How to Coupon and Save Money
Welcome to our Site, sit back and learn how to coupon and save money. There are a ton of ways you can save money for your family each month. You can learn to coupon, shop with Amazon Sales, buy coupon inserts, take advantage of our coupon matchups and so much more.
If you find yourself living paycheck to paycheck month after month, you are not alone! It’s time to make some changes!
We help the average American household save over 70% on Almost Everything.
Coupons at the Store
We will provide a step by step guide to help you get started. Your jaw will drop after you see how much money you have been wasting! Start Saving HUNDREDS of Dollars a Month!
When you first hit our home page you will see a list of all the most recent posts with HOT deals to save you money. You can scroll through the deals and find what you can save on items your family needs.
Save at all of your local stores-Local Deals for your favorite stores complete with the sales and coupon matchups to give you the best savings possible. Find an easy to use a printable list to take with you to the store. You can find all of the in-store deals for your favorite stores here.
Amazon Sales– Price drops, codes, subscribe and Save options and more. Save tons of money on everyday items such as clothes, toys, household items, shoes, grocery items without spending hours searching for the deals. We do the work for you! Pay less for items shipped right to your door! You can find out even more on how to save at Amazon here.
Codes – We have current update coupon codes for your favorite stores to shop online or in the store. Every day we scour the web finding codes for your favorite retail stores as well as Amazon codes.
Free Stuff Finder- We have tons of freebies that you can grab! Some of the freebies will be at your local stores, while some freebies will be mail offers from some of your favorite companies!
DIY Projects – We are constantly working and finding easy to do projects for the average person to complete. Save money on hundreds of things by you can make at home with items that you probably already have!
Budget Friendly Recipes – We work diligently to give you great meals for your family at great prices. Find recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner along with desserts and appetizers that taste yummy but won’t break the bank.
1. Use the Weekly Ads for your favorite stores on everyday products that are on SALE! The stores are located HERE. This is the sale ad you would see in your store but we have all the coupons to give you the best savings. You can also find updated deals throughout the week that pop up. If you find a deal, be sure to share it with us!
Check the ads each week and stock up on the sale items. You will be surprised at how many FREE items you will soon have. I have marked all of the stock up prices on items in YELLOW each week in the ad to let you know that it is a great price for that item
2. Check out Site every day for free samples, find tons of Amazon price drops, and tons of products that pop up for your favorite stores at the rock bottom sale price!
How to Save Money With Coupons
If you want to become a coupon expert, or at least start saving some money you must become familiar with coupon terms! Here is a list that should help you get started!
$1.00/2, $2.00/2, etc
One dollar off two products, two dollars off two products, etc. You must buy 2 items to receive any savings; you cannot redeem the coupon on one product for half the value.
BOGO
Buy one, get one. Will usually end with free or half off meaning buy one, get one half off, or buy one get one free.
B1G1, B2G1
Another way to write buy one, get one. The B stands for buy, the G stands for get. The numbers indicate how many of a product you must buy to qualify and the number of products you get when you redeem the coupon or offer. B1G1= Buy one, get one. B2G1= Buy two, get one B2G2= Buy two, get two
Blinkie
Manufacturer coupons dispensed by coupon machines found in grocery aisles next to products. Recognize them by the blinking red light. Dispenses coupons one at a time in intervals. Manufacturer blinkie coupons may be redeemed at any store, not necessarily the store in which you found them.
Catalina
Sometimes abbreviated as CAT, Catalina coupon machines located at register, dispense long receipt-like coupons that may be used on a future purchase. Catalinas, refer to the coupons themselves which may be manufacturer or store coupons. Some Catalina coupons are advertised and some are generated based on consumer behavior.
Coupon Insert
Circulars inserted into Sunday newspapers amongst the other advertisements. Smart Source (SS), Red Plum (RP) and Proctor and Gamble (PG) put out coupon inserts, sometimes just called inserts. Coupon inserts are a valuable money-saving tool and we suggest buying multiple Sunday newspapers in order to have enough coupons to create a stockpile.
A note from a store or manufacturer that entitles shopper to a discount on specific product. Coupons may be clipped from the newspaper, printed from the internet or even downloaded to your store loyalty card.
