My weeks budget review.

I was able to purchase all the items in these 8 photos for $55.31  I think I had a pretty thrifty week.  If you want to read the details for any of these deals just keep scrolling down.  They were all posted this week  

Walgreens deals all for $10.56

Walmart deals $18.17

Albertsons deal $6.44

Albertsons popcorn .35 cents

Walgreens toothpaste deal I earned $4.72

Albertsons pizza deal .43 cents

 Albertsons BBQ deal .80 cents

16 different toys at Walmarts toy clearance $20.00

Tell me how you did this week.

Walmart clearance toy mark down. Jan 31st

I did a post earlier this week about the clearance toys at Walmart.  Click here if you missed it.  Today we stopped by, and they were marking them down again.  So if you want to stock up on some great toys you might want to check this out.  I am sure they will go fast.

This barbie  bag was $15 dollars it was marked to $7, then to $5,  then to $3 but we only paid $1

This was $10 dollars marked down to $5  but we only paid $1 , We bought 13 of these, so if you invite my kids to a birthday party.....guess what gift they will be bringing.

This was $35 dollars marked down to $20, then $15, then $10 but we only paid $5.

They were going fast! Go check it out.

Try a free sample of Almond Accents GONE

Hurry these won't last long.  To sign up to get your free sample click here and look at the tool bar on the top, then click on special offers. 

 UPDATE- All the free samples are now gone but you can still sign up for specail offers in the future.

Make sure you read my post on Freebies 101 to make sure you don't get spam email.

Free Minute Maid Coupons

Would you like some coupons for Minute Maid frozen Novelties?

Then click this link

Make sure you read my post on freebies 101 to make sure you don't get spam email in your personal account.

Coupons 101- When you use your coupons

Coupons 101- Part 3

When to use your coupons?

• When to use your coupons-  Just because you have a coupon does not mean you should buy an item.   In fact if you buy items just because you have a coupon, you will end up spending more money on items you don't really need, and are still over priced.  The trick is to wait for the coupon to go on sale or clearance which is an even better deal.
  
• Wait for a sale-  Wait for items to come on sale then use the coupon along with the sale.  Then buy several of that item, so you don't need to buy it again till another sale comes along.  Example- I have 10 tubes of name brand toothpaste. People I know tell me "But I don't need 10 tubes of toothpaste!". Well what I tell them is that if I can get paid over $10 to BUY 10 tubes of toothpaste (see my post here) then why not do it. And know that I wont need to spend that $30 dollars over the next year. Each time you can save like this adds up, and by year end you could save a ton of money. Or go on that vacation you wanted.
• Buy one get one free sales- When a store has a buy one get one free sale, this is a great time to use your coupons.  You can use 2 coupons.  One for the item you are buying and one for the item you are getting for free.  WHY,  you need to remember that a coupon is like cash.  The store IS getting paid for that product, by the Manufacturer.  So the store gives you the second item for free, but they can turn in the coupon and get paid for that item they just gave you for free.  Example- chips are on sale buy one get one free.  You pay $4.00 for the first bag of chips, and get the 2nd free.  But you have 2 coupons for $1 off a bag of chips. You can use both of those coupons.  One coupon is applied to each bag of chips (although one bag is considered free) Both coupons are applied to the total sale price.  Bringing the total to $2 for 2 bags of chips.  You would have paid $8 for 2 bags of chips, but using the Buy one get one (BOGO) free sale you have saved $4 PLUS $2 in coupons. 
• Stacking your coupons- Stacking your coupons is when you are able to use 2 coupons for one item.  You are able to do this when you use a in-store coupon ( a coupon that the store prints, normally in the weekly ad.  It will have the store logo on it) along with a MFR (manufacturer coupon).  When you use the in-store coupon and the MFR coupon together this is called "stacking" your coupons.  So watch for those in-store coupons, and see if you have a MFR coupon to go along with it.  
• Rebates-  A lot of company's offer a mail in rebate for their items as part of a promotion to get you to try or buy their product.  Many times this makes the item free after rebate.  Example- The store is selling nuts for $5.00, and they have a mail in rebate for $5.00 which would make the item free.  But if you use a $2.00 coupon on the nuts, after you turn in your rebate they will give you a check for $5.00. SO you will actually make $2.00 for buying the nuts.  
• Store match or double-  Some stores do this every week, but my local stores only do it a few times a year.  They will match you coupon amount, which gives you the chance to get twice the amount of your coupon.  Example- the store is selling juice for $1.00 but I have a coupon for $.50 off,  The store them matches the price of my coupon giving me another $.50 off, making my juice FREE.   Normally if a store matches or doubles coupons they only let you do a limited of items per shopping trip.  So I plan to make several trip through the checkout line.

