My Cheap-o Secret!!!

Lots of folks ask about how I save money. The cold, hard truth is....I am a lazy person with lots of different responsibilities. So, organizing my coupons to the hilt is not realistic. I choose to do the easy thing!

The easiest thing for me to do is check the deals going on at the grocery store. In my hometown grocery, there are two main things going on: discounted meat and dairy, and an area with scratch-and-dent groceries. These areas vary in each grocery store, but I have found that Ingles and Piggly Wiggly tend to locate their items in grocery buggies near to the entrance. I find all sorts of nonperishable items there....beat-up boxes of oatmeal, dented cans of tomato soup (still openable!! People ask me that all the time, but I have never had a problem...), and--most recently--cake mixes, frosting, and other baking items.

As for the discounted meat and dairy....get ready to use it immediately. On-sale milk can be used to make Jell-o puddings, churns of homemade ice cream, or big bowls of cereal. :-)

Hope this encourages you to think "outside the buggy"! Oh, and for those of you who are enjoying the benefits of a well-organized coupon stash, did I tell you that you can use coupons on those on-sale items? I made 50 cents (as in, I got the product for free and got 50 cents credit) by purchasing the Chef Boyardee products pictured and using a 50 cent coupon.... check out recipes from the recent House Party that I had. Saving money is all about putting it together to make great deals that work with your life.

Happy Couponing!

FREE Gillette Razor at Rite Aid!

But....the catch is, you MUST buy a Sunday newspaper this week, folks!!!

Come on....for us small-town folks, the local newspaper from the newsstand is, what, $1.50? It's well worth it! (And, for big-city folks lucky enough to get the AJC, you will get cool coupons that we won't. Boo hoo.)

In the Procter & Gamble insert, clip your $4 off Gillette Fusion ProGlide manual or power razor coupon from the Sunday, November 28th paper. Then, high-tail it on over to Rite Aid, where a razor is selling for $9.00.

Buy: Gillette Fusion ProGlide razor @ $9.00
Use: 1 - $4 off manufacturer coupon
Pay: $5 plus tax
Get Back: $5 +UP Reward (prints on the end of your receipt)!!!!
This makes it free!

A word to newbies: The Rite Aid system resembles the CVS Extra Care Bucks system, in that you pay money for items (hopefully while using coupons). Then, after checkout, your receipt will show a "+UP Reward" for a promised amount (could be a buck, a few dollars, etc.). This is basically a coupon off your next purchase. (In this case, you receive $5 off your next purchase.) However, these "coupons" on your receipt usually expire in about two weeks or so. So.....if you live near a Rite Aid and frequent the store, no worries! Just use the coupon on your next shopping trip. If you don't go to Rite Aid that often, then.....do yourself a favor and buy something else immediately. Preferably, purchase something that you need and also have a coupon for.

For instance, I will probably do a small scenario like this:

Transaction #1--Buy ProGlide Razor as indicated above
Get Back: $5 +UP Rewards

Transaction #2--Buy 4 jumbo packs Pampers Diapers @ $8.50 apiece
Use: 4 - $1 off Pampers jumbo pack diapers or training pants, November 28 newspaper
$5 +UP Rewards
(Also, if the December Video Values are up, I may try to shoot for a $4 off $20 purchase coupon....)
Get Back: $2 +UP Rewards, $2 + UP Rewards (one $2 +UP for every 2 packs I bought).

This could potentially make each pack of diapers cost $5.25 apiece (before tax). And, that ain't bad, folks! If diapers are regularly $12.00 (which they are, for a jumbo pack), then I just saved $6.75 per pack. Do that a few times a month and see how your budget goes further!

(And, on another note, I am looking forward to entering all the Gifts to Grow codes out of the Pampers packs.....with my Rewards Points, I am working toward some more free birthday invitations for next year!)

Thanks Be To God! Rite Aid: Spent $1.68 Saved $58.00!

There is nothing else to say but, "Thank God!"

I was able to get five packs of diapers, one tub of wipes, four boxes of instant potatoes, one bottle of Vicks Nyquil, two bottles of Gain dish soap, two 4-packs of Cottonelle toilet tissue, one 12-pack of Charmin toilet tissue, and four bottles of Aussie shampoo for under $2.00. This is something I have never done before, and allow me to explain....

I recently received a Single Check Rebate for $28.00 (from August) that I did not use. In addition, I just got my second Single Check Rebate (for Sept.) in the mail for $8.00. It happens--so I grabbed the checks, which you can use like cash at Rite Aid. There were some kickin' sales on diapers (which we were OUT of) and toilet paper (which we were ALSO OUT OF). So, I went. I knew we didn't have much money in our account...hey, it's nearing the end of the month! I'm no fool.

And I started to get my coupons together. No, they were not organized. If they had been, all this would have taken about 30 minutes less! And, yes, I missed out on some deals--like the Colgate deal that would have made for free toothbrushes and toothpaste. But, I have been getting my newspapers faithfully (or getting them from faithful friends), and I made the effort.

