Where to Get Coupons

• Sunday Papers
• Internet Coupon Sites (coupons.com, couponnetwork.com, redplum.com, smartsource.com)
• Facebook
• Manufacturer Websites (usually requires registering with email address, then you can print coupons or a link to the coupon will be emailed to you).

NOTE: Create email account just for couponing!

Main Goals

Goal 1: to purchase items at their lowest possible price and use coupons to bring the price even lower. This means that to get the most for your money, you should wait for items to go on sale and use your coupons with the sale price.

Ex. Lipton Tea is regularly priced at $3.99 and you have a $.50/1 manufacturer’s coupon (that will double to $1.00 off at most grocery stores). If you purchase the tea at its regular price and use your coupon it will cost you $2.99. If you wait for it go on sale (i.e., Buy One Get One) then your price would be $1.49 (half the regular price of the item)  minus the value of your coupon (doubled!) $1.00. You will pay $.49 (forty-nine cents) for your Lipton Tea!

Goal 2: to save money by creating a stockpile that lasts approximately 6 – 8 weeks based on items you use.  Stockpile is not a dirty word! A stockpile is simply a large supply of any item, gathered and held in reserve for use during a shortage or during a period of higher prices.

Ex. Scotts 12 pack toilet paper is on sale at Publix for $3.49. Publix has a store coupon for $1.00/1 that makes the toilet paper $2.49 and you have a $1.00/1 manufacturer’s coupon dropping the price lower to $1.49 – this is when you stockpile! Now is the time to get as many manufacturer coupons and store coupons that you can and stock up! This is why we say “stockpile is NOT a dirty word.”

Organization

It is up to you to choose how to organize your coupons. Some people use three-ring binders, others use hanging files, and some people choose to use accordion style files. We use three-ring binders – below are some examples of how we organize.

Local Store Couponing Policy

(Check out our LINGO page for descriptions of abbreviations used below)
Typically, each store allows you to stack (use a manufacturer coupon with a store coupon) coupons. A few stores allow you to use a competitor’s coupon and usually for dollars off your entire order.

Sign up for and use store loyalty cards as you coupon!

•  Kroger – printed MQ +SQ ; EQ – cannot use printed and ecoupon together
• Harris Teeter – printed MQ + SQ+EQ+CQ ; sign up for VIC card, then go online and add Evic coupons to your card, will accept $/$$ competitor coupons
• Publix – printed MQ+SQ+CQ (Kroger, Harris Teeter, Whole Foods); accepts $/$$ and individual CQs
• Whole Foods – MQ+SQ (available in store and online)
• Food Saver – MQ
• Target – MQ+TQ, price match with ad
• Walmart – MQ or CQ (with price of item printed on coupon, not $ off); price match with ad
• CVS – MQ+SQ; gives Extra Savings Bucks (ESB)to be used in next visit or different transaction
•  Walgreens (WAGS) – MQ+SQ; gives Register Rewards (RR) these have to be used in certain sequence – RR—>BOGO—>MQ—>SQ; number of items and number of coupons must match. Ex. Buy 2 body washes, use (1) SQ, and (2) MQ, you will need to purchase a filler item (cheap item like $.34 caramel at register)

Rainchecks—get rainchecks! Harris Teeter & CVS never expire; Kroger & Publix expire in 30 days.

Doubling Coupons
Grocery stores usually allow doubling of coupons.  Manufacturer coupons that have barcodes that start with “5” will double, those coupons starting with “9” do not double, and some coupons state “Do Not Double.”

Kroger, Publix, Food Saver – doubles coupons up to $.50 (up to $1.00 off an item)
Harris Teeter – doubles coupons up to $.99 (up to $1.98 off an item); limit of 20 coupons doubled per day – this follows your VIC card.
Note: Occasionally, Harris Teeter has week-long Super Doubles (coupons up to $1.98 are doubled for a potential $3.96 off an item) and Triples (coupons up to $.99 are tripled for a potential $2.97 off an item) – this is the BEST time to shop using your coupons!

Overages

Publix and Walmart allow overages on items. This means that the value of the coupon is more that the cost of the item. Overages are first applied to the remainder of your order, then given back to you in cash if you have a negative balance. Harris Teeter allows overages (only if received from the addition of Evic coupons) to be applied to the remainder of your order.