Couponing 101: Must Know Info!

[Toni-Lynn]

Where to get Coupons Online?

Insert Coupons:
The Coupon Master
The Coupon Clippers

Printables:
Coupons
SmartSource
CoolSavings

2009 Coupon Schedule
(This is what you can expect to find in your local Sunday paper)
SS = Smart Source Insert
RP = Red Plum Insert
P&G = Proctor and Gamble Insert

July
19 — Smart Source Only
26 — Smart Source & Red Plum

August
2 — Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
9 — Smart Source & Red Plum
16 — Smart Source & Red Plum
23 — Smart Source & Red Plum
30 — Smart Source & Red Plum

September
6 — No SS or RP Inserts - Labor Day One Procter and Gamble
13 — 1 Smart Source & 2 Red Plum
20 — Smart Source & Red Plum
27 — Smart Source & Red Plum

October
4 — Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
11 — Smart Source & Red Plum
18 — Smart Source & Red Plum
25 — Smart Source & Red Plum

November
1 — Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
8 — Smart Source & Red Plum
15 — Smart Source & Red Plum
22 — Smart Source Only
29 — No Inserts scheduled

December
6 — Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
13 — Smart Source & Red Plum
20 — No Inserts scheduled
27 — No Inserts scheduled

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Places to preview coupons:

Taylortown (these are coupons from Florida, what you get may be different in your area of the country)

[Toni-Lynn]

How to Accumulate Coupons

The first thing that you need to do to start getting all of those great deals you hear about is accumulating coupons. Each week there are usually two different coupon inserts in most newspapers. Once a month there will be 3 inserts. Having multiples of each coupon makes it easier for you to take advantage of all of the sales and get multiples items at once. This helps build a food storage, which we call a stockpile. Getting multiple inserts each week is not as as difficult as some may believe. The easiest and cheapest way is to ask family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to save them for you. I have been couponing for 5 years and I still get inserts from my family.

Another source of coupons is the internet. Before wasting your paper and ink, check to be sure that your store excepts internet printable coupons. Offers can be found at many manufacturer and coupon related websites. We have a section here at TCC just for these coupons. Visit the Printables section for more coupons! Many manufacturers also offer coupons which are sent post mail. You can find some of those located HERE. Additional coupons can also be found in your local grocery store and in-store savings can be found at most grocery stores. These are called Blinkies. (Blinkies are available in red machines set up in aisles in the stores by SmartSource. They have a blinkie Red light on the box. Hence the name Blinkie)

Don't forget to apply for your grocery store "loyalty" cards. Almost all grocery stores offer these nowadays. These will give you the extra discounts for their sale items and other promos they may be running. You can combine these sales with your coupons for maximum savings.

[Toni-Lynn]

Tips of the Trade

In order to be a fantastic coupon shopper, you will also need these tips to help get the best savings.

• When at item is on sale for Buy 1 Get 1 Free, often you can use 2 coupons. Be sure to check your stores policy on this because it could vary.

• If the coupons says "off any size", it is best to go for the smallest size item. Many times it can be used on a trial size item and you will get it free.

• If the have your coupons in hand and you walk up to the shelf and OH MY GOD, they are out of it, MAKE SURE YOU GET A RAIN CHECK! Use it later with coupons.

• If you go to the store to use your coupon on the day it expires and you find that they are sold out, take your coupon to the manager. SOMETIMES the manager will initial your coupon okaying it for use within the next week or so when they get the item back in stock. I have been successful with this on many occasions but again, this is not guaranteed. It will depend on your manager but it's worth trying!
  

[Toni-Lynn]

Some abbreviations you will need to know!

B1G1F or BOGOF - Buy one get one free
CRT - Cash register tape or Receipt
DCRT- Dated cash register tape
DND- Do Not Double (Means the coupon is not to be doubled)
FAR - Free After Rebate
HDA- Hot Deal Alert
HBA- Health & Beauty Aids
NAZ - Name, address, zip code
NED - No expiration date
NWPN - No Wine Purchase Necessary
OAS - On Any Size (a coupon that is good any size item)
OOP - Out Of Pocket
OYNSO - On Your Next Shopping Order
PG or P&G - Proctor & Gamble Sunday insert
POP - Proof of purchase (or upc code)
PP - Purchase price of a product
RC - Rain Check
RP - Red Plum Sunday Insert
RR - Register Reward (Walgreen's term for a catalina)
SMP - Specially Marked Packages
SS - Smart Source
YMF - Try Me Free (Rebate)
UPC - Universal Product Code
WSL - While Supplies Last
WT - Wine Tag
YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary (I personally think it should stand for Your MERCHANT may Vary!)

[Toni-Lynn]

Bumping for all of our new members!

[samfoo]

I want to know where should i put or share my coupons al ready 1 of my coupon is removed i am new here please let me know . i am not a bot or spammer

[Toni-Lynn]

I want to know where should i put or share my coupons al ready 1 of my coupon is removed i am new here please let me know . i am not a bot or spammer

I am so sorry I didn't see your post! Please post your items for trade in out trade section

[sunshinex7]

Toni-Lynn,
Thank you for posting all the word terms everyone uses ,I was getting cranky because I couldn't figure them out,Thank you again

[Erika]

thank you so much for this info. extremely helpful. one question... i purchased an item with a tag.. try me free.. mail in rebate... is it limited to one or can you try one of each items? how does that work?

[skyesmom]

TMF's depend on the manufacturer. Sure has TMF's and you can do one for each variety it offers them on, but the shampoo I bought is limited to one rebate total and doesn't matter the "flavor" I buy. The fine print should on the TMF form should let you know if you can do more than 1 rebate.