I knew I couldn't spend much money of our own, so I put back some boxes of instant potatoes, which I had planned to donate. At the register, I ended up HAVING to get some more of them, because the transaction would not complete until I bought something else! (And so God allows me to give as freely as He wanted! Amazing!!!)

My point--make an effort. Please. Just try!

Yes, I used coupons on every thing in the cart. Yes, I had some Rite Aid coupons (go watch some videos on their website to earn a SUPER Q for $4 off a $20 purchase). And, yes, I did my purchase in two different transactions so I could use the +UP reward coupons on the second transaction. But you can do it.

You can do this. Start small. Be friendly with the cashiers. And pray that God will allow you to use the coupons to take care of your family and others. He will bless your efforts, because God loves you and your family...."For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord: Plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans for a hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).

Happy couponing....and enjoy being a blessing to others!

High-Value Coupon for Hamburger Helper

Many of my friends complain that coupons are often for things that they might not use or don't buy for their family due to health concerns. However, if you are able to get such an item for low- or no cost, these types of things can make great donation items--PLUS, Hamburger Helper (Chicken Helper and Tuna Helper are included here) is creating "Whole Grain" versions now. So, if you use chicken breast and get the whole grain version, it can be a skillet meal ready in minutes that busy moms can agree with!

Go here to get an exclusive coupon for Hamburger, Tuna, or Chicken Helper. It is a special coupon that you have access to since you read my blog! So, thank you for reading!

It is a 35 cent off ONE BOX (which is amazing, since it doubles to 70 cents off--if HH is on sale for 99 cents, this can possibly cost less than 30 cents). Make sure to press the "BACK" button in your browser to make two prints.

Happy Couponing!

New Month, More Cookies!

Don't forget to stop by Nabisco's Facebook page to print your coupon for $1.00 off a pack of Nabisco Cookies and a gallon of milk. This is a different coupon than they have been giving out, but it is actually a better one, if you ask me.

May I also point out for the cheapest among us.....if you happen to hit a grocery store on a day when they have marked down some gallons of milk, you could potentially get a very good deal on cookies and milk. The cashier will just have to get permission from the store manager to do this, since the milk will have to be keyed in as a sale.....I'm thinking Ingles, of course, since Piggly Wiggly no longer accepts printable coupons (not even cents-off ones).

The coupon is also good until mid-December, which is awesome.

Tired, but wanted to tell you....

I had a great "Get-Together" sponsored by General Mills and Yoplait the other day! I signed up under the group "Pssst..." from General Mills, and from time to time they invite me to apply for parties through their company. I got to throw a party at my elementary school, on their dime (and just a few of mine), for 15 lovely ladies (and some of their children!), and we shared recipes, snacks, and information about breast cancer awareness. I also got to read a very interesting book that was written by Susan G. Komen's sister.

All these opinions are my own. I was excited to get the party pack in the mail. They sent me 15 coupons for Yoplait (and boy, were they good ones.... 50 cents off 4 yogurts!!), 15 copies of breast cancer information, a shower hanger to remind myself to check my breasts monthly, a lovely pink leather bookmark for a door prize, and the hardback copy of the book by Susan G. Komen's sister to read aloud during the party. I think everyone enjoyed the party--it is nice to be able to do something for and with my fellow teachers that doesn't cost them anything. Everyone was very appreciative to the companies for their generosity and interest in women's health.

If you are not already a member of the Pssst! team, let me encourage you to do so. It allows you to gain access to exclusive online printable coupons, information about the brands you love, and maybe even have the chance to host a party like I did.

Ingles This Week....Triple Coupons!

(To the tune of "Charge!")
....free, free, free, free, free-free......FREEEEEE!!!!!

Triple coupons at Ingles (up to 50 cents--making it up to $1.50 off) this week means two things. First, you have to remember that, unless you really need the item, most things with coupon matchups are not on sale. Therefore, using the coupon will not result in such awesome sales as might come up next week, or the week after....

Secondly, it does mean that if you want to replenish just a few things in your pantry for CHEAP, just load up your coupons and go (preferably without children....why do I keep doing this to myself?). You won't be sorry!

Great deals that I found in Woodbury, Georgia (which are replicated in most of the Ingles service area--print any coupons TWICE, if possible):

Tetley teabags @ $1.98 B1G1 (0.99)--use a coupon from Coupons.com (50 cents off--makes it FREE)

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls and Biscuits $1 each -- use 50 cents off 2 Crescent rolls from coupons.com (makes them 25 cents apiece)

Dannon single serve yogurt 6 oz @ 50 cents apiece-- use 50 cents off 1 Dannon Light n' Fit (makes them 25 cents apiece)

Del Monte vegetables, assorted 13.5 - 15.25 oz @ 66 cents each -- use $1/5 Del Monte canned vegetables from 9/19 Red Plum insert (makes them 46 cents apiece, which is totally stock pile time!!!)

