“Teach Me Tuesday” Couponing 101 ~ Guide to Getting Started Using Coupon!
Where to Find Coupons:
Sunday Newspaper Coupon Inserts ““ You can get an early preview of Coupons that will be available in each Sunday’s Paper HERE! I recommend getting at lease 4 copies of the inserts in each Sunday’s Paper. This way you can “Stock Up” on an item when it’s on sale!
Signing up for Newsletters - Vocalpoint(receive exclusive Proctor and Gamble coupons, samples, newsletters and discounts); ReadySetEat (get coupons and savings based on your local grocery stores)
Magazines:All You Magazine is my favorite! It is always Full of Coupons! You can purchase it at Walmart or by subscription! If you have a subscription, you get the issue before it hits newsstands! Check all your magazines, you never know what coupons you may find!
Shopper’s Savings Cards - You can load coupons to your shopper’s cards throughCellfire, UPromise, shortcuts and P&G!
Inside Products - Inside box or on the box of products you purchase
Store Weekly Ad or In-store ““ Be on the lookout in stores for Blinkie or Tear pads (coupons from small machine that spits out coupons usually near the product or you tear off), Peelie (these are sometimes found on products you buy), Calalina (coupon on back of your receipts), Coupon Booklets (booklets of coupons found in various places around your store).
Buy Items on Sale and Stock up:
The art of couponing is to match store sales with coupons and stock up! Most stores follow a six week cycle for sale items. That means items that are on sale this week, will usually not be on sale for another six weeks! You will want to buy these items when they are on Super Sale using your coupons and buy as much as you need for a six week period.
For example, if you buy Cheerios each week for $4 a box, over a six week period you are spending $24! However, if you buy them on (6) boxes when they are on sale (and you use your coupons) and only spend about $1 a box, you will only spend $6 for (6) boxes of cereal! That will save you $18!
Our Elf on the Shelf made his first appearance today! This kids had such a great time with him. Best of all, they didn’t give me a hard time about going to sleep tonight! lol!
Sunday Newspaper Coupon Inserts ”“ You can get an early preview of Coupons that will be available in each Sunday’s Paper HERE! I recommend getting at lease 4 copies of the inserts in each Sunday’s Paper. This way you can “Stock Up” on an item when it’s on sale!
Signing up for Newsletters - Vocalpoint(receive exclusive Proctor and Gamble coupons, samples, newsletters and discounts); ReadySetEat (get coupons and savings based on your local grocery stores)
Magazines:All You Magazine is my favorite! It is always Full of Coupons! You can purchase it at Walmart or by subscription! If you have a subscription, you get the issue before it hits newsstands! Check all your magazines, you never know what coupons you may find!
Shopper’s Savings Cards - You can load coupons to your shopper’s cards throughCellfire, UPromise, shortcuts and P&G!
Inside Products - Inside box or on the box of products you purchase
Store Weekly Ad or In-store ““ Be on the lookout in stores for Blinkie or Tear pads (coupons from small machine that spits out coupons usually near the product or you tear off), Peelie (these are sometimes found on products you buy), Calalina (coupon on back of your receipts), Coupon Booklets (booklets of coupons found in various places around your store).
Proper Usage of Coupons:
*One per purchase vs One per transaction:
So each item, no matter how many you have, is a purchase. A transaction is the total of all the items purchased. In this case, you can use one coupon on each item you are purchasing in the same transaction.
In the case of the coupon stating one per transaction, you will need to split your purchase up into different transactions. So even if you purchase 5 of the item, if the coupon says One per transaction you can only use one coupon.
*Stacking:
This is when you a Manufacturer’s Coupon AND a Store Coupon on the same item. Lots of stores allow stacking of coupons! Plus it’s an awesome way to get a great deal!
*When a coupon states multiple purchases are required:
For example: A coupon states “$1.00/2 Pepsi Max Products.” In this case you will have to buy (2) of the item in order to use the coupon.
*BOGO Coupons: Buy 1 Get 1 Free Coupons:
Some stores will allow you to use a BOGO Coupon in conjunction with a BOGO Sale. This would mean you would be able to get both items for free. The store is giving you one free and the manufacturer will be reimbursing the store for the other one.
Some store will allow you to use (2) coupons during a BOGO Sale. For example: if Dial Soap is on a BOGO Sale, you could use (2) $1.00/1 Dial Soap Coupons.
Make sure to check your coupon for maximum allowed price on a BOGO Coupon. For example: if Degree Deodoarant is on a BOGO Sale for $5.49 (Buy 1 at $5.49, Get 1 FREE) and your coupon states “Degree Deodorant BOGO, maximum value $5.00,” then you would have to pay $0.54. Since the maximum the store would be allowed to give you for that coupon is $5.00.
*Reading a Coupon:
Look for whether it’s a Manufacturer’s Coupon or Store Coupon
Check the expiration date
Check the size requirement (see if it excludes trial size or not)
Check for the quantity you will have to purchase
*Overage:
Overage is when the value of a coupon exceeds the price of a product. This overage can be applied to other items in your cart. This is a great way to get money off items that you are purchasing. I really like to use overage to help alleviate the cost of items that are harder to get coupons for like fresh fruit, vegetables and meat.
Example of Overage: A tube of Crests cost $0.97 and you have a coupon for $1.00/1 Crest. You would receive $0.03 in overage. OR Pack Extra Gum cost $0.75 and you have a coupon for $1.00/1 Pack of Extra Gum, you would have $0.25 in Overage.
Make sure you have items in your cart to absorb the overage!
Some stores allow it and some stores don’t. If they don’t allow it, they will adjust the coupon down to the price of the item. So you will still be able to get it for free, just won’t get that extra or overage to go toward paying for the other items in your cart.
One Common Misconception about Coupon Use:
*Stores lose money when people use coupons
Stores are reimbursed the amount of the coupon plus a handling fee. The handling fee, usually $0.08, is used to cover the cost of shipping, sorting, and handling.
Stores use coupons to get you into the store and they are hoping you will purchase more items at full retail price. Always make sure to make and stick to your list, this will help you avoid impulse buying.
Manufacturer’s offer coupons to get you to buy products. They are hoping that once you try the product and love it, that you will continue to purchase it.
Make sure to stay tuned to Super Coupon Lady! Next week we will go Shopping together and I will show you Coupon Use in Action! The next video in the “SCL: Ways to a More a More Prosperous You” Video Series will air next Wednesday!
I am Super Excited to Announce my New Video Series, “Super Coupon Lady’s Way to a More Prosperous You!” Every Wednesday, right here on SuperCouponLady.com, I will feature a New Video featuring steps on making you more prosperous by saving money!
