Weekend Deals

If you're planning on shopping this weekend, here are a few deals that you might want to take advantage of!

• Meijer - Today & Tomorrow
• Sign into your mPerks account to clip a digital coupon for 15% off your general merchandise and apparel purchase.  While you can't use it on groceries, it does not exclude clearance.  This should make for some great deals if you need to do some shopping for clothing, shoes, and accessories!  
• Aerie - Now through Sunday
• Like Aerie on Facebook and print a coupon for $10 off of any purchase. Thanks, Deal Seeking Mom!   
• Bath & Body Works - Today Only!!!
• Use this printable coupon to score a free Royal Collection Lip Gloss or Pocketbac with any purchase.  Thanks, Bluegrass Savers!
• Kroger -  Today & Tomorrow
• Score some free Crest Toothpaste when you load the $1 off any Crest Toothpaste ecoupon to your Kroger Plus Card.  The 10 for $10 sale will most likely extend into next week, but this ecoupon expires tomorrow! 

Also, tomorrow is the end of the month, which means that a lot of the printable coupons on Coupons.com, Redplum.com, Smartsource.com, and Couponnetwork.com may not be available on Sunday.  Print any that you'll be likely to use in the next couple of weeks before they disappear!

Meijer Shopping Trip - Spent $1.35!!!

It's late and I'm exhausted, but I'm so excited about my Meijer shopping trip that I had to share it with everyone before I go to bed!  I got a total of 35 items for only $1.35!  I'd never really done much shopping at Meijer, but they will be getting a lot more business from me after the pleasant experience I had tonight.  The cashiers were super friendly, unlike the one at Walmart this afternoon.  They also double coupons with a face value of up to $.50.  Here's the rundown from tonight's trip:

• 1 Similac Ready to Feed 32 oz - $5
• used $5 Similac check
• Total cost: Free
• 1 Digiorno Pizza & Wyngz - $6.29
• used $1.25 off from 4/17 RP1
• used $2 off mPerks Digital Coupon
• Total cost: $3.04
• 4 Tony's Single Serve Pizzas - $1
• used 2 $1 off 2 printables - must register with site to print coupons
• Total cost: $.50 each
• 1 Cherry Coke 2-Liter - $1
• used $1 off from Recyclebank
• Total cost: Free
• 2 Stove Top Stuffing - $1.25
• used 2 $.50 off - Like Stove Top on Facebook
• used $1 off 2 mPerks Digital Coupon
• Total cost: Free
• 2 Lysol Wipes - $1.67
• used 2 $1.50 off - Like Lysol on Facebook
• Total cost: $.17 each
• 2 Bagel Bites 9 ct - $1.50
• used 2 $1 off printables
• Total cost: $.50 each
• 2 Kraft Cheese Singles - $2.19
• used 2 $.75 off printables
• used $.50 mPerks Digital coupon
• used $.75 mPerks Digital coupon
• Total cost: $.82 each
• 2 Green Works Dish Soap - $2.19
• used 2 $1 off printables
• used $1 off 2 mPerks Digital coupon
• receive $2 off instantly when you buy 2 Green Works products
• Total cost: Free
• 2 Frank's Hot Sauce - $1
• used 2 $.50 off printables - must register with site to print coupons
• Total cost: Free
• 8 Friskies Canned Cat Food - $.46
• used 4 Recyclebank coupons for 2 free cans
• Total cost: Free
• 1 Naked Juice - $2.99
• used $2 Recyclebank printable
• Total cost: $.99
• 1 Haribo Gummy Bears - $1.09
• used $.30 off printable
• used $.30 mPerks digital coupon
• Total cost: $.19
• 6 York Peppermint Patties - $.74 each & B3G3 Free (I added these because my total was negative!)
• Total cost: $.37 each

I also had an mPerks coupon for $10 off a $30 purchase.  To get more information and sign up for mPerks go here.  You have to use a cell phone number to register and you will receive text messages periodically alerting you about new coupons.  It's a lot like the Kroger Plus Card, except you don't have to carry a card around with you.  All you do is load your digital coupons online and enter your phone number at checkout to redeem them.