I also got a rain check for some cheap Totino's pizza rolls, but if I don't make it back and find more this week, the triple coupons will be over. Darn it.

Boneless, skinless chicken breast, family packs of ground chuck, and a nice chuck roast were pretty darn cheap, too. My total for my bill, which of course included random things that my husband was in dire need of (which NEVER, EVER have coupons), as well as staples like milk and bread, was 81.42 for $138.43 worth of groceries (coupon savings of $23.63....not bad for maybe 15 minutes of prep work).

I feel really good about that....basically, I could pay myself $94.52 an hour to do that. Now, do you see why even a little bit of couponing can be effective?

Thanks to my FAVORITE blog of all time, Southern Savers, which allowed me to get ready so quickly. They have an awesome shopping list creator that includes coupon matchups.

FREE Tub of Wipes for You and a Friend!

Sweet deal! (Er, at least fresh....) Cottonelle is offering a free tub of wipes (via a coupon, snail-mail style) for you and a friend when you give your friend's email address to share the promotion. My guess is that this won't last long, so be sure to do this.

Not that you EVER have to save a free coupon for a rainy day, but....wouldn't it be cool if these wipes went Buy One Get One Free (BOGO Free) at a local drugstore? If they were, we would get TWO tubs of wipes for free, since a "free" coupon is essentially a cents-off coupon.

The way it would work is this:

*Buy 2 tubs Cottonelle Flushable Moist Wipes (which would ideally be on sale BOGO free)
*Use one "Free" coupon, sent in mail (which all stores should accept, since it is not a printed coupon)....

= tax only on two items, or two free tubs!!!

I can dream, can't I? :-)

Thanks, Jenny from Southern Savers!

HOT Coupon Booklet from Procter & Gamble

There were some grrrrreat P & G coupons in the 8/29 newspaper! So exciting!

To further celebrate (?), Procter & Gamble has come out with a new coupon booklet to reward us for buying $50 worth of products that we really already buy anyway. The key here is that EVERYTHING that P & G makes is included, and also, you have until 12/31/10 to make the purchases.

I know, I know, something extra that takes a little bit of effort. However, let me say that I got the $100 P & G coupon booklet from this spring, and there were high value coupons ($5 off Olay) that got me some excellent facial care products for cheap. Also, I got three coupons on items like Bounty paper towels and Charmin toilet paper that were for $1.00 off one package, which is unheard-of.

My suggestion? Put aside a section of your coupon file/binder for rebates, and file your receipts that include P & G products regularly. Especially if you purchase diapers, feminine hygiene products, laundry detergent, etc., you will find that it will be easier than you think to get the $50 worth of purchases.

Happy couponing!

NO COUPONS......this Sunday stinks.

For those of you who didn't know it...this Sunday's newspaper has no coupons. None. Zip. Nada.

Okay, in the interest of full disclosure, the last time that the paper was not scheduled to have any coupons, it had a small four-page insert from General Mills foods. However, they were coupons that were already available through earlier newspapers and could be printed from the internet. And, I am not entirely sure that the Parade newspaper insert might not have some....

So, long story short, I will be asking my wonderful MIL if I can look at her Parade insert, and I will be taking it easy and not hunting newspapers today. That works out well, since my son is getting over a cold and my daughter just caught it and is feverish. Say a prayer for us....we hate missing church, and it is so important to stay healthy so that we can enjoy our time together between my job and their bedtimes.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and prayers!

CHEAP Candy at the Pig!

Get thee to Piggly Wiggly in Manchester, Georgia and stock up for Halloween, parties, rewards, whatever!

In a special display at the front of the store, there are bags of Fun-Size Peanut M & Ms on sale for 2/$2.99 (or about $1.50 apiece). On the front of most of the bags, there is a peelie coupon for 50 cents off one bag. When it doubles to $1.00 off (as it does for each coupon 50 cents and less), each bag is 50 cents.

You might remember a coupon in the newspaper about three weeks ago that had a Buy 2 Get 1 Bag Free coupon.....well, I have used it with mixed results. My suggestion is to try to give them that coupon FIRST, then give them the peelies, like so:

Buy-3 bags of Fun Size Peanut M & Ms (because you don't want to peel the coupon off one to use on another bag...not ethical)

Use- B2G1 Coupon first
50 cents off one bag
50 cents off one bag
(The first coupon is for a "free" bag, the other two coupons apply to the ones that you paid for. This is a good idea in theory, but each store has their own coupon policies...you may just want to use the 50 cents off coupons and call it good.)

I am buying my candy for the Fall Festival at our church (they always ask for bagged candy), prizes at school, and potty candy for R!!

Leave a comment and let me know what deals you got and what you will use your candy for.

3 Free Cards from Shutterfly

Oh, there is nothing like finding a deal! It works on me like a medicine!

Log on to Shutterfly today to get three cards (5x7 folded or invitation-size) for free plus shipping. Each card is about 36 cents after postage. I just made the cutest card with pics from our beach vacation, and I will use them as stationery to send a letter to my grandmother in Kentucky and some other relatives.

