Free body wash & oreo cakesters at Walgreens

Have you tried these yet? They are really rich and probably really fattening, but very delicious.
Well, if you love them and want to stock up, or if you'd like to try them without spending the money, Walgreen's has Oreo Cakesters boxes (12 oz. size) on sale through Saturday, June 20th for 2/$5 (that's 2 boxes for $5). There was a $1 off coupon for these in last Sundays Smart Source insert. Plus, there is a $3 RR (Register Reward) from Kraft.

Buy 2 Oreo Cakester's for $5
-2 ($1) coupons = $3
Get an RR for $3= FREE after Register Rewards

The Register Rewards have to be spent at Walgreen's, and not on the same item, or it will not print out a new RR. So, if you want to stock up on FREE (extremely sugary ;) ) snack cakes, you must do multiple transactions of 2 boxes in each transaction to get the RR's, and pay using something other than the Kraft RR from a previous Cakester transaction.


Also, there is St. Ives body wash on sale for $2.99 this week, with an RR for $3 courtesy of St. Ives. That is a .01 MM. If you have a coupon for this, it would be an even better deal. You could use the RR's from this deal to pay for the Oreo Cakester's from above, and the Nabisco (Oreo) RR to pay for the St. Ives, and keep rolling it. Again though, you would have to separate the Cakester's and the St. Ives body wash into 2 transactions if you are paying using the RR's from the previous Cakester and St. Ives deals. If you have any questions regarding these deals, please leave them in the comment section.

FREE toothpaste and toothbrushes

I am still waiting for the SCR to clear my account, but the amounts are definitely correct. The SCR clearing for this deal has been confirmed by another couponer on a forum that I belong to. So here goes:

Right now Rite Aid has their Reach value pack toothbrushes on sale (2 in a pack) for $2.99. Make sure you get the pack that is on sale though, as they also have some 2 packs that are $6.99.

There is also an SCR for $5 when you purchase any 3 Reach toothbrushes, or Listerine mouthwash.

Here's what I did:

3 Reach value pack toothbrushes = $8.97
Use 2 computers and print 3 of the coupons at www.coupons.com, using zip code 33332. The coupon you are looking for says $2 off of Listerine, but when it prints it states that it is also for the reach toothbrushes. Trust me, I did this already!!! :) The reason you need to use zip code 33332 is because different zip codes have different face values for this coupon. For instance, my zip code only has $1 off, and a zip code that I previously lived in only has .50 off. The way to get the $2 off face value is using zip code 33332. Silly I know, but they do it for some reason.

Anyways, back to the deal. Rite Aid also has their Colgate Total Whitening toothpaste (4.2 oz size) for $1.88 with a coupon in this weeks ad for $1.00 off making it .88. Then you use the $1 off Mfr coupon that was in the 6/7/09 Smart source insert, making this a .12 MM deal for the toothpaste. The reason that you can use 2 mfr coupons in this transaction is because the one in the Rite Aid ad states that it is a mfr coupon, but it also has a RA logo AND begins with RC49.

Combine the 3 Reach value packs, and the Colgate toothpaste, and you will have an OOP of $2.85, and get back an SCR for $5. This is now a $2.15 MM. Free toothbrushes and toothpaste for the family. Love it!!! And $2.15 to spend on something else next week :)


*If you don't know what SCR's are, or haven't signed up yet, please read THIS previous post. If you have any other questions, please leave them in the comments section, and I will answer them as soon as I can.

Wondering what to do with all those expired coupons?

Each time you purge your coupon binder, or your coupon swap box of all the expired coupons, where do you put them? There is somewhere MUCH better than the trash.

I just recently discovered that expired coupons can be used overseas at military bases up to 6 months past the expiration dates.

There is a civilian run program called the Overseas Coupon Program that is dedicated to helping military families stationed overseas stretch their food budgets. As of March 1st, the 2009 total was $2, 073, 947.68 worth of coupons donated to this worthy cause. The running total has not been updated since March 1st because of family issues with one of the volunteers that maintains the site, but I'm sure it has probably doubled in the last 2 and 1/2 months.

Here are some basics to the program: Cut the coupons yourself before mailing them, please don't send coupons that are more than 2 months past their expiration date, so that the bases have time to process the coupons and get them out before the 6 months window passes. No store coupons, fast food coupons, or restaurant coupons. Manufacturer's coupons only. Please sort the coupons into food and non-food categories. Use small bags or envelopes to keep the coupons separated into these 2 categories, and be sure to label the bags accordingly. Do not use paper clips as they can come apart easily in the mail.

What's food and what's not? Rule of thumb; If it is usually eaten by humans to provide calories, then it's food!

For instance, Dog food is a non-food item. Slim fast or Ensure are food items. Vitamins are a non-food item. Chewing gum and mints are food items. Makes sense right?

Add up the face value of all the food and non-food coupons in one total and write this number on a slip of paper and place it in the envelope. They ask that you do this because it helps the volunteers know which bases may need to receive more coupons.

You can either adopt a base through the program's website, and mail directly to that base every month, or you check the website each month and choose a different base each time you mail. I think it may be easier to adopt a base so that you know where to send the package, and so that the program volunteers have an easier time gauging which bases have the greatest need for adoption.

If you want more information on this, you can checkout The OCP website.

If you are interested in doing something like this, please leave me a comment and we'll see how many people we can get involved.