Coupons 101- What coupons to save?

Coupons 101- part 2

What coupons to save?

Now that I have talked about where to get your coupons ( click here to read) we are on our way to the next step.

• What coupons do you save? I clip and save almost every coupon. The only time I don't save a coupon is if it's something I would never use even if it was free. So I keep 99% of my coupons. On Sunday when the coupon inserts come out, I spent about an hour clipping them out of 5 different papers. I put them in stacks of similar products. Like all the shampoo goes in one pile, all the cracker coupons in another. By clipping them out of the paper you are able to get rid of a lot of the bulk. Who wants to keep 50 papers around their house. From here you need to organize them, I keep all my coupons in a coupon binder ( I plan to do a post on this next week)
• Why do I clip and save every coupon? I save every coupon because I never know what is going to come on sale. Or when I might find an item on clearance, and if I have all my coupons in a binder, with me. Then I am able to take advantage of both the coupon and the sale. Before I started my binder I can't tell you how many times I would buy something that I had a coupon for at home but I just forgot to bring it. Or I didn't plan to buy it that week, but when I got to the store it was one sale. So I missed a great way to save even more money.
• Don't be to stuck on one brand- When you save all coupons, you are able to take advantage of some great sales. If you only save the coupons for the brands, you normally buy then you pay a lot more. For example: My family normally buys JIFF peanut butter, so if I see and coupon for JIFF I will hang on to it. But if I see a coupon for SKIPPY I might just toss it in the trash. Now if both peanut butters are $3.00 a jar I will always buy the one I like best. But if I find a sale later that month for SKIPPY for $1.75 and I have a .75 cents off coupon it would make the SKIPPY a $1 and the JIFF still is $3.00 and at that price I would be happy to buy SKIPPY. SO clip all brands and always bring your coupons along with you.
• How many to save- I try to get at least 5 of each coupon but I am thrilled when I get more than that. Why do I save so many? Example: If Albertsons is having a sale on Chili, for 75 cents, and normal price is a $1, plus I have a coupon for .25 cents. That would make it half price .50 cents, a great deal....but I don't really want to go out of my way for one can of chili. But if I have saved 8 coupons, and I can get 8 cans at half price it will then be worth my time to buy it. Plus I then have a nice "food storage" of chili. When you buy items at a low price, and stock up the goal is to have enough so you won't have to buy it again till it comes on sale. This way you are ALWAYS able to buy your items half off or more.

Free subscription to Dime magazine

To get your free subscription to Dime Magazine click here

Don't forget to read my post on FREEBIES 101 to help you not get spam email

Free sample Quaker Rice Products

Get a Free sample of Quaker Rice Cake Products. Click here for a link.  You can select between Chocolatey Drizzle or Cheddar Cheese. 

Don't forget to read my post on FREEBIES 101 to help you not get spam email

Clairol Color Source Magazine for free

Click here for the link to get your free magazine.  You will need to fill out a SHORT survey it takes less than 2 min.

Thanks Liz for this tip

Don't forget to read my post on FREEBIES 101 to help you not get spam email

Free Family Event: Valentine Card Making

Check your local store for time and location click here for store locations

Bring the whole family to Michaels and create your own handmade Valentine's Card for free. 

Women's Day magazine Free subscription

 You can sign up to get a  free subscription to Woman's Day magazine. This is  being offered through Mercury Magazines.  Click here to sign up. 

Thanks Stacie for this tip!

Don't forget to read my post on FREEBIES 101 to help you not get spam email

I learned something new - Thrifty Tip

Did you know Ablertsons will accept Walgreens catalina coupons?

I love it when I learn something new about saving money.  

So I thought I would pass this info on to you.  

 FIRST- a catalina is a coupon that prints out at the register AFTER you have paid. It can be used like cash on your next purchase.  A lot of time you have to buy and certian combo of items in the same transaction.  Or lets say you buy toothpaste at the normal price for $3, but a catalina prints after you pay for $2 off, which makes the toothpaste like paying only $1.  If you are not really into coupons  many people don't use these in time, or they get lost.  The store was able to sell you an item at full price, that looked like a sale price.  I have to admit I have lost a few. So hold on to those catalina...they are money in your pocket.    These sales  are a great way to be THRIFTY.

