FYI I do not care for the show extreme couponing except for those that are giving back to others. I think it sends the wrong message. Many things they do on the show cannot be done by normal people in normal situations (multiple transactions, unlimited coupons etc) If you go to the store and have a buy one get one free coupon why not donate that item to someone that really needs it. If you have 15 coupons and they only have 15 items on the shelf please do not buy them all leave some for others!!!
Posted by My City Moms on Tuesday, July 26th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
Don’t you just love getting a free product coupon in the mail? When you have a free product coupon it seems like a no brainer the there is only one way to use it, go and get the item free, right? Consider the following: You pay tax on free items, so it is in your best interest to still get the product on sale so you are paying less tax. For items you can find at CVS (beauty supplies, personal care products etc.) I save those free product coupons for using at CVS when I have a “Buy $20 save, $5”. You can receive these types of coupons from CVS when you sign up for their e-newsletter. In this case I don’t worry about the items being on sale, rather the opposite I try to get the items to then add up to the $20 and essentially I can then pick anything in the store for $5.00 for free! If you have a free product coupon and that item is on sale at a store for Buy One Get One Free, use you free product coupon to “buy one” and let the store give you the other one free, getting BOTH ITEMS FREE (but still paying tax on both items). I save my free product coupons and wait till the expiration date is nearing to see if some awesome sale will come like a Kroger Mega Event, Buy 10 and Save $5.00. Often I do have at least one free product coupon for the Mega Event. At Kroger, give your Kroger shopper’s card last as they can then put the full value amount (pre-sale) on the coupon and both you and Kroger win, as you both get that amount from the Manufacturer. You can combine a Free Product Coupon with a Target Store coupon, or at least I have done this many times. Things to Note about Free Product Coupons When checking out, can save the free product items to the end it will make it easier for the cashier to find the price of those items. Make sure (especially at Target) your cashier is keying in the amount into the computer, they also should then write it on the coupon, that way they are getting back the same amount given to you. For those of you who are asking the question “how does she get free product couponsmailed to her?” Well there are several different ways; first I highly recommend getting a Kraft First Taste Account. This is totally free and they will send members offers in their accounts. Now not all members get offered the same thing and it is a complete mystery to me as why some of us always get the offers and others do not. You must acknowledge that you want the free product coupon and they mail it you. I also recommend getting a P & G Vocal Point Account. To learn more about shopping at your favorite stores, follow along with our Extreme Couponing 101 Series! And follow us on Facebook and Twitter for any up-to-the-minute deals. Simply LIKE My City Mommy or add MyCityMommy to your Twitter account!
Posted by My City Moms on Monday, July 25th, 2011 at 11:06 am
Shopping Organic can be expensive but there are several simple ways to save! You will be pleasantly surprised at how many great coupons are available for organic goodness, and most are printables making it super easy to save too! A few more ways to save big when shopping organic are knowing what is worth buying organic and what is not, shopping generic and in season, and staying on top of store ads and coupon match-ups. I have put together a list of coupon links and helpful tips to save you lots of green on your green shopping trips! Use Coupons: There are loads of printable coupons for organics out there, you just need to know where to find them. Here is a good list of sources for printable coupons. If there is a company you enjoy, check out their website. Odds are they have coupons on their site for you. All You Magazine Online Brown Cow Cascadian Farm Cool Savings Coupons.com Coupon Network Earth’s Best Earth Fare Garden of Eatin’ Health eSavers Horizon Organic Mambo Sprouts Newman’s Own Organics Organic Valley Pacific Natural Foods Red Plum Santa Cruz Organic Seventh Generation Shortcuts.com Simply Organic SmartSource Stonyfield Organic Target Whole Foods Use store ads and coupon match-ups: To save even more on your organic shopping trip, take a few minutes to check out the weekly ad and coupon match-ups. You will find links to the printable coupons with the sale item. Just print and go. If you are a coupon clipper, the manufacturer coupons will be listed with the sale item too! Consider Generics: Many grocery stores now have their own organic lines: Kroger – Private Selection Harris Teeter – Naturals Publix – Greenwise Market Whole Foods – 365 Organic Giant Eagle – Nature’s Basket Target – Archer Farms Organic Know what is worth buying organic and what is not! According to the Environmental Working Group lots of our fruits and veggies are covered in pesticides. Here is the list of of the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15. I have to say, I was more than a little shocked and dumbfounded to read how many pesticides are found on our fruits and veggies. Some things like seafood, cosmetics and cleaning products can be labeled “organic” without the same requirements the U.S. Department of Agriculture imposes on vegetables and meat, making them a less than budget wise purchase. Here is a great list of products you should and shouldn’t buy organic (thanks to SmartMoney!) Worth it: Apples, cherries, grapes, pears, berries, peaches, nectarines, plums Celery, potatoes, spinach, bell peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, green beans Beef, pork, poultry, eggs, dairy products Baby food Not Worth it: Bananas, kiwis, mangoes, papayas, pineapples, oranges Asparagus, avocados, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, onions, sweet peas Seafood Processed foods (chips, pasta, etc.), cleaning products, cosmetics Shop Local and Buy Seasonal: Local Farmers and Community-Supported Agriculture programs are a superior source of organic foods. Many of the CSA’s are so much more than just a place to buy organic, they are a community where you can find family friendly events and fun. Here in Atlanta we have some fantastic farmers markets and international markets, as well as a few community supported programs like Burge Organic Farms and Serenbe Farms. You will find better prices when produce is in season. How to know what is in season when, check out Eat The Seasons (thanks to My Green Side ‘s post “Family Nutrition: Eating on a Budget” Shop in Bulk: Amazon.com has a large selection of organic products. If you join Amazon Mom or Amazon Prime you get inexpensive or free shipping. My SIL, Kristin orders her gluten-free flour from Amazon and loves the cost and convenience. shopOrganic, recommended by Kelli B. Grant in her article “5 Ways to Buy Organic Groceries for Less”, is another good resource for bulk shopping. Fun and Helpful sites: Organic Consumers Association - tips for shopping organic Eat Well Guide - organic product search engine Live the Organic Life - find lots of comparison between organic vs. non-organic The Thrifty Mama - shopping organic at Big Lots Sources: SmartMoney Environmental Working Group To learn more about our Extreme Couponing 101 Series, visit our page dedicated to Extreme Couponing!
