Beginners 101 - How to start couponing!

Beginners 101 - How to start couponing:

Make a list of the stores in your area that you shop at regularly, or would go to with coupons.


Get to know their coupon policies. Policies vary by area.  For example, I have a Meijer in Three Rivers, and one in Goshen.  The one in Goshen doubles coupons, but the one in Three Rivers does not. My favorite grocery stores double coupons up to $1.00 (commonly known as Super Doubles). Those stores are hard to come by.  Some other stores double coupons up to $.50, but watch it because they will have a limit on how many they will double.  After the limit, you only get face value.
Some stores allow you to stack their store coupons with manufacturer coupons for the best savings! Some stores that do this are Meijer, Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Kroger, and more. You get the coupons online, in their ads, Walgreens booklet, or load them on your card.  If the store has a card (Rite Aid, CVS, Kroger), get one, or two if possible.  You will get periodic emails from them, as well as better deals!

Some stores accept competitor's coupons or catalinas. 

Here's a list of things you need to know:

Do they double coupons?

What is the maximum value that you will double?

What is the limit of how many coupons they double?

Do they take expired coupons?
Do you accept competitor coupons?




I get the ads for the stores in my local papers or online. 

Your goal is to match the weekly sales with the coupons in your possession, or ones you can obtain online.  Also, I generally only buy something (except staple items) that I can get for more than 50% savings.  I only by Health & Beauty items if I can get them for 75% off or more. 




Where do I get all of these coupons?

I will either buy SEVERAL papers, or order from an online insert service.  If you order from an online service, remember that you won't get them as soon as you would if you bought the paper.  If I buy the papers, I always make sure to recycle them. 
There are three kinds of coupon inserts to look for: the SmartSource (SS), the Redplum (RP), and once a month, the Procter & Gamble Brand Saver (P&G). There are no inserts on major holidays, so don't buy them then.  You can look at our previous blog for the Sunday Insert Schedule for better reference of what inserts are in what days.The first key to saving money is to obtain multiple copies of the inserts-- lots of them. You want to do this as inexpensively as possible.


Join the “Dumpster Divers”! Look at our previous blog of where to find the nears recycle center near you, or click here for the locations nearest you.



How to organize your coupons:

Some people keep the inserts intact and put them in a file and write the date and source on the front (SS 6/5, V 6/5, PG 6/5).  Personally, I don't care for this system.  If I do it this way, I only have the coupons I need.  What if there's a great clearance deal and I don't have my inserts? 
I clip all of the coupons from the beginning, and put them in my 3 ring zippable binder with baseball card holders.  They are organized and divided into about 40 categories.  Check out the "Coupon Book" tab for more pictures and details.

I go through my books (yes, I have more than one!) every week when I put the new ones in.  I sort out all the expired ones and mail them to the military.  They can use expired coupons for up to 6 months after the expiration date.
Use what system works best for you.



With me, I have a decent stockpile.  I'm not a hoarder, nor do I have so much that I have it in three rooms.  I do, however, make sure that my kids and I have enough stock for 3-6 months of things.  Couponing is a neccesity now since my husband passed.  I need to make sure that we have what is needed at all times.  So, if I can get deodorant for $.25 or less, I buy 20.  I keep 10 and donate 10.  I'm still paying a lot less than even buying two at full price, and I help others. 


That's how to get started...if you have questions, feel free to ask:)

Where to get coupons and the abbreviations!!

Where to get coupons:•Sunday newspaper – Coupon inserts (RP, SS, P&G, and occasionally bonus inserts depending on your area).


•Internet: printable coupons – There are a vast array of printable coupons – on printable coupon sites and manufacturer’s sites. For example: RedPlum, SmartSource, Coupons.com.

•Coupon mailers from a manufacturer with whom you have signed up in the mail or online.

•All You Magazine (and occasionally a few others). All You Magazine generally has over $50 worth of manufacturer coupons.  You can buy it at Walmart.
•Inside products or on the box of a product

•Loaded to your savings card or to your cell phone

•Store Weekly Circular

Catalina - coupon on back of store receipt or printed after receipt

Blinkie or Tear Pad – coupon from a small blinkie machine or pad – typically near the relevant product

Peelie –  product itself




•Newspaper Insert Abbreviations:

GM = General Mills

PG = Procter and Gamble

RP = Red Plum

SS = SmartSource



*Date for insert is typically in very small print on the spine of the insert.





