The Coupon Challenge

Hampton Roads (Virginia) Coupon Blog

Getting Started

Couponing Basics: How to Use Coupon Network

by Dana Zeliff on
in Getting Started

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

 

Last week I posted specifically about 3 popular printable coupons sites (Coupons.com, RedPlum.com and SmartSource.com) and How to Use each.  This week I am focusing on How to Use Coupon Network.

Coupon Network is a printable coupon site that has only been around for a year.  There are some great features about Coupon Network that should be beneficial to you in your money-saving endeavors.

Having trouble viewing the video?  Click here.

If you missed it, find out Where to Find Printable Coupons!

Next Up: Get a Coupon Email Address

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Couponing Basics: Learning to Use Coupons.com, Smartsource.com & Redplum.com

by Dana Zeliff on
in Getting Started

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Last week we started talking about Where to Find Printable Coupons.  This week, we are looking at 3 of the most popular printable coupon websites – Coupons.com, SmartSource.com and RedPlum.com.

Watch the video below to learn more about using these 3 sites – no sign up is required to print these coupons.  However, you will need to make sure you have downloaded the coupon printing software from both Coupons.com and SmartSource.com.  This will allow you to print coupons with a scannable barcode.  Once you have downloaded the coupon printing software from both sites, you will be all set for printing future coupons.

Having trouble viewing the video?  Click here.

Next Up: Find out How to Use Coupon Network for more printable coupons!

 

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Couponing Basics: Where to Find Printable Coupons

by Dana Zeliff on
in Getting Started

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Last week I talked about how to get extra coupon inserts.  We will start diving more into printable coupons over the next several weeks.  This weeks post will give you an overview of the sites to obtain printable coupons.

The internet is one of the best tools for obtaining coupons.  There are countless online websites devoted to providing you with the coupons you need to save your family money.

The norm is for a site allowing 2 prints per computer. Also, please remember that these coupons can change and may have a low print limit.  If you have multiple computers, you can print multiple coupons!

1.  Printable coupon websites:

2.  Company websites may also have a printable coupon for products.  It is common to find a Bagel Bites coupon or a Green Giant Frozen vegetables coupon on their websites.  If you search The Coupon Database and can’t find a coupon – consider checking the company website to find an offer.

3.  Facebook has become one of my go-to sources for printable coupons.  Companies want you to “Like” their page.  In exchange, you can usually find a coupon just for helping to increase their numbers.  These coupons typically have a print limit, so I would suggest “liking” and printing the coupon as soon as the offer is announced.

What are your favorite printable coupon sites?

Next Up: Learning to Use Coupons.com, Smartsource.com & Redplum.com

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Couponing Basics: How to Get Extra Coupon Inserts

by Dana Zeliff on
in Getting Started

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Now that you know Where to Get Coupons, want to kick your couponing up a notch? Have multiple coupons by having extra coupon inserts. This will allow you to purchase more of an item when it’s at a rock-bottom price.

How to Get Extra Coupon Inserts:

1. Extra newspaper subscription:  Most of you probably have 1 subscription to your local newspaper.  Ask about a special rate to get multiple papers delivered.  Call you local paper and see what they can offer for Sunday only.

2. Retail Stores:  Most stores such as grocery and drug stores sell the Sunday paper.  I personally prefer The Dollar Tree because the price per paper is only $1 versus the standard $2 at other stores.  Check the Sunday Coupon Preview each week to see if it’s beneficial for you to purchase an extra paper.

3. Ask friends and family:  If you have family, friends or neighbors that don’t clip coupons, ask them to save their inserts for you.  You will get coupon inserts for FREE.

4. Clipping services:  You can purchase whole inserts or individual coupons from coupon clipping services.  This is especially nice for regional coupons.  However, you may want to read the CIC’s stand on clipping services to determine if this is right for you.

5. Recycle Bin/ Dumpster Diving:  You can take this to whatever level you wish.  However, the easiest way is in areas that have recycle bins instead of cans. You can easily see the coupon inserts before they are carried away to the recycle center.

6.  Local churches, gyms & community centers: Find out if your gym, church or community center can save the coupon inserts from the Sunday paper for you.  Many of these places get a paper or two delivered for patrons to read.

How many coupon inserts should I get?
Not sure how many inserts is enough? Think about having 1 insert per family member.  However, this “rule” will depend on your personal needs and quality of coupons in the inserts each week.

I have 2 papers delivered per week and receive 2-3 inserts from family.  That provides me with 4-5 coupon inserts per week for my family of four.

Next Up: Where to Find Printable Coupons

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How to Use the Printable List Feature (Video)

by Dana Zeliff on
in Getting Started, Store Deals

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

I added a printable list feature to my store matchups a couple of months ago.  I want to make sure everyone is familiar with how to use the printable list.  My hope is that it helps keep the matchups organized and to help with your shopping trips.

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Couponing Basics: How to Build a Stockpile

by Dana Zeliff on
in Frugal Living, Getting Started

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

The key to building a stockpile is to match a coupon with a sale to purchase items at a “rock bottom” price (or the lowest price.)  You need to purchase as many of the product as you will need to hold you over until the next sale which will likely be about every 6 weeks.

*Note:  I said to purchase enough to hold you over until the next sale; not the next 3 years.

Why should you stockpile?
  • Reduce your grocery budget (spending $0.24 on toothpaste vs $2.99 really adds up!)
  • Saves time and gas, you could occasionally skip grocery shopping
  • Prepare for the unexpected (sickness, weather, job loss)

What can you stockpile?
You can stockpile non-perishables (such as canned goods, dried beans, pastas, etc), cleaning supplies, detergents, personal hygiene products, feminine care, toilet paper, and etc.  You can also utilize your freezer to stockpile meat, bread, produce for cooking, prepared meals, and much more.

