WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR RESOURCES
“So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” Luke 16:11
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT USING COUPONS
Keys
to coupons:
1.
Create
a list of your preferred brands (toiletries, cleaning supplies, personal
hygiene, etc.). Take the list to Wal-Mart (or Target if you prefer) and write
down their price. This gives you a baseline to help determine if an item in a
store flyer is a good price or not.
2.
Change
your thinking.
- WRONG: To prevent overspending at the
grocery store, you must make your menu then shop only for what you need to
complete the menu
- RIGHT: Stock up the pantry and
freezer with sale items and plan the menu based on what is available
- The fear in using coupons is that if you
use coupons you will buy a lot of stuff you don’t need and will never use
- Do not buy things you know you will not use unless it is free or inexpensive with a coupon; in that case, purchase the item and donate it to a charity, shelter or your church
3.
Be
flexible and toss brand loyalty out the window for non-critical purchases.
- For example, Brawny paper towels instead
of Bounty or Hunts Ketchup instead of Heinz Ketchup
4.
Get
organized.
- File your coupons using a system that
works for you. There are numerous choices, including 4-5 inch notebook
with dividers and plastic organizer sleeves or file folders by date, and
the key is keeping up with the method you choose.
o
UPC -- put in numerical order by the UPC code;
helps if you can’t remember which category you would have filed a coupon
o
Traditional -- divide by category (skin care,
cosmetics, shaving needs, baking goods, canned goods)
o
File by date of coupon inserts using file
folders
·
Clean up your pantry. It is important for
you to be able to find things right away so you can plan your menu around what
you have available.
·
You must have patience. You will not see
results for 4-6 weeks.
5.
Know
the coupon policies of your grocery store and follow the rules – even if that
means you must come back or do separate transactions.
- Albertsons doubles four like coupons up
to $.50 and triples four like coupons up to $.39
- Tom Thumb doubles/triples one like coupon
per transaction; subsequent coupons are accepted at face value; also
offers “Just four U” coupons through your Tom Thumb card
- Kroger and Wal-Mart only accept coupons
at face value
- Target accepts coupons at face value with
a limit of four identical coupons per household, per day (unless otherwise
noted on the coupon); Target offers Target store coupons online and
periodically in Sunday inserts; you can use one Target store coupon and
one manufacturer coupon on the same item
6.
Prepare
your list and gather your coupons BEFORE you head to the store.
·
Go through the ads in a
detailed manner
- One coupon per UPC – BOGOF (buy one, get
one free) items; if an item is on sale as BOGOF, most stores will allow
you to use two coupons because you are buying two items
- If a coupon is BOGOF (buy one, get one
free) and you have a BOGOF coupon, many stores will allow you to use YOUR
coupon and get BOTH items for free
7.
Use
coupon blogs and websites to find coupon match ups for your stores
·
www.couponing101.com (Dallas based)
·
www.mydallasmommy.com (Dallas based)
·
www.katycouponers.com (Houston based)
·
www.southernsavers.com (Kroger ad comes
out on Sundays in her area so it’s a preview for Texas, though not everything
will be exactly the same)
8.
Use
coupon databases to help as needed
·
www.hotcouponworld.com (offers coupon
database)
·
www.afullcup.com (offers coupon
database)
9. Create a Savings Star account (www.savingsstar.com) and load coupons to
your account.
·
The
coupons do not come off your bill at the store; rather, upon redemption, the money
is automatically added to your Savings Star account and can be cashed out (bank
deposit, PayPal, Amazon.com gift card, etc.) when you have reached $5.
10. Take advantage of the price match policies at
Wal-Mart and Target when your schedule doesn’t allow you to shop at more than
one store.
- Wal-Mart: http://corporate.walmart.com/ad-match-guarantee
- Target: https://corporate.target.com/about/shopping-experience/our-low-price-promise#q4069
11.
Take a minute to learn coupon
terminology:
·
BOGO (or B1G1) = Buy One Get
One Free
·
B2G1 = Buy Two Get One Free
·
WYB = when you buy
·
ECB = Extracare bucks (CVS)
·
RR = Register Rewards
(Walgreens)
·
YMMV = Your Manager May Vary
·
Blinkie = Coupons that print
from a little black box with a blinking light on them
·
Peelie = Coupon found on the
package of a product
·
Cat = Catalina, Coupons that
print off with your receipt, long and skinny
·
CRT = Cash Register Tape or
your receipt
·
OOP = Out of Pocket or the
amount actually coming from your pocket
·
IP = Internet Printable Coupon
·
MFR = manufacturer
·
MIR = Mail In Rebate
·
ONYO = On Your Next Order
·
Rain Check = When a store is
out of a sale item, ask for one so you can take advantage of the sale price
whenever the item is back in stock
12. Start
collecting coupons.