ECB = Extra Care Bucks – CVS money

RR = Register Reward – Walgreens money

IVC = Instant Value Coupon – found in the monthly Walgreens EasySaver booklet

B1G1 or BOGO = Buy One, Get One Free

B2GI = Buy Two, Get One Free

DND = Do Not Double

EX or X = Expires On

FAR = Free After Rebate

FILLER = Item Purchased to Reach a Minimum Total in Order to Get a “Deal”

GC = Gift Card

IP = Internet Printable

MQ = Manufacturer’s coupon

MIR = Mail In Rebate

NED = No Expiration Date

OOP = Out of Pocket

STACKING: Using Both a Store Coupon and a Manufacturer’s Coupon on One Item

TMF = Try Me Free Offer

Sales Cycles for the year

Here are the best times to buy certain items:

JANUARY - Historically, Quaker has hot deals on cereal/all items. We see Pepsi/Tostitos go on sale mid-January (again, rebates abound for these). Other items of note this time of year are chili, side dishes, anything for hearty/warm meals.


• Post-Holiday Sales

• White Sales

• Sports and Weight Loss Equipment

• Computers

• Winter Apparel and Accessories

• Organizers, Rubbermaid totes, shelf organizers, planners, filing cabinets



FEBRUARY – many of the same food items as January

• Electronics

• Floor Coverings

• Housewares

• Furniture

• Candy and Chocolates



MARCH - Frozen food month. You'll find many stores are offering free freezers or fill-a-bag deals. Between March and April, look for spring cleaning deals, so many cleaner items will be on sale. With Easter, looks for eggs, ham, Kraft products to cycle into good sales. Paper products like towels, napkins, plates are starting to come on strong. Beverage items.

• Spring Apparel and Accessories

• Winter Sports Equipment

• Gardening Supplies

• Luggage





APRIL –

• Spring Apparel and Accessories

• Coats and Hats

• Paint

• Wallpaper

• Jewish Foods and Eggs



MAY - get ready for summer! Here come loads of deals on BBQ sauce, frozen veggies, baked beans, and condiments of all kinds, summer-time meats (ribs, hotdogs, and ground beef). Also with all the holidays, look for tons of paper goods that match the holiday and pick them up after clearance. These deals generally continue through September!

• White Sale - Linens and Towels

• Spring Cleaning Supplies

• Auto Maintenance

• Home Maintenance

• Sodas & Bottled Water, Hotdogs, Hamburger Meat, Condiments, Paper & Plastic plates & cups

* Raid/Off bug repellents and sunscreens



JUNE –

• Summer Apparel and Accessories

• Pianos

• Television Sets

• Building Materials and Hardware

• Dairy Products



JULY –

• Air Conditioners

• Summer Sports Equipment

• Sportswear

• Craft Supplies

• Sodas, Hotdogs, Hamburger Meat, Condiments

* Loss leader school supplies start now through the end of August



AUGUST –

• White Sale - Linen and Towels

• BBQ and Patio Equipment

• Back to School Supplies

• Bathing Suits

• Fresh Fish and Vegetables

• Breakfast foods (Cold cereal-Juice-Waffles-etc)

• Cold lunch items for in lunch boxes



SEPTEMBER - back to school; time to fill up on snacks! Pudding cups, Capri suns, fruit snacks, cereal sales start up hard again, peanut butter/jelly. Also, like clockwork, there will be Prego coupons in August, and plan on getting lots and using them in a hurry before they expire in September when the spaghetti sauce goes on sale. Sauce wars between Ragu and Prego this month. Campbell’s soups will go on as well and there will be coupons in the end of August for these as well. Lunchables are on sale this time of year, too.

• Back to School Supplies and Apparel

• Gardening Supplies

• Housewares

• Bicycles

• Canned Goods



OCTOBER - Stock up on holiday foods – Stove Top, turkey, instant mashed potatoes, broth, cranberries, marshmallow, ice cream, pie shells, whipped cream, pudding. Look for great Kraft deals again this time of year. Piggyback those Kraft coupons when you can. Crackers are a biggie - going on for $1 or less a box. Lots of extra deals like $ off cheese WYB crackers. The real kicker is the after Christmas food deals! Save your coupons because pie fixings, fried onion, broth and canned green beans will be on deep discount. I got those onions for .50 a can, normally almost $4. These generally continue through December.

