To Buy or Not To Buy

To a new and old couponers alike, the thrill of the "hunt and kill" ignites a euphoria that really can't be described. But where do you draw the line? How do you know if a deal is worth pursuing?
If you are not careful, before you know it, your pantry is overflowing with the dry pasta that you got for 10 cents a box when you are on a no-pasta diet! Of course, you can always donate the items, but how do you avoid stocking up on things you will never use? How do you resist the urge to get your hands on every deal?

After all, the purpose of using coupons is to save money - not spend a little bit of money on a lot of things you do not need. A little bit of money on a lot of things can add up quickly!

Here are some guidelines to follow to help you decide if going for the deal is really worth it:

1. ASSESS THE NEED
This seems to be the most obvious . There is nothing better than scanning an ad and realizing that an item you are needing is on sale and you have a coupon that will make it nearly free. But do you really need it? Were you thinking about buying this item before you saw it on sale? Have you used this item in the past couple of months or can you see yourself using it in the next couple of months? If you do not have a direct need for an item, if you can not see yourself using it in the next months to a year then you can probably pass on getting it.

2. IS IT WORTH YOUR TIME - AND GAS?
This may not be so obvious. It is easy to get so caught up in chasing a good deal that you are doing just that - chasing. I have to admit that I have gotten in my car and driven MILES to find a free item. Being honest, I probably spent more money in gas than it would have cost to just pay full price for the item! You also have to take into account your time. Yes, couponing can be timely but is the item you are seeking worth spending an hour or so store-hopping to find it? Your time - and gas - is valuable and should always be considered along with the price of the item you are thinking of buying.

3. PASS ON A SALE
I often have to resist the urge to be the first in line at every sale. Seeing a sale sign can make your heart beat faster with excitement. You have to realize that just because something is on sale, does not mean you have to get it! Also, sales usually come in cycles. For example, over the summer grill seasonings would go on sale and be free with a coupon almost every three weeks. If you miss a sale, there is a great chance that you will catch it at a later time. You do not have to stock up on an item during every sale cycle. It is OK to pass on a sale!

4. LET THE COUPON EXPIRE
Just because you have a coupon for something, does not mean you have to use it! This is the easiest way to over-spend on things you do not need! If you are not going to use a coupon, pass it on to a friend or family member who might be able to use it. You can also send your valid and/or expired coupons to military families. Stores on military bases usually accept expired coupons.

It is easy to get caught up in the thrill of the chase but it is important to assess your need for the item, the value of your time and to realize that you do not have to get every deal. Take this advice and you can minimize making purchases that are unnecessary and avoid stocking up on items you will never use.


Happy Shopping!

Coupon Etiquette

Couponers seem to be getting a lot of bad press lately. If you have been coupon shopping for any amount of time you have probably come across resentment and contempt not only from other shoppers, but from cashiers and even other couponers.
There are some ways you can leave a nice impression.

1. BE NICE
This is the most important. No one likes to be met with an attitude or belittled. Remember that the person standing at the cash register or other staff are people too. They are working, they may be tired. This is not an excuse for them too be rude to you, but it makes being nice to them easier. If a problem arises with your coupon, keep your cool! Don't start yelling, belittling the cashier or beginning to make a scene. Keep your voice calm while being firm.

2. BE KNOWLEDGEABLE
Knowing your stuff is key to couponing. Be sure to always carry your store's coupon policy. Employees and even manager's are not always familiar with the coupon policy. It helps when you know what you are talking about. Having the coupon policy with you will make a discrepancy resolve smoothly and can even help to educate store staff. Remember, however, that different locations of the same store can interpret their coupon policy differently. Some cases are simply YMMV.

3. BE COURTEOUS
Being courteous includes being respectful of store staff and other shoppers. Always remember your manners. You will be surprised how far being courteous can get you! It also means being patient. On many occasions I have had to wait for minutes while a manager was called. While it was inconvenient, I stood patiently and waited. It almost always pays off. Remember you are not the only one in the store!

4. WATCH THE CLOCK!
Do not show up to a store coupons in hand right before closing or when they are their busiest. Not only will this anger the customers behind you, it will frazzle the cashier and could even distract you from fully paying attention to the transaction. The cashier might be more likely to make mistakes if they are anxious about closing and getting home. Also, if there is a problem with your transaction, you might be met with resentment from tired or over busy staff.