Newspaper
coupons:
Typically there are three types of inserts that appear in the
Sunday paper (sometimes smaller versions appear in the Saturday paper that
comes in a pink plastic sleeve):
1. Proctor & Gamble, known as P&G on
coupon blogs
2. Smart Source, known as SS on coupon blogs
3. Valasis Red Plum, known as RP on coupon blogs
·
Most
coupons are good for 6-8 weeks
·
P&G
is only good for 4 weeks typically – these coupons usually come out around the
first Sunday of the month to match ads in the local retailers
- Use SundayCouponPreview.com to help determine how many papers to purchase.
- Buy a double pack (more if the coupons
justify it) of the Sunday paper; if something is free, you can get
multiple in one trip; Dollar Tree sells papers for $1 each.
Online coupons:
Many
manufacturers have printable coupons available on their websites. Other online
coupon sites update their coupons throughout the month, some as frequent as
once a week, and all these sites limit how many coupons you can print. Pick a
day of the week and always check back that day if possible so you don’t miss
any. Here is a just sampling of sites I look at for online coupons:
·
Swagbucks.com
(more info below – and I almost always print from this site first)
·
Mypoints.com
(more info below)
Other coupon sources:
- Check out “All You” magazine available
exclusively at Wal-Mart. Available for less than $3, All You is typically
loaded with coupons; the list of coupons available (and corresponding page
numbers for the coupons) can be found near the front of the magazine; this
also helps you decide if the issue is one you want to buy.
- Some
manufacturers offer the ability to register on their site to receive
coupons in the mail. It is worth a few hours to register with the
companies providing products you use.
- Always
keep your eyes open for blinkies or peelies when you are out shopping,
especially if they have a lengthy expiration date.
13.
Remember that advance planning helps you save
later.
·
Some items only go on sale once or twice a year
and have coupons to match; so in that case, buying a 6 month – 12 month supply
when possible means that you will not be forced to buy something full price
without a coupon
·
Some
items are seasonal
o
Picnic
supplies (ketchup, mustard, relish, BBQ sauce, marinade, pickles, mayonnaise,
baked beans) are typically on sale with coupons to match the store ads between
Memorial Day and Labor Day
o
Paper
products are usually on sale with coupons 3-4 times per year
o
Baking
goods (sugar, flour, canned fruit, spices) will have coupons that match the ads
around every baking holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter)
o
Household
cleaning products typically go on sale in spring for spring cleaning
o
Medicine
is very seasonal
o
Spring
-- allergy products (Claritin, eye drops, nose spray)
o
Summer
–bandaids and Neosporin
o
Fall/winter
-- cold and flu products
14.
If it’s free, buy it! A stockpile of
deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and shampoo/conditioner purchased for free
or really cheap means you will not need to buy any of those toiletries at full
price
15. Don’t forget about drug stores.
From diapers to deodorant, both CVS and Walgreens
regularly run great specials that offer rewards for certain purchases. To learn
more, visit these two “how to” sites:
- http://www.iheartcvs.com/2008/03/cvs-for-newbies.html
- http://www.iheartwags.com/2008/09/wags-for-newbies.html
Need more help?
www.thegrocerygame.com -- if you are new to coupons and are
overwhelmed, consider utilizing this site to help you get started. The fee to
join is minimal and is based on the stores you choose. The site sometimes only
lists a coupon once as they assume you will purchase the item the first time
it’s on sale. For this reason, you should double check the coupon database when
compiling your grocery list.
USE ONLINE POINT SITES TO YOUR ADVANTAGE AND EARN FREE STUFF
·
Earn free items (gift cards, etc.) while doing
things you already do. Internet searches (in lieu of google or yahoo), shopping
online, printing coupons, etc. allows you to earn points. These points
can be redeemed for a variety of gift cards (Amazon, Target, Wal-Mart,
etc.).
·
If you shop online, take surveys, and watch
videos, you can earn even more points. Also, when referring friends, you will
earn points when they search online.
How I use Swagbucks:
Nearly every day, I take a couple minutes to log in and
complete the daily tasks on the home page (answer a quick poll, open swagbucks in my browser and click
through No Obligation Special Offers, NOSO for short, -- I just click skip or
see next offer on each one until I get my points). These tasks net free points
in just a few minutes. I will search a few times a day when I am regularly online.
I print coupons a few times a month and periodically complete a survey. Last
year I redeemed $300+ in Amazon gift cards.
My
referral link: http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/septmac
After
registering, go here: http://swagbucks.com/?cmd=sb-tips for
details on how to maximize your winnings.
- My Points awards points for online
searches, online shopping, printing coupons, surveys and more.
- Once you register, you will begin
receiving emails with various offers. Many My Points emails award points
for simply clicking a link located towards the bottom of the offer.
- Consider setting up a My Points filter in
your email account so all those emails go to one spot. Then, once a week
or so spend 10 minutes going through the emails and clicking on the links
of offers awarding free points.
- If you shop online or take surveys, you
can earn even more points. Referring friends also contributes to your
earnings.
