Couponing 101 - Introduction

Do you ever wonder why people bother using coupons?

Does coupon lingo confuse you?

Do you look at the collection of coupon inserts in the paper and wonder if maybe there is something to that after all?

If so, you might just be in luck!

I have picked up a lot of new readers over the past few weeks who are novices to the wonders of couponing. Since using coupons to get the best deals is a large part of my frugal lifestyle, I have decided to post a “course” on how to go from a coupon newbie to a coupon queen in ten easy steps. I will post a new “lesson” each Monday that will incorporate the bargains found in the Sunday paper from the day before.

To prepare for saving hundreds of dollars on the things you buy every day:

1. You will need the following items:

• A box or drawer to store your materials in
• A marker or pen
• A notebook
• Something to store your coupons in (e.g. index card box, envelopes, wallet-sized accordion file, etc.)
• A calculator
• At least one Sunday newspaper each and every Sunday (or at least the coupon inserts and sales fliers)
  

2. You need to commit to:

• Reading this blog at least once a week (preferably on Monday morning) to find out what you need to do that week.
• Going to Walgreens, CVS, and/or Rite-Aid every week to get your free and almost free items.
  

Get ready, and then check back here Monday morning, August 31st, for Lesson 1 in Couponing 101. I guarantee it will change your budget!

Mars Real Chocolate Relief (aka Free Candy Fridays)

Visit RealChocolate.com between 9 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. every Friday through September to get a coupon for a free candy bar. 250,000 coupons will be given out each week and are redeemable for any full size Mars chocolate product, including M&M's, Snickers, Dove Chocolate, Twix, Milky Way, and 3 Musketeers. Limit ONE free chocolate bar per address, per week. Your coupon will arrive by mail in 4-6 weeks.

Get My Recommended Special Offers...The Easy Way!

In my almost daily quest for freebies, great deals, and blog material, I am frequently asked for email addresses of friends who might also like to receive the special offer.

If you would like to receive email informing you of my recommended promotions, without having to do any of the work, send me an email to let me know. I will be happy to include you in on any great give-aways that I find.

Free EasyBakeware Pan

You know I like my freebies, and here's one I just could not pass up - a FREE easy bakeware pan of my choice. I am getting the cookie sheet liner ($15.95 value) for just the cost of shipping. They also gave me shipping options, including $1 shipping if I agreed to a 7-day trial to Matters 1-2-3 credit monitoring service. As long as I cancel within 7 days I won't be charged any additional fees.

The only question now is do I keep the cookie sheet liner for myself or save it for a Christmas gift for my mother? Hmmm....

Super Couponer In The News

A friend of mine was kind enough to forward the following link about Kathy Spencer, a mom from Boston who feeds her family of six on an average of $4 a week. I do pretty well at the grocery store most of the time, but my hat is off to Kathy. She has perfected couponing to an art!

I followed the link to Kathy's website to find out what I could learn from her. Despite the fact that the invitation I received to join her site said that membership was free if I signed up today, I was charged $1 for one year. I did not find her site to be very user friendly, nor does she provide the tools for learning to use coupons like she does. It is simply a website of discussion threads posted by other members, and advertisements from people wanting to sell books and services that are initially disguised helpful articles. I was disappointed. I did, however, find out about a deal at Target on cat food that will save me considerably more than membership fee, so it was worth the $1 investment.

But enough from me! Read on to find out about Kathy's insane savings...


If you want to learn how to be insanely efficient with coupon clipping and watching for sales, follow Kathy Spencer and learn from the master. WCVB TV in Boston notes that Spencer manages to spend only $4 on average each week to feed her husband, four kids, and four pets. We carefully re-read the pets line to make sure there was no past tense involved, as this would suggest cheating on where the food comes from. But nope, they're still around, so it looks like she really is good with coupons and sales.

This kind of savings doesn't come without a cost, of course; expect to spend about 5 hours each week cutting coupons and hitting up grocery stores, which means added fuel costs as well. But hey, $4 dinners!

"Mom Feeds Family For Under $10 A Week" [WCVBTV Boston] (Thanks to Christopher!)