Coupon Swap Box

It's always a shame to throw away coupons just because you don't think you can use them. I always feel a little guilty, as if I'm throwing money away. But there is something else you can do with those unwanted coupons. Aside from out of state sharing of coupons, here's something you can do locally. Set up and manage a coupon swap box. Here's how:

Buy a plastic shoe box at a store such as Walmart or the Dollar Tree , or use a small cardboard box that you already have on hand. Label it with the words COUPON SWAP BOX and be sure to tape the rules to the top of the box so that others know what to expect and how to participate.

Now, here's the rules:

• Please put the coupons you are donating in a Ziploc sandwich bag, along with a 3x5 note card with your name on it. From now on, this will be called a name card. Each person participating in the coupon swap is responsible for providing their own Ziploc bag and name card.

• Feel free to look through and take coupons from other bags in the box. Please take a bag and remove the coupons you want from that bag. Return the coupons that you don't want to the same bag they came from. Sign your name on the name card in that bag. DO NOT ADD NEW COUPONS TO AN EXISTING BAG, even if it is a bag that you originally started.

• Each time you come to the swap box , only look through bags without your name on the card. Remember, you've already gone through the coupons in the bags with your name on them.

• Around the beginning of each month, I will go through all the bags and remove any expired coupons. If while looking through the bags you happen to find an expired coupon, please remove it and put it in bag label EXPIRED COUPONS at the back of this box. This will be donated to those people who can use expired coupons.
  

* Make sure that you also leave your name and a phone number or email address where you can be reached, if someone should have questions.


Once you have the coupon swap box established, the only job you have left is maintaining it. Basically, the only maintenance it will need is a good monthly pulling of expired coupons.

Hope this helps!!!

**The above information was compiled from a post at aFullcup.com.

Coupon Sharing

I don't know if you knew this or not, but coupons are regional. That is to say, different areas of the country get different coupons, and even different face values of the same coupon. For instance, I found out that while I had a coupon for $.50 off of Crest toothpaste, someone I know on the East Coast had a similar coupon in their insert on the same date, but the face value on their coupon was $1 off of Crest toothpaste. This is where coupon trading, or coupon sharing can become a good practice. So contact your friends around the country, and ask them if they get the Sunday paper and start trading.

Aveeno sunscreen Money maker!!!

I posted a deal last week for Aveeno that would make it a slight MM deal. Well, if you didn't do that deal last week, here's a new one for you.

This week Aveeno sunscreen is on sale for 20%. Your deal this week would look more like this:

3 Aveeno positively ageless sunscreens for $8.79 each (20% off of $10.99)= $26.37

Coupons:
1 $5/$25 RA coupon (give this to cashier FIRST)
1 IP for $10 off 3 Aveeno ageless products

Total out of pocket= $11.37

Plus
$10 SCR for J&J products
$5 SCR for Aveeno skincare products
And get the Gift bag tote with samples and coupons.

That's a $3.63 MM

To print the 2 coupons used above, please go to This post and scroll down for the links.

Free Orajel rinse or Toddler pre-brush gel

This week, June 7-13th, Rite Aid is offering the Orajel kids plaque revealing rinse, or the toddler pre-brush gel for $3 each, with a $3 SCR.

You pay $3, and after entering your receipt information into your SCR account on RiteAid.com, you are given a Single Check Rebate for $3, making the item completely free.

I haven't yet found a coupon out there for these particular items so that this deal becomes a money maker, but I'm still looking. If you know of one, please leave the necessary information in the comment section, and I will update this post after confirming.

For more information on Rite Aid's Single Check Rebates program, click Here.

Free contact solution this week only

Rite Aid has an SCR this week only, June 7-13th, $7.99 for Amo Complete 12 oz. multi-purpose contact solution. The best part... it is on sale for $7.99 this week. Ok, I lied. The BEST, BEST part is that there was a coupon in the Red Plum insert a couple of weeks ago for $2 off of 1 Complete 12 oz. or more multi-purpose solution.

So out of pocket you would pay $5.99 for the solution (if using the above mentioned coupon), and after you sign up for, or login to your SCR account at RiteAid.com, and enter the necessary information off of your receipt, you will get $7.99 in SCR's. That makes this a $2 MM.


If you did not get the $2 coupon in your Red Plum insert, then go to
www.yourhealthyeyes.com, enter your email address, and receive a printable coupon for $2 off.


*UPDATE: The question was asked if the entire sale price of the item is credited to your SCR account if you use the $2 coupon, or if only the amount you paid out of pocket was credited. I have done some research and confirmed with someone that has already done this deal, and the answer to that question is that the ENTIRE sale price ($7.99) is credited to your SCR account, not just your OOP paid ($5.99). So this is definitely a $2 MM deal.

For all you newbies to the Rite Aid Single Check Rebates (SCR), read
This post.

$50 in Gift Cards at Rite Aid

Want $50 in gift cards to spend at Rite Aid for little Out of Pocket?

The new Rite Aid ad tomorrow includes 2 coupons for $25 Gift Cards when you transfer a prescription from another pharmacy. I did this 2 months ago. I transferred 2 prescriptions for my children's fluoride vitamins from our normal pharmacy to Rite Aid and refilled them for $8.00. I used these 2 coupons and got back two $25 dollar gift cards as a thank you for my business. That was a $42 dollar money maker for me. I still have a few dollars left on 1 of my cards. I don't know if this deal is available at all Rite Aid's, so check your local ad.

You MUST fill and purchase the transferred prescription in order to receive the gift cards. Also, make sure that you have not refilled these prescriptions recently, or your insurance will not cover it. After all, the point is to make money on this deal.


