Today we're going to go in depth about different coupons- where to find them, what they're called, how to use them, and why responsible and ethical coupon use is your BFF. Grab a hot beverage (what? it's a snow day here!) and your scissors and store envelope- we're ready to start!
There are lots and lots of places to find coupons these days, but the tried and true source that everyone is used to is the Sunday paper. It comes out once a week (really Rachel? I had no idea) and can contain anywhere from 0 (ouch) to 5+ coupon inserts every week. The major "brands" of coupon inserts and their abbreviations are:
- Smart Source (SS)
- Red Plum (RP)
- General Mills (GM)
- Proctor & Gamble (PG)
You'll find different products in each insert. The Proctor & Gamble insert usually only arrives once a month- the rest seem to vary in how often they're published. In some weeks, you'll get 2 versions of the same brand of insert, and they'll contain completely different coupons. If you're the kind of person who likes to hunt for birthday presents hidden in your house so you know what you're getting before you open them, you'll enjoy Sunday Coupon Preview, which will tell you how many inserts to expect in the coming week, and what coupons might be in them.
The thing to remember about coupon inserts is that they're regional. They vary greatly, even from paper to paper within the same city. Recently an insert came out with $4 off of Afrin. Other people got the same insert with a $3 off Afrin coupon instead, and others got the insert but it had no Afrin coupons. So preview sites can give you a general idea of what you'll get in the upcoming week, but remember that the coupons you get might be different.
You can also print manufacturer's coupons online. Ever look at your Facebook news feed and see two friends suddenly "liking" the same company at the same time? If your grandma and your 32 year old coupon freak friend both pop up as "liking" Minute Maid, you can bet Minute Maid is offering a coupon to their Facebook fans. You can also find coupons on the brands' websites, or on these printable coupon sites:
When you clip a coupon, you'll want to give it a once over. Try to ignore the product picture on it- read the wording carefully. This is a trap that a lot of couponers and cashiers get stuck in- quite often people assume that the item pictured on the coupon is the only item it can be used for. The company might use a picture of their newest flavor of chips, for example, but the coupon will say "any flavor", or the coupon will show you a six pack of soda but the coupon will say "any size". You'll need to train your brain to skip the picture and only pay attention to the wording, which can be hard at first, but you'll get much better deals if you don't just purchase whatever item the company pictures on the coupon.
The vast majority of the time, you'll only be able to use one manufacturer's coupon per item. However, many grocery stores will automatically double coupons that are under $1. You will need to check the coupon policy for whichever store you've decided to shop at. For me, Shaw's automatically doubles under $1, so if I have a coupon for .75 off one box of Cheerios, the register will subtract that number twice. That means that this week, Cheerios are on sale at Shaws at 1.75 a box, so I'll be bringing them home for .25 each! Score!
Your store might occasionally print dollar doublers in their weekly flyer. Usually these have a limit- say, 4 or 5 per order- but they can be used to double a $1 coupon to $2. Read the fine print on the doubler before you try to use it.
Besides manufacturer's coupons, you'll also come across store coupons. These coupons are to be used only in this particular store, and if you're lucky, your store will allow you to "stack" it with a manufacturer's coupon. "Stacking" means that you're combining different coupons on the same item, thus getting it at a deep discount. Drugstores are very good at letting you stack coupons, as is Target. Supermarkets all have their own rules on stacking, so your experience is going to be different than mine- another good reason to read your store's coupon policy.
Is your head spinning yet? Because we're about to discuss the third type of coupon you'll come across at stores. This one has different names depending on the store you shop at, but it's a coupon that is printed at the register after you buy a certain number or dollar amount of items. If it comes out of a separate machine at the grocery store, on a thin strip of paper, it's called a Catalina. At CVS it's an Extra Care Buck, at Rite Aid it's a +UP Reward, at Walgreens it's a Register Reward. These coupons are typically for a certain dollar amount off your next order. Next order means the next time you ring something up- if you separate your items into 2 transactions, and pay separately twice, you can use this catalina/ECB/etc. immediately on that second transaction.
Enough talking. Want to see how this works?
