Couponing is much easier than you think and profitable if you understand how it works. What you attempted in the past was unsuccessful and that is because you were not educated to the system. Take a look below and you will learn the method to the this madness of couponing explained in 5 easy steps. Most importantly is don't give up. It takes awhile to catch on and when you do, you will be amazed at the savings and it can be addicting.
Learn Couponing in 5 Easy Steps
Step 1 - Creating Coupon Binder - (Create before you get started or attend any class)
I made a trip to Walmart to purchase a binder that zipped closed to contain all my coupons. I found this one for about $12 - $15.
Also purchased,
4 packages of sheet protectors (2 pkgs of the baseball card w/9 pockets, 1 package w/3 pockets and 1 pkg full page),
2 sets of dividers with pockets
Zippered bag.
I already had pens, pencils, notepads, scissors and a marking pen.
I think all of it totaled was just slightly over $20 with tax.
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| Large Pockets great for storing store sales ads. This is good to keep with you for price matching, thus allowing you to do most of your shopping if not all at the same store. |
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| Grocery list to help make good use of my time. I found this one online but you could create your own keeping in mind the layout of the store to save time. |
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| The dividers have pockets, to store clipped unfiled coupons until I get the chance to file them. |
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| Plastic baseball card protectors to store most coupons. But also, the 3 pocket and whole page protectors for even larger coupons |
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| 1st set of dividers are labeled: Dairy, Meats, Produce, Frozen, Boxed (or Packaged), Canned (or Jars), Paper. Baked 2nd Set are labeled: Cleaning, Health, Beauty, Home, Clothing, Pets, Baby, Dinning |
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| Full page sheet protectors for larger coupons whcih are usually restaurant or fast food coupons. Also used the full page ones for the larger clothing coupons. |
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| Note the key ring with the store cards. This is easy to carry with you. |
Feel free to label your tabs anyway you want, but keep in mind how the store is laid out too to keep you from running all over the place. Now that the binder is complete, time to get those coupons clipped and filed away. Please feel free to send comments and ideas on how to improve the binder. Its always a work in progress.
Also, you can choose not to take your binder with you on your shopping trips by making out your list for each store you wish to visit and attaching the coupons you will need to that list with a paper clip. Then, fold the paper list around the coupons, write the name of the store on the outside and place in a zippered pouch. Now all you carry is the zippered pouch which contains your store lists and coupons. Organization will make it easier for you, less time consuming and successful at obtaining your goal; SAVING MONEY.
Another great idea for ease of carrying your coupons in the store is to write your grocery list on the front outside of an envelope with the store name on the other side and then put your coupons inside.
Step 2 - Finding Coupons
Now that I have the binder together, I need coupons. Coupons are part of the manufacturers advertising budget. This is how the lure customers to their products. They want you to use the coupons, its their way of rewarding you. The stores lose no money in the transactions, they get reimbursed for the coupons from the manufacturers advertising budget and they probably get more of your business. Its a win-win.
Coupon Sources:
- Newspapers of course. There should be coupon inserts Red Plum, Smart Source and Proctor & Gamble usually has an insert about once a month. You should purchase about 6 papers and you can get these cheaper at either Walmart, Albertsons, Krogers or Dollar Tree (depending on your area as to whether they have them and sometimes they are bundled two papers for only $3 or at Dollar Tree for $1) The savings will be more than the cost for the papers.
- Store Ads - Many stores offer coupons in the sales ads (You can stack: These coupons can be combined with a manufacturer coupon for an even greater savings)
- Magazines (e.g. All You, Family Circle, Good Housekeeping...etc.) (They run specials on these magazines or you could just check them at your local doctors office..etc.) There are always very inexpensive specials on subscriptions throughout the year.
