Beginners

Extreme Couponing Tip: Don’t Fry Your Brain

by Cindy on August 4, 2011

Extreme Couponing Tips

If you have been watching the Extreme Couponing Series on TLC, you know that some of these shoppers walk away with a ton of groceries for next to nothing.  Lot’s of questions  pop up like, where do they get all their inserts, can you use that coupon on that product, etc.

Here are some tips on how to be a TRUE Extreme Couponer

This week’s tip is:

::Don’t Fry Your Brain

Kay attended my last Couponing Workshop and reported in that she had a great shopping trip however her “brain was fried” after trying to figure out her shopping trip.  That got me thinking back to when I first started “extreme couponing” and working deals.  I remember how my mind was everywhere and nowhere at the same time.  There seemed like so much information to process and so many deals in a million different directions. I too felt like my brain was fried.

I started couponing out of necessity.  After some unemployment periods, my husband and I realized we had to change our spending habits.  We started on the Dave Ramsey Cash Method and we had to cut our budget a lot.  The only thing I could cut, at the time, was my grocery budget.  So, I had to learn how to coupon and fast.  And, I barreled through that brain frying time because I had no choice.  But some people may not make it past the beginning adjustment period.  So, I wanted to give you some tips to help you through it.

Getting Adjust to a New Job

Do you remember the first day at your new job?  You felt a little overwhelmed and had so much to learn.  First there was learning co-workers names, then learning the companies policies for your health benefits or how to get in the building, etc.  Then, you had to learn how to actually do the job.   It took a couple of weeks but eventually it all started to fall into place.

Couponing is very similar to this.  You have to get used to the new couponing lingo, learn the coupon policies and then you have to figure out how to actually do the deals.  After that adjustment period, everything will start to fall into place.

Commit to Learning One Store

Each store has different policies and deals.  The best way to get started is to begin at just one store and master that store.  I started at CVS because it is a simple store to work the deals in.  You can build up a nice stockpile of health and beauty aids and even food from just doing the deals at CVS for a few weeks.  Once you have mastered CVS, you can then move on to another store such as Rite Aid, Walgreens or your local grocery store.

Don’t Try to Do Every Deal

As you may have noticed, there are a lot of great deals to be had.  Don’t try to do them all.  You can’t and you shouldn’t.  Start small and don’t overwhelm yourself.  If there is one deal that is very interesting to you, do that one.  Next week add on to that and so on.  If you try to do every deal you will burn yourself out very quickly and you want to do this for the long haul and not have to give up on it because you tried to do too much too fast.

Use Resources That Do The Work For You

Honestly, sites like Living Rich With Coupons, make it so much easier for you to take advantage of the deals.  It’s all laid out for you from where to get your coupons, where to use your coupons to how to work the deals.  So, use these resources because the best part is they are free.

Couponing and saving 50% or more on your groceries is truly life changing.  It has been for me and I want the same for each and everyone of you.  Don’t waste your hard earned dollars when we can be saving so much.  So, take your time, get adjusted slowly and please, don’t fry your brain….I’ll fry mine for you :)

If you are new to couponing, you may want to check out the Couponing for Beginners section where you will find a lot of answers to your questions.

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Extreme Couponing Tip: Patience Pays

by Cindy on July 28, 2011

Extreme Couponing Tips

If you have been watching the Extreme Couponing Series on TLC, you know that some of these shoppers walk away with a ton of groceries for next to nothing.  Lot’s of questions  pop up like, where do they get all their inserts, can you use that coupon on that product, etc.

Here are some tips on how to be a TRUE Extreme Couponer

This week’s tip is:

::Have Patience

The one thing I always stress here and at my Couponing Workshops is to have patience.   You need to start out slowly.  You should not go into it thinking that you will clip a few coupons and save thousands right away.  Like everything else in life, the best things come to those that wait.

Not Going to Save Overnight

Reducing your budget through coupons is a process.  A process that takes time.  Here are some of the things that have to be done before you really start to see your grocery budget drop.

  • If you have never used coupons before, you will need to build up your supply of coupons.  This takes time as the coupons come out each week in the Sunday Weekly Paper.
  • It also takes time to learn the ropes.  Get to know your stores and the store coupon policies.  Get to know what the best stockup prices are in your area.  And, get to know how to really work the deals at CVS, Walgreens and how to do Catalina Deals.

