register Rewards and I will receive $6 in rebates from Rite Aid.
I will also receive $9 from Caregiver's Marketplace. I have never sent away for a rebate from this company, but I am willing to give it a try.
Every product that you purchase from Caregiver's Marketplace's very specific list earns you $.75. Huggies diapers are on the list, so I will receive a $9 check.
If you are interested in receiving a nice little check in the mail as well check out www.caregiversmarketplace.com.
So... beyond my purchases, I made $25 in store rewards and I'll receive $15 in cash rebates! I have no problem making $40 for 432 diapers and 2,000 wipes!!!
...have I ever mentioned that I LOVE shopping?
I did so good tonight at Walgreen's!! I spent $4.58 and saved $86.19!! This has been my best savings so far!! And I didn't even buy Huggies yet. I have to go back for that. Thank you, thank you!!
Me: You're welcome! You're welcome!!!
Alright friends, I am sorry to inform you that I have NO IDEA where a Super K is located in SE Michigan... Do you? Please leave a comment!
Although I am not a super huge fan of K-Mart- I must share that the Super K-Marts are doubling coupons up to $2 this week.
ONLY the "grocery store" K-Marts are doubling - so beware!
FYI: $2 coupon are worth $4!!!
Get out there and score some FREEBIES!!!
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: If I use earn register rewards at Walgreen's purchasing 3 packs of Huggies....can I go back the next day and purchase 3 more packs of Huggies and pay for them with the register rewards I had earned the day before buying Huggies + cash?
Me: If you use a Register Rewards (RR) at Walgreen's on the exact items that you purchased previously- then a RR will not print out again.
Let me use the Huggies diaper deal this week as an example:
Trans: 1
Buy $25 in Huggies, receive $10 in RR
Trans: 2
Buy $25 in Huggies- use $10 RR from trans 1 and receive NO RR's
OR...
Trans: 1
Buy $25 in Huggies, receive $10 RR
Trans: 2
Buy $25 in Huggies - use RR's other than the Huggies $10 RR's and receive $10 RR
Coupon Lady Snippet:
Using the exact same RR's to buy more of the same product in hopes of getting more RR's is called looping. Looping is not allowed at Walgreen's.
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: Just a quick question in regards to the Glade Air Fresheners.
Now I have the B1G1 coupons, and the easy saver catalog coupons 2 for each but am having a really hard time finding the other $4.00 coupons to make them free.
Can you help tell me where I might locate them.
Thanks for all you tips, I am really working at this although I must admit it can be overwhelming. But I did score my first 24 rolls of TP for free, thanks again and looking forward to some free glade.
Me: FREE is so good!
The $4 coupons that you are looking for were in the paper a few weeks ago. You can however still get some FREE Glade by purchasing the Lasting Impressions product.
Purchase two Lasting Impressions, use a BOGO Glade coupon and then scan the Easy Saver Catalogue (monthly booklet) and you will receive $4 automatically off of both.... making them FREE + tax!
Here is the link to print off those BOGO Glade coupons: http://www.rightathome.com/offers/200902-glade/Default.aspx
As for feeling overwhelmed- each coupon user needs to get their feet wet sometime... you will get a better grasp with practice.... I promise! Keep up the great deal seeking work!!!
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: I have a question I think you are going to laugh at, but I seriously need help with!
I did the awesome Huggies deals at Walgreen's and now I have $20 in RR that I need to spend in the next two weeks. So here's my question...what should I spend them on?
Now I'm all paranoid about only getting GREAT deals, so I definitely don't want to buy a bunch of stuff for full price just to use up the money. However, it does seem like there are certain items that don't go on sale as often or are harder to get for free as frequently, so maybe I should focus on those.
In my (limited) experience, some of those would be face wash, lotion, plastic bags, and laundry detergent. (Those are just a few of the things I wouldn't mind adding to my stockpile).
What do you think? Any advice you have would be great!
Me: When I have rewards that may expire before I will be able to roll them I personally do one of the following:
1. I may purchase something in the store that I would not normally spend my hard earned money on... for example: I really wanted to purchase this product call Dryer Balls. These poky little plastic balls clunk around in the dryer with your clothing, helping it to dry faster and they help your clothing to be fluffier and less wrinkly. The $10 sticker price kept me from trying them... until I had store rewards that were about to expire. But, stocking up on face wash and other items like that is a great idea too.