- Internet - Websites such as Coupons.com, Red Plum, CouponNetwork.com and Smart Source. Your personal print limit is almost always 2 per coupon, per month per computer. If you have more than one computer to hook up to a printer then you can print 2 for each computer. It "re-sets" at the beginning of the next month. Do a search there are many more. At coupons.com the recent coupons are found at the beginning of each month. Manufacturers set an "Allowance" (Nationally) for each printable coupon. For example: 50,000 prints total. Once they hit the allowance, they yank the coupon. Some coupons are so good that they can hit the allowance in a day or 2! That's why the beginning of each month has more printable coupons than the end of the month. So printing some of the "really good" coupons when you see them at the beginning of the month might not be such a bad idea. .
- Home Mailers - ValPak or Cool Savings. If you don't already receive these, you can go online and sign up.
- Manufacturer's Websites - Sign up on their websites, send emails, and give feedback on products and they will send coupons
- In Store - There are blinkies (blinking machines attached to shelves), catalinas (print outs that either accompany the receipt or printed on the back), peelies (coupons that peel off the product), tearpads (coupons located on pads usually on or near shelves) and inserts or cut outs on packages available. Also stores like CVS and Walgreens have coupon books located near the front door.
- Friends & Family - ask your friends to save their newspaper inserts, magazines or mailers for you
- Loyalty Cards - Sign up for all the loyalty or savings card that the stores offer. There is also electronic coupons; savings cards that are loaded with ecoupons from shortcuts.com or cellfire.com
- Ebay - buy hundreds of coupons just for the minimal price of shipping and handling
- Clipping Service - Purchase multiples of same coupons for the minimal price of shipping and handling (e.g. thecouponclippers.com) See below for list.
- Trade Coupons - with others at mycoupons.com, refundcents.com, fullcup.com, hotcouponworld.com
- Cell Phones - get coupons direct to your phone with cellfire.com
- Facebook - become a fan of your favorite products and receive valuable coupons
- Freebies - sign up for freebies, a coupon for full size product will usually accompany the freebie (google for freebies and take advantage of any magazine, internet or in store opportunity)
- Yahoo - do a search in groups: there are many groups dedicated to couponing, join and obtain valuable advice and coupons
- Blogs - again there are lots and lots of people who blog about couponing....there is a wealth of information to help guide you and they usually have coupons on their blogs too.
- Google - do a search for coupons
Its a weekly commitment I know, but think about all the money we are saving by investing 2 to 4 hours a week. There are more sources than just the newspaper and I bet you did not realize. You save by the quantity of coupons you have, buying on sale and learning to stack coupons. There really is a method to this madness. I am sure you have thought about coupons before and just gave up the idea because you did not think there was really a savings. You were wrong...because you did not have the education to know where to find them or how to use them correctly. Couponing requires patience because it will take some time stockpiling free or nearly free items before you begin to see a substantial savings on your grocery bill. But, once the cycle is started and the more you learn, the more you will save. The savings is mostly in the stockpiling of items.
So find space to dedicate to stockpiling; perhaps a closet with shelves, an area in your garage or maybe you are one of the lucky ones and have a huge pantry. It doesn't matter, find the space. It will be worth your efforts.
Start here printing Internet Coupons until you can begin to save others. Click on the links below and pick your coupons and print.
Betty Crocker
Box Tops For Education
Coupons.com
Eat Better America
Mommy Saves Big
P&G eSaver
Pillsbury
Smart Source
Red Plum
Coupon Network
Target
Internet Coupons (also referred to as “Brick” coupons)
Coupons are everywhere on the net! Coupons.com, Smartsource.com and RedPlum.com are the three largest coupon sites, but product manufacturer's sites can be an invaluable source of coupons too. Here are some links to get you started!.
List compiled and reprinted from jillcataldo.comBaby
Baby Basics www.babybasicsclub.com
Beech-Nut www.beechnut.com
Bright Beginnings www.brightbeginnings.com
Earth's Best www.earthsbest.com
Enfamil www.enfamil.com
Gerber www.gerber.com
Pampers www.pampers.com
Parents' Choice www.parentschoiceformula.com
Huggies www.huggieshappybaby.com
Luvs www.luvs.com
Nestle Good Start www.verybestbaby.com
Similac www.similac.com
Target Baby www.target.com
(Note: Most baby manufacturers do not offer printable coupons often, BUT they do send regular coupon mailers out in the postal mail. Sign up at each site to receive mailers as they're typically high-value coupons!)