Current Walmart Deals

I made a little trip to Walmart today to check out prices and compile a list of deals that you can find with coupons from this past Sunday's newspaper inserts and the May issue of All You magazine.  Walmart has never been my favorite place to shop and I'd pretty much stopped going there altogether until they recently made some changes to their Corporate Coupon Policy.  I thought I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and try again, but my friend and I ended up getting yelled at by the cashier because he didn't know how to handle a few coupons.  Yes, we were YELLED at!  I don't want to scare everyone away because there are some great deals to be found at Walmart, but just be prepared for some problems at checkout.  It's always been this way and apparently it still hasn't changed. 

Now that I'm done with my rant, I'll move on to the deals.  The Herald Leader contained 4 coupon inserts this week - 2 Red Plum (RP) and 2 Smart Source (SS).  For the rest of this post, I'll refer to them as RP1, RP2, SS1, and SS2.  The May issue of All You is available in store now.  You can find it next to the checkout lanes. 

Health & Beauty

• Nivea Women's Body Wash - $3  (I couldn't find the men's at this particular store, but it's reportedly $3 also!)
• use $3 off Nivea Women's Body Wash from 4/17 RP2
• Final cost: FREE!
• Nivea Express Hydration Gel - $5.97
• use $2 off Nivea Express Hydration Lotion or Gel from 4/17 RP2
• Final cost: $3.97
• Nivea Lip Care - prices start at $2.47
• use $1 off Nivea Lip Care from May All You
• Final cost: as low as $1.47
• NYC Minute Quick Dry Nail Polist - $1.72
• use B1G1 Free from May All You
• Final cost: 2 for $1.72
• Colgate 360 Toothbrush - $3.20
• use $1 off from May All You
• Final cost: $2.20
• Colgate Max Toothpaste - prices start at $2.92
• use $1 off from May All You
• Final cost: as low as $1.92
• Reach Dental Floss: $.88
• use $1 off Reach Floss printable
• Final cost: FREE + $.12 overage
• Aveeno Products - prices starting at $2.97
• use $1 off 1 Aveeno or $3 off 2 Aveeno from 4/17 SS2
• Final cost: as low as $1.47 each when you buy 2 with $3 coupon
• Olay Regenerist Facial Cloths and Cleanser- $5.97
• use $3 off any Regenerist Moisturizer or Cleanser from 4/17 RP2
• Final cost: $2.97
• Kiss My Face Products - prices start at $4.47
• use $2 off any full size Kiss My Face from May All You
• Final cost: as low as $2.47
• Playtex Gentle Glide Tampons 18 ct - $3.97
• use $1 off Playtex Gentle Glide from May All You
• Final cost: $2.97
• Playtex Sport Tampons 18 ct - $3.97
• use $1 off Playtex Sport from May All You
• Final cost: $2.97
• Playtex Sport Body Wipes - $2.78
• use $1 off Playtex Sport Wipes from May All You
• Final cost: $1.78
• Playtex Personal Cleansing Cloths - $2.98
• use $1 off Playtex Cleansing Cloths from May All You
• Final cost: $1.98
• Playtex Personal Cleansing Cloths 16 ct - $1.97 (found in trial/travel section)
• use $1 off Playtex Personal Cleansing Cloths from May All You
• Final cost: $.97
• Febreze with Gain Travel Size - $1.97 (found in trial/travel section)
• use $1 off Febreze with Gain from 4/17 RP2
• Final cost: $.97
• U by Kotex Pantiliners 18 ct - $1.24
• use $1 off U by Kotex Liners from 4/17 SS1
• Final cost: $.24
• Head & Shoulders - prices start at $4.72
• use B1G1 Head & Shoulders from 4/17 RP2
• Final cost: $4.72 for shampoo and conditioner
• Schick Quattro for Women Razor - $7.84  Refills - $10.84
• use $2 off Schick Quattro razor or refill from 4/17 SS2
• Final cost: $5.84 for razor or $8.84 for refill
• Schick Intuition razor - $8.57  Refills - $10.84
• use $2 off Schick Intuition Razor or refill from 4/17 SS2
• Final cost: $6.57 for razor or $8.84 for refill