The coupon code is SUMMERCARDS. Enter it at checkout, and the discount will come off immediately.

If you are new to the site, you will get 50 free digital 4x6 prints.

Please sign up through one of the cash-back sites before completing your purchase (just got my "Big Fat Check" from Ebates yesterday and did a huge deal on ShopAtHome last night and this morning, so that check should be rolling in shortly). I promise you, you won't be sorry. Come on! I clip coupons that are worth 25 cents. You better believe that I will get cash back anywhere I can.

I will post more information on these websites later in the week. Until then, just try it if you are interested. TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!!!

Deals Found at the Piggly Wiggly in Manchester, Georgia

There is a tearpad of coupons on a display of Kool-Aid Sugar-Free Drink Mix Canisters; the coupon is $1 off one can, which, when they are 2 for $4, makes it $1 apiece. Remember, it is only good etiquette to take two coupons per store visit so that other consumers have a chance.

Also, Double Luck Cut Green Beans are $0.50 a can, which is pretty much the lowest price without coupons that one can get.

ConAgra foods, such as Hunt's Ketchup (10 for $10, but you DO NOT have to buy all 10 to get sale price), Chef Boyardee canned pastas ($1 apiece, several varieties), Hunt's tomato sauce ($1/2 cans) and Hunt's Snack Packs ($1 apiece) have been on sale for awhile. However, here is a deal idea for beginners:

Buy: 10 total items from ConAgra (Hunt's Ketchup, Snack Packs, Chef Boyardee, Hunt's Pasta Sauce, etc.)
2 boxes fruit snacks (up to $2.00 in value)

Use: 2 - Coupons from In-Store Circular "Buy 5 ConAgra items get 1 Fruit Snacks Free" (since you may ethically use two such coupons if you retrieve them on this trip; found next to shopping baskets in front of store)
- several Qs from 8/1/10 newspaper for Snack Packs ($0.30/2, which will double to $0.60 per two Snack Pack purchases, making them $0.70 apiece)

(It would actually be cheapest to purchase 10 cans of tomato sauce @ 50 cents apiece, but you may not need/want to have that many cans of tomato sauce.)

Get: staple items that you need for cheap (I'm thinking lunchboxes). If you combine this deal with a few other things here and there, you will be spending more than $25, which means that you will also receive a *FREE* item at Piggly Wiggly. On Tuesday, 8/10/10, this was a box of Kraft Mac & Cheese, although they have also given a loaf of bread, a 2-liter Coke, and a dozen eggs.

Some of you may be rolling your eyes and saying, "Fruit snacks? Macaroni? What am I, five years old?" As always, you may not eat it, but perhaps the food pantry would gladly accept your donation....maybe your local church's Children's Ministry (ahem) would accept fruit snacks....maybe the church's youth group could use some nonperishable items for their next trip. All of the above items are at low prices, and a little coupon-clipping that results in nothing more than kindness or compassion toward a fellow human being is worth it, in my book.

Also, save your receipts. ConAgra did a cool coupon book when you buy $10 in their products twice this spring. I have the feeling they may come out with another offer like that fairly soon.

Finding Diapers For Less

I have two small children, and so for the past three years or so, my budget (and life) has all but been consumed by the need for diapers, wipes, and other baby necessities. I used to wait and go to Wal-Mart, buying those huge boxes of all different brands, depending on what was on sale. I even saved diaper coupons, but never did such a hot job of actually using them when I had them. I felt like we were always out of something, and it placed an inordinate amount of stress on me.

Now, I can't WAIT to go and hit a diaper sale at a drugstore or Kroger....and that says a lot. Right now, I usually don't purchase diapers (name brand jumbo packs, mind you) for more than $5 a pack (many are cheaper).....and I am getting many, many more diapers for my money than I used to.

Here are my top three ways to get cheap diapers:

1. Clip coupons and check blogs (of some sort). Diaper/wipes coupons are regularly found in at least one coupon insert per month; they are usually always in the Procter & Gamble insert, when one is present. Baby product (i.e., Johnson's & Johnson's products) Qs require more patience when only purchasing a Sunday paper. However, there are constantly new coupons being put on one of the big 3 printable coupon sites. Also, the blog thing--many blogs will have coupon matchups with deals that can be done in a specific order to save money. Although you can certainly DIY, unless you know all the ins and outs of the drugstores, it is very helpful to see how someone else is going to get that pack of diapers and other assorted goodies in the transaction.

