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Coupon Lingo

SS-Smart Source Insert (From Sunday Paper)
RP-Red Plum Insert (From Sunday Paper)
RR-Register Rewards (Printed out coupon from Walgreens for your next purchase)
PG-Proctor and Gamble Insert
GM-General Mill Insert
All You-Coupon Magazine found at Walmart
BOGO/B1G1-Buy One Get One
WYB-When You Buy

Target Shopping Need to Know

You can stack Target coupons with manufacturer coupons. The coupon will state if it is a Target coupon or manufacturer. Many manufacturer coupons have the Target symbol printed on them-but this STILL is a manufacturer coupon.
Some Target employees are not trained on the Target coupon policy, so it is good to print and carry the policy with you to avoid any issues. Go HERE to print it from the Target website.
Target price matches! If you take the newspaper ad with the same item at Target to the Costumer Service counter, they will ring you up with the in-ad price. *You can not price match at the check out counters.
If you forget to use a coupon when checking out or find one later for a product you purchased, you can take your receipt and the coupon to customer service for a refund.
Keep your eyes peeled for Target coupons stuck on random products. I find great Target coupons stuck on laundry detergents, frozen food products, cereals, and even beer!
There are two website to print Target coupons. Target.com and HERE (Redplum will occasionally have a Target coupon listed also.

Walgreens Shopping Need to Know

You can stack Walgreens coupons with manufacturer coupons.
There are multiple coupon sources for Walgreens. The front of the store has a stand with the weekly ad, and a coupon booklet for the current month, and other random books and papers. The pharmacy carries coupons in their health booklet, children’s coloring books, and diabetes booklets. Some Walgreens display these booklets and some keep them behind the counter. Go HERE to see Walgreens (most manufacturer) online coupons.
Register Rewards are coupons for a certain $ amount printed out after your transaction. There are monthly and weekly register reward deals. These deals are displayed under the product in the store or in the weekly ad.
If you use a register reward to purchase the same item you got the register reward for- another register reward will NOT print out.
A register reward is considered a coupon. So when you are using other coupons, be sure to use one coupon per item. (or one Walgreens and one manufacturer per item) If you do not, the register will beep and will not take the register reward.
Another reason a register reward will not be taken is if there is not enough money on the transaction. For example, you use a register reward for $2 and you buy an item for $1.98. With tax- this will come out to more than $2, but the register reward will not be accepted because it will only pay for the product and not tax.
People who work behind the cosmetic counter are usually friendlier than the other cashiers. This is because they work on commission. I always check out with them because I can take my time and I don’t have to worry about people waiting behind me. Also, there are tons of coupons behind the cosmetic counter. All you have to do is ask and they are usually more than happy to find a coupon for the product you are looking for!

Coupons Need to Know

When printing your coupons from any of the online coupon sites- be sure to use your ‘back button’ and then ‘refresh’ to print the coupon twice. Except the Target coupons from their website. These will only allow one print.
On many of the coupon sites, such as coupons.com, there are different coupons for different zip codes.
All of the main coupon sites are listed at the left hand side of my blog.
Sign up with your favorite brand’s e-mail notifications. You will be surprised at how many coupons that will start showing up in your inbox!

Shopping Smart Tips

Don’t buy things just because you have a coupon unless it is what you would normally buy or NEED.
Match your coupons with sales and clearance to get the best prices.
Stack manufacturer and store coupons when possible.
Read the weekly store ads that come in the paper to see who has the best prices.
Use a coupon book, folder, or binder. This helps you keep your coupons organized and quickly access them in the store.
Don’t take kids shopping with you-if possible! Not an option for me, but would love to leave the kids at home to go grocery shopping. It is the same concept as “don’t shop when you’re hungry”. When I bring my kids grocery shopping, I get VERY distracted and feel unorganized. I leave with more things I didn’t need and forget the things I did need!

Coupon Books

Then:

I have seen many people use a binder with baseball card holders inside for a coupon book. This may work for a lot of people, but I need something that fits easily in my purse, so I am able to haul the kids and my book around! I also want to be able to locate my coupons quick and easy, so I can get what I need and leave as soon as possible- before a 2 year old meltdown occurs or a hungry baby starts to cry!

So, I came up with a coupon book that works for ME and MY life. I used an old daily planner we had, since it was just the right size. I took zip lock freezer bags and used a hole punch to put them inside the book. I then used sticker labels to label each one of my bags. I labeled them so I am able to find what I am looking for quick. Some of my labels include; Target, Walgreens, Frozen foods, Meats, Baby, Cleaning Supplies, Hair Products, Body Wash and Lotions, etc.

Everyone has different ways that work for them- I wanted to share how my coupon book makes grocery shopping with coupons a little bit easier for me and my life!

Now:

With more coupons, comes the need to be more organized. I want to find what I am looking for quick and get out of that grocery store before my children completely lose their minds! I now need that big book to take shot gun in my cart while my baby rides in the basket.

I purchased my binder and dividers from Target. The dividers are labled with more detail now, since I have more room and have more coupons to find. (breakfast items, snacks, drinks, etc.) I used baseball card holders for my coupons so I am able to see each individual coupon. You will need to purchase these at Walmart near the front of the store where their baseball cards are located. This is the most pricey part of my book, but well worth it. My binder has the clear outside cover where I can put the FREE coupons, so I don’t forget about them. The inside front pocket, I use to put the coupons in that I will be using and the back pocket is for the coupons that I may find in the store to use at a later date.

If you are an extreem couponer like I am then you need to make one of these! I get excited to clip coupons and organize my book!