Posted by My City Moms on Friday, July 22nd, 2011 at 9:47 am
Do you enjoy shopping Dollar General? When you walk in they have everything you need in an easy to find store. It is not overwhelmed with a million other items that are not on your list or with a million other customers who you have to work your way around just to get a simple item like a tube of toothpaste. A few things I found useful over the years when shopping at Dollar General are: ● Sales Flyers only come out every other week; they are found in the Smart Source insert and of course in store. Sales, when offered run from Sunday through the following Saturday. ● From time to time Dollar General offers in store coupons, these can be stacked with manufacturer coupons for extra savings. ● When Dollar General offers a coupon, such as $5 off any $25 purchase, you can still use your manufacturer’s coupons. The key is to be certain the cashier scans the Dollar General coupon first, then your coupons. ● My biggest challenge when using coupons at Dollar General is buying in quantity. For example, about a month ago, MySpringfieldMommy found 9Lives moist food on sale, 5 cans for $2.00. She purchased 60 cans (she has three cats). Her plan was to use a few coupons for $1.00 off 12 cans. When she got the register she told the cashier that she had coupons and that she had to scan each can individually, she ignored me and did one scan of the can and then entered the quantity. When it was time to enter the coupons she was only able to scan one since the computer only recognized one item being sold. Long story short, she refused to void the transaction because there was a line behind me and therefore refused my coupons, needless to say I was less than impressed and vowed to share this with you so that the same problem does not happen again. ● Know the stores policy. This week I contacted Dollar General and they kindly shared this information with me: Dollar General is pleased to accept Manufacturer’s Coupons and Dollar General Store Coupons at any of our more than 9,300 stores. These coupons come from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to, newspapers, magazines, print-at-home (internet), direct mail, product packaging, and in-store coupon boxes. Our coupon requirements are as follows: Dollar General Coupon Policy Dollar General accepts Manufacturer’s and Dollar General issued coupon (Including internet coupons) that meet these requirements: Coupons must be original (no photocopies) Coupons must have a scan-able barcode or valid promotion code Coupons must have a printed expiration date Coupons can be redeemed only for items sold at Dollar General, and can be redeemed only for the exact same item (package weight, size, etc.) Coupons for free items are only accepted if a purchase is required to get one free Maximum of two coupons per item. One coupon must be a Manufacturer’s Coupon and the second coupon must be a Dollar General Coupon as long as neither coupon states that it is not valid with other coupons Dollar General will NOT accept coupons that: Are from other retailers Are expired Are internet coupons without a scan-able barcode and/or promotion code Contain the combination of an invalid barcode that won’t scan and promotion code that the register will not accept Are for “free” items, unless a purchase is required (i.e. Buy one get one free is acceptable) Do not have a “remit to:” address on the coupon In addition: “Cash Back” will not be issued if the value of the coupon is greater than the purchase price of the item. Example: If you have a valid coupon for $2 off a qualifying item that is $1, you will not receive cash back. However, if you have additional purchases on the same transaction that “extra” $1 will be applied as a “credit” toward your other purchases. We do not multiply (double or triple) coupon values We do not match competitor prices To sign up for Dollar General promotional discounts and offers, please visit Dollar General’s website and click on the “Join the Savings Zone” link in the upper right corner of the page. We also invite you to like us in Facebook! And be sure to follow along with our Extreme Couponing 101 Series. Next week, how to shop organic. Don’t miss it! Extreme Couponing 101: Shop Safeway!
Posted by My City Moms on Thursday, July 21st, 2011 at 9:32 am
Safeway is located in 18 different states and boasts the ‘Largest digital coupon site in North America’. They do have a lot of digital coupons that you can load to your Club Card. You can also register on their website and get ‘Personalized Deals’ to get great prices on items you regularly buy. Also, when you sign up, you’ll get notification of “your” club specials – items you buy that are currently Card Specials. It’s all part of their ‘Just For U’ program. With your Club Card, you can enjoy exclusive savings all across the store AND anytime you shop online at Safeway.com. Safeway Club Card membership entitles you to enjoy all our special money-saving promotions. Saving is Easy Show your Card at checkout whenever you shop. Your savings are automatically deducted and appear on your receipt. If you forget your Card, just enter your telephone number at checkout and receive your savings. Earn Money for Education Earn money for your school with the eScrip program. Get money for College with the Upromise program. Save on Gasoline and More Look for special shelf tags and signs for savings exclusively for Safeway Club members. Special discounts on Safeway Gasoline at participating locations. Shopping Tips: Tip #1 Look for fruits and vegetables that are local and in season. Not only will they be more delicious, they’re also going to be less expensive because they haven’t been transported from around the world. Avoid pre-cut vegetables, pre-shredded coleslaw mix and pre-washed baby lettuces, as the additional laborinvolved in preparing those “convenience items” ultimately means they’ll be more expensive. Tip #2 When you’re on a budget, going out to dinner may be the first thing to go. But a smart use of convenience products can save you time in the kitchen, making it feel like you’ve had a “night off” from cooking. Try using prepared pizza dough to make your own homemade version, or purchase a deli salad to serve alongside simple sandwiches. While a convenience item is more expensive that making something from scratch, it’s far less costly than dining out. Tip #3 If you’re short on time, purchase a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken at the store and plan to make two meals out of it – use some of the meat atop a big salad, and the remainder in a chicken-vegetable soup, made with broth from the chicken bones, rice or pasta, and loads of fresh vegetables. Tip #4 Coupons can be a terrific way to save money, but beware clipping coupons for higher-priced brands or items you don’t usually purchase. A name-brand box of cereal, for example, may cost more than the store brand, even with the coupon. Tip #5 Store circulars are good places to find coupons, but look online for even more deals that are available to online users only! Check out this weeks exclusive coupons in our Coupons section. Tip #6 To avoid spending extra money on unnecessary items, go to the grocery store once per week, and never go when hungry. If possible, go alone – you’re less likely to overspend if you shop by yourself. Grocery stores tend to be quieter on Monday and Tuesdays, so you can comparison shop without the crowds – and those are the same days that the store receives deliveries of fresh produce. Tip #7 Buying in bulk will save you big money. Look at the unit price for items, as oftentimes a larger container of something is cheaper per ounce than a smaller one. Stock up on rice and other grains from the bulk bin, and buy dried beans instead of canned: they cost half the amount of canned for twice the amount. Tip #8 When an item your family eats lots of goes on sale, stock up. Spaghetti sauce, peanut butter and canned tomatoes will keep for a long time and are frequently offered on special. Tip #9 Find a grocery shopping buddy and carpool to the store. Not only will you save on gas, you can also split large containers of bulk items and take advantage of two-for-one coupons. If your local store has a fueling station, gas up there and use your club card to save up to 10 cents per gallon on your fill-up. Tip #10 Stow your credit card and use cash at the check stand. You’ll spend less when you actually have to count out the bills. Tip #11 Set aside the paper towels and use good, old-fashioned rags for cleaning. Slip an old sock over your hand to dust, and just toss it in the washing machine! Tip #12 Use less expensive concentrated cleaning products, rather than full-strength. Mix with water in a refillable spray bottle. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about the digital coupons at Safeway: Store coupons are marked with the word “coupon” right after the store name. To make it easier to save with store coupons, take a look at these common questions and answers. What is a Super Coupon? Super Coupons bring you even more value than regular store coupons. You can identify them by the term “Super Coupon” printed on the coupon itself, or directly above a series of coupons. What does “Limit one item per coupon” mean? This phrase means that the coupon price is valid for one product, within one shopping trip, and cannot be duplicated on that trip. For example, if a coupon offers an 18 oz. box of Cheerios for $1.99, and states “limit one item per coupon,” you can purchase just one box of Cheerios at that price on that shopping trip. At the register, just give the coupon to the checker, along with your Club Card, to receive the coupon price. If you have another copy of that same coupon, you can use it on your next shopping trip. If you have several different coupons for several different items, you can use those coupons on the same shopping trip. However, you cannot use more than one coupon for the same item within one shopping trip. What does “minimum $10 (or $20) purchase required” mean? To use store coupons that include a minimum purchase requirement, you must spend a minimum dollar amount on that shopping trip. You will reach the minimum purchase amount based upon total purchases after your Club Card discount is applied. For example, the regular retail price of a box of Cheerios (after Club Card discounts) will count toward the minimum purchase required in order to use the Cheerios coupon. If you are using several store coupons in a shopping trip, you will only need to meet one minimum purchase requirement. For example, if you are using three coupons, and they each specify a minimum purchase requirement of $20, your minimum purchase requirement for the total shopping trip is $20, and not $60. What does “selected varieties” mean? Occasionally, store coupons can be used for additional flavors or varieties of products that are not specified on the coupon. For example, if a 2-liter bottle of Coke is shown on a coupon with a “selected varieties” message, Diet Coke will also be eligible for the coupon discount. If you have any questions regarding what “varieties” are eligible for the coupon price, please see a store customer service representative. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions regarding their ‘Just For U’ program: How long are the prices valid? Personalized Prices can be used to save again and again through the expiration date shown on the offer. Coupons are subject to expiration dates. Club Card Specials are updated weekly. How often are offers updated? Personalized Prices and Coupon Center are updated on a regular basis. Club Card Specials are updated every single week. Visit the site every time before you shop in-store to get the most savings from ‘Just For U’. If you subscribe to email notifications, you will be notified when new Personalized Prices and Coupons are available. Is just for U really different for me compared to other customers? Yes, because everything is based on your purchase history and organized for you, so you can save more on what you actually use! Can I use offers loaded on my Club Card in any store? Once offers are added to your Club Card you can use them in the local geographical region that you reside in. What if an item goes on sale for a price lower than my personal price? Our systems will honor the lowest price. What if I don’t have a computer? Each store will be equipped with a computer and printer at the Customer Service Desk. Can I combine manufacturer/store coupons with these prices? Yes, you can combine a manufacturer or store coupon with your Personalized Deals, subject to terms and conditions of each coupon. Please refer to Safeway.com for more details on our coupon policy. If you want to learn the inside secrets of other Grocery or Drug stores, keep up with our Extreme Couponing 101 Series!
