EXTREME COUPONING: FEBRUARY SALE CYCLES

FEBRUARY

A new month brings new coupons, new sales, new items to stockup on!

Here is a list of what you can expect to see store sales for the month of February!

For my full year list of Store Sale Cycles Click Here!

National Canned Food Month:

• Canned Fruit
• Vegetables
• Meats
• Tuna
• Chicken
• Salmon
• Pie fillings
• ConAgra Promos

National Hot Breakfast Month:

• Malt O Meal
• Grits
• Oatmeal
• Eggo Waffles
• Bisquick
• Syrup

Valentines:

• Chocolate
• Hershey’s
• KY Lubricant
• Flowers

Chinese New Year:

• Soy Sauce
• Teriyaki Sauce
• Noodles

Seasonal Produce:

• Artichoke
• Asparagus
• Avocado
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Collard Greens
• Potatoes
• Spinach
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Kiwi

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CLIP THAT TIP: WHY I SHOP RITE AID ON RAIN CHECKS TO SAVE MONEY!!

I love to shop Rite Aid on Rain Checks, it is my preferred way to shop there!

Rite Aid is unlike any other store.  

This is why they are my favorite drugstore!

By shopping with Rain checks I get the following benefits that no other store offers:

1. I don't have to be at the store first thing Sunday morning to get the deal or miss out
1. If I don't make it to the store until the last day of the sale no big deal!
2. Rite Aid's Rain Checks honor the sale price & the +Up Reward being offered
3. I can shop a week behind everyone which means I don't have to fight the rush for the current deals.
4. I have less OOP (out of pocket) by shopping on Rain Checks

How to get a Rain Check:
Very simple!

1. Find a cashier and let them know you need a rain check.  They will grab the current ad to verify the offer.
2. Fill out a cute white Rain Check form
3. List the quantity you are wanting & the +Up Reward offer available
4. I personally clip the offer out of the current ad and staple it to the Rain Check so there is no confusion of the offer being claimed on the rain check.
5. I then paper clip or even staple the coupons I will need to go with the rain check so I don't lose them.

Here is a perfect example:

Last week there was a great deal on Edge Shaving Gel.  Best we have seen in a long time.  I didn't get to Rite Aid until Wednesday. 

Of course Rite Aid was sold out, which I expected....no big deal.  I got a rain check for the limit allowed and  today I picked up my 4 Edge Shaving Gel and only paid less OOP than I would have if I had gotten the deal last week when it was valid.

How it Works:

(Last weeks deal: I would have had $4.58 OOP and then received $4 in +Up's after I paid.)

Buy 4 Edge Shaving Gel $3.29 - Buy 1, Get $2 +Up Reward (limit 4)
Use (2) $2/2 Edge Shaving Gel SS 1/13
Pay $9.16, Get (4) $2 +Up 
Final Price: $.29 each WYB 4

When you redeem a rain check that has a +Up the cashier automatically takes off the +Up Reward before you pay because that is the only way they can honor an old +Up.
Buy 4 dge Shaving Gel $3.29 
=$13.16 before coupons & +Up Reward
-$4.00 - Use (2) $2/2 Edge Shaving Gel SS 1/13
-$8.00 - Redeem Rain Check of Buy 1 Edge, Get $2 +Up Reward (limit 4)
Pay: $1.16 ($.29 each)

• So by shopping on rain checks I saved $8.00 OOP of my weekly budget!!  
• That is $8 that is not tied up in +Up Rewards which limits where I can spend the money
• For me some weeks I might need that $8 for Albertsons!  I don't want to have to borrow $8 from another week!

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DO YOU WONDER WHAT A GOOD STOCK UP PRICE IS? DOWNLOAD MY PRICE POINT GUIDE...OVER 350 ITEMS!!

TO STOCK UP OR NOT TO STOCK UP.....

THAT IS THE QUESTION!

