Beginners

Extreme Couponing Tip: Organize Your Shopping Trip

by Cindy on May 12, 2011 · 43 comments

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.

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Extreme Couponing Tip: Use Your Coupons Correctly

by Cindy on May 5, 2011 · 89 comments

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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BOGO Sales and Coupons Questions Answered

by Cindy on March 24, 2011 · 33 comments

BOGO Sales and Coupons Questions Answered

One of top questions I get through emails or through comments is regarding BOGO Sales and BOGO Coupons. So, here is an explanation on how these sales and coupons work.

::BOGO Coupons with a Dollar Off Coupon

Question: Can I use a dollar off Coupon with a BOGO Coupon.
Answer: Yes and No.

This question has 2 answers because there are certain things you need to look for to determine if you can use another coupon along with a BOGO coupon. You first need to determine if the BOGO Coupon attaches to 1 of the 2 products you are buying or if it attaches to both of the products you are buying.

Numbers in the 10th & 11th place of the barcode (circled above) represent the dollar amount of the coupon. The only numbers you need to know are when there is a BOGO coupon. BOGOs (Buy One Get One Free) are either coded with a “14″ , “01″ or “00″. Here are what the codes mean:

If the numbers are “00″ or “01″ – Then the coupon only attaches to the product you are getting for free and another coupon can be used against the other product
If the numbers are “14″ – The coupon attaches to both products and you can not use another coupon. Any additional coupons used will beep.

Question: I have a $1/2 Coupon, can I use that with a BOGO coupon?
Answer: No

If you have determined, by checking the barcode as in the example above, that you can use an additional coupon with your BOGO coupon, then you will only be able to use a $X/1 coupon. You can not use a $X/2 coupon. The BOGO Coupon attaches to one of the 2 products and the $X/1 attaches to the other.

::BOGO Coupon with a BOGO Sale

Question: Can I use a BOGO Coupon with a BOGO Sale?
Answer: Yes, if your store allows it.

Stores like Rite Aid, Walgreens & CVS allow you to use a BOGO Coupon on a BOGO Sale getting 2 items for free. This works because the store promotion is for you to buy a product and they are giving you another one for free. The manufacturer is offering the same thing with a coupon. So, the item that you are paying for at the store, now becomes free after the BOGO coupon and the BOGO Sale. You only need to purchase 2 products.

For your local stores, make sure to check the coupon policy. If they do not address BOGO Sales with BOGO coupons in their written policy, check with customer service. And, make sure to print a copy of each Store’s Coupon Policy so you can review it and have it with you in the store in case there is any question while you are checking out.

::BOGO Sale with Dollar Off Coupons

Question: Can I use 2 Dollar Off Coupons with a BOGO Sale?
Answer: Yes, if your store allows it

This falls into the same category as the BOGO Coupon with a BOGO Sale. At stores like Rite Aid, Walgreens & CVS, you can use 2 – $X/1 coupons or 1 – $X/2 with a BOGO Sale. For local stores, you will need to check with customer service if you are not sure of their policy.

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Important Facts You Should Know Before Using Coupons

by Cindy on January 27, 2011 · 85 comments

With the new shows such as Extreme Couponing, there are a lot of new coupon users out there. With so many people trying to save an “extreme” amount of money, sometimes you could, inadvertently, use a coupon incorrectly. Using them incorrectly may, in time, cause stores to adjust their policies. So, I wanted to take a moment to address some important facts.

1. Do Not Copy - This is a very big NO-NO. You can not copy coupons. This is actually against the law and is considered fraud. In most cases, you can print 2 per computer. If you need more, see if friends or family members can print for you as well.

2. Unique Codes: A lot of people email me telling me that their store would not accept their coupons because the UPC codes were the same on their like coupons. If you are using more then one “like” coupon, your UPC codes WILL all be the same. They are coded to work for each product and dollar amount. However, there are numbers on the coupons that will change with each one printed. This is how they insure that they are not getting ones that are copied.. Here is where you can find those numbers on your coupons:
Coupons.com Coupons: There is a small barcode located under the expiration date. There is a different number for each one printed.
Smart Source Coupons: On the left side there is a pin number. There is a different pin number for each coupon printed. Update: Some of the Smart Source coupons may have the pin number located around the perimeter.