The coupon is good through 6/21. Medicaid, Medicare, and any other government or publicly funded program prescriptions are not eligible. Customers who have redeemed a Rite Aid prescription offer in the last 6 months are not eligible. Limit 1 coupon per prescription, and maximum of 2 coupons per customer. Offer only valid when prescription is filled and paid for at the time of transfer. Transfer offer only valid for prescriptions not previously filled at or transferred from another Rite Aid location.

There are more exclusions, so please be sure to read the fine print.

FREE Toothpaste

Through the 6th of June, Rite Aid has Aquafresh toothpaste on sale for $2.49 with a SCR of $2.49 for your purchase, making it completely free. You can only do this deal one time, but if you pair it with a coupon, it becomes an MM transaction. Everyone needs toothpaste right? And making money on it is even better!

*For more information on SCR's, please see This post.

Rite Aid's Single Check Rebates Program

For those of you who don't know, Rite Aid has a program to reward it's customers for certain purchases made. They call it Single Check Rebates (SCR) because at the end of the allotted time period, you request a check from Rite Aid for your rebates.

Here are the basic rules:

• You must purchase the amount of product listed in the ad for the rebate.
• You must sign up at Rite Aid online in order to get the rebates
• You must enter your receipt information into your account online or by mail in order to get the rebates
• You must request your check by the end of the grace period (usually the 27th of the current month), or you forfeit your rebates.
• You can only have 1 SCR account per address, and cannot use another address or it's considered fraud.
• You can only request 1 check per SCR period (month), so make sure that you have made all the purchases that contain SCR credits that you planned before requesting the check.
• If you purchase more products containing SCR credits after you have already requested your check for the month, you will lose the credits as you can only request 1 check per period.

That's about it. I have done this recently and have gotten several items for free or even made money on some of the transactions, so it's a good program to take advantage of.

4 Coppertone Sunscreens for $3 OOP TOTAL

If you don't like the Aveeno sunscreen that I posted earlier, then here's another scenario for you. It's not a Money Maker like the Aveeno, but it's still really cheap sunscreen.

Rite now Coppertone sunscreen is 2 for $15 (kids too) at Rite Aid through Saturday only.

So...
Buy 4 coppertone sunscreens = $30

Print and use this $5 off of $25 Rite Aid Coupon. Give this coupon to the cashier first otherwise your total after coupons will not be over $25 and you will not be able to use this coupon.

Then print This $3 off Coppertone sunscreen coupon 4 times and hand them to the cashier after you give the $5/$25 Rite Aid store coupon.

After all is said and done, you will pay $13 OOP. But wait... it gets better. After you purchase these, you go to Rite Aid's SCR program and either sign up, or if you already signed up, then click on Enter your Receipts and login. Once you do this, you will be prompted to enter information that is on your receipt such as store number and transaction number, so have your receipt with you when you do this. Once this is completed, in a few days your account will be credited with 2 $5 SCR's ($10 total) for purchasing 4 coppertone products in a single transaction. This is Rite Aid's Single Check Rebate (SCR) program to reward it's customers for purchases made. After the SCR shows up in your account, you can request your $10 check from Rite Aid. It can take up to 4 weeks to receive it, but after you do, you have effectively paid $3 Out Of Pocket for 4 Coppertone sunscreens. Thats only $0.75 a bottle. Great deal!!!

*Remember, you can only do this deal once, as Rite Aid only offers this rebate the number of times per household that I posted above.

*The $5/$25 Rite Aid coupon can only be used once per paying customer in your household. So if you have already used one of these coupons in June, make sure you have your spouse or older child do this transaction.

Price Sheet

How do you know that the sale price of an item at store A is cheaper than the regular price of the same item at store B? Create a price sheet. On this price sheet, products are listed by store and price so that you can compare the cost of the products at different stores. Here is an example of the one I use:
You don't need to go spend hours in every store researching the prices, just take the sheet with you on your normal shopping trip, and record the prices that you see.

Guidelines and Tricks of the Trade

Below are some basic guidelines and tricks of the trade to help you make the most of your money.

• Less time in a store = less spending!

-make a list and do your best to stick to it.
-don’t buy anything that’s NOT on your list unless you see that it is highly
discounted AND/OR you have a coupon for it which will make it highly discounted.

• Don’t buy anything you wouldn’t normally buy, unless you have wanted to try it but

didn’t want to spend the money, or you can get it free or virtually free.

• Don’t shop when you’re hungry, especially if you are an impulse buyer. -Don’t buy candy, gum, soda, or any other impulse buys when standing in line at the register, unless you have a coupon for it, or you put it on your list already, or you need a filler to get your total up to a specific dollar amount.

• Knowing Prices helps figure in coupons

-some stores list their prices online (ex: www.Safeway.com, use zip code 97080 for online
purchase and delivery). Not very many stores do this yet.
-Create a Price Book. I'll explain this in a later post.
-Shop Sales listed in the Ads.

• Plan meals from the Pantry or Stockpile not from the store

-know what you have on hand, and what you need to complete meals.

Store's Coupon Policies

Knowing how each store uses coupons is KEY to maximizing your savings using coupons.
Every store ad you receive will contain the information you need somewhere in very small lettering, or you can check the store website for their policy, or better yet, email the corporate office and get the policy in writing so you can take it with you to the store.

The list below could change, and is personalized for my local store. Please do not use this as ABSOLUTE store policy. Check ahead of time with your local stores.