Posted by My City Moms on Wednesday, July 20th, 2011 at 9:23 am
Albertsons is considered one of the most coupon-friendly stores around (it’s in 16 States, mostly in the South and West.) If you learn their policy, you can save a considerable amount during your weekly shopping trips. Albertsons sales generally run from Wednesday through Thursday, with the Ads coming out on Tuesday or Wednesday. You can always pick up a copy of the ads at the store or on the Albertson’s website. The first thing you should do is pick up a Preferred Savings Card. It’s FREE to sign up and you can do it right at the store. This is a must if you plan to shop Albertsons because sales prices are only good for people who use the card. Once you have established a relationship with the store, you should print the Albertson’s coupon policy and study it. While this is updated information, a policy can change at any time. Like any other store, Albertsons follows the stated requirements on the coupon, accepts only the original coupon (no copies) and can be used only once. Most of us know that already. Here are some things you may not know: -Coupons that exceed the value of an item will be adjusted down to the price of the item. -Rain checks will be issued for a store coupon unless coupon says “while supplies last”. If the store runs out of item on sale – always, always, always ask for a rain check. -Only one store and one manufactures coupon can be used on one particular item. -Competitors coupons will NOT be accepted. Albertsons internet coupon policy: -Barcodes must scan -Coupons for a FREE product without a required purchase are not accepted. -You may not have more than one coupon with the same serial number. -There needs to be a manufacturer address on the coupon. Albertsons is also known for it’s Twice the Value coupons (also known as doublers). These are keys to getting all the free stuff. These coupons are store issued and are generally found in the Sunday Ads. You never know when they are going to be issued but most of the time you will get a heads up. Twice the value coupons will match any amount of one manufacturer coupon that is $1 or less. The matched amount will be in addition to what you would already save. You must know that only three (3) twice the value coupons can be used per transaction. Coupons that say Do Not Double (DND) will still be doubled with the twice the value coupon. But twice the value coupon may not be combined with other store coupons. Again read the Albertson’s coupon policy to better understand the ins and outs of their policies. One more thing you need to know, Albertsons requests that customers do not exceed three (3) consecutive transactions. So if you are planning an extreme couponing trip to the store—make sure you fit everything in 3 transactions. Learn the secrets to shopping other grocery and drug stores by following our Extreme Couponing 101 Series.
Posted by My City Moms on Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 at 9:33 am
Everyone has their favorite go-to store and mine is Tom Thumb. I shopped at Von’s in Las Vegas for 7 years before moving to Dallas and I immediately gravitated to Von’s sister store, Tom Thumb. I’ve heard many people say they won’t shop there because it’s too expensive. What they’re missing is that they don’t know how to shop the store. Each supermarket chain has its own coupon policies and I’ll break the basics down for you and hope to simplify the process Here are some basic Tom Thumb coupon policies, hints, and tips to make the most out of your Tom Thumb shopping trip. * I always swing by the gifts in the floral section. I have found some treasures there for 75% off – it’s kind of a forgotten area of the store! * Don’t leave the store without checking the non-refrigerated, refrigerated, dairy, meat and frozen clearance areas. These are in their own separate areas of the store. Find out where your local store has their clearance areas set up and hit them each time you go in! Make it part of your routine. I always find a great selection of meats at around 10:30 am at my store – usually starts at 30% off and gets higher as the day goes by. For best selection, though, shop early in the day for meats. * Tom Thumb has some fantastic coupon booklets. I still dream about the booklet they came out with around Thanksgiving of last year – FULL of manufacturer and store coupons. Check the area by the circulars when you walk in – another place to look for coupon booklets is in the plastic holders on the frozen food doors. * Tom Thumb has many Friday-Monday deals so be sure to check your ads! * Tom Thumb will have store circulars not only in the Wednesday distribution, but a separate one in the Sunday paper (different coupons). Don’t miss it! * If you’re looking to buy a newly released movie, check out deals they will offer during the first week of release. It might be something like “Buy Shrek, get Orville Redenbacher popcorn, Capri Sun, and a Package of Oreos FREE.” Once again, you’ll find those specials in your ad if you look closely. Read the WHOLE ad – you’ll be surprised at how much you’re missing. Coupon Policy (Dallas Ft. Worth Metro Area) As of June 26, 2011, all Tom Thumb supermarkets will triple up to $0.39 and double up to $0.50. Anything over $0.50 is deducted at face value. * Doubling of coupons only applies to the FIRST coupon of the same item. Scenario: You have $0.50/1 Pure Protein Bar and they are on sale for $1.00 each. Let’s say you have 5 coupons to use. Your first will be doubled, making that protein bar free; the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th coupon will be deducted at face value ($0.50). First Bar $0.50/1 (doubled) = FREE Second Bar $0.50/1 (face value) = $0.50 Third Bar $0.50/1 (face value) = $0.50 Fourth Bar $0.50/1 (face value) = $0.50 Fifth Bar $0.50/1 (face value) = $0.50 TOTAL for 5 bars = $2.00 If you know your cashier and he/she is willing to do 5 separate transactions, go for it. I’ve done this before, with 2-3 items and only when the cashier was agreeable and there was no one in line behind me! * No coupons applied towards a free product. Scenario: * Internet printed coupons MUST be scannable Buy One Get One Free Bulls eye Barbeque Sauce ($1.99 each) You can use ONE manufacturer’s coupon on the purchase. Let’s say you have a $0.50/1 coupon; after doubling the coupon you’ll pay $0.99 for both. * Coupons must have an expiration date * If Tom Thumb decides to refuse a coupon, they reserve the right to do so. *Purchase thresholds will be calculated AFTER club card savings but BEFORE manufacturer coupons. For example, if a sale price requires that you make a purchase of $10, if your total is $11, after club card savings the total drops to $10.25 and you use a coupon for $1.00/1, even though you are paying less than $10.00, you were above $10 after club card savings. That’s the important part. (there are some threshold exclusion – I.e., prescriptions, beer, wine, alcohol, fluid dairy items such as milk, stamps, money orders, gift cards, sales taxes, etc) * “Free Product” internet printed manufacturer coupons not accepted * Important one: If you have loaded internet/digital coupons to your card, you WILL NOT be able to use both a paper manufacturer coupon AND a digital coupon that has been loaded to your card. The digital coupon will automatically apply when savings card is entered. Scenario: Kix Cereal on sale for $1.99 Previously loaded a digital coupon for $0.55/1 to your shopper card Present a paper coupon in store for $0.50/1 (which would double to $1.00) You will not be able to redeem the paper coupon, even though your savings would be greater. Your options are to remove the electronic coupons from your account before you leave the house to shop, or not use your shopper card which may also mean not getting the sale price! Check your loaded digital coupons before leaving on a shopping trip – if you know you have paper coupons for a certain product, REMOVE them! Yes, you might walk in to Tom Thumb and experience sticker shock on non-sale items, but you don’t have to buy those. (I don’t!) You’ll get some amazing deals simply by reading the ads, clipping coupons, and buying the items on sale that week. Save on your meats by shopping the meat clearance section early in the day, take advantage of store coupons in the circular stacked with manufacturer coupons, and you’ll leave Tom Thumb saving an average of 50-60% on a regular basis! Useful Tom Thumb Links: Tom Thumb Reward Card application Find Your Weekly Ads Refill Your Rx Online at Tom Thumb Tom Thumb Gas Reward Program If you want to learn more secrets from your favorite stores, follow our Extreme Couponing 101 Series. We will go inside another store tomorrow.
