I know that Monday is typically “coupon roundup” day, but I received a couple of emails this past week asking me how to coupon {from someone other than my mom, crazy!}. Although I will still do a couponing roundup post this week {probably tomorrow}, I did want to hit on a few couponing tips, for everyone, in a separate post.
To start, couponing really is different for each and every person. You need to find what works for you, your family, and your schedule. That is why I cannot simply write a post titled “How to Coupon” and consider it all-inclusive.
To start, make sure to read about my typical week {when it comes to couponing} in the post where I confess my coupon craziness. This will give you a good sense as to what I do each week.
But, if I had to give someone my top 10 “tricks” to couponing, I would have to say the following:
1. Do not forget about the gas station
I am a big fan of Kwik Trip. Why? They have great pricing on “staple” items. I buy all of my milk, bread, and butter at Kwik Trip. KT not only has the lowest priced milk in my area, they also have a loyalty program that rewards you after a certain number of gallons are purchased.
2. Open junk mail and your credit card statements
Although I really do dislike junk mail because of the waste that it creates, I do still open up the envelopes to take a peek inside. More than once, junk mail has included coupons alongside the promotional piece {for another company’s product, which I still do not get}. Most recently, I was able to score 1 lb. of onions for free!
3. Try and find out when the store receives new inventory each week
If there is a really good deal on a product, chances are the inventory a store has on hand {when the promotion starts} will sell out fast. However, if you know that a truck will arrive at the store in three days, with new inventory, you then know you should probably just stop in on that day to pick up the products. To find out, it is as simple as asking the cashier during checkout.
4. Let others do the work for you {because they are already doing it!}
I rely heavily on three websites when I create my shopping list each week:
The lovely ladies behind these blogs lay things out for me each week. The Krazy Coupon Lady, for instance, does a post each week titled “Shop for Free”…she gives you a list, by store, of things you can purchase for free with coupons. She even provides you with where you can get the coupons themselves!
5. Create a week-at-a-glance calendar
I have a simple list in Word for each day of the week. It reminds me of ad cycles, double coupon days, etc. You could easily set something up on your phone as well. My list looks something like this:
Monday – Check on Menard’s Freebies
Tuesday – Check out couponing websites for any updated deals
Wednesday – Double Coupon day at Pick ‘n Save
Thursday – New sales cycle starts {new ad} at Pick ‘n Save
etc., etc., etc.
6. Let BOGO {Buy One, Get One} sales be your best friend
Some stores {not all, so do make sure to check the store’s coupon policy first} will allow you to use two coupons, one for each item, in a BOGO sale. So even though you are getting one of the items for free with the store’s sale, you still get to reduce your total shopping cost with a coupon associated with that item. I love when I see BOGO sales at Walgreen’s!
7. Request free samples
Again, I fully utilize the couponing websites above to find free sample requests. Usually, the bloggers behind the above websites will make a “Freebie Roundup” post. They simply list links to all of the different samples that you can request, for free. Not only are you going to get a sample of the product, 99% of the time they arrive with high value coupons that you can use when the full size product goes on sale.
8. See if your favorite stores offer mobile coupons or texts
Target {and soon Walgreen’s} now offers coupons that you receive to your mobile phone. With Target, you receive a text each week with a link to the coupons. You can only use these coupons with your mobile phone. All you have to do is show your phone to the cashier and they scan the UPC barcode that came with the text message. I have found these coupons to be of higher value than what you would normally find in print.
You can sign up for Target’s mobile coupons here:
http://sites.target.com/site/en/spot/mobile_coupon_signup.jsp
9. If you do not already have a coupon for a product you plan on purchasing, check out their website
Just recently I needed to buy some chocolate chips. I did not already have a coupon, and there wasn’t a coupon available with my coupon print network.
{side note, you can always find, and print coupons, right here on West Street Story by visiting my “Print Coupons” page}
Since there weren’t any printable coupons for chocolate chips here on my website, I simply visited Nestle.com and was able to find a coupon. If I am going to buy them anyways, why not save a bit of money?
10. Learn some of the couponing lingo widely used around the web
This is one thing I struggled with when I first started. I just didn’t understand what some of the couponing websites were referring to! Here is a handy list:
- B1G1 = Buy one product and get one free {also called BOGO}
- exp = expiration date of the coupon
- MIR = Mail in rebate
- OOP = Out of pocket cost {meaning what you would pay after coupons}
- SS = Smart Source insert *The dates with abbreviations is the date it was in the Sunday paper.
- RP = Red Plum insert *The dates with abbreviations is the date it was in the Sunday paper.
- P&G = Proctor and Gamble insert *The dates with abbreviations is the date it was in the Sunday paper.
- ECB = Extra Care Bucks at CVS
- RR = Register Rewards at Walgreens
- SCR = Single Check Rebate at Rite Aid
- WYB = When you buy
If you ever have any specific couponing questions, from something you see here on West Street Story, do not hesitate to send me an email {weststreetstory@gmail.com}. I will be happy to answer your question as best I can!
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