Bakery
Arnold www.arnoldbread.com
Baker's Joy www.bakersjoy.com
Betty Crocker www.bettycrocker.com
Duncan Hines www.duncanhines.com
Entenmann's www.entenmanns.com
Jiffy www.jiffymix.com
Natures Own www.naturesownbread.com
Pillsbury www.pillsbury.com
Wonder www.wonderbread.com
Beverages
7 Up www.7up.com
Bigelow Tea www.bigelowtea.com
Celestial Seasonings www.celestialseasonings.com
Florida's Natural www.floridasnatural.com
Hansen's www.hansens.com
Hawaiian Punch www.hawaiianpunch.com
IBC Root Beer www.ibcrootbeer.com
Lipton www.liptont.com
Mott's www.motts.com
Ocean Spray www.oceanspray.com
Old Orchard www.healthybalance.com
Propel www.propelwater.com
Sobe www.sobebev.com
Snapple www.snapple.com
Sunny Delight www.sunnydelight.com
Tropicana www.tropicana.com
Welch's www.welchs.com
Wylers www.wylers.com
Breakfast
General Mills www.generalmills.com
Kelloggs www.kelloggs.com
Malt O Meal www.malt-o-meal.com
Post www.kraftfoods.com/postcereals
Thomas' English Muffins www.thomas.gwbakeries.com
Cleaning
All www.all-laundry.com
Arm & Hammer www.armandhammer.com
Cascade www.cascadeclean.com
Cheer www.cheer.com
Clorox www.clorox.com
Electrasol www.electrasol.com
Lysol www.lysol.com
Oust www.oust.com
Pine-Sol www.pinesol.com
Purex www.purexsavesgreen.com
Tide www.tide.com
Windex www.windex.com
Woolite www.woolite.com
Dairy
Blue Bunny www.bluebunny.com
Breyers www.icecreamusa.com/breyers
Dairy Makes Sense www.dairymakessense.com
Dannon www.dannon.com
Dean Foods www.deanfoods.com
Edy's www.edys.com
Haagen Dazs www.haagen-dazs.com
Heluva Good www.heluvagood.com
Horizon www.horizonorganic.com
Kozy Shack www.kozyshack.com
Lactaid www.lactaid.com
Land O Lakes www.landolakes.com
Promise www.promisehealthyheart.com
Sargento www.sargentocheese.com
Skinny Cow www.skinnycow.com
Stonyfield Farm www.stonyfield.com
Tillamook www.tillamookcheese.com
Wild Harvest www.wildharvestorganic.com
Ethnic
Boboli www.boboli.com
Chef Boyardee www.chefboyardee.com
El Monterey www.ruizfoods.com
Freschetta www.freschetta.com
Jose Ole www.joseole.com
Ling Ling's www.ling-ling.com
Mission www.missionfoods.com
Ronzoni www.ronzoni.com
Wanchai Ferry www.wanchaiferry.com
Frozen
Banquet www.banquet.com
Barber Foods www.barberfoods.com
Cole's Garlic Bread www.coles.com
Culinary Circle www.culinarycircle.com
Edward's Pies www.edwardsbaking.com
Farm Rich www.farmrichfun.com
Lean Cuisine www.leancuisine.com
Ling Ling's www.ling-ling.com
Luigi's Italian Ice www.luigis.com
Marie Callender www.mariepies.com
McCain's Potatoes www.mccainusa.com
Michelina's www.michelinas.com
Mrs. Smith's www.mrssmiths.com
Mrs. T's Pierogies www.mrsts.com
Smart Ones www.eatyourbest.com
Tyson www.tyson.com
White Castle www.whitecastle.com
Grains
Uncle Ben's www.unclebens.com
Zatarain's www.zatarains.com
Manufacturers
ConAgra Foods www.simpleanddelicious.com
ConAgra Foods (2) www.startmakingchoices.com
General Mills www.eatbetteramerica.com
Unilever ViveMejor www.vivemejor.com
Meats
Ball Park Franks www.ballparkfranks.com
Bar-S Hot Dogs www.bar-s.com
Carl Buddig www.buddig.com
