1. What Are Coupons and Where Do I Find Them .………… Page 2 2. Coupon Lingo and What Does It Mean ...……………..……. Page 5 3. Organizing Your Coupons ..……………………………………..… Page 8 4. Coupon Techniques and Etiquette ………………………..….. Page 10 5. How Do I Use Free Coupons …………………………………..…. Page 12 6. What To Buy and When To Buy It .………………………….…. Page 13 7. What Are Good Stock Up Prices? ………………………………. Page 14 8. How To Start Building Your Stockpile ………………………… Page 15 9. Store Guides a. Walgreens …………………………………………………………. Page 16 b. CVS…………………………………………………………………….. Page 19 c. Target …………………………………………………………….…. Page 20 d. Rite Aid ………………………………………………………….….. Page 22 e. WalMart ……………………………………………………………. Page 24 10. Final Thought……………………………………………………………… Page 26
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A Valpak national study says close to half of us… 40% now search for deals or coupons before making a purchase. And 41% of coupon users come from households earning greater than $70,000! (Nielsen Online Research) That means we are all becoming savvy shoppers, wanting to hang on to our money rather than spending aimlessly on daily needs. Many believe clipping coupons takes too much time or somehow looks cheap. The truth is, spending 20 minutes clipping coupons before you shop can save you up to 30% at the grocery store. What’s not cool about that? Do you get paid that amount in 20 minutes working every day? There are so many online resources and deals found for you that saving money at the store doesn’t take a lot of time. It just takes a person willing to follow directions on how to make it happen. If you buy only generics, that is a good savings tactic. But I know many who prefer national brands on certain items… if that is the case, using a coupon or two can OFTEN save you even more than generics and give you the ability to stock up and save when those brands go on sale. Coupons are everywhere and more than likely available on ALMOST ANYTHING you use, and yes, you can even save going organic. The key is not buying things you won’t use just because it’s on sale and you have a coupon (or consider donating those items to the needy). I consider coupon money and treat it as such. Also, take heart in knowing that retailers don’t lose money when you use a coupon. Retailers receive back the face value of a coupon in addition to a handling fee of 8 cents. We will be sharing very valuable tips on how to coupon with you. First things first: What Are Coupons?
I believe that the Dictionary sums up coupons to a tee – however to me they are free money. What’s better then free money? Not much!
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Now, How Do You Find Them?
1. Newspaper This is a little obvious, but with all the printable coupons available, it can be a little easy to overlook. *If you are a sassy couponer then you will be purchasing more than one of your paper. You can actually preview what coupons will be in the paper each week on the My City Mommy sites then you can buy more papers while you are out. *Keep in mind there are never inserts on holiday weekends. For extras (free) check libraries, restaurants and fast food places, doctor’s offices, your next door neighbor, some newspaper offices have places for leftover ads, post offices, recycling areas and of course you can check dumpsters. 2. Printable Coupon Websites These are my favorite because you get to print just coupons you want, there is a good variety, and frequent changes. Make sure that you watch for coupons that may have a limit – you may only be able to print so many or you may miss out b/c others have printed them all…sometimes the coupon will reset. Coupons.com Coupon Network Red Plum Smart Source Bricks Coupon Database – you can use this to see if any product that you want to purchase has a coupon available ‘right now.’ 3. Store Website Printable Coupons Same as above, may only be for this particular store so pay attention to type of coupon and if they are good to use for stacking with a manufacture coupon. Target/Save-a-Lot 4. Mobile Coupons Give the store your cell number so they can send you coupons on your phone Target 5. Mobile/Card Coupons Text a code to the store and they will put the coupons on your loyalty card or use a site to do the same thing, for some stores you will probably have to sign up for their e-mails to get the code. Cellfire Upromise Shortcuts Softcoin 6. Manufacture Websites Get it straight from the horse’s mouth. Sometimes you have to sign up for a newsletter, they change each month so print your favorites when you see them. Betty Crocker/Pillsbury *For your favorite products check their website for coupon offers
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7. In stores Look around! You can find lots of coupons on the items (peelies), next to the price, on the shelves, in the little coupon machines in front of the items. Keep your eyes open! Take a sales flyer when you come in the door! At CVS, use your card to check their coupon machine. 8. On/with your receipt Check everything that prints out with your receipt including the back of your receipt. Lots of good coupons come with that because lots of times it’s based on what you have bought and many times they are in store coupons so they are stackable! 9. Facebook Become a fan (or “like”) your favorite brands. I will always post these coupons as they become available. 10. Magazines I haven’t seen a magazine with more coupons than All You. But, look through your favorite magazine; you’d be surprised to see coupons hiding among the ads! 11. Samples Most of the free sample offers that you sign up for will come with a coupon for the product, especially those from name brands. 12. Email or Call Your favorite companies and ask for coupons – many times they will send you coupons and often even free products! I believe the most important thing when looking for coupons is to find coupons on products you will use.
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Before you can get your coupons organized and hurry off to the store you need to know what all of the crazy abbreviations, acronyms, and coupon lingo means!
Here’s an example of a scenario that you may see in a Weekly Coupon Match Up for Walgreens.