We all have done it, you get to the store coupons in hand.....

you find an item on sale...even have a coupon to stack with it.....but is it a good price?

Do you buy just one or place an order?

Download The Living on a Coupon Price Point Guide.

This list has over 350 everyday items we all buy.

Keep it in your binder, so you will always have a guide as to what you should be paying

and not a penny more!

SOMETHING MISSING FROM THE LIST?

EMAIL ME AND I WILL ADD IT!

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COUPONS.COM ~ CHANGING THE ZIP CODE.....HAS CHANGED AGAIN!!!

Coupons.com has made more changes to make it difficult in changing the zip code.

But, don't worry....they haven't out smarted us coupons just yet!

It is a bit more work now to change, but if you are after those regional 

high value coupons....it's just what we have to do!!

STEP 1:

Log in or Create an Account with Coupons.com

In the top right hand corner you will see Welcome, "your name"

Click on this, then select Account Settings

STEP 2:

In the middle of the page it will have an area to change the zip code.

You will also need to manually change the State 

*It will not automatically change when you change the zip

If you are not sure what state the zip code belongs to, just do a quick internet search to find out.

THERE YOU HAVE IT,

NOW YOU ARE READY TO SEE COUPONS UNDER THAT ZIP CODE.

This is a bit of a pain to have to do every time you wan't to change the zip code,

but often it is worth the effort!

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HAVE YOU DOWNLOADED MY ULTIMATE BUDGET TRACKER? TYPE IN YOUR RECEIPTS & LET MY SYSTEM DO THE REST!!

Keeping track of your coupon spending is key to saving.

Lets face it; if we don't know what we are spending it is easy to over spend.

For me, when I first started couponing I wasn't convinced that buying such large quantities 

was really saving me any money.

I would think to myself: 

"Wouldn't I save more money if I only bought one bottle of shampoo instead of four?  Four bottles is going to cost more than one bottle and I don't need 4 bottles at one time!"

Of course, we all learn the key to saving money is by buying at rock bottom prices and creating a stockpile.  Though you still need to stay in budget.  Spending more each month to create a stockpile is not going to save you money.  

Just think SLOW AND STEADY; you have to keep a budget and slowly build a stockpile.

Each month will get better, your spending will drop because you are starting to create a stockpile.

I PROMISE!

So, I created a spreadsheet that I could keep track of all my couponing transactions.

I loved this because I can set my budget and as I input my receipts the spreadsheet lets me know exactly everything I want to know:

*What I have spent OOP

*My total savings

*What the retail cost should have been

*What is left in my budget

Many of you have asked about my method.....

So, I prettied up my spreadsheet...made it user friendly....and it's now ready for all of you to enjoy!

HOW MY SPREADSHEET WORKS FOR YOU:

INPUTTING TOTALS:

• GROCERIES VS. TOILETRIES/MEDICINE/MISC.
• I broke these categories up because I personally like to see where my budget is going.
• Groceries
• Under the grocery worksheet you will want to enter all your receipts that were from purchasing grocery type items
• Toiletries/Medicine/Misc.
• Under this worksheet you will want to enter all your receipts that were from purchasing everything else.
• The spreadsheet is very simple, you only enter three bits of information and the spreadsheet does all the work for you!
• Date
• This is optional, not necessary to make the spreadsheet work properly
• OOP
• "Out of Pocket" - This is going to be the total that you actually paid at the store after coupons & sales tax
• Savings
• This is going to be the total of your coupons & store savings combined.
• Most receipts give you this total 
• Total Retail & % Savings
• Both of these will be automatically calculated for you!
• REBATES RECEIVED
• As couponers we always take advantage of Rebates or "Try Me Free" promotions
• If you receive one in any given month you will want to input it here.
• The credit will be added to your remaining monthly budget
• MONTHLY TOTALS
• Automatically figured for you!
• Here the spreadsheet is going to keep a running total of your Grocery and Toiletry totals combined.
• OOP BUDGET
• The first spot (where you see $160.00) 
• This is where you will want to enter your monthly budget amount
• This budget amount needs to be what you are willing to spend on everything combined.
• This budget number will carry over to every month for you automatically so you don't have to worry about it.
• If you want to change your budget month to month you can do that also.
• The second spot (where  you see $143.30 in GREEN)
• This will show you what is remaining in your monthly budget 
• This spreadsheet automatically subtracts your OOP from your budget & adds any received rebates to show you exactly what you have left to spend each month!
• TABS AT THE BOTTOM
• A new spreadsheet for every month of the year.  
• This will allow you to keep track of your spending each month
• YTD Totals:
• This will automatically be filled in for you.
• As you input your totals for each month, they will carry over to the YTD tab giving you an accurate total of your year to date:
• OOP
• Savings
• Retail
• % Saved
• At the bottom it will show you what your yearly budget is and what you have remaining 

