Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Lori's Question - What Does it Mean to Stack Coupons?

I love to get questions - thanks Lori!  Stacking is one of the true joys of couponing. Stacking is simply using more than one TYPE of coupon to get an item for the lowest possible price. Notice the word type...that's important. Let me try to explain.

We all know what a manufacturer's coupon looks like - here are two examples for Venus razors and Garnier  face stuff. You can't use two manufacturer's coupons on one item - ever. Never, ever, ever!

Two of the best places to stack coupons are Rite Aid and CVS. I have a trip planned to CVS so I'm going to use it as my example.  First, I get together all of my manufacturers coupons that I plan to use.  Then, I check for CVS store coupons. Most of them will come from the magic coupon machine and look like this:


These are definitely stackable - let's say I had one for $1.00 off any facial product. I could use that on top of my Garnier coupon for a total of $3.00 off one product. Rite Aid has more store coupons than CVS does. They are listed monthly on their Facebook page and on the Rite Aid Video Values website. They are fantastic and often result in free products when combined with a mfg coupon. Rite Aid also has coupons in their weekly ads. These look like manufacturers coupons but are really store coupons. How can you tell?  Rite Aid store coupon codes start with the letters RA.

On to more stacking. This is another type of CVS store coupon.


This one was emailed to me and offers a general $2.00 my entire purchase. So guess what?  I can stack this one on top of my CVS store coupon on top of my manufacturers coupon. See the beauty??

The final layer of stacking (for now) is to use a mobile phone app to increase your savings. The easiest one (and one that is also available online) is Saving Star. You just sign up, add your store loyalty cards, choose the offers you want and that savings is added as cash to your account. Yep, it's that easy.

I also use the Endorse app and the Ibotta app for my smartphone. They involve a little more work, but offer large savings on top of coupons.  Right now, Ibotta is offering $1.25 off a bottle of Clean and Clear shampoo. They don't care about your coupons - even if you got the bottle for free,you can make $1.25. Both apps involved taking a picture of your receipt and the product's bar code.

Martin's has been offering a few store coupons each week on the side of their ad. You can stack a manufacturer's coupon on top of them also. Using this method, I was able to get All Laundry detergent for just .99 cents!  I also saw in the Food Lion ad today that they will be installing magic coupon machines in their stores. They will be store coupons and stackable.

Whew!  Are you crazy yet?  I recommend starting small. Try to stack a mfg coupon with a store coupon just once. Then add another layer. Then try the apps. Let me know if you have any more questions!








Tuesday, April 16, 2013

How I Get My Top Secret Information!

Every day, actually several times a day, I search coupon message boards for deals and steals. When I find great ones, I'll share them on the Underground Couponer's Facebook page. Since I don't post everything that I see during the day, I thought I'd share the websites with you.There are literally hundreds of sites out there, but these are the ones I have luck with.  If you have some free computer time, you can check them out!!!

For general coupons and deals:

www.livingrichwithcoupons.com

www.coupongeek.com

www.forthemommas.com

www.hip2save.com

www.thekrazycouponlady.com

www.southernsavers.com

www.moneysavingmom.com

For organic coupons:

www.commonkindness.com

www.mambosprouts.com


Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Rite Aid Points Rewards - Not UP Rewards...

Are you ready for yet another way to save at Rite Aid?  You should already know how to do the UP rewards (see earlier blog posts) and how to stack manufacturers coupons with store coupons (earlier post) so now it's time for the final piece of Rite Aid savings.

With a Rite Aid rewards card, you earn one point for every dollar you spend in the store and 25 points for most prescriptions. Points start accumulating at the beginning of the year and reset on Dec 31st. If you watch the ads and store tags, you will start to notice deals that increase the number of points you earn, or provide bonus points. Your total number of points will print each time on your receipt.

Points Levels:
0-249                            Member
250-499                        Bronze - 10% off all Rite Aid brands for the rest of the year and a one time 10%                   shopping pass.
500-999                        Silver - 10% off the entire store for a year and a free wellness reward.
1000+                           Gold - 20% off the entire store for a year.

I just reached the Silver level!  10% off the entire store doesn't seem like much, but it's like having a $5.00 coupon on a $50.00 order! I had an order total today of $82.52. My wellness savings were $27.17 (discount and sales) and my coupon savings was $25.59 for a grand total of $29.78!!! In addition to that, I earned $4.50 in UP rewards.

Coupons are great, but it's the stacking of all available methods of saving that net you the big bucks.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Another Rite Aid Tip!

Have you figured out yet that Rite Aid is my favorite store?  They just have so many ways to save. I was planning my trip this morning and thought of yet another Rite Aid tip...

The Rite Aid ad usually has several (this week lots) of coupons in the ad itself. They all say "manufacturers coupon" on the top. So, how do you know if you can stack them?  Check the UPC code. If it starts with RC, then stack away!  Even though it says "mfg coupon" it's a Rite Aid coupon and can be stacked.

For example, there's a coupon in the ad for Mitchum deodorant that can be stacked with a coupon for the same item that's available on coupons.com.  Almost free deo!

Saving with Kraft

So sorry...it's been a while since I've done a blog post. I have been posting a lot on the Facebook page, so if you haven't "liked" it yet, please do!

Woke up this morning to find a free product in my inbox (LOVE those days)!  Of course I'll share it with you.

The Kraft rewards program is called First Taste. You can find it here www.kraftfirsttaste.com.  Sign up with you email address and a password and you're off!  You'll receive high value coupons on new items that Kraft has brought to the grocery store. And, if you interact with the site, you'll receive some free products too!

Today was a new dipping sauce from Miracle Whip. Combined with the full sized Lysol hand soap from Bzz Agent yesterday, it's a good free week!

Happy couponing!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Another Way to Save at Rite Aid

I had a great snow day, catching up on all my coupon activities! I found some great deals this evening, but I can't remember if I've shared this method with you yet....Rite Aid Video Values. You can find the link here:
www.riteaid.adperk.com.

Here's how it works. First, go to the above website and create an account using the same information you used at Riteaid.com.  Same user name and password, please.  Then go to the Video Values home page and watch videos. They are really short - most of them no more than 15 seconds. I let them play in the background while I"m doing something else. When the video finishes, you will have to enter a code that will be shown on the screen.  That's it!  There is no limit to the number of videos you can watch.

Each video comes with an attached coupon (each one is a different amount).  These are Rite Aid store coupons and can be stacked with a manufacturers coupon. Double savings...wait for a sale and get triple savings!

To print the coupons, go to the My Rewards tab in the top right corner. Check the coupons you want to print and hit the red print button.

I just spend 5 minutes and earned $15.25 in coupons!  Hint:  there are some for Easter candy!