(2) Gillette Custom Plus 3 Disposable Razors 4pk @ $6.99 = $13.98 (2) Gillette Fusion Shaving Cream @ $4.49 = $8.98 BOTH =$22.96 -B1G1 Custom Plus 3 Disposable Razors 6/19 RP insert, use one -$1/1 Gillette ProGlide or Fusion Shave Prep 6/5 P&G insert, use two Earn $5 RR when you spend $20 on Gillette Products Final price: all four for $8.97
Here is what this means without the lingo:
Buy 2 Gillette Custom Plus 3 Disposable Razors 4pk at $6.99 each. Also purchase 2 Gillette Fusion Shaving Cream at $4.49 each. The coupons you are going to hand to the cashier when you check out are a Buy 1 Get 1 Free Custom Plus 3 Disposable Razor Coupon from your June 19th Red Plum newspaper insert. *You will find the date on the side of your newspaper inserts just as you do a magazine. You will also hand the cashier 2 $1.00 off of 1 Gillette ProGlide or Fusion Shave Prep coupons from the June 5th Proctor and Gamble newspaper insert. When you check out a Walgreens Register Reward will print out giving you $5 off of your next Walgreens purchase because the total price of your products before coupons was $20. Your final price for all 4 items is $8.97. Aren’t you glad we use lingo.
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Now here is the language you need to know so you can become an Extreme Couponer: General Lingo:
BOGOF or B1G1 – is a Buy 1 Get 1 Free Sale or Buy 1 Get 1 Free Coupon Peelie – these are coupons or rebates that peel off of a package. WYB – means when you buy. You will often see scenarios that state wyb a certain amount of products you will get a reward via coupon or rebate. OOP – is your cash out of pocket. MIR - is a mail in rebate that you mail in to receive a specific amount of cash back on an item that you purchased. SC – is a store coupon. These coupons can come in mailers directly to your mailbox, in weekly advertisements within the store or in the newspaper or directly into your email inbox. Store coupons can often be stacked (or used together) with a manufacturers coupon. MFC or MQ - is the manufacturer’s coupon. GC – is a gift card. These are cards much like a credit card that give you money off of your purchase at select retailers. MM – is a money maker. These are often indicated at the end of our coupon scenarios and are one of an Extreme Couponers best friends. DND – means do not double because the manufacturer does not want the store to double the coupon even if it is in the stores coupon policy to do so. These coupons will not exceed the value printed on the coupon at any time. YMMV – means your mileage may vary. This is often used for stores that may not have the same items on clearance or for a store that does not have the same prices on their products nationwide. IP- is an Internet printable coupon. These can come from various resources as mentioned in our “How to Find Coupons, Extreme Couponing 101.” Blinkie – coupons you get from the little machines in the aisle in the store, typically they blink or have a light on them which is how they got the name Blinkie. WSL – means while supplies last UPC – is the Universal Product Code. This is a Twelve-digit barcode printed or affixed on virtually everything sold in supermarkets or retail stores, including books, magazines, candy, etc., for automatic checking-out at the cashier counter. These are most often mentioned if there is a specific item within the store that is ringing up for a discounted price while other items of the same type and manufacturer are priced at a higher amount. Catalina or CAT-is a coupon for an amount off your next purchase or for a free item on your next purchase-these print out of a small box located next to the register owned by the Catalina company. FAR – means Free After Rebate. If there is an item that is $2 and you get a $2 Rebate with the purchase your item is FREE. OYNO – means a dollar amount off of your next order. This could be specified in the weekly match ups along with CVS Extra Care Bucks, Walgreen’s Register Rewards or Catalina’s at your local stores. PSA – means prices starting at. We often put this into our deal scenarios if the price isn’t listed in the advertisement but we can find a price online for the product at the same store. Overage – is another one of the Extreme Couponers favorite words because this means you get money back for purchasing an item. One of our favorite stores for this is Walmart because they will now hand you the overage or cash-back if your coupon exceeds the value of the product. Stacking – is when you use a manufacturer’s coupon along with a store coupon or rebate to increase your savings on a product you are purchasing.
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Rain Check – is a piece of paper that the manager or an employee with give you if they are out of a product that is on sale so you can come back when the item is back in stock and pick up the item at the sale price. Rolling – means that you can purchase a product for a coupon or a rebate and then use that on the purchase of the same item over and over. This seldom happens at stores but when it does you want to hurry off to the store because you will store an Extreme Deal. Tear Pad – is a pad of coupons that you often see on the shelves at the store or even at gas stations. These are manufacturer’s coupons that can be used in any store. One coupon per purchase – This means that you can use 1 coupon per item with the item being considered your purchase. For example if you had 5 identical cans of green beans and 5 coupons for that product you could use all 5 of your coupons on your order because that equals 5 purchases. One coupon per order – This means that you can only use that specific coupon once per visit. One coupon per household – means only 1 person in your household is allowed to use this coupon. This typically is listed on high value or free coupons only.
Specific Store Coupons
ECB or EB – these are CVS Pharmacy’s Extra Care Bucks. These print out at the bottom of your receipt and are good on your next purchase at CVS. Never fear if you lose your Extra Care Bucks because you can now log into your CVS Extracare account online and retrieve and print your CVS Extra Care Bucks if you misplace them. Wags – is short for Walgreens RR – is Walgreens Register Rewards. These are dollar off coupons that print from a box much like the Catalina boxes beside the register. They are good on your next purchase. IVC – is an Instant Value Coupon. These are the coupons in the Walgreens Monthly Coupon Books and also found in the weekly advertisements.
