coupons

Reasor’s Foods – July 1 – July 7

July 2, 2015 By Sarah Roe Leave a Comment

Don’t miss this week’s HOT sales going on at Reasor’s! Check out the deals below and check back next week for more sales and coupons!

Aldi – Jul 1 – Jul 7

July 2, 2015 By Sarah Roe Leave a Comment

Don’t miss the latest deals happening at ALDI this week:

The Beginner’s Guide to Coupon Usage

June 30, 2015 By Sarah Roe 4 Comments

If you’re learning how to coupon for the first time, this post is a great place to start. Couponing for the first time can be super overwhelming and confusing when you’re just starting, but don’t worry , but I am here to help guide you through the process step-by-step right here in this post and on this blog! The biggest obstacle to the whole couponing thing in my opinion, is the coupon lingo. What does it all mean? This ‘coupon lingo’ is your guide to savings. Once you’ve learned it, using the coupon matchups, database and other tools on this blog will be a breeze. So, let’s read on!

Coupon Definitions:

1. Manufacturers Coupons: This type of coupon is sent directly from the manufacturer. You can find the wording usually at the top of your coupon. This coupon is most commonly found in the newspaper, on the manufacturer’s website or on popular coupon sites such as Coupons.com, SmartSource.com or Redplum.com. When you use this coupon at the store, the store will be reimbursed directly from the manufacturer.

2. Store Coupons: Store coupons come from the store itself. Stores like CVS, Walgreens or Target commonly issue store coupons on their websites, in their smartphone apps or in the weekly store sales flyer. Store coupons are not reimbursed from the manufacturer. Think of these coupons as a store sale in the form of a coupon.

3. Internet Printable Coupons: These could be manufacturer coupons or store coupons. Instead of ending up with coupons you will never use, you can easily print the coupons you want on demand right at home. To make it easy, just click on ‘Coupons’ and you can click, print and save.

4. Peelies: This type of coupon is the sticker coupon commonly found on the products themselves. They are manufacturers coupons meant to entice you to make the purchase. You may only use the peelies if you are purchasing that particular product.

5. Catalina: Catalina coupons are issued at the register and are triggered by your purchase. These typically look just like the receipt, most are manufacturer coupons and can be used at other stores that accept manufacturer’s coupons.

6. Blinkies: These coupons are usually found in red SmartSource boxes in the middle of aisles at your local grocery store. These are also manufacturer’s coupons and can actually be used anywhere manufacturer coupons are accepted.

7. Tearpads: Typically located on store displays or shelves, these are great incentives from the manufacturers to entice you again to make a purchase.

Recognizing Fake Coupons:

With the rise of internet couponing, fraudulent coupons are on the rise as well. If you become well-versed in recognizing legitimate coupons, fraudulent coupons will be easy to spot. Using fraudulent coupons means the store cannot be reimbursed for the coupon and that will cost the store money. In my opinion, it is the same as taking money from the register. If the store loses money, they may change their coupon policies which will hurt all money saving shoppers in the end. Ask yourself these questions the next time you print your coupon:

1. What is the source? Is the coupon from the manufacturer directly or is this from a friend of a friend sent via e-mail? If you received your coupon as a .pdf file or .jpg attachment on an e-mail then it is likely fake. Coupons should always come straight from the company or the store.

2. Is the coupon for a free item? Most stores do not accept printable coupons for free products. If a company is offering a coupon for a free product, it will likely be sent to you via snail mail instead.

3. Are there misspellings? If the coupon has misspellings then it is likely a fake coupon.

Take into consideration all the above tips when beginning your coupon journey as they will be super helpful and make you more comfortable with saving money with coupons!

Stockpiling Vs. Hoarding

June 29, 2015 By Sarah Roe Leave a Comment

This is a hot button issue in the coupon world and everyone has an opinion on it. On TV, I’ve heard you should stock up for 6-8 months. In a few of my workshops, I’ve heard you should stock up for 1-2 years.

In my opinion, well, it just depends. Food wise, the bulk of the groceries you purchase will likely go on sale every 6-8 weeks at most (see picture below). Which is about as long as you need to stock up if you’re trying to follow a sales cycle (purchase items when they are on sale and stock up until the next sale).

When it comes to shampoo, razors, shaving cream or other personal care items, you can stock up as long as you’d like. I seem to have about 6 months to a year’s worth of these items on hand. Quite honestly, that’s simply because they are easy to store and I won’t eat them.

To get started, track the price of your items for 6-8 weeks every single time you go into the store. When the price drops, use your coupons and stock up. If you track the items well, you’ll know when the next sale is coming.

It’s really simple, the point of stocking up is so that you buy your items at the best price and still have them until they go on sale again.

No reason to store bacon under your bed or piles of diapers when you have no kids. Stockpiling is all about saving money and providing for your family. There will always be sales and coupons, no reason to add on another room to your house for it. 🙂

Dollar General – June 28 – July 5

June 28, 2015 By Sarah Roe Leave a Comment

Don’t miss out on this week’s Dollar General deals and steals:

Bread & Bakery

Clover Valley Hamburger Buns, 8 ct – $1.00

Clover Valley Hot Dog Buns, 8 ct – $1.00

Breakfast & Cereal

Kellogg’s Apple Jacks Cereal, 12.2 oz – $2.00