What I learned yesterday...

I was told by my friend Kim that you can use Walgreens register rewards (catalinas)  at Albertsons, they ring up as a MFR ( manufacturer coupon).  So yesterday when I was shopping at Albertsons I asked the store Manager about it, and he said yes they are happy to except them.  So I was able to use my Walgreens catalina coupons with several great sales at Albertsons and saved alot of money.  I hope this info helps you become A THRIFTY MOM. 

How I got paid to buy toothpaste.

This week at Walgreens they have a sale ( on the back page of the ad)  on Colgate Toothpaste.  You buy it for $2.99 but once you pay you get a Register Rewards  ( a coupons that prints out after you pay, good for your next shopping trip)

So it is like paying .99 cents a tube.

When I went to Walgreens today they have the Whitening toothpaste clearanced down to $2.19 but it is still part of the sale this week.  So you pay $2.19 and get back your $2 register rewards.

So it is like paying .19 cents a tube.

But you all know I carry my coupon book with me, and I had a coupon for $1.50 off colgate.  So i 

paid .82 cents and got back $2 in register rewards. So I earned $1.18 from buying colgate. Last day for this sale is Saturday.  If you have clipped your coupons, go make some money!  Become your own "ATM" or a thifty mom

Pizza and Soda THRIFTY deal at Albertsons

You can get 2 pizza's and 2 soda's for $4.29

This week at Albertsons they have a "Super Party Savings" deal.  You buy one pizza for $6.29 and you get another pizza for free + 2 2liter Dr. Peppers for free.  Yes you get all 4 items for $6.29. BUT you can use 2 one dollar off coupons on the pizza, and take an additional $2 dollars off click link here

 to print coupons. Which means you get all four items for $4.29 cents.  Keep reading and I will tell you how I got it for only .29 cents

This week at Walgreens with the Colgate sale I got several $2.00 register rewards or catalina coupons.  Which are the coupons that print at the end of a purchase good for your next shopping trip.  They ring up as a MFR or manufacturer coupon and can be used at Albertsons.  So with this purchase I used $4 in register rewards and, I only had to pay .29 cents + tax  now that is a 

 SUPER THRIFTY DEAL!

1200 Free Prints & 10 Free Photo Books from ArtsCow.com

  This is an online photo printing company that  is running  great promotions.  There ongoing promotion is, when you  sign up you get 1200 free prints you will get 100 prints a month.

Right now you can also use the code FREE10BKS to get 10 Free 20 page photo books.  You will be allowed to only redeem 5 per month.

Sign up and then go to “My Account”, click on Credit and Discounts. There is a box to enter a code or gift card, enter the code above and click validate and it will add the discount to your account.

You will have until February 28th  to order the first 5 books , and until March 31st to order the second 5.  You do not have to order 5 at a  time. You will need to pay the shipping and handling fees ($7.99 a book.  )

Click here to sign up

Thanks  to Southern Savers for this tip

Albertsons - Kraft BBQ Sauce for .25 cents

Here is how I did it:

Buy three at once and you will get them for .25 cents each no coupon needed

Albertsons ad says buy any 3 participating products and save $3 dollars instantly off of chicken.  But the store manager at the 5 mile and Ustick store told my friend Kim that it takes $3 dollars off weather you buy the chicken or not.  So I went to my own local store and tried it out.  Sure enough I bought 3 Kraft BBQ's and it took $3 dollars off instantly.  NO COUPONS just Albertsons having a really THRIFTY deal.

Normal price for 3 would be $7.47  But I paid only .75 cents + tax 

That's over 90% off WHAT A THRIFTY DEAL

Free Idaho Steelheads tickets

Simply fill-out a short  survey online to receive free tickets to an upcoming Steelheads game. Click here for a link

Offer expires February 6, 2009. Don't miss this chance to see the Steelheads courtesy of R.C. Willey! 

Thanks Jenn for this thrifty tip!

How I got 4 free boxes of Popcorn at Albertsons

How much did I pay? Nothing 4 boxes for FREE!

Sale is good till Feb 3rd

This is how I did it.  Albertsons has these on sale for buy 1 for $2.99 and get 3 free.  Which would make them  .75 cents a box.  The cashier will have a coupon at the register for the buy 1 get 3 free. But you can use MFR coupons for the 1 box you bought and the 3 you get free.  I used 1 coupon from the sunday coupon insert for $1 off 2 boxes and I used 2 $1 off coupons that you can print click here.