Newspaper Inserts
PG – Proctor & Gamble SS – Smartsource RP – Red Plum GM – General Mills K – Kelloggs UN – Unilever
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There are many ways to organize coupons, but the important thing is to have them organized. Planning out shopping trips is a much quicker process when you know exactly where your coupons are and can easily find the ones you want. There’s no right or wrong way to organize, but here are my top picks: Three-Ring Binder: This method what we developed into the My City Mommy Coupon Binder
The My City Mommy Coupon Binder Includes:
Getting Started Guide: How To Set Up Your Binder How To Use The Shopping Organizer pages, The Menu Planner and Price Tracker Sheets Coupon Lingo & Abbreviations Explained Binder Contents 5 double-sided Shopping Organizer pages. Use these to plan out your shopping trips with every detail you could need. 5 double-sided Menu Planner pages. Use these to plan your menus for each week. 2 double-sided Price Tracker sheets. Use these to determine what are good, great and stock up prices for the items that your family uses according to your location and specific stores. A sheet of adhesive labels. Use these for your pocket dividers and coupon category pages with over 40 preprinted labels and more blank one’s for you to customize for a total of 80. 5 sturdy poly material double pocket, tabbed store dividers. Use one for each of your favorite stores to keep your store ads, coupon booklets and more all together. 15 more pages to organize your clipped coupons. You have the choice of 3 slot pages, 9 slot pages or a combination of both. All are clear, highest quality, top loading BCW pages 1 sturdy plastic 3 ring pocket. It Velcro’s closed to keep unfiled or unclipped coupons secure.
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Accordion Folder:
A large accordion folder is a good choice for those who clip all of their coupons in advance. You can use the various pockets to divide coupons up by category and keep them sorted by expiration date. A small accordion folder is nice to use to actually bring into the store. It can also double as a great place to store ExtraCare Bucks and Register Rewards earned from CVS and Walgreens, as well as receipts. Tip: look for accordion folders in the dollar section at Target toward the end of the summer.
The Couponizer:
The Couponizer is a fantastic organizer especially for the beginning couponer. The Couponizer is a complete set of tools designed to make saving money easy. It is made up of 18 category pockets for grocery coupons and other coupon and discount category pockets. The Couponizer includes: Section for store loyalty cards Shopping list CoupTracker (to keep track of your fabulous coupon savings!) Pair of scissors. It also comes with a CoupStacker to store coupons that don’t fit into the Couponizer. There are many options on how to keep your coupons separate and organized. I suggest that you do what feels and works best for you.
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Now that we have talked about “How to Find Coupons,” “Coupon Lingo,” and “How to Organize Coupons” it’s time to talk about maximizing our savings Coupon Techniques
Stack store coupons with manufacturer’s coupons and when available $ off of $ amount – for instance at Walgreens, Target, and CVS you can stack your store coupons along with manufacturers coupons for additional savings. At Dollar General many times you can also combine your products and coupons along with a $5 off of $25 offer which greatly reduces the amount you are spending on the products. Price Match at Wal-Mart and Target – both stores allow you to price match advertiser’s sale prices. You need the other stores weekly advertisement/flyer and the product you are matching must be the exact same product that is listed in the weekly advertisement. Take advantage of stores that double (i.e. Schnucks & Dierbergs) and triple coupons Buy only when an item is on sale – this is the easiest way to maximize your savings. Use a Coupon Database available on the My City Mommy sites so you aren’t always clipping coupons- find your coupons when you’re ready to shop and then clip Take advantage of store loyalty programs, register promotions, and rewards. Coupons to the Extreme
Now that have a general knowledge of coupon techniques, here are some additional techniques to save you even more money when you buy.
Look for products that are free and will give you Overage: Overage happens when the value of a coupon exceeds the price of the item. Many stores will allow you to apply the exceeding value to the rest of your shopping order. Walmart will even give you money back when you shop if your coupons exceed the value of the products. By doing this you greatly reducing the price of your entire purchase. B1G1 Coupons: Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupons (also known as BOGO coupons or B1G1 coupons) allow you to purchase one item and get a second item of equal or lesser value for free! You’ll want to pay special attention to the fine print on the coupon as there is usually a maximum value stated on the coupon (this maximum value is the most that the manufacturer is willing to reimburse the store for the “free” item). With a B1G1 store sale, you are purchasing 2 like items and then automatically getting one item for free when you checkout. Since you are still essentially purchasing 2 items, you can use a B1G1 coupon in conjunction with the B1G1 store sale to get the both items for free (one is free after the store sale and one is free after the coupon). *Important Note: Read your store’s coupon policy very carefully as some stores (most recently Rite Aid ) may prohibit the use of a B1G1 coupon in conjunction with a B1G1 store sale. You will also note that many are considering this usage of B1G1 unethical. You have to use your own judgment on this one. Rebates: Mail-in-rebates are an added way to save and often honored based on the price of an item or an amount you will spend Rain Checks: When there are good sales, often stores will run out of items. Don’t forget the power of a rain check where a store will honor the sale price of an item at a future time. Rolling Deals: means that you can purchase a product for a coupon or a rebate and then use that on the purchase of the same item over and over. This seldom happens at stores but when it does you want to hurry off to the store because you will store an Extreme Deal.
