So, I've been getting a ton of questions about my stockpile and my extreme couponing.
First, I wanna say that I am so addicted to couponing that it has become my favorite hobby. I have converted 2 of my favorite people into doing it. I keep getting told I need to teach a class about it. Who knows, maybe I'll do that one day :)
First things, first. You need a way to organize your coupons. If you don't have any organization, you will lose coupons, you will be shuffling through them at the grocery store, it will get frustrating and take the fun out of it. I read once that organizing your coupons will make or break your couponing experience. It's so true. Therefore, I use a binder. I love my binder, and carry it with me everytime I leave the house. You never know when you may need to pop into a store, and see a great sale which could have been BETTER with a coupon you KNOW you had.
Okay, so step one, ORGANIZE.
Aside from my binder, I also use a little bin to keep the coupons I haven't clipped yet.
(Yes, thats an xbox controller holding up my bin... I was desperate.)
So, inside my binder, my coupons are held by baseball card holders (which you can find at Staples, Office Max, etc) and sheet protectors. I also have dividers which I also purchased at Staples, and a table of contents at the start of my binder. (Makes things so much easier for me.)
Step 2, collect, collect, collect!!
One of the most common questions I get is, "Where do you find the coupons?!" My answer: EVERYWHERE! Once you start collecting them, you will notice them everywhere. But, the most common place to find them is in the newspaper.
Now, the trick to Extreme Couponing is getting more than one paper so that you have more than one of each coupon. That is how you stockpile. I mean sure, you could just get one paper and have one coupon for a specific thing. But, if a coupon allows you to get free things, wouldn't you rather have 2 or 3 of the same coupon so you can get 2 or 3 free things?
Step 3, Understand coupon lingo!
When starting out as an extreme couponer, you may feel overwhelmed. Everything seems so confusing. One of the most common mistakes people make is not knowing how to read a coupon.
Limit 1 coupon per purchase. Ok, when I first started, I thought this meant I could only use one "like" coupon per store trip. Wrong. It means you can only use one coupon per item. So, if you have 10 of the same deodorants, and 10 coupons for those deodorants, you can use one coupon per each deodorant. Pretty much, all this is saying is that you can't use 2 identical coupons on one thing, but you can use one coupon PER item. Make sense?
Item 1= this is a purchase; Item 2= this is a purchase; Item 3= this is a purchase; etc... Have them ring them up in individual transactions if they don't get it.
(Know what this means, because when I first started out, I had a Walgreens clerk tell me that Limit one per purchase meant I could only use one coupon per checkout PERIOD because the store was losing so much money due to coupons. I was so glad I had my coupon binder to show him the truth, and to explain that stores do not lose money for the coupons, they actually get face value PLUS .8 cents for handling.)
Limit of 4 like coupons: Ok, recently, some coupons have started putting limits on how many items you can buy in one trip. That just means you can only use 4 of those same coupons per shopping trip. If you have coupons for Gain, Tide, Downy, etc, you can only get 4 of each... 4 Gain, 4 Tides, 4 Downys, etc.
Sunday inserts:
P&G = Procter & Gamble Sunday insertRP = RedPlum Sunday insert
SS = SmartSource Sunday insert
$1/1, $1/2, etc. = One dollar off one item, one dollar off two items, etc.
2/$1, 3/$2, etc. = Two items for one dollar, three items for two dollars, etc.
BOGO or B1G1 = Buy one item get one item free
B2GO or B2G1 = Buy two items get one item free
Blinkies = Grocery/drugstore coupon dispensers with blinking lights
Cat = Catalina coupon, prints from a separate machine when your receipt prints
CRT = Cash register tape, usually used when referring to CVS coupons that print with receipt
ECB, EB, Extra Buck = A CVS coupon that prints at the end of your receipt; usually as a result of buying a certain product, and good for a certain dollar amount off your next purchase or a certain amount off a particular product or products; must have a CVS Extra Care Card
FAR = Free after rebate
IPQ = Internet printable coupon
IVC = Instant Value Coupon, Walgreens’ store coupons found in ads and Walgreen’s coupon book
MFR = Manufacturer
MIR = Mail-in rebate
OYNO = On your next order
OOP = Out of pocket (the amount you pay out of pocket at the time)
Peelie = Peel-off coupon found on product packaging
PSA = Prices starting at
Register Reward, RR = Walgreens Catalina coupons that work like cash on your next purchase, or coupons for a certain amount off a particular product or products.
SCR = Single Check Rebate, Rite Aid monthly rebates program
UPC = Universal Product Code, bar code on a product
+UP Rewards = A promotion at Rite Aid. +Up Rewards print at the register and are triggered by items that you purchase. They are coupons to use on future purchases.
WAGS = Walgreens
WYB = When you buy
My 2 favorite places to shop are Walgreens and CVS due to their Register Rewards/Extra Bucks.
