I was thinking the other day about how intimidating it can be to start using coupons. And although I have a Couponing 101 section, there may be a lot of you who are brand new to the whole couponing idea and need a little guidance. And, I am sure there are some of us who could use a re-fresher.
So, I thought I would go Back to the Basics for all of you and get us all feeling confident with using coupons and saving money.
I will be posting those Back to the Basics Posts over the next week or so. But, if there is anything that still confuses you about coupons or anything related to it, leave a comment so I can address it in the Posts I do!
Kerrie
Oh thank you this is just what i need. Ok my question is wallgreens. Is it realy worth it. I realy have been trying to make it work but with all the split transactions and RR and fillers it is hard to see how i am saving money… I guess it is just not regitstering in my brain. Can you get the same good deals at other stores with out all the confusion of Wallgreens?
Tristiedd
Can you explain ecoupons to me. I have only had a smiths card for about a week now and keep seeing things about ecoupons what are they and how dose it work?
Kristy
Kerrie,I've been couponing since February and feel like I've really got most of it down. Walgreens though, is a different story. Very rarely is there something there to make it worth going. But it's definately a trial and error store. Sometimes I feel like I spent more on fillers than anything else, but other times, I feel like I got a steal of a deal! I prefer Rite Aid now because of the rebates. I feel like I really get the $ back instead of having to spend the RR on something else at Walgreens.
Kerrie
Hmmm I have not even looked at the Right Aid adds rebates have always scared me but it is a more direcet method of geting your money back than RR. So how dose the Right Aid rebates work? Can you get the same killer deals? Thank you for your answer
Colleen
I agree about Walgreens. Feels like I'm spending my RR on things I don't want or need just to not lose the money! What's the trick???
Kristy
I was pretty overwhelmed by Rite Aid at first, but once I went on their website and just looked through everything, it wasn't too bad! Plus the Rite Aid by my work downtown SLC, is so nice and almost always stocked and they have a coupon policy! Go to http://www.riteaid.com and check out the SCR section. When you combine those with coupons, a lot of times, you make money on them. Then at the end of the month, you request your check! I just put those checks into my savings account because it's the money I saved!! As for killer deals. . . YUP! Got contact solution, toothbrushes, Dentyne and nasal spray for free yesterday!! I love it there!
kerrie
Thank you Kristy Oh one more question it seems as if everyone is getting a "card" these days do they have one? Do i need it … how dose it work… Hmmm mabey i will pop over to the webgitht. 🙂
Kerrie
"Colleen said… 5 I agree about Walgreens. Feels like I'm spending my RR on things I don't want or need just to not lose the money! What's the trick???" I know i did 6 transactions yesterday and though the stuff technicly was free i feel like i wasted sooooooo much money. I think i might bage the RR If i can get the deals without them then why not. I am going to check into Right Aid like kristy sugjested. Just wanted you to know I soooo feel your pain. I think one of the keys to wallgreens is that you MUST!!! shop them everyery week. and you MUST!!! be a guinius to figure out how to work it all hehe
Kristy
They do have a Wellness Plus card. I just ordered mine online and got it in the mail, but you can also get one at the store. If you live in Salt Lake, i'd be willing to meet you there one day to just do a shopping trip and show you how things work. I go there usually once a week, depending on what comes out in the ad. That's where I buy most of my diapers because I get them for less than $4 a package!
Kristy
Also, all of their rebate stuff is online so you don't have to worry about filling out a form each time and buying a stamp. You just enter your receipts and then at the end of the month, request your check. They also have really good store coupons that you just watch their videos online and print them off. You can combine those with manufacturer coupons! Can you tell I love my Rite Aid?
Melea
Kristy-Hey, can you email me at melea@freebies2deals.com? I want to talk to you about Rite aid!Melea
kerrie
I think i might just take you up on that offer to go shopping Kristy. I realy realy need this coupon thing to work but right now i feel like my every wakeing though is consumed by it all. Makes it a little stressfull. But i see not other way to make our bugjet work. Thankyou for all of your help. I think i will pop over to the Right Aid sight and see what i can find.
Cindy
How do you stay organized enough to not spend all your time tracking coupons and trying to figure out which deal you wanted to get where and when? Do you file your coupons? If so, how? How do you organize your shopping lists?
Kerrie
I use a type of binder method. I have a binder but i do not cut up my coupons I leave the sheets whole and keep them in order of date and keep each kind together so my binder go's p&g, target, rp, ss ect. I got the idea from a blog. It works perfect for me as i can easely find the coupons off of the lists that get posted on the net and i can also flip while at the stoer if i find a deal that i want to take advantage of. I know alot of people don't like carying everything with them and it is a bit unsetteling sometimes with people staring at me but i am to OCD no to keep it with me worried that i will miss somthing LOL. As for shopping list i keep on on the fridge where i put what i need then each week i scan the shopping list to see who has what i need and have to deside what shoping trips make the most sence for me. I print a list for each store that i am going to shop at. My work is about a 30 min drive from where i live and i pass almost every store on my way to and from so i just stop then so the runing round gass factor is not a factor for me. I am passing the place anywhay why not pop in for a few things. I am still verry verry new to all of this and i find that reading what others do has realy helped me find a system that works for me. Oh and right now i do feel like i spend most of my week on bujeting and copuons ect. but I am told that it will change as i get into the swing of things. HOpe this helps you.
Kristy
I would be willing to meet anyone there to go through a shopping list sometime! I usually head over there on Mondays or Tuesdays, depending on what's in the ad. I'm not an expert by far, but I have found lots of good deals there, that I never knew were out there! Cindy, at first, couponing is consuming, but once you get organized, you'll figure out the times that you'll coupon. For me, it's usually on Tuesdays and Wednesdays that I'll cut coupons, put them in my binder (big Bertha as I lovingly refer to it as) and make my shopping list for the week. The ads reset on Wednesday so I'll check the ads and depending on what the good deals are, I'll stop at the grocery store on the way home from work and be done for the week. It just takes a month or two to get into a rhythm and find your balance with it! But it's worth it!
alicia.king
my question is…well here is my scenario, if i am going to purchase 2 boxes of Lucky Charms, i can use 2 of the .55¢ printable Lucky Charm coupons, but can i also use a $1.00/off 2 general mills coupons as well…or do i need to buy a total of 4 boxes to use the second coupon! also every time i go into Target and use a manufacturer coupon + target coupon for the same item, they only take off one coupon. then i ask for the one that didn't work back, and they won't give it to me! thanks for your help!