Double
Select stores always double coupons up to a certain value, usually $0.50. If your store doubles coupons up to $0.50 off, any coupon $0.50 or under will be doubled in value. Coupons $0.51 or greater will be worth face value, no doubling. You do not need to present two coupons for one item. Each will be worth twice the value. Other stores may double coupons on a particular week day, usually a slower day like Tuesday. Other stores may offer physical store twice-the-value coupons. Even other stores may feature double coupons on a special promo week basis and will advertise this in their weekly ad.
eCoupons
Electronic coupons may be downloaded onto your store loyalty card or cell phone. Download from your PC or go mobile and download to your loyalty card through your cell phone. Grocery coupons must be downloaded to your loyalty card and will be deducted automatically when you swipe your card at checkout. E-coupons may be downloaded to your cell-phone for other retail items such as movie rentals. Download a coupon using the mobile ap and show your discount code to your cashier.
Extra Bucks
CVS rewards program, formerly called ECBs. Extra Bucks print according to the stores weekly or monthly advertised deals. When you make a qualifying purchase, you receive the coordinating Extra Bucks value as advertised. Extra Bucks are similar to catalinas or register rewards, but they print directly onto the bottom of your receipt.
EXP
Expires or Expiration Date
Handling Fee
Refers to an amount, usually $0.08, paid by the manufacturer to reimburse the store for the trouble of accepting a coupon. The handling fee is usually used to pay a clearing house to sort, organize and bill the manufacturer. If a store chose to sort its own coupons, they will keep the handling fee
MIR
Mail in Rebate, refers to rebates which must be submitted by mail. These are the traditional rebates that require you to mail in both your receipt and proof of purchase in the form of UPC barcodes. Manufacturer: The company who produces the brand items: Dove soap manufacturer, Pace Salsa manufacturer, etc.
MFR
Manufacturer abreviation.
Manufacturer Coupon
A coupon created by the manufacturer, or by a marketing company on the manufacturers behalf. Manufacturer offers a discount to shoppers in order to entice them to buy their product. When a coupon is redeemed the manufacturer reimburses the store for the entire value of the coupon, plus a handling fee, aprox $0.08.
One per Purchase
Refers to your ability to use one coupon per item. Meant to enforce the point that you may not use two of the exact same coupon for one item.
One per Transaction
Limits you to only using one of this coupon per transaction. You may request to do separate transactions. Example: If you have 5 coupons that read one coupon per transaction you may request to separate into 5 transactions and pay 5 times.
Peelie
Adhesive manufacturer coupons found on products in the store. Peelies are often good on a wider selection of products than the one it is stuck to. Be sure to read the fine print on the peelie to discover if the coupon may be used on a smaller size or different variety of the same product, to allow you to maximize savings.
P&G
Proctor and Gamble manufacture a wide range of consumer goods and are one of the largest corporations in the world. Proctor and Gamble put out monthly inserts filled with coupons for a variety of Proctor and Gamble produced brands, just a few of which include: Always, Bounty, Crest, Dawn, Gillette, Olay, Pampers and Tide.
Purchase
A purchase refers to buying any item. If I buy 30 items on a single shopping trip, I just made 30 purchases.
Purchase-Based Coupon
Purchase-Based coupons specify a dollar amount off a minimum dollar future purchase. Some common values: $2 off $10, $3 off $15, $4 off $20. Purchase based coupons may be used in addition to store and manufacturer coupons.
Raincheck
A Rain Check is a written slip that you can request from a store when a sale item is out of stock. When the store restocks the item, after the sale period is over, a rain check entitles you to purchase for the previous sale price. Store may include an expiration date as well as a quantity limit on your rain check. Rain checks are usually issued at the customer service desk.
Rebate
A rebate is a refund of part or all of the amount paid. Rebates are sponsored by a store or a manufacturer. Either clip and mail UPC barcodes or enter receipt proof of purchase online, then wait for your rebate check in the mail.
RR
Register Rewards. Walgreens drugstore rewards program, and version of the catalina coupon. Look for the same machines located at register, dispensing long receipt-like coupons that may be used on a future purchase. RRs cannot be rolled like catalinas.
Rolling Catalinas
Refers to the practice of separating your purchase into multiple transactions in order to use register catalina coupons from your first transaction to pay for your second transaction. Another catalina prints from the 2nd transaction that pays for the 3rd transaction and so on.
RP
Red Plum. Formerly known as Vallasis, Red Plum coupon inserts and website feature coupons from a variety of manufacturers. Red Plum is part of Valassis Interactiv.