5.WARN
Whenever I am doing a big trip with coupons, I always let the cashier know I am using coupons before I begin. If there are other customers behind me, I will usually let them go before me if I have to do separate transactions.

6. DO NOT SHELF CLEAR
I have been tempted to clear the shelves of good deals. There is nothing like the feeling of hauling in bags and bags of items to add to your stockpile. I always try to remember that companies have sales so that everyone can get a good deal. I try to think of others when shopping. Although I do take plenty of items, I always make sure there are plenty for others. I know how frustrating it can be, with or without coupons, to get to the store only to find out that the item you want is all gone. Couponing can be a "you snooze, you lose" business, but I know if I do not get it one time, another opportunity will come along.

Following these tips can help you leave a good impression as a couponer and help all of us in the long run.

For more information about coupon etiquette, see the Coupon Information Corporation's post here.

Happy Shopping!

Coupon Lingo

If you have been browsing coupon sites and forums you have probably noticed all of the abbreviations and are probably wondering what they all mean.
Here is a list of the most commonly used abbreviations and their meanings:

SS - Smart Source coupon insert found in most newspapers
SS2 - Some weeks there will be two Smart Source inserts in the paper, this is usually the smaller insert
RP - Red Plum coupon insert found in most newspapers
GM - General Mills coupons insert found in most newspapers
PG - P&G Brand Saver coupon insert found in most newspapers
IP - Internet Printable, a coupon you print from online
B1G1 - Buy One Get One (or 2, 3 etc. )
YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary - describing different people getting different results with stores and cashiers accepting different coupons
OOP - Out of Pocket - how much you pay after coupons are applied to your transaction
ECB - Extra Bucks Reward from CVS - find out more here
RR - Register Reward from Walgreens - similar to ECB
Wags - Walgreens
ROAK - Random Acts of Kindness - describing couponers performing random acts of kindness like leaving hot coupons near products in stores
FSOT - For Sale or Trade

Happy Couponing!

Where to Find Coupons

So you have probably seen "the show". The extremists have stacks and stacks of coupons. Where do they get them?

There are several places to get coupons:

NEWSPAPER
This is a given. Almost every weekend, your local Chronicle should include coupon inserts.
The different type of inserts are:
P&G Brandsaver (PG)
Redplum (RP)
Smartsource (SS, SS1 or SS2)
General Mills (GM)
There are a few others like Target Coupons and such but those are the most common. You will not get all inserts every week.
You can also get an early edition of the newspaper on Saturday and that should contain the coupon inserts.
Be sure to check your paper before buying to make sure the coupons have not magically disappeared!
I usually purchase four papers every Saturday and have one delivered on Sunday.
If there will not be a good sale or there will not be any coupon inserts, I will limit how many I buy or not buy any at all.

ONLINE  PRINTABLES
You can also print coupons online. Prints are usually limited to 2 per computer.
You can find coupons at:
Coupons.com
Redplum.com
Smartsource.com
Target.com/coupons
Cvs.com/coupons

You will have to download coupon print activators before printing coupons. You will only have to do this once.

FACEBOOK
It is a good idea to "like" your favorite companies and brands on Facebook. Companies are now releasing Facebook Fan only coupons that you can print from your computer.

DUMPSTER DIVING
Yes. People dive into dumpsters and dig out coupons. I do not and I do not condone this. It can be dangerous and is illegal in some counties.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS
You can always ask family and friends to give you their extra coupons!

ONLINE COUPON RETAILERS
Coupon clipping services clip coupons and you can purchase clipped coupons or whole inserts.
This is a good idea if you need extra coupons for a certain item and do not want to buy whole newspapers or it is too late to buy a newspaper.
Keep in mind that you usually have to pay shipping and you want to make sure you order your coupons so that they will arrive to you before the sale you want to use them on is over.
You can find coupons on E-Bay.
My personal favorite coupon clipper is CouponDede.com.

MAIL/E-MAIL
Companies usually have a newsletter that you can sign up for on their website.
I like to use an email address created just for coupons so I am not bombarded with spam messages in my regular inbox.
Occasionally, companies will mail or email their subscribers exclusive coupons.
You can also write or call companies and ask if they will send you coupons.

Keep your eyes peeled because you can find coupons in all sorts of places!

Happy Shopping!