This is a pretty long post but it's most of how I plan for or save funds around here.
I figured I might bank this here in case someone needs it or I lose my favorites list ;) Plus, people keep asking me in the store how I do this when I use them.. I'm not one of those people who is psycho about it- if I have a coupon, yay! It'll influence me to try new things sometimes too, that I'd never pay full price on. And I don't argue about bills, or expired coupons, or savings. If I don't agree, I deal or I set it back. Easy peasy. I also plan out so that I cause as little inconvenience as I can.. mind you there are still some people who get downright nasty about being someone use coupons.
But seriously- like I told the snarky old biddy who tried to make me feel bad last week: I feed my kids, their friends, and academic/after school groups HEALTHY foods, AND I am able to have enough to donate to the shelters and food banks and humane society. I can bake for my neighborhood, and share things if someone runs out next door. I make sailor goody bags for deploying guys. I send stuff to school for more than just my kids teachers.. I do good stuff as often as I can with what I have and what I save. If I didn't use coupons, I would just feed my kids because I couldn't make it fiscally possible to afford the other things. My coupons make lots of lives just a little bit better, I'd like to think.
Use your coupons, and share your extras with those who need them. It saves you some coin, and it helps people and you wind up feeling pretty darn good.
I use a couple savings apps:
- Ibotta
- Checkout 51
- Store Apps (I.E. Cartwheel for Target, or the Safeway app, etc.)
- Retailmenot (which also has a web page)
- Coupons.com app
- JoAnnes/Michael's apps
- Passbook
- GasBuddy
I use a lot of websites:
www.coupons.com
www.smartsource.com
www.redplum.com
www.mambostrouts.com
http://coupons.target.com
www.allyou.com
Some others too:
http://3boysandadog.com/coupon-database/
Probably one of my favorites ever (they have coupon trains, tons of info):
http://www.hotcouponworld.com
especially because they have a list of bricks printable:
http://www.hotcouponworld.com/bricks-printable-coupons-list/
MyPoints: You view emails, earn points, trade them for gift cards (gas cards, hotels, JCP, store stuff) I vouch for this one personally: I have traded in for several $50 JCP cards here. Score one for school clothes!
Inserts schedule
http://www.sunday-paper-coupons.com/2015-coupon-insert-schedule.html
I also sometimes buy from
www.thecouponclippers.com when there are brilliant coupons that I know I will use a lot and are worth the cost. Not often but sometimes..
I get from our Friday paper (which has all the Sunday paper coupons but only costs me 50 cents after my free at home copy). Neighbors donate copies too if they don't use them. And I Sometimes buy Sunday papers.
I trade coupons with my family and friends all over the country, but also here at home and send expired coupons to military installations overseas, because they can use them up to 6 months past the expiration date.
I sometimes get involved in coupon trains. A coupon train is a group of people who send coupons to each other based on a list. i.e. Mary, Sue, Joe and Bobbi all participate. They cut their coupons, and take what they will use. They drop the rest in an envelope to their person- Mary sends to Sue, Sue sends to Joe, Joe sends to Bobbi, and Bobbi sends to Mary. When they get their envelope of coupons, they take what they need from it and dispose of expireds, add their own new coupons and send it along. Round and round you keep your batches of coupons floating to the next person each week- The benefit is that you get coupons from all over the country.
Some stores/businesses offer a military discount. Ones I use a lot:
Home Depot
Verizon
Hot Topic
Micheal's
Fred Meyer (every 3rd thursday)
Some stores offer printable coupons or text coupons (you can sign up)
JCPenneys
Sally's Beauty Supply
BedBath and Beyond
Payless
Home Depot
JoAnnes
Some places offer apps that have coupons right in them- show your app, get your discount.
JoAnnes
Safeway
Fred Meyer
Micheals
Target
Some places have clubs and so on- earn point for rewards, etc.
Hot Topic
Petco
Safeway
Petco/PetSmart
Office Depot
Some brands too: i.e. MyCokeRewards
Some places will get you on a snail mail mailing list: Jo Annes, Sally's, Fred Meyer, Target, P&G, etc. I love getting coupons in the mail.
I also visit websites to check out brands- I get starkest coupons a couple times a year because I wound up looking for a sample, they sent a coupon and I got on a list. Don't be afraid to report bad things either- opened a bag of cheese one day, a month before expiration, and it was gross moldy. I called Kraft- They made it right with not just one but 4 replacement coupons. Be honest though.. or it ruins it. I always take a picture and offer to send it along. Or visit a company site it you LOVE their product- Kasha rewarded me for telling them how much we love a couple flavors of their bars, and Banquet did something similar. I just wanted them to know I was pleased, but they sent coupons along to say thanks!
And definitely if there is a free club card, sign up. I have a key ring filled with keyfobs to scan, big discounts a lot of times. You can also use the KeyRing app, scan your cards and carry a digital, search able list right with you. Plus some of them connect with online ads and extra coupons!
Really, a great idea is to google the place you want to shop and the word coupon or promo or discount. Everything from wigs (arda.com) to clothing to hotels- shop around, and search out the savings.
Also, it helps to learn the sale cycles- certain things go on sale more at certain times- November is baking supplies. Also, November is good for home decorator stuff, blinds, etc, because they want to entice you to upgrade for holiday company. Baby specials come a couple times a year. Ice cream starts in April or May.. Local stores also have cycles- my favorite cheese goes every 4-6 weeks. So I buy enough at the low price to last a while, till the next sale. Canned goods are the same.
Last but not least: Combine your sales if you are able: Sears had my freezer for 300, Best buy wanted 325. They price matched plus another 10% under so it was 270. I have Best Buy Rewards. And if you order online you can pick up in store free. They have a 5 minute rule- if its not in your hands in 5 minutes from when they greet you at the desk to get it, you get $ back. Its only like $5 or something, but hey- it counts. And I turned around and had enough points for a double points event that I got a free video game for my kids. My stove too was a black Friday price match and Home Depot did the military discount on top of it for me because they rock hard core. I LOVE Home Depot. The salesman was a really sweet retired vet, from another department and spent a lot of time working hard to help me and find answers to my every question- I got my black friday deal (it was on a Saturday though- they ran it the week) plus the 10% less than Lowes price match guarantee plus my military discount. I got a Gallery stove for half price, and turned around and had enough to buy other goodies for my hubby's workshop then..
I admit that I said to myself: I will only get a smart phone if I can use it to save the cost of the data plan on other things. And I definitely do. Smart phones can be a huge help, don't be afraid to utilize them, or an iPod if you have stores with free wifi. Or screen shot your coupons when you are using wifi, and take the pics along.. I don't think I've paid full price at JoAnnes in years that way LOL
It looks like a lot, but after a couple decades of this stuff its second nature, and easy to pick up. Just look for deals. Even my hubby and kids check in with me: Is that on sale and do you have a coupon? If not, eh, no biggie. Its about making things easier, not micro managing till you go insane.