SS
Smart Source. A marketing company, like RP, Smart Source inserts and website feature coupons from a variety of manufacturers. Smart Source is part of News America Marketing Co. Smart Source inserts can be found in most Sunday papers.
Stacking
Stacking may refer to using any two promotions together. When a coupon coincides with a promotion, we say “stack the coupon with the sale or promotionâ€.
Stacking Coupons
Stacking coupons refers to using both a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon on one product. Nearly all stores will allow you to stack. Only one manufacturer coupon may be used per item.
Stockpile
to buy many items at a time in order to build your stockpile.
Store Coupon
A coupon created by the store to entice you to buy a certain product at their store. Stores receive no reimbursement from store coupons. Store coupons may be found in the weekly ad, printed online or downloaded as e-coupons. Store Loyalty Card: A free card which you present at checkout to receive additional savings. Fill out a short application to receive a loyalty card at your local grocer. If you dont want to carry the card, the cashier can look up your preferred card by entering your ten digit phone number.
Transaction
A transaction refers to your entire purchase, especially the payment you make for that purchase. If I buy 30 items and then pay the cashier, I just made one transaction.
Tear Pad
A pad of manufacturer coupons found near product on shopping aisles. Tear pad manufacturer coupons may be used at any store, not just the one where you found the coupon.
WAGS
Abbreviation for Walgreens Drugstore
UPC
Universal Product Code. Bar code printed on product packages that can be scanned electronically.
WYB
When You Buy. Some sales or coupons require the purchase of multiple items. When reporting a deal on KCL, we always include a final price. Example: Buy 2 Mint Milano cookies $2.00 each, use 1 $1.00/2 coupons, Final Price: $1.50 each, WYB 2. You must buy 2 in order to use the $1.00/2 coupon, so the final price states WYB 2?.
Saving Money Tips: Finding The Coupons
1. Newspaper Inserts
The best place to find coupons is in the Sunday paper. There are three different inserts that come out on a regular basis: Smart Source (SS), Red Plum (RP) and Procter & Gamble (PG). To become a coupon expert, youll want to get your hands on two to four copies of each of these coupon inserts. It may sounds crazy buy you will need buy multiple products when theyre at rock bottom prices. You can buy coupon inserts from us.
2. Printable
Printable coupons are very popular coupon world. From Coupons.com to Facebook to manufacturer websites, youll find them in more places than you’d ever imagine. The best part about it: theyre free. Of course youll need a computer and a printer, and youll have to download a bit of software. But rest assured, printing coupons from your home computer is safe and easy! We compiled the most up-to-date, comprehensive, inclusive printable coupon database on the web. Youll find over 2,000 printable coupons just waiting at your fingertips. All you have to do is click and print.
3. Mobile
Nowadays there’s a new way to save that’s even easier and faster than newspaper and printables. Introducing, mobile coupons — coupons you get through your mobile phone. Programs and apps like Ibotta, Checkout 51, Cartwheel, Shopmium allow you to download coupons to your phone and redeem cash back savings after youve purchased a product. If you feel like your short on time but want to start saving something, these are great ways to start.
4. eCoupons
eCoupon is just a shortened word for an electronic coupon. These coupons are loaded onto your store loyalty card via your phone or computer. Several grocery stores have eCoupon programs, like Safeway, Kroger and Publix to name a few. To access eCoupons, head to your store site, register, add your card number to your account, peruse the coupons, click the ones you want and load them to your card. To redeem, just swipe your card at checkout and the discount is automatically deducted from your balance.
Organize Your Coupons
How to organize your coupons? Here are some ideas to organize YOUR coupons. Keep in mind these are only ideas, try a few out and find something that works best for you!
Organizing Method #1 Using Envelopes
Clip all the coupons you’ll use and store them in the applicable envelopes so you’ll find them easily. Once you have all your coupons sorted within the envelopes, store the envelopes in a plastic tub, shoebox, file folders, whatever works best for you.
Another idea for envelope organizing is to label and sort the envelopes by month.
Organizing Method #2 An Accordion File Or Wallet
You can choose a large accordion file (like in the picture) or a wallet-sized one, they do hold a lot even though they are smaller. The best wallet-sized ones for long term use would be a plastic or fabric organizer since they hold up longer, the wallet size also makes it easy to bring all your coupons with you on your shopping trips.
Use each pocket to store your coupons. If you have a wallet-sized accordion file organizer, keep the front pocket free and you can toss in the coupons that you plan to use on your next shopping trip.