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Coupon Etiquette
Even though we are maximizing our savings by being Savvy Shoppers it’s important to know what is too extreme and to be courteous to our fellow coupon shoppers.
Don’t photocopy coupons, it’s illegal and hurts the retailers and all using coupons Use only one manufacturer coupon and store coupon per item Don’t try to use a coupon for which it is not intended for, it’s unethical All coupons must have expiration dates or stores will not accept them Don’t clean the shelf off on a good deal, share the wealth If you see a great deal and you have extra coupons. Or you are in a store that limits the same coupon per transaction leave extras for your fellow couponers on the shelves.
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Don’t you just love getting a free product coupon in the mail? When you have a free product coupon it seems like a no brainer the there is only one way to use it, go and get the item free, right? Consider the following:
You pay tax on free items, so it is in your best interest to still get the product on sale so you are paying less tax. For items you can find at CVS (beauty supplies, personal care products etc.) I save those free product coupons for using at CVS when I have a “Buy $20 save $5" coupon to stack it with. You can receive these types of coupons from CVS when you sign up for their e-newsletter. If you have a free product coupon and that item is on sale at a store for Buy One Get One Free, use you free product coupon to “buy one” and let the store give you the other one free, getting BOTH ITEMS FREE (but still paying tax on both items).
I save my free product coupons and wait till the expiration date is nearing to see if a better price or sale will come along. For instance in your area you may have a Kroger Mega Event, Buy 10 and Save $5.00. Top your free coupon with the sale and you have major savings. At Kroger, give your Kroger shopper’s card last as they can then put the full value amount (pre-sale) on the coupon and both you and Kroger win, as you both get that amount from the Manufacturer. Things to Note about Free Product Coupons
When checking out, save the free product items until the end it will make it easier for the cashier to find the price of those items. Make sure (especially at Target) your cashier is keying in the amount into the computer, they also should then write it on the coupon, that way they are getting back the same amount given to you.
For those of you who are asking the question “how does she get free product coupons mailed to her?” Well there are several different ways; first I highly recommend joining Kraft First Taste and Vocal Point. Both websites are free to join and they send you special coupons and freebies frequently. The simplest method that really pays off is emailing your favorite companies and asking them for additional savings through coupons or samples.
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First of all the key is timing. Big bargains happen when you work with manufacturer discounts, clearance sales, off-season discounts and coupon and discount codes! Here are a few sales cycles to get you started:
January: Chocolate, soda, diet foods, frozen finger foods, linens, small appliances, air conditioners, carpeting, winter clothes, bikes, Christmas decorations, motorcycles, boats, sports and weight loss February: Chocolate, steak, seafood(post Valentine's Day),oatmeal, boats March: Frozen Foods, Easter meal items i.e. eggs, ham, gardening items April: Candy, eggs, ham, cheese, frozen pies, cake mix, electronics, vacuums, cookware, tires and auto supplies May: Barbecue items i.e. hot dogs, beef, condiments, ice cream, party supplies, grill supplies June: Ice cream, popsicles, soda, pianos, building materials, tools July: BBQ items, chips, grill supplies August: Cereal, breakfast bars, peanut butter, lunch meat, cold lunch items, yogurt, pool supplies, outdoor toys, bathing suits, summer clothes September: Cereals, back to school snacks, hamburger, hot dogs, condiments, spaghetti sauce, cars, lawn mowers October: canned fruits and veggies, dried fruits, stock up on holiday foods and soups and broths, large appliances, lawn mowers November: Turkey, butter, cheese, canned goods, baking goods, cookware, tools, carpeting December: Ham, butter, cheese, post-holiday sales, baking goods, some electronics, toys, winter clothes You will notice that sales in stores go along with seasons, holidays and events. Of course you will find the best price on Back to School items after school starts (that's the time to stock up for next year)!
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While there is no “price” rule I do have some guidelines for myself that I use to know a good “stock up” price! Here are some examples:
Toothbrush: Free Floss: Free Mouthwash: $0.50 Deodorant: Free Body Wash: $0.50 Soap: $0.25 Lotion: $0.50 Shampoo/Conditioner: $0.50 Feminine Hygiene Products: Free – $50 tops + there are a ton… of samples for these Shaving Cream: $0.50 Disposable Razors: Free Razors, (ex. Gillette Fusion or Venus): $1 Detergent: $1.50 Dish Washer Tabs or Liquid: $0.50 Toilet Paper: $0.25 per roll Cleaning Supplies: $0.50 or less Baby Wipes: $1.00 or less per box Diapers: $0.11 per diaper Candles: $1.00 or less (high quality) Aluminum Foil: $0.50 Fruit: $1.00/lb. Meat: $2/lb., $4/lb. Steaks (high quality) Potatoes: $3/10 lb. bag Soda: $2.50/12 pk. Cereal: $0.50 per box Canned veggies: $0.35 Frozen veggies: Free Pasta: $0.25 Pasta Sauce: $.50
My rule of thumb is if I am saving 90% or more off of the retail price I have most likely found a rock bottom priced deal and it’s time to stock up. I also use the $1 and Under Drug Store Deals list posted on Tuesday Evenings by the My City Mommy network as a guide to stock up for the week.