Farmland www.farmlandfoods.com
Hatfield www.hqm.com
Hebrew National www.hebrewnational.com
Hillshire Farm www.hillshirefarm.com
Jennie-O www.jennieo.com
Oscar Meyer www.kraftfoods.com/oscarmayer
Perdue www.perdue.com
Pilgrim's Pride www.pilgrimspride.com
Organics
Cascadian Farms www.cascadianfarm.com
Earthbound Farm www.ebfarm.com
Eat Better America www.eatbetteramerica.com
Horizon www.horizonorganic.com
Kashi www.kashi.com
Mambo Sprouts www.mambosprouts.com
Naturally Savvy www.naturallysavvy.com
Organic Valley www.organicvalley.coop
Stonyfield Farm www.stonyfield.com
Wild Harvest www.wildharvestorganic.com
Other
Bic www.bicworld.com
Hanes www.hanes.com
Paper
Dixie www.makeitadixieday.com
Georgia Pacific www.gp.com
Hefty www.pactiv.com
Viva www.vivatowels.com
Personal Care
Blistex www.blistex.com
Clearasil www.clearasil.us
Dial www.dialcorp.com
Eucerin www.eucerin.com
Kotex www.kotex.com
Nexcare www.nexcare.com
Schick www.shaving.com
Sensodyne www.sensodyne.com
St. Ives www.stives.com
Pets
9 Lives www.9lives.com
Greenies www.greenies.com
Iams www.iams.com
Purina www.purina.com
Whiskas www.whiskas.com
Produce
BirdsEye www.birdseye.com
Del Monte www.delmonte.com
Dole www.dole.com
Idahoan Potatoes www.idahoan.com
Mussleman's www.knouse.com
PictSweet www.pictsweet.com
Seafood
Gorton's www.gortons.com
Sea Pak Shrimp www.seapak.com
Starkist Tuna www.starkist.com
Snacks
Blue Diamond www.bluediamond.com
Brach's Candy www.brachs.com
General Mills www.generalmills.com
General Mill's Spanish site - Que Rica Vida www.quericavida.com (sign up for Que Rica Vida free magazine, which has coupons too!)
Hostess www.twinkies.com
Keebler www.keebler.com
Kraft www.kraftfoods.com
Luna Bars www.lunabar.com
Mt. Olive Pickles www.mtolivepickles.com
Pepperidge Farm www.pepperidgefarm.com
Tribe Hummus www.tribehummus.com
Vlasic www.vlasic.com
Spices, Sweeteners & Seasonings
Equal www.equalexchange.com
McCormick www.mccormick.com
Mrs. Dash www.mrsdash.com
Spice Islands www.spiceislands.com
Splenda www.splenda.com
Soups
Campbell's www.campbellkitchen.com
Healthy Choice www.healthychoice.com
Knorr www.knorr.com
Progresso www.progressofoods.com
Wolfgang Puck www.wolfgangpucksoup.com
Wyler's www.wylers.com
Vegetarian / Vegan
Boca www.bocaburger.com
Gardenburger www.gardenburger.com
Lightlife www.lightlife.com
Morningstar Farms www.morningstarfarms.com
Rice Dream www.tastethedream.com
Silk Soy Milk www.silksoymilk.com
So Delicious www.turtlemountain.com
Coupon Clipping Service List (List obtained from Deliciously Frugal)
Remember that when you order coupons, keep in mind WHERE you are ordering from. If you live in Georgia and order from Washington State, it may take longer to ship. This list has the clipping service along with their location!
Coupon Database is a great tool for searching for coupons for the things you want to buy. Database resides on the Saving Naturally Blog. Click on the Database and search for items you need to buy now until you begin to get a stock.
Click here to go to Coupon Database site.
