More Basic Beginners Info

Today I thought I'd post a little more on some of the basics of couponing now that we've gotten an idea of where to get them and how to file all the ones you are scooping up.

So, you're ready for the next step..where to shop? Just anywhere? Drug store, grocery store?

First, look at the stores in your area.

Make a list. Once you learn how to work the system, you may find yourself shopping at stores that you thought were “too expensive”, because they actually have better deals in the long run! This is true with my local grocery stores, Albertsons and Vons. I don't step foot in there usually because of their high prices, but when there is a good deal to stack with my coupons, I'm there!

Find out about their coupon policies. Ask at the customer service desk or call and ask for a Manager. Policies vary by store. Some stores that you thought do not take coupons actually do! Did you know that Dollar General takes coupons?

Here are some of the ways that some stores treat coupons:

• Double Coupons: The stores will double the face value of the coupon, meaning that your coupon is worth twice the face value. The best kind of grocery stores double coupons up to $1.00. Many other stores double coupons up to $.50 or $.60, etc. Some stores also have a limit as to how many of the same coupon they will double.
• No Doubles: Your coupons will be accepted at face value only. When a person says they are in the "Land of no doubles", like me :(, this is what they mean...there are no stores around that double.
  
• Triple Coupons: This is very rare (and getting more rare as the economy gets worse) ,comes as a promotion in certain areas. The store will triple the value of your coupon up to a certain value. In this instance, a $.50 coupon would be worth $1.50!
• Some stores will allow you to ‘stack’ their store coupons with your manufacturer coupons for even greater savings! Some of them are: CVS, Walgreen’s, Rite-Aid, Eckerd, Toys-R-Us, Target and some grocery stores. These store coupons can come from home mailers (go to their websites and get on the mailing lists!), store ads, flyers and the stores’ monthly magazines. So keep an eye out!
  
• If the store has a loyalty card, get one. Or two. This is often the only way that you will get the sale prices.
• A very few stores-- mostly in the Midwest-- will take coupons that have already expired. The dates vary from 3 months to 6 months past the expiration date.
  
• Certain stores will accept competitor's coupons for everything from FREE gift cards with a prescription to the catalinas that print after the order.

Very important...........call or visit the Service Desk of the stores you've narrowed down in your area and ask:

1. Does your store double coupons?
2. What is the maximum value that you will double?
3. How many ‘like’ coupons will double?
4. Do you ever have triple coupon promotions?
5. Do you take Internet printed coupons? (This is a big one. Many stores no longer take them.)This post was taken from hotcouponworld.com
6. Can I combine store coupons with manufacturer coupons?
7. Does this store take expired coupons post was taken from hotcouponworld.com
8. Do you accept competitor coupons?

You'll need to get the weekly ads for all of your stores!

These are usually delivered in your home newspaper. If they are not or you don't get a paper, you can view them online at the store’s website. On my blog, most of the pages that are store specific will have a clickable ad that will take you to the area of that stores' website where you can view the ad in your area. Easy!

Your goal is to match the weekly sales from the ads with the coupons in your possession. You will spend less money AND TIME if you have a plan. Don't buy everything you need at one store just because it is convenient for you. The store across the street might have other things from your list on sale. To coupon effectively you'll need to be flexible in the stores you visit and be willing to go to 'more than once place' for your goods.

NOTE: brand loyalty goes out the window for serious couponers! Buy what is on sale!

The previews for ads in individual stores are also frequently posted at HCW. Make sure that you read the ads yourself, though, because a hot deal for one person might not be hot for you! And, once in a while I find that their ad that was posted is slightly different than mine. So once you get going, make sure and visit the stores website or collect your ad and double check for yourself.

NOTE: If a store has something on sale: # for $xx, you are not obligated to buy the full number to get the sale price… unless the ad says so! Something that is 10/$10.00 is actually “each item is $1”.

Also, these # for $xx sales are not always the best deal. Sometimes they even increase the price for this type of sale. EX: a can of tomatoes is on sale at 5/$5.00. But since you are now so price-savvy, you know that the regular, everyday price of the item is only $.89! You know to pass on this 'sale'!

Example

Finesse shampoo or conditioner is on sale at 2/$5.00= $2.50. You have a $1 off 1 coupon, and your store doubles dollars! $2.50- $2.00= $.50. That is a good deal for something that usually costs $3.49!

Hamburger Helper is on sale for 10/10.00. You have a $.50/1 coupon. You store doubles that coupon, making the item FREE!

Tomorrow we will discuss Stockpiling in depth. This was a new notion to me when I got heavy into couponing and it was hard to adjust to at first, but I quickly got the hang of it and the value of stockpiling became very obvious very quickly.

Here is a small preview of tomorrow's discussion:

Stockpiling!

Once you have found that great deal, you need to buy a lot of it. Not just 1 for now and 1 to have on hand for later, but 10 or 20 or more, depending on the coupons you have. This is the logic behind all of those coupons that you obtained from everyone you know!

This is only a sensible idea if you have room to store it, and the item is non-perishable. From experience I can tell you....you have more room than you think you do! If you have questions about expiration dates or what you might be able to freeze, check here: Stockpile Expiration Dates and What You Can and Can't Freeze. You know what your family needs, but everyone needs toilet paper, toothpaste and deodorant!

Hard-core couponers have on hand a one or two year supply of things like toothpaste, toothbrushes, body wash or soap, and cleaning supplies. When you use one of them, you can just go to wherever you store your stockpile for another. You have purchased these items at the price you wanted to pay, not the price the store wanted you to pay! Free or nearly free is better than full price any day! Once you get better at this, you will see the maximum amount that you are willing to pay will drop!

Also, there is no reason to start stockpiling flat out, no-holds-barred. Start out slowly if you're on a budget. You can allot $20 each month for the first few months to building your stockpile and slowly increase the amount as you become more coupon-proficient.

Check in tomorrow for a much more in depth discussion of Stockpiling, all the WHYS and HOWS?! :)!