How do you start a stockpile?

–Determine usage: Determine approximately how much your family will use of each item in 6 weeks which is when you will likely see another sale.

–Stay within your budget: If you are just starting out, you may not have additional funds to work with. I routinely spent my entire budget when I started building my stockpile.  If your budget is already tight, try to allow a few dollars every week just for stockpiling.  Even $5 could make a huge difference in the long run.

–Make a price book or list: The most effective way to know when an item is at the lowest price is to know your local prices.  I have a list of my Goal Prices and my Goal Prices for Meat.

–Be patient: Building your stockpile will take time!  You need to wait for the sale cycles to come around and reside yourself to the fact that your stockpile won’t be complete in a week (or 5!)

–Try not to be brand specific: We all have our preferences, but you’ll be able to make the most out of the store deals if you’re not loyal to particular brands.  I really don’t care what canned tomatoes or cereal I buy.  However, we can only use Tide and All free and clear laundry detergents.  Over time, you’ll learn what is important to your family.

–Get multiple coupons: You need to be able to buy multiple of each item when they are at a “rock bottom” price in order to build a stockpile.   If I have 4 coupons to match up with a fantastic sale, that’s 4 products that I don’t need to buy later.  You may want to get extra coupons for products that you use frequently.

–Shop multiple stores: Split your time between multiple drug stores and grocery stores.  I shop at CVS, WAGS, Farm Fresh, Harris Teeter and occasionally Kroger and Target.  I DO NOT shop at all the stores every week!  I simply don’t have the time or energy.  I pick the best deals from each store and get to as many of those stores as I can.

–Limit quantities:  Think about what your family can realistically use or donate.  It’s not a deal if it gets thrown away.  Also, don’t clear the shelves.  Remember to be respectful of other shoppers.

–You’re shopping trips will look lopsided: Eventually you should already have most of the items you need each week, so when shopping you’ll be rounding out your menu plan and stocking up on the best deals.  I recently had a trip where I bought granola bars, sweet moments, miracle whip and a few other things.  Nice combination right?

–Don’t overdo it: Your time is money and your first priority is your sanity and family.  It is very tempting to run around to every store week after week trying to super size your stockpile (been there, done that!)  I quickly learned that I wasn’t doing myself or my kids any good.  I stepped back and realized that there will always be another deal.

A few of my stockpiled items:
Toothpaste = 14
Men’s Deodorant = 16
Women’s Deodorant = 6
Pasta = 20
Cereal = 15
Ketchup = 4
Dish Soap = 9
What are your tips for building a stockpile?

 

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Couponing Basics: Organize Your Stockpile

by Dana Zeliff on
in Frugal Living, Getting Started

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

My Little Pantry

A key element to saving money on groceries is matching a sale with a coupon to get “rock bottom” prices.  The problem comes in when you get a bunch of pasta for free or cereal for $0.25,  what do you do with it?  You stockpile! 

Purchase as many of the item as you need to get through to the next sale.  Most products run on a 3 month cycle.  Which means that I can get free or super cheap cereal about every 2-3 months.  However, some products tend to run on a seasonal cycle.  I know I can usually get better sales on condiments in the summer and canned veggies around the holiday’s.

How to keep your stockpile organized:

1.  Designate areas for storage– Unless you live in a teeny, tiny apartment with little space, keep your stockpile confined to specific areas.  I keep most of my stockpile in my little closet pantry, canned items in a kitchen cabinet, cleaning and laundry supplies in the laundry room, extra tp and paper towels in the garage and toiletries in 1 bathroom closet.  If it doesn’t fit;  it’s time for a donation pile.

2.  Group like items – You need to know how many of an item you have.  If you have the BBQ sauce in 3 areas, how will you know when you’re really out?  All my condiments are grouped together on one shelf.  Further, all the ketchup, salad dressing, mustard, etc. are lined up one behind the other.

3.  Rotate your stockpile – I always put the new product in the back.  It may take some shifting and rearranging, but I always know which product needs to be used first.  If someone grabs a bottle of salad dressing, I don’t have to worry that they took the bottle that expires next year and not the one that expires in 2 months.

4.  Check for “need to use” products – I go through my stockpile about every 3 months or so.  I don’t want any of the food to expire, so it’s important to know which food you need to use.  I might realize that I have 6 bottles of BBQ sauce expiring in 2 months.  Well, we will be eating a lot of BBQ in the coming months.

5. Use clear containers – I use clear storage containers to keep like items together.  I keep all my travel samples in one storage container.  I request a lot of free samples.  My toiletry cabinet would be a mess if I kept all the travel size shampoo and deodorants on the shelf.   I use clear containers for open food products such as flour and cereal as well.  I also cut and tape the cereal logo on the container, so we know which cereal is in what container.

6.  Donate– I start making a donation pile when my pantry gets too full.  I will only keep what I know my family can use and what fits into my designated storage areas.  Remember to check the dates of food you will be donating as well.  You don’t want to donate something with an expiration date of next month.  The picture below is from when I cleaned out my toiletry closet for Couponing for Community.

7.  Stockpile emergency items – Consider stockpiling emergency items such as paper plates, cups and food that you can eat without electricity.  I don’t usually use paper plates, but I live in an area prone to hurricanes.  I store such paper products in a container in the eves.  I can easily access the plates, but it’s not taking up valuable space elsewhere.

What are your tips for organizing the stockpile?

Before                                 After

 

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