Albertson’s (corporate policy should be the same for all stores)

• Occasionally offers coupons in ad to double mfg coupons up to $1.00 (not in all areas of the country)
  

• Allows 1 store and 1 mfg coupon per product
  

• Do NOT match competitor ads

• Ads run from Tuesday-Wednesday

• No longer accepts competitor coupons

Costco (Corporate policy should be the same for all stores)

• Does NOT accept mfr coupons at all

• Occasionally sends out store coupons

Food 4 Less (some stores not franchised, you need to call to get info for your local store). The following is for my local store:

• Face value on coupons

• Allows 1 mfg coupon & 1 competitor store coupon per product. No competitors doubling coupons
  

• Accepts competitor coupons for face value (No 10% off purchase, $10/ $50.00 purchase)
  

-best to call and check what CC they accept that week before planning to use
competitor coupons here.

• Ads run from Wednesday-Tuesday

• Does NOT accept IP (internet) coupons

Fred Meyer (Corporate policy should be the same for all stores)

• Face value on coupons

• Allows 1 mfg & 1 store coupon per product
  

• Ads run from Sunday-Saturday

• Does not match ads

• Holds 10 for $10.00 events where you can purchase 10 items for $10.00 (ironic, I know!)
  

• Catalina coupons print during checkout based on purchases
  

Rite Aid (Corporate policy should be the same for all stores)

• Face value on coupons

• Allows 1 store and 1 mfg coupon per product
  

• Do NOT match competitors ads

• Ads run from Sunday-Saturday

• Single Check Rebates (SCR’s) for certain products as listed in ad
  

Safeway (Some Corporate coupon policy, but also allows managers to make and interpret local coupon policies. Check with your local store for their policy.

• Occasionally offers in store coupon to double mfg coupons up to $.50 (not all stores do this)
  

• Allows 1 mfg & 1 store coupon per product
  

• Has IP store coupons available on their website

• Ads run Wednesday-Tuesday

• Does not match ads

• Holds 10 for $10.00 events

• Catalina coupons print during checkout based on purchases
  

Target (Corporate policy should be the same for all stores)

• Face value on coupons

• Allows 1 mfg & 1 store coupon per product
  

• Has IP store coupons available on their website

• Ads run Sunday-Saturday

• Does not match ads

• Gift cards for certain products as listed in ads

Trader Joe’s (Corporate policy should be the same for all stores)

• Allows 1 mfg coupon per product

• No sale ads. Same prices always.

Walmart (Corporate policy should be the same for all stores)

• Face value on coupons

• Allows 1 mfg coupon per product

• Ads run from Sunday-Saturday

• Matches ads. You must have the competitors ad with you & it has to be the exact item (and size)
  

Stacking and Stockpiling

Stacking
Stacking coupons is the term that is used when you combine a manufacturer's coupon with a store coupon to get the maximum discount possible on an item. Triple stacking or "the magic formula", also known as "the triple threat" (by me) is when you have the perfect combination of store coupons, manufacturers coupons, and rebates or promotions from a store or manufacturer to make the item free or a MM (Money Maker). We call it a money maker when the right combination of coupons, rebates and promotions actually results in you being paid to take the item home. For example, I found an internet printable coupon for $1 off ANY 1 Johnson & Johnson's item (excluding 4 oz. size). The Johnson's Buddies individual soap bars were priced at $0.97 at Walmart. With the above mentioned coupon, I got the soap for free, plus an overage of $0.03. I walked away from the store with $0.03 more than I came with.

Stockpiling
If you find that after using your coupons, an item is free or very little Out Of Pocket (OOP), you should stock up on that item. This is called Stockpiling. If you wait until you are out of toothpaste, chances are it will be more expensive and/or you will not have a coupon. Short-term loss, long-term gain. (I don't have to buy dish detergent for probably a year or more). Don't stock up on things that are perishable. Types of things to stock up on are:

Oral care items
Hair care products
Shaving products
Cleaning supplies
Canned items
Pasta noodles
Soap/body wash
Diapers/wipes
Packages snacks (not more than your family can use before their expiration)
Soda
Juice for kids (unrefrigerated)
Frozen items (that you know will last a while in the freezer)
Gifts (toys, baby items, wedding gifts, etc...)

These are just examples of common items. You can make your own stockpile list with items that suit your family's needs and space.

Rules and Helpful Hints

Rules- Let's not get carried away; before you lay down your first coupon, we should go through some basic rules:
• Do not photocopy a coupon. This is ILLEGAL and unethical.
• Follow the redemption rules listed on the coupon. These vary by coupon.

Helpful Hints
• Expect to complete smaller transactions to get the deals that you want.
• Understand that sometimes this requires you to break away from product loyalty!
• Realize that clipping, planning, and using coupons takes TIME.
• There is NO right method. Find the method that suits you, your needs, and your schedule
the best!

The way I do things may not work for you, so please don’t stop there! Find a way that does work. It is fun to save money with coupons and exciting to see how much it helps your family; you will have to take the time and effort to find the way that works for you and stick to it! Don’t be discouraged! Set realistic goals and raise them once you have consistently met those goals.

The magic formula at Rite Aid

What do I mean by "magic formula"? It is the "triple threat"......ok, enough one liners for now. The magic formula is when you have the perfect combination of store coupons, manufacturers coupons, and rebates or promotions from a store or manufacturer to make the item free or a MM (Money Maker). I'll break it down into easy to understand deals. Here are the promotions:


Spend $25 in select Johnson & Johnson products and get a $10 Single Check Rebate online (J & J rebate).
Purchase 3 Aveeno skin care products, get $5 SCR (includes suncare).
Purchase $20 in select products (in the ad) and get a free tote with skincare samples and coupons ($40 value).
Plus Aveeno suncare is BOGO 50% off this week.