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Now that you know some of our price points for stocking up on items and the sales cycles it's time to start thinking about picking up more than one item at the store when you have additional coupons to use. Here are a few things you should know before you start: 1) A Store Sale + A Coupon = Rock Bottom Prices And Big Savings The reason that we match up the weekly advertisements to coupons is because that is the time that you want to buy your item. It's also important to know that the closer a coupon gets to its expiration date the more likely you are going to see a reduction in that items price.
2) Sales tend to come around every 3 months. I don't encourage anyone to clear a shelf at any store to start their stockpile but I do encourage you to buy the amount of a product that you will need to last you 3 months since sales and coupons re-appear every 3-4 months giving you savings throughout the entire year. For example in 3 months I will go through approximately 2-3 jars of peanut butter and after that 3 months I will be able to find another great deal to last us an additional 3 months and I won't find it necessary to make a purchase without a coupon or a sale on that item. If you stock up when they are rock bottom, then you have eliminated the NEED to make a purchase later.
3) Choose One Store to start your couponing and stockpiling in. It's important if you are just starting out to choose 1 store. Don't compare yourselves to others and don't fall into the temptation of trying everything at once. When you master your first store then move on to a second.
4)
Follow along with the My City Mommy sites. Use our coupon match ups for drug and grocery stores as well as our Extreme Couponing posts for the hidden sales and new coupons that we find during the week. The $1 and Under Drug Store Deals is a great way to start working on your stockpile as well. Let us do the homework for you we are here to help.
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Now it’s time to get to know the policies for some of our favorite stores! Walgreens Store Guide Walgreens Incentives:
Register Rewards or RR: These are a coupon/catalina that will print at the register to use towards a different transaction. In Store Coupons: These can be found on Walgreens Website or in the Ad located at the front of the store. (You can stack an in store coupon with a manufactures coupon). Walgreens Coupon Booklet or IVC: These are issued monthly and are located in the front of the store – near the door – next to the weekly store advertisements. (You can stack an in store coupon with a manufactures coupon).
Walgreens Coupon Policy: First things first print the policy (available on the My City Mommy sites) and add it to your Coupon Binder – so you will always have it available in the store if you need it. Here are some of the most valuable points from the policy:
General information:
Competitor coupons are not accepted at Walgreens. The number of manufacturer coupons, including Register Rewards manufacturer coupons, may not exceed the number of items in the transaction. The total value of the coupons may not exceed the value of the transaction. Sales tax must be paid, if required by state law.
Sale Items
In the event that any item’s selling price is less than the value of the coupon, Walgreens will only accept the coupon in exchange for the selling price of the item. Coupon redemption can never exceed the selling price of an item and no cash back is ever provided in exchange for any coupons.
Multiple Coupons
When purchasing a single item, Walgreens accepts one manufacturer coupon and applicable Walgreens coupon(s) for the purchase of a single item, unless prohibited by either coupon offer. The coupon amount must be reduced if it exceeds the value of the item after other discounts or coupons are applied. (For example, a $5.00 coupon for a $4.99 item will result in a $4.99 coupon value). When purchasing multiple items, Walgreens accepts multiple identical coupons for multiple qualifying items as long as there is sufficient stock to satisfy other customers, unless a limit is specified. Management reserves the right to limit the quantity of items purchased.
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Buy 1 Get 1 Free Coupons:
When items are featured in a Buy One, Get One Free promotion, up to two coupons can be used against the items being purchased, as long as the net price does not go below zero for the items being purchased.
Register Rewards coupons:
Register Rewards will only print for in-stock merchandise during the promotional period. There is a limit of one Register Rewards (RR) printed per offer per customer per transaction. Customers redeeming a Register Rewards against the same offer may not receive another RR. Customers redeeming a Register Rewards against the same offer may not receive another RR. The RR coupon value cannot exceed the total purchase amount. No cash back and no cash value for RR coupon. The number of manufacturer coupons, including RR manufacturer coupons, must not exceed the number of items in the transaction. Here’s how to put this information into action:
You have two tubes of Crest Toothpaste listed at $1.50 each and you’ll receive a $1 RR (Register Reward). Buy 2 Crest Toothpaste $1.50 Each -use 3/6 PG Save $1/1 (use 2 coupons from the P&G Sunday coupon insert on March 6th) Out of Pocket: You get 2 tubes of toothpaste for $1.00 Receive: $1 in Register Rewards when you buy 2 (Basically you receive FREE after the Register Reward)
What can you do with this Register Reward? As mentioned in the policy you cannot turn around and do the same deal. The reason is because you cannot use a Register Reward on a product in the same family (from the same manufacturer) that is offering a Register Reward. For example, if you turned around and did this same deal, it would cancel the $1 Register Reward and you would not receive one back *The Register Reward it will state who provided the reward so you can easily determine what the Register Reward can and cannot be used on in your next transaction. Here is an additional example of how to complete your Register Reward transactions: Buy 1 Reach Toothbrush, $1.50 -use 3/6 SS Save $1/1 (Smart Source Sunday coupon insert on March 6th) -use $1 RR (Register Reward received from a different transaction) -Grab a filler item that is $.50 or more Final Price, FREE
Here is an example of how to use a Walgreens coupon in your transaction: Buy 1 GUM Dental Floss $1.50 w/in store coupon -use 3/6 SS Save $1/1 (Smart Source Sunday coupon insert on March 6th) -use in store coupon -use $1 RR (Register Reward received from a different transaction) Grab 2 items that are $.50 or more Final Price, FREE
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Now here are a few of the My City Mommy Networks personal tips: Check out at the Beauty Counter! If you are purchasing items in their area they will
receive a small commission so it’s nice to pay that forward. Many times it is less crowded and they are more tolerant of couponers. If your transaction does not work (for instance the Register Reward doesn’t print) ask for a manager. Many times they will over-ride the transaction and provide you with the Register Reward you should have received. Get to know the people who work in the store. I have found that most Walgreens employees are extremely easy to get to know and they enjoy getting to know their customers so strike up a conversation! Ask when their trucks come in.. If the items are out of Stock on Sunday most Walgreens have another truck that comes in on Tuesdays (however this may not be accurate for all stores) so ask! Get a rain check. It’s up to the manager’s discretion what they will provide a rain check on however many times they will give you a rain check on an item you are looking for when it’s out of stock.