READY TO GET ON TRACK & SET A COUPON BUDGET?

For only $1 you can own the easiest Budget Tracker!!

To download click the BUY NOW button

You will be prompted to Paypal.  

Don't have a Paypal account? 

Don't worry, Paypal is free and the smart way to shop. Just create an account so you are protected!

Once you have purchased you will be sent an email with the link to download.

*The link expires 24 after payment (for security purposes) So be prepared to download it quickly!

 

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STORE SALE CYCLES: JANUARY

JANUARY

A new month brings new coupons, new sales, new items to stock up on!

Here is a list of what you can expect to see with

store sales for the month of January!

For my full year list of Store Sale Cycles Click Here!

National Oatmeal Month: 

• Quaker Products
• Oatmeal
• Granola Bars
• Cereals

Diet Foods including:

• Heart Healthy Cereals
• Healthy Choice
• South Beach
• Lean Cuisine
• Special K
• Kashi
• Fiber One 
• Smart Start
• Protien Bars
• 100 Calorie Packs

Super Bowl Sunday: 

• Pepsi
• Coke
• Chips
• Dips
• Cheeses
• Sandwich items
• Crackers
• Snack Trays
• Wings
• Finger Foods

Seasonal Produce:

• Avocados
• Cabage 
• Oranges
• Pears
• Grapefruit
• Tangerines
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Collards
• Kale
• Kiwi
• Spinach

Clearance: 

• Christmas Decorations
• Stocking Stuffer items
• Toys
• Wrapping Papers
• Holiday Tableware 
• New Year's Eve Decorations

Winter Health: 

• Cold Medicines
• Cough Drops
• Vitamins
• Diet Supplements 
• Energy Supplements

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BLACK FRIDAY IS IN THE AIR! SEE HOW I PREPARE FOR THE SINGLE MOST AMAZING SHOPPING DAY!

Let the Madness begin!!

Black Friday is not for the faint of heart; you have to like it in order to do it!  You may be a shopper, but if you're claustrophobic or not into big crowds you just need to stay home.  Being prepared is crucial and the only way to come out ahead.  Black Friday is already a great deal, but throw some coupon expertise into the mix and you have the single most amazing shopping trip of the year!  I like to call it “Black Friday Coupon Style”

Getting prepared for my Black Friday shopping trip is like getting ready for a sporting event.  You have to have a plan, a list, a shopping buddy and you have to get prepared mentally and physically.  I even have a “Black Friday” playlist on my iPod to help get me pumped.  It includes music like Gonna Fly Now (Rocky Theme Song) and Eye of the Tiger.  (I know you are laughing right now, so does my husband)!

Here is a breakdown of how I get prepared:

The Week Before

I start searching for the deals on the internet; I like to call it “virtual window shopping”.  I download a Black Friday App on my phone which allows me to view stores ads ahead of time and save a virtual shopping list that is easier to keep track of then a paper and pen.  I also keep watch on the Official Black Friday website www.bfads.com to see what deals are coming up.  I also take the time to make an Excel Worksheet of everyone I am buying for and what I am buying them.  This helps me stay on track and not over buy!  I always get excited to see the ads from Target, Walmart and BestBuy.  These 3 are great to be at because they carry such a variety of items that prevent you from having to waste drive time going to stores that specialize in specific products (like only a clothing store).