Seasonal Grocery Sales

Did you know that many food items go on sale at regular times from year to year just like regular retail merchandise?

Throughout the year food items are seasonally discounted to reflect what's currently growing at local farms or increased purchasing for holiday events. For example, March is National Frozen Food Month, and to celebrate, most grocery stores have great sales on frozen foods during the this month.

The following list includes you can find on sale or at their lowest prices of the year:

• January - apples, grapefruit, oranges, pears, turkey
• February - candies, chocolate (after Valentine's Day)
• March - frozen goods: breakfast items, dinners, meats, vegetables
• April - broccoli, cauliflower, eggs
• May - asparagus, hamburgers and hamburger buns, hot dogs and hot dog buns, pineapple, soft drinks
• June - dairy products, tomatoes
• July - blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, corn, nectarines, peaches, plums, raspberries, squash, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelon
• August - apricots, apples, berries, fresh fish, green peppers, lunch box foods and snacks, melons, peaches, salad fixings and dressings, squash
• September - apples, broccoli, canned goods, cauliflower, lunch box foods and snacks
  
• October - cranberries, grapes, oranges, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, yams
• November - Halloween candy, sweet potatoes, turkey, yams
• December - apples, oranges, grapefruit
  

Two Free Chick-Fil-A Sandwich's

Sign up HERE to receive a coupon for a free Chick-Fil-A Original Chicken Sandwich. Only the first 250,000 to sign up will receive this coupon via mail. (The Website requires Adobe 10 in order to load.) 46,526 people have signed up as of right now, so there is still time to get your free coupon.

Stop by your local Chick-Fil-A on Labor Day dressed in your favorite team logo from 10:30am-Close and receive a FREE Original Chicken Sandwich as well!

Does anyone have a jersey I can borrow?

Best of Publix Deals (8/26-9/1)

Here are my finds for the "Best Of" Publix Deals for the week of 8/27-9/2!

Be sure to check your weekly ad HERE before you head out to shop!

Items listed in RED indicate FREE or nearly FREE.

**If you need to order any of the coupons listed below, check out The Coupon Clippers!
They are my go-to source whenever I need coupons for a deal.**

BOGO DEALS: (BOGO = Buy One, Get One)

A1 Steak Sauce, assorted varieties, 10 oz bottle
Price BOGO $4.19
Use 2 $2/1 from 8/16 SS (Pay $.19/2)

Aunt Jemima Pancakes or French Toast, assorted varieties, 12.5-14.8 oz box
Price BOGO $2.69
Use $1/2 from 8/16 SS (Pay $1.69/2)
Use 2 $1/1 from Publix Toss 4 Cash booklet (not in Florida booklets) (Pay $.69/2)
Stack Manufacturer and Publix Q and you'll Get 2 for FREE!!

Campbell's Select Harvest Soup, assorted varieties, 18.6-18.8 oz can
Price BOGO $2.39
Use $.50/2 from 8/16 SS (Pay $1.89/2)

Del Monte Fruit or Fruit & Gel Cups, 4-pk, 3.75-4.5 oz or Fruit Chillers, 8-ct, 2 oz tube
Price BOGO $2.75
Use 2 $1/1 Printable HERE Fruit Chillers (Pay $.75/2)
Use $1/2 from 7/12 RP Fruit Naturals, if included (Pay $1.75/2)

Dial Body Wash or Tone Body Wash, assorted varieties, 16 or 18 oz
Price BOGO $4.49
Use 2 $1/1 Printable HERE (FF) or HERE (IE) (Pay $2.49/2)
Use $1/2 from 8/16 SS or 5/17 SS (exp. 8/31) (Pay $3.49/2)

Doritos Tortilla Chips, assorted varieties, 11.75-14.5 oz (excludes Baked, Light, & Natural)
Price BOGO $3.99

Keebler Club Crackers, assorted varieties, 12-16 oz box
Price BOGO $3.99

Ken's Steakhouse Marinade or Buffalo Wing Sauce, assorted varieties, 16 oz bottle
Price $2.79
Use 2 $1/1 from 8/2 SS (Pay $.79/2)