Posted by My City Moms on Monday, July 18th, 2011 at 9:42 am
Kroger stores are divided into 18 regions. Coupon policies vary by region and Weekly Sales Ad and sales cycles are different as well. Click here to see the regional divisions. While you can find a Kroger Corporate policy here on accepting internet printed coupons here, coupons policies vary region and some stores have their own. DELTA COUPON POLICY: We recently contacted Kroger to get the very latest on their coupon policy. Here is what they told us. Our coupon policy varies by division. The policy for stores in your area is as follows. Please note that this policy is our most current; however it is subject to change without notice. The store manager has the right to accept, decline or limit the quantity of coupons or items used or purchased in a single transaction, by a single customer, or in a single day. Double Coupons: -Manufacturer coupons of $0.60 or less will be doubled. -Manufacturer coupons over $0.61 will be redeemed at face value. -Up to eight (8) coupons will be doubled per identical or “like” item per shopping visit. Any additional manufacturer coupons for that “like” item will be redeemed at face value. -This does not apply to “free”, Kroger, Catalina, Retail Food Store coupons, electronic coupons on the Kroger Plus card or items prohibited by law. Pharmacy Coupons: -Competitor pharmacy coupons are accepted. - LCM or competitor coupons may not be used in conjunction with our $4 Generic Program. General Coupon Policy: -Limit one (1) manufacturer coupon per item purchased. -Limit one (1) store coupon per item purchased. -One (1) manufacturer and one (1) store coupon can be used on the same item. -Coupons cannot be used on “free” items. -Expired coupons are not accepted. - Amount refunded cannot exceed the cost of the item. Internet Coupons: -Will accept all manufacturers’ internet coupons up to $1.00 -All manufacturers’ internet coupons up to 60 cents will be doubled -Only on coupon can be redeemed on Identical or “like” items -“Free” manufacturer’s internet coupons are not accepted. Thanks to Christie Metropulos, Consumer Affairs Kroger (Reference: 10024662) DOWNLOAD COUPONS TO YOUR KROGER CARD OR IPHONE To take full advantage of Kroger’s deals you MUST have a Kroger Plus card. Be sure and visit Kroger’s website and register to your card and put in your current address and signup for their newsletter here. Their monthly newsletter will be mailed to your home and has FABULOUS Exclusive Kroger coupons. I receive coupons for free products often. Click here to download Kroger e-coupons to your card or phone. Please note these coupons are Manufacturer coupons and they cannot be stacked with paper coupons. They also will not double! You can only download coupons to one address (even if your spouse has a different numbered card, it is linked to your address) You can only download up to 150 coupons to your card, just visit Cellfire, Shortcuts, SoftCoin & Upromise. Basic things to know The only real Kroger store coupon is the coupons for Kroger Store brand items. Even though you may receive a coupon with the Kroger logo on it, that does not make it a Kroger Store coupon, look at the top of coupon by the date and notice it will say Manufacturer coupon, therefore you cannot stack this coupon. Unless it states otherwise if a product is 2 for $3.00 you do not have to buy 2. Kroger often has Mega Events, during this special sale you MUST BUY 10 items (etc.) to save $5.00 at the end. Unless stated you can use a buy one get one free (BOGO) coupon on an item that is on sale for BOGO and get both products free without buying any of that product. Click here to find out more info on saving up to $1.00 a gallon on gas. Scan Right Policy: IF an item scans up higher than the price marked on the shelf you can get that item for FREE (this does not apply to “clearance/saving’s aisle” products. Manager’s Specials/Clearance Section: Every Kroger store has a section where they have mark down items (these are not under the scan right policy). You can find some AMAZING DEALS on products and paired with a coupon, get them for free. The reason these items are marked down is due to shelf space, if they aren’t selling, the clearance them out. Meats, dairy products etc that are nearing their expiration date can be found in each department. If you want to learn more about how to shop at your favorite stores, follow along with our Extreme Couponing 101 Series.
Posted by My City Moms on Friday, July 15th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Our Extreme Couponing 101 series continues today. In case you missed it this morning, here are some tips for shopping at Walmart. I know it gets confusing shopping from store to store, so I thought I would do a little Wal-Mart Shopping 101 for you. First, become familiar with their coupon policy, print it off and take it with you! Remember their ad match guarantee! Go here for details. This can go a long way at stretching your dollars and shopping at just one store (Target ad matches too!) Take note that prices vary from store to store. So when we give you a “deal” on the site, know that it’s close, but might not be exact. Make sure and check out the latest deals and arm yourself with Walmart coupons on their website at Grocery Wiz and/or manufacturers coupons. If you have problems with cashiers accepting coupons that you are using properly according to their policy, your first course of action is to talk to the store manager. If you are still not being helped, contact Walmart Corporate and explain the situation. Often corporate will contact the store manager to ensure proper protocol is being taken. Take your price match ads to the grocery store with you and put all your price match products in a certain section of the cart so you don’t get confused. Walmart’s Customer Service number is 800-WAL-MART. Other Savings Options at Walmart: Follow Walmart on Twitter- they tweet out deals daily Take advantage of mobile alert deals via Walmart Take advantage of the Free Samples Walmart provides Also, if you are a frequent Walmart shopper you might consider the Walmart Discover Card. I don’t like to promote credit cards, but if you use it responsibly you can earn up to 1% cash back on all purchases. You can also save 3 cents per gallon at Walmart gas stations around the U.S. Follow along with our entire Extreme Couponing 101 Series. Coming up next week, a closer look inside your favorite grocery stores.