OUR FIRST CONTEST!!!

A snow day is the perfect day to announce The Underground Couponer's first ever contest. I dropped a hint on our Facebook page a few days ago...

The Easter Basket Challenge!

1.     Think about items that would fit in a child's Easter basket.

2.     Using coupons, search for the best available deals.

3.     Give us a total cost for the items in your basket (basket cost not included).

4.     Post the results on The Underground Couponer's Facebook page.

5.     Every post will result in one entry into our contest. You may enter multiple baskets if you wish.

6.     One additional entry can be received for sharing the blog or Facebook page with your friends. Leave
        a note on the Facebook page and tell us you've shared.

The winner will receive a $10.00 WalMart gift card!

Saturday, March 2, 2013

This Sunday's Coupons

We were fooled last week! My schedule said there would be a PG Brand Saver, but I didn't see it.  This week, there will be a Red Plum and a Smart Source insert. Since it's a new month, they should have some decent coupons.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Happy New Coupon Day!

I'm back from life at my real job and couldn't wait to start the job I really love. Happy March 1st!  I love, love, love the first of every month. Why? Because it's the day new coupons are posted.  If you printed a coupon in February, chances are you can print it again today.  Plus, all the major Internet coupon sites refresh and list new deals at the beginning of the month.

Head over to www.savingstar.com for 22 new deal ideas to clip and save to your grocery loyalty card.  And don't forget about our favorite site www.coupons.com where you'll find lots of new coupons.

Happy March!

To receive exclusive deals and coupons, please "Like" The Underground Couponer on Facebook.


Saturday, February 23, 2013

Printing Tips

Was printing some coupons this morning and realized that I haven't given you my tricks for saving ink and paper.

1.     When a coupon prints on a single sheet of paper, cut the coupon portion off, the save the remainder of
        the paper. You can put "short sheets" into the printer and they work just fine.

2.     If you print lots of coupons from Coupons.com, try to print at least three coupons at a time. That will
        fill one sheet of paper.

3.     In the beginning of my coupon career, I printed EVERYTHING!  As you get to know the coupon sites
        and sales cycles, you'll know which coupons are rare and need to be printed quickly and which ones
        are fairly routine and come around all the time.

Now, for the great tips - how to get more coupons!

1.     When you click on a coupon, look at the address bar of your browser. If the address starts with the
        word bricks, you're really in luck. This is a coupon that can be printed twice!  You can go back to the
        original link to print again, or just hit your browser's back button twice. Two coupons!

2.     How many computers do you have in your house?  Each one is treated as a different customer when
        printing Internet coupons. For example, we have two computers. In the above example, I could print a
        Bricks coupon 4 times, two from my computer and two from my son's comupter.

* Disclaimer:  in order for the above example to work, my wonderful son would have to let me actually use his computer, which is doubtful.

For exclusive tips and savings, "Like" The Underground Couponer on Facebook!

This Sunday's Coupons

It's going to be a good week for coupons. Major newspapers will have one Smart Source and one Proctor and Gamble insert. If you live around two major areas like we do, I recommend buying one Baltimore paper and one Washington Post. A lot of times, they have different coupons, or coupons with different values.

Please "Like" The Underground Couponer on Facebook. Don't miss exclusive deals and posts!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

SHHHH.....DON'T SHARE THIS SECRET!

In honor of the blog receiving its 3,000th view, I'm sharing a tip I was going to keep for myself!  Yes, I'm sneaky like that, but I really can't believe that anyone is taking the time to read this blog. And then you've shared it with your friends...unbelievable!  So, here's a real treat.

The most fun thing I do in the couponing world is called Bzz. Here's the link to get you started, then I'll explain.

www.bzzagent.com

When I was a kid, my Mom was part of a group called National Family Opinion. I remember her filling out surveys at the kitchen table, then receiving products in the mail to evaluate. Back then they came in plain black and white boxes so you didn't know what brands they were. Enter the age of the Internet and Bzz!  Go to the website and create an account. Bzz will want to know lots of information about your demographics and buying habits. Under the Surveys tab, you'll let them know all kids of things about products you use. You can answer all the surveys at once, over a period of time, or not at all!

The more surveys you answer, the better the chance you have at being chosen for a "campaign". A campaign  is sponsored by a particular product (I'm doing campaigns right now for Garnier, Glade and Cafe Express). You'll receive an invitation in your email box to join a campaign - make sure to respond right away as they fill up fast!  I received an invitation yesterday at 4:00pm for a Quaker Cookie campaign and by the time I responded a few hours later, it was full. :(

Now the fun begins!!  Your physical mailbox will be a treasure trove - you'll start to stalk the mailman!  OK...maybe not stalk. Bzz will either send you full sized products to use, or send coupons that you take to any store and redeem for free products. Also included will be lots of high value coupons to share with your friends (and I do share, ask Michele and Brenda). Even after sharing Glade coupons, I was still able to stockpile 5 brand new Glade systems for free.

So now what? Well you have to create a buzz!  The better buzzer you are, the more campaigns you'll get, the more free products you'll receive and the mailman will become your best friend!  The website makes it incredibly easy to buzz. They have it all set up, you just press a button. And BTW, they want your honest opinion.

You'll start to develop a Bzz Score - mine is 6.8!  It goes from 0-10. The higher your score, the more campaigns you'll be chosen to do. I had my first campaign within a week of signing up.

Give it a try - we can buzz together!


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Why CVS is my favorite store!

I had so much fun today at CVS! The LaVale store is, by far, my favorite coupon stop. The deals are incredible, stock is almost always there, and the staff is helpful, friendly and very used to couponers!  Shopping at CVS is similar to shopping at Rite Aid (see my older post). But, I've developed a few tips and tricks to make the experience even better.

First of all, sign up for an Extra Rewards Card. It's free and you can't do anything without it!  I checked out today with a full cart for $20.00. The gentleman at the register beside me had two items, no rewards card and his total was $20.00.  It pays to carry the card.

After you have your card, head over to the CVS website and register there. Today alone, I received a $10.00 coupon and a BOGO coupon via email. You can also sign up to receive their Deal of the Day. Today, it was BOGO Gain dishwashing liquid, which was also on sale!

This cute red machine is the CVS shopper's best friend. Also known as the "magic coupon machine", this is your first stop once inside the store. You scan your Extra Bucks card and coupons magically appear!  Here's my super secret tip - don't just scan your card once!  Keep scanning until the screen tells you there are no more coupons to be printed. I've received lots of free items and store cash from this magic machine.

Next, you want to see which items have Extra Care Bucks (ECB's) associated with them. These are like Rite Aid UP rewards with one major difference. ECB's are good right away, while UP rewards aren't good until the next day at 6:00am. Why is that so wonderful?  Because you can split your order into different transactions and use the ECB's from one to pay for the other!  Brilliant!

