It's been quite a while since my last post; I just started a new job which has been taking a lot out of me. But, I've still been out there raking in deals for the guys and gals at the Union Gospel Mission.
In tomorrow's paper, there's going to be on P&G coupon insert, which will be one you won't want to miss. There's going to bee $1/1 tide detergent and $1/1 olay body wash coupons which will mean absolutely free single-load detergent and free olay bars. So, get your hands on as many inserts as you can round up, because those inserts will be worthwhile.
Last time these coupons came out, I got over 30 free bars of olay soap and over 30 free packets of Tide detergent. Stores like Target, Walmart, and Kmart have these items for around 97 cents usually in the travel section.
Much love you all- as soon as I get settled into my job and kick this horrible respiratory infection, I'll be doing more work on this blog.
Generate kindness <3
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
No pride- just love
It's been on my heart since I started this blog to make sure I convey to all my readers that I do not post pictures to brag or to be prideful about the deals I get. I only post the pictures and deals because I want to show you all just how far coupons can go for you. I am not trying to brag about the things I am donating to the mission.
I know I am, by no means, and experienced couponer.
There are many many couponers out there who have FANTASTIC blogs containing everything you would ever need to know about saving money.
My favorites are: Hip2Save, The Krazy Coupon Lady, The Frugal Find, and Totally Target
I'm just doing my thing, and hoping to inspire and motivate others to start couponing. I've spent a long time feeling as though I have not been able to do anything substantial for others, but couponing has given me my own little niche- I want to offer this encouragement to anyone who feels there's nothing you can do. There is; there always is.
Generate kindness <3
I know I am, by no means, and experienced couponer.
There are many many couponers out there who have FANTASTIC blogs containing everything you would ever need to know about saving money.
My favorites are: Hip2Save, The Krazy Coupon Lady, The Frugal Find, and Totally Target
I'm just doing my thing, and hoping to inspire and motivate others to start couponing. I've spent a long time feeling as though I have not been able to do anything substantial for others, but couponing has given me my own little niche- I want to offer this encouragement to anyone who feels there's nothing you can do. There is; there always is.
Generate kindness <3
Thursday, June 10, 2010
End Caps are a gal's best friend :)
This past Tuesday, I was invited to a surprise birthday dinner for my good friend, Missy, at the Olive Garden in Eugene. Since I was driving down that way, I decided to take advantage of the GIANT Target out on West 11th. Oh...my...goodness!
Stay tuned for pictures of my new 4-inch coupon binder I've been working on the past couple of days!!! I literally blew out my 2-inch :)
<3 Generate kindness
Total Out of Pocket at Target = 30.97
Total Out of Pocket at Rite Aid = $.67
Total Out of Pocket at Walgreens = $3.49
Total for everything in the picture = $35.13
I URGE you to go grab a couple copies of this past Sunday's paper (some stores keep the Sunday one til they sell out) or ask your friends, family, or neighbors for their unused inserts. Even if you can just get ahold of the $2/1 Pampers Wipes, $3/1 John Freida, and the $4/1 Gilette Fusion coupons...totally worth it!
I would also love to give some one-on-one couponing classes this summer, so please contact me at sarahgaspar@corban.edu if you are interested.
Stay tuned for pictures of my new 4-inch coupon binder I've been working on the past couple of days!!! I literally blew out my 2-inch :)
<3 Generate kindness
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Ask for deals to come, and you shall receive!
Well, it's been quite an exciting week for deals at Walgreens- RR deals left and right! I've finally decided I need to have a few boxes on hand so I don't have bags of stuff taking up my living room. Well, I know I posted a couple of days ago about the Ecotrin aspirin and amazing toothbrush clearance...but here's the reaping of the week. I'm just thanking God because I prayed for dental care stuff...and I got toothbrushes in abundance. I also have enough RRs to buy newspapers and a bunch more of the clearanced toothbrushes on Sunday.
So, this is it...for pennies I got all this stuff! And all the little strips of paper in the left corner are actually coupons for FREE packages of Always pads, which I got for purchasing the Kotex U pads.
I also just realized today that the boxes of Ecotrin have $2/1 60 ct. or higher coupons in them, so I've now got a bunch more coupons if the larger size goes on sale!
The next couple of weeks look slow, but the new P&G insert has an awesome $2/1 Pampers wipes 60 ct. or higher...which basically means very cheap baby wipes. Actually, I can work a deal at Rite Aid to get 30 for mere pennies!!! So if anyone is going to get this insert, and isn't going to personally use the coupon...I would LOVE to have it so I can set up the Mamas at Simonka Place with some wipes.
