Couponing 101

Couponing 101

   3:08 PM       Cassie

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Ok, a few people have asked lately about my couponing.  Trust me, I am NO expert!  There were plenty of times I was in the store all excited to save money and use my coupons only to find out I saved $3.  Ugh.  So when I say I saved $30 or so now a days, it has come with much trial and error.  It really all comes down to just being a smart shopper.  I look at everything very carefully.  No, no I don't spend 10 minutes deciding on which item to buy, but I just use common sense.  Like last night for instance, I needed to get diapers for Stella.  I was in the diaper aisle looking at the boxes.  I see Size 4 Pampers Sensitive 52 count for $19.79, and I see Size 4 Pampers Cruisers 64 count for $19.79 also.  HELLO!  Buy the Cruisers.  More for your money.  Same thing with wipes.  We always buy the bag of wipes to send to daycare.  I was looking at them and found Huggies Gentle Wipes for $5.99 that had 184 wipes in them and then the Huggies Natural Care wipes that had 216 wipes for $5.99 also.  Hello again, more wipes, same price!

So I am going to try my best to break down a few things for you and help you with a few tips.

First off, start them young (just kidding).
Stella LOVES helping Mommy clip coupons on Sundays.  Even if we do it on the kitchen floor and she rips the pages before I get to them. 
Trust me, the stores take taped ones.

Look she is even showing Beary the good deals!  Ahh, I taught her well.

 

• Use a couple different sources.  I LOVE http://www.hip2save.com/.  This lady knows her stuff and she really breaks it down for you and gives you the links right up to where the coupon is.  Also, go to http://www.target.com/ and at the bottom of the page there is a link for coupons.  Check the ones you want, print and presto, savings at your fingertips!  And don't forget the ever so handy Sunday coupons that come with the paper, ALWAYS worth the look.  (Please share if you have any other secret couponing sources.)

• Check out the weekly ads.  You gota see what's on sale and what you can use your coupons on!

• Don't be afraid to be a coupon hoarder.  Trust me, there are weeks when my coupon stash looks like this:

Yes it won't even shut and coupons are everywhere.  But when you have a good coupon you need to hang on to it until the sale is just right!  Just wrap a rubber band around it and pray your purse doesn't fall over and coupons go everywhere.

• Say bye bye to Wal-Mart.  Ugh.  They are over priced, no joke!  I guarantee you that most things are a quarter if not a dollar more at Wal-Mart than they are at Target.  No joke.  It's horrible.  Yes, I know it's close and you just need to get one thing.  Yeah one over priced thing that you will kick yourself for buying when you see it at Target on sale the next day.

• Learn how some stores work.  I have been shopping at Target for years and just a few months ago I learned that you can stack coupons at Target.  So if you have a regular coupon and a Target coupon both for the same thing, use those babies together and get more money off!  Here are a few examples:

So I can use these coupons together on the same product for a total savings of $1.75 - sweet!

Let's see what I can get.  Oh how about some Johnson and Johnson No More Tangles Shampoo

Using my two coupons I will get this baby for $1.25 (plus tax).  I don't mind if I do!

I can't remember the last time I bought diapers or wipes WITHOUT using a coupon.  Diaper coupons are ALWAYS out there.

So the Target coupon says $2 off the purchase of both diapers AND wipes.  So therefore I can pair a diaper AND wipe coupon with this, right?!!?  Well, the Target checkout person has never told me otherwise so that's what I have been doing.  So my total savings would be $4!!  Usually the small package container, like in the green baggie, has MORE wipes than the plastic containers.  Have you ever checked that out?!  You should.  And usually the baggie thing is cheaper than the plastic containers.  I think it's usually around $1.75.  So basically you are getting your wipes for 75 cents, using the regular wipe coupon, plus another $1 off because of the Target coupon.  So you are getting you wipes for free plus throwing 25 cents towards your diapers, so you can save $2.25 on your diapers.  Free wipes and getting diapers for around $16, heck yeah!

Sometimes the little 50 cent off coupons are a drag to mess with.  You think, ugh, what is 50 cents.  I thought that yesterday when I printed this baby off.

Target brand bread - it's really good actually, you should try it.  Super soft!  So I thought ok, the bread is going to be like $2, I might as well pay for $2 bread.  No biggie.  Well, good thing I held on to this baby.  When I got to the store, this bread was on sale for $1.14, using my coupon, I got a loaf of bread for 64 cents!  When was the last time you bought bread for that cheap?!!?  Awesome huh!?  See it pays to check the online coupons!!

Oh and let's see what else I saved on last night....

  I got a box of Kleenex for 47 cents!!

See there's my 64 cent bread, and I got coffee for $7.99!!

$1 for Colgate Toothpaste - like the big tube!!

So the little coupons do add up.  It's always nice to see this at the end of your receipt:

A dollar here and there, or even 40 cents helps.  Remember a little goes a long way.  I know walking through the store with your list in one hand and 24683298 coupons in the other you may feel like a huge dork, but you are a huge MONEY SAVING dork!  Let those people who are paying full price laugh at you.

Overall I saved ---------> $28.28!  Awesome.

• Try your best to stick to your list and only buy what you have coupons for, because it sucks paying full price for stuff.

• Try stockpiling.  Stock what?!!?  Yes, trust me, your husband will think you are a crazy person when you come home with 3 things of Tide laundry detergent.  But when you tell him you only paid $6.99 for each one, he will be happy!  Currently we have 4 things of laundry detergent at our house.  I had tons of Tide Coupons both Target and regular ones, which saved me $3 on each one, and when Tide goes on sale for $9.99 you gota get it while the getting's good.  Because could you imagine paying the full price of $10.99 for Tide!!?  Ugh, not this girl!

 Well, I hope I have helped you a bit.  I woud invite you along to go shopping with me, but well, I'm usually on a mission and it's usually way late at night because we need something for the next day and I have to go.  And I probably haven't showered in a few days.  Baha.  We will be organized someday, I hope. 

Happy Couponing!!