2. Pay attention to sales and loyalty programs. If you don't go get every pack of diapers that cost $1.94 from CVS because the nearest store is 45 minutes away, that's okay! Simply buying a pack of diapers on sale for $8.99 from a store in your town and using a few coupons to sweeten the deal can be helpful. Although it is certainly one way to do things, NOT EVERYBODY wants to stockpile (which is what many of the blogs set up their coupon matchups to do). Simply paying attention to when prices are at a good level when you might be running low can prevent you buying the same pack of diapers from a gas station at 11 p.m. for $11.99. (Been there.) It also helps to sign up for things like Single Check Rebates from Rite Aid, which often allow you to get $1 or $2 back in rebate form at the end of a month for buying a pack of diapers. You kiddin' me? I already do that, and to get an extra buck or two just for typing in my receipt number is totally worth it. When those checks roll in, I think....yard sale money! :-)

3. Try new things. There is a company called Arquest that works with manufacturers and consumers to conduct diaper studies several times during the year. It varies as to what sizes and genders they are testing at any given time. I just finished a study this week on training pants. They sent me three packs of training pants and three paper surveys; I also had two scheduled phone interviews to relay my information to the surveyor. In all, the phone interviews took about 12 minutes, and the paper surveys took about 15 minutes. I will receive a check for $10 in the mail as a "thank you gift" for my completing all three of the surveys within the time window (for basically 30 minutes of my time)....but three packs of undergarments for free is a huge help, anyway. I have tried this survey option with both my boy and girl; however, I would encourage some caution, as some children are sensitive to ingredients in diapers, and you don't always know "whose" diapers they are...some friends have kids who can only wear one brand or another, or who have to stay away from Pampers Cruisers, etc. However, my kids have rear ends like armadillos, so that wasn't a concern for me (although I would have discontinued at first sign of rash). Here are the numbers to contact the company; simply leave a message detailing what size diapers your child wears, along with the regular stuff.

GIRLS: 1-888-342-7372 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-888-342-7372 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ext. 646 (The woman you speak to is named Georgia)
BOYS: 1-888-342-7372 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-888-342-7372 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ext. 634 (The woman you speak to is named “Cheyla”, but it sounds like Sheila)

Hope this wasn't too wordy, and I hope it gives you a place to start with baby items. Have any great tips for saving money? Leave a post for the good of the group.

Finding Coupons, Part Two

When I re-read my posting on places to find coupons the other day, I rolled my eyes. There are TONS of places to find coupons, and I covered only a few of them. So, without exhausting you (or belaboring the point), here are some more ideas for coupon-hunters:

1. Be a concerned consumer. By emailing, snail mailing, or calling the toll-free number of a company, they are very likely to respond to you in a positive manner, whether or not you have anything positive to say. To give you a couple of examples, I have bragged on Calmoseptine ointment (for diaper rash), Breyers yogurt, and Land O'Lakes butter and found INCREDIBLE samples and coupons in my mailbox not long after.....but Kraft did right by me when I complained about the recent re-formulation of some of their salad dressings and sent me high-value coupons. Simply find a place on the website that says, "Contact Us", and do so.If t he task seems daunting, pick one or two companies whose products you are faithful to and email them; it will take five minutes .You might be pleasantly surprised about who will offer you something in return.

2. Surf. As stated in the previous post, most printable coupons can be found on one of three major sites, but there are many companies who provide one or a few coupons to be printed from their own website. For instance (don't judge me!), Little Debbie's website provided one or two coupons for chocolate cupcakes and the like on their web page.

3. Keep your eyes peeled. Other than blinkies, peelies, hangtags, and tearpads, also discussed in the previous post, one of my favorite Rite Aid stores in Bowdon, Georgia has displays set up with small manufacturer booklets that explain more about the product with coupons as well. They were on a lower shelf with only one specific product in the display; in the past, I have also seen some awesome allergy coupons in this format as well. Some small informational booklets are just that, but it always pays to check.

4. With free samples. Not that getting a little tiny sample in your mailbox (score!) is not enough, but....many times, there may be a coupon included with the sample. I have gotten Nivea, Pampers, All-Bran, and Garnier coupons this way.

5. In or on boxes. This is a tricky one, but again, it pays to pay attention. There may be a small graphic on the item to indicate that there are coupons inside the item, which is of course enticing you to purchase it--but if the item is on sale, who cares? Printed on the actual item boxes....Cheerios, Pampers, Betty Crocker Warm Delights, and Banquet Family Meals. Found inside the item (in a booklet, etc.).....Biore, Schick, and many, many packages of Pampers, where I have found coupons for Cheerios, Kandoo products, and Easy Ups.

6. Magazines. Hopefully, "all you" guys know about the All You magazine, which can be found in Wal-Mart only (or through a home subscription). This magazine is your average folksy women's rag with fashion, home, and beauty stories, but includes coupons that range from a total of $55 to $85 in savings!! But, there are many others in magazines for the taking. I have found them in Redbook, Glamour, Parents, Family Fun, Ladies' Home Journal, to name a few.

**Related savings news...Thanks to a great friend, Knowly, who pointed out that the photo websites, particularly Shutterfly and Walgreens, have super-duper deals on a regular basis! Walgreens even has a feature where you can ship photo items to ANY Walgreens....which means you can send new pics to your great-aunt and -uncle who don't get on "the email" (thanks, Haley!).