CVS is also one of the only stores that allows a BOGO coupon on a store BOGO offer. Confused?  Let me explain, because you want to make sure you know this trick. Let's say that CVS is offering Tide as a store special Buy One Get One Free, and you are lucky enough to also have a BOGO coupon for Tide. You would purchase the first one and get the other two free!  Don't try to do this in other stores...it won't work!

Remember talking about stacking coupons?  CVS is one of the best places to stack. You can use a store coupon for an item, a manufacturers coupon on an item, a store transaction coupon (Get $3.00 off a $10.00 order) and pay for it all with ECB's. I get excited just thinking about it!


While you're shopping, make sure to look for these yellow tags. They aren't sale tags (which are bolder and in a different font), they're clearance tags. For example, the Biotene pictured was originally $9.49 but is on clearance for $2.37. But you know that's not the bottom line price - you have a coupon!  I'm able to snag lots of good deals for my stockpile this way.

A few more thoughts about CVS - if an item isn't in stock, make sure to get a raincheck. If the item has ECB's attached to it, your friendly cashier will manually enter them also when you redeem the raincheck.





Sunday, February 17, 2013

How to "Read" Sale Cycles

It's been a slow coupon week so I've been cleaning out my massive binder. I usually keep a separate envelope of expiring coupons so I can use them, but I've just been too busy lately to organize them! As I was sorting, I thought it would make a good post to talk about sales cycles.

There are TONS of coupons expiring at the end of February - more than a normal month. When I look ahead to Sunday coupon inserts, there isn't a big week coming for a while. What does that mean? It means that the sales cycle is about to change.  Different products are on sale at different times of the year, so available coupons will reflect those sales.

When you think of these rotten winter months (can you tell I'm a beach girl) what products do you use?  Soup, hot chocolate, lotion, cold medicine, cough drops, etc. These are also the products which are on sale and have the most coupons. You don't see coupons right now for suntan lotion, but you will!

February is National Hot Breakfast Month, and if you look in today's Martin's flyer, you'll see instant savings on Quaker Oatmeal products. Makes sense, right?

So what does that mean for us coupon queens?  Two words my friends - STOCK UP!  I have a nice little stockpile of soup, about 10 bottles of lotion, Halls cough drops and lots of lip balm. Think about the amount of product you will use in a month, then multiply it by 3. That's the amount of stockpile you should keep if you have good coupons. You don't need a garage full of stuff because the sales cycle will switch again (and again, and again).

If you see me in the stores this week, I'll have my smaller envelope of expiring coupons with me. I just hate to throw them away! I'll try Dollar Tree first and see how much I can get.




Friday, February 15, 2013

This Sunday's Coupons

Kind of a slow coupon week. It's given me a chance to organize and USE my BOGO's and high value coupons. This Sunday, the major newspapers will have one Red Plum insert. That means there will be very few usable coupons in our local paper. Plan accordingly!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Your Secret Saving Weapon.....

Was clipping coupons from yesterday's inserts and found one that made me want to blog!  It was for $3.00 off any 2 Nivea lip care products. My first thought - FREE Valentine's gifts for my daughter and niece!  Then I realized that I haven't told you about my extra, secret couponing weapon - how to shop at the Dollar Tree!

The Dollar Tree started accepting coupons nationally about a year ago, and our local store a few months ago. They will accept at face value (no doubling) any "real" coupon - which they define as non-Internet coupons. One exception - they will take up to 2 Internet coupons in any one transaction. And yes, I have been known to walk into the parking lot, then walk back in and use 2 more Internet coupons! I have no shame when I'm saving.

Our local Dollar Tree requires the patience of a saint to use coupons, but I've found that a good attitude and some kindness toward the cashiers goes a long way.  They have been asked to accept coupons, but have not been given the scanners to make that process easy. So, they have to enter each one manually. Now, when they see me coming with my binder, they will usually direct me to a particular cashier (or a manager) who can help me.

Now back to our Nivea coupon. Dollar Tree has Nivea Strawberry Lip Balm for $1.00. Since the coupon says buy 2, that would make my purchase $2.00. The coupon is for $3.00  - you can't make money at Dollar Tree (you can at other places) but you can walk out with a free purchase.

I've found Dollar Tree to be a true treasure hunt. They are stocking more and more name brands for just $1.00, which means lots and lots of free or close to free products. My rock bottom stock up price for most toiletries is $.50  and I can find lots of toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, body wash, hair products, pens and pencils, etc. for that price with coupons.  Some of my recent scores were Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner for .50 and Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate for free.

In the past, Dollar Stores had the reputation for stocking expired products, but now they are really competing with major retailers. I've purchased soup, tuna, etc. there also.

If you go this week - save some lip balm for me!


Saturday, February 9, 2013

Possibly Free Alexia Potato Product

I love, love, love, the Alexia Sweet Potato Fries, so I was thrilled to find this high value coupon good for $2.50 off any one Alexia item!  They also have waffle and regular fries too.

coupons2.smartsource.com/smartsource/index.jsp?Link=30INTZ2NUWCFI

What I'm Buying Next Week

My pantry and freezer are full and my stockpile is healthy. That means I'll take it easy on shopping next week, unless it's a fabulous deal!  Looking at next week's sale flyers, Rite Aid will be my main stop. Here's what I"ll be buying,

Colgate Max Toothpaste  6oz. $3.50
Buy 1 Receive $3.00 UP reward, Limit 4
Use .50/1 Colgate Toothpaste from Smart Source 2/3. Limit of 4 like coupons.
or .50/1 from Smart Source 2/10. Limit of 4 like coupons.
Pay $3.00. Receive $3.00 UP reward.
Final Price:  FREE

Buy 2 Colgate Max Fresh Toothpaste 4.6oz. $3.50
Buy 1 Receive $3.00 UP reward. Limit 4
Use two .50/1 Colgate Max Fresh coupons Smart Source 1/20.
or .50/1 Colgate Toothpaste from Smart Source 2/3. Limit of 4 like coupons.
or .50/1 from Smart Source 2/10. Limit of 4 like coupons.
Pay $3.00. Receive $3.00 UP reward.
Pay $6.00. Receive $6.00 UP rewards. (2 $3.00 rewards)

General Electric Light Bulbs .99
With in-ad coupon
Use 1.00/1 GE Lighting Products from Smart Source 1/6.
Final Price:  FREE

Buy 2 Sucrets, 18 ct. $1.50 each, when you buy 2
Buy 2 receive $1.00 UP reward, Limit 4
Use two $1.00/1 Sucrets product from sucrets.com
Pay $1.00. Receive $1.00 UP reward.