Also, to find specific coupons, check this site: Grocery Smarts
Borrowed from Attention Target Shoppers Website.
Step 3 - Learn Coupon Lingo
Sunday Newspaper Insert Abbreviations:
GM = General Mills
K = Kellogg’s
PG = Procter and Gamble
RP = Red Plum
SS = SmartSource
V = Valassis
The dates for all of these inserts are in super tiny print on the spine of the insert, so use a marker to date them on the front cover.
The Abbreviations:
AC = After Coupon
AR = After Rebate
B1G1 = Buy One Get One Free
B&M = Brick & Mortor store/not Internet store
BOGO = Buy One Get One Free
Blinkie = Coupon that is spit from small dispenser on shelf.
BOLO = Be On the Lookout
BOOKLET = Coupon pamphlet mailed directly from Mfg.
BTFE = Box Tops for Education
C/D = Complete Deal
C/O = Cents Off Coupon
CLFE = Campbell’s Labels for Education
CNP = Coupon Near Product (ie – Blinkies)
CRT = Cash Register Tape
CATALINA = Coupons printed @ register.
DOUBLE COUPON = Coupon that the store matches to double the value to the customer.
DCRT = Dated Cash Register Tape
DCRTC = Dated Cash Register Tape w/price circled
DEAD = An offer is no longer valid
DND = Do Not Double
ENVIE = Envelope
EX or X. = expires on
FAR = Free After Rebate
FC = first class postage stamps
FILLER = Item purchased to reach a minimum purchase amount necessary to get a “deal”.
GDA = Good Deal Alert
HANG TAG/HT/HgT = Coupon that is hung over the neck of a bottle.
HBA = Health and beauty aid
HDA = Hot Deal Alert
IP = Internet Printable
IVC = Instant Value Coupon
INSERT = Sunday newspaper coupon bundles in w/fliers.
LFE = Campbell’s Labels for Education
LSASE = Long self-addressed stamped envelope
LP = List Price of an item
MC = Manufacturer’s coupon
MFG = Manufacturer
MFR = Manufacturer
MIR = Mail In Rebate
MRP = manufacturer’s retail price
MQ = Manufacturer’s coupon
NB = National Brand
NAZ# = Name, address, zip code, phone number
NED = No Expiration Date
NBPN = No Beer Purchase Necessary
NWPN = No wine purchase necessary
OAS = a coupon that is good on any size
OOP = Out of Pocket
OOS = Out of Stock
OSI = On a single item
OYNO = On your next order
OVERAGE or Ovg. = Profit
PEELIE = Peel off coupon from a package
POP = Proof of Purchase
PP = purchase price
PPHF = Paypal handling fee
Q or Qs = Coupon or Coupons
Q or QUALIFIER = The POP required for a refund offer that is physically taken from that package
RC = Raincheck
SASE = Self Addressed Stamped Envelope
SD = Store Display
SF = Store form
SMP = Specially Marked Packages
STACKING: Using both a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon on one item.
TEARPAD = A pad of coupons or MIR near a product or on display
TMF = Try Me Free – Full price rebate on item purchased.
TRAIN = a coupon train. Coupons are passed along to a number of different people who are “on the train” where they take coupons they need and place in other coupons they don’t need to save money for all
TRIPLE COUPONS = a coupon that a grocery store triples in value
UPC = Universal Product Code
WINE TAG = coupon, usually for $ off any meat, cheese or produce
WPN = Wine purchase necessary
stores
WSL = While Supplies Last
WQL = While Quantities Last
WYB = When you Buy
YMMV = Your mileage may vary, different at different
Step 4 - Tips For Success
Now that you have your coupons, your book and you understand the lingo, its time to sit down with your sales ads and start planning. Compare the sales ads with what coupons you have. Write a grocery list for each store and enclose it with the coupons in an envelope marked with the store name on the outside. Make sure you check your favorite blogs for the best deals, especially for the free stuff to stockpile. Just take baby steps and give yourself time to learn the process and get into the swing of things.
- Be flexible regarding brands.