Making my shopping/wish list

I go through my local ads and internet sites three times before my list is finalized.  First time: I circle all my wants and needs.  Second time:  I Go over my Christmas list to determine what I need for each person and see what kind of deals I found in the ads.  Finally, the Third time:  After I have made a general list I prioritize it and get it set it in stone.  I know I am just not going to be able to get all the deals that I would like to, so it is very important that I have a prioritized list so I get the big deals and work my way down the list.  I find that if I have a list that's ordered by the most needed to the least, I’m able to shop more efficiently and without doing much thinking.  (This is good so early in the morning)!

Make a game plan

Once I have figured out what I need and where it's on sale, I have to map out my shopping day.  I Base it around what stores open first, what I want the most and what deals are the greatest.  I never shop alone!  It is very important that you have at least one shopping buddy if not a few; you all can take turns standing in line while the others grab the goods.  This is very important since standing in line is where the majority of your time is spent.  I also check with the coffee shops around the stores to see which one is going to be open the earliest so I can make a coffee stop on the way!

The Day Before

This is the only day of the year that a Thursday paper is like a Sunday paper.  The paper will be full of all the store ads full of hot deals and doorbuster sales that are going to be offered.  I double check these ads and make any last minute adjustments I need to make to my Game Plan.  This is why I do not host Thanksgiving EVER, getting my Black Friday shopping trip put together is much more important than making a dry turkey that nobody likes!  I leave that work to my mom!!  J

Set a budget

I am an Extreme Couponer, so impulse buys are not acceptable.   I don’t buy unless it is on sale, and of course prefer to have a coupon for it.  So I make sure I know how much the things I want to buy cost and what my total out of pocket can be if I am able to get everything I am after.  I do set aside some “funny money” for those small unadvertised deals that make good stocking stuffers. 

Game Day (Black Friday)

2:30 a.m. – Leave the house (make sure I have plenty of protein bars in my purse for snacks, that I got free couponing of course)

3:00 a.m. - Stop buy the Coffee Shop for a little caffeine fix

3:30 a.m. – Stand in line waiting for the store to open

4:00 a.m. – LET THE MAD DASH BEGIN!

1:00 p.m. – I am home eating a turkey sandwich from leftover Thanksgiving

2:00 p.m. – Taking a Nap!!

Wanna know what is going to be on sale?  Take a look at retail store ads early!







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CLIP THAT TIP: UNDERSTANDING ALBERTSONS 10 FOR $10 PROMOS! YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BUY 10 ITEMS!!

I have gotten a few emails regarding the free Everyday Essential Pasta 

at Albertsons this week....each email stating that you can not get the pasta free because

you have to buy 10 and the coupon has a limit of 1 per transaction.

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU ~ YES YOU CAN!!

When Albertsons has their 10 for $10 offers you do not have to buy 10 items 

in order to get the $1 price!  It is simply their marketing way to get you to buy 10.

Notice how on the logo itself it says

"Buy 1, 2, or more....only $1 each!!

Meaning, when you use your Albertsons Preferred Card you can purchase 1 item from this promo and it will ring up for $1.00!

So, with this weeks new ad that started today, you will see that 

Everyday Essential Olives & Pasta are a 10 for $10 sale item making them free!

Essential Everyday Pasta $1.00

Use $1/1 any, Essential Everyday Item $1+ (sizzlin summer game guide) expires today, 8/22!!

Final Price: FREE

Essential Everyday Canned Olives $1.00

Use $1/1 any, Essential Everyday Item $1+ (sizzlin summer game guide) expires today, 8/22!!

