Do you have any questions about couponing?
Don't forget that you can e-mail me at: howtosaveadime@gmail.com
I will answer you personally and post your question on the blog.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Coupon Dos and Don'ts
I am a fan of coupons, but some people are taking it too far and ruining it for the rest of us. Here are some tips about how to use your coupons the right way:
1. Do Know Your Limits.
Save time, energy and embarrassment at the register by playing with the rules established by retailers and manufacturers. Visit their Web sites to learn if there have been any updates or changes to their coupon policies.
2. Do Ask Friends and Neighbors to Leave Aside Papers.
Some people actually subscribe to newspapers for the articles, not the coupons. It's perfectly acceptable to ask these friends and family members -- politely -- to set aside the coupons for you to pick up at a later time.
3. Do Start a Small Coupon Swap.
Rather than stealing your neighbor's Sunday paper to benefit from the extra coupon circular, create a support system through a small, local coupon exchange. Online exchanges also exist at savingsadvice.com and thriftyfun.com.
4. Don't Copy Coupons.
Many stores mention in their coupon policies that "coupons are void if copied, scanned, transferred, purchased, sold, etc." Again, stick with the official policy.
5. Do Ask Manufacturers to Send Coupons Directly.
If you can't find manufacturers' coupons readily on their Web sites, email or call them to request coupons be sent directly to your inbox. That's what many successful couponers claim to do. It sometimes earns them freebies, as well.
Click here to read more.
See, it takes no time to save a dime.
xoxo
Lauren
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Extreme Couponing in Traverse City
I got this article in my email from "Friday Ticker" and found it very interesting:
Free groceries? Kristen Hains of Traverse City gets them all the time. She’s a devotee of “extreme couponing,” a nationwide trend that’s gotten so popular, it sparked a television show on The Learning Channel (TLC).
“Four years ago I realized how the coupon world worked,” she says. “[I learned] it was possible to save huge money – not just 35 cents but 80 percent or more off. I was amazed when I realized that I could literally get stuff for free.”
Last month, for example, Haines walked out of Meijer with $125 worth of free baby formula. Often, she says the store will actually pay her to buy an item. How? She’ll trade in a “$1 off” coupon for an item priced for sale at less than $1.
Last month, for example, Haines walked out of Meijer with $125 worth of free baby formula. Often, she says the store will actually pay her to buy an item. How? She’ll trade in a “$1 off” coupon for an item priced for sale at less than $1.
The secret to her shopping success? Hains pays close attention to stores that allow the use of a store coupon along with a manufacturer’s coupon; used together, they can drive an item’s price down to pennies per item.
She also checks her catalinas: “Catalinas are those annoying coupons that print out at the register with your receipt,” she says. “They're not so annoying if you look down and see that one says something like ‘Good for $5 off your next shopping trip of $5 or more.’ That's free money.”
She also checks her catalinas: “Catalinas are those annoying coupons that print out at the register with your receipt,” she says. “They're not so annoying if you look down and see that one says something like ‘Good for $5 off your next shopping trip of $5 or more.’ That's free money.”
Alisa Kroupa is a Traverse City mom shopping for six. She doesn’t consider herself an “extreme couponer” but admits she puts forth a solid coupon effort in her once-a-month “big shopping” as she calls it. “I save about $2,000 a year, minimum,” she says.
Hard-core couponers typically bring giant coupon binders with them – inches thick – that hold dates of sales, coupons organized by type, and long lists of potential items. Hains has and uses one herself, but because collecting the coupons and watching for deals can be so time-consuming, even she says she doesn’t “extreme coupon” every time she shops.
“I try to take advantage of as many deals as I can – however, as a single mom I don't always have the time to be on top of it as much as I wish I could,” says Hains.
Interested in learning how you can extreme coupon? Our couponers recommend these websites: www.thekrazycouponlady.com, and www.dealnews.com.
I thought this article was really interesting because it shows that it is possible to save thousands of dollars a year just by putting in a little bit of effort. You don't even have to use coupons for every shopping trip... use coupons when you can or have some extra time to spare. Keep your eyes open for coupons that you can use and sales on items that your family uses often.
See, it takes no time to save a dime.
xoxo
Lauren
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Stock up on school supplies this summer!
The best time of year to buy school supplies is NOW!!
... yes, the middle of summer
You’ll be able to find great deals on school supplies everywhere. This is the time to stock up for all of your school supply needs.
Staples
Staples is continuing the trend of their penny sales (every Sunday through Wednesday). This week its erasers, glue, and pens. Limit 2 each.
They also have $0.25 sales, $1 sales, etc.
Example: 500 sheet ream of paper- $0.25
Walgreens
Walgreens has filler paper for $0.50 each this week, $0.69 composition notebooks, and 8/$1 folders.
Target
Target has glue and glue sticks on sale for $0.50 each, markers for $2 a pack, 2 sharpies for $1, 5 subject fashion notebooks for $1.
It’s not a school supply, but here’s another great deal at Target this week: 10 pack of plastic white hangers for just $1.
Each week for the rest of the summer, the deals on school supplies will be hotter and hotter!!
See, it takes no time to save a dime.
xoxo
Lauren
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