Also, one more observation.....I noticed that in this week's Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, a newspaper that I buy religiously every week, there was a line at the top proclaiming "Over $150 in savings". Pretty impressive, unless you also got the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which stated that it contained wayyyyyy more than that (perhaps twice or three times)....... Just goes to show you--if you can, be sure to purchase Sunday papers from the largest possible newspaper.

Where Can I Find Coupons?

One of the biggest perceived pitfalls of couponing comes when people say, "Well, I am not going to buy all of those newspapers. What a waste of money!" (I actually disagree here, citing this past week's insane P&G coupon insert, but....)

The truth is, you can find coupons in lots of places besides your lone subscription to a large city's newspaper (read: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer or AJC, and I'll give you three guesses on which paper is better for coupons....ahem, wish I lived in Hotlanta). I will list only a few here, and if you have any ideas, please feel free to share below! I am still learning, too!

1. Obviously, you can ask friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers, etc. if you can have their unused inserts/coupons from the newspaper. This is especially juicy if you are in different places in life... if you need diaper coupons and they need coupons for cat food and Boost drinks, you can trade up and feel great about it!

2. Grocery store flyers and booklets (found in the store itself). Here is a link to my post on the coupon flyer in Piggly Wiggly, Manchester, Georgia; however, many booklets and flyers are entirely store specific. For instance, Publix booklets can be found at the ends of aisles or near special displays in the store....and store-specific grocery coupons can be used WITH manufacturer coupons (this is called "stacking", when you use two coupons on one item....it is permissible) in places like Publix. Walgreens also has coupon booklets on a monthly basis.

3. Blinkies (found in grocery/drug stores near the items). A "blinky" is a small machine that dispenses coupons one at a time. When you take one coupon, it dispenses another one quickly. However, after you take the second coupon, the machine hesitates. The reason here is that it is good coupon etiquette to take only TWO of any free coupon. Blinkies are telling you, "Walk away!" So, be an ethical couponer and thank the Lord that you found an awesome coupon (without taking every last coupon)! I frequently see these in major grocery stores in the cereal aisle and near the dairy section (whether for cheese, yogurt, or something else). However, be warned...some are creatively placed. I found an awesome blinky for Kraft cheese in the freezer section. Hmm....

4. Tearpads (found in grocery/drug stores near the items). A tearpad is what it sounds like...a pad of coupons that is placed near the item in question. These are great because they draw your attention to that bag of Tostitos and encourage you to make a snap purchase. However, let me encourage you to demurely rip off your limit of two and walk away (unless there is a kickin' sale), retaining your coupons for another trip. Just using a coupon because you have it is sort of playing to the manufacturer. Using a coupon when you can get money off your next purchase, work toward a rebate, or buy things for less than $1 is going to help your family out instead. (Do make sure to check the expiration date before you get all excited....says the girl who thought she was going to make a purchase of Benefiber a huge moneymaker. Ha, ha! It was only free, oh well. :-)

5. Peelies (found on the item itself in sticker form) or hangtags (usually hanging from the neck of a bottle). These are great coupons. Really, they are! But, it is unethical to remove one from a product that you do not intend to purchase. The reason the manufacturer puts them on there is to entice you to purchase it; okay, I get that. But it is not okay for me to just pull the peelies/hangtags off and stuff them into my pocketbook when the next shopper could really need that item and the corresponding coupon. Not cool, folks. These are coupons that you also need to check the expiration date on. I have purchased several things in the past which said, "Try Me Free!" Well, I could have tried them for free....in 2009. So, buyer beware, and take a gentle look at expiration dates, if possible.

6. Home mailings. Publix comes to mind when I think AWESOME connections with the consumer. They have many different kinds of booklets to register online for; if you have babies, their Baby Club is wonderful and comes with all sorts of freebies. There is also a toddler club (called Preschool Pals), GreenWise Magazine, FamilyStyle magazine, and a magazine about wine. The link here will take you to the general page where you can sign up to receive these home mailings. It is enough to make you want to start shopping at Publix if you have never darkened their doors! The magazines come with a mix of articles, recipes, and coupons--both store and manufacturer. (So, this means that, even though Publix sent you the mailing, you may use the manufacturer coupons elsewhere.)

7. The internet (for printable coupons). This is the easiest way to do coupons, for some people. You simply go to one of the three major sites and start printing off coupons. SmartSource, Red Plum, and Coupons.com are the Big 3. These sites have two basic principles: 1) you may generally print TWO of each coupon, either by pressing your back button once (if a message pops up that says your computer will have to resend the information, say OK) or by looking for the coupon again, and 2) at the end of each month, the coupons reset. So, if you find a high-value coupon for Huggies (there is one this month, btw), you can print two of those coupons immediately. Then, you may print two more, if they are still available, next month (the coupons have even been known to reset the print limits within the same month; check your favorite blog). May I suggest something, though? Unless you KNOW you will get the product, wait until you plan your shopping trip. Otherwise, you will end up with lots of expired printable coupons and less printer ink to boot. Sorry to be a killjoy.