3. UPC Codes: Honestly, the only numbers we, as couponers, need to understand in the barcode are the 1st number and the 10th & 11th numbers.
The first number (#1 above) of the UPC bar code will either be a “5″ or a “9″. If it starts with the number 5 then it will automatically double (if your store doubles). It will double even if it states, “Do Not Double“. If it starts with the number 9, then it will not double at all.

Numbers in the 10th & 11th place of the barcode (#4 above) represent the dollar amount of the coupon. The only numbers you need to know are when there is a BOGO coupon. BOGOs (Buy One Get One Free) are either coded with a “14″ or a “01″. “01″ means that the they will only be attaching to one of the items and you are free to use a dollar off coupon on the other product. “14″ mean that the it attaches to both products so you will NOT be able to use a dollar off coupon with the BOGO.

4. Fraudulent Coupons: If you received a coupon from a friend in your email or spotted one online and you are not sure if it’s legitimate, you can head over to Cents-off. They have a list of coupons that have been reported as fraudulent. If you have received a fraudulent coupon, DO NOT use it.

5. Use The Coupon How It Is Intended: Be sure to only use the coupon how it was intended to be used. If the coupon is for $1/1 off Maxwell House International Delight Coffee, don’t try to use it on Maxwell House Regular Coffee. If it states “any Maxwell House Coffee” then you are free to use it on any of the Maxwell House products.

Also, pay attention to the size restrictions on the coupon. If there are no size restrictions or it states “on any”, you can use it for any size in that product including trial or travel size.

6. One Per Purchase: A lot of consumers and cashiers think that this means you may only use 1 coupon per shopping trip. What this actually means, is that you can use one coupon per item purchased. So, if you were buying 4 Cheerios, you can use 4 $1/1 Cheerios Coupons.

Occasionally you will see coupons that are 1 per transaction. In that case, you will only be able to use 1 even if you purchased more then one of those items in your transaction. There really are not too many of these coupons around.

Some coupons, like P&G coupons, allow you to only use 4 “like” coupons per transaction.

7. The Value of The Coupon: Another thing to pay close attention to is the value of the coupon. If it states $1/1, you can use it to take $1.00 off 1 product. If it states $1/2, you can use it to take $1 off 2 products. So, for the $1/2 coupon you can only use one for 2 products.

If you use your coupons exactly how they were intended to be used and if you have a better knowledge of them, it should make for a better shopping experience for you and the store. If you are not sure how or when you can use a coupon, please ask. I am always happy to answer any of your questions.

Photo Credit

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LRWC Video Series: Couponing 101

by Cindy on January 14, 2011 · 15 comments

So much of what I say here on the site is hard to express with typed words. So, since I recently gave a talk about basic couponing to a MOPS group, I thought I would use parts of that talk to create a Couponing 101 video.

The video is split into 2 parts and includes topics such as How Much You Can Save with Coupons, Coupon Organization, Catalinas & Drugstore Deals.

So, if you have some time and you don’t mind listening to me, and watching our non-professional, sometimes shaky video, then here are the new Living Rich With Coupons Couponing 101 Video. I hope you enjoy them.

And a big thank you to the MOPS group for having me at their meeting. I think I convinced a few anti-couponers just how easy it really is.

If you are seeing this in a reader or email, click here to see the videos.

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5 Easy Ways To Cut Your Grocery Bill!

by Cindy on September 29, 2010 · 91 comments

One of the most frequently asked questions is how do I get started using coupons and saving money. When I talk to people about how to use coupons and save I usually get things like, oh, “they never have coupons for the stuff I buy”, “it takes too much time” or “it’s just too confusing”. I just shake my head and say no, no, no. These are just excuses pure and simple. Anyone can save even a little bit and it’s easier then you think. Here are ways to get it going:

1. Have an open mind!

This is the most important part of saving money. Without an open mind, it’s just not going to happen. You must be open to trying new products and new brands. Throw your brand loyalty out the window. Trust me on this one. Let yourself go for a couple of weeks to just try it. It will work but only if you let it.