• Cars

• Houses

• Fishing Equipment

• Crystal, Silver, and Glassware

• Candy

• Baking/candy-making items (choc chips, sprinkles, vanilla, corn syrup, nuts, etc)



NOVEMBER -

• Winter Apparel and Accessories

• Quilts and Blankets

• Heating Devices

• Turkey, Sweet Potatoes

• Canned goods (soup, chicken broth, condensed milk, veggies etc)

• Baking goods



DECEMBER –

• Toys

• Gift Items

• Party ware

• Post-Holiday Sales

• Party Foods, Baking Goods, and Various Meat

• Canned goods (broth, soups, etc)

Recycle centers near you:)

Use the link below to find recycle centers near you.  You can either use it to "dumpster dive" for coupons, or to take your papers that you don't need. 

http://www.earth911.com/

Coupon Schedule for 2011

Here's the abbreviations:


General Mills (GM)


•Proctor & Gamble (P&G)

•RedPlum (RP)

•SmartSource (SS)

Your best newspapers to check for coupon inserts usually will be from the larger cities and metropolitan areas. So if you live in a smaller town you may want to check out the newspaper from nearby areas to see which newspapers have the better coupon inserts.

There usually are no coupons issued on holiday weekends so you may want to skip purchasing (or dumpster diving) for the coupons on those weekends.



2011 Sunday Coupon Insert Schedule



June

•06/05/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource, (1) Redplum and (1) Proctor & Gamble inserts.

•06/12/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource Insert.

•06/19/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.

•06/26/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.




July

•07/03/2011 – There are no inserts scheduled due to Independence Day.

•07/10/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.

•07/17/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource Insert.

•07/24/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.

•07/31/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource, (1) RedPlum and (1) Proctor & Gamble inserts.



August

•08/07/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.

•08/14/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.

•08/21/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.

•08/28/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum and (1) Proctor & Gamble inserts.



September

•09/04/2011 – There are no inserts scheduled due to Labor Day.

•09/11/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (2) Redplum inserts.

•09/18/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.

•09/25/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.


October

•10/02/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource, (1) RedPlum and (1) Proctor & Gamble inserts.

•10/09/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.

•10/16/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.

•10/23/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.

•10/30/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.



November

•11/06/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource, (1) RedPlum and (1) Proctor & Gamble inserts.

•11/13/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.

•11/20/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.

•11/27/2011 – There are no inserts scheduled due to Thanksgiving.



December

•12/04/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource, (1) RedPlum and (1) Proctor & Gamble inserts.

•12/11/2011 – There will be (1) SmartSource and (1) RedPlum inserts.

•12/18/2011 – There are no inserts scheduled due to Christmas.

•12/25/2011 – There will be (1) Proctor & Gamble Insert

Coupon Book

Ok...Here is how I organize my coupon book.  I have two books - one for food items, and one for non-food.  I have a title page in the front.  I number the categories and have protective sheets with tabs on them.  I write the corresponding number on the tab.  So if I want "Pasta", I look at the title page and it's number 7.  Then, I have baseball card holders to organize my coupons. 

Here is the list of categories I have:

1. Produce
2. Salty Snacks (Chips, Crackers, Etc)
3. Cookies
4. Granola Bars/Fruit Snacks
5. PB & J
6. Bread
7. Fruit
8. Vegetables
9. Soup
10. Pasta
11. Canned Goods
12. Baking
13. Breakfast
14. Prepared Sides & Rice
15. Condiments/Salad Dressings
16. Drinks
17. Refrigerated
18. Yogurt
19. Frozen Food
20. Candy
21. Baby Items
22. Reynolds/Ziploc
23. Paper Products
24. Cleaners (Spic & Span, 409, etc)
25. Laundry
26. Dish Washing
27. Miscellaneous
28. Air Fresheners/Candles
29. Cold Medicine
30. First Aid
31. Vitamins
32. Beauty (Make Up)
33. Oral Care
34. Soap and Body Wash
35. Hair Care
36. Lotion
37. Shaving & Deodorant
38. Feminine Hygiene
39. Pets

Here are some pictures of a few areas of my book:)

For all the newbies.....

If you are new to couponing, here are a few things you need to do to get started. 

• Get coupons - I buy papers on Sundays, and also use the internet coupons.  There are various sites, but here's a few.  coupons.com, couponnetwork.com, smartsource.com, redplum.com, sa2.me/niagra234.   I clip EVERY coupon, even if I don't use it.  I have been able to donate several items that I got for free by having those coupons.  In addition, you can trade coupons with others in your area, or send them to the military families to use (up to 6 months after expiration date!).
• After you have coupons, you have to organize them.  I have a "coupon book" that I started.  I am going to post on how to do that tomorrow.  Basically, you set up your own categories and in the order you want them.  I have two books that I use now and take into every store with me.
• Look at all of the ads every week.  If you watch the ads, you can see what coupons you have or need, to get a great deal.  Every week there are various items you can get for free (hopefully you will find the time to donate some of the items). 
• Watch this blog and use any other websites/research you can to find the best deals for you. 

If you have any questions, let me know.  Have a great week and good luck with your venture!!