After coupons I had earned a penny, which went towards the .36 cents tax.  

If I had paid normal price for these it would have been $11.96, but all I had to pay was the  .35 cents in sales tax.  What a THRIFTY DEAL!

Albertsons- Kraft Cheese Sale good till Feb 3rd

Normal price $4.99 a bag, I paid only $1.49 a bag

Here is how I did it-  Albertsons has a coupon on the front of their ad for Kraft Cheese $1.99

This is an in-store coupon and can be "stacked" with a MFR (manufacturer) coupon.

Yes you can use TWO COUPONS on one item.  When I was in the store I noticed a stack of Kraft coupon books,( next to the candy at the front of the store).  I looked inside and noticed a $1 off 2  Kraft cheese products. I grabbed two books so I could use 2 coupons on 4 bags of cheese. This is a photo of the coupons I used.

I went through the line twice, because the in-store coupon has a limit of 4 bags per person

Paid $6.44

Total saved $13.52 about 70% off

Free Mineral Makeup samples & more

Sign up to get free samples of MINERAL MAKEUP click here

Any questions click my "freebies 101" link at the top of the page

Here are some other samples you might want to sign up for:

 Free sample of Eucerin Calming Cream click here

 Free sample of Moon Sparkle fragrance from Escada click here

 Free sample of (1) therapeutic skin product from Laderma, check the left side of the page click here

Albertsons- Hamburger Helper for .64 cents UPDATE

UPDATE

The companys that offer printale coupons have a limit that they allow to be printed, When there is a great sale, that goes along with a coupons they tend to run out fast.  ALL the coupons from both these links have been printed.  When this happends you will get a message that says 

"there are no prints for this campaign" 

 Sorry to any of you that missed out on these great coupons.

If you sign up to follow our blog you will get the update on sales, and this might help you get to the coupons first.  Good luck and don't give up there is always another great sale around the corner. To sign up, please click on tabs on the right side under "Share and Save"

The Albertsons ad came out, and on the front page they have an in-store coupon for Betty Crocker Hamburger, Chicken or Tuna Helper for .98 cents.  You can "stack your coupons" and also use a manufacturer coupon along with a store coupon.  You can print a $1 off 3 boxes coupon from this link and this link  If you use both coupons you will only pay .64 cents a box.  They have a limit of 6 boxes per transaction.

Walgreens ad deals Jan 25-31

My Thrifty Walgreens deals

ALL these items for $18.17

All these items at normal price would have been $69.14

But with Walgreens coupons, MFR coupons, sale price and register rewards I saved $50.97 

This is how I did it

First I looked through the Walgreens Sunday ad and  found the items that were on sale PLUS what I had coupons for, then I cut the store ad and paper clipped it to my coupons.  I wrote the number of items I plan on  getting and what my final cost should be on the front.   I went at midnight, the store was nice and calm.  That late I  could think and not feel rushed.

Walgreens tip- You can use more than one coupon on items at Walgreens.  You can use the in store coupon,  a Manufacturer coupon, and a Easy Saver coupon.  Yes that is right 3 coupons on one item. A few times a month you find items that work out like this, and they are normally free or you make money back on them.

 TUMS when you buy Participating products,  buy $30 get a $10 register rewards

 I bought  4 Tums Quik Pak 24 ct. and 4 normal TUMS $4 each for a total of $32

 I used  4 $2.25 off MFR coupons and 4 $1.25  off MFR coupons from Sundays Paper

Since I bought 8 Tums I got back $10 in register rewards ( coupons that print out and you can use them like cash on your next trip)  I got 8 packs of Tums for $8 paid only $1 a package

• Listerine Mouthwash 2/$9 get back $4 register rewards (for purchasing 2)
• Use two $2  MFR coupons
• I got back $4.50 in register rewards for my next shopping trip
• Final price 2/$1, Yes that is right only .50 cents each

• Excedrin 20 ct Express Gels or 24 ct Tablets buy one get one free
• I paid $4.99 for the first package then the 2nd package was free
• You can use two coupons even though the 2nd item is free, To print your own $2 off coupons click here
• I paid .49 cents a bottle

• Hershey's Candy Bars buy one at .89 get one free with in ad coupon
•  I used the buy one get one free coupon from the 1/25 Smart Source Insert
• I had to give  the MFR. buy one get one free coupon 1st to take off .89 cents
• Then gave the cashier the in store ad coupon which will take off another .89 cents
• I paid nothing.....FREE

• Reese's Hearts 7.2 oz. 2/$5 with in store ad coupon
• I used the  $1/2 Easy Saver (books in store next to ads)  coupon on pg 4
• Then I used the $2/2 coupon from the 1/25 Smart Source Sunday Insert
• I paid 2/$2, ONLY $1 per bag!