2. Change the Way You Shop: You will no longer be shopping for the week, you will now be shopping to stock up.

Throw out the thought of clipping your coupons from the Sunday insert and taking those newly clipped coupons to the store to shop. You are just not going to save money that way. You are now going to shop the circular. Look for the best sale prices on an item and match a coupon to score them at the lowest price. Once an item is available at a super low price, it’s time to stock up. Buy 4 or 6 of the item so you have enough until the next time the price drops low. This simple money saving technique is referred to as stockpiling and it is the key to saving money.

3. Start Small: Don’t try to become the coupon queen or king overnight.

Taking on too much too soon can overwhelm you and burn you out very quickly. Trying to master 3 drugstores, a grocery store and a bunch of catalina deals in a month is only going to have you seeing stars. Don’t do it. Start small with 1 drugstore first, learn how the deals work at that store and get the best deals there. Then move onto another store.

The best place to start is CVS. It’s simple, easy and the deals are basic. You can build up your stockpile of health and beauty aid products fairly quickly (and food too). And, while you are doing it, you will be learning and gaining more confidence that will help you to conquer another store.

4. Gather Your Coupons, because without coupons, none of this works.

The first few weeks as a new couponer, you will come across a few deals that you just don’t have the coupons for yet. Maybe they were from an older insert or they were printable coupons that are not available any longer. Don’t worry about missing out on some deals. Know that there are plenty of them. So, just concentrate on using the coupons you have and building up your coupons and organizing them. In no time, you’ll have enough coupons to wallpaper your kitchen.

5. Use resources that have done all the work already.

Here on LRWC, all the “dirty work” is already done for you. You don’t have to figure anything out. Look for your store, look through the deals you want to take advantage of, clip your coupons, make your list and off you go to save a bundle.

What tips would you give to a new couponer?

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What Is A Catalina Coupon and Other FAQ’s?

by Cindy on March 14, 2010 · 13 comments

Catalinas

Catalina machine

Recently a lot of you have asked, what is a Catalina?

Catalinas are coupons that print out of the Catalina Machine, hence the name Catalinas. These machines are located right next to the registers. Most of you have probably received coupons from them before. But other great things print from them as well. Here is what you can expect to find:

Dollar off coupons: These are coupons that are part of a Catalina deal such as buy X amount of products and get $XX back. Or buy $XX product and get $XX back. These are good on your next shopping trip to the store.
Manuafacturer coupons: Regular manufacturer coupons print from the catalina machines however they are to be used at that particular store. You can use them at another store if that store takes competitor coupons.
Store Coupons: Store coupon will print from the catalina machine as well. Today, was a first for me at Shoprite. I actually recieved a whole bunch of store coupons which can be stacked with manufacturer coupons.
Upcoming Deals: Deals that are scheduled in the near future will sometimes print out a catalina letting you know it’s coming.

Here are some suggestions to help make your deals go smoother:

Is the machine working: Make sure that the green light is lit on the machine before you begin your transacation. Sometimes I will ask the cashier if coupons are printing from the machine before I load up my groceries. Of course you only have to worry about this when you are actually doing a catalina deal.
Requirements for the deal: Make sure you have met every requirement for the deal to work. Do you have the exact products, quantities or dollar amounts required?
What if Your Catalina Does Not Print: If your catalina did not print, don’t hesitate to go to customer service. If the deal is advertised in your circular, you should have no problem dealing with customer service at the store. If it’s not advertised, then I would just recommend calling the Catalina company directly at 1-888-8COUPON or 1-888-826-8766 or via email ncsc@catalinamarketing.com.

Keeping your Catalinas organzied:

I know we have a lot of coupons. Between inserts, printable, magazines, blinkie, peelies and anywhere else we find coupons. What do you do with yet more coupons? How do you not loose them?

