Coupon 101

Coupons cannot be redeemed for money.  Technically, they are worth about 1/100 of a cent if you read the fine print.  So coupons are not money.

But to a seasoned couponer, coupons are like money.

We use coupons to lower the amount of money we have to pay the store, and the store gets reimbursed for the amount the coupon states (as long as we use it properly).

Coupons are so much like money, that CVS recently changed their Extra Care Buck coupons to look more like money and include the $ symbol.  They are saying, “If you through out your ECB, it is just like throwing out money.”

So, coupons aren’t money.  But they can save you money, and many couponers treat them just like money!

Do you consider your coupons to be like money?

Did you enjoy these tips?  Check out the rest of my Coupon 101 Series and my Savvy Shopper Course!

A coupon binder is one type of way to organize your clipped coupons.  It is somewhat time consuming, but one of the best ways to ensure you have all your coupons with you in store.

Typically, binder users purchase a zippered 3-ring notebook and baseball card holders.  I have also seen photo sheets used to put coupons in.  Coupons are clipped and place in the sleeves for future use.

Many coupon binders are organized with tabs/dividers to separate different sections in a binder.

I have seen coupon binders organized in several ways:

1. Alphabetically

2. Filed by like item: dairy, meat, etc.

3. Filed in the order of your store’s layout.

What about you?  Do you use a binder?  Do you have any questions?

The first thing you need to check is if your FREE coupon is valid.  Many stores will not accept printable coupons for FREE items, because they are often counterfeited.   Check for some watermarking or holographic marking, because FREE coupons often have one or both.

1. Free coupons should take off the entire price of the product you are purchasing. Some cashiers will take the maximum amount off automatically, but they are supposed to take off the purchase price.

2. Stack free coupons with other promotions or sales for maximum benefit. For example, it works perfect with the Kroger Mega Sale events.

3. Be cautious if you try to use a free coupon on a buy one, get one 50% off sale.  (Many cashiers will take off only the price of the 50% off item.)

4. Stack with a Buy One, Get One FREE sale to get both items for free.  That is, if you cashier will allow it and your store doesn’t ring up BOGO items half price.

What other questions do you have about free coupons?

Here are some things you can do if your coupon won’t scan!

• Nicely ask the cashier to scan the coupon again, perhaps using the other bar code.
• Double check your purchase to be certain you bought the correct item and/or amount of items needed.
• Double check to make sure the coupon is valid and not expired.
• Nicely ask the cashier if he or she can manually enter the coupon.
• Sometimes I even put the item back and ask for my coupon back (depending on the cashier).
• As a last resort you could check with customer service or a manager.

Here is hoping your coupons don’t “beep” too often!

Did you enjoy these tips?  Check out the rest of my Coupon 101 Series and my Savvy Shopper Course!

Seasoned couponers know they hate to hear that dreaded “beep” at the register.  Sometimes our coupons won’t scan.

Reasons Why They Won’t Scan:

1. Some coupons aren’t coded correctly.  For example, I have never had an Ortega coupon scan correctly at Harris Teeter.
2. Some registers don’t scan correctly.  Some older store registers just won’t scan coupons correctly.
3. Your cashier scans the wrong bar code. Most registers are programmed for only one type of bar code.  However, many coupons currently have two bar codes.  Have your cashier scan the other one.
4. Your coupon is fraudulent.  If you printed a coupon from an untrustworthy site, your coupon could be invalid.
5. You accidentally bought the wrong item. Perhaps you accidentally picked up the wrong item.  Or maybe your coupon was for two and you only picked up one!

Tune in tomorrow for what to do if your coupon beeps!

Did you enjoy these tips?  Check out the rest of my Coupon 101 Series and my Savvy Shopper Course!

I hear this question a lot from those trying to save money who don’t coupon.

Yes, if you go to the store and buy what you need each week without matching sales and coupons, generics are probably cheaper.

If you clip coupons and match those coupons with sales, name brands can  and will be cheaper. 

I pay much less for my cereal, pasta, and tons of other food using coupons and sales than if I just bought the generic version.

It is all a matter of smart coupon use and time!

Did you enjoy these tips?  Check out the rest of my Coupon 101 Series and my Savvy Shopper Course!