Kraft Easy Mac Macaroni and Cheese Dinner: Original, Extreme Cheese, Big Pack Original or Animal Shapes, 12.06 or 12.9 oz box
Price BOGO $3.39
Use $1/2 from 8/9 SS (Pay $2.39/2)

Kraft South Beach Diet Bars or Granola Clusters or South Beach Living Granola Bars, assorted varieties4.24-6.15 oz box
Price BOGO 3.49
Use 2 $1/1 Printable HERE (FF) or HERE (IE) South Beach Fiber Fit Bars, if included (Pay $1.49/2)
Use $1/2 from Walgreens Back-2-School booklet (Pay $2.49/2)
Stack Manufacturer and Walgreens Q and Pay $.49/2!

Lil' Joey Pancake Pockets: Strawberry, Chocolate, or Maple, 4-pk box
Price BOGO $2.59

Lipton Tea Bags, 100-ct box
Price BOGO $3.95
Use $.75/2 from 8/2 or 6/28 RP (Pay $3.20/2)

Lysol Nutra-Air, assorted varieties, 10 oz can
Price BOGO $3.59
Use 2 $1.50/1 from 7/12 SS (Pay $.59/2)
Use 2 $1/1 Printable HERE (Pay $1.59/2)

Lysol Sanitizing Wipes, assorted varieties, 80-ct canister
Price BOGO $4.99
Use 2 $1/1 from 7/12 SS (Pay $2.99/2)
Use $1/2 Printable HERE (Pay $3.99/2)
Use $.75/2 from 8/9 SS (Pay $4.24/2)

HOT DEAL!!
McCormick Grinder Seasoning, .77-2.12 oz
Price BOGO $1.99
Use 2 $1/1 from Nothing Goes to Waist coupon booklet (FREE/2)

Mrs. Cubbison's Croutons, assorted varieties, 5 or 6 oz box
Price BOGO $1.39

Nabisco Ritz Crackers, assorted varieties, 13.66-16 oz box
Price BOGO $3.49
Use $.75/2 from 7/26 SS (Pay $2.74/2) Combine with coupons listed below for even better savings!
Use FREE Wheat Thins Crackers wyb Ritz Crackers from 5/17 SS (Pay $3.49/2 + Get FREE Wheat Thins - Get 2 w/2 coupons!)
Use FREE Ritz Crackerfuls Filled Crackers wyb Ritz Crackers from 8/23 SS (Pay $3.49/2 + Get FREE Ritz Crackerfuls - Get 2 w/2 coupons!)

Nabisco Toasted Chips, assorted varieties, 8.1 oz bag
Price BOGO $3.39
Use $1/2 from Nabisco's coupon booklet (Sign up HERE!) (Pay $2.39/2)

Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popping Corn, assorted varieties, 4.8-12 oz box
Price BOGO $2.75
Use 2 $1/1 from August All You (Pay $.75/2)
Use 2 $.40/1 from 8/2 SS (Pay $1.95/2)
Use $1.50/2 wyb 1 Gourmet Popcorn & 1 M&M's, 9.9-42 oz Printable HERE (Pay $1.25 + M&M's)

Oscar Meyer Beef Franks: Regular, Light, Bun-Length, XXL, or Jumbo, 16-oz pkg
Price BOGO $3.99
Use $1/2 Printable HERE (Pay $2.99/2)
Use $1/2 from 8/23 SS (Pay $2.99/2)

Post Cereal Selects, assorted varieties, 13-16 oz, Grape Nuts, 17 or 24 oz, or Grape Nut Flakes, 18 oz
Price BOGO $3.99
Use $1/2 from 7/26 SS (Pay $2.99/2)

Publix Deluxe American Cheese, sliced, 12 oz pkg
Price BOGO $3.29

Quaker Cereal, assorted varieties, Cap'N Crunch 20.7-22 oz, Life 21 oz or Squares 16 oz box
Price BOGO $4.49