Building Up Your Stockpile

Having a stockpile is one of the key ways to save. Building a stockpile takes time and it takes time to find the deals to build the stockpile. Once you have your stockpile, it will save you from having to run out and buy products at full price all the time. In the end it will save you tons of money!

Each week, as the sales come out, you can add more and more to your stockpile.  It normally takes about 3 months to build up a full stockpile.

Watch Your Savings Drop

During the first 4 weeks or so of couponing, you may find that the amount you are spending each week is not really dropping.  You may see a savings on your receipts and you will probably be getting a lot more groceries then you usually buy but,  during the first 4 weeks you will probably still be spending the same amount of money.  Then from about week 5 – 12, your weekly spending will start to be less and less.  And, by about 12 weeks, you should be spending a lot less out of pocket.  The amount could be anywhere from 50 – 75% less depending on the amount of time you put in.

For most serious couponers, you will be at a point where you are only spending money each week on produce, dairy and meats.  And, picking up all the FREE items for the week.

But, remember, this takes time.  So, be patient and it will pay off in the long run.

If you are new to couponing, you may want to check out the Couponing for Beginners section where you will find a lot of answers to your questions.

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New Coupon Barcode – DataBar Coupon Code

by Cindy on July 19, 2011

New DataBar Coupon Barcodes

Many of you may have noticed that some of the coupons, specifically the Pop Tarts printable coupon, are only printing with 1 long barcode.  There is nothing wrong with this coupon.  This is the start of the new DataBar Coupon Barcodes.

The long Databar Coupon Barcodes have been on coupons for a while long along with the old, shorter UPC Codes.  They have done this to transition over to the new longer Databar Coupon Barcode.  Here are some things you should know about the new DataBar Coupon Barcodes

Why the new DataBar Coupon Codes?

Contrary to popular belief, this has nothing to do with the Extreme Couponing show.  This is has been in the works for at least a couple of years as they transition from one to the other.  Here are some of the reasons for the new code:

The DataBar Coupon is capable of encoding an extremely large amount of information.  Some of the additional information included will be expiration dates, product specifics such as size, weight and quantity required.  Buy including this information it will reduce the misuse of coupons.

Also, companies have the flexibility to make the coupon value any dollar amount.

How it will effect your Checkout

Once all POS systems are updated to accept the new DataBar Code, ceckout should be faster and more accurate for the retailer since the coupon can only be used for the product it is intended to be used for.  There should be less cashier intervention necessary.

Companies have the option of leaving both of the barcodes on the coupons so you may continue to see some coupons with both barcodes as well as some with only the long new DataBar Code.

Retailers have had about 6 months to update their registers to accept the new barcode.  Most of the major retailers have already updated their systems however some of the regional stores may not have done so yet.  So, if the barcode does not scan, in most cases, the stores registers are not updated yet.  To use the coupon, they simply have to enter in the barcode.  Hopefully, most retailers will have made the changes or are, at the very least, aware of the changes, and will know to input the code.

Source: Bar Code Graphics   Barcodeadvice.org

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Extreme Couponing Tip: Don’t Compare

by Cindy on June 16, 2011

Extreme Couponing Tips

**Be sure to check out the most recent Extreme Couponing Tip: Patience Pays

If you have been watching the Extreme Couponing Series on TLC, you know that some of these shoppers walk away with a ton of groceries for next to nothing.  Lot’s of questions  pop up like, where do they get all their inserts, can you use that coupon on that product, etc.

This week’s tip is:

::Don’t Compare

Since the start of Extreme Couponing, there seems to be this frustration with some couponers that they feel as though they are not doing well enough.  One of the things I often hear is, “I am only saving 75%, how can I save 95%”.  Or asking how to buy 100 items of something for free.

Not Reality

Well, let me tell you something.  The shoppers on this show, are doing one big shopping haul.  If you have noticed, almost every single time, they have stated that this is the biggest trip they have ever done.  You don’t want to shop like that, you can’t shop like that and you shouldn’t shop like that.