Buy 1 Tresemme Shampoo $3.50
Buy 1 Tresemme Conditioner $3.50
Buy 2 receive $2.00 UP reward
Use one B1G1 Free Tresemme from Red Plum 1/27.
Pay $3.50. Receive $2.00 UP reward.

General Mills Cereal 10-13oz. $2.88
Buy 1 receive $1.00 UP reward. Limit 2
Use $1.00/1 Cheerios, Honey Nut from pillsbury.com
or $1.00/1 Cheerios, Honey Nut from eatbetteramerica.com
or $1.00//1 Peanut Butter Toast Crunch from pillsbury.com
or $1.00/1 Peanut Butter Toast Crunch from eatbetteramerica.com
Pay $1.88. Receive $1.00 UP reward. Final price $0.88!


Great Arby's Coupon

My Mom reminded me yesterday that Ash Wednesday is next week!  YIKES! How did that happen so fast? Here is a great drive thru deal to snag.  Arby's offers a Reel Big Filet sandwich and a small fry for only $2.99!  It expires on 2/12.

Arby's Coupon

FREE Bath and Body Works Today Only

Are you headed to the mall today? You can score some free stuff at Bath and Body Works. I've included a coupon like for a free full sized product (up to $14.00 in value) when you spend $10.00. That essentially makes it a BOGO!

bathandbodyworks.com/category/index.jsp?categoryid=13357094

Magazine Deals - Available Til Midnight

One of my greatest weaknesses and the thing that makes my grocery bill go way up is my addiction of magazines. I love them - their shiny covers call to me with promises of making me thin and feeding my family delicious, quick meals!  But those suckers are expensive!

Til midnight this evening, Discount Magazines is offering a Valentine's Day Promotion. discountmags.com/promos

Here are some of the deals I found (I did get 3 for myself!)

Prevention                                $4.50 for 12 issues

Good Housekeeping                 $4.99 for 12 issues

Redbook                                  $4.99 for 12 issues

ESPN                                      $4.99 for 26 issues

Reader's Digest                        $3.99/12 issues

Friday, February 8, 2013

"Next Level" Tip! Don't Miss This One!

It's Friday (yay) so I thought I'd give you a super tip to get you through the weekend. This is how to take your couponing to the next level, with VERY little effort!  Are you ready?

It's called savingstar.com!  Go to their website, and register your Martin's Bonuscard, CVS card and Rite Aid Wellness Card. Then go to the list of offers. If you see a product you buy or have a coupon for, just press the I Want It button. This activates the deal in your "account".

Now, how does it work?  That's the beauty of it! It works in the background, tracking purchases from your cards. If it sees a match, Savingstar will deposit that amount of money in your account. It takes one to two weeks for the purchase to clear, but before you know it, you'll have a tidy sum in the account.

When you have at least $5.00, you can receive your money in one of several ways. You can be paid through PayPal, receive an Amazon gift card, or get cold, hard cash right into your bank account! I'm letting mine build up to $50.00!

What makes this a super couponing tip, is that the money is deposited AFTER you use store coupons, and manufacturers coupons at the store. It's the third level of savings. Technically, if you use coupons to get an item for free and there is a Savingstar deal on the same item, you make money!

I also use two Android apps, but they're a little more complicated and I'll talk about them later. If you're an advanced couponer and want to know what they are, Facebook me at The Underground Couponer.


Thursday, February 7, 2013

A Quickie!

Here's a quick tip for tonight....when buying things that have refills (razors and air fresheners come to mind), it's often much cheaper to buy the introductory set instead of refills. Companies seem to have high value coupons for the original set, yet not for the refill.  For example, I have a drawer full of Gillette Fusion Razor systems that I was able to get for no more than $1.00 each. Same for a few different Glade products.

This Sunday's Coupons

Hello couponers!  Sorry if you missed the free Lindor truffles - they went very quickly!  That's one example of "print it if you want it".

In this Sunday's papers (well, in real newspapers) there will be one Red Plum and one Smart Source insert.
Off to do my grocery shopping this morning!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

FREE Lindor Truffles

Run, do not walk, over to the Lindor Facebook page. Like them, then grab a coupon good for $3.00 off any one bag of Lindor Truffles. That will make them totally free at several stores this week. I do love these truffles.......if you don't want them, give me the coupon!!!

Possibly FREE Nature Made Vitamins

There's a possibility that you can score FREE Nature Made Full Strength Mini-Vitamins at CVS. I say possible because I haven't been there yet to check out the price. Here's your deal:

Go to CVS.com. Click on the Extra Care tab then go to Diabetes. There's a coupon for $10.00 off the Nature Made Mini's. Since this is a store coupon, you can pair it with a manufacturers coupon.  There just happens to be a $3.00 Nature Made Mini coupon available at coupons.com!

The CVS coupon doesn't expire until 2/28/13 so you have time. I'm going to go check out the prices, will update you!

My "Cabin Fever" Trip!

Do you ever have one of those days where you MUST get out of the house? I had one yesterday. After the kids left for school (2 hour delay) I was really at loose ends. I thought about a quick trip to the craft store for yarn, but there wasn't much in my wallet!  So, I decided to turn to one of my favorite, low budget treat days - I call it Free Shopping!

I set a budget (yesterday was $25.00) then set out to see what I can score for that amount. I usually pick up lunch while I'm out, and that has to be included in the budget too.  Here's what I did yesterday.

Stop 1:  Rite Aid

Purchased:
1 Reach Total Care Dental Floss                         $1,79
1 Reach Ultra Care Floss                                    $2.99
2 Rice Krispies Cereal                                        $1.97 each
1 Clear Total Care Shampoo                              $4.99
1 Clear Total Care Conditioner                           $4.99
2 Stayfree                                                           $3.00 each
3 Yardley Body Wash                                        $1.67 each

Used:
$10.00 Rite Aid UP rewards
BOGO coupon for Stay Free
BOGO coupon for Clear Shampoo
3 coupons $1.00 off Yardley Body Wash
1 coupon $1.00/2 Reach floss

Total out of pocket:  $8.90
UP Rewards Received:  $12.00
Coupon Received:  $1.00 off your next shopping order

NET:  $4.10 Money Maker

NOTE:  I tried to get the free Keri Lotion, but the store was out of them. I asked for a rain check at checkout and the wonderful cashier gave me two - one for each scent!  Now, I can pick them up at my leisure and I'll get two free instead of one. Don't forget those rainchecks!