SOLO SoloGrips Plastic Cups or Plates, 18 oz cups, 50-ct pkg, 9-in plates or 10-in compartment plates, 30- or 40-ct
Price BOGO $4.69
Use 2 $.75/1 Printable HERE (FF) or HERE (IE) (Pay $3.19/2)

Thomas' Bagels, assorted varieties, 18 or 20 oz bag
Price BOGO $3.99

Wise Cheez Doodles, assorted varieties, 8.5-9.5 oz bag
Price BOGO $2.99
Use 2 $.50/1 Printable HERE (FF) or HERE (IE) (Pay $1.99/2)

Wishbone Dressing, assorted varieties, 16 oz bottle
Price BOGO $2.69
Use 2 $1/1 from 6/28 RP Bountifuls variety, if included (Pay $.69/2)
Use 2 $.75/1 Printable HERE (FF) or HERE (IE) (Pay $1.19/2)
Use $1.50/2 from 6/28 RP (Pay $1.19/2)
Use $1.25/2 from 8/2 RP (Pay $1.44/2)

Wrigley's Eclipse or Orbit Gum, Sugarfree, assorted varieties, 60-ct box
Price BOGO $3.29

SALES:

Barilla Pasta, select varieties, 13.25-16 oz box (excluding Lasagna)
Price $.79/1

Capri Sun Drinks or Roarin' Waters, 10-pk, 6 oz pkg
Price $1.99/1
Use $1/2 from Walgreens Back-2-School coupon booklet (Pay $2.98/2)

One A Day Multivitamins, 12-200 ct pkg
Price 25% off
Use $1/1 Printable HERE Adult or Teen variety
Use $2/1 from Walgreens Back-2-School coupon booklet Adult variety (exp. 8/29)
Stack Manufacturer and Walgreens Q and Save $3/1!!

Publix Eggs, 1 dozen
Price $.99/1

Publix Milk, 1 gallon
Price $2.89/1

Publix Soft Drinks or Seltzer Water, 2-Liter
Price $.50/1
Use $1/3 Food Lion Printable HERE (exp. 9/1) (Pay $.50/3)

MEAT / SEAFOOD:

Harvey's Meat Coupons: (Print HERE)

• $2 off $5 purchase in meat department

Beef Cubed Steaks
Price $2.99/lb

Bottom Round Roast
$2.49/lb

Fresh Catfish Fillets, never frozen, farm raised
Price $4.99/lb

Pork Spareribs
Price $1.59/lb

Publix Chicken Thighs or Drumsticks
Price $.99/lb

Publix Young Turkey Breast, w/rib, back/wing portion (frozen)
Price $.99/lb

Top Round London Broil
Price $2.27/lb

PRODUCE:

Target Produce Coupons: (Print HERE)

• $.50 off 1-lb or more Bananas purchase Exp. 9/5
• $1 off whole Pineapple (excludes organic) Exp. 9/12

Bananas
Price $.69/lb
Use $.50/1-lb or more Target Printable HERE (Pay $.19/lb)

California Peaches or Nectarines, White or Yellow Flesh
Price $1.69/lb

California Plums
Price $.88/lb

California Seedless Grapes, Red, White, or Black varieties
Price $1.49/lb

Fresh California Figs: Brown Turkey, Black Mission, or Sierra varieties, 16 oz pkg
Price BOGO $5.99

Fresh Express Salad Blends, assorted varieties, 5-12 oz bag
Price $2.50/1

Russet Baking Potatoes, 5-lb bag
Price $1.99/1

Vine-Ripened Tomatoes
Price $1.49/lb

Western Cantaloupe
Price $2/1

ORGANIC / GREENWISE:

GreenWise Market Ribeye Steaks
Price $9.49/lb

Don't forget that Publix accepts competitor coupons! Each store has the right to choose who is a competitor, so be sure to take your competitor coupons and find out what your store allows.

Here are a few good ones for this week:
$3 off $10 Deli/Bakery Purchase at Food Lion
FREE Reusable shopping bag wyb $40 or more at Food Lion (exp. 8/30)
$5 off $25 at Rite Aid
$5 off $25 at Walgreens
$5 off $25 at CVS (Take the quiz to receive your coupon!)