Household

• Lysol Wipes 35 ct - $2.52
• use $1.00 off 2 Lysol wipes from 4/17 SS1
• Final cost: $2.02 each when you buy 2
• Lysol No Mess Toilet Bowl Cleaner - $2.97
• use $1.00 off Lysol No Mess from May All You
• Final cost: $1.97
• Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner - $1.97
• use $1.00 off 2 Lysol Toilet from 4/17 SS1
• Final cost: $1.47 each when you buy 2
• Lysol All-Purpose Trigger - $1.97
• use $1.00 off 2 Lysol All-Purpose Trigger from 4/17 SS1
• Final cost: $1.47 each when you buy 2
• Oxi-Clean products - prices start at $2.77
• use $3.00 off 2 Oxi-Clean from 4/17 SS1
• Final cost: as low as $1.27 each when you buy 2
• Finish Quantum 10 ct - $2.77
• use $1.00 off Finish Quantum from 4/17 SS1
• Final cost: $1.77
• Airwick Freshmatic Ultra - $4.98
• use $4 off Freshmatic Ultra from 4/17 SS1
• Final cost: $.98
• Airwick Freshmatic Ultra Refills - $4.98
• use B2G1 Free Freshmatic Refills from 4/17 SS1
• Final cost: $3.32 each when you buy 3
• Airwick Spray - $.97
• use B1G1 Free Airwick Spray from 4/17 SS1
• Final cost: $.49 each when you buy 2
• White Cloud Toilet Paper 6 pack - $2.00
• use $1 off White Cloud from May All You
• Final cost: $1.00

Baby

• Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers - $8.97
• use $1.50 off any Huggies from 4/17 SS1
• Final cost: $7.47
• Huggies Little Snugglers or Little Movers - $8.97
• use $2 off Little Snugglers or Little Movers from 4/17 SS1
• Final cost: $6.97
• Pull-Ups - $8.97
• use $1.50 off Pull-ups from 4/17 SS1
• Final cost: $7.47
• Goodnites - $8.97
• use $2 off Goodnites from 4/17 SS1
• Final cost: $6.97
• Huggies Wipes 72 ct soft packs - $1.97
• use $.50 off Huggies Wipes 64 ct+ from 4/17 SS1
• Final cost: $1.47

Grocery - I was in a hurry, so I didn't get to go all the way through the grocery section, but here are a few deals I found!

• Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers - $2.74
• use $1 off Cafe Steamers from May All You
• Final cost: $1.74
• Marie Callender's Bakes - $4.98
• use $1 off Marie Callender's Bakes from May All You
• Final cost: $3.98
• Marie Callender's Dinners - $2.50
• use $1 off Marie Callender's Dinners from May All You
• Final cost: $1.50
• Digiorno Pizza and Wyngz - $6.47
• use $1.25 off Pizza and Wyngz from 4/17 RP1
• Final cost: $5.22
• Digiorno Pizza and Cookies - $6.50
• use $1.25 off Pizza and Cookies from 4/17 RP1
• Final cost: $5.25
• Idahoan Mashed Potatoes 2 oz - $.42
• use $1 off 3 Idahoan Potatoes manufacturer's printable - go to "See more" on the right hand side and click on "Coupons"
• Final cost: $.09 each when you buy 3

I will try to get back to Walmart to finish the grocery deals in the next couple of days.  These prices were found at the Nicholasville Rd store, so you may find different prices if you go to another location.  Also, prices tend to be higher at the Walmart Neighborhood Markets!  Leave a comment here or on the Couponing in Lexington Facebook page if there's anything you would like me to do a price check on during my next Walmart trip! 

Interview With Nathan Engels from Extreme Couponing!

I've come across an exciting opportunity that I wanted to share with you guys!  Nathan Engels, a Kentucky couponer who has been featured on two episodes of TLC's Extreme Couponing, is willing to do a short interview and answer up to five questions.  His mother, who appeared on his second episode, will also answer a question.  I thought it would be really cool, especially for the beginning couponers, to have your questions answered by Mr. Coupon himself!  So, post your questions in the comments below or on the Couponing In Lexington Facebook page and I will send them off to him!  Thanks, everyone!

Recyclebank

Recyclebank is a site that offers really great advice on ways to "green" your home.  You can also earn points that you can redeem for coupons and other rewards.  I've used my points to get all kinds of coupons for things like free cat food, Coke, and Aveeno products.  Sign up today and take the "Green Your Home Challenge" and start earning points! 