Sure, you can pull off a 95% shopping trip every now and then.  Most of us can.  But can you do it on a regular basis…NOPE.  Why, becuase we have families we need to feed and they can not live off of 100 bottles of mustard or 100 boxes of cat food. Meat needs to be purchased, milk needs to be purchased, baby food and dog food need to be purchased. And so much more.

Be Happy With Your Savings

So, tell me, are you saving 50%, 60 % or 75%?  If you answered yes, you should be darn proud of yourself.  And you should not compare your shopping trips to the ones featured on the show because I will bet my blog that most of them do not shop like that every time.

Be happy with what you do.  Be happy with what you save.

Extreme Couponing 2nd Season

And, you will all be happy to know (or not) that a second season of Extreme Couponing will be coming.  And, you will be happy to know that I was once again asked to be on the show and I once again declined.

So, what are your thoughts on another season of Extreme Couponing?

If you are new to couponing, you may want to check out the Couponing for Beginners section where you will find a lot of answers to your questions.

{ 131 comments }

Extreme Couponing Tip: How to Use Rainchecks

by Cindy on June 9, 2011

Extreme Couponing Tips

If you have been watching the Extreme Couponing Series on TLC, you know that some of these shoppers walk away with a ton of groceries for next to nothing.  Lot’s of questions  pop up like, where do they get all their inserts, can you use that coupon on that product, etc.

This week’s tip is:

::How to Use Rainchecks

Rainchecks are a great way to take advantage of deals when the products are no longer in stock.  This is a great way to take advantage of the sale at a later date.  And, sometimes, you may even be able to score a better deal then the one that was originally available.

Know your store’s Raincheck policy

Here are some things you should ask your store regarding rainchecks.

  1. Is there a limit on the amount of products you can purchase with the raincheck
  2. If the product was part of another deal, will you still be able to take advantage of that when you use your raincheck
  3. Do the rainchecks have an expiration date

CVS Rainchecks

If the product is no longer available at CVS and it was part of an Extra Care Bucks deal, they will honor the Extra Care Bucks at the time you make the purchase.  If the product is part of another Extra Care Bucks deal at the time you use your raincheck, you will not receive both ECBs.

Using Coupons with Rainchecks

You can use coupons with rainchecks.  Having a raincheck is no different then if you had been buying the product when it had been on sale originally.  So, if you didn’t have a coupon when the product went on sale and then a coupon or a better coupon becomes available, you can score a great deal using your raincheck.

Getting Rainchecks for a product in a Catalina Deal

Unfortunately rainchecks for items that were a part of a catalina deal will not produce the catalina when you use your raincheck at a later date.  You can certainly discuss the deal and the situation with your store’s customer service department to see if they will honor the catalina deal, however, once the catalina deals are over, the catalina machine will not recognize the purchase and therefore, will not give you a catalina coupon when you use your raincheck

Other Ways to Save with a Raincheck

A great way to take advantage of a raincheck is to use it when there is catalina, ECB or Register Reward deal, especially if the price of the raincheck is better then the price of the item in the deal for that week.

Do you have any great tips on using rainchecks?

If you are new to couponing, you may want to check out the Couponing for Beginners section where you will find a lot of answers to your questions.

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Extreme Couponing Tip: Get The Family Involved

by Cindy on June 2, 2011

Extreme Couponing Tips

If you have been watching the Extreme Couponing Series on TLC, you know that some of these shoppers walk away with a ton of groceries for next to nothing.  Lot’s of questions  pop up like, where do they get all their inserts, can you use that coupon on that product, etc.

This week’s tip is:

::Get Your Family Involved

Starting as a newbie couponer can be a bit overwelming.  But, soon enough, you will find that your are a seasoned pro.  When you first get started, your family may look at you like you are crazy.  Mine did.  I’ll never forget the first weekend, after I had studied all the great ways to save, that I had asked my husband to go to 7-Eleven and get me 4 newspapers.  He looked at me like, Cindy, you have lost your mind for sure.  But, I said, trust me, I’m giving this a try and we’ll see how it goes.  It wound up to be a small investment for, what has turned out to be, a huge savings for our family.  And, after years of doing this, my husband and my kids have felt confident enough to go out on their own and use coupons.