As Always – my motto is “Just Ask,” the only thing they can say is no…
Follow Along with the My City Mommy Network each week to find the best bargains at Walgreens.
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CVS Store Guide There are many ways to save and even earn money while shopping at CVS. For those of you who are new to shopping at CVS, here are all the tips you will need to start saving today! We will start with the Weekly Ads. You can get the Weekly Ad online, in front of the store or in your local Sunday paper. The Ad lists all sale items and items that will produce Extra Care Bucks and the quantity needed to earn them. What are Extra Care Bucks (ECB)? These are dollars that you earn when making certain purchases and can be used on any future CVS purchase. Your ECBs will print out on your receipt so make sure to always check before throwing away your receipt. There are weekly and monthly ECB. You will also earn 2% back in ECB quarterly on your purchases which will print automatically at the end of the sales period. You do not have to get all the items at the same time but will not earn the ECB until you fulfill the entire purchase. In order to start earning ECBs, you need to have an Extra Care Card. You can get a card simply by asking a cashier for a form or by signing up online. If you fill out the form in-store, you will get your card to start saving immediately. However if you sign up online, it will take about a week to get your card in the mail. Remember to register your account online to receive special offers by email or in your mail box. In addition to ECB, there is also CRT (cash register tape) coupons that print automatically on your receipt. You can also get these CRTs by scanning your Extra Care Card at the red price scanner (the magic coupon box we refer to) usually located in the front of the store. These are not listed in the Weekly Ad and just print randomly. These are pretty general, for instance, $2.00 off of Huggies Pull-ups and sometimes Freebies! These CRTs are considered CVS Store coupons and can be combined with manufacturer’s coupons (MFC). This is called “Coupon Stacking” and here’s what it looks like: Buy (1) Huggies Pull-ups Jumbo Pack @ $9.00 Use (1) $2.00 CRT Use (1) $3.00 MFC Total $4.00 after using both coupons Making money at CVS can be very simple! Almost every week there is a promotion where you will earn the same amount of ECB that you spend. For instance: Colgate Toothpaste $2.99 Earn $2.99 ECB wyb 1 Use $1.00 off Manufacturer’s coupon Total = $1.00 overage after coupon and ECB Here are a couple of additional ways to save at CVS: Email coupons - remember to sign up online to get these through the Extra Care Bucks page on CVS's website. B1G1 Free sales - you can use two MFC coupons on a buy-one-get-one-free sale. For example: Max Factor Mascara $7.99 B1G1 Free Use (2) $3.00 off MFC Total = $1.99 for both You will find the printable CVS Coupon Policy on the My City Mommy websites as well as the best deals each week.
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Target Store Guide There are many ways to save and even earn money while shopping at Target. Let’s start with a few important points from the Target Coupon Policy. Be sure to print the policy and keep it in your coupon binder. (This is available on the My City Mommy sites). Manufacturer and Target Coupons
Target accepts one Manufacturer Coupon and one Target Coupon for the same item (unless prohibited by either coupon). Item purchased must match the coupon description (brand, size, quantity, color, flavor, etc.). Coupon amount may be reduced if it exceeds the value of the item after other discounts or coupons are applied. We can’t give cash back if the face value of a coupon is greater than the purchase value of the item. Internet (Print-at-Home) Coupons
We do not accept internet coupons for free items with no purchase requirements. Mobile Coupons
Guests can receive Target Mobile Coupons by signing up for Text Alerts at Target.com/mobile or by texting COUPONS to 827438 (TARGET). To redeem, simply show your coupon barcode to the cashier. With one simple scan, all applicable coupons are applied. Buy One Get One Free Coupons (BOGO)
BOGO coupons cannot be combined (i.e. you cannot use two BOGO coupons on two items and get both for free). Unless stated otherwise on the coupon, the use of one Buy One Get One Free coupon requires that two of the valid items are presented at checkout of which one item will be charged to the guest and the 2nd item will be discounted by its full retail price. A second cents-off coupon of the same type cannot be redeemed towards the purchase price of the first item. If a Target BOGO coupon is used, one additional manufacturer coupon maybe used on the first item. If a Manufacturer BOGO coupon is used, one additional Target coupon may be used on the first item.
