What started as a research project has turned into a FULL BLOWN ADDICTION!

After my post about saving money I was talking to my nearest and dearest friend Stephanie, she had just discovered a way to get groceries for almost free. Hell, I figured, Why not? I have paid too much for years, not to mention the dilemma of never being able to find anything I wanted to make for dinner, this could be a solution. Well, not only has it turned out to be a solution, it has turned out to be an obsession.
I have never clipped a coupon in my life, never, as a matter of fact I have hated all you “couponers” with such conviction that I have almost had my own stand up routine ripping on you people.
The thought of getting the paper and sitting down, clipping all the coupons for things that I probably never needed in the first place out, gathering them in a accordion file, going to the grocery, and then inconveniencing the entire shopping population at the check out line was not only a nightmare to me, but a platform that I was completely not willing to stand on. Something changed. I went to Jill Cataldo’s class, for research purposes, and found out how to not only save money, do it without humiliating myself, and have fun with my friends. Oh yeah, I forgot, I am now giving food to the hungry, at no extra expense of my own!
These are the notes I took in Jill’s class. Her Website is www.jillcataldo.com
Coupon Class Notes- By Lizzy
When Super Coupon-ing remember that you ARE NOT ripping off the store, stores get 8 cents over the coupon amount back from the manufacturer, therefore taking a coupon makes them more money than it would if you were paying with cold hard cash.
The best mindset to use is that coupons are CASH, or even more valuable than cash to stores.
Every single item that we buy is on a 12 week interval, meaning that it goes to its lowest price every twelve weeks. It is important to remember that when shopping, buy enough for 12 weeks if possible.
The Chicago Tribune is the absolute BEST paper to receive, the amounts of the coupons are higher, always. An online coupon to get it for 50 cents per week for JUST the Sunday paper is 09TJ.
Stores such as Walmart, Aldi, and other “discount stores” are NOT cheaper. They are MIDDLE stores vs. Jewel, Myer, and Dominick’s that are HIGH/LOW stores. HIGH/LOW stores are better for coupon-ing because half of their items are lower than the MIDDLE stores are and half are higher, our job is to buy the lower items, NOT THE HIGHER ONES. The MIDDLE stores will NEVER save you money when “Super Coupon-ing”
Loading Coupons online to your loyalty cards (i.e. preferred card and dominicks card) will allow for “stacking” coupons, you can and should use store coupons and manufacturers coupons simultaneously when ever possible. In-store flyers are good for this at Walgreens and CVS. You can go to three different sites for dominicks, the Proctor and Gamble site (google it), shortcuts.com, cellfire.com.
Always buy the smallest amount allowed when using a coupon (if it is less expensive), this ensures that you receive the lowest price per ounce/unit.
Watch for store coupons that say BUY 3 on any of “these items” to earn a certain amount back on your next purchase, buy the cheapest NOT WHAT YOU WANT. This means you are getting more for free when bundling with a manufacturer or store coupon.
Watch for DOLLAR SALES, it is the easiest way to get a freebee. Link it with a $1 off coupon and you are in business.
Look at the text on the coupon NOT the picture, most the time you can buy different items from the same manufacturer. (remember to go for the least expensive)
Watch for Blinky Coupons and Tear off’s at the store. You will usually want to wait until the 12 week low to use them. It is a “trick” that the store uses to get you to buy the item at a higher price, if you wait, you will get a much better price. Those coupons usually do not expire for a LONG time.
Do not rush to use any of your coupons, they raise most of the prices right before they come out.
B1G1 (Buy one get one)-
Use two coupons instead of one. For instance if it is B1G1 on CoCo Pebbles, the price is $5.00 for both, the stores usually charge $2.50 for each box, if you have two $1 coupons they end up being $1.50 each equaling $3 vs. $4 if you used only one coupon. (Dominick’s does not allow this)
Save your “free item” coupons until they are almost expired, try not to use them until you see a B1G1 at the store. This way you get both for free. Obviously, if they are almost expired, go get the free item. Remember coupons are cash, actually better than cash for stores.
Familiarize yourself with Store Coupon Policies. It is the best way to handle a grumpy cashier and remember, they most likely are not trained well and are just protecting their jobs.
Watch out for Catalina’s (the things that come out of the receipt machine after your receipt does) that say “Not a redeemable coupon”, They are very valuable for making you aware of upcoming events that are likely not published in your flyers/magazines/etc.
As a rule, we should only be shopping Sun-Wed, these days are not only better because there are two sales going on, but grocery stores up their prices Thurs-Sat because they know business will be forced to come in for weekend needs.
Do NOT be brand specific. If you cannot wait the 12 week interval for your FAVORITE brand, go for the less expensive sister item, this will save you hundreds of dollars.
Look for Red Plum, Proctor and Gamble, and Smart Source in the Sunday paper, when you receive them mark the date on the outside of the packet with a black marker.
Get a “split” organizer. It looks like an accordion file (and is one) but it looks like it is pregnant with a smaller accordion file on the front of it.
Put your dated Coupons from the paper and your magazines in the large part by weekly date.
Use the little file for your Blinky coupons, tear offs, Catalinas, etc. In other words, all of your loose coupons.
The smaller one is suggested to be broken up by Catalina, Beauty Needs, Grocery, etc.
Do not clip Coupons in advance. It is time consuming, this should take you no more than 2 hours a week, after you receive the grocery ad, you go to the website, it tells you where the coupon is, you clip it, put that weeks coupons in an envelope, and go to the store, it’s that simple.
NEVER EVER throw away your coupons until they expire (Dominick’s takes expired coupons, so they never expire). You may not need a Venus razor, but I am guessing you will take it for FREE, this is the biggest mistake most make when trying to get to this level of savings.
Tips to know on different stores
Walgreens
They have register rewards, watch for store coupons to stack with manufacturers coupons.
CVS
They have “Extra Care Bucks”, they print out like a receipt, most accidentally throw them away.
Target
They run a lot of “buy so many of this item and get a GIFT CARD”, you can stack these will manufactures and store coupons and often get free money or at least the items for free.
Dominick’s
They are the only ones in our area that take expired coupons, don’t forget! Put all your expired coupons in a section of your accordion file just for Dominick’s.
Kmart
They are the only ones in our area that will occasionally do DOUBLE COUPONS. Watch for this very closely. FREEBEES GALORE!
Suggestions from our teacher
For New Coupon Kings and Queens, they may want to SUBSCRIBE (which means you pay) to Grocerygame.com or coupon mom.com, it tells you exactly where all your coupons are to be cut out, if you put jillcataldo.com in, you get a free month. It is $1.25 per month, per store, I may try it for research sake.
I do not believe that you need to do this since Jill’s website almost does it, go on and check it out, she is a very crafty lady! www.jillcataldo.com
Good luck and remember, this is supposed to be fun!
This cost me $20, EVERYTHING IN THE PICTURE!!!!!