• Puffs .89 with in store ad coupon
• I used the .25 coupon from the  Sunday paper 
• I paid .64 cents!

Walgreens Tip- Walgreens computer will only allow you to use as many coupons as you have items.  If you have more coupons than items it will beep at the cashier and not work.  MOST the cashiers have no idea why it beeps, so you have to remember to have more items than coupons.  The computer system does not count the in store ad as a coupon, BUT they do count easy saver coupons, MFR coupons and catalina Register Rewards.  So how do you get around this? You buy a few really cheap items like 8 for a $1 valentines bags and then you will have more items than coupons and it will work.  Today I bought 2 tubes of tooth paste, I had 2 MFR coupons then I tried to pay with a Catalina Register Reward from my last trip.  The computer counts the Catalina as a coupon so it looked like I was buying 2 items, and using 3 MFR coupons. To get around this I bought a pack of gum.  Then it went through with no problem.

RITE AID thrifty deals for Jan 25-31

There are lots of good deals to be found, But I will just list the ones I think are the most thrifty

I found a printable coupon for $5 dollars off any $25 dollar purchase, click here to print

• Garnier Fructis Body & Volume Shampoo or Conditioner, 13 oz. $2.99=$2.99 Single check rebate
• Use $1 coupon from the 11/9 or 1/4 red plum
• Final cost FREE plus you earn $1

• Veet Bladeless Razor Kit $3.99=$3 Single check rebate
• Use  click here $2 Printable Coupon
• Final cost FREE plus you earn $1

GoodNites $9.99=$5.00 Single check rebate

Use $2 coupon from the 1/11 smart source

Final cost=$2.99!

Kashi Cereal Bars 2/$5

Use 2- $2 coupon  click here for link

Final price .50 cents  a box

Stayfree Maxi Pads 2/$5

Use buy one get one free coupon from the 1/4 red plum

Plus use $2/2 coupon from the 11/9 red plum

Final cost ONLY .25 cents each

Free Diet Dr. Pepper coupon by mail

Sign up to get  a coupon by mail, for a free 2 liter or 20 oz. bottle of Diet Dr. Pepper

Click here for a link

Walmart is marking down clearance toys.

I just got a call from my Aunt who lives in Middleton.  She wanted to let me know that when she went to the  Caldwell Walmart today they were taking an additional 50% off the  clearance price.  I was there yesterday they have about 3 rows over in the home and garden section.....all clearance toys.

She also went to  Caldwell Albertsons (next to the rodeo grounds)  and they had Marked the Pillsbury pie crust $3.29 down to $1.00  She also found Glad steam cooking bags on clearance for $1.15  but she used the "peelie" MFR coupons for .60 cents off she paid only .55 cents.

  Thanks Patty for the Thrifty tip!

This brings up a great tip, always check the mark down items, and the clearance section.  Most stores let you  use a MFR coupon if the item is on clearance.  This  makes the item  even cheaper, or possibly free.  BUT you have to carry your coupons with you so you can use them on your unexpected finds.  I will  do a later post on my coupon book I carry with me.

Freebies 101

FREE ?????

I think we all put up a red flag when we hear the word free.  I will be the first to tell you there are a lot of gimmicks out there.  So read and be care full before you go giving personal info out. But there are a lot of great companies out there willing to give you things TOTALLY FREE.  Just so you all know anything I post I have checked out, signed up myself and try to make sure it is worth your time.  I just pass along the deals I see, please use your own judgement.

Here are a few tips when signing up for freebies, Samples, Entering contests or Downloads.