Well here is my solution. Store coupon books:

As I had mentioned in my Coupon Organization Video, I use inexpensive photo books as store coupon books. Each week, when I am getting my coupons ready for my shopping trip, I put them in my store coupon book along with my shopping list. All the Catalinas I received for that store are in the coupon book so they are easy to find.

To see Catalinas in action, check out my post on How to Successfull Roll A Catalina.

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The Highs And Lows Of Using Coupons

by Cindy on February 25, 2010 · 29 comments

You have planned out your shopping trip. Your coupons are all in order. You have figured out exactly how much you will be saving. Your cart is filled with your great finds. Proudly you pile your deals at the checkout so excited to watch those coupons deduct one by one from the total. Or to receive that $10 catalina spit out of that little machine by the register. The cashier takes your coupons and begins what you think will be a simple, well thought out transaction. And then your whole plan turns upside down. Nothing goes as planned. Your hands get sweaty and your heart starts to pound. Sound familiar?

Well, you are not alone. These are the highs and lows of using coupons. We plan everything right down to the penny. Check to make sure we are getting the right product to match the coupon. We make sure that the coupons are not expired and so on. Then, the coupon police (that cashier that seems to think that we are taking money out of their pocket) takes our coupons and one by one picks them apart.

This coupon will not double, this coupon is for more then the price of the product, this coupon is not a real coupon it must of been copied, this coupon is a PDF coupon and we don’t take those and the list goes on. Why does this happen and how do we avoid it.

One reason is simply some stores and store managers simply do not know their own corporate coupon policies. Take for instance recent comments from readers who went to Target trying to buy the 8oz body wash. They have said they were not allowed to use the $4/2 coupon on two $1.99 products because it was more then the item. Well, Target’s policy, as are most stores policy, is to adjust the coupon down. Or, another reader got, this is a trial size product and you can’t us it on a trial size item. Hello, when was the last time an 8 oz product was trial size. Will they allow that size on an airplane? I think not.

Or how about when you complete the transaction and everything goes as planned and no catalina prints out. Then you have to go to customer service, spend 5 minutes there (husband and kids in tow) discussing why you should have gotten a $10 catalina only to find that they didn’t even know there was such a deal going on in their own store. Enough to make you wonder why you are doing this in the first place. Is it worth it?

For the amount of money you can save, I say yes. Because every single time is not going to be that way. Every single time will not require you to hold your breath, hoping and wishing that the coupon police do not show up at the register. “Sorry lady, you have just committed a coupon violation and you need to come with us while we take a 1/2 hour of your time to tell you why you can’t use that coupon”.

That won’t always happen. And don’t think it will never happen because it will. Most likely before the month is over you will be talking to that coupon police explaining your case. And what do you do? Well here are ways to help you out. Ways that I have found extremely helpful.

::Bring coupon policies for your stores (I will be posting policies for you to print out shortly). This way the cashiers and managers can see that they have no choice but to except your coupon over the amount of the item or any other excuse they give you.

::Know the store’s policy yourself. If you plan on shopping at that store often to take advantage of their coupons or rewards program, then understand their policies. Read up on it. Educate yourself so you know what you can and can not do. What works and what doesn’t work.

::Prepare to walk away from a deal. If they give you a hard time that you can’t quickly resolve by pulling out your coupon policy or explaining it, then walk away from it. Sometimes it’s not worth the hassle. There are so many deals to be found that having to walk away from one is no worry. You’ll find another.