Kroger Deals Under $1 4/17/11 - 4/23/11

It looks like it's going to be a great week for couponing at Kroger!  Here are a few things you can pick up for $1 or less:

• Silk Soymilk or Pure Almond Milk - $2.50
• Print $2 off Silk Coupon
• only $.50 each after coupon!
• Balance Bars - $1
• Print $1 off 3 Balance Bars or $1 off 3 Balance Bars
• only $.70 each when you buy 3 with either coupon!
• Green Giant Frozen Boxed Veggies - $1
• Print $.50 off 1 Green Giant Boxed Veggies
• $.60 off 3 Green Giant Veggies - login and load e-coupon to your Plus Card
• as low as FREE with $.50 coupon!
• Idahoan Potatoes - $1
• Print $1 off 3 Idahoan Potatoes - this is a manufacturer's coupon
• Print $.75 off 3 Idahoan Potatoes
• as low as $.67 each with $1 coupon!

Head over to Faithful Provisions for the full list of deals!

Walgreens Deals 4/17/11 - 4/23/11

Here are some of the best deals at Walgreens this week that only require printable coupons and coupons from tomorrow's paper!

• Goody Ouchless Hair Accessories - $3
• Get $3 back in Register Rewards
• FREE after RR's!
• Nasogel Drip Free Gel Spray (1 oz) - $4.99
• Get $4.99 back in Register Rewards
• FREE after RR's!
• Airwick iMotion or Freshmatic Start Kit - should be around $3.99 after 50% off
• Use $4 off coupon from tomorrow's Smart Source insert
• Should be FREE or close to it!
• Scotch Magic Tape - B1G2 Free
• Use 3 for $1.99 coupon in tomorrow's ad
• Print 3 - $1 off Scotch Magic Tape
• Get all 3 FREE!
• Reach Total Care Toothbrush or Floss - $2.99
• Get $2 back in Register Rewards
• Use $1 off coupon from tomorrow's Smart Source insert
• FREE after coupon and RR's!
• Peeps, Cadbury or Hershey's Easter Candy
• Use 2 for $1 coupon in tomorrow's ad
• Print 1 $1 off 2 Chocolate Peeps
• FREE after coupons!

To view the full list, go to Deal Seeking Mom!

Rite Aid Deals 4/17/11 - 4/23/11

Here is a list of deals that will be available starting tomorrow at Rite Aid.  I'm only posting the deals that require printable coupons and coupons from tomorrow's newspaper inserts for the beginners, but I will provide a link for you to look at everything else!  If you spend $30 (before coupons) on select cleaning products, you will receive a $10 +Up Reward.  Included items are marked with a *. 

• Nivea Body Wash (men's or women's) $3.99
• Get a $5 +Up Reward when you buy $15 worth - Limit 1
• use the $3 coupon in tomorrow's Red Plum insert
• Buy 4, use 4 coupons, spend $3.96 & get $5 in +Up Rewards back to make the FREE!!!  Or buy 1 and spend only $.99!
• High Octane Energy Chews B1G1 Free
• B1G1 High Octane Energy Chews Coupon - makes both FREE!
• Select Little Remedies or Pediacare Products $4.99
• Get a $3 +Up Reward when you buy 1
• Get a $1 Single Check Rebate - limit 2
• Use $1 Pediacare Product coupon
• Buy 1, Use $1 coupon, get back $3 +Up Reward and $1 SCR to make it FREE!
• Select Purex Products, B1G1 Free*
• Purex 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets
• $1 off Purex 3-in-1 - login or register and watch video to print
• Fabric Softener Crystals
• $1 off Purex Crystals - "Like" Purex on Facebook to print
• Renuzit Adjustables $.88*
• $.55 off 3 Renuzit Adjustables
• Dixie or Vanity Fair plates, cups, bowls or Vanity Fair Napkins (100 ct) B1G1 Free*
• $2 off 2 Dixie Ultra Paper Plates - login or register and watch video to print
• 2000 Flushes - 2 for $5*
• $1 off 2000 Flushes
• L'oreal Preference Haircolor 2 for $17
• Get $5 +Up Reward when you spend $15
• Use 2 - $2 coupons from tomorrow's Red Plum insert
• $1 off L'oreal Preference Haircolor - login or register and watch video to print
• use $4 of 2 coupon in tomorrow's Rite Aid ad
• All Combat Ant and Roach Baits and Gels - $4.99*
• $2 off Combat Product
•  Select Schick Razor Products - $7.99
• Get $3 +Up Reward
• Use $2 coupon from tomorrow's Smart Source insert
• Huggies Diapers - $8.99
• Get $1 +Up Reward - Limit 4
• $1.50 off Huggies - Share with 3 friends on Facebook to receive a $3 off coupon! 