Free Arby's Beef 'n Cheddar Today Only

August 26th means a free Beef ‘n Cheddar Sandwich with any soft drink purchase, no coupon needed, at participating Arby's. You can call your area Arby's to find out if they are participating, but the best way to know if any local outlets are giving away sandwiches, or other goodies, is to sign up for Arby’s e-mail club, Arby’s Extras. You will receive a special offer just for registering, and you will get future e-mails to let you know if a store near you is participating in upcoming promotions.

Today is the last of the Wednesday summer giveaways though, so get out there and enjoy!

Must Have CVS Coupons

Whether you are an avid couponer, just getting started couponing, or only shop at CVS occasionally, you MUST get the $25 coupon book available only at CVS.

Stop by the pharmacy and ask about ReadyFill, and you will receive this fabulous booklet of savings. In the book are coupons for:

• Two $4.00 off any purchase of $20.00 or more
  
• $4.00 off any diet/nutrition products purchase of $20.00 or more
• $4.00 off any facial skin products purse of $20.00 more
• $2.00 off any vitamin products of $10.00 or more
• $2.00 off any allergy products purchase of $10.00 or more
• $2.00 off any oral care products purchase of $10.00 or more
• $3.00 off any eye care products purchase of $12.00 or more

Get yours today! They are only available while supplies last, and all of the coupons expire September 12, 2009.

Free Chick-Fil-A Sandwich

The first 250,000 people to sign up at chickenwave.com will get a coupon for a free chicken sandwich from Chick-Fil-A. The next 750,000 people will get free drink coupons. These free Chick-Fil-A sandwiches require you to finish the registration process, so be sure to get all the way through the address entry and you get a confirmation that you are getting the free chicken sandwich coupon in the mail.

Hasbro Toy and Game Coupons

Print coupons for Hasbro Games HERE!

Print a BOGO coupon for Hasbro Transformers RPM Mini Vehicle HERE!

(Retail $3.99)

FREE Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt at Publix!

Publix has Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt (4-pk) on sale BOGO $2.50 this week. Use two of these $1.25/1 Printable HERE (2 prints per computer) & you'll receive TWO for FREE!!
This coupon thanks to Pssst...

More Great Offers from Fiber One & Yoplait...

Get a FREE Sample of Fiber One + $5 in coupons HERE!

Print a $1 off coupon for Yoplait Delights (a new Yoplait product)

Another Good Shopping Day - CVS & Publix Savings

Today was another good shopping day. I can’t say it was one of my best couponing day, but I did only spend $57.54 for $178.89 worth of food and nonfood groceries for a total savings of $121.35 (or 68%)!!!.

This week did go over budget by $7.54, but after adding up the totals from my earlier shopping trips this month, I’ve only spent $78.53 this month. I am well below my goal of $50 a week. What’s more my purchases have included things that I do not normally buy when I’m grocery shopping – two Christmas gifts, 28 lbs. of kitty litter, and school supplies. Since I have only spent about half of my budget so far, I'm going to go back to Publix tomorrow to see if I can get some of the items that I wanted but they were out of.

Read on to see how you can save like this as well! I couldn't fit everything into one picture, so I divided it up into four pictures.

My first stop this morning was CVS. There I purchased:

Carefree Ultra Protection Pantiliners, 16-ct *Limit 4 – Reg. $4.19
Price $3.79/1 (Receive $2.79 ECB)
I used one $1 coupon that I received with a recent free sample from Carefree, two $1 coupons that I printed HERE, and one $.50 that I printed HERE.

My net cost - $3.50 PROFIT!!!

Mennen Deodorant, 2.3-3.25 oz (Speed Stick or Lady Speed Stick, excludes Men's 24/7 and Pro) *Limit 2 – Reg. $3.19 and $3.49
Price $2.49/1 (Receive $1 ECB)
I used two $1.50 that I printed HERE. (Use Zipcode 33907)

My net cost - .02¢ PROFIT!!!