• Make a 2nd email account- You will find that as you sign up for free products or contests, that you will start to receive A LOT more spam.  But you will also get more offers for coupons, and other use full info.  I would HIGHLY recommend that you take a few minutes and set up a 2nd email account.  Use a free email service,  and use this as you enter in give aways, surveys and contest.  This way you can have your personal email account free of all the extra mail.
• Don't give out to much personal info- You will need to give them your name, address, phone and email.  Many companies want a lot more info too, they want to know, birth dates, how many kids you have, and much more.  They want this info to find out more about the people that are using their product.  So if they ask how many kids I have I tell them, BUT if they ask their names, will use a different name.  I don't think anyone needs to know what my kids names are,  just for a free bar of soap.  When they ask for my birthday I always give them the the correct month and year but I change the "real" day. This helps protect my personal info. NEVER give out your credit card or SS# for a giveaway, unless you have done a lot of homework and know its legitimate.

I hope this info helps! Let me know if you have any tips I could add.

Tuesday is .88 cent day at HONKS $1.00 store

Honks $1 store has brought back .88 cent day, Tuesdays only. 

One of my favorite things about the $1 store is every week they have new items.  A lot of times if it is a really "thrifty" deal the items are gone within a day or two.   Last week they had a new shipment of hair accessories.  I picked these up for my girls.  I think the best deal was 500 no-tangle hair bands for only .88 cents.  Check it out and let me know what good deals you find!

Coupons 101

Coupons 101 - Part 1

To be honest I use to think coupons were a waste of time. I would clip just a few and throw the rest in the trash. But my eyes have been opened. Now I look at a coupon as money in my pocket. Hope this info helps, let me know what other question you have.

Where do you get your coupons?

• Newspaper- I have found the best place to get a wide varitey of coupons all at once is the Sunday coupon inserts. I try to get at least 4 sets of inserts a week. Not all papers carry the same inserts, so you might ask which inserts your local paper has. Once a month, Procter & Gamble has a special coupon insert dedicated to their products but it is available only in select papers. Visit THIS page to find out which papers carry the P&G inserts. I am lucky both my local papers carry this insert. Most papers allow you to purchase just the Sunday paper, or Muliple papers, at a lower price.
  
• Printable Internet coupons- There are alot of really good sites to print coupons from. You can print the same coupons from alot of differnt sites. Most of the sites will allow you to print the coupon twice. But if you have more than one computer at home, you can print it twice from each computer. I found it works best to print with Internet Explorer, Firefox, and MAC. If you do not have high speed internet it can be tricky to get them to print. I have a link on the side of my blog listing my favorite print sites. DO NOT try to photo copy your coupons the stores can tell, and it will make using printable coupons harder for us all. Check your local stores to see if they except printed coupons. Most my local stores do.
• Blinkies- These are the little black boxes with the red blinking light that spits out coupons. You can find these little units on the selves in some stores, like Albertsons and WalGreens to name a few. Go ahead and take a few and save them for your coupon stash. But only take a few, remember to play nice and leave some for the next coupon hunter.
• Ask around- you would be surprised how many people just throw them away. I have 2 very sweet little old ladies that share their papers with me every week. My husbands work gets Sunday papers. And they just toss them come Monday morning. So he grabs the inserts for me. Once your friends, family, co-works and neighbors know you like coupons they are normally happy to help save them for you.
• Peelies- these are the coupons that come stuck to a product. They normally have a long shelf life, they tend to not expire for up to a year. They are great to save and combine with future sales.
• Buying coupons- According to the law, no one can "sell" a coupon. But they CAN charge you for the time and effort put into clipping it. You'll find lots of coupons for sale on Ebay other sites . You would be surprised how many crazy coupon lady's are out there, they look for the good ones and buy them up quick.
  
• The Manufacturer- Many companies like it when you contact them. You can call, email, or write to them and tell them how much you love the product. Some companies are happy to send you coupons for discounts, or for free products. But not all companies do, you just have to ask around.

Coupons 101- part 2

What coupons to save?

Now that I have talked about where to get your coupons ( click here to read) we are on our way to the next step.