Stop #2:  CVS:


Purchased:
1 Speed Stick Deodorant            $1.99
2 Filippo Berio Olive Oil              $3.99 each  (Non-sale price $9.00!)
1 Luster 7 Whitening Toothpaste  $1.82 (75% clearance)

Used:
Speed Stick CVS coupon (Dela of the Day .99)
Coupon for $1.00/1 Speed Stick
2 coupons for $1.00/1 Filippo Berio Olive Oil

Total Out of Pocket:  $4.02

NOTE:  I also received a raincheck at CVS for the Edge Shave Gel. When I redeem it, the raincheck also guarantees that I will receive my Extra Care Bucks on the deal.

Stop #3: Martin's


Purchased:
1 Canister of Powedered Gatorade    $4.29
8 Zatarain's Rice Mixes                      $1.00 each

Used:
$3.00 off your next shopping order coupon
1 coupon .50/1 Zatarain's
2 coupons 1.00/3 Zatarain's

Total Out of Pocket:  $6.55

NOTE:  I was a very bad girl and bought Gatorade without a coupon - for full price!!!  But Brady needed it for wrestling.  For the record, it pained me.


TOTAL OUT OF POCKET:  $19.21
EARNED DOLLARS:  $13.00

NET COST OF MY SHOPPING SPREE:  $6.21










Tuesday, February 5, 2013

General Mills Cereal High Value Coupons

Opened my email this morning to some high value cereal coupons. Always a great find!  Go to Bettycrocker.com and hit the coupons tab. It will ask you to register, so that's up to you. Registering with brands is one way to get unique and high value coupons delivered straight to your inbox!

FREE SPEED STICK TODAY ONLY

Head over to CVS.com and go to the Deal of the Day tab. There's a coupon for Speed Stick deodorant for .99.  Since this is a store coupon,you can pair it with a manufacturer's coupon. And it just so happens that there was one in yesterday's coupons for $1.00/1!!!  FREE.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Martin's Coupon Match Ups 2/3 - 2/9

Dole Salad Blends - BOGO.
   -possible $1.00/1 coupon "blinkie" in the store aisle.

Tyson Grilled Chicken, Breaded Strips, Bites or Fillets, or Tyson Any'Tizers - BOGO
     -use $1.00/1 from Smart Source insert 1/20/13
     -use $1.50/2 from Smart Source insert 1/27/13

Cooked Perfect Meatballs - BOGO
     -use $1.00/1 from Smart Source 1/20/13.

Oscar Mayer Beef Franks - BOGO
     -use $.55/1 from coupons.com

Cheerios - 3/$6.00. Must buy 3.
     -use $1.00/2 from Smart Source insert 1/27/13.
     -total cost $1.66 per box.

Freschetta Naturally Rising Pizza - 2/$7.00
     -use $1.50/2 from Smart Source insert 1/13/13.
     -use $1.00/1 Facebook coupon.
     -as low as $2.75 per pizza.

Healthy Choice Frozen Dinners - 5/$10.00.
     -use $1.00/3 from healthychoice.com

Sea Pak Family Pack Shrimp - $8.99
     -use $.75/1 from coupons.com

Campbells Condensed Soup - 10/$10.00 or $1.00 each
     -use .50/3 from Smart Source insert 2/3/13.
     -as low as .66 each.

La Choy Soy Sauce - $1.79
     -use .50/1 from Smart Source insert 1/27/13
     -as low as .79 each.

RoTel Tomatoes - 10/$10.00 or $1.00 each
     -use .40/2 from Smart Source 1/20/13
     -use $1.00/3 from Smart Source 1/20/13
     -as low as .60 each.

Zatarains Rice - 10/$10.00 or $1.00 each
     -use .50/1 from Red Plum 2/3/13.
     -Final Cost FREE

Speed Stick - 2/$5.00
     -use .50/1 from Smart Source 2/3/13
     -as low as $1.50 each.

Halls Cough Drops - 10/$10.00 or $1.00 each
     -use $1.00/2 from Smart Source 2/3/13.
     -as low as .50 each.

Buy 1 Dove Bar Soap and 1 Dove Body Wash - Get $3.00 off instantly
     -use $1.00/1 Dove bar from Red Plum 1/27/13
     -use $1.00/1 Dove body wash from Red Plum 1/27/13






What is a Coupon Match Up?

Getting ready to post my first Martin's coupon match ups tonight and thought I would take some time to explain what a match up is.  It's actually pretty simple - I take the sales flyer and match it up to available coupons for the products listed in the flyer.  Then I make a list of some of the best deals and post them for you.  In most cases, I"ll even tell you where the coupon can be found.

Here's where it can get tricky and you need to know prices - not all items in the flyer are on sale, and not everything that is on sale is listed in the flyer!  The only way to see everything on sale is to take your coupon binder to the store and look for deals as you shop.

But, a coupon match up goes a long way to getting your list started. I do Martin's because there isn't another source for it, but I go online to find CVS, Rite Aid and WalMart. The sites are all related:

iheartthemart.com

iheartcvs.com

iheartrideaid.com




Sunday, February 3, 2013

Facebook Posts

For those of you who like to know when I update the blog, I've been posting Facebook updates. In order to free up my personal page, I've created a fan page for The Underground Couponer. Please visit that page and Like it. I'll be posting all Facebook updates there.

Watch for Martins coupon match ups coming tomorrow!  Go Ravens!

Friday, February 1, 2013

Are You Ready for the Internet?

It's February 1st - a big day for Internet couponers!  Actually, the first day of any month is a great day for Internet couponing because the major sites resest for the new month. Most online coupons can be printed twice each - if you print in January and they reset, you get two more copies!

Here are some of my favorites:

Coupons.com - the largest and most useful. Coupons change regularly and are for items that I use every week. Each coupon can be printed twice (or if you have more than one computer in the house, twice per computer). The site also has a feature called Savings Club which it will prompt you to join for a fee. Don't do it yet - they offer a promotion a few times a year to join the SC for free. Members get higher value coupons. I joined during a free offer and love it. I've been monitoring this site all day today and there are some fabulous deals posted now!!!!!!!!!

Redplum.com, - most of the same coupons that come in the Sunday insert. If there's one you really like, you can have the paper copies, then print it twice from here.

Smartsource.com - Same as above.

Allyou.com - the online version of the magazine sold exclusively at Wal-Mart. I just picked up the February issue today and it had tons of coupons. It's the only "coupon magazine" that I know about. This website also offers a daily free sample, and samples always arrive at your door bearing coupons!

Now comes the big question - to print or not to print. I'm a printer, but you need to make your own decision. Sometimes coupons have a limited print (10,000 or 20,000) and sometimes they stay up all month. There is no way to predict, so I print!  As a result, I always throw some away which wastes printer ink. I also recommend printing them in color. Some stores won't accept black and white copies. More on that in a minute.