2. I may buy milk and eggs that week to utilize some of my expiring rewards. Hey, if I need those items anyways I may as well conserve on my grocery budget.
3. I try to purchase items that I will get a rebate on- so spend my rewards now, but at the end of the month I'll get CASH!!! I heart cash too!
I hope these suggestions helped... and I NEVER laugh at questions... I love sharing all of my scoop!!!
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: I have a question for you regarding the save $1 off 3 boxes of cereal.
Can you use two of those coupons on the same three boxes of cereal? Meijer has a sale buy 4 boxes get $5 Catalina. Just wondering if we can use 3 of the $1 off 3 boxes? Does this make sense? I hope I am asking this correctly.
Me: Unfortunately you can only use one coupon per set of three boxes of cereal... bummer, I know!
I'm so sorry that I figured this deal super late on Saturday- leaving you no available time to copy cat. I just have been so excited to use my Huggies coupons...
I made these purchases in 4 transactions.
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: Do you know when Walgreen's/CVS/Rite Aid get their shipments? I thought you said just once a week?
Me: True. Drug stores receive only ONE truck per week to restock their shelves with, unlike grocery stores which get trucks nearly every single day. Just ask at your drug stores when their trucks come and AND when the stock is normally back on the shelves.... as that takes time and manpower.
Coupon Clipper: I have a pile of stuff to send to an out of state organization. Should I itemize everything w/ a detail of the product, price and quantity? Is that how you do it? And if so, would you be willing to send me a sample of it? Do you know if I can deduct for the postage? It could add up if I do this regularly.
Me: Community Sharing, where I choose to donate, already has a form in place that is there and waiting for me to fill in a few lines. I'd contact the location where you are donating and ask if they could email you their form that you could tuck in with your package, they may have their own system for handling donations. I think that you are on your own for postage... but I do know that the Post Office has flat rate shipping boxes... no matter how heavy your package is you are guaranteed the specified price.
Coupon Clipper: I need to start a spreadsheet to keep track of everything. so far I’ve just been keeping envelopes for each store w/ the reciepts inside and some notes on the back about spent and rebates I should be receiving.
Would you mind telling me how you do it? Like what kind of info you have on your spreadsheet? I’m not sure how detailed I should be, but I definitely want to keep track.
Me: I have two excel spreadsheets that Dave made for me. One of them tracks my rebates- so I know if I have received each one or not, and the other I use to track my spending.
Rebate spreadsheet: Date sent, Manufacturer, $ to receive, how many weeks it takes to get.
Spending Spreadsheet: Date, store, $ spent, $ saved, tax, coupon overage, coupons used, FREE items, RR's made, ECB's made, Rebate?
Your spreadsheets could be more or less complex based on what you are interested in tracking.
Total Items: $53.32
I actually visited the Mecca of all good things clipped from the newspaper...
Dave drove me down to the World Headquarters of The Detroit Free
Press to pick up a few more papers for tonight's class... FYI I will never do that again!
But this week celebrates my 1 year anniversary of hard core coupon usage!!!
Because I have tracked my spending and saving over the 8 months I know for a fact that I have received $12,000 in FREE groceries and household items... spending a mere $2,300! Woo Hoo!
My new shopping strategy has allowed me to give and share and share and give... and it feels incredible!
Yesterday I stopped to reflect on how awesome it has been to be able to have the opportunity to teach so many people my shopping skills! Over the course of the last year I have had 101 "students."
I'm really looking forward to continuing my efforts in teaching families to be more aware of their spending and how to significantly cut their grocery/household bills.
And an extra special heartfelt THANK YOU to those of you who have made donations on behalf of Raincatchers- your donation has/will make an incredible impact in the lives of Haitian families!
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: I know I've asked you before about the BOGO coupons but I wanted to make sure I did this right today.
I went to Meijer and they had Lysol spray BOGO but the cans were packaged together (two cans wrapped in plastic). I had a BOGO coupon for Lysol spray so we got one pkg of the BOGO Lysol spray (with 2 cans) and tried to use the BOGO coupon but it didn't work.
The cashier called the manager and they wouldn't allow it either. They said that we would have to get four cans in order to use the coupon.
