How To Be A Super Saver
Welcome to my series on How To Be A Super Saver. I've decided to show you how (step by step) you can slash your grocery bill. This series will cover every aspect of coupons - from where to find them - to what you should do with them after they expire.
PART ONE
COUPONS - "Where can you find them?"
You'll find a ton of coupons in your local paper. Buying the largest paper available in your area will get you the most coupons with the highest value. The inserts that come in Sunday papers are SmartSource (SS), Red Plum (RP), and Proctor & Gamble (P&G). Occasionally we'll see inserts from General Mills or Kellogg's - even coupons from Target or Publix.
I buy 2 papers every week, unless there are specific coupons coming out that I know will make for a great deal. This provides plenty of coupons to keep my pantry and fridge stocked for my family of four. Obviously if you have 6 kids, you'll be purchasing more papers. You can visit Palmetto State Saver every Friday to see what coupons will be coming in Sunday's paper.
Sometimes you will see a coupon listed that you didn't get in your local paper. Coupons and coupon values vary by region.
EXAMPLE - The Charleston Post & Courier may get a 55¢ OFF coupon for an item, while The State will get a $1 OFF coupon for the same item.
Always buy the largest paper available to you - this is where you'll find the most coupons in each insert! If there's a coupon that you're looking for that you didn't get in your inserts, you can always use a clipping service. I have ordered coupons from The Coupon Clippers, and I'm always happy with their service.
Be sure to check the Parade and USA Today sections of your paper each week, as you'll often find coupons there. And remember to get creative! Ask a neighbor, or your grandparents if you can have the inserts from their Sunday paper so you don't have that out of pocket cost. I am very fortunate that my friends who don't have babies share their diaper and wipes coupons with me!
*I will also occasionally buy a paper on Wednesday. This is when the Penny Item Coupon for Publix comes out. I only buy the paper, which costs 50¢, to get this coupon if paying 51¢ is an awesome deal on the item!*
There are an overwhelming amount of coupons available online.
Here are the three main sites I print coupons from:
You can also get great coupons online from manufacturer's websites. Some of my favorites to register with are:
Be sure to "like" your favorite product's Facebook page, too. This is where you'll find great coupons and FREE samples! While you're there, make sure you "like" Palmetto State Saver on Facebook too! There are often time-sensitive deals that I post on Facebook (like Swag Code Alerts) that you might miss out on if you're not around! You can also use Facebook to share posts with your friends and family - just click the little "F" button underneath the post to share it on your Facebook wall!
Most coupons can be printed twice per computer, by clicking your back button. Printable coupons all have print limits. These are limits that the manufacturer sets for how many prints will be allowed. Once the limit is reached - the coupon is gone. That is why I always remind y'all to print a hot coupon when you see it. It may not be around later.
I never paid too much attention to coupons in the store until I started really getting into couponing. Now, even my son has his eyes peeled for extra savings. Here's a quick rundown on what kind of coupon you can find in the store.
PEELIES - A peelie is a coupon that is stuck on the product in store (like a sticker). These are meant to be used only for the item you are purchasing. It's considered "bad couponing etiquette" to take peelies off of products if you don't intend on purchasing the item then.
BLINKIES - Blinkies are coupons that you'll find in red blinking boxes attatched to the shelf. The trick to using Blinkies are to grab them when you see them for products you buy - and save them for a sale. Very, very rarely will you find Blinkies on the shelf in front a sale item.
HANG-TAGS - These are the coupons that you'll find hanging from bottles of wine/cleaners/drinks.
TEAR PADS - A lot like Blinkies, Tear Pads are found in front of products. Again - if you see one you're likely to use in the future, grab it and file it away. Be sure to be considerate of others though, and only take as many as you'll really use.
If you haven't heard of All You Magazine, you are missing out on an awesome source for coupons. All You is sold exclusively in Walmart stores or by subscription. There are tons of coupons every month, and if you're serious about couponing, I would definitely recommend you grabbing this magazine. Also browse through the magazines you already get to see if there are any coupons in there. Keep an eye out for the FREE magazine subscriptions I post on Palmetto State Saver. Many of these have coupons in them. Remember that you can use Swagbucks to purchase Amazon Gift Cards too, and then use them for magazine subscriptions!
These are boxes that print out coupons right next to the register. Most of the time these are manufacturer coupons that can be used at any store. The best Catalina coupons are always $ OFF your next purchase. You'll usually earn these during a promotion (like when you buy 5 participating items, you'll get $3 off your next order).
If there are products your family uses over and over again, contact the manufacturer. Whether it be a compliment or a complaint, most companies are eager for your feedback and very generous with the coupons they send out. More on this coupon source to come....
Now you know where to find those coupons. Stay tuned to find out what to do with them once you have them!
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