At the risk of sounding like a teacher (hey, I've done that before!) I do have to mention coupon fraud. It's a federal offense, punishable by jail time. Yikes! Ain't nobody got time for that!  Coupon fraud occurs when you photocopy a coupon, try to change the value, try to "get one past the cashier", etc. You must have the intent to commit fraud. That being said, I make coupon mistakes all the time. I just apologize (profusely) to the cashier, make a lame excuse like the cat was sick, and move on.  Believe me, they've all seen coupon fraud, even around here, and know what to look for. As a result of so much fraud being committed, you may also end up with a cashier who will deny a particular Internet coupon because of the way it looks. This is a fight you're not going to win - let it go and be gracious. After all, you're still saving tons on your bill.

All of the major retailers accept Internet coupons - CVS, RiteAid, Martin's, Food Lion, WalMart. Dollar Tree will only accept 2 Internet coupons per transaction and SavALot will not accept them at all.

OK - enough sharing for now. I've got to get back to coupons.com!  Happy hunting!

Thursday, January 31, 2013

How to Shop at Rite Aid

Hope you have a snack, because this could be a long post!  I've had a request to explain UP rewards at Rite Aid, so I'm going to take the opportunity to share my RA secrets with you.  First of all, I try to purchase as many of my groceries, toiletries, cleaning products, etc. as I can at either Rite Aid or CVS. There are lots of reasons.

1.     Prices are often better than grocery stores.
2.     You can earn cash back in the form of UP rewards and Extra Care Bucks
3.     At Rite Aid, you earn points all year for shopping. When you hit different milestones,you qualify for
       10%, 15% or 20% off your purchases for the rest of the year. Easy peasy!
4.     STACKING coupons.
5.     The drug stores have the most liberal coupon policies and the cashiers are the most coupon friendly.

First things first, if you don't have a Rite Aid Wellness card, run to your nearest store and sign up. It's free.  Also go to www.riteaid.com and register your card with the website. You'll start to get email from them that includes exclusive coupons that can be stacked with a mfg. coupon.  Also on the website, there is a link called video values. You watch short videos and get store coupons, again stackable with mfgs. I usually play the videos in the background while I do something else!!  If you like RA on Facebook, you'll also get coupons that aren't available anywhere else.

Next, you'll want to scan the weekly flyer for things that are on sale. Some words to look for are UP rewards, BOGO, BOGO 1/2 off, or 10/10.  These make the best deals. Next, look through your ever growing coupon stash to see if you have matches.  Finally, look through your RA store coupons to see if you can stack.

An UP reward looks like this:

This John Frieda hair care was Buy $10.00 worth of products and get a $3.00 UP reward. Pretty good, but I had coupons that made it better. I bought two of the curl products for $6.99, then had a $2.00 coupon for each one for a total of $4.00 off.  I received a $3.00 up reward. UP's print on your shopping receipt when you check out.
One big difference between Rite Aid and CVS is that CVS extra bucks can be used immediately, while UP rewards can be used starting at 6:00am the next morning.

Some UP rewards are not listed in the flyer. You can find them by just scanning the shelves while you shop. There are also monthly UP rewards that aren't listed. You can find them on the RA website. Here's a money maker I picked up today.

These art supplies were BOGO, so I got two for $1.79. They were also listed as a monthly UP on the website, so I received $2.00 in UP rewards. A moneymaker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another one that you might not notice was for DiGiorno pizza. Because of the Super Bowl, it's on sale everywhere for the same price of $5.00 each. In last Sunday's paper, there was a Buy 2 Get One Free coupon that I used. Rite Aid had these as part of a Super Bowl UP reward, so by purchasing them there instead of Martin's, I got an additional $5.00 back. 3 pizzas for the price of 1!

Now comes the beautiful part!  Once you get the hang of UP rewards, you can roll them (which is how I do so much free shopping). As your coupons increase and your stockpile increases, you obviously don't need as many things. So you use your UP rewards to buy more things that qualify for UP rewards and just roll them forever!

Example:  I earned $13.00 UP rewards on my trip today. Next week, I'll check the flyer for new UP deals, and match them with my coupons. When I check out, I'll use my $13.00 to pay, meaning no money from my wallet. Plus, I'll earn more UP rewards for the next trip.

There is also a great website called iheartriteaid.com.  They do all the coupon match ups for you, but I would recommend practicing yourself first before looking there.

Is your head spinning?  You should be jumping up and down screaming "YES"!!!!!!  Welcome to another level of couponing.

Am I Crazy or are Groceries More Expensive?

Am I crazy, or are food prices rising with every grocery trip?  I didn't know if I was just more conscious of pricing now, or if food really did cost more, so I tried to find out.  I started keeping a "price book" of some of my favorite brands, meats and dairy and guess what - it's not my imagination!

According to the US Department of Agriculture, food prices are expected to rise 3.5% - 5.0% in 2013.  The price increase is mostly due to a 40% jump in the price of corn, soybeans and wheat due to a drought in the Midwest.  The average family of 4 spends roughly $12,000 per year on groceries. If we use the 5% number, that's around $615.00 additional dollars for food this year.

As if that isn't enough - have you seen the change in your paycheck this week? Payroll taxes are increasing for everyone as a result of a credit that was not renewed.

Have I made the case for couponing yet?


Wednesday, January 30, 2013

In Sunday's Paper

Coming up in this Sunday's "real" papers are two inserts. One Smart Source and one Red Plum. Not nearly as many as last week, but I'm still buying.

The Formula for Savings

I'm amazed that the number of readers who took the time to email or FB message me this week. To be honest, I"m amazed that anyone is reading this at all!!!  I can see that you're all quick learners and ready to move on, so fasten your seat belts!

The key to getting the most out of your coupons is to layer them. Remember, it's going to take a month or so to get a good coupon stash. Here's how to layer.

1.     Look at the sale ads for your favorite stores. I recommend starting with one drug store and one grocery
        store.

2.     Using a marker, circle all the BOGO's. UP and ECB rewards or 10/10 sales.

3.     Check your coupon stash for items that match up.

4.     Make a grocery list from what your matches tell you.

5.     If you see a good deal but don't have a coupon, check out a coupon database that will tell you if
       there are any Internet coupons you could print.  More on this later.

6.     Look for any store coupons - you can stack one store coupon and one manufacturers coupon at any
       store.

7.     Pay for your purchases with UP reward or ECB dollars, then keep the new ones you have earned for
       the next time.

Repeat, repeat, repeat until your stockpile allows you to only purchase free items each week. It will happen, I promise!

As a treat for reading this far, there is a great coupon on Redplum.com for $2.00 any bag of Florida grapefruit or 100% grapefruit juice.  Wal Mart has Ocean Spray for $2.48, making it only .48 after the coupon. And you can print the coupon twice!