There are tons of other great deals to be found at Rite Aid this week.  Head over to Deal Seeking Mom to see them all!

Awesome Kroger Deals!

Here's a couple of good deals even the beginners can take advantage of at Kroger right now:         

• 2 packages of Parkay margarine & 1 dozen Kroger brand eggs for $.05!!!
• Parkay is on sale for $1.00 - $.50 off Parkay on Coupons.com - print 2
• Kroger extra large eggs are $1.55 at my store - login or register your Plus Card at Kroger.com and add the e-coupon for $1.50 off Kroger eggs when you buy 2 Parkay
• Banquet frozen meals - $.38 each
• Go here and enter the code 63829897.  There is a coupon for $.50 off 2 Banquet meals you can print up to 10 times to get 20 of them for $7.60!

It's getting late and I'm about to pass out, so I'll try to post a rundown of my whole shopping trip tomorrow evening.  Good night, everyone!   

Save More Money at Target

Target is another store that's fairly easy to do your couponing at.  They accept manufacturer's coupons and they release tons of store coupons that you can stack with them.  There are three ways to get the Target store coupons:

• Online - You can view and print Target's selection of online coupons here.  Most of the coupons on Target's site are store coupons, but there are always a few manufacturer's coupons in the mix.  To decipher between the two, look in the upper left hand corner.  If it says "Target Web Coupon", it can be stacked with a manufacturer's coupon.  Make sure you read the fine print on the coupons too.  Although you can print most Target coupons twice, they usually say "One per customer" or "One per transaction" on them.  If you wish to use more than one in the same shopping trip, just ask the cashier if they would rather divide your items up into two transactions or if they want to override it and do it all at once.
• Mobile Coupons - Get store coupons sent to your phone!  Saving money just can't get any easier than that.  Go here for all the details.  These are all store coupons and can be stacked with manufacturer's coupons.
• Sunday Paper -  These are harder to find because we don't get them in the Herald-Leader.  You can, however, find them through online clipping services and Ebay.  There are usually no limits as to how many you can use in a single transaction and they can be stacked with your manufacturer's coupons.

To learn more about shopping at Target, check out Totally Target.  While you're there, be sure to look at the Cheap Finds page.  This is a list that is frequently updated with tons of awesome deals - most of them are under $1!  You can also read Target's Corporate Coupon Policy here. 

How to Work Your Coupon Magic at Rite Aid

Rite Aid is one of my favorite places to go couponing.  They always have something that's free or pretty close to it.  While you won't come out with one of those massive hauls like you see on Extreme Couponing, you'll be able to snag a few great deals.  Here's the lowdown on saving at Rite Aid!

• Wellness Card - This is very similar to the Kroger Plus Card.  In order to receive most of the sale prices, it has to be scanned at checkout.  The key difference is that you start out receiving a 10% discount on all Rite Aid brand products and you can work your way up a 20% discount on everything in the store!  
• +UP Rewards - These are coupons that print at checkout after you meet certain purchase requirements.  It's basically like cash back that you can use on future Rite Aid purchases.  +Up Rewards can be combined with other manufacturer's coupons and Rite Aid Store coupons to save even more!  You can also use them to purchase items that will give you more +Up Rewards.  This is called "rolling".  Learning to "roll" your +Up Rewards is important because it keeps you from spending money out of your own pocket.  Once you get good at it, you'll be able to buy most of the sale items you want and only spend a few cents for tax.
• Single Check Rebates (SCR) - Next time you go in Rite Aid, look for the current Single Check Rebate book.  They're usually kept with the store circulars and a new one comes out each month.  The SCR program requires you to purchase the items up front, but you will receive a rebate check at the end of the month.  The amounts of the rebates will vary.  The best part is, you can use manufacturer's coupons, store coupons, and +Up Rewards to pay for the items AND get the rebates back!  This gives you an opportunity to make money on a lot of your purchases.  That's right - Rite Aid will PAY YOU to shop there!  Submitting your receipts for the program is super easy.  As soon as you get home from the store, follow the instructions on the SCR booklet and enter your receipt information online.  At the end of the month, submit your request for the check.  It'll take 2-3 weeks to receive your check.  You can either put it in your bank account or take it straight to Rite Aid and spend it there!
• Coupon "Stacking" - This is when you use a manufacturer's coupon and a store coupon together.  Look at your coupon bar codes to tell whether or not they can be stacked.  Rite Aid coupons will start with RC, while manufacturer's coupons will always begin with a 5 or a 9.  +Up Rewards can always be used in conjunction with your other coupons, but be sure to hand those to the cashier last!
• Video Values - It's a little tedious and boring, but it's the only way you can get most of the Rite Aid store coupons that are available.  All you have to do is watch some short videos, enter in a code to prove that you watched it, and you'll be rewarded with printable coupons.  These coupons can be "stacked" on top of a manufacturer's coupon to give you extra savings!  Go to Rite Aid Video Values to sign up and get started.
• In-Ad Coupons - Every week, Rite Aid has coupons in their circulars that can also be "stacked" with manufacturer's coupons.
• BOGO Deals - This is yet another reason why I love shopping at Rite Aid.  You can combine their buy one get one free deals with buy one get one free coupons and get both items FREE! 