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Now here is what you Need to Know at Target:
Price Matching Target does match competitor’s prices. Here are a few pointers: Always go to the Customer Service Desk to do all price matches. Pricing for products on Target.com may vary from Target stores and from the Target Weekly Ad. They do not match the price of online merchandise with the price offered by Target stores or another company, and Target stores do not match the price of our online merchandise. You need to bring in the competitors advertisement to prove the items description and price for the match. Manufacturer Coupons
You can use Manufacturer coupons at Target. These can also be stacked with Target Store coupons found in newspaper inserts, online at Target.com, Target mailers and as mobile coupons. When Price Matching – Manufacturer coupons will be applied after the price match is made. Target Coupons
Target coupons will be applied before the price match is made. If the competitor price is still lower than the price after the Target coupon has been deducted, the ad match can be adjusted to match the competitor’s price. Combining both a Target and Manufacturer Coupons
The Target coupon will be applied before the price match is made. If the competitor price is still lower than the price after the Target coupon has been deducted, the ad match can be adjusted to match the competitor’s price. Once the price match is made the manufacturer coupon will be applied. A few signs that you will want to look for when shopping at Target
Sale - A temporary price reduction advertised Sunday-Saturday and lasting up to 2 weeks. Temporary Price Cut - A temporary price reduction lasting 1-8 weeks. Price Cut - A permanent price reduction advertised for up to 90 days. Clearance - A permanent price reduction often on discontinued inventory. Clearance prices are good while supplies last.
One thing to do when shopping at Target is to take your own bag. You will receive $.05 per bag that you use and you will be helping the environment at the same time.
Follow the My City Mommy sites each week for the best deals at Target.
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Rite Aid Store Guide Rite-Aid has so many programs going on in their stores.
Wellness+ Loyalty Card The Wellness+ Card Rite-Aid's FREE Loyalty Card - just like any of your grocery stores loyalty cards, You must have the card to get several of the sales going on in the store. But, the Rite-Aid Wellness+ Card is better than your average grocery store loyalty card. How it Works: The Wellness+ Card is not only a loyalty card; it is also a Rewards Card. When use you the FREE card, you have points that accumulate that gives you coupons and discounts on your future purchases. In fact, you can save up to 20% off EVERY purchase in the store if you accumulate enough points. And this 20% discount would be for the rest of the calendar year. As soon as you get your card, you can save 10% on Rite-Aid brand products every day - this never changes. Each week you also get e-mailed special coupons just for Wellness+ Card Members - usually a dollar off coupon off a purchase - which can be used with MFQ! This is one of the best rewards program ever - where else can you save 20% on your entire purchase? You can sign up on Rite Aid Website or in-store. +UP Rewards
The +UP Reward is Rite-Aid's newest savings program, just implemented last month nationally. If you have ever shopped at Walgreen's and received Register Rewards with your receipt, the +UP is the same program for Rite-Aid.
How it works: Specific Items or groups of items are promoted in the circular advertising a +UP Reward. You use your wellness+ card and purchase the item, groups of items or dollar amount of items (depending on the promotion) and a coupon will print out on the bottom of your receipt at checkout for a dollar off amount on your next purchase. You can earn several +UP Rewards in one transaction, but you can only use one at a time on future purchases. Unlike the other stores, no "fillers" are needed to earn or use the +UP Reward coupons. Examples: 1. Buy $25 of select P&G Products, get a $5 +UP Reward I bought 3 packs of Pampers Diapers totaling $26.97, so I got a $5 coupon at the bottom of my receipt. 2. Buy Motrin PM for $3, Get a $3 +UP Reward I bought the Motrin PM and got the $3 Coupon at Checkout - essentially getting it for FREE. Note: You can use coupons on +UP items - so for example - the Motrin PM in the example above - I used a $2.00 off coupon on the product making it a $2.00 money maker since I got $3 back and only spent $1. I also used Coupons on the Pampers Diapers - the $25 requirement is usually before coupons - so this is a way to SAVE BIG at the store!
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Video Values
This is a fairly new program at Rite-Aid (since early 2010), but has been a big hit and I hope it sticks around for a long time! These are special coupons that can only be used at Rite-Aid stores.
How it works: Each month, Rite-Aid has new Video Values Coupons that are available to print from their website, when you watch a short video about the product. You must login to the video values page of the website, watch the video and then you can print awesome (and typically high value) coupons! Yes, the fact that you have to watch a video is a little annoying (and yes - you do have to "watch" it you can't do anything else on your computer at the same time and if you walk away you will miss the code at the end that you have to answer in order to be able to print the coupon) But truthfully most of the videos are short and some are very cute! There are TONS of videos to look through each month for savings on products we use every day Kotex, Pampers, Maybelline, Clorox, Viva Paper Towels, Glad Trash bags, Back To School and so many more! There are also $5/$25 Coupons available - usually two, plus when you get 20 video credits (watch around 20 videos) you get a $5/$20 Purchase Coupon! The coupons are good for 2 months, and are usually on products that are already on sale - meaning you get the sale price PLUS the coupon and sometimes a MFQ with it or a rebate meaning you just saved a lot of money! Single Check Rebates
Single Check Rebates have been around in Rite-Aid for years - and for a good reason. This is the BEST rebate program around - I haven't seen one better! They make it so easy to get your money back, how could you not participate in the program?