So we ended up getting 4 Lysol cans (2 packages) for $3.09 but were thinking we would get 2 cans for free. Am I wrong on that? I wonder if it was different because the two cans were packaged together. What are your thoughts?
Me: When I first started couponing I tried to use two coupons on a double package of Cheerios, and I learned a similar lesson.
When items are packaged together the manufacturer intends to sell that as a single unit. One coupon per packaging unit. So the manager was correct in asking you to purchase 4 cans. Essentially you received 3 cans for FREE, but I completely understand your misunderstanding.
Its funny, some things are learned on an 'as you go' basis. Great question!
If you are thinking about taking the plunge into making donation so a food bank- here is a great opportunity for you and for them...
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: I found this great deal for a product that our local Gleaners food bank is always needing. They try to keep this type of drink in stock to give to people getting cancer treatments that need them, and they are pricey.
Ensure multi packs are on sale at Walgreen's for $6.99. You can get a $3 off coupon by registering at Ensure.com. (Two if you hit that back button!) They also have a refund for the full price of a multi pack at: http://www.healthcentral.com/nutrition/ensure/rebate.html
You have to take off the outer wrapper to send in to get the refund, but as long as the bottles are sealed the pantry would be thrilled with them. So you can get a $3 profit for donating these much needed items!
Me: I'm in!!!
Yes, we normally cloth diaper, but I like to have "back-ups" just in case. If I am using disposable diapers I use store brand during the day, as they are changed pretty frequently, and I save the nice ones, like Huggies, for at night. This can save so much money.
Since we were out of town for a couple of weeks my store brand diaper supply has gotten a bit low. Yesterday I took advantage of the 2/$9 deal at Walgreen's and I used (2) $3.50 Register Rewards from the Colgate toothpaste sale.
So I paid $2.50 (before tax) for approximately 2 weeks worth of diapers. Yay!
*Here is a visual on the activity book that had the Walgreen's store coupons in it (including the Huggies coup for next week!!!).
Grocery Total: $90.06For my diapering community:
If you like Huggies diapers, then don't miss the SPECTACULAR deal next week at Walgreen's.
After printing the $5 Huggies coupon (read just a few posts back) clip and save for the BIG sale!!!
Huggies diapers will be on sale for $10 per package, and jumbo wipes refills will be on sale for $6.
When you spend $25 you will earn $10 in Register Rewards.
Here is how I personally am going to purchase my diapers:
1. I am going to purchase 3 tubes on Colgate (THIS WEEK) and use a $1.50 coupon - three separate transactions. This week's Colgate sale is buy one tube for $3.29 and receive a Register Reward for $3.50. So if I invest $5.17 (after coupons) this week, I will have $10.50 to spend next week.
2. I have purchased a small activity book (located at the pharmacy) for $.99 and it has Walgreen's store coupons in there- including a coupon for $1 Huggies. To the best of my knowledge, these coupons can be used over and over again since they a Walgreen's coupons and not manufacturer's.
3. I am planning to purchase 2 packages of diapers and one of wipes.
Diapers $10/each = $20
Wipes $6/ each =$6
Total $26.
I will use (2) $5 Huggies manufacturer coupons -$10
I will have my Huggies coupon from the activity book scanned -$2
I will use (3) $3.50 Register Rewards -$10.50
$26 - $22.50 = $3.50.
***Walgreen's allows you to use 1 manufacturer coupon per item... BUT, did you know that Register Rewards count as a manufacturer coupon? Yep, its true!
Walgreen's store coupons DO NOT count towards your manufacturer coupon limits.
So, in planning my purchase of Huggies for next week:
*My two Huggies manufacturer coupons count as the mani's for my diapers.
*I will skip using a $.50 manufacturer coupon for the wipes, so that I can attach one of my three Register Rewards to the wipes.
*And I have to purchase two more items that I DO NOT plan on using a manufacturer's coupon towards.
So... here is the final financial breakdown....
This week, invest $5.20
Next week, spend $3.50
Total invested $8.70
Receive a $10 Register Reward...
Alright friends- lets make some $$$ on diapers!!!
You in?
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: ever had this happen? Walgreen's just paid me .79 (yes actual cash!) to walk out of their store with stuff.
My cart:
2 reach toothbrushes
1 reach dental floss
1 Colgate max fresh toothpaste
1 bottle of peroxide
My total came to $2.50 after coupons I expected a Register Reward to print for the toothpaste of $3.29 and it didn't print.