Now....here's the good news about the above promotions this week only...Aveeno suncare works for ALL 3 promotions. Hence the "triple threat" one-liner used above. What does this deal look like for you?

Buy 2 Aveeno positively ageless sunscreens for $10.99 each = $21.98
Buy 1 Aveeno positively ageless sunscreen for $5.49 (50% off of 2nd item)
For a total of $27.47 so far

Now here's the most important part of this deal:
You must print and use the Rite Aid $5 off of $25 coupon first or your total will be brought down below the $25 mark and you will be disqualified from using it. This is a Rite Aid store coupon. That should take the total to $22.47.

And Sign up at Aveeno Here, and use the IP (Internet Printable) coupon for $10 off when you purchase ANY 3 Aveeno positively ageless products. This should take your total OOP to $12.47.

Then Sign up for Rite Aid's Single Check Rebates program and enter the information from your receipt when prompted to do so, and you will get rebates as follows:

$10 SCR (Single Check Rebate) for purchasing $25 in Johnson & Johnson products (Aveeno)
$5 SCR for purchasing 3 Aveeno suncare products
AND a free gift bag tote with samples and coupons worth $40.

That a $2.53 MM (Money Maker). It's like they are paying you $2.53 to take home 3 Aveeno sunscreens and a gift bag tote with samples and coupons.


Unfortunately, my Rite Aid did not carry the Aveeno positively ageless sunscreen, so I had to tweak my deal a bit. Here's what I did:

2 continuous protection sunblock spray SPF 50 $9.99 for 1 and $4.99 for the 2nd (second one is 50% off right now)= $14.98
1 continuous protection sunblock lotion (for face) SPF 70 =$10.99

Total before coupons= $25.97

Coupons used: (IN ORDER)

$5 off of $25 Rite Aid coupon

Then used 3 of the $2 off Any Aveeno suncare product coupons Here. Use 2 computers so that you can print a copy and then hit the browsers back button on one computer in order to print a total of 3 coupons. You may have to hit the sign up button again to be prompted to print another copy of the coupon. It won't sign you up twice, it's just a formality in order to get the coupon to print.

Total after all coupons= $14.95 OOP (Out of Pocket)
And get the same $15 in SCR's as the deal above, and the free tote with samples and coupons

It's still a MM (Money Maker), but only 5 cents with this version. Still free sunscreen and a free tote with samples and coupons.

The Rite Aid Single Check Rebates can only have one submission per address, so you can only do this deal once and receive the rebates.

OH, and don't forget to request your rebate check by July 27th, 2009. Please be sure you only request your rebate once all transactions have cleared. It can take up to 7 days for your rebates to appear in your Rite Aid SCR account. You can only request ONE check per month so make sure you have all your deals done and entered from June and July before requesting your check before the July 27th cut-off.

FREE root beer float at Sonic

Today only (Wednesday, June 3rd) from 8pm until midnight Sonic is offering customers a FREE 10 ounce root beer float to thank them for their business. Go to Sonic and get your free float, and be sure to thank them for doing this promotion.

Frequently Asked Questions

I thought I would put a Question and Answer post up that will (hopefully) answer any questions that you have regarding the use of coupons. If your question has not been answered, please ask it in the comment section below and I will try my best to update this post with the answer as quickly as possible.

Q: Can you use 2 manufacturer's coupons on the same item?
A: NO! You can use 1 manufacturer's coupon and 1 store coupon on the same item, unless the store specifically states otherwise in their coupon policy.


Q: Can you use a formula check from a manufacturer and a manufacturers coupon on the same can of formula?
A: Yes, unless the store policy states that they only allow one offer per item. Hand the coupon over with your other coupons, and then hand the formula check over with your payment.


Q: Is there a difference between per purchase and per transaction?
A: Yes! Per transaction is the same thing as saying per receipt. You can purchase many items in one transaction.

Learning Curve Toy Clearance

Learning Curve has a lot of items for clearance right now. Shipping starts at $2.95 and depends on your order total. Here are some of the deals that I have found.

• The "getting started" Thomas the Tank Engine, regularly $10.99, on sale for $1.99
• Lights and Sounds James, regularly $24.99, on sale for $14.49
• Water Tower for Thomas the Train, regularly $24.99, on sale for $12.99

Add one of the following coupon codes for an additional discount: $10 off $30 (equivalent to 33% off of $50) with coupon code WELCOME (all caps, valid for first orders on new accounts only), or 25% off your entire order (no minimum purchase like the previous code) with coupon code LCFRIEND (all caps, must be logged into your account).

There's more than just these items for sale, including some non-toy items, so if your little one is in need of toys, or you want to get gifts for upcoming kids' birthdays, it may be a good idea to check it out.

The Children's Place

Right now there are lots of BIG markdowns at The Childrens Place online. There are girls leggings regularly $9.99, marked down to 99 cents (yes, that's under $1). Plus you can take 15% off with coupon code S2A59, but hurry because it expires 6/7/09, and inventory is getting low. There are great discounts to be had Here.