- Collect at least 5 to 10 coupons of each for stockpiling when items are at their rock bottom price. The more coupons you have, the more you product you can get. Ask friends, family others in your neighborhood to save and give you their inserts that they are not using. When you find products that are free or nearly free, stock up. Buy as many as you can, you can use one coupon for each product purchased or two if you have a store coupon and manufacturer's coupon. This is where you gain your biggest savings because these are items you won't have to purchase for awhile thus saving you money on future grocery bills.
- Wait for sales, don't use them just because you have one. Be patient, save the coupons because about 2-6 weeks after the coupon comes out, the product usually goes on sale and that is when you want to buy for greater savings. Blogs are always good at keeping you informed.
- B1G1- Buy one get one free. You can use two coupons, one for each product even though they are the same and one is free. When you use manufacturers coupons with this deal you end up with free or nearly free items. This is by far your best deal.
- Learn to stack coupons. This is using a store coupon in their ad along with a manufacturer's coupon on the same product. This also may end up being free or nearly free. Another great deal.
- Don't bulk buy. Purchase instead the smaller size product to get the best savings from your coupon. (Example: $1 dollar off on the smaller size costing $1.99 will yield greater savings rather than $1 off larger size costing $3.99.) You get the item for Half price 50% rather than 25% off.
- Products that have rebates used in conjunction with a manufacturers coupon may end up being free or nearly free in the long run.
- Shop at stores that double coupon values or willing to match other store ads. Bring your ads with you and you may be able to do all your shopping at one store, thus saving you time and gas.
- At CVS and Walgreens, purchase items that give you Extra Care Bucks or Registrar Rewards. You may even do this on items you wouldn't normally purchase because in the end the product you get is free and you have free money towards your next purchase. The items you don't use or want can either be used to make gift baskets for holidays/birthdays or Donate to a charity. Think of the savings you will have with the gift baskets and the opportunity you have to donate to worthy causes.
- Give coupons to the clerk in the correct order to maximize your savings. Store coupons that are like $2 off on $20 should be presented first, then the store coupons printed in their ads and finally the manufacturers coupons.
- If the product is unavailable, ask for Rain Checks for the maximum number. You can always buy less later if you choose.
Be patient for it will take awhile for you to get a stockpile inventory of products together and then you will begin to see the savings; when you don't have to buy those items in the future. If you are persistent you will eventually have the stockpile and the savings will then finally be evident. It may take two to three months see big differences.
Step 5 - Read Blogs To Gather Information
I can't stress this enough, read blogs regarding coupons; there are several listed on this site; on the side bars and in the article. Find and bookmark your favorites. Many of them will give you detailed information regarding what store, whats on sale and exactly where to find the coupons.
There are many many blogs out there that have a wealth of information. Great ideas on how to save you bundles. You should look through them all and pick your favorites. Many will tell you whats on sale where and where to find the coupons for the best deals. Remember, this is not a get rich quick scheme by reducing you grocery bill, but it is a good feeling when you reduce it substantially and its just fun to find bargains.
Check your local blogs at least twice a week. You will be surprised to find that the information is updated frequently & deals come & go daily.
Facebook has been a great source of deals. Like or become friends with your favorite blogs. Do a search using "frugal" and you will find numerous sites to like. Check your facebook daily for some really great deals.
Dallas/Ft Worth Area/Southwest Oklahoma Area
Days to Remember: In (DFW), Sundays & Wednesdays are big days. Walgreens/CVS start their sales on Sundays. Grocery stores start their sales on Wednesdays. It’s important to remember this as you plan your budget & shopping trips.
Click on the blogs below and also on the sidebars:
My Dallas Mommy
A Frugal Friend
I Heart CVS
I Heart Wags
Couponing 101
Saving The Family Money
Surviving The Stores
Deal Seeking Mom
Bargain Briana
The Centsible Sawyer
Southern Savers
Fabulessly Frugal
Savings LifeStyle
My Coupon Teacher
My Grocery Deals
Ultimate Coupons
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