If you’re going to buy an accordion file (either a folder or wallet), look for one that has tabs on top of the pockets. This way you can mark each pocket (ie. the Month or Product Category) and you can see at a glance what each pocket holds.
If you’re going to make yourself an accordion system, make or buy tabs that you can attach to each pocket. The tabs really do help you find the right pocket quickly.
Coupon Organizer Method #3 An Index File Box
You can go as large as you need to or keep it small with recipe and index card boxes if you don’t have a large coupon collection (although these little boxes will hold a lot!).
Use dividers to separate your categories and then cut, clip and sort your coupons within each category. Either buy index dividers that will fit your box or make them out of the cardboard from old cereal boxes. Make sure each index divider is tabbed so you can mark the sections.
Organizing Method #4 A Organizer Binder
You can use a regular binder but for a complete coupon center, a zippered organizer binder with inside pockets will give you lots of useful features. With the binder zipped up, you’ll have no worries about coupons or supplies falling loose and getting lost. You can setup the binder to hold everything you need for shopping and coupon clipping plus there’s an added benefit: you can easily take it with you while shopping.
Some ideas to store in the zippered binder:
* Small pair of scissors for coupon clipping
* Calculator
* Pad of paper (for grocery list making)
* A Price Book
* sorting mat (you can make your own)
* Pens or pencils
Inside your binder of choice, fill it with plastic sheets for trading cards (like hockey or baseball card collecting). You can also find plastic sheets with four pockets per sheet (the ones you buy for photo albums), these pockets are a little larger than the trading card sheets. Use these plastic pockets to store your coupons and keep them organized.
Separate the plastic sheets with binder dividers. You can sort each section: By alphabetical, By expiry date, By product category, or whatever you like. Do some experimenting and see which method works best for you and your needs.
You can buy zippered binders in any number of sizes, but you’ll want a size that will fit the plastic pocket sheets. These plastic sheets can be bought online, at your local card collecting shop and most department stores such as Walmart and Target.
How To Sort & Organize Coupons
* By Expiry Date: You can clip together coupon batches by month (based on expiry dates) or just store them all loose in the envelope/pocket/etc., with the about to expire coupons at the front and moving back (by date).
* By Products: Within your Beauty & Health category, you can clip together all the shampoo coupons, all the deodorant coupons, makeup coupons, etc. Within each product category, sort the coupons by expiry date (with the soon to expire coupons on top).
* Sort Alphabetically: Another way to organize coupons within the system is by product name or product item (Ivory Soap, Smuckers Jam, or Peanut Butter, Laundry Detergent, etc.).
Choose whatever method works best for you, the goal is to setup a system that will help you to use your coupons before they expire as well as know where to find a particular coupon when looking for it.
How to Save Money with Store Coupon Matchups
A coupon match up is a round up of all the best deals from the weekly sales flyer and then we match those deals up to the coupons that are currently available!! By using the coupon match ups you save time because we have done all the matching for you, all that is left is pulling out your coupons and going to the store!
A How to Use Store Matchups
There are many different ways that blogs do coupon matchups. You might not see the same format on each blog.
There are several items that you will find in most matchups:
- The Product
- The Price of that Product
- Coupons you can use with that product
- The price of the product per unit you will pay for that product after your coupon
Here is an Example of a matchup:
Each Week we put together a list of all the sales in each stores ad each week. We them match ALL the coupons you could use on the deal, and then give you a final price for the savings.
Heading off to the Store
1. Pick a Store
Since couponing can be a bit overwhelming in the beginning, make it easier by getting to know one store at a time.
2. Get the Store Policy
Once you’ve picked your store, its time to find the policy. You can find them on our store pages. But for some reason, if its not on our site, conduct your own search by going to the store’s official website and entering coupon policy in the search bar. Now read the policy.
3. Keep the Policy on Hand
After you’ve found the policy, be sure to be armed with it when you go shopping.
4. Befriend the Bigwigs
Take the time to set up a meeting with management. If you are serious about couponing, this really is an important step. Through experience Ive learned that sooner or later you will end up speaking with the manager. So why not ensure that it happens in a controlled, peaceful environment rather than in the midst of a controversial discussion with your cashier? By doing each of the things weve listed, youll be armed with the right kind of knowledge to begin your couponing adventures.
Money Saving Tips: Questions And Answers
So You Have a Question?