Monday, January 28, 2013

My Amazing Trip to Rite Aid Today!

I know I'm going overboard on posting today. I'm not updating on Facebook so my non-coupon friends don't get annoyed!  Just stopped at Rite Aid on the way home from a meeting and had a great trip. Everything in the photo below (plus a King sized Reeses Cup that didn't make it) was only $1.65.  And I got back $13.00 in UP rewards - money to spend tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's what I used (most of these are from yesterday - meaning, you too can do this)!

Bought 4 Glade Expressions Starter Kits. 4@$3.99 is $15.96.
     -Used (4) coupons $2.00/1
     -Got back $6.00 in UP rewards.

Bought 2 Pantene (shampoo and conditioner) 2/$7.00.
     -Used $3.00/2 coupon from this Sunday.
     -Got back $2.00 in UP rewards.

Bought 5 Planters Peanuts. 5@$3.00 is $15.00.
     -Used (5) $1.00/1 coupon from this Sunday.
     -Got back $5.00 in UP rewards.

Bought 2 L'Oreal Shampoo and Conditioner 2@$4.49 is $8.98
     -Used (2) $2.00/1 coupon from this Sunday.
     -Used $2.00/1 Rite Aid Video Values coupon.

Bought 1 Aleve for $6.74.
     -Used 1 $2.00/1 coupon.
     -Used 1 $2.00/1 Rite Aid Facebook coupon.

In addition, I had $28.00 in UP rewards on my card from the last trip, making my total out of pocket $1.65.










Free Birds Eye Vegetables

Head over to the Birds Eye Facebook page. Like them then look down their newsfeed. There is a coupon available for $1.00 off any Steamfresh. You can print the coupon twice. These go on sale all the time 10/10 so you'll be able to score two free!

Vocabulary List

In order to coupon, you have to speak the language!!!  Here are some of the terms I'll use to describe deals.

BOGO - buy one get one free.

B2G1F - buy two get one free.

OOP - out of pocket

Magic coupon machine - A big red machine at CVS that gives you great coupons!

Peelie - a coupon attached to something you purchase. You peel it and use it!

Blinkie - the little black boxes you see on store shelves that spit out coupons.

Rock bottom or stock up price - buy as many as you can!

ECB - Extra Care Bucks at CVS

UP - the rewards program at Rite Aid

Stacking - using a manufacturers coupon on top of a store coupon.


Free Keri Lotion

Since I just posted "take it slow and don't panic" this post may seem funny. But head over to Smartsource.com and print a coupon for $2.00 off one Keri Lotion. It will be free at Rite Aid starting Sunday, February 3rd.

It's No Time To Panic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I heard from lots of you yesterday who were overwhelmed by the amount of coupons in the paper. Some of you even clipped and set up binders. DON'T PANIC!!!!!!!!!!  The work you did yesterday, even purchasing papers, is going to pay off in the next few weeks.

Remember my first rule of couponing - there is always another deal waiting. No stress! We are couponing to help our budgets and to stockpile a few things for emergencies. If nothing else, it's a great feeling to squeeze out the last of the ketchup and have a spare waiting in the wings!

But, big results take time. I recently started knitting and I'm frustrated that I'm not making sweaters yet. Same thing here, it will take time to get a good binder of coupons, to know where to find the deals, and to create a stockpile. If you try to do it all at once, you're going to quit.  Focus on a small goal.

A great goal for yesterday's coupons is just to redeem the BOGO's - Buy one get one free. On your regular grocery runs, start checking the prices of the items that you have a BOGO for. If they are on sale (or better yet on clearance; or better still at the Dollar Tree) buy them.

If I can learn to knit, you can learn to coupon!


Sunday, January 27, 2013

Exciting Coupons This Week!

A quick note before I start a busy Sunday. It's going to be a great week for shopping! If you haven't already purchased "real" newspapers today - DO IT!  Just hold onto the coupon sections and we'll talk about them later. Hint - it's a great week for Dollar Tree Shopping and for BOGO's (buy one get one free).

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Organize, Organize, Organize!!!

I've spent the evening playing on the computer and getting ready to coupon. I know, I need to get a life!  In anticipation of the big coupon haul tomorrow, I thought I would show you how I organize things.

This is my coupon binder - the legal way to print money!!!  It goes with me EVERYWHERE! Even if I leave it in the car, I can always run out to grab a deal.

I have a table of contents in the front and each section is numbered. For coupon storage, I use baseball card holders. Sometimes I have to fold coupons, but it's usually no big deal.  My first section is specifically for BOGO deals (buy one get one free).

Believe it or not, there is some controversy over how to store coupons. Some people keep their inserts intact and file them by date. Others, like me, are clippers. I just hate to think of a coupon I need that's stuck in a file at home.

If you're just a beginner, you can use a white envelope, an accordion folder or an empty pencil case. If you follow my tips,you'll quickly outgrow it!

I usually clip and organize on Sundays. If you know me, you know that my Sunday's are full with church, youth group and Confirmation classes. It doesn't take very long and I can do it at the kitchen table while watching football with the family.

It doesn't really matter how to store and organize. Find a system that works for you. Remember, NO STRESS!

My Grocery Store Receipt this Week

To show everyone my coupon "style" I've decided to share this week's grocery shopping with you. Please don't judge the items I've purchased!!  Everyone needs a treat now and then. You'll notice that my total was NOT zero. That's not realistic in my house. I bought meat and 20 frozen dinners for my Mom. This is what I needed to cook meals for the week (I make a mean homemade chocolate pudding).

Total cost before coupons:               $211.70

Cost after coupons:                          $99.59   A 53% savings.

If you're really interested, here is the rundown. I've starred the items I received totally free.

Kosher salt
2 bars Perugina Chocolate
2 bags Cape Cod Chips
Velveeta Mac and Cheese
2 cans Del Monte tomatoes
Wesson canola oil
Sparkle paper towels 6pck
2 bars Dove chocolate
2 cans Progresso Soup
8 32oz bottles Gatorade
3 boxes Zatarains Rice
4 cans Redpack tomatoes
Canada Dry Gingerale (FREE)
2 Duncan Hines Deluxe Cake Mix
4 boxes South Beach Diet bars (ALL FREE)
2lbs bananas
10oz bag kale
2 Perdue Chicken nuggets (1 FREE)
2 Perdue Chicken cutlets (1 FREE)
5lbs ground beef
2 boneless pork roasts (1 FREE)
20 Smart Ones frozen meals
2 Pillsbury ready to bake cookies
2 Mueller yogurt
1 Liberte yogurt
18 eggs
Old Bay seasoning.