Final Price: FREE

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DAVE LETTERMAN'S SPOOF ON EXTREME COUPONING!

HA!!  This is funny, had to share!

Last night The Late Show with David Letterman aired a spoof on

Extreme Couponing.....

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LIVING ON A COUPON PRICE POINT GUIDE!! OVER 350 ITEMS!!

TO STOCK UP OR NOT TO STOCK UP.....

THAT IS THE QUESTION!

We all have done it, you get to the store coupons in hand.....

you find an item on sale...even have a coupon to stack with it.....but is it a good price?

Do you buy just one or place an order?

Download The Living on a Coupon Stock up list.

This list has over 350 everyday items we all buy.

Keep it in your binder, so you will always have a guide as to what you should be paying

and not a penny more!

SOMETHING MISSING FROM THE LIST?

EMAIL ME AND I WILL AD IT!

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THE REALITY OF FREE ITEM COUPONS!!

DID YOU WANT EXTREME COUPONING LAST NIGHT?

I didn't...and from the email I have been getting today I can 

say I didn't miss anything new!!  

Nothing but more fraud being showcased.

They suckered Kmart into sponsoring the show,

we will see many more other than last night getting to 

double unlimited coupons 

(though it is in Kmart's coupon policy that you can only double 5 coupons a day)

Don't expect to get that experience at your location!!

Also, once again the million dollar question is:

Where do they get so many "free" item coupons?

Let me start off first by saying this:

FREE item coupons do exist and there is nothing fake or fraudulent about using them 

if they are legit!! 

We have seen it on Extreme Couponing All-Star Finale and now last night we watched shoppers strive for 100% savings using nothing but FREE item coupons.  Is there anything wrong with that?  NO!  Though it sure leaves many wondering how does someone get their hands on two coupons for FREE Tide, let alone $800 worth!

There are many ways to get your hands on FREE Item Coupons:

•  Manufacture Facebook 
• giveaways are usually for a FREE Item, that will come in the form of a coupon
• Rebates 
• I bought a washer & dryer and got a rebate for a year supply of Tide that came in the form of 12 free bottle of Tide coupons
• Store reward promos
• Last year Rite Aid had a diaper sale which instead of a +Up Reward you got a coupon for 1 free package of Huggies (limit 1)
• Calling Manufactures and asking
• When the limited addition Huggies Jean diapers came out I called the company and told them how much I loved the product, they sent me 5 coupons for free packages of diapers
• Catalinas
• durring a water catalina promo last summer, I bought 24 cases of water.  None of the catalinas printed so I called the company and they send me 4 coupons for a free case of water
• Conventions or events that manufactures maybe sponsoring
• 2 years ago at the Smart Women, Smart Money Event Lighthouse was a sponsor and put 1 coupons for a free Lighthouse product in every goody bag
• Employees of a company 
• Many companies will give their employees free item coupons for the products they carry.  Are they all using them or selling them....I'm sure a little bit of both
• Rewards programs
• Both Huggies and Pampers have a point rewards program.  There are codes on their products, after you purchase them  you can enter that code on their website.  Those codes are worth point which you can use to purchase items from their little web stores.  I personally save my points up to buy a coupon from them that is for a free package of diapers.
• EBAY!  
• Here you will find legit and fake free item coupons.  Is it legal for them to sell these coupons? Absolutely, as long as they stick with the guidelines and make clear that you are getting the coupons free, but you are paying for their time to cut,clip,gather,sort.....blah blah blah!
• All of the ones you see on Ebay came from one of the other sources listed about.  There is not a single manufacture that is going to "sell" their free item coupons on Ebay.  Someone has gotten them and instead of using them are choosing to sell them for profit.