Online coupon codes

If you buy items online, or would like to, this post is for you!
I found a site that has coupon codes for online sites, no strings attached. How does it work? Well, you just go to the link above, type in the name of the website that you are looking for in the search bar, and up comes a list of coupon codes that have been confirmed to work, and some that have not been confirmed. Next you just paste the coupon code in the code box on the website from which you are purchasing items, and voila... you get the discount. I was a bit skeptical at first, so my husband and I purchased some books off of Amazon.com and ended up getting a 20% discount using one code, and free shipping using another code. It ended up being around $10 off of our order. Since that day I have used this site several times and been very pleased. Not all the codes work, but there's usually a lot of different ones to try, so knock yourself out.

Manufacturer's Directory

A good way to get more coupons is to contact the manufacturer of a product directly either by phone or email with compliments, complaints, or simply asking them if they have any coupons that they would be willing to send you for their brand of products. I recently called Playtex baby products inquiring about available coupons, and the woman at customer service took down my address and sent me 2 coupons for $3 off any Playtex feeding products. By chance, I received the coupons at the best possible time when Target was having a sale on Playtex sippy cups ($4 for the package of two 9 ounce sippy cups). I got 2 packages for $1 each (4 total cups). Contacting manufacturers can really pay off.

Ok, so here's my challenge to you. I have compiled a pretty good list of manufacturer's contact information for you. They are broken down in Baby/Kids, Beverages, Food Companies, and Health & Beauty/Cleaning Products. Pick 10 of your favorite companies, call, and ask them if they can send you as many coupons for their brand of products as possible. Ready, set, go!!!


Oh, I almost forgot, please leave me a comment or email me with what you were offered so that I can post a list so others can see the benefits of doing this. And if you think of a product/company that's not listed, please comment or email me so that I can add it for you. I'm excited to see what you all come up with.

Manufacturers Contact Information

Baby/Kids

Beech-Nut Nutrition Corp. 800-523-6633, or online


Earth’s Best Baby Food 800-434-4246, or online


Gerber 1-800 4-Gerber, or online


Huggies Diapers 1-888-525-8388, or online

LUV’S DIAPERS 1-888-665-3257, or online

Mam baby Products online only

Nubby online only

PAMPER’S DIAPERS 1-800-Pampers, or online

Playtex 1-888-310-4290, no email available at this time


Beverages

Barq's Inc. 601-432-7001, part of the Coca-cola company of products

Coca-Cola Co. 800-438-2653

Dr. Pepper/ 7 up 800-696-5891, or online

Pepsi- Cola 800-433-2652, or online

Tree Top 800-542-4055, or online

Welch's, Inc. 716-326-3131, or online

Food Companies

Campbell Soup Company 800-257-8443, or online

Con-Agra 402-595-6000, or online (Brands also on this link)

Del Monte Foods 415-247-3000, or online

Dole Food Co. 800-232-8888, or online

Fresh Express Inc. 800-242-5472, or online

Frito-Lay, Inc. 800-352-4477, or online

General Mills Consumer Services 800-248-7310, or online

Heinz USA 800-255-5750, or online

Hormel Foods Corp. 800-523-4635, or online

J.M. Smucker Co. 888-550-9555, or online

Jennie-O Foods Inc. 800-621-3505, or online

Johnsonville Foods Inc. 888-556-BRAT, or online

Kraft Foods 877-535-5666, or online

Kellogg Company 800-962-1413, or online

Keebler Co., same contact information as Kellogg’s

M & M/Mars Div. Mars Inc. 800-222-0293, or online

Nestle USA, Inc. 800-225-2270, or online

Ore-Ida Foods, Inc. 800-892-2401, or online

Oscar Mayer, same contact information as Kraft Foods

Pepperidge Farm, Inc. 800-243-9314, or online

Pillsbury Co. 800-775-4777, or online

Quaker Oats Co. 800-FOR-OATS, or online

S&W Fine Foods Inc. 800-252-7033, or online

Stouffer Food Corp. 800-225-1180, or online

Tyson Foods, Inc. 800-643-3410, or online


Health& Beauty, & Cleaning Companies

Arm & Hammer Division 800-952-5080, or online

Clorox Co. 800-537-2823, or online

Colgate 800-468-6502, or online

Dial Soap 800-528-0849, or online

Johnson & Johnson 706-245-7353, or online

Procter & Gamble 800-543-7276, brands here,or online (part of LUVS diaper company)

S.C. Johnson 800-494-4855, or online

Unilever US, Inc. 800-328-7248,brands here , or online

Storing and organizing coupons

Now that you've begun collecting coupons, the next step is to organize them so that you can find them easily to match them with sales in the ads, or when you see a good sale when you're shopping in the store.

The following are just some of the methods that can be used:

The Box Method:
This method includes sorting coupons in a small box. Coupons can be sorted alphabetically by product name (Kelloggs, Quaker, etc.), alphabetically by item type (cereal, milk, toilet paper), or alphabetical by category (beverages, dairy, produce).

Advantages:

• Easy clipping
• Fast sorting

Disadvantages:

• Small children find it easy to mess with the box
• If the box gets dropped, it's all over! (pun intended)
• Cannot be sorted by category

Expandable File Method
This method can be used to file coupons either alphabetically or by category.

Advantages:

• If you don't have a lot of coupons, the file is portable.

Disadvantages:

• Limited capacity, and if you drop it in the store, you are going to have coupons scattered all over the place. NOT FUN! I know from experience.

The Envelope Method:
This method involves filing your coupons in envelopes and carrying them with you. You can either file them by category (baby/kids, canned items, dairy) or by store (Target, Walmart, grocery).