Before I became all coupon savvy, I would usually throw my receipts away or stash them somewhere and never look at them again. Now, I treat them like cash! A CVS extra buck prints out on the bottom of your receipt. It looks like this:
That particular EB is $5 off your next purchase of most anything in the store. (There are a few restrictions, so be sure to look at the print at the bottom. The restrictions are mostly for alcohol, lottery, tobacco and things like that)
I always look for things at CVS that will earn me Extra Bucks. I do 3 or 4 small transactions to "roll" my Extra Bucks that way I pay the least amount out of pocket at each trip.
Example:
Yesterday, I went to CVS. They had a promotion going that stated if you bout $30 worth of "certain items," you would earn $10 in EB. The $30 in items was BEFORE coupons. So, here was my transaction:
2 packs of Sparkle paper towels 8 ct $5 a piece
2 packs of Angel Soft toilet paper 12 ct, $5 a piece
Lysol Spray, 2 for $5
Mars minature Candy bar packs, 8 candies each pack- 5 for $5
Which totaled $30 before coupons.
But, I had two $1 off coupons for Sparkle paper towels
two $1 off coupons for Angel Soft,
And 1 coupon for the lysol sray- $1 off two.
So, that took my total to $25. (Keep in mind, I am STILL getting the $10 EB because I reached $30)
But, I had $12 in EB from my last shopping trip.
So, my grand total for transaction one was $13.
After I paid, they handed me my $10 EB. (So technically, my total was only 3 bucks.)
So, then, with the $10 EB, I paid for my second transaction:
3 boxes of cereal, sale price was 3 for $10, but I had coupons making it 3 for $7. BUT, if you bought this cereal, it earned you $4 in EB. So, technically, I got 3 boxes of cereal for 3 dollars. And, I also bought the CVS brand double-pack peroxide which was on sale for $2, but earned $1 EB AND mouthwash that was on sale for $1 after my coupon which also earned you $1 EB.
Total $10, which I paid for with the $10 EB from my first transaction. AND, I received $6 in Extra bucks, which I used to pay for my next transaction.
Anyway, by the time I was finished "rolling" my transactions, I had $135 worth of product for $13 bucks out of pocket. Amazing right?
You can do the same thing at Walgreens, but they don't print out on the bottom of your receipts. They actually print out of a Catalina machine. They look like this:
The only thing about Walgreens that is different, is that you have to have the same number of items as coupons. (and the catalina register rewards are considered coupons.) So, you may need to get some "filler" items so that you can use all of your rewards and coupons. I like to get my filler items on the clearance rack, or by getting little pieces of candy (which are about .35 cents a piece) so that I still save big! Plus, I get a yummy treat. teehee.
Last step, match your coupons with sales and promotions.
This is why my binder is my best friend. I go through the sales papers and match the coupons I have to the items on sale. This is another extreme trick. Lots of people try to use coupons just because they have them. Then you realize the generic version was still cheaper. Waste of time and money. The key is to wait till the item goes on sale or the store does a special promotion. My favorite thing to wait for is "Buy one get one free" sales. Not only do you get an item free, but you also get to use TWO coupons for the item you are paying for! The "free" one still has to be rung up at the register, therefore you can attach a coupon to it.. even if its free. This is how I managed to stock up on my laundry detergents..
On that note, let me just add, you will not use all your coupons. Ever. Most of your coupons will expire before you use them. But thats ok. I learned that an average couponer throws away about 3/4 of their coupons. Thats really true, and believe me when I say that throwing away my coupons feels like a death. It's the worst feeling ever. I thought about having mini funerals for all of them. I was devestated. But, I also learned that usually after they expire, within the next few weeks, you will see that same coupon again.
One thing that really sucks about Temple, TX is that none of our stores allow you to "double" coupon. What that means, is that up to a certain dollar amount, a store will double the savings for your coupon. If you have a .50cent off coupon, they will automatically make it $1.00. Freakin amazing. I wish we had that here. But, for those of you fortunate enough to have a store that doubles, let me say I am totally jealous.
Also, another important tidbit. Know your stores coupon policy.
I printed out copies of all the stores I visit and placed them in my binder. It's good to know them, and alot of times you can "school" know it all cashiers by pulling out the policy and showing them. Plus, there are stores, like HEB, that will not let you use certain coupons, and will not let you stack a manufacturer coupon with an HEB coupon. It's kind of complicated, so check it out if you are a regular HEB shopper.
***Coupon Policies for the stores I shop: HEB, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Brookshire Brothers, Target
A little about stacking coupons.... Stacking coupons means you use a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon. For example, Target has online coupons you can print off from their website. You can use the Target print off coupon with a coupon you cut out of the paper for the same item. Double savings. Pretty nifty huh?
Another great trick is to get a store loyalty card. Temple doesn't really have stores that offer this, but I wish we did! Stores like Kroger and Food Lion have them. The only "card" I have is my CVS Extra Care card, which is also another MUST!! You can sign up for that for free online or at your local CVS. The thing I love most about my CVS card is that it keeps up with all your savings for the year. I love watching that number grow! Plus, you get amazing deals with it.