These are all legit ways to get legit free item coupons.  Though all of these avenues have limits.  If you call up a company and ask for coupons you might get 2-5, attending a convention you are only going to get 1 in your goody bag (maybe you will get lucky and 2 stuck together), rebate offers or store promos are going to be a limit of 1, even the "year supply" of Tide that came with my washer & dryer was only 12 coupons (= 1 a month...I go through more Tide then 1 a month)

THERE IS NOT A COMPANY OUT THERE THAT IS GOING TO SEND YOU $800 WORTH OF FREE ITEM COUPONS!!

YOU WILL HAVE TO BUY THEM!!

Ebay is a great source to get regional and high value coupons you don't normally see on any given day and at a quantity that you are not going to get anywhere else.

BUT....It is going to cost you!  No one is going to pay more then the value of the coupon.

For Example: 

The Toilet Paper coupons they had last night, they said the value was up to $14.99

So that coupon is going to sale for around $10-13 on Ebay.

Yo are still going to save a few dollars, but to me paying $10 for ANY package of TP is way to much!!

HELLO...I'm a Charmin Snob and NEVER Pay more then 

$7 for a 12 pack of Ultra Soft Charmin; let alone Angel Soft!!

I don't have a set price that I am willing to pay for coupons on Ebay.  Here is my equation to decide if buying the coupons from Ebay is going to be worth the price:

Cost of the coupons + shipping + what I will be paying at the store / by quantity purchased = price per item

*If that price per item is a stock up price for me then it is worth purchasing the coupons....if not, don't buy them!  You will not be saving any money!

Read my "How to buy coupon from Ebay"  This will help make sure you buy legit coupons at the right price!

HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF BAD PURCHASES:

Here is sale for 2 coupons for 1 free bag of Malt-O-Meal Cereal up to $6.50 a bag.  

The "Buy it Now" price is $5.25 w/free shipping

Seems like a good price....but do the math:

Cost of coupons $5.25 + shipping $0.00 + Cost at Store $0.00 / quantity purchased 2 = $2.63 a bag + tax 

WHAT COUPONER PAYS $2.63 FOR 1 BAG OF CEREAL?

Take a look at this one....No one is going to convince me that they got free diapers if they bought this coupon!

Cost of coupon $15.64 + Shipping $.50 + Cost at store $0.00 = $16.14 for 1 pack of diapers!

Sure it is a Jumbo pack, but even a size 1 jumbo pack only has 42 diapers = $.38 a diaper!

See my diaper stockup prices here!

2 Freschetta Frozen Pizzas coupons buy it now price $5.99 + free shipping

We watched one person last night pre-order 200 of these pizzas

*I don't know what they actually paid for the coupons at the time they were filming, this equation is based off of today's Ebay price.  (though I can't imagine it being much cheaper if any)

this equation is pretending that 200 were bought from the same buyer:

Cost of coupon $599.00 + Shipping $0.00 + Cost at Store $0.00 / by 200 pizzas = $3.00 a pizza

NOT FREE, NOR A STOCKUP PRICE IN MY BOOK

We also saw last night 250 of these pizza being pre-ordered.

For sale is 2 coupons for 1 FREE Red Baron Product, buy it now price $8.95 + $.44 shipping

*I don't know what they actually paid for the coupons at the time they were filming, this equation is based off of today's Ebay price.  (though I can't imagine it being much cheaper if any)

this equation is pretending that 250 were bought from the same buyer:

Cost of coupon $1,118.75 + Shipping $55.00 + Cost at Store $0.00 / by 250 pizzas = $4.70 a pizza

NOT FREE, NOR A STOCKUP PRICE IN MY BOOK

I hope this helps you understand where these coupons come from and what it cost.  I guess you can say you have to pay to play.  In my eyes, if it is not a stockup price it is not worth buying!

These coupons do exist and are real; but just as many real ones are out there you can bet an equal amount of fake coupons will be tagging right along.  Remember to follow my rules of buying from Ebay.  This will help make sure you are buying legit coupons and have a great couponing experience when at the store.  

*All information is my own opinion; There are many different things that factor into where coupons come from and their level of ethics.  

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