I asked the cashier about it and found it in the paper and he called for a manager. The manager took me to another register and asked to look at my receipt. He looked at it and said it didn't print because my coupons were in excess of what I paid but he said since I did buy the toothpaste that I deserved the RR and he would give it to me.
I was expecting him to refund the toothpaste and re ring it up so that it would print out but instead he handed me $3.29 cash. Can't beat making actual cash on a shopping trip!! Love it!
Me: I LOVE when this happens, although it is very rare!
Once I was handed a $10 bill, which I tucked into a corner of my wallet for a rainy day!
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: Although I still don't have my coupon stash stocked as well as I would like yet, I did my first big run to Super Kroger last Saturday and used coupons to bring my $190 grocery bill down to $110, I was thrilled!!
Two weeks before, my husband was laid off and we only had $20 to spend on groceries for two weeks. I had some meat, cereals, and pantry staples such as flour and sugar stockpiled, but not much else. By transferring a prescription to Meijer's and getting $20 towards groceries, and using coupons of course, I was able to get $80 worth of groceries for a little more than $17. Since that was the 10- for $10 week I was able to get a lot for that amount and the kids never even noticed our extra lean grocery budget -- Woo Hoo!!
I have been having great luck at CVS the last couple of months also, but today I ran into something I had not heard of before. I used some Extra Care Bucks to purchase some items, then rolled those Extra Care Bucks into another purchase, which I should have received $4.99 in Extra Care Bucks from also, but didn't.
The cashier told me that they should print out next time I shop. Have you ever heard of this before?
This particular cashier has been very helpful and nice to me in the past, and a long line had formed behind me so I figured I would let it go and just return the item if I didn't get my bucks.
I was wondering if this happens sometimes when you are rolling care bucks in multiple purchases or something. I have not done that in the past, this was a tip I had picked up in your class.
Me: I am so glad that you have worked hard to trim your grocery budget... you are doing a great job!
As far as the CVS issue, it was most likely a computer error, NOT your rolling of your store rewards. (KEEP ROLLING!!! See Rolling Rewards under Snippets on my right hand column.)
Instead of returning the item, take your receipt in and talk to a manager. The manager will need to scan your receipt and (s)he will be able to manually enter information into the register and force your ECB's to print. This happened to me just a few weeks ago. It's not a problem, just a hassle.
Keep up the good work!!!
Did you read in the Proctor & Gamble (P&G) insert in Sunday's paper, that for EVERY P&G coupon that is spent will earn $.03 towards the cost of clean drinking water, vaccinations and puberty education in developing countries.
If you'd like to read more about this program visit www.pggivehealth.org.
Clip and spend!!!
Know a good deal when you see one!
Just because a store is LOUDLY advertising a product it does not mean that it is worth you purchasing it!!! Here, saving $.02 is a terrible deal... save your money and get your TP for FREE at Kroger!!!
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: -If I have a ‘save 50 c. on 4 cans’ and I am going to buy 4 cans can I use one coupon for each can?
Me: Nope, it's one coupon per set of four cans... I consider these junk coupons... I only clip these coups if I am for sure going to purchase that product, that brand and in that specific quantity... Ah, I am so annoyed by those coupons. Chinsy savings are still savings, but I like the BIG savings!!!
Coupon Clipper: (I know you mentioned this in your class) the coupons that say ‘manufacturer coupon’ but have a store logo, are those ONLY allowed at that store. I had trouble at Meijer with a ‘Kroger’ coupon and they wouldn’t let me use it. I ended up calling the store manager and she said that those can ONLY be used at Kroger, and that Kroger strikes a deal with the manufacturer.
Me: With the exclusion of the 'Manufacturer' coupons in the Rite Aid flyer (those are actually very poorly designed Rite Aid store coupons) a manufacturer's coupon is a manufacturer's coupon. I clip the logo off of the coupon so it doesn't confuse the cashier... unfortunately most cashiers are under-trained in accepting and ringing in coupons, so really, it isn't their fault!
Coupon Clipper: Can you use coupons on clearance items? At Rite Aid I couldn’t, but at CVS I could? Do they have policies or is it just what that specific manager feels like doing?