I'm bummed that I'm out of Shick disposable $2/1 coupons, because I used those to get 12 ct. packages for $.03 overage at Walmart (on sale for only $1.97 each). Pick up my last four of those...I'm out of the $1.50/1 coupons for Sure deodorant which made them free at Rite Aid this week (free at Walgreens a few weeks ago). If only a coupon fairy could bring me a truckload of inserts!!!!
Thank you for reading this, and I hope it inspires you to check out some coupon blogs and start getting in on this stuff! It's truly unbelievable how much stuff I am able to get, and give, for so little. Just a lot of time and love!
Generate kindness <3
So, this is it...for pennies I got all this stuff! And all the little strips of paper in the left corner are actually coupons for FREE packages of Always pads, which I got for purchasing the Kotex U pads.
I also just realized today that the boxes of Ecotrin have $2/1 60 ct. or higher coupons in them, so I've now got a bunch more coupons if the larger size goes on sale!
The next couple of weeks look slow, but the new P&G insert has an awesome $2/1 Pampers wipes 60 ct. or higher...which basically means very cheap baby wipes. Actually, I can work a deal at Rite Aid to get 30 for mere pennies!!! So if anyone is going to get this insert, and isn't going to personally use the coupon...I would LOVE to have it so I can set up the Mamas at Simonka Place with some wipes.
I'm bummed that I'm out of Shick disposable $2/1 coupons, because I used those to get 12 ct. packages for $.03 overage at Walmart (on sale for only $1.97 each). Pick up my last four of those...I'm out of the $1.50/1 coupons for Sure deodorant which made them free at Rite Aid this week (free at Walgreens a few weeks ago). If only a coupon fairy could bring me a truckload of inserts!!!!Thank you for reading this, and I hope it inspires you to check out some coupon blogs and start getting in on this stuff! It's truly unbelievable how much stuff I am able to get, and give, for so little. Just a lot of time and love!
Generate kindness <3
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The rewards of treating every coupon as a treasure!
This has been an exciting week of deals- especially at Walgreens. In the clearance aisle, I found a plethora of Colgate toothbrushes marked down to $.50! And I just so happened to have 16 coupons for $.75 off ANY Colgate toothbrush. The cashier adjusted the coupons, and I walked out of there with 16 toothbrushes for free! I know God had his hand in this, because I have been praying for more dental care deals for the mission.
So, the lesson here is that you should never feel crazy for having a ton of the same coupon. How did I get 16 coupons? Well, I bought a few copies of the paper, and then I asked my friends and family for any unused coupons. I haven't elevated to the dumpster-diving level yet...soon...soon.
This week's Walgreens deals also brought another lesson. No coupon is a waste of time to clip. A couple weeks ago, there was a $2/1 coupon for 45 ct. Ecotrin aspirin. I thought to myself "I don't really use aspirin, and I've never heard of this brand...should I even cut this out?"
Well, this week at Walgreens, 45 ct. Ecotrin aspirin was on sale for $2. And even better, Walgreens offered a $2 RR for its purchase! So, I was not only getting free aspirin, but I was being paid $2 for it! I cannot describe the feeling of walking out of a store knowing you are being paid to take an item off the shelf.
Because of this deal, my papa isn't going to have to buy aspirin for another year, AND there will be some men and women at the mission with fewer headaches!
The moral of the story? Don't shrug off a coupon just because you think you won't use it. If you have multiple copies of inserts, just clip a couple and save the uncut inserts just in case you learn of a killer sale like this!
Generate kindness <3
So, the lesson here is that you should never feel crazy for having a ton of the same coupon. How did I get 16 coupons? Well, I bought a few copies of the paper, and then I asked my friends and family for any unused coupons. I haven't elevated to the dumpster-diving level yet...soon...soon.
This week's Walgreens deals also brought another lesson. No coupon is a waste of time to clip. A couple weeks ago, there was a $2/1 coupon for 45 ct. Ecotrin aspirin. I thought to myself "I don't really use aspirin, and I've never heard of this brand...should I even cut this out?"
Well, this week at Walgreens, 45 ct. Ecotrin aspirin was on sale for $2. And even better, Walgreens offered a $2 RR for its purchase! So, I was not only getting free aspirin, but I was being paid $2 for it! I cannot describe the feeling of walking out of a store knowing you are being paid to take an item off the shelf.
Because of this deal, my papa isn't going to have to buy aspirin for another year, AND there will be some men and women at the mission with fewer headaches!
The moral of the story? Don't shrug off a coupon just because you think you won't use it. If you have multiple copies of inserts, just clip a couple and save the uncut inserts just in case you learn of a killer sale like this!