Posted by My City Moms on Friday, July 15th, 2011 at 9:04 am
I know it gets confusing shopping from store to store, so I thought I would do a little Wal-Mart Shopping 101 for you. First, become familiar with their coupon policy, print it off and take it with you! Remember their ad match guarantee! Go here for details. This can go a long way at stretching your dollars and shopping at just one store (Target ad matches too!) Take note that prices vary from store to store. So when we give you a “deal” on the site, know that it’s close, but might not be exact. Make sure and check out the latest deals and arm yourself with Walmart coupons on their website at Grocery Wiz and/or manufacturers coupons. If you have problems with cashiers accepting coupons that you are using properly according to their policy, your first course of action is to talk to the store manager. If you are still not being helped, contact Walmart Corporate and explain the situation. Often corporate will contact the store manager to ensure proper protocol is being taken. Take your price match ads to the grocery store with you and put all your price match products in a certain section of the cart so you don’t get confused. Walmart’s Customer Service number is 800-WAL-MART. Other Savings Options at Walmart: Follow Walmart on Twitter- they tweet out deals daily Take advantage of mobile alert deals via Walmart Take advantage of the Free Samples Walmart provides Also, if you are a frequent Walmart shopper you might consider the Walmart Discover Card. I don’t like to promote credit cards, but if you use it responsibly you can earn up to 1% cash back on all purchases. You can also save 3 cents per gallon at Walmart gas stations around the U.S. Follow along with our entire Extreme Couponing 101 Series. Coming up next week, a closer look inside your favorite grocery stores.
Posted by My City Moms on Thursday, July 14th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
In case you missed it this morning. Here is Extreme Couponing 101 at Target. There are many ways to save and even earn money while shopping at Target. For those of you who are new to shopping at Target, here are all the tips you will need to start saving today! We will start with the Weekly Ads. You can get the Weekly Ad online, in front of the store or in your local Sunday paper. The Ad lists all sale items. Here are the basics about Target Manufacturer Coupons: Manufacturer coupons will be applied after the price match is made. Target Coupons: Target coupons will be applied before the price match is made. If the competitor price is still lower than the price after the Target coupon has been deducted, the ad match can be adjusted to match the competitor’s price. Combining both a Target and Manufacturer Coupons: The Target coupon will be applied before the price match is made. If the competitor price is still lower than the price after the Target coupon has been deducted, the ad match can be adjusted to match the competitor’s price. Once the price match is made the manufacturer coupon will be applied. Reminder: They accept one manufacturer coupon and one Target coupon for the same item unless either coupon prohibits it. You can get Target coupon at the following places: -Target.com -Coupons inserts-periodically they will put them in the coupon inserts from your local Newspaper -Target booklets – They will come in the mail One common question asked if Target matches other store prices. The answer is YES! Here are a few tips and the full policy is here. -Always go to the Customer Service Desk to do all price matches -Pricing for products on Target.com may vary from Target stores and from the Target Weekly Ad. We do not match the price of our online merchandise with the price offered by Target stores or another company, and Target stores do not match the price of our online merchandise. A few signs that you will want to look for when shopping at Target. -Sale A temporary price reduction advertised Sunday-Saturday and lasting up to 2 weeks. -Temporary Price Cut A temporary price reduction lasting 1-8 weeks. -Price Cut A permanent price reduction advertised for up to 90 days. Clearance A permanent price reduction often on discontinued inventory. Clearance prices are good while supplies last. One important thing to remember is Target will reduce the amount of the coupon if it exceeds the amount. One thing to do when shopping at Target is to take your own bag. You will receive $.05 per bag that you use and you will be helping the environment at the same time. For more questions about the Target coupon policy you can see the full policy on Target.com. Target is making a few adjustments to it’s Buy 1 Get 1 Free policy. They now only allow one BOGO coupon per purchase. Previously, customers could “stack” Target printable coupons, combining store and manufacturer BOGO coupons to get both items for free. As with anything, “practice makes perfect” so don’t be discouraged if you make a few mistakes. You’ll be shopping like a pro soon enough. Follow along with our Extreme Couponing 101 Series to help get the most our of your shopping experience.
Posted by My City Moms on Thursday, July 14th, 2011 at 9:11 am
There are many ways to save and even earn money while shopping at Target. For those of you who are new to shopping at Target, here are all the tips you will need to start saving today! We will start with the Weekly Ads. You can get the Weekly Ad online, in front of the store or in your local Sunday paper. The Ad lists all sale items. Here are the basics about Target Manufacturer Coupons: Manufacturer coupons will be applied after the price match is made. Target Coupons: Target coupons will be applied before the price match is made. If the competitor price is still lower than the price after the Target coupon has been deducted, the ad match can be adjusted to match the competitor’s price. Combining both a Target and Manufacturer Coupons: The Target coupon will be applied before the price match is made. If the competitor price is still lower than the price after the Target coupon has been deducted, the ad match can be adjusted to match the competitor’s price. Once the price match is made the manufacturer coupon will be applied. Reminder: They accept one manufacturer coupon and one Target coupon for the same item unless either coupon prohibits it. You can get Target coupon at the following places: -Target.com -Coupons inserts-periodically they will put them in the coupon inserts from your local Newspaper -Target booklets – They will come in the mail One common question asked if Target matches other store prices. The answer is YES! Here are a few tips and the full policy is here. -Always go to the Customer Service Desk to do all price matches -Pricing for products on Target.com may vary from Target stores and from the Target Weekly Ad. We do not match the price of our online merchandise with the price offered by Target stores or another company, and Target stores do not match the price of our online merchandise. A few signs that you will want to look for when shopping at Target. -Sale A temporary price reduction advertised Sunday-Saturday and lasting up to 2 weeks. -Temporary Price Cut A temporary price reduction lasting 1-8 weeks. -Price Cut A permanent price reduction advertised for up to 90 days. Clearance A permanent price reduction often on discontinued inventory. Clearance prices are good while supplies last. One important thing to remember is Target will reduce the amount of the coupon if it exceeds the amount. One thing to do when shopping at Target is to take your own bag. You will receive $.05 per bag that you use and you will be helping the environment at the same time. For more questions about the Target coupon policy you can see the full policy on Target.com. Target is making a few adjustments to it’s Buy 1 Get 1 Free policy. They now only allow one BOGO coupon per purchase. Previously, customers could “stack” Target printable coupons, combining store and manufacturer BOGO coupons to get both items for free. As with anything, “practice makes perfect” so don’t be discouraged if you make a few mistakes. You’ll be shopping like a pro soon enough. Follow along with our Extreme Couponing 101 Series to help get the most our of your shopping experience.