I think that should cover the basics of Rite Aid.  I'll be posting store deals and scenarios to help you get started next week.  To see this week's current deals in our area, head over to Bluegrass Savers.  I recommend familiarizing yourself with Rite Aid's Corporate Coupon Policy before shopping there.

Couponing At Kroger

I decided to start with a tutorial on Kroger since it's one of the easiest stores to learn.  I'm going to touch on a few key points to help you get started saving right away!

• Kroger Plus Card - Without this little card, you won't be able to take advantage of most sale prices at Kroger.  If you don't have one already, stop by customer service and fill out a form.  It just takes a second and you'll be able to use it right away.  Not only does it help you save on groceries, but you'll accumulate points towards fuel savings and you can sign up to receive coupons in the mail.
• Double Coupons - Kroger will automatically double an unlimited amount of coupons with a face value of up to $.50.  This comes in especially handy when they have their 10 for $10 sales and Mega Events.  Always be sure to scan your Plus Card first or your coupons will not double.  I learned this the hard way the other day!
• Digital Coupons - This is another advantage of the Plus Card.  If you haven't already done so, go to Kroger.com and register your card.  This will allow you to add digital, or e-coupons, to your card.  Be careful though because these cannot be used in conjunction with paper coupons and they do not double!  If you have a paper coupon for $.50 off of an item, do not add an e-coupon for the same item unless you plan on purchasing more than one.  
• Manager's Specials and Closeouts - Keep an eye out for shelves full of products that have the yellow and orange Manager's Special stickers on them.  This is a great place to find baked goods that have been marked down and lots of other items for super cheap or even free after coupons.  Each store puts these in a different area and selection will vary from store to store.  If you can't find it, ask a store associate and be sure to check the shelf each time you shop.  Refrigerated items on Manager's Special can be found in the areas with the regularly priced products.  Also be on the lookout for the white and red Closeout tags while you're shopping.  Closeout items will be in the aisles with their regularly priced counterparts.  Make sure you carry your extra coupons with you because you never know what you'll find.  A few weeks ago, I found Purex laundry detergent on closeout for $1.87 and used some $1 coupons, making it only $.87!
• Mega Events - I'm sure you've noticed the Mega Event sales where you are required to purchase a certain amount of participating products in order to get a few dollars off your order.  These often provide great opportunities to stock up.  Spend some time looking around for included products that were not advertised in the store circular and you're likely to find some awesome deals. 
• 10 for $10, BOGO - This is a little trick Kroger uses to get you to spend more money.  These sales differ from the Mega Events because you don't have to purchase a certain amount to get the sale price.  All items included in the 10 for $10 sales will ring up at $1 no matter how many you purchase.  Buy one get one free items ring up at half price, so you only have to purchase one to get a good deal!

I think that should cover everything you need to know about Kroger.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me via email or Facebook!  Check out Bluegrass Savers for this week's Kroger deals.  This is the best place to find the most accurate sales and coupon match-ups for the Lexington area! 
     

Top 10 Reasons You Should Use Coupons!

1.  Rising Gas Prices - Gas prices have been climbing steadily and there is no sign that they will drop anytime in the near future.  Actually, there's a good chance the price will rise to over $5 a gallon by summer.  For most families, cutting back on gas usage is not an option.  You have to use gas to get to work, take the kids to school, run errands, etc.  On "Good Morning America" today, they estimated that most people will have to cut back their household budgets by at least 5% in order to compensate.  You shouldn't have to choose between buying gas and providing for your family.