• What coupons do you save? I clip and save almost every coupon. The only time I don't save a coupon is if it's something I would never use even if it was free. So I keep 99% of my coupons. On Sunday when the coupon inserts come out, I spent about an hour clipping them out of 5 different papers. I put them in stacks of similar products. Like all the shampoo goes in one pile, all the cracker coupons in another. By clipping them out of the paper you are able to get rid of a lot of the bulk. Who wants to keep 50 papers around their house. From here you need to organize them, I keep all my coupons in a coupon binder ( I plan to do a post on this next week)
• Why do I clip and save every coupon? I save every coupon because I never know what is going to come on sale. Or when I might find an item on clearance, and if I have all my coupons in a binder, with me. Then I am able to take advantage of both the coupon and the sale. Before I started my binder I can't tell you how many times I would buy something that I had a coupon for at home but I just forgot to bring it. Or I didn't plan to buy it that week, but when I got to the store it was one sale. So I missed a great way to save even more money.
• Don't be to stuck on one brand- When you save all coupons, you are able to take advantage of some great sales. If you only save the coupons for the brands, you normally buy then you pay a lot more. For example: My family normally buys JIFF peanut butter, so if I see and coupon for JIFF I will hang on to it. But if I see a coupon for SKIPPY I might just toss it in the trash. Now if both peanut butters are $3.00 a jar I will always buy the one I like best. But if I find a sale later that month for SKIPPY for $1.75 and I have a .75 cents off coupon it would make the SKIPPY a $1 and the JIFF still is $3.00 and at that price I would be happy to buy SKIPPY. SO clip all brands and always bring your coupons along with you.
• How many to save- I try to get at least 5 of each coupon but I am thrilled when I get more than that. Why do I save so many? Example: If Albertsons is having a sale on Chili, for 75 cents, and normal price is a $1, plus I have a coupon for .25 cents. That would make it half price .50 cents, a great deal....but I don't really want to go out of my way for one can of chili. But if I have saved 8 coupons, and I can get 8 cans at half price it will then be worth my time to buy it. Plus I then have a nice "food storage" of chili. When you buy items at a low price, and stock up the goal is to have enough so you won't have to buy it again till it comes on sale. This way you are ALWAYS able to buy your items half off or more.

Coupons 101- Part 3

When to use your coupons?

• When to use your coupons- Just because you have a coupon does not mean you should buy an item. In fact if you buy items just because you have a coupon, you will end up spending more money on items you don't really need, and are still over priced. The trick is to wait for the coupon to go on sale or clearance which is an even better deal.
  
• Wait for a sale- Wait for items to come on sale then use the coupon along with the sale. Then buy several of that item, so you don't need to buy it again till another sale comes along. Example- I have 10 tubes of name brand toothpaste. People I know tell me "But I don't need 10 tubes of toothpaste!". Well what I tell them is that if I can get paid over $10 to BUY 10 tubes of toothpaste (see my post here) then why not do it. And know that I wont need to spend that $30 dollars over the next year. Each time you can save like this adds up, and by year end you could save a ton of money. Or go on that vacation you wanted.
• Buy one get one free sales- When a store has a buy one get one free sale, this is a great time to use your coupons. You can use 2 coupons. One for the item you are buying and one for the item you are getting for free. WHY, you need to remember that a coupon is like cash. The store IS getting paid for that product, by the Manufacturer. So the store gives you the second item for free, but they can turn in the coupon and get paid for that item they just gave you for free. Example- chips are on sale buy one get one free. You pay $4.00 for the first bag of chips, and get the 2nd free. But you have 2 coupons for $1 off a bag of chips. You can use both of those coupons. One coupon is applied to each bag of chips (although one bag is considered free) Both coupons are applied to the total sale price. Bringing the total to $2 for 2 bags of chips. You would have paid $8 for 2 bags of chips, but using the Buy one get one (BOGO) free sale you have saved $4 PLUS $2 in coupons.
• Stacking your coupons- Stacking your coupons is when you are able to use 2 coupons for one item. You are able to do this when you use a in-store coupon ( a coupon that the store prints, normally in the weekly ad. It will have the store logo on it) along with a MFR (manufacturer coupon). When you use the in-store coupon and the MFR coupon together this is called "stacking" your coupons. So watch for those in-store coupons, and see if you have a MFR coupon to go along with it.
• Rebates- A lot of company's offer a mail in rebate for their items as part of a promotion to get you to try or buy their product. Many times this makes the item free after rebate. Example- The store is selling nuts for $5.00, and they have a mail in rebate for $5.00 which would make the item free. But if you use a $2.00 coupon on the nuts, after you turn in your rebate they will give you a check for $5.00. SO you will actually make $2.00 for buying the nuts.
• Store match or double- Some stores do this every week, but my local stores only do it a few times a year. They will match you coupon amount, which gives you the chance to get twice the amount of your coupon. Example- the store is selling juice for $1.00 but I have a coupon for $.50 off, The store them matches the price of my coupon giving me another $.50 off, making my juice FREE. Normally if a store matches or doubles coupons they only let you do a limited of items per shopping trip. So I plan to make several trip through the checkout line.