Here are some tips to get your family involved.

Let the Kids Help

This is a great opportunity to teach your kids the value of money.  Depending on the age of your kids and how you organize your coupons, they can help you with any of the following:

  • Cutting coupons
  • Pulling out expired coupons from your binder
  • Separating your inserts to cut
  • Filing inserts

A fun experience for the kids and a great way to teach them about couponing, is to let them pick something in the circular they would like and to find a coupon that goes along with it.  Then at the grocery store, it’s their job to find the item, put it in the cart and even give the coupon to the cashier.

Play The “Guess What I Spent” Guessing Game

I know this may sound silly, but this really gets the family, including your husband or wife involved.  After you shop, pile your groceries on the table or counter and have everyone in your family guess how much you spent.  In the beginning, their guesses will be high and they will be amazed that you actually spent such a small amount on all the stuff you bought.

Then, they will really begin to see just how this “silly couponing thing” you are doing is really saving the family money.

Keep a jar with your savings

Each time you spend under your usual, pre-couponing days amount, place the savings in a jar.  Have the family decide what the savings will be used for.  When that jar starts to fill up, you’ll be amazed at how quickly they all want to get involved.

Start them out small

If you have a husband or wife that is a little shy when it comes to using coupons, then start them out small.  Don’t send them out with store coupons that you stack with manufacturer coupons.  Give them a simple transaction to start.  And, even if they messed it up, tell them how great they did and how much money they saved.

One Big Couponing Family

In the end, you’ll end up with a family that is happy to help you and willing to wait for an item until it goes on sale.  And, even willing to stop at the store for you to do a deal.

How do you get your family involved?

If you are new to couponing, you may want to check out the Couponing for Beginners section where you will find a lot of answers to your questions.

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Extreme Couponing Tip: Don’t Be So Extreme

by Cindy on May 26, 2011

Extreme Couponing Tips

If you have been watching the Extreme Couponing Series on TLC, you know that some of these shoppers walk away with a ton of groceries for next to nothing.  Lot’s of questions  pop up like, where do they get all their inserts, can you use that coupon on that product, etc.

This week’s tip is:

::Don’t Be So Extreme

I understand that the name of the show is Extreme Couponing, however, to me, Extreme Couponing has a different meaning then buying 100 Free bottles of soap in 1 shopping trip.  There is no need for that.  Really there isn’t. To me Extreme Couponing is the ability to save 75% or more on your grocery bill.  And, you can do that if you picked up 4 -8 (depending on your family size) of those same Free bottles of soap.  Not 100 bottles.

Stockpiles

I talk a lot about building a stockpile.  Having a nice stockpile is one of the key ways to be able to save at the grocery store. The reason for building a stockpile is simply so that you do not have to go out and buy something at full price.  If you purchase several of the items when they are at their lowest price, you do not have to purchase them until they go on sale again.

Why will 4-8 bottles be enough?  Well, it’s simple.  Sales usually run in cycles of about 3 months.  So, if you see a great deal on bottles of soap this month, most likely you will see a great deal again in about 3 months.  Just in time for the 4-8 bottles in your stockpile to start to be running low.  Honestly, it could take us about 3 weeks to go through 1 bottle of soap.  For me, 100 bottles of soap would be over 5 years worth. Buy what you need for your family and for donations and nothing more.  Please don’t turn your home into one big stockpile.

Don’t overwhelm yourself

Watching some of these couponing shows may have you thinking you are not as good at couponing as you thought.  Or that there must be something wrong because you are not buying $2000 worth of groceries for $50.  Don’t second guess yourself.  If you are saving a good amount by using coupons and working some deals, then you are doing a great job.  And, don’t try to do every single deal.  There are way too many and if you do, you’ll burn yourself out.  Step back, take a deep breath and say, I’m not doing that deal because I just don’t need to right now.  It will make for a much better, long term, couponing experience.

Enjoy Couponing

Couponing should not take over your home or your life.  It  should be a fun activity that brings you great joy and satisfaction that you are saving your family money.  If deals don’t work or you forgot a coupon, brush it off.  There is always the next deal or coupon.

If you are new to couponing, you may want to check out the Couponing for Beginners section where you will find a lot of answers to your questions.