2.  Higher Gas Prices = Higher Food Prices - There are many factors that effect the price of food, and gas is one of them!  The grocery stores cannot stock their shelves without it.  Also, when gas prices go down, the prices of food stays the same.  Manufacturers take advantage of the fact that consumers have to buy groceries despite the high prices.  The cost of groceries is projected to rise by as much as 40% by the end of this year.  If this doesn't have you convinced to jump on the coupon bandwagon, here are 8 more reasons!

3.  Keep Your Money In Your Pocket Where It Belongs - This one is self-explanatory.  You earned the money, so you shouldn't have to give it all away everytime you go through the checkout lane!

4.  Pay Down Your Debt - It's hard to pay more than the minimum monthly payments on your credit cards when the cost of everyday necessities is spiraling out of control.  Using coupons will give you the ability to pay more than the minimum and will save you a lot of money on interest in the long run.

5.  Avoid Acquiring New Debt -  When you're living paycheck to paycheck like most Americans, sometimes you have no option other than to put groceries on your credit card and pray that you'll have the money to pay for it later.  There's no need to do this when you can use coupons to pay for nearly 75% of your groceries!

6.  Save Money - How many times have you wished that you could take a vacation?  Or start a college savings account for your kids?  Or build an emergency fund?  Coupons can make it all possible.  Check out Couponing to Disney and read this family's incredible story. 

7.  Build A Stockpile - Have you ever wondered how you would feed your family if you were laid off at work or your hours were drastically cut?  What about a natural disaster?  This is something a lot of us don't like to think about.  I'm not saying you should turn your house into one of those you see on "Hoarders", but it would be nice to have enough to sustain your family for a few weeks if something were to happen.  Stockpiling also keeps you from having to make frequent trips to the grocery store.  Typically, the more you shop, the more you spend even if it's not intentional. 

8.  Treat Yourself - You love your kids dearly, but sometimes you need some time away for retail therapy, a day at the spa, or a date night with your significant other.  Use that 75% you saved at the grocery this week to hire a sitter and do something for yourself for once.  You deserve it!

9.  Discipline - Most of us buy things without paying attention to the price.  We walk through the store throwing stuff in the cart because we just have to have it now, right?  Once you've been couponing for awhile, you'll learn the sales cycles at your stores.  You'll know when to stock up and when to hold out for a better deal.

10.  Give To Others - We all wish we could do more to help others, but there's just never anything left to give.  Coupons give us the ability to get tons of stuff for pennies on the dollar.  And sometimes, absolutely free!  Whether you give to family and friends or food banks and shelters, you'll sleep better at night knowing that you made a difference in someone's life.

Getting Started With Coupons Part 2

Hopefully, those of you that read my first post have been busy gathering, printing, and clipping coupons.  Now is the time to find an organizational method that works for you before you're eyeball deep in coupons.  Trust me, it won't take long!  This has been the hardest part of couponing for me since I'm organizationally challenged!  My sister asked me the other day why my coupons are so neat and easy to find while the rest of my house looks like a tornado hit it.  For me, my coupon binder is my wallet and bank account all rolled into one allowing me to carry hundreds - if not thousands - of dollars around with me at all times.  I need to know where my coupons are for the same reason I need to know where my debit card is.

My organizational needs have changed over time, as will yours after you've been couponing for awhile.  When I first started out, I was using a small coupon organizer I bought at Walmart.  It only cost about $3 and served me well until my coupon collection began to take over my living room!  I was overwhelmed and had no clue what to do with the coupons that wouldn't fit into my organizer.  That's when I moved on to my second method.

I used a couple of shoe boxes and some index cards to sort all of my coupons into categories.  This was a great way to keep my rapidly growing collection of coupons under control and in one spot.  Before I headed off to the store, I would pull out what I needed and put them in an envelope with my shopping list.  The only problem with this method is that I would get to the store and remember that I needed something that I had forgotten to put on my list, but not have the coupon I needed.  This is what prompted me to start using a binder and some clear plastic sheet protectors to organize my coupons.

Carrying the binder has saved me a lot of time and lost deals.  I still pull out the coupons I plan to use before I go to the store, but I always have my backups when I need them.  My best advice would be to experiment with a few different organizational methods until you find the one that suits your needs.  There is no right or wrong way to organize your coupons!  If you need some extra help, YouTube is a great resource for new couponers.