Advantages:

• No limit of categories like in the expandable file method
• Don't have to carry all envelopes if you know which store or category you will need

Disadvantages:

• Hard to carry and store multiple envelopes when making large shopping trips
• Easy for children to get into and dump

The Binder Method:
With this method, you place your coupons in plastic baseball card sheets and store the sheets in a 3 ring binder. You can file your coupons alphabetically by product name, alphabetically by category, or any other method that you see fit.

Advantages:

• Lots of storage
• Easy to see coupons
• You can file them however it works best for you

Disadvantages:

• You have to take all coupons with you to the store
• Can take longer to file the coupons

*I find this to be the method that works the best for me. These are pictures of my coupon binder.

I purchased it at Target. It is a Case It brand binder, and has an adjustable strap on it which makes it easy to carry into the store. I love it! I also have envelopes stored in the front pocket with store names on them. That way I can pull coupons from the binder and place them in the envelopes so I don't forget to use them at the store. I do this ahead of time if I know of a deal that I want to take advantage of at a specific store, or if I see a really good deal while I'm shopping, I just pull the coupon out of the baseball card sleeve and put it in the corresponding store's envelope. I also carry a calculator, a pen, my price sheet (I'll explain this later), and a small notebook for making notes about upcoming advertised deals, or just to jot little notes about products and prices.

There is no right method to organize your coupons. Find the method that suits you, your family's needs, and your schedule the best!

Manufacturer's coupons

Manufacturer's coupons are broken down into sub-categories.

Newspaper inserts (Sunday Supplements)
• SS (Smart Source inserts)- weekly on Sundays
• RP (Red Plum inserts, also called valassis)- weekly on Sundays
• P&G Saver (Proctor & Gamble Saver inserts)- usually only 1 time per month on a Sunday, but there are occasional times when there are more inserts than normally scheduled. To see the insert schedule for Sunday Supplement coupons, go Here.
These coupons have varying expiration dates, anywhere from 1 month to 4 or 5 months out.


IP (Internet Printable) coupon
These are FREE coupons that are printable from the internet. Here are a few of the sites that I like to use:

• www.coupons.com

• www.smartsource.com

• www.coolsavings.com

• Some coupons can be printed directly from the manufacturers’ websites. Just google the manufacturer's name, go to the company website, and print whatever they have to offer.

• This site has a database of printable coupons in their search engine. Internet Printable coupons usually expire pretty quickly, in about a month or so. Occasionally I have found one that expires in a few months (3 or 4).

Snail Mail coupons (Via Online Resources)
You will be required to pay these sites to search for, clip, and send you coupons via snail mail. They are usually very reasonably priced. I have purchased several times from The Coupon Clippers and Ebay and have been very happy with the results.

• The Coupon Clippers
• Coupons n things by Dede
• The Coupon Master
• Cents Off
• Ebay
*Just a quick note about Ebay. Don't get stuck in a bidding war with someone. Decide ahead of time the maximum amount that you would pay for that many coupons and write that in the maximum bid line. If you don't do this, you may end up paying more for the coupons than they're worth. People often forget to include the shipping cost in their estimate, and believe it or not, it's easy to get stuck in a bidding war when you keep reminding yourself that it's just 50 cents more than your last bid. Ok, I'll admit it.... it's happened to me.

Because these are coupons that were in a Sunday insert somewhere else in the country, they usually have expirations similiar to your normal Sunday insert coupons (around a couple of months).


Snail Mail Coupons (direct from manufacturers)
I recently called Playtex directly and asked if they had any coupons that they would be willing to send me so that I could try out some sippy cups for my 6 month old son. Voila! They sent me (2) $3.00 off any feeding product coupons (this includes cups). I have even heard of people getting coupons for free products, just for calling a manufacturer directly and asking or complimenting them, or even sharing a negative experience. And the bonus of these coupons is that the expiration dates are usually a long way off, sometimes up to 1 year. I got a coupon for Colgate toothpaste that doesn't expire until January of 2010, that's over 6 months. Manufacturers LOVE being contacted directly by phone or email regarding their products, and they'll usually reward you if you do. Try it! You'll be amazed at the results! I have put a list of Manufacturer's contact information Here.

Tear pads
These are coupons that are located on the store shelf. You have to tear them off of a pad containing copies of the same coupon. Hence the term "tear pad." (go figure!) These usually expire within a month or so.

Blinkies
No, these are NOT glitter graphics for your MySpace page. These are coupons that are also located on the store shelf. You know the coupons that spit out of the machine with the little blinking light when you walk by? That's them. These usually have an expiration date within a few months.

Peelies
Sounds gross right? I promise it's not. These are the coupons that are located directly on the product itself. They usually have wording on them like, "Save Now". Don't forget to peel them off of the product when you hand your coupons to the cashier. I normally peel them off before I head to the check stand and put them with my other coupons so that I don't forget them. These usually have an extended expiration date, sometimes up to 1 year, because the manufacturer doesn't know how long the product will be on the shelf before being purchased.

Catalina’s (called Cats for short)
These are coupons that print out at the cash register with your receipt (also called Off Your Next Order-coupons). Typically, these are triggered by the purchase of certain products. I just got a Cat coupon for $2 off my next purchase because I bought 4 Kraft BBQ sauces in one transaction at a store that contracted with Kraft for this promotion. The coupon says, "$2 off your next purchase, compliments of Kraft foods, thank you." I was pretty happy considering I only spend 56 cents on all 4 sauces. That's a total profit of $1.44. Kraft paid me $1.44 to take home their BBQ sauce! Gotta love THAT!