Me: Honestly, it usually is up to the store manager. But... if you frequent your location and get to know some of the employees your odds are better for getting the best deals. At my favorite stores I rarely have problems because I am known - usually I spend my time at the checkout talking up the best deals of the week. If you ever are unsatisfied with the way in which a store handles their coupon policy, the 800 number is usually found somewhere on your receipt... just call. (Rite Aid's # is 1.800. RITE (748).AID (3243).)
Coupon Clipper: Lastly (for now) if I have a coupon that’s worth more than the cost of the item shouldn’t I still be able to use it (as cash) even if I can’t get the cash back. ie: toothpaste for .99 c. w/ a 1.50 coupon. Can’t I pay the tax and call it even?
Me: Yes and no. It depends on the savvyness of the cashier... if he/she knows how to adjust down a coupon (See right side bar and read about adjusting down coupons in the Snippets section). Otherwise the store should offer you coupon overage (coupon overage is also found in the Snippets section). CVS is awesome about adjusting down coupons, while Walgreen's often will just give you the coupon overage. It helps to know each store's policies- but it is a learn as you go type of education. Each store varies just enough to keep you guessing.
Coupon Clipper: I’ve been doing this couponing thing for 2 weeks now, ever since your class, and so far I’ve gone to more stores than I usually go to in a month, but I’ve gotten some good deals, and best of all it has made me way more aware of spending money and I feel more of a responsibility to spend wisely.
But, I have to say, I don’t know if it’s just my bad luck or what, but I have had a problem at least 50% of the time. Some of it is my own user error – like me not knowing the policy, or not knowing that there were maximums for the deals you can get (I bought a second razor at CVS last week expecting to get the 4 ECB's but I had already received them earlier in the week so I couldn’t do it again and now my $4 coupon was gone so I couldn’t return it and get it on a different CVS card. ugh) but I’ve also just had items not ring up at the sale price and not realize it in the moment so then I have to go back in and make a stink all for $1.20 back for 3 packs of gum. And then I feel like a cheapskate for making a stink for $1.20 but it’s the principle, right?
Anyway...I guess I just needed to do a little retail-venting, so, there you have it!
Me: Everybody needs a little retail- venting once in a while.
Mistakes happen to the best of us, but here are some tips that I practice:
1. Always watch the register. Especially when your items are ringing up (you can stop that cashier right there and have him/her check the pricing.) and when your coupons are being scanned (sometimes the coupons stick together...)
2. Review your receipt before leaving the store... yep, its Granny Style, but worth it! Plus, who doesn't want to gawk at the amount you saved with your precious coupons!!!
3. Repack your mispriced items back into the bag you brought them home in, and either set the bag in your car or next to your keys... with the receipt in the bag- so the next time that you head to that store (maybe the following week) you just grab the bag when you go... easy returning.
Keep up the hard work! It really does pay off! You'll work out your kinks and have your stores memorized in no time!
YIKES! February is a short month to begin with, but being out of town for two weeks took my regular shopping trips to the bare minimum... I'm almost embarrassed to share my monthly totals...
My Monthly budget for February 09 was $340 ($85/week).
Total spent: $210.70 (under budget by $129.30)
Total saved: $1,022.78
Coupon overage: $18.59
Tax paid: $34.07
Total coupons used: 429
Total FREE items: 291
Yep, that was just about half of what a month normally looks like for me.
Bring on the March deals... I'm ready!!!
From an email...
Coupon Clipper: Quick question...
Do the Smart Source coupons vary by region? I saw several that said there were Renuzit coupons in the 2/22 Smart Source insert to be doubled up with a Target coupons...but there were none in mine. Thanks!!
Me: Yes, unfortunately coupons do vary from region to region.
Sometimes the variance is whether or not that will be in your coupon insert or whether the coupon value has been altered. Many people keep tabs on which coupons are most likely to be in the weekend's inserts at www.taylortownpreviews.com, but again it isn't a perfect list.
I practice being surprised... I hate to be disappointed just as much as any coupon clipper!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of the people who attended my classes in February!!! Together we were able to raise another $390 for Raincatchers! (YTD: $770 since 01/09)
High up in the mountains, near Seguin, Haiti a family is eagerly awaiting their Raincatcher.
Receiving the means to have clean drinking water is a BIG deal in Haiti. 