I mentioned Afrin earlier in this post. It's not a product I ever buy, but if a store is going to give it to me for free, will I take it? Sure. If you'll PAY me to take it home, will I "buy" it? You bet I will! In a couple of weeks Rite Aid will have a sale on Afrin. The sale price is $5.99, and when you purchase it you receive $4 in +UP rewards printed at the end of the order. Here's how I'm going to have Rite Aid pay me to take the Afrin home:
5.99
- $3/1 Afrin Coupon 1/2/11 SS (this means the coupon is $3 off 1 bottle, found in the Smart Source coupon insert that was printed on 1/2/11)
--and--
$2/1 Afrin Video Values (this is a store coupon that is for use only at Rite Aid)
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pay .99, get $4 +UP back (this $4 in +UP Rewards can be used as cash at any Rite Aid) = $3.01 "moneymaker"
And here, my friends, is secret #3 to saving huge money with coupons: Stack your coupons and roll your rewards for the biggest savings. Stack and roll, baby, stack and roll. Using the transaction above, I earned $4 in +UP Rewards, which I can then use in the following transaction, on Coricidin cough medicine, which is on sale the same week for $5.99, get $4 +UP back. I'll also throw in a tube of Colgate toothpaste to bring my out of pocket expense as close to $4 as possible. Colgate is $2.99, with a $2 +UP back.
$5.99 Coricidin
-$2/1 IP MQ ($2 internet printable manufacturer's coupon)
-$2/1 Coricidin Video Values coupon (this is a store coupon that is for use only at Rite Aid)
$2.99 Colgate Total
-$1/1 Colgate coupon SS 1/16/11 ($1 off 1 tube coupon, found in the Smart Source insert from 1/16/11)
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you pay $3.98 with your $4 +UP reward and get back $6 +UP ($4 for Coricidin and $2 for Colgate)
Did you see how I stacked & rolled in those two transactions alone? I now have 1 Afrin, 1 Colgate, and 1 Coricidin, for which I paid .99 in cash AND walked away with $6 in +UPs to use on my next transaction.
"But Rachel!" I hear you thinking to yourself-- to me-- "how can that be OK? Doesn't that seem like stealing? Doesn't the store lose money when you use a coupon?" Nope, the store MAKES money every time you use a coupon. Look very very closely at coupon fine print.
RETAILER: (company) will reimburse you for the face value of this coupon plus 8¢ handling if submitted in compliance with (company) Coupon Redemption Policy.So if you use a $1 off coupon, your store gets paid back that $1 plus 8 cents. Your store will generally eat the cost of any store coupons they offer, but manufacturers will often pay for any after-purchase rewards that are earned as well. On my above two transactions, Rite Aid only "loses" the $4 for the two store coupons, and still makes the $7 from the manufacturer coupons and the $10 for the +UP Rewards.
This means you can hold your head up high when you use a coupon, and ignore your cashier's loud sigh when you hand over your stack. The store is MAKING money on your coupons. Of course, they'll only make money on the coupons you use correctly. This is why it's never OK to photocopy a coupon, or try to force a cashier to take a coupon that you know is for the wrong item or has already expired. Don't abuse the system!
Other general coupon etiquette rules that I want to quickly discuss:
- If you are doing multiple transactions, always do one, then get in the back of the line to do your next one. It's not cool to hold up the check-out line so you can work your magic. It gives couponers a bad name!
- NEVER "smash & grab". It's rude to clear the shelves of a particular product UNLESS there are only a couple of items on the shelf, or it's the last day of a sale. Always leave enough for others. If you have awesome coupons and know a great deal is coming up, talk to your store manager about ordering you a case of that product.
- Be polite and kind to your cashier. Make friends with them! Smile big, be kind, be gracious, and use common courtesy. Their job is hard enough as it is. Kindness on your part will make your shopping ten times easier, especially if you frequent the same store. The cashiers at my Rite Aid recognize me and give me smiles when I walk in. Some people will leave coupons for their favorite cashiers if they express interest in an item. Just be kind, and it'll get you far.
Woah...I think that's enough for today. Please leave any questions you have for me in the comments and I'll be happy to answer them!
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