The more you use coupons and become completely comfortable with them the easier it gets to explain your case. It really will. When you first start out using “coupons on steroids”, as one reader put it, you are not completely sure of yourself. Did I do this right? Is this the right product? Do I need to buy 2 or 3 for this to work? It sometimes can be a bit confusing. So to plead your case to the coupon police sometimes can get a little nerve wracking especially if you’re not 100% sure you even did it right in the first place. Well, that does get easier I promise. And the more you do it the more you can plead your case and sound like you know what you are talking about. Since most of the time, they (the coupon police) don’t even really know what’s going on, sounding like you know gets them to accept it. And I am by no means telling you to try to get away with sometime that is not on the up and up. I mean real deals that completely follow within the rules of the coupon and of the store’s policy. I NEVER advocate trying to “one up” a store. NEVER!
So listen, nothing in life that is worthwhile is free. Things take time. Ask yourself this, if someone came to you and offered you $200 a week (you honestly can save that much money) for a few hours of work, work that you already do some of (and that you have to do anyway) and told you that hours were completely flexible and if you didn’t feel like doing it one week here or there that would be fine. Would you take the job? Only you can answer that question. My answer is absolutely. I’ll spend a few hours a week sorting through coupons, writing lists and going through the occasional sweaty hand, heart pounding, your deal just feel apart episode. Sign me up!! I’ll take 200 bucks a week!!

Are you new to couponing? Check out the beginners section for all the ins and outs of using coupons.

Photo credit

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How To Successfully Roll A Catalina Deal

by Cindy on February 7, 2010 · 11 comments

I’m posting this shopping trip to Pathmark because I wanted to share a catalina deal with you. I get a lot of questions regarding catalinas and rolling them so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to show you how it works.

This week at Pathmark there are 4 catalina deals going on. The deals include Bimbo Bakeries, Unilever, P&G and Nestle. These deals, at Pathmark,work on the retail or shelf price of the item not the sales price. So, your qualifying amount is much easier to reach and can make for an even better deal. Note: That is not the case at all stores.

I purchased these items in 3 separate transactions. Your goal is to try to have your lowest out of pocket amount on your first transaction and then you use your catalina to “roll” into the next deal.

This is the Unilever deal that requires you to spend $15 and you receive a $5 catalina. Here is how it went:

Transaction #1:
Buy 5 Wishbone Salad Dressing ($16.45) $8.45
-(2)$1.25/2
-(1)$.75/1 Printable (no longer available)
Paid: $4.45
Received a $5.00 catalina

Transaction #2:
Buy 4 Ragu ($11.56)$6.76
Buy 1 Country Crock ($3.99) $2.49
-(2)$1/2 Ragu
-(1)$.50/1 Country Crock
Total: $6.25
Use $5.00 catalina from previous transaction
Pay: $1.25
Receive a $5.00 catalina

Transaction #3:
Buy 10 Hunts Tomatoes $7.70
Buy 12 La Yogurt $3.48
-(3)$.45/3 Hunts
-(1)$1.50/12 La Yogurt
-(1)$.25 La Yogurt (store coupon)
Total:$6.73
Use $5.00 catalina from previous transaction
Pay: $1.73
No catalina for this deal. I chose to use the catalina to take advantage of some good deals Pathmark was having. However you could have rolled this as many times as you had coupons for.

So for all this I paid out of pocket $7.43 for $65.78 worth of groceries.

You can mix and match these deals for whatever is best for your family. It may be a little bit more out of pocket but if it’s for something that you use a lot then it’s worth it.

Did you come up with a great deal scenario at Pathmark this week? It’s fun to see all the different deal ideas.

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How To Organize Your Coupons

by Cindy on January 4, 2010 · 132 comments

Okay, the long awaited “How to organize your coupons” video is finally here. You all get to come into my little office so I can show you a few ways to keep those coupons organized and easy to use. I’m a little nervous, I hope you all like it. If not, be nice…I tried And I probably should have waited till I lost my 15 lbs but I’ve been trying to do this for quite a while and who knows how long it will take to lose 15 lbs.

A couple of notes before you view:

Sorry that it’s not perfectly clear. It took us all day to get this going. We are just not technically inclined that way.
I say there are 5 inserts with 3 Smart Source & 3 Red Plum. I obviously can’t add and talk at the same time. There are 3 Smart Source & 2 Red Plum.

I hope you enjoy the videos and find them useful. Below is a list of the divider labels I use for my coupon binder.