When we were still a military family, coupons were hardly used by any of us because shopping at the commissary was like shopping at Sam’s club for a 1/4 of the price!
Today I’ve come to value coupons not only because the world has fallen into an economical crisis but also because I no longer live near a military base.
I am very happy with my progress in the last three months I’ve been clipping coupons; my best yet shopping experience was going to Publix on a BOGO day and coming out with $162 in groceries for only $58!!!
Of course that doesn’t happen every time I go shopping and many people end up buying stuff they really don’t need.
So here are some important tips I’ve picked up about couponing:
- no need for “brand” shopping; loyalty goes out the window.
- buy what’s on sale
- compare ads from other stores to get price match
- visit manufacturer’s website to get coupons
- get Sunday insert in local paper for coupons
- shop at discount stores like Dollar General
- use coupons.com, redplum, smart-source to print legit coupons
- look for buy1- get1 sales are supermarket
- store coupons & mfr coupons can be stacked on same item
- just because something is on sale, it doesn’t mean i should buy it
- “bulk” shopping doesn’t always mean better prices; check price by weight to compare
- if you stockpile, check expiration dates & use FIFO system (first in, first out)
If you have a Super Walmart in your area, that would be the best place to get most of your food shopping done. I know they don’t have a large variety but they do have the right prices AND they will match any deal in town if you bring the ads with you! Look for Great Value, Equate, Sam’s Choice, Parents Choice, Marketside and Mainstay. These are some of Walmart’s well-known generic brands and they make great alternatives to expensive name brands.
If you’re looking for buy1 get1 deals (BOGO), Publix is well known for offering a large variety such as
spaghetti sauce, breakfast cereals, olive oil, sodas, frozen meals, vitamin water, baking,cleaning and barbeque items. Don’t forget to bring your coupons to get additional savings. Also, visit publix.com to get weekly ads in your mailbox!
Don’t forget CVS & Target. They each have their own reward system, in-store coupons, and redeemable points & cash. For these stores and many more including Walgreens, Food Lion, and Kroger, visit: I HEART SAVING MONEY and look for rebates, freebies and daily deals too!
FREE SAMPLES
I HEART THE MART Free samples are great because you can try a product to see if you like it before paying full price for it! I’ve received several free samples in the last 6 weeks and I didn’t have to pay for shipping. And to sweeten the deal they also include a coupon in the pack. I’ve signed up with Freeflys, WomenFreebies, FreeSamples4All, and GetItFree.us.
Coupon Lingo? Yes! If you come across certain abbreviations or code words during your coupon hunt, this is what they all mean…
SS = Smart Source Insert
RP = Red Plum Insert
P&G = Proctor & Gamble Insert
GM = General Mills Insert
BOGO/B1G1 = Buy One Get One Free
MQ = Manufacturer Coupon
IP = Internet Printable
OOP = Out of Pocket
WYB = When you Buy
EXP = Expiration date
DND = Do Not Double
RR = Register Rewards @ Walgreens
ECB = Extra Care Bucks @ CVS
$1/3 = $1.00 off the purchase of 3 items
Blinkie = coupons from the machine in the aisles with the 'blinkie' red light.
Peelie = the coupons you peel off the product
Hangtag = coupons hanging on product
(IE) = Internet Explorer
(FF) = FireFox
