Welcome to Couponing 101 – Lesson 1!
I promise that you will learn how to get free and almost free food and nonfood groceries if you follow my one day a week e-class for the next 10 weeks. I have been using the system that I am going to be teaching you for many years. I almost never pay for toiletries or household items, and my grocery store total averages 80% off regular prices.
And I am not the only person doing this! There are thousands of people across the country who are doing the very same thing everyday. It really isn’t difficult once you learn the “secrets”, and what’s more, it is not a scam and it is perfectly legal and excepted by retail stores everywhere. I regularly see cashiers getting excited when I arrive at their register with a handful of coupons – they are just as anxious as I am to see how much I am going to save today.
The coupon game is one of the best budgeting techniques available to anyone who wants to do it - the stuff you can get regularly for free will simply amaze you! The idea behind the coupon is simple: you get a coupon, you use the coupon, you save money. However, many people believe that you can’t really save very much money using coupons. These people simply don’t know how to use them correctly. But that is about to change for YOU! I am going to teach you the correct way to use coupons so that you can start reaping the rewards in the form of reduced grocery bills and free toiletries and household goods.
What you need to get started:
- You need to save money on the things that you buy everyday.
To me, this is fun. Call it a hobby or a game. I love getting makeup, toiletries, face washes, razors, toilet paper, candy, regular household products and non perishable groceries for free and almost free. I hardly ever pay more than pennies for most of these things. It amazes me that people continue to spend a lot of money buying this stuff. at Rite Aid, CVS, or Walgreens, it’s almost painful to watch all those people shelling out 20 bucks for shampoo. But, again, that’s me. You may not mind spending your hard earned money for these things. Couponing may sound like the most boring way to spend your time that you have ever heard of. If that is the case, then this class is not for you.
- You need the following items:
- A box or drawer for your materials
- A pen or marker
- A loose leaf binder
- Something to put your coupons in (e.g. envelopes, 3x5 card box, 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
3. You need to commit to the following:
- Check my blog each week to find out what you need to do
- Go to CVS, Rite Aid, and/or Walgreens each week to pick up your free or almost free merchandise
Lesson 1 – The Easy Freebies
We are starting simple, with the goal that after this week’s fun you will be so excited about getting free goodies that you will be looking forward to making things a bit more complicated in the upcoming weeks.
Today we’re going to grab some very easy freebies at Rite Aid. CVS, Walgreens and the other stores have free items, too, but we will just be covering Rite Aid this week so that you can learn their system before moving on.
At Rite Aid you will be using the Rite Aid Single Check Rebates system to maximize your savings. The Rite Aid Single Check Rebates system is often referred to in the coupon world as “Freebates”. This is because many of the items that you will be requesting rebates for will end up being free after you get your check from Rite Aid.
What is the Rite Aid Single Check Rebate system?
The Single Check Rebate system at Rite Aid works like this: when you purchase specially marked items each week at Rite Aid they will give you a specified amount of cash back for buying them, in the form of a check, when you file for a rebate. For example, you could get a $5 rebate for the purchase of your $5 shampoo, making your net cost free. Rite Aid has a booklet that will tell you which items have rebates and which week of the month you will need to buy the items in order to get the deal. This booklet is called the Single Check Rebate booklet. You can pick up your copy in a rack at the front of the store. Every month you just need to buy the appropriate items I tell you to buy (the best deals) and then either send in your receipt with the accompanying tally sheet via the mail or upload it online here. The easiest way to do it is the online method. You will then get your money back in the form of a checks sent to you through the mail within 2-3 weeks of filing.
This Week’s Assignment:
1. Sign up for the Rite Aid Single Check Rebate System online HERE.
2. Pick up these two freebate items this week:
Buy 1: Stim-U-Dent Mint flavor, 100 ct - $1.49 each
Receive $1.49 Single Check Rebate #45 (limit 1)
Final Net Cost = FREE
Buy 2: Soft White Long Life Light bulbs, 2 pk - $2
Use the $2/2 Soft White Light Bulbs coupon in the Rite Aid ad
Final Cost = FREE
If you already have a small collection of coupons and/or are able to print coupons from the internet, you can try your hand at something a little harder with some of the following deals. Don’t feel like you have to buy everything, or something that you don’t think you’ll use, just because it’s on the list. Pick and choose what suits your needs.
There are also more deals available than I have listed here, so feel free to check the sales flier for any other bargains. If you are not sure if something is a deal, or need help constructing a better deal than is offered, email me for assistance. I am here to help in anyway I can.