Posted by My City Moms on Wednesday, July 13th, 2011 at 9:06 am
You can find really great deals at Walgreens but it does take practice. Just keep in mind these few things and it will be very simple for you. RR means Register Rewards. These are basically a coupon/catalina that will print at the register to use towards a different transaction. In Store Coupons: These can be found on Walgreens Website or in the Ad located at the front of the store. (You can stack mfg coupon) Walgreens Coupon Booklet: These are put out monthly and are located at the front of the door near the store ads. (You can stack mfg coupon). Pick one up and carry it with you, so you are able to use it at anytime. How to put to use (only an example): You have two tubes of Crest Toothpaste listed at $1.50 each and you’ll receive a $1 RR (Register Reward) Buy 2 Crest Toothpaste $1.50 Each -use 3/6 PG Save $1/1 (use 2 coupons from the P&G Sunday coupon insert on March 6th) Out of Pocket: You receive 2 tubes for $1.00 Receive: $1 in Register Rewards (Basically you receive FREE) What can you do with this Register Reward? You CAN NOT turn around and do the same deal. The reason being is you CAN NOT use a RR on a product in the same family that is offering a RR. Example, if you turned around and did this same deal, it would cancel the $1 RR. You WOULD NOT receive one back. Same true on any RR and P&G deal. So here is what you could do: Buy 1 Colgate Toothpaste $1.50 -use 3/6 SS Save $1/1 (Smart Source Sunday coupon insert on March 6th) -use $1 RR (Register Reward (your received from 1st transaction) ———————————–cash register will beep————————————————– *a Register Reward (RR) counts as a coupon, so you have to have equal or greater amount of items in order to use coupons and Register Reward (RR) Buy 1 Colgate Toothpaste $1.50 -use 3/6 SS Save $1/1 (Smart Source Sunday coupon insert on March 6th) -use $1 RR (Register Reward (your received from 1st transaction) Grab a item that is $.50 or more Final Price, FREE or Buy 1 Colgate Toothpaste $1.50 w/in store coupon (IVC) -use 3/6 SS Save $1/1 (Smart Source Sunday coupon insert on March 6th) -use in store coupon -use $1 RR (Register Reward (you received from 1st transaction) Grab 2 items that are $.50 or more Final Price, FREE The one thing I love about Walgreens is that you can go back to the store and keep doing the same deals! The things I don’t like is majority of the time it is really hard to find the items in store, they DO NOT allow rain checks and your Register Rewards don’t always print. If this happens, just make sure you don’t purchase the products or you request a manager. A manager can print one for you. And don’t be hesitant to ask someone on staff to show you the products that have Register Rewards. I recently visited my Walgreens and the staff was so helpful, I got everything for FREE. Follow us here on mycitymommy.com for updates on items that are Free at Walgreens. We will post these deals each week. Follow our entire Extreme Couponing 101 Series right here. It will provide you with great information about shopping at your favorite stores.
Posted by My City Moms on Tuesday, July 12th, 2011 at 9:01 am
There are many ways to save and even earn money while shopping at CVS. For those of you who are new to shopping at CVS, here are all the tips you will need to start saving today! We will start with the Weekly Ads. You can get the Weekly Ad online, in front of the store or in your local Sunday paper. The Ad lists all sale items and items that will produce Extra Care Bucks and the quantity needed to earn them. What are Extra Care Bucks (ECB)? These are dollars that you earn when making certain purchases and can be used on any future CVS purchase. Your ECBs will print out on your receipt so make sure to always check before throwing away your receipt. There are weekly and monthly ECB. You will also earn 2% back in ECB quarterly on your purchases which will print automatically at the end of the sales period. You do not have to get all the items at the same time but will not earn the ECB until you fulfill the entire purchase. In order to start earning ECBs, you need to have an Extra Care Card. You can get a card simply by asking a cashier for a form or by signing up online. If you fill out the form in-store, you will get your card to start saving immediately. However if you sign up online, it will take about a week to get your card in the mail. Remember to register your account online to receive special offers by email or in your mail box. In addition to ECB, there is also CRT (cash register tape) coupons that print automatically on your receipt. You can also get these CRTs by scanning your Extra Care Card at the red price scanner usually located in the front of the store. These are not listed in the Weekly Ad and just print randomly. These are pretty general, for instance, $2.00 off of Huggies Pull-ups. These CRTs are considered CVS Store coupons and can be combined with manufacturer’s coupons (MFC). This is called “Coupon Stacking” and here’s what it looks like: Buy (1) Huggies Pull-ups Jumbo Pack @ $9.00 Use (1) $2.00 CRT Use (1) $3.00 MFC Total $4.00 after using both coupons Making money at CVS can be very simple! Almost every week there is a promotion where you will earn the same amount of ECB that you spend. For instance: Colgate Toothpaste $2.99 Earn $2.99 ECB wyb 1 Use $1.00 off Manufacturer’s coupon Total = $1.00 overage after coupon and ECB Couple other ways to save at CVS: Email coupons – remember to sign up online to get these. B1G1 Free sales - you can use two MFC coupons on a buy-one-get-one-free sale. For example: Max Factor Mascara $7.99 B1G1 Free Use (2) $3.00 off MFC Total = $1.99 for both As with anything, “practice makes perfect” so don’t be discouraged if you make a few mistakes. You’ll be shopping like a pro at CVS soon enough. Keep up with our Extreme Couponing 101 Series online!
Posted by My City Moms on Monday, July 11th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
In case you missed it this morning, our Extreme Couponing 101 Series continues with tips on stocking up on specific items. How do you know when it’s time to stock up on everyday items? What is a good “stock” up price? While there is no “price” rule (and sometimes you just need to get an item when you need it), here are some guidelines to follow to know a good “stock up” price! Here are some examples: Diapers $0.19 each Shampoo- $0.50 or less Tooth paste and brushes: free Deodorant: free Body Wash: free Lotion: free Wipes: $1 or less for box Cleaning supplies: free Toilet paper: $0.25/roll Fruit: $1.00/lb Meat: $2/lb, $4/lb Steaks (high quality) Potatoes: $3/10 lb bag Soda: $2.50/12 pk Cereal: $1 per box Canned veggies: $0.35 Frozen veggies: free So are you ready to shop? Here is a comprehensive list of printable store coupon policies. You should always keep them on hand in case you need to refer to it. I have also provided you a list of the customer service phone numbers for each store as well. I have these programmed into my cell phone in case I would need to call one! Albertson’s 877-932-7948 Aldi’s: Does not accept coupons Brookshires 903.534.3000 CVS – No online policy, just one they emailed to me 800-746-7287 Dollar General HEB - 800 432-3113 Kroger-800-KROGERS Safeway – 877-723-3929 Save A Lot Sprouts Target - 800-440-0680 Tom Thumb Walgreens – (847) 914-2500 Walmart 800-925-6278 Whole Foods -No written policy or phone # Do you have any questions about our Extreme Couponing Series 101? Be sure to follow along each weekday to get more out of your shopping experience.
Posted by My City Moms on Monday, July 11th, 2011 at 9:04 am
How do you know when it’s time to stock up on everyday items? What is a good “stock” up price? While there is no “price” rule (and sometimes you just need to get an item when you need it), here are some guidelines to follow to know a good “stock up” price! Here are some examples: Diapers $0.19 each Shampoo- $0.50 or less Tooth paste and brushes: free Deodorant: free Body Wash: free Lotion: free Wipes: $1 or less for box Cleaning supplies: free Toilet paper: $0.25/roll Fruit: $1.00/lb Meat: $2/lb, $4/lb Steaks (high quality) Potatoes: $3/10 lb bag Soda: $2.50/12 pk Cereal: $1 per box Canned veggies: $0.35 Frozen veggies: free So are you ready to shop? Here is a comprehensive list of printable store coupon policies. You should always keep them on hand in case you need to refer to it. I have also provided you a list of the customer service phone numbers for each store as well. I have these programmed into my cell phone in case I would need to call one! Albertson’s 877-932-7948 Aldi’s: Does not accept coupons Brookshires 903.534.3000 CVS – No online policy, just one they emailed to me 800-746-7287 Dollar General HEB - 800 432-3113 Kroger-800-KROGERS Safeway – 877-723-3929 Save A Lot Sprouts Target - 800-440-0680 Tom Thumb Walgreens – (847) 914-2500 Walmart 800-925-6278 Whole Foods -No written policy or phone # Do you have any questions about our Extreme Couponing Series 101? Be sure to follow along each weekday to get more out of your shopping experience.