{ 86 comments }

Extreme Couponing Tip: Use Catalinas to Reduce Your Grocery Bill

by Cindy on May 19, 2011

Extreme Couponing Tips

If you have been watching the Extreme Couponing Series on TLC, you know that some of these shoppers walk away with a ton of groceries for next to nothing.  Lot’s of questions  pop up like, where do they get all their inserts, can you use that coupon on that product, etc.

This week’s tip is:

::Use Catalinas to Reduce Your Grocery Bill

One of my favorite ways to save on groceries is by using Catalinas.  Depending on the store you are shopping in, these may also be called Your Bucks, or Register Rewards (at Walgreens).  Catalinas are coupons that print out at the register after you have made a qualifying purchase.

Examples of Catalina Deals

Here are some examples of how Catalina Deals work.  The deal show below is Buy 2 Purex Products and you receive a $1 Catalina Coupon.  You would see the deal written like this:

Buy 2 Purex Laundry Detegents $1.99 each
use (2)$1/1 Purex Coupons
Pay: $1.98
Get a $1.00 Catalina when you buy 2 Purex Products

These catalinas coupons can then be used on your next purchase to help reduce your out of pocket.

Sometimes, there are deals that are just awesome money makers.  For instance, about 2 months ago, ShopRite had a sale called Dollar Day Rewards.  When you purchased a certain amount of items, you received Catalina coupons that were to be used on specific weeks.

Here was an example of one of the deals during Dollar Days:

Buy 4 Coffeemate $1.24 each
Buy 6 Carnation Evaporated Milk $1.00 each
-(4)$0.75/1 Coffeemate
-(3)$0.50/2 Carnation
Pay: $3
Get $12 in catalinas
free + $9 money maker after coupons & catalinas

In the example above, you needed to buy 10 of the participating items and then you received $12 in catalinas.

Planning Your Deals

Planning your catalina deals is the key to a successful shopping trip.  When you are looking through the participating products in the catalina deal,  try to find the lowest priced items with the best coupons.  The goal is to find the lowest out of pocket that will still generate the catalina.  In the example above, you can see that both the Coffeemate and the Carnation were low priced and had great coupons that, when doubled, made for an out of pocket of only $3.  And, still giving you the $12 catalina.  So, you are receiving $9 extra over your $3 out of pocket.

Using Your Catalinas

Once you have your catalinas to use on your next purchase, the next step is to plan how to use them.  You can choose to purchase items that do not normally have coupons such as meat or produce.  Here is an example of that:

Buy 2 Packages of Boneless Chicken $6.00 each
use $12 in catalina coupons
Final Price: Free

Or you can choose to use them on another catalina deal that will generate even more catalina coupons.  This technique is referred to as Rolling Your Catalinas.  Here is an example:

Buy 2 Pantene Shampoos $3.00 each
use (2)$1/1 Pantene Coupons
use $3.00 in catalina Coupons
Pay: $1.00
Get a $2 Catalina when you buy 2 Pantene products

So, you have reduced your out of pocket on the Pantene purchase to pay only $1 for 2 Shampoos and you still received a $2 catalina which you can use on your next purchase.

Once you master these Catalina Deals, you will be on your way to really reducing your grocery bill.

You can also check out the post, What Is a Catalina Coupon and other FAQs and check out all the current Catalina Deals that I have found.

{ 18 comments }

Extreme Couponing Tip: Organize Your Shopping Trip

by Cindy on May 12, 2011

Extreme Couponing Tips

If you have been watching the Extreme Couponing Series on TLC, you know that some of these shoppers walk away with a ton of groceries for next to nothing.  Lot’s of questions  pop up like, where do they get all their inserts, can you use that coupon on that product, etc.

This week’s tip is:

::ORGANIZE YOUR SHOPPING TRIP

Staying organized is key to having a successful shopping trip.  Organizing your trip can be done in so many ways from using spreadsheets, printing out a shopping list from the LRWC coupon match ups, paper clipping your coupons together by aisle and so many more ways.  You need to do what is comfortable and works best for you.

I am going to share with you my process for preparing for a shopping trip.  This process has evolved over time and I’ve changed and tweaked things to make it the easiest and quickest for me.