Generate kindness <3
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Look what we've done!
Alright, I finally had the energy to truck all the boxes from my apartment to my car today. For those of you who have seen my place, this is no easy feat. For those who have not seen...let me just say that I live in a labyrinth of stairs!
I wanted to say "thank you" to all who have given me coupons, and for all who have put up with me going on and on about couponing! Now you shall be witness to the results of my madness!
Today, the Union Gospel Mission of Salem, OR got:
-30 full-size deodorants
-24 travel-size deodorants
-23 bars of soap
-694.1 fl oz of body wash
-166.6 fl oz of shampoo and conditioner
-610 feminine pads and liners
-418 disposable razors
-12.5 oz of shaving cream
-15.5 oz of toothpaste
-270 flossers
-26 bandaids
-24 medicated wipes
-84 flushable wipes
-500 cotton swabs
-12 light bulbs
-3 bottles of orange cleaner
-29 loads of laundry detergent
Thank you all again for your help and support. This is only the beginning! Please continue to save your coupon inserts for me!
Thank you Lord for giving to me in abundance, so that my heart may overflow with your love.
Generate kindness <3
I wanted to say "thank you" to all who have given me coupons, and for all who have put up with me going on and on about couponing! Now you shall be witness to the results of my madness!
Today, the Union Gospel Mission of Salem, OR got:
-30 full-size deodorants
-24 travel-size deodorants
-23 bars of soap
-694.1 fl oz of body wash
-166.6 fl oz of shampoo and conditioner
-610 feminine pads and liners
-418 disposable razors
-12.5 oz of shaving cream
-15.5 oz of toothpaste
-270 flossers
-26 bandaids
-24 medicated wipes
-84 flushable wipes
-500 cotton swabs
-12 light bulbs
-3 bottles of orange cleaner
-29 loads of laundry detergent
Thank you all again for your help and support. This is only the beginning! Please continue to save your coupon inserts for me!
Thank you Lord for giving to me in abundance, so that my heart may overflow with your love.
Generate kindness <3
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Things to consider: Coupon basics pt. 1
I'm a coupon nerd.
I carry my overflowing, bulging, bright pink, 3 inch coupon binder with me into every store I go to.
I peruse every aisle and every endcap.
Every time I check out, the person behind me says, "Wow, how do you do that."
My reply? "It's easy!"
Couponing can seem overwhelming and confusing, but it's actually pretty darn easy. There are some things that need to be learned, but it comes quickly, and it doesn't take much time at all for the savings to come rolling in.
I've been thinking about how to blog about all the couponing basics, but it's hard to know where to start. I'm going to blog about the basics in a series, but I want everyone to know that there are a lot of blogs that already have this information. My favorite, and I believe it to be the best, is hip2save.com.
There's a lot of great information over there if you don't want to wait for me to hash it all out!
Today I am starting with some basic information that might bust some common couponing myths.
1. Couponing does take time, but not as much as you might think. The great thing about couponing is that you can clip and store however you'd like.
2. There are more coupons out there, beyond the inserts. Sunday inserts are where a great number of coupons come from, but there are other options. These days, numerous coupons can be printed from the internet. Some good sites to go to are:
smartsource.com
redplum.com
coupons.com
The blogs I visit also post additional printable coupon lists; my two favorite are:
hip2save.com
thekrazycouponlady.com
Free samples are another way to score coupons (usually with far-off expiration dates!) The above blogs also post links to receive free samples, and the Walmart website frequently puts out a few samples every few weeks.
If there is a certain product that you must just have, then it never hurts to e-mail or phone the company and ask if they have any coupons. A majority of companies do not put coupons in the paper inserts, but they are very willing to send coupons upon request. Last week, Target was having a really good Kashi promotion. I didn't have any coupons for Kashi, so I e-mailed them and told them how much I love their pumpkin flax bars. Two days later, I got an e-mail back with a link to print off two $1/1 coupons for any Kashi product!
3. It is very valuable to keep coupons, even if you think they are low-value. The key to couponing is to combine coupons with store deals. On Sundays (and Wednesdays), go through store ads and look for price cuts, special deals, buy-one-get-one free (BOGO) sales, etc. Store ads also contain store coupons, which CAN be combined with manufacturer coupons.
A $3/1 infusium coupon might not seem that great when the infusium sells for $7, BUT when a store has it on price cut for $5.99, an in-store coupon for $2/1, and you use that $3/1 coupon, then it's only $.99!