8. The internet (for electronic coupons). This is weird, but I know that with Kroger (don't know where else), you can register your Kroger Plus card number with three services that will allow you to upload a one-time coupon onto your card. The amount of the coupon will deduct itself automatically, with no fuss, and will show on your receipt. It will only do this one time. However, it can make for some really great savings. Say you buy a box of granola bars. Use a manufacturer coupon on them for 50 cents (it will double to 1.00 at most grocery stores); if you are at Kroger, you can usually upload a coupon for the granola bars onto your Kroger Plus card. So, you can save upwards of $1.50 on a single box! Try Cellfire, Shortcuts, and Procter and Gamble's electronic coupons (P & G makes for some great deals this week @ Kroger, btw!).

Okay, the husband is calling for me to hit the sack, so I better go. Hope these ideas help you out...I know I probably forgot something, so post it for the good of the group, folks! Happy couponing!

Comments Welcome!

At least, they are now. I changed the permissions so that you can actually post comments and ideas for deals, like I have asked for.... Thank you for being patient as I learn more about this craft!

I will post again later with some ideas for how to find coupons, for those of you who are just going to start building up your coupon stash. I went to Piggly Wiggly today and scored two coupon fliers (see July posting) as well as a coupon for $2.00 off milk wyb (when you buy) 5 Kellogg's cereals. Now, why didn't I find that silly coupon before I went to Rite Aid the other day? Ah, regret..... :-)

Anyway, thanks for following me, and we'll talk again soon.

An Ode to Rite Aid

Oh, Rite Aid, how do I love thee?
Thou art more organized than I could ever be....
(although Nivea Lip Care was hard to find that one week)
Your cashiers are endlessly polite,
About coupons you never fight.

Okay, so my poetry needs a bit of work, daahlings, but here is the point:
I have seen bloggers post pictures of their "steals and deals" from stores, and sometimes, it irritates me. What, are they just trying to brag? Make me feel like less of a woman 'cause I paid full price for four rolls of toilet paper the other day?

I think I have the answer. Yes, they are bragging, a little. But the primary reason why I am going to post a picture of my deal is that I want people to understand that you, too, can do this. I am not a smart person, by any account, but I skim my favorite blogs using Google Reader, buy the newspaper, and print off coupons as needed. And, that is what I did for the following deal:

6 boxes Kellogg's Cereal @ 2 for $4
4 boxes Kellogg's Pop-Tarts @ 2 for $4
4 tubs Pampers wipes @ 2.49 (I used a raincheck for these babies)

Then, I used:
2 - $1 off Apple Jacks or Froot Loops (found on back of mini boxes of cereal @ bread store)
2 - $1 off wyb 2 Kellogg's Cereals (printed)
2 - $1 off wyb 2 Kellogg's Pop Tarts (one printed, one from newspaper)
4 - $2 off Pampers wipes (from newspaper, but I bought some from Ebay)
1 - $5 off Rite Aid purchase over $25 (printed from Rite Aid "Video Rewards" online)
1 - $2 +UP Reward (was going to expire...prints on end of receipts at Rite Aid)

My total was $10.91. However, each Kellogg's item caused $1 in "+UP Rewards" (aka Rite Aid money that works like CVS ExtraCare Bucks, if you know that system) to print: $5 worth. Then, I will get back a $5 rebate from Rite Aid for purchasing at least $15 in Kellogg's items.

Final cost: $0.91 for 14 items, or about 7 cents an item!!

Let me repeat: I am not a genius. I also do not run from store to store, scooping up every cheap or free deal possible. If I did that, I would be broke and with a house full of junk I don't need. But, the few things I do happen to work for me.

Let me encourage you to buy a newspaper, or to ask your friends, neighbors, and co-workers if they have coupon inserts that they don't use. You can do it!

Olay Skin Care Rebate!

I know that we will be able to find some great deals with this rebate, which Olay does fairly often....

This information is quoted from a Club Olay email, which I received on 7/26/10; however, the information was also advertised in this week's newspaper insert.

"Get a $20 rebate when you purchased $50.00 worth of facial moisturizers, facial cleansers, and facial treatments. All purchases must be made by September 3, 2010. Rebate submissions must be postmarked by September 17, 2010."

Get the rebate form here and fill it out, making sure to send in your original receipts and write down the UPC codes from the applicable products (in other words, don't throw the box out!). Happy deal hunting! I will post any ideas I have on working the rebate as soon as I get them.

Also, have you signed up to be a member of Club Olay yet? It's worth it, but only if you like receiving coupons, samples, and other information before everyone else. :-)

New Coupons Found at Piggly Wiggly!

Since Piggly Wiggly grocery stores are independently owned and operated, the coupon flier found here may not be found in your store. This was found in the Manchester, Georgia Piggly Wiggly, next to the shopping baskets on the right side of the store (beside the doors). Please call your store to see if they have it. (Also, please note the varying expiration dates before you plan your shopping--they are all over the place!)