Now that I've introduced you to the smorgasbord of Manufacturer's coupon options, it's time to start collecting. I'll go over why it's important to gather and organize your coupons in a later post.

Know your restrictions!

Because the store gets reimbursed by the manufacturer, you must make sure that you use the coupon on the correct product and the correct size, otherwise, the store will not be reimbursed for the discount given to you. If the coupons specifically states that it is for the 40 count Hefty garbage bags, don't try to use it on 45 count, even if the coupon works and does not "beep" at the register.
Each coupon states on it the redemption rules.

Per purchase vs. per transaction
There is a lot of misunderstanding regarding the wording on a coupon regarding this issue. Per transaction is the same thing as saying per receipt. A transaction consists of as many items as you want to purchase on one receipt. If a coupon uses the wording one Per Transaction, that means that you will need to make many different transactions at that store to get multiples of that item.

One Per Purchase means that you can buy (purchase) as many of that item as you have coupons for. For example, If you have 4 Kraft salad dressing coupons, you can purchase 4 dressings, but you cannot purchase 2 dressings and try to apply all 4 coupons to the 2 dressings. You can only use 1 coupon per item purchased, unless otherwise stated on the coupon.

Per household vs. per person

If a coupon states One Per household, this includes anyone living at your address.

One Per person is the same thing as saying per paying customer. This means that you (yourself) can only purchase 1 of that item. However, your husband/wife may also purchase that item in a separate transaction as yours. They are another customer.

*Be aware that sometimes store cashiers and even managers themselves have no idea what the differences are in these wordings so be prepared on occasion to gently argue the point. In my experience, a bit of positive instruction usually goes a long way, and can change the managers understanding enough to make the next couponer behind you have an easier experience. On the contrary, getting flustered and being rude helps NO ONE! Remember though, that the store manager has the final say and can refuse to honor your explanation of the coupon rules. You can always try again later when you know that particular manager is not on duty. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn’t, but it may be worth a try.

Understanding coupons

Sorry if you already know the following information, but it's always good to start from the beginning so that you don't miss a rule or an interesting fact. This is also designed for people who don't yet know exactly what coupons are, and where and how to use them.

There are 2 categories of coupons available. 1) Manufacturers coupons, and 2) Store coupons.

* Manufacturers coupons come directly from the maker of a product, and can be used at any store that accepts coupons. The words Manufacturer's Coupon should be clearly printed on them. Here is an example:

Store coupons are specific to individual stores, have the store name on them, and can only be used at that store, unless the store accepts competitors coupons (more on this subject later). Here is an example of this type:

* On a side note, sometimes you can find a manufacturers coupon near an item on the shelf. They can have that stores name on them, but another store might accept them because they state on them that they are a manufacturers coupon. You need to check with a store before trying to use a manufacturers coupon with a competing store's name on it. It will look something like this:

Are stores getting ripped off when you use coupons? Absolutely not. Quite the contrary.

The Manufacturer reimburses the store for the discount given to the customer for that item, plus an 8 cent "handling fee" per coupon. In other words, if you use 40 coupons in your shopping trip, the store ends up making $3.20 more on the items than if you had not used any coupons. The manufacturer takes a hit in their profits intentionally in order to boost their sales. In regards to store coupons, the individual store is reimbursed the full amount of the coupon from the Corporate office, so that store does not lose money when you use their specific coupons. You get the discount, the store gets paid, and the manufacturer succeeds in selling the product. Everyone wins!

Want to make a dent in your financial situation?

"Many of us are feeling the squeeze at the supermarket these days. The official USDA cost of food has risen to $600 a month for a family of 4 on the "Thrifty Plan"!

I read the previous statement on another website and thought, "this is crazy, how high are food prices going to go? And how are my husband and I going to be able to afford to feed our family of 5 with our budget?"

Does this sound familiar? You need to start using coupons!

Using coupons will help you reduce your grocery bill. It won’t solve all of your financial problems, but it may give you some breathing room so you can make a dent in your debt or help you start to save for "a rainy day". Want to know more? In the following weeks and months, I will post definitions, rules, resources, and tips on how to use coupons to get the most for your money. Plus good deal alerts that I and others have found. Come join me and we'll see how much we can save together.

How did I start using coupons?
My husband and I needed to cut down on our grocery bills in order to save towards items that we needed for our home, and also have a desire to be good stewards of the money that God has blessed us with, and to bless others who are struggling in this economy. My new favorite Scripture is found in The Open Bible, New Living Translation, Romans 12:12-13, "Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night." Many people are struggling right now, and we feel convicted to help.

We didn't know what to do in order to save money, so at first we just cut our budget down by $20 a month and lived on bologna sandwiches and chili, with vegetables thrown in once a day or so. We cut almost all meat out of our diet in an effort to save. My poor husband is a meat-and- potatoes type of man, and frankly, he was starving. One day I stumbled across a news story about 2 women who were having "coupon parties" and teaching people how to use coupons to save money. These women were saving thousands of dollars a year using coupons and I was determined to learn how. After doing a lot of research and joining a forum full of what I refer to as "coupon divas", I began to learn and save. My very first trip using coupons, I purchased $124 worth of groceries and household supplies for $19. Yes, I said nineteen dollars! I was instantly hooked. My first goal was to save $50 a month on groceries and I have far surpassed that now. It can be done, and I am proof of that.

If you have any questions you can email me at couponsavvymom@yahoo.com. If you want to know more, you're gonna have to read my posts in the coming days.