4. Store coupons can be used with manufacturer coupons! I know I said this in the last one, but it's so vital to couponing. Every store puts out their own store coupons in their ads; these coupons will clearly say the name of the store on top. Even if you use a store coupon on an item, you can still use a manufacturer coupon for even more savings.
This past Sunday, I found a Fred Meyer coupon in their ad to get Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce for only $1. There was also a $1/2 (one dollar off two) manufacturer coupon in the Sunday insert, so I got the BBQ sauce for only $.50 each.
5. The words "ANY" and "No size exclusion" are a couponer's best friend. Always read coupons carefully to see if there are any size restrictions. Many coupons will say "excludes trial/travel size," but not all. These coupons are great to have to score travel sie items for free. Now you might say, "But, it's just a travel size." Yes, it is just a travel sie, but it's FREE!
Yesterday, I went to Walmart with 10 $1/1 any size Herbal Essences shampoo/conditioner coupon. Well, this particular Walmart carried Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner in the travel size for $.97...So, I ended up getting 10 little bottles for...free.
But wait! How could I use a $1/1 coupon on something that was $.97?
Most stores will adjust the coupon down to the amount of the coupon. Some cashiers will even just push the coupon through, allowing overage for other items in the transaction. It all depends on the store's coupon policy. thekrazycouponlady has links to corporate coupon policies for numerous stores, and I highly advise printing them and bringing them shopping with you. If a cashier is unwilling to take the coupon, you can always ask to speak to a supervisor regarding the policy. Sometimes cashiers just are unsure of their store's policy, and they are nervous about doing something wrong.
6. Sometimes people will sneer at you, you will get dirty looks, and cashiers will roll their eyes. Just be prepared for all the coupon haters out there! Here are some of the things I do to keep the peace as much as I can while checking out.
1. I always double check my coupons to make sure they are all current and match the
items I have.
2. I let people go in front of me, assuring them that my transaction will probably take
a little longer.
3. I organize my coupons, putting any for a free item at the top, and I hand them to
the cashier at the beginning of the transaction.
4. If people get behind me in line, I quickly scan their items to see if I have any
coupons to give to them. This works WONDERFULLY!
5. If a cashier doesn't want to push a coupon through, I remain calm and explain the
policy.
Even though people can have bad attitudes toward couponers, I have found that many people think it's awesome how much I save. I use the extra time it takes to scan coupons to give out coupons or couponing tips to cashiers and other customers.
Well, these are a few basic basics! My next post will contain some more technical coupon information, as well as a glossary of couponing terms. Couponing is a relatively easy way to save a minimum of 50% of every grocery bill. Just devoting half an hour a day is really all it takes to score free items and stockpile prices! Yesterday at Walmart, I nabbed 15 12-packs of Schick disposable razors for the Union Gospel Mission for FREE! All I had to do was clip 15 $2/1 coupons from the Sunday insert, and voila! (They were priced at $1.97 each, so I even made $.03 overage toward my Vitamin Water that I also got a great deal on)
So, if you're interested in the world of extreme couponing, hang in there! Oh, and if you are wondering how in the world I was able to get 15 coupon inserts... I buy multiple copies of the paper (usually using register rewards at Walgreens, which I'll talk about later), AND I stalk people I see buying papers. ;) Yes, I go up to people and ask if they are going to use their coupon inserts- I explain I'm using coupons to buy items for the mission, and most are more than happy to give them to me.
Generate Kindness <3
I carry my overflowing, bulging, bright pink, 3 inch coupon binder with me into every store I go to.
I peruse every aisle and every endcap.
Every time I check out, the person behind me says, "Wow, how do you do that."
My reply? "It's easy!"
Couponing can seem overwhelming and confusing, but it's actually pretty darn easy. There are some things that need to be learned, but it comes quickly, and it doesn't take much time at all for the savings to come rolling in.
I've been thinking about how to blog about all the couponing basics, but it's hard to know where to start. I'm going to blog about the basics in a series, but I want everyone to know that there are a lot of blogs that already have this information. My favorite, and I believe it to be the best, is hip2save.com.
There's a lot of great information over there if you don't want to wait for me to hash it all out!
Today I am starting with some basic information that might bust some common couponing myths.
1. Couponing does take time, but not as much as you might think. The great thing about couponing is that you can clip and store however you'd like.
2. There are more coupons out there, beyond the inserts. Sunday inserts are where a great number of coupons come from, but there are other options. These days, numerous coupons can be printed from the internet. Some good sites to go to are:
smartsource.com
redplum.com
coupons.com
The blogs I visit also post additional printable coupon lists; my two favorite are:
hip2save.com
thekrazycouponlady.com
Free samples are another way to score coupons (usually with far-off expiration dates!) The above blogs also post links to receive free samples, and the Walmart website frequently puts out a few samples every few weeks.