Please read over our most common questions. If this does not answer your questions, please feel free to email me!
How do I know if my store accepts printable coupons?
Most every grocery and drug store headquarters policies state that they accept printable coupons but there are a few stores that do not like to follow the rules. If you have a problem call the national customer service line for the store and they will email you their policy, print off the policy and take it the store manager to refresh them. They will usually apologize profusely and help you get your groceries.
Can I print more than one?
Most coupon sites do have a maximum allowed, however it is normally more than one! The easiest way to print more from any site is: After the screen comes up that it is Sending coupons to printer wait until your printer stops and then hit the backspace key or hit the back around button to go back one page. You will see the icon come back that says sending coupons and it will send another set to your printer. Most sites only allow to do this once though for a maximum of two coupons.
Will I Be Able to Get a Coupon Again?
Most of the time yes. Once you have reached your maximum for your household (or ip address really) you have to wait for the coupon provider to reset the coupon. Meaning they clear out who has already gotten it and open it back up for everyone. Some sites do this monthly (ex. Huggies Pull-ups) some are done more frequently. There is no way to know other than checking back every now and then. If it is a coupon for a product you love, you probably won’t mind trying it occasionally.
What is a coupon insert?
Inserts come in your Sunday newspaper. Find them amongst the retail ads. They are nearly always put out by one of three companies:
SS: Smart Source
RP: Red Plum
PG: Proctor & Gamble (once per month)
How do I get the coupons?
Subscribe to the newspaper! In fact, we suggest you subscribe to 4-6 copies of the Sunday paper.
Talk to your local convenience store to see if they will give their old papers to you.
Check coffee shops and fast food restaurants where you are a patron.
Ask your friends, family, co-workers, church members if they will save their inserts for you.
Buy coupons (pay a handling fee)
How do I get a coupon from an old date? Like SS 1/24
When we refer to a date, this means the coupon came from a Sunday newspaper insert.You need to start saving all your coupon inserts and either clipping and organizing by category or organizing un-clipped coupons by date. If you have not been saving your inserts or if you are new and we post about a coupon from a past week, you will be a bit out of luck.
Always consider buying clipped coupons online if you want an item badly enough.
Where are my inserts?
Holiday weekends carry no inserts. If you didn’t receive your inserts on any other week, contact your newspaper provider and request they be delivered to you.
What is stacking?
If you have a store coupon (ex. Target, Food Lion, CVS) and a Manufacturers coupon you can use both!! You cannot use two manufacturers coupons or two store coupons for the same product though.
You can Find more Lingo Here!
How do I know which coupons I can use together to stack?
You may only use one manufacturer coupon per item. A manufacturer coupon and a store coupon may be used together to purchase one item as long as neither coupon prohibits it.
Manufacturer coupons will state Manufacturer coupon across the top of the coupons.
Newspaper insert coupons: 99% of the time these are manufacturer coupons. Occasionally Target and Publix will have store coupons in the Sunday paper as well.
Printable coupons: Again, most printable coupons are manufacturer.
Blinkies: Blinkies are manufacturer coupons
Tearpads: Tearpads are manufacturer
Peelies:Peelies are manufacturer
eCoupons: eCoupons are manufacturer
Store coupons
Coupons in store weekly ad
Coupons printed from store website, example Safeway.com
What are Mobile or Text coupons?
Next time you are in a restaurant, hair salon, pet groomer, kennel etc. take a look around for a sign by the cash registers or on the counter. Normally it will let you know that you can save instantly by texting a word to a 5 digit number. Simply send an SMS text with that number and word and within seconds usually, your savings arrives. At most of the stores I have visited, I simply show my phone when I pay and the discount is taken of the bill. I have saved $5 at the hair salon, $5 at the Dog Kennel, tons of money at restaurants using their coupons for free items and $$ off my meals. Even stores like Target now have mobile coupons they can send to your Smartphone/iPhone to use at checkout and these can be stacked!!
What are price adjustments?
Many stores you can get a one time price adjustment if the item appears in the store’s ad. Stores specify a period of usually 7-14 days and if they feature the item you purchased for less, you can simply bring your receipt to the store the will refund the difference
When a store promotion specifies Spend $25, save $10, does the $25 have to be my total after I present my coupons?
No! You only must reach a minimum of $25 before tax. You may pay with as many coupons as you have. Even if your total after s only $11.00, you will still save that advertised $10.00.