Be sure to include the $5 off $25 purchase coupon that is available for watching 20 short product videos HERE to maximize your savings if you are spending at least $25 before taxes and any coupons or rebates:
Buy 3: Plus White Toothpaste - $15
Receive $10 Single Check Rebate #57 (when you buy 3)
Use three $1 off Plus White coupons printed HERE
Final Net Cost = $2 for 3 (.66¢ each)
Buy (2): Aero3 Insoles and Buy (1): Flex-Tastic - $15
Receive $10 Single Check Rebate #16 (when you buy 3)
Use two $2 off Aero3 coupons printed HERE
Use one $1 off Flex-Tastic coupon printed HERE
Final Net Cost = FREE
Buy 1: Seabreeze, 10 oz - $4.99
Receive $3 Single Check Rebate #67
Use one $1 off Seabreeze coupon from the Super Saver insert, 8/09
Final Net Cost = .99¢
Buy 1: Electrasol Dish Detergent - $4.49
Receive $1.50 Single Check Rebate #87
Use .75¢ Electrasol coupon from the Super Saver insert, 8/30
Final Net Cost = $2.24
Or
Use .50¢ Electrasol coupon printed HERE
Final Net Cost = $2.49
Buy 2: G.U.M Toothbrushes, 2 packs - $3 ea
Receive $5 Single Check Rebate #51 (when you buy 3)
Use three $1 off G.U.M. Toothbrushes coupons from the Red Plum insert, 6/21
Final Net Cost = $1/3 (or .17¢ ea)
Buy 1: Listerine Total Care Mouthwash, 500ml - $2.99
Receive $1 Single Check Rebate #53
Use $2 off Listerine Total Care coupon from the Super Saver insert, 3/15, or the Red Plum insert, 4/26
Total Net Cost = 1¢ PROFIT
Or
Use the $1 off Listerine Total Care coupon from the Super Save insert, 3/15 or 6/14
Total Net Cost = .99¢
Buy 1: Almay Eye Cosmetics or Make Up Removers - $4.99
Receive $2 Single Check Rebate #61
Use the $1 off Almay Cosmetics coupon from the Super Savers insert, 8/02
Final Net Cost = $1.99
Buy 2: Reeses Brand Candy bars - $1
Use two .55¢ off any Reeses Candy Product from the Super Save insert, 8/23
Total Net Cost = .10¢ PROFIT
Buy 2: Kashi Cereal - $7
Use two $1 off Kashi coupons in the Rite Aid ad
Use one $1.50 off 2 boxes of Kashi Cereal printed HERE
Total Net Cost = $3.50 (or $1.75 each)
Buy 1: Pampers Diapers Jumbo Pack $9.99
Receive $2 Single Check Rebate #137
Use the $2 off Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive, Swaddlers, Cruisers or Extra Protection Diapers coupon in the Procter & Gamble insert, 8/30
Total Net Cost = $5.99
Or
Use the $1 off Pampers coupon in the Procter & Gamble insert, 8/30
Total Net Cost = $6.99
Buy 1: Band-aid Bandages - $2.99
Use the $1 off Band-Aids coupon in the Rite Aid ad, 8/30
Use the $1 off Band-Aids coupon in the Super Saver insert, 8/02 or 6/28
Total Net Cost = .99
If you are already an experienced couponer, or you are feeling particularly brave, you can try the following advanced savings techniques. This requires several coupons and some complicated “stacking”, so please look over the requirements and make sure you have the right coupons before committing to the purchase.
Buy:
(2) CoverGirl Foundations - $10.50 (buy the least expensive possible)*
(2) CoverGirl Face Products - $23 (buy the most expensive possible)
*The foundations are on special for Buy One Get One at 50% off, so the first foundation will ring up at full price, and the second will ring up at half price
Use:
$5 off $25 purchase coupon printed HERE (for watching 20 short product videos)
Use two Buy One Foundation get any Face Product Free coupon from the Proctor & Gamble insert, 8/30
Use two $1 off CoverGirl products coupons from the Proctor & Gamble insert, 8/30 or 8/02
Total Due at Register: $3.50
Receive: $10 Gift Card*
*$10 Rite Aid Gift Card Single Check Rebate #68 when you buy $30 in select Proctor & Gamble products
Total Net Cost - $6.50 PROFIT
I bought some stuff, now what?
The first thing you need to do is save your receipt!
When you get home, log in to the Rite Aid Single Check Rebate web page (if you are planning to file online) and fill in the requested receipt information. You then need to decide whether you are going to request your rebate at that time. You only get to submit one rebate request per month, so choose carefully. If you are desperate for the cash, or want to see if this is really going to work, go ahead and file. If you are interested in seeing what else you are going to get for free this month, wait. Even if you decide not to participate in this e-class anymore, and forget to request your rebate at the end of the month, the website will automatically submit your refund request on the last day of the rebate period if you have already entered your information. Within 2-3 weeks of the submission, you will receive a check in the mail for your entire rebate total.
There it is! I’m sure the written explanation looks a little complicated, but you will find when you actually go there to pick up your freebates that it is really quite simple.
Next week we will be exploring the world of Extra Bucks at CVS and Register Rewards at Walgreens. I hope to see you then!
Valerie
P.S. If you have any questions at all about anything, please email me at thepractical1@gmail.com or leave a comment here, and I will get back to you. I am looking to forward to hearing about your shopping successes and challenges!
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