If there is a certain product that you must just have, then it never hurts to e-mail or phone the company and ask if they have any coupons. A majority of companies do not put coupons in the paper inserts, but they are very willing to send coupons upon request. Last week, Target was having a really good Kashi promotion. I didn't have any coupons for Kashi, so I e-mailed them and told them how much I love their pumpkin flax bars. Two days later, I got an e-mail back with a link to print off two $1/1 coupons for any Kashi product!
3. It is very valuable to keep coupons, even if you think they are low-value. The key to couponing is to combine coupons with store deals. On Sundays (and Wednesdays), go through store ads and look for price cuts, special deals, buy-one-get-one free (BOGO) sales, etc. Store ads also contain store coupons, which CAN be combined with manufacturer coupons.
A $3/1 infusium coupon might not seem that great when the infusium sells for $7, BUT when a store has it on price cut for $5.99, an in-store coupon for $2/1, and you use that $3/1 coupon, then it's only $.99!
4. Store coupons can be used with manufacturer coupons! I know I said this in the last one, but it's so vital to couponing. Every store puts out their own store coupons in their ads; these coupons will clearly say the name of the store on top. Even if you use a store coupon on an item, you can still use a manufacturer coupon for even more savings.
This past Sunday, I found a Fred Meyer coupon in their ad to get Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce for only $1. There was also a $1/2 (one dollar off two) manufacturer coupon in the Sunday insert, so I got the BBQ sauce for only $.50 each.
5. The words "ANY" and "No size exclusion" are a couponer's best friend. Always read coupons carefully to see if there are any size restrictions. Many coupons will say "excludes trial/travel size," but not all. These coupons are great to have to score travel sie items for free. Now you might say, "But, it's just a travel size." Yes, it is just a travel sie, but it's FREE!
Yesterday, I went to Walmart with 10 $1/1 any size Herbal Essences shampoo/conditioner coupon. Well, this particular Walmart carried Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner in the travel size for $.97...So, I ended up getting 10 little bottles for...free.
But wait! How could I use a $1/1 coupon on something that was $.97?
Most stores will adjust the coupon down to the amount of the coupon. Some cashiers will even just push the coupon through, allowing overage for other items in the transaction. It all depends on the store's coupon policy. thekrazycouponlady has links to corporate coupon policies for numerous stores, and I highly advise printing them and bringing them shopping with you. If a cashier is unwilling to take the coupon, you can always ask to speak to a supervisor regarding the policy. Sometimes cashiers just are unsure of their store's policy, and they are nervous about doing something wrong.
6. Sometimes people will sneer at you, you will get dirty looks, and cashiers will roll their eyes. Just be prepared for all the coupon haters out there! Here are some of the things I do to keep the peace as much as I can while checking out.
1. I always double check my coupons to make sure they are all current and match the
items I have.
2. I let people go in front of me, assuring them that my transaction will probably take
a little longer.
3. I organize my coupons, putting any for a free item at the top, and I hand them to
the cashier at the beginning of the transaction.
4. If people get behind me in line, I quickly scan their items to see if I have any
coupons to give to them. This works WONDERFULLY!
5. If a cashier doesn't want to push a coupon through, I remain calm and explain the
policy.
Even though people can have bad attitudes toward couponers, I have found that many people think it's awesome how much I save. I use the extra time it takes to scan coupons to give out coupons or couponing tips to cashiers and other customers.
Well, these are a few basic basics! My next post will contain some more technical coupon information, as well as a glossary of couponing terms. Couponing is a relatively easy way to save a minimum of 50% of every grocery bill. Just devoting half an hour a day is really all it takes to score free items and stockpile prices! Yesterday at Walmart, I nabbed 15 12-packs of Schick disposable razors for the Union Gospel Mission for FREE! All I had to do was clip 15 $2/1 coupons from the Sunday insert, and voila! (They were priced at $1.97 each, so I even made $.03 overage toward my Vitamin Water that I also got a great deal on)
So, if you're interested in the world of extreme couponing, hang in there! Oh, and if you are wondering how in the world I was able to get 15 coupon inserts... I buy multiple copies of the paper (usually using register rewards at Walgreens, which I'll talk about later), AND I stalk people I see buying papers. ;) Yes, I go up to people and ask if they are going to use their coupon inserts- I explain I'm using coupons to buy items for the mission, and most are more than happy to give them to me.
Generate Kindness <3
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