Are you feeling overwhelmed yet?  Couponing can seem like hard work before you even get started, but it pays off the first time you leave the store with more groceries in your cart and more money in your wallet.  Go get your coupons organized and get ready to start saving!

Getting Started With Coupons

I've been getting lots of questions lately about couponing, so I decided to start a blog to teach others how to manage their grocery and household budgets more effectively!  This will be the first part of an ongoing series - sort of like a virtual coupon class.  One of the questions I get most frequently is where do I get all of my coupons.  Here are several ways - from the obvious to the obscure - to obtain coupons and start saving today!

1.  Sunday paper - This is probably the easiest way to find coupons.  I buy anywhere from 1 to 10 copies of the paper each Sunday.  Before I head to the store, I always check out Sunday Coupon Preview to see what will be included in the paper that day.  This helps me decide the quantity that I'm going to purchase.

2.  Internet - If you have a access to a printer, you can start saving immediately!  Sites like Coupons.com, Redplum, Smart Source, and Coupon Network always have a good selection of coupons to choose from.  Facebook is also a great place to obtain high value manufacturer's coupons for products your family needs.  Just search for your favorite products and see what's available.  Most of the time you will be required to "Like" the product before you can receive the offers.  Also, check your favorite manufacturer's websites.

3.  Snail Mail - I receive coupons in the mail on an almost daily basis.  Most of them are offers I had to sign up for online.  I've gotten coupons for free hair dye, food, OTC medicines, and tons of other stuff just for taking a few seconds to fill out a simple form!  I will try my best to alert everyone when I come across these.  Also, if you are expecting or have a baby in the house, make sure you sign up with Gerber, Beechnut, Similac, and Enfamil.  They send out some awesome coupons that are specific to your child's needs and stage of development.

4.  Family, Friends, and Co-workers - For everyone one person you know that uses coupons, I can guarantee you know several more who don't use them!  Ask them to save their coupons for you instead of tossing them in the trash.

5.  Trade Coupons - Talk to the people you know who use coupons.  Chances are, they're got a few laying around that you could use and you've got some that they could use.  I'm hoping that this blog can also serve as an outlet for us to find more people to trade with as well!

6.  Coupon Clipping Services - This is a great way to obtain newspaper coupons without buying the Sunday paper.  Also, since coupons vary widely depending on the area of the country you live in, this will give you an opportunity to obtain coupons that didn't make it into your local newspaper.  Coupon Dede is a good place to start.  For a small handling fee, you can purchase only the coupons that you need or you can purchase entire coupon inserts.  Ebay is also a good place to look, but make sure to check the seller's feedback before making a purchase.

7.  The Grocery Store - While you're wondering around the grocery store, always make sure to keep an eye out for more coupons to add to your stash.  "Blinkies" are the little machines attached to the shelves that spit out coupons.  "Peelies" are the little stickers you find stuck to the products on the shelves.  "Tear pads" can sometimes be found hanging near products.  While it can be tempting to grab them all, make sure you leave some for the next person!  I'll have more on the ethics of couponing at a later time!

8.  The Gas Station - This can be a good place to find coupons for things like candy, soft drinks, chips, etc.  Grab a couple and stick them in your purse for later, but by all means, do not buy any of this stuff at a gas station.  We're trying to save money, not waste it on over-priced convenience items!

9.  Product Packaging - While you're shopping, look for specially marked packages that say "Coupons inside".  You can often find these in Proctor & Gamble products and lots of others!  If it's a product that you need or can use in the near future, go ahead and buy it - if it's on sale and you have a coupon for it of course!

10.  Write to Manufacturers - I'll have more on this later, but manufacturer's love to hear from their consumers.  Whether you're writing to praise their product or complain, a lot of them will send you coupons in return!

11.  Dumpster Diving - Personally, I've never tried this and I'm not sure that I ever will, but to each his own.  If you're interested, there are websites out there that will tell you where to find paper recycling dumpsters in your area.

12.  Magazines - All You is a magazine found exclusively at Walmart.  It's packed full of coupons that you often don't find anywhere else and will pay for itself the first time you clip a couple of coupons out of it!  It's available by the check out lanes at Walmart or you can usually find a better deal on subscriptions through school fundraisers.

Okay, now that you've read this, get out there and hunt down some coupons so you'll be ready for my next post - organizing!!