How I use My Points
I
click through emails for free points a few times a week. Every now and then I
will log in to my account online and spend 5-10 minutes answering a few polls
on the homepage for extra points. I always check the point value for online
shopping to see if it offers the best cash back reward before making a
purchase. Occasionally an email offer will offer bonus points for purchasing
specific restaurant gift cards (Chili's, for example) that we like and I will
buy one. Last year I redeemed for $50+ in gift cards.
My
referral link: Share your email address and I will send you an invitation
3) Ibotta (www.ibotta.com)
- Ibotta is an app that awards cash back
for purchasing certain items. To get started, install the app on your
smartphone or tablet and register for an account.
- Offers will appear on your Ibotta
account. If it is something you would consider purchasing, click the offer
to complete tasks (ex. learn a fact, answer a question, share on Facebook
or twitter, watch a video, etc.).
- Once you have completed the required
tasks, simply purchase the product (always scan the bar code before
purchasing to confirm the item in your hand matches the offer). After you
purchase, open the ibotta app and scan your receipt and then the product
bar code.
- Once your ibotta redemption reaches $5,
the money can be transferred straight to your PayPal account.
How I use Ibotta:
I
just registered for my Ibotta account in January. About once a week I check the
app to see if I have any new offers that appeal to me. So far I have
earned $12.
My
referral link: http://ibotta.com/r/dHgDg
4)
Endorse (www.endorse.com)
- Endorse is an app that awards cash back
for purchasing certain items. To get started, install the app on your
smartphone or tablet and register for an account.
- After you purchase, open the endorse app
and click the product purchased and scan your receipt.
- If you link to PayPal, your rewards can
be credited at any time. Otherwise, you can cash out once your balance
reaches $25.
- Endorse also awards points for every
receipt you upload, even if they aren’t eligible for cash back. When your
points balance reaches 50, Endorse will send a voucher for a donation to a
local charity in your name.
How I use Endorse:
I
just registered for my Endorse account this month. As such, I have not earned
any cash back yet, though I like how several offers are for product categories
(i.e. any brand laundry detergent) rather than specific brands.
My
referral link: https://www.endorse.com/referral/September/YZHsy2K0RaUwNnLkuiHqekUw==AB
- Shopkick is a
great app if you are regularly at Target, Wal-Mart, or even the mall. To
get started, download the Shopkick app.
- When you enter
a store, open you app and you can earn points just for being in the
store. The app will give you a list of products available to scan at the
store. Each item will be worth a specified amount of points.
- Debit
card users can link their debit card and shopkicks account. Participating
stores (Toys “R” Us, for example) will reward you points for each dollar
spent.
- When
you reach the point level for your preferred prize (ex. 500 Shopkick
points allows you to redeem a $2 Target gift card), you can cash them out.
You can continue to do this every time you’re at the store and earn
additional gift cards.
How I use Shopkick:
I just registered for my Shopkick account this month. As
such, I have not earned any cash back yet, though I look forward to earning
some in the near future.
My
referral link: http://get.shopkick.com/oregano11318
Other sites that I recently heard
about but have not started using yet:
·
Viggle
allows you to earn gift cards for checking into your favorite shows. To get
started, download the Viggle app on your smart phone (or iPad) and start
checking into your favorite shows. Multiple users in a household can have an
individual Viggle accounts, making it easier to earn even more gift cards each
month.
·
Jingit awards actual money (that can be added to a Jingit debit card)
for watching ads, scanning products at Wal-Mart and even for buying those items. To
get started, download the Jingit app on your smart phone and log in on your
computer. Your Jingit debit card can be used anywhere a credit or debit
card is accepted.
SAVE MONEY SHOPPING ONLINE
Before making an online purchase, take a few minutes to perform two money saving steps:
·
Check cash back sites to see which one offers you the greatest
reward for your purchase
·
Check Retail Me Not (www.retailmenot.com)
for an online coupon code for the store
Cash back sites:
·
Swagbucks - www.swagbucks.com
(awards points for every dollar)
·
My Points – www.mypoints.com
(awards points for every dollar)
·
Ebates -- www.ebates.com awards a percentage of cash back for total
purchase)
·
Upromise – www.upromise.com
(awards cash to be used in an online college savings account)
DISCOUNT GIFT CARDS ARE YOUR FRIEND
Take advantage of gift card exchange sites to purchase store gift
cards (grocery, clothing, electronics, etc.) for a reduced price.
·
Some gift cards are a set price while others are available through
auction sites like eBay.
·
If the price of the gift card (including any applicable shipping)
is lower than the value of the gift card, you have already saved money.
·
Pair a gift card (purchased at a reduced price) with store coupons
for even greater savings.
Gift card sites:
http://gift-card-exchange-review.toptenreviews.com/
provides reviews of top 10 sites
·
Gift card granny (www.giftcardgranny.com)
– not listed on top 10 but I like this one too