"Back to School" Coupon Flier--"Over $25 in Coupon Savings"
(It states that the offer is good at this location only, but the coupons printed are all manufacturer coupons. The only coupons that are only usable at Piggly Wiggly stores are the ones which refer to their store-branded items, called Best Choice.)

$1 off when you buy (wyb) any 2 Vlasic items (exp 9/13/10)

$1 off any package Carl Buddig Deli Cuts (good from 8/1/10-10/31/10)

$1 off any Axe Deodorant or Bodyspray product (exp 9/13/10; these go on sale at Rite Aid and Kroger fairly often)

$1 off any Blue Bunny Novelty Carton (exp 9/30/10)

$1 off wyb any 2 Breyers Ice Cream products (exp 9/13/10)

$0.55 off wyb any 2 Campbells' Spaghetti-O's canned pasta (exp 8/31/10)

$0.55 off wyb any 2 V8 Splash Beverages (exp 8/31/10)

FREE Clorox Regular Bleach (96 oz) wyb any two participating products (exp 9/13/10):
Includes Clorox Regular Bleach, Clorox Clean-Up Cleanser with Bleach, Clorox Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner, Pine-Sol Brand Cleaner 48 oz, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes 35 ct, Tilex Mold and Mildew Remover, Glad Trash Bags.
(*Rite Aid has a sale on Glad Trash Bags week of 7/24; Piggly Wiggly has the Disinfecting Wipes for 2/$4--just in time for school! Clorox Bleach is on sale at Piggly Wiggly for 2/$3, so you could get 3-96 oz. jugs of bleach for $3.00, if you needed it.)

FREE Clorox Disinfecting Wipes (35 ct.) wyb any two participating products:
See above.

FREE GreenWorks Naturally Derived Cleaning Product wyb any GreenWords Naturally Derived Laundry Detergent (45 oz or larger, exp 9/13/10)

FREE Glad Food Bags wyb any 2 Glad Food Storage or GladWare products (exp 9/13/10)

$1 off wyb any 2 Shedd's Spread Country Crock Spread Products (45 oz indicated; exp 9/13/10)

$1 off any 2 All Natural Dole Salad Kits (exp 9/30/10)

$1 off wyb any 2 Dove Body Wash or Beauty Bar products (exp 9/13/10)

FREE Best Choice pudding cups wyb any 2 Hormel Compleats microwave meals (exp 9/14/10; there are coupons out there for the Hormel meals, and it is perfectly appropriate to use them, since the free coupon is attached to the free item, the pudding cups)

FREE Country Crock side dish wyb any 1 Hormel Refrigerated Entree (exp 9/14/10)

$0.75 off wyb any 3 Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper, or Chicken Helper boxed Skillet Meals (exp 9/30/10; there are constantly deals running in various stores to put these items at $1.00 apiece, so this coupon would make 3 boxes of Hamburger Helper cost $0.75 a box)

FREE bagged salad (up to $2.50) wyb any 1 Hormel Cure 81 boneless quarter ham AND any Country Crock Side Dish (exp 9/14/10)

$2 off Milk wyb any 5 Kellogg's cereals, 12 oz or larger, any flavor, mix or match (exp 9/15/10)

$1 off any 2 Velveeta Shells and Cheese Dinners (exp 9/13/10; Piggly Wiggly has these on sale now, so it would make for a cheap side dish or donation to your local food pantry)

$0.75 off any 2 Luzianne Tea Products (exp 9/13/10; there are two kinds of Luzianne tea pictured, but remember: when it says any, it means any)

$1 off wyb any 2 Planters Cocktail or Dry Roasted Peanuts (exp 9/13/10)

$0.75 off any 1 Oscar Mayer Deli Creations Sandwiches (exp 9/13/10; goes on sale at Kroger, Ingles, etc. fairly often, and can also be found on markdown, which makes for a cheap or nearly free lunch)

$1 off wyb any two 64 oz bottles of Ocean Spray CranEnergy, Blueberry, or Fruit and Veggie Juices and Juice Drinks (exp 9/30/10)

$1 off wyb any 3 Skippy Peanut Butter products (exp 9/13/10)

$1 off wyb any 2 Suave Professionals Shampoo or Conditioner products (exp 9/13/10)

FREE fruit snacks (up to $2.00) wyb any 5 participating ConAgra Foods products (exp 13/10):
Includes Manwich 15.5 oz, Snack Pack pudding 4 pack, Chef Boyardee Canned Pasta 15 oz and Microwaveable Cups 7.5 oz, Hunt's Pasta Sauce 26-26.5 oz, RoTel Diced Tomatoes 10 oz, Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popping Corn 3-pack, Peter Pan peanut butter 13-18oz and Kid Cuisine. (Snack Packs are constantly on sale for $1 a pack, and if your kids like them for school lunches, it is not a bad deal.)

Remember that the key to great couponing is to save coupons for when the store has a sale and/or they are also providing rebates (as with Rite Aid) for a certain amount of purchasing. Happy shopping!