How it Works: Each month, Rite-Aid releases a HUGE list of items that will have a rebate in their stores. The list is conveniently online, or you can pick up the flyer detailing all of the rebates in-store. Typically over $400 of rebates are offered every month, I've seen it as high as over $900 at times. To get the rebate: Buy the exact item listed in the rebates online or in the flyer (and usually signed in the store as well) Enter your receipt information online or on the back of the rebate flyer (Online is the way to go!) You have 1 month after the month ends to enter the receipt information. If you are online - just click "Send Me My $" and you will get a check in 2 weeks (give or take a day or so - but usually it is within 2 weeks) If you choose to mail your information - it will take around 6 weeks to get your money back. When you get your check - you can use it in-store like a coupon or a gift certificate towards your purchase! Follow along each week with the My City Mommy Network sites for the best deals at Rite Aid.
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Wal-Mart Store Guide Wal-Mart seems to be a one stop shop for many – but do you know the ins and outs of saving? If you want to lean more let’s start with a few highlights from the coupon policy. Print-at-home internet coupons
Must have “Manufacturer Coupon” printed on them Buy one, get one free (BOGO) coupons with a specified price For free items (except those printed off the internet) Buy one, get one free (BOGO) coupons Competitors’ coupon
A specific item for a specified price, for example, $2.99 Buy one, get one free (BOGO) coupons for items with a specified price Checkout coupons (“Catalina’s”) Printed at our competitors’ registers for dollar/cents off on a specific item Wal-Mart DOES NOT accept the following coupons
Dollars/cents off the entire basket purchase Percentage off the entire basket purchase Print-at-home Internet coupons that require no purchase The following are guidelines and limitations
Item purchased must be identical to the coupon (size, quantity, brand, flavor, color, etc.) There is no limit on the number of coupons per transaction. If coupon value exceeds the price of the item, the excess may be given to the customer as cash or applied toward the basket purchase. o The system will prompt for supervisor verification for the following 40 coupons per transaction A Coupon of $20 or greater on one item $50 or more in coupons in one transaction Ad Match Guarantee (Price Matching)
Print this policy and add it to your coupon binder. If you find a lower advertised price on an identical product, Wal-Mart will match it at the register. Here are the types of ads they will match
Buy one, get one free ads with a specific price Example: Buy one for $2.49, get one free (BOGO) Competitors’ ads that feature a specific item for a specified price. Preferred shopping card prices for specific items that are in a printed ad. For fresh produce and meat items when the price is offered in the same unit type
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The following are guidelines and limitations
Wal-Mart will match any local competitor’s advertised price. Wal-Mart does not require customers to have the ad with them to honor a competitor’s ad. Items purchased must be identical to the ad (size, quantity, brand, flavor, color, etc.) Wal-Mart Will NOT match the price in the following types of competitor ads:
Items that require a separate purchase to get the ad price. Example: “Buy [item A] to get [item B] for $C” Items with no actual price that require a purchase to get free product. Example: “Buy both [items A & B] to get [item C] for free” Items that require a purchase to get a competitors’ gift card Example: “Buy [item A] to get a $B gift card Buy one, get one free (BOGO) ads with no actual price given Percentage off Example: “All mascara, 40% off” Ads when the actual price for items cannot be determined. Internet pricing Misprinted ad prices of other retailers “Going out of business” sales or “close out” prices Tips:
If you have problems with cashiers accepting coupons that you are using properly according to their policy, your first course of action is to talk to the store manager. If you are still not being helped, contact Wal-Mart Corporate and explain the situation. Often corporate will contact the store manager to ensure proper protocol is being taken. If you continue to have issues: Wal-Mart’s Customer Service number is 800-WAL-MART. Take your price match ads to the store with you and put all your price match products in a certain section of the cart so you don’t get confused. Get a subscription to All You Magazine or purchase a copy at your local Wal-Mart. Keep your eyes peeled for those Roll-Back prices. Be sure to stop by the travel section to make use of coupons that have no size exclusions. Pick an off time to shop to avoid the crowds.
Additional Savings Options at Wal-Mart Follow Wal-Mart on Twitter- they tweet out deals daily Check out Wal-Mart’s online coupons Take advantage of the Free Samples Wal-Mart provides as well as their Free Events. Also, if you are a frequent Wal-Mart shopper you might consider the Wal-Mart Discover Card. I don’t like to promote credit cards, but if you use it responsibly you can earn up to 1% cash back on all purchases. You can also save 3 cents per gallon at Wal-Mart gas stations around the U.S.
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Our Motto at My City Mommy and throughout all of the My City Mommy sites, is to Pay it Forward. Our goal is to help families save time and money through our collective resources so you can spend more time enjoying life.
For additional information about the My City Mommy Network visit MyCityMommy.com
“Together we can change the world, one good deed at a time.� Pay it Forwarders everywhere
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