Are you just STARTING TO COUPON?
I know we have covered how to begin Couponing, but I have had a lot of questions lately about this so thought it was timely being a new year.
You see the Extreme Couponing from the US on Television, you hear about people couponing and saving money and you even see me on CBC on most Friday’s ( Coupon Segment with Amy Smith ) and you wonder, does it really work, it seems like a lot of work and how do I get started?
It doesn’t have to be overwhelming and it doesn’t have to take a lot of your free time. Start small, pick up a few coupons at the store, or order some from www.save.ca or www.websaver.ca, or even click on the links that I often post here in my weekly blog.
Read your coupon, look for the sale and start with one coupon at a time. Try to go to the store during the non-busy hours initially, that way you won’t feel so overwhelmed if there is a lineup behind you at the cashier. Tell the Cashier ahead of time that you have a coupon (or two) . Once you do that a few times then the fear will subside because it isn’t all new to you.
After you have done this for a number of times and your confidence is building, then start to look at the price matching. Price matching is very easy to do really. Take the flyer with the item in it to the store…ie Something on sale at Superstore but you are shopping at Wal-Mart…take your superstore Flyer and simply give it to the Cashier and say “ I want to price match this item “. The Cashier looks at the Flyer to make sure it is for this week, looks at the item to ensure it matches what you are buying and then simply puts the lower price in her cash register! Voila you get the lower price, it is that easy.. one stop shopping in some cases saving you time and gas! Don’t forget you can still use a coupon on the item you are price matching which is saving you more!
The more you do these things, the more it becomes second nature and you want to save more and more and more…once you have your “start the car” moment you are hooked lol.
I use 2 Dollar Store Coupon folders to keep my coupons organized. One folder is for food and labeled by group ie, Breads, Noodles/Rice, Snacks, Meats, Frozen Products, Yogurts etc….the other Folder is for non-food items and labeled, Deodorants, Bath items, Laundry, Containers, Smelly items etc. I also keep these folders in my car, just in case I am in a store and see an unadvertised special. This way I can quickly run out to the car and get my coupons.
I also have a small Dollar Store folder that I keep in my purse for the coupons that I take into the store with me for my shop.
Friends use the binder system with the hockey card inserts to organize their coupons, but personally I just don’t have that amount of time.
Find a system that works for you, even a shoe box with tabs to separate your coupons works.
This week’s deals are a great opportunity to build a small stockpile on some cleaning supplies and perhaps some over the counter medication’s if you or your family uses those. Wal-Mart has Purex Laundry Detergent on sale for $3.00 a bottle. If you use your buy 2 get $2.50 off coupon from one of the recent inserts, then you pay only $1.75 a bottle! These are normally approx. $6.99 a bottle. With the sale and the coupon combined you can get 4 bottles of laundry detergent for the price you would normally pay for 1….this is the time to stock up on these. Personally I plan to pick up about 10 bottles to put in my stockpile lol….another great deal this week on cleaning supplies is the Toilet Duck Cleaner at Canadian Tire…on sale for $2.00, use your websaver.ca coupon and it is FREE, also at Canadian Tire is the spray bottle of Tilex on sale for $2.00 , you will see in the link below the link for a PRINTABLE coupon for $1.50 off making this only .50 cents a bottle! Again stockpile time. The medications are in the deal section for you as well, good prices if you use those products.
The next time you are shopping a regular monthly/weekly shop, take a look in your cart and just see how many items are non-food items, toilet tissue, cleaning supplies,deodorants etc. I think you will be surprised at what you are spending on these items compared to your actual grocery items. Save on these and it gives you the extra money for the special food items/treats or even save the money for vacations, kid’s items, RRSPs etc.
1. BOGO Mug Cake’s https://www.facebook.com/droetkercanada/app_422908347776478
2. FREE Lysol Foam Antibacterial Hand Soap!
Get your MIR HERE ★ http://ow.ly/hIlyS ★
3. Get a FREE 2L Drink when you buy select Pillsbury products!
Find out how HERE ★ http://ow.ly/hzIJV ★
4. http://couponnannie.com/2013hiddensave/
Yoplait/ChexCarnation BreakfastSunlightDoveActiviaKraft CouponsDr Oetker #1Dr Oetker #2Nordic Cottage CheeseClub HouseCheeriosItal PastaKraft ShreddedTenaSnugglePro Plan.
5. Tilex Spray Printable Coupon http://coupons.clorox.ca/show?coupon=12_Clrx_Starblaster_B_Dec12
DEALS
GIANT TIGER
Wonder Bread $1.97 - $1.00 (websaver.ca) = .97
WALMART
Purex $3.00 = $1.25 ( insert) = $1.75
Advil Nighttime $3.00 –$ 3.00 (insert ) = FREE
Aleve 24s $3.00 – $2.00 (Printable ) = $1.00
CANADIAN TIRE
Tilex $2.00 – $1.50 ( printable coupon see above) = .50
Toilet Duck $2.00- $2.00 (websaver.ca )= FREE
NO FRILLS
Dr. Oeteker Panebello pizza $3.00 - $1.00 (Websave.ca ) = $2.00
Aylmer Accents $1.00 – $1.00 wub2 (alymers label) = $0.50
Miracle Whip Mayo $3.00 - $1.00 (save.ca) = $2.00
Aylmer Accents $1.00- 1.00 when you buy 2 ( in store ) = .50
Catelli Smart Pasta #1.00 – 1.00fro Websaver or .75 one
Black Diamond Cheese strings $2.00 = .75 from tear pad = 1.25
GATEWAY
English Cuc’s .27 …no coupons but a good deal
SHOPPERS DRUG MART
Motrin 3.99 – 3.00 Printable Coupon = .99
Happy Couponing & Saving Everyone!