Posted by My City Moms on Friday, July 8th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
In case you missed it this morning, here is information on organizing your coupons. It’s part of our Extreme Couponing 101 Series. There are many ways to organize coupons, but the important thing is to have them organized. Planning out my shopping trips is a much quicker process when I know exactly where my coupons are and can easily find the ones I want. There’s no right or wrong way to organize, but here are my top picks: 1) Three-Ring Binder: This is a great way to organize whole coupon inserts. I keep all of my inserts intact until I am ready to use the coupon. This is perfect for those who follow drugstore and grocery match ups which list coupons from specific inserts; keeping the coupons unclipped makes it easier to find a coupon listed in a match up. There are a few ways to store your whole inserts in a binder. One easy way is to use a hole punch so that the binder rings can go directly through the inserts. However, this has the potential to damage coupons so my preferred method is to place the inserts in clear plastic sheet protectors. You can also keep clipped coupons (such as online coupons) in your binder by using trading/baseball card sheets. I’ve found these sheets at the dollar store! To create your own coupon binder, you’ll need to organize the coupon inserts by date. You can find the date in very small print along the spine of the insert cover. I like to write the date across the front of the insert for easy reference later. 2) Accordion Folder: A large accordion folder is a good choice for those who clip all of their coupons in advance. You can use the various pockets to divide coupons up by category and keep them sorted by expiration date. A small accordion folder is nice to use to actually bring into the store. This is what I use for my shopping trips after I’ve clipped coupons out of my binder. It also doubles as a great place to store ExtraCare Bucks and Register Rewards earned from CVS and Walgreens, as well as receipts. Tip: look for accordion folders in the dollar section at Target toward the end of the summer. 3) The Couponizer: This is a fantastic organizer especially for the beginning couponer. The Couponizer is a complete set of tools designed to make saving money easy. It is made up of 18 category pockets for grocery coupons and other coupon and discount category pockets. The Couponizer includes a section for store loyalty cards, a shopping list, a CoupTracker (to keep track of your fabulous coupon savings!), and a pair of scissors. It also comes with a CoupStacker to store coupons that don’t fit into the Couponizer. We hope you are enjoying our Extreme Couponing 101 Series. Do you have any questions so far? Next week we will begin reviewing specific store policies.
Posted by My City Moms on Friday, July 8th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
All week we have been sharing tips and great advice on Extreme Couponing. We talked about coupon etiquette, specifically about not being a coupon hog. We believe you should allow other customers to also take advantage of a great deal. As it turns out, stores are noticing the same thing and changing their policies. A recent article on “The Consumerist” found that the TLC show,” Extreme Couponing”, has sparked a trend of out-of-control couponers. These people are ransacking stores with little regard for anyone else. As a result, some big retailers are changing their policies. Here are a few of those change: Target The biggest change at Target comes to their buy one, get one (BOGO) policy. They now only allow one BOGO coupon per purchase. Previously, customers could “stack” Target printable coupons, combining store and manufacturer BOGO coupons to get both items for free. Rite Aid Rite Aid is following Target to crack down on the BOGO coupon offers. The drug store chain has also made other changes including limiting the number of coupons per item to four. If inventory is running low, managers may limit the numbers further. Walgreens Many high tech shoppers have even started to crack coupon barcodes, allowing them to use coupons on products they’re not intended for. Walgreens is working to combat this fraud by adopting a new type of barcode. New barcodes will be able to hold more data and can better make sure Walgreens coupons are used for the right product. Publix At Publix stores throughout the country they’re also limiting the number of coupons that can be used on one product. Their new policy limits couponers to one manufacturers coupon and one store coupon per item. Consumer Savings Expert Andrea Woroch shares some of her basic do’s and don’ts to help you coupon with class. DO play by the rules. Couponing isn’t too complicated and common sense should get you by in most cases. DON’T clear the shelf. In the eyes of casual shoppers, clearing entire shelves of popular sale items crosses the line between couponing and hoarding. DO be organized before you check out. It’s a nightmare for cashiers and people waiting in line when you hand over a haphazard pile of miscellaneous coupons. DON’T shop during the busiest times. The stress level of those waiting in line during peak times is high enough. DO be polite to the cashier and fellow customers. Sure, you might have some knowledge other customers and even clerks don’t, but it’s no excuse to treat others like they’re beneath you. DON’T steal coupons! A growing trend turning the tide against couponers is theft. Newspapers and newspaper subscribers are increasingly finding coupon inserts stolen. This is a big no-no and can get you into some serious trouble. Many people will willingly part with their unused inserts if you ask nicely. Read more about coupon etiquette in our Extreme Couponing 101 Series.
Posted by My City Moms on Friday, July 8th, 2011 at 9:07 am
There are many ways to organize coupons, but the important thing is to have them organized. Planning out my shopping trips is a much quicker process when I know exactly where my coupons are and can easily find the ones I want. There’s no right or wrong way to organize, but here are my top picks: 1) Three-Ring Binder: This is a great way to organize whole coupon inserts. I keep all of my inserts intact until I am ready to use the coupon. This is perfect for those who follow drugstore and grocery match ups which list coupons from specific inserts; keeping the coupons unclipped makes it easier to find a coupon listed in a match up. There are a few ways to store your whole inserts in a binder. One easy way is to use a hole punch so that the binder rings can go directly through the inserts. However, this has the potential to damage coupons so my preferred method is to place the inserts in clear plastic sheet protectors. You can also keep clipped coupons (such as online coupons) in your binder by using trading/baseball card sheets. I’ve found these sheets at the dollar store! To create your own coupon binder, you’ll need to organize the coupon inserts by date. You can find the date in very small print along the spine of the insert cover. I like to write the date across the front of the insert for easy reference later. 2) Accordion Folder: A large accordion folder is a good choice for those who clip all of their coupons in advance. You can use the various pockets to divide coupons up by category and keep them sorted by expiration date. A small accordion folder is nice to use to actually bring into the store. This is what I use for my shopping trips after I’ve clipped coupons out of my binder. It also doubles as a great place to store ExtraCare Bucks and Register Rewards earned from CVS and Walgreens, as well as receipts. Tip: look for accordion folders in the dollar section at Target toward the end of the summer. 3) The Couponizer: This is a fantastic organizer especially for the beginning couponer. The Couponizer is a complete set of tools designed to make saving money easy. It is made up of 18 category pockets for grocery coupons and other coupon and discount category pockets. The Couponizer includes a section for store loyalty cards, a shopping list, a CoupTracker (to keep track of your fabulous coupon savings!), and a pair of scissors. It also comes with a CoupStacker to store coupons that don’t fit into the Couponizer. We hope you are enjoying our Extreme Couponing 101 Series. Do you have any questions so far? Next week we will begin reviewing specific store policies.
