Quick Couponing 101

Getting Started Get organized! Get an accordion file folder or zippered binder with baseball card holders and tabbed dividers. Get organized! Get an accordion file folder or zippered binder with baseball card holders and tabbed dividers. Make time to regularly weed out expired coupons. Make time to regularly weed out expired coupons. Create a system that works for you. (Separate by aisle, shopping order, brand, etc.) Create a system that works for you. (Separate by aisle, shopping order, brand, etc.) Network with other couponers to find out their best practices, pitfalls to avoid and to arrange coupon swaps. Network with other couponers to find out their best practices, pitfalls to avoid and to arrange coupon swaps.

Finding Coupons Sunday paper (sundaycouponpreview.com) Sunday paper (sundaycouponpreview.com) Weekly free papers thrown by The Clarion-Ledger ( Hinds Ledger, Rankin Ledger, Madison County Herald ) Weekly free papers thrown by The Clarion-Ledger ( Hinds Ledger, Rankin Ledger, Madison County Herald ) Clipping services ( is my favorite) … find services on the West Coast to get higher-value coupons Clipping services ( is my favorite) … find services on the West Coast to get higher-value couponswww.thecouponmaster.com Online (coupons.com, btfe.com, lozo.com, grocerycouponcart.com, couponsurfer.com) Online (coupons.com, btfe.com, lozo.com, grocerycouponcart.com, couponsurfer.com) Entertainment Book Entertainment Book

Finding Coupons Magazines ( All You, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents, etc.) Magazines ( All You, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents, etc.) Blogs (iheartkroger.com, iheartcvs.com, thekrazycouponlady.com, bargainbriana.com) Blogs (iheartkroger.com, iheartcvs.com, thekrazycouponlady.com, bargainbriana.com) Product packaging Product packaging Ebay Ebay Catalinas (printouts you get at the register when checking out) Catalinas (printouts you get at the register when checking out) Store loyalty coupons (mailed to your home) Store loyalty coupons (mailed to your home)

Tips- Kroger Kroger doubles coupons up to 60 cents. If you have a 60-cent coupon, it’s worth $1.20 at Kroger. Kroger doubles coupons up to 60 cents. If you have a 60-cent coupon, it’s worth $1.20 at Kroger. Weekly sale flyer comes out on Wednesday. Weekly sale flyer comes out on Wednesday. Check Georgia Kroger sale fliers on Sunday; what goes on sale Sunday in Georgia will be on sale here the following Wednesday. Check Georgia Kroger sale fliers on Sunday; what goes on sale Sunday in Georgia will be on sale here the following Wednesday. Scout out the store beforehand to find unpublished sale items. Scout out the store beforehand to find unpublished sale items. Store coupons and e-coupons loaded to your card do not double. Try to first find a paper coupon. Store coupons and e-coupons loaded to your card do not double. Try to first find a paper coupon.

Tips - Kroger Look for “cart buster” deals, 10/$10 specials, “Buy 4, Save $4” type sales. Look for “cart buster” deals, 10/$10 specials, “Buy 4, Save $4” type sales. Use coupon on top of sale price to get the biggest savings. Use coupon on top of sale price to get the biggest savings. KNOW THE STORE POLICY BEFORE YOU GO. Kroger now limits use of coupons printed from Web sites and the number of identical coupons-per- transaction you can use. KNOW THE STORE POLICY BEFORE YOU GO. Kroger now limits use of coupons printed from Web sites and the number of identical coupons-per- transaction you can use.

Tips - Kroger Tell people behind you line that you have coupons and it may take a while. Tell people behind you line that you have coupons and it may take a while. Always be courteous to managers. They will get ugly with you if they think you’re trying to cheat them or “beat the system” in some way. Always be courteous to managers. They will get ugly with you if they think you’re trying to cheat them or “beat the system” in some way. If you have a bad experience, report it on the survey on your receipt. If you have a bad experience, report it on the survey on your receipt. Never completely clear a shelf. This is not fair to other shoppers. Never completely clear a shelf. This is not fair to other shoppers.

Tips - Kroger The 15-item-or-less checkout does not have a catalina machine. The 15-item-or-less checkout does not have a catalina machine. Don’t check out at the self-checkout lane. This takes too long and creates problems for the Kroger employees. Don’t check out at the self-checkout lane. This takes too long and creates problems for the Kroger employees. Don’t take more than two of the same coupon from the print-out machines on aisles. Don’t take more than two of the same coupon from the print-out machines on aisles. You get fuel points on the amount after scanning your Kroger card but before coupons. You get fuel points on the amount after scanning your Kroger card but before coupons.

Tips - CVS You cannot fully appreciate CVS without this Web site. You cannot fully appreciate CVS without this Web site. Look for products that offer Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) after purchase. This is FREE MONEY you can use on your next transaction. Look for products that offer Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) after purchase. This is FREE MONEY you can use on your next transaction. Combine ECBs, coupons and “Buy $30 get $10” promotions to get items free. Combine ECBs, coupons and “Buy $30 get $10” promotions to get items free. Southernsavers.com has shopping lists including available coupons, ordered in a way to show maximum savings. Southernsavers.com has shopping lists including available coupons, ordered in a way to show maximum savings.

Other Stores Wal-Mart does not double coupons. I don’t shop there for this reason. Wal-Mart does not double coupons. I don’t shop there for this reason. Walgreens is tricky. You must use store and manufacturers coupons in a specific order for them to count. I very rarely coupon shop at Walgreens. Walgreens is tricky. You must use store and manufacturers coupons in a specific order for them to count. I very rarely coupon shop at Walgreens. Fred’s doubles coupons up to 70 cents on Saturdays. It’s a great place to get FREE cleaning supplies, dental and hygiene items. Fred’s doubles coupons up to 70 cents on Saturdays. It’s a great place to get FREE cleaning supplies, dental and hygiene items. Super D does not double coupons, but you can get toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc. at great prices with coupons. Super D does not double coupons, but you can get toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc. at great prices with coupons.

Stockpiling It is OK to stockpile. It is OK to stockpile. Items usually go on sale once every two-three months. You want enough to last you until the next sale cycle. Otherwise, you’ll pay full price for it when you run out. Items usually go on sale once every two-three months. You want enough to last you until the next sale cycle. Otherwise, you’ll pay full price for it when you run out. If you can get something for free or very cheap, get a lot of it — you can always give to charity or to family members and neighbors. If you can get something for free or very cheap, get a lot of it — you can always give to charity or to family members and neighbors. You’ll need a deep-freeze and/or additional fridge to stockpile frozen or refrigerated items. You’ll need a deep-freeze and/or additional fridge to stockpile frozen or refrigerated items.

FYI ALWAYS read the fine print on coupons. Look for transaction limits, purchase restrictions and expiration dates. ALWAYS read the fine print on coupons. Look for transaction limits, purchase restrictions and expiration dates. Rain Checks – if a store is out of an item you can ask for a rain check to purchase the item later at the sale price. Rain Checks – if a store is out of an item you can ask for a rain check to purchase the item later at the sale price. Pay attention during checkout - watch for pricing errors and make sure all your coupons ring up. Pay attention during checkout - watch for pricing errors and make sure all your coupons ring up. Look for smaller sizes to get the biggest savings. Look for smaller sizes to get the biggest savings. If you want more than 15 of an item, order in advance from the store. If you want more than 15 of an item, order in advance from the store.

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