My Coupon Binder

I now organize my coupon inserts by date and uncut in a large 5″ coupon binder as shown below.  I put all the inserts, uncut, into a page protector sheet separated by type of insert and divided by date.  So, 5/1 divider has 3 page protectors.  In one are all my SmartSource inserts from that week, another has RedPlum and the other has P&G insert.

I do not take this into the store with me however, I will keep it in the car, if I am going to a store that may require me to clip extra coupons for the trip.  But, for the most part, I am prepared ahead of time and don’t usually bring the binder with me.

Preparing My Coupons

When I prepare for my trip, I print a shopping list from the coupon match ups.  Below you will see my preperation for the Pathmark Triple Coupon Sale this weekend.

Once I have my list printed, I then gather all my coupons. On the shopping list I mark how many items I am planning to buy for each product.

I then use a smaller sized storage clipcase to keep my coupons and shopping list organized.  My shopping list clips onto the front and the coupons go inside.

This case fits nicely into the front of the shopping cart and I am able to work off the list while I shop. If something changes on my shopping list, I make a note of it.  For instance, if I was only able to get 1 product instead of the 3 that I planned, I change the quantity of the item.

Once I’m done shopping, I open up my clipboard and take out my coupons.  At that point, I compare my coupons to the items I have in the cart by the updated shopping list.  I take out any coupons I will not be using and head to check out.


After I checkout, I place my receipt and any catalinas I receive into the clipboard to organize when I get home.

For me, this has worked like a charm and has make shopping super easy to prepare for and stay organized.  The most important thing is to do what is right for you as there is no wrong or right way to do it.

There are other ways you can organize your coupons.  Make sure to check out my Coupon Organization Video.   This is an older video and the method I use now is not currently in the video but I will be making a new one shortly.

Do you have a great way that you organize for your shopping trip?  If so, we’d love to here how you do it.

{ 33 comments }

Extreme Couponing Tip: Use Your Coupons Correctly

by Cindy on May 5, 2011

Extreme Couponing Tips

If you have been watching the Extreme Couponing Series on TLC, you know that some of these shoppers walk away with a ton of groceries for next to nothing.  Lot’s of questions  pop up like, where do they get all their inserts, can you use that coupon on that product, etc.

Sometimes I watch and am sad to say that I’m disappointed to see couponing displayed so extreme.  And it upsets me that some of you may be picking up bad habits from things you see on the show.  So, each week I’m going to touch on one important tip you need to keep in mind in order to be a TRUE Extreme Couponer so that you will know how to coupon the right way.

This week’s tip is:

::USE COUPONS CORRECTLY

This tip is important because using coupons incorrectly is illegal and considered coupon fraud.  Now, before you get all upset because you used a coupon in error last week, do not worry.  If it’s one coupon and it’s a mistake, it’s fine.  We all make mistakes, me included.  However, using 25 coupons on an item incorrectly is not a good practice.

Here is what I’m referring to:

Manufacturers put out a coupon for a product in their line that is a higher price item.  The coupon will probably be a higher value coupon to make it worth your while to use it.  If you turn around and use it on an item in their product line that sells for less money and was not an item that the manufacturer intended it to be used on,  then the store will not get reimbursed for it.

Once the manufacturer matches up the coupons with the sales for that store and sees a discrepancy, they can refuse to pay the store for those coupons.  The store then takes the loss for those coupons.  Then, eventually, the store may take measures to protect themselves by limiting the amount of coupons they accept in a transaction or by the amount of “like” coupons they accept.

So, not only is it illegal to use coupons incorrectly, in the end, it hurts the whole couponing community.

Here is an example of what I mean:

Here is a coupon for $0.75 off on any 2 Starkist Products: Pouches, Gourmet Choice or StarKist Selects Can. This coupon CAN NOT be used on ANY StarKist product.  But, rather, you will need to use it on only the products listed on the coupon.

You can not use it on the regular StarKist Cans:

Here is what you can use the coupon on:

So be sure to read your coupons before you use them so we can all have a pleasant couponing experience.

And, make sure to check out Super Couponing 101 so that you can find out more info about how to be a True Extreme Couponer.

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