Friday, January 25, 2013

Olive Oil Deal

Do you use olive oil as much as I do?  There's a $1.00 coupon right now on coupons.com for Filippo Berio olive oil. You can print it twice. Keep it for next week when it will be on sale at CVS for $3.99. Less the coupon that's $2.99. A great price to stock up!

Martins Deal

I'm going to post my weekly shopping trip later this evening, but wanted to give you a heads up on a free item at Martins. On coupons.com there is a .50 coupon off of any one Zatarain's Rice or Pasta Dinner. I noticed today that these mixes are 10/10.00. When the coupon is doubled, you'll the it for free!  You can print the coupon twice, but Martin's will only double one of them at a time. That means you have to leave the store and walk back in to get 2 free.

A Friday Quickie!!!

Here's a quickie to get your couponing weekend started!  Go to Kohls.com and sign up for email sale updates. Not only will you get info on exclusive sales and discounts, but you'll receive a FREE $5.00 to spend on anything you want!!!!!!  With the clearance racks full right now, you can score something totally free.


Why the Strange Name?

I've had several people ask why I named the blog The Underground Couponer. The answer - I've been couponing for years in secret!  The only people who knew were my family and the cashier who helped me on grocery day. I wasn't embarrassed to be couponing, I knew it was the right thing for our family's budget. I just didn't want to be labeled as "one of those" couponers!

As I started to come out of the clipping closet, I have received a lot of teasing. But I've also been stopped in a store more times than I can count! People want to know what I"m doing and how I'm doing it. There are those who make a snarky comment as they walk away, but most people genuinely want to know how to save money on groceries.

I'm now toting my binder on all shopping trips, not gritting my teeth any longer that I missed a great deal by leaving it in the car. I'm out in the open!!! Make fun of me all you want - bet my grocery bill is lower!


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

It's Coupon Sunday!!!!

Time to head to your nearest Sheetz this Sunday and pick up some big city newspapers!!!  The Cumberland Times-News has terrible coupons, but a short drive this weekend will put you in coupon heaven. It's one of the heaviest coupon weeks of the year. Big papers will have 1 Smart Source, 2 Red Plum and 1 Proctor and Gamble insert each!  When they're this good, I usually buy 2 Baltimore Sun's and 1 Washington Post. Sometimes, I'll even sneak in a Pittsburgh Post. The Sun and the Wash. Post are usually comparable, but Pittsburgh sometimes has some unique coupons.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

I Offer Proof!

Took a little shopping trip this morning to Rite Aid and wanted to share it with you. It demonstrates my simple system and the results that it brings. I didn't have to go today, I just felt like getting out of the house. No stress - remember go at your own pace!

Purchased:
3 Simplify Glass Cleaners
1 Clear Conditioner (hair)
2 Sure Deodorants

Used:
$4.00 Rite Aid Reward loaded to Wellness Card
1 Rite Aid Video Values coupon for a free Clear hair product
Sure deodorant was buy 1 get one free

Paid:
$2.05 out of pocket

Received:
$4.00 UP reward from Sure
$2.00 UP reward from Simplify Glass Cleaner

Almost a $3.00 money maker!  Here are my photos for the record.



Free Sample and Coupon for Purina One Dog Food

OK troops...here's another easy one. Score a free sample of Purina One Dog Food today. Free samples usually come with good coupons but always go quickly. There is also a $3.00 off one bag coupon.  Here's the link:  http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedRenderContent_ektid120297.aspx#/home


Why I Hate Extreme Couponers

Have you ever watched the TLC show "Extreme Couponers"?  I hate that show!!!  As with most reality television, it portrays couponers as selfish hoarders who would throw their grandmother down in the produce aisle to score some free bananas. And what do they end up with?  75 bottles of hot sauce and 100 jars of baby food. Gee, that will feed my family this week!

Real life couponing is much different than reality television. Could I do what those ladies do....yes. Would it help my family....no.  My style of saving is a little different. I strive for a 40-60% yearly savings rate on my groceries and drug store purchases. Last year, Alan estimated that we saved almost $9,000 through my couponing. That's a lot of hot sauce and baby food!

In that savings are things that a normal family needs to survive - laundry detergent, pet food, milk, eggs, bread and meat. I still pay money at the check out, but I have what I need at a decent savings. I have a stockpile too, but it contains lots of tomatoes, pasta, toilet paper, laundry detergent and toothpaste. No use stockpiling it if my family won't eat it.

If this type of savings appeals to you, then follow my blog. If you want more, there are tons of books and websites about extreme couponing. Just Google the subject!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

No Coupons Needed Deal!!!!!!

Here's a great deal to start with - no coupons needed!  Free Sure deodorant at Rite Aid this week. Sure is listed in this week's circular as a Buy One Get One Free Item. It is also part of Rite Aid's monthly UP rewards program. Here's what your transaction would look like.

Buy 1 Sure Deodorant for $3.29.
Get 1 Sure Deodorant for FREE.
Get $2.00 UP reward on your Wellness card.
Total:  FREE plus a .71 cent moneymaker!

You have to have a Rite Aid Wellness card to take advantage of this offer. Don't worry - they're free. Just ask for an application in the store. This deal can only be done once per wellness card.

****I've had a question about this deal. You will actually get 2 UP rewards on your card. That's how it's free.

The Key to Success

I'm always asked for my "tips" and "tricks". Are you ready for the most important one......it's just couponing! No one is going to suffer if you don't get every deal, clip every coupon or pay too much for a bag of chips!!  Start slowly. Do one deal a week (although I"ll be you get hooked and can't stop at one). Or start with clipping this Sunday's coupons and organize them in an envelope.  Decide to save at least $5.00 this week. Just start. And follow my blog, of course!!!

Saturday, January 19, 2013

To Get You Excited.....

I'm going to start very simply, with tips you can actually use in your "real" life!  But, just had to give you a sample of how this works.   On Sunday, Feburary 3rd, Rite Aid will offer a 15oz bottle of Keri Lotion for $5.99.  Hidden in their weekly ad will be a coupon for $5.00 off making the total cost .99. There is a coupon available for $2.00 off any Keri lotion on Smart Source, making it FREE.  http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/2009/05/get-your-smart-source-coupons-here.html


Making Friends in the Dollar Store

My "underground" status is in jeopardy!  I met two wonderful women at Dollar Tree yesterday who noticed the huge, black binder I was carrying. Unlike most people who just stare and make snide comments, these two brave ladies asked me if I was couponing. After a few quick questions, I realized they were really interested!

So, this post is for you Jan and Heidi. We're going to get together for lunch and I'm going to teach you how to coupon. Yesterday was a red letter day for me, and I can't wait to share!