These items came to $20.14. I also had a $5 off $25 that I got from taking the quiz at the CVS website (see my August 20^th blog post). I had planned to get the two composition books that are free through Tuesday, but the CVS I went to was out, so I had to go to “Plan B”. I went shopping for something else that was a good deal. I found:

(3) Special K Protein Water Mix, 7 ct

Reg. $4.89 Clearance $1.22

(3) Balance Gold Caramel Nut Bars

Reg. $1.69 Clearance .42¢

Adding these items to my shopping cart brought my total to $25.06. After deducting coupons and receiving CVS Extra Bucks, the net cost at CVS was $1.40 for $43.18 worth of merchandise.

Next I went to Publix. This is a bigger list of items, so I’m going to break it down by picture...

(2) Purina Tidy Cats Scoop Cat Litter 14 lb, BOGO $6.99
I used two $1 coupons Tidy from Red Plum (8/09). Some containers have a $2 off coupon on them, but I didn’t see any when I was there.

My net cost $4.99

(2) Shout Stain Remover, 22 oz, BOGO $2.99
I used two .55¢ coupons from Super Saver (8/02)

My net cost - $1.89

(3) Kotex Maxi Pads, 14-24 ct, BOGO $2.93
I used two $1 coupons from Super Saver (7/19) and one $1 coupon that came with a recent Kotex sample.
My net cost - $1.39

(1) Publix Paper towels, $1.34

I used the 1¢ Mystery Coupon in the Publix Sunday paper insert.

My net cost - .01¢

(2) New England Coffee, 9-12 oz, BOGO $5.79
I used two $1 coupons that I printed HERE.

My net cost - $3.79

(1) Starbucks Coffee Ice Cream, 1 pt, BOGO $3.79
I used a $1 coupon from Red Plum (8/09)

My net cost - .90¢

(2) Contessa Meals, 20-24 oz, BOGO $6.99
I used a $1.50 coupon that I printed HERE.

My net cost - $5.49

(1) Tombstone Pizza, 18.1-29.5 oz pkg, BOGO $5.79

My net cost - $2.89

(2) Publix Salad, 5-12 oz, 2/$4

My net cost - $4

(2) Silk Soymilk, 1/2 gallon $2.50 ea
I used two 75¢ coupons that I printed HERE.

My net cost - $3.50

(Oops, the coffee is in this picture too!)

(1) Kellogg’s Special K Cereal, 16-18 oz, BOGO $3.99
I used one $1 coupon off Special K Blueberry that I printed HERE.

My net cost - $1.00

(1) Luzianne Family Size Tea Bags, 24 ct, Decaf, BOGO $3.69

I used one .60¢ coupon from Super Saver (6/21).

My net cost - $1.25

(1) Luzianne Family Size Tea Bags, 24 ct, Green Tea, BOGO $2.29

I used one .60¢ coupon from Super Saver (6/21).

My net cost - $.55¢

(2) Lipton Tea Bags, 18 or 20 ct, BOGO $2.99

I accidentally used two .75¢/2 coupons from Red Plum (8/02). This was one mistake that worked out in my favor.

My net cost - $1.49

(2) Kashi Cereal or Granola, 2/$5

I used two $1.50 coupons for Kashi Honey Sunshine Cereal that I printed HERE and HERE.

My net cost - $2.00

Ragu Pasta Sauce, 13.5-26.3 oz, $1.29 ea
I used one $1.00/2 coupon that I got in the mail.

My net cost - $1.58

(4) Nabisco 100 Calorie Snacks, $1.99 ea

I used two $1.00/2 coupons that I printed HERE.

My net cost - $3.97

My Publix results are:

• Order Total - $134.54
• Coupons - $22.88
• Advertised Special Savings - $55.52
• Total Paid - $56.14

With a little effort and the handful of coupons that I have shown you where to get, you too can expect to save on your groceries. Check the Publix sale flier and your coupons, and make your list before you go so that you don't miss out on the deals. And remember to get rain checks for any specials that Publix may be out of. You can cash in on the savings the next time you shop!