Posted by My City Moms on Thursday, July 7th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
In case you missed Part 3 this morning, here it is again. Coupons are everywhere and more than likely available on ALMOST ANYTHING you use, and yes, you can even save going organic. The key is not buying things you won’t use just because it’s on sale and you have a coupon (or consider donating those items to the needy). I consider coupon money and treat it as such. Also, take heart in knowing that retailers don’t lose money when you use a coupon. Retailers receive back the face value of a coupon in addition to a handling fee of 8 cents. So what Are Coupons & Where Do I Find Them? I believe that the Dictionary sums up coupons to a tee – however to me they are free money. What’s better then free money? Not much! Now, How Do You Find Them? 1.Newspaper- This is a little obvious, but with all the printable coupons available, it can be a little easy to overlook. *If you are a sassy couponer then you will be purchasing more than one of your paper. You can actually preview what coupons will be in the paper by clicking here, then you can buy more papers while you are out. *Keep in mind there are never inserts on holiday weekends. For extras (for free) check libraries, restaurants and fast food places, doctor’s offices, your next door neighbor, some newspaper offices have places for leftover ads, post offices (same thing), recycle places. 2. Printable Coupon Websites- These are my favorite because you get to print just coupons you want, there is a good variety, and frequent changes. Make sure that you watch for coupons that may have a limit – you may only be able to print so many or you may miss out b/c others have printed them all.. sometimes the coupon will reset. Coupons.com Coupon Network Red Plum Smart Source Bricks Coupon Database – you can use this to see if any product that you want to purchase has a coupon available ‘right now.’ 3. Store Website Printable Coupons - Same as above, may only be for this particular store so pay attention to type of coupon and if they are good to use for stacking with a manufacture coupon. Target Save-a-Lot 4. Mobile Coupons - Give the store your cell number so they can send you coupons on your phone Target 5. Mobile/Card Coupons- Text a code to the store and they will put the coupons on your loyalty card or use a site to do the same thing, for some stores you will probably have to sign up for their e-mails to get the code. Cellfire Upromise Shortcuts Softcoin 6. Manufacture Websites- Get it straight from the horse’s mouth. Sometimes you have to sign up for a newsletter, they change each month so print your favorites when you see them. Betty Crocker Pillsbury *For your favorite products check their website for coupon offers 7. In stores- Look around! You can find lots of coupons on the items (peelies), next to the price, on the shelves, in the little coupon machines in front of the items. Keep your eyes open! Take a sales flyer when you come in the door! At CVS, use your card to check their coupon machine. 8. On/with your receipt- Check all that stuff that prints out with your receipt and check the back of your receipt. Lots of good coupons come with that because lots of times it’s based on what you have bought and many times they are instore coupons so they are stackable! 9. Facebook- Become a fan (or “like”) your favorite brands. I will always post these coupons as they become available. 10. Magazines - I haven’t seen a magazine with more coupons than All You. But, look through your favorite magazine, you’d be surprised to see coupons hiding among the ads! 11. Samples- Most of the free sample offers that you sign up for will come with a coupon for the product, especially those from name brands. 12. Email or Call- Your favorite companies and ask for coupons – many times they will send you coupons and often even free products! If you have any questions about our Extreme Couponing 101 Series, please let us know. We hope you will continue to follow along. And remember to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for any up-to-the-minute deals. Simply LIKE My City Mommy or add MyCityMommy to your Twitter account!
Posted by My City Moms on Thursday, July 7th, 2011 at 9:07 am
Coupons are everywhere and more than likely available on ALMOST ANYTHING you use, and yes, you can even save going organic. The key is not buying things you won’t use just because it’s on sale and you have a coupon (or consider donating those items to the needy). I consider coupon money and treat it as such. Also, take heart in knowing that retailers don’t lose money when you use a coupon. Retailers receive back the face value of a coupon in addition to a handling fee of 8 cents. So what Are Coupons & Where Do I Find Them? I believe that the Dictionary sums up coupons to a tee – however to me they are free money. What’s better then free money? Not much! Now, How Do You Find Them? 1.Newspaper- This is a little obvious, but with all the printable coupons available, it can be a little easy to overlook. *If you are a sassy couponer then you will be purchasing more than one of your paper. You can actually preview what coupons will be in the paper by clicking here, then you can buy more papers while you are out. *Keep in mind there are never inserts on holiday weekends. For extras (for free) check libraries, restaurants and fast food places, doctor’s offices, your next door neighbor, some newspaper offices have places for leftover ads, post offices (same thing), recycle places. 2. Printable Coupon Websites- These are my favorite because you get to print just coupons you want, there is a good variety, and frequent changes. Make sure that you watch for coupons that may have a limit – you may only be able to print so many or you may miss out b/c others have printed them all.. sometimes the coupon will reset. Coupons.com Coupon Network Red Plum Smart Source Bricks Coupon Database – you can use this to see if any product that you want to purchase has a coupon available ‘right now.’ 3. Store Website Printable Coupons - Same as above, may only be for this particular store so pay attention to type of coupon and if they are good to use for stacking with a manufacture coupon. Target Save-a-Lot 4. Mobile Coupons - Give the store your cell number so they can send you coupons on your phone Target 5. Mobile/Card Coupons- Text a code to the store and they will put the coupons on your loyalty card or use a site to do the same thing, for some stores you will probably have to sign up for their e-mails to get the code. Cellfire Upromise Shortcuts Softcoin 6. Manufacture Websites- Get it straight from the horse’s mouth. Sometimes you have to sign up for a newsletter, they change each month so print your favorites when you see them. Betty Crocker Pillsbury *For your favorite products check their website for coupon offers 7. In stores- Look around! You can find lots of coupons on the items (peelies), next to the price, on the shelves, in the little coupon machines in front of the items. Keep your eyes open! Take a sales flyer when you come in the door! At CVS, use your card to check their coupon machine. 8. On/with your receipt- Check all that stuff that prints out with your receipt and check the back of your receipt. Lots of good coupons come with that because lots of times it’s based on what you have bought and many times they are instore coupons so they are stackable! 9. Facebook- Become a fan (or “like”) your favorite brands. I will always post these coupons as they become available. 10. Magazines - I haven’t seen a magazine with more coupons than All You. But, look through your favorite magazine, you’d be surprised to see coupons hiding among the ads! 11. Samples- Most of the free sample offers that you sign up for will come with a coupon for the product, especially those from name brands. 12. Email or Call- Your favorite companies and ask for coupons – many times they will send you coupons and often even free products! If you have any questions about our Extreme Couponing 101 Series, please let us know. We hope you will continue to follow along. And remember to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for any up-to-the-minute deals. Simply LIKE My City Mommy or add MyCityMommy to your Twitter account!
Posted by My City Moms on Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 at 5:35 pm
In case you missed it this morning. Here’s another look at Part 2 of our Extreme Couponing 101 Series. Couponing can get a little confusing sometimes with all the abbreviations, verbiage and size limitations. Here is some “coupon lingo” that might help you out on your next shopping trip. BOGOF or B1G1 – buy one get one free Peelie – coupon that peels off package WYB – when you buy OOP – Out of Pocket MIR – Mail-in Rebate $1/2 – $1 off of 2 items 2/$1 – 2 items for $1 SC – Store coupon MFC – Manufacter’s coupon GC – Gift Card MM – Money Maker DND-do not double Ea-each IP-internet printable coupon Blinkie-coupons you get from the little machines in the aisle in the store BTFE-Box Tops for Education WSL-while supplies last OTC-over the counter medication UPC-Universal Product Code PK-pack CT-count Catalina or CAT-a coupon for an amount off your next purchase or for a free item on your next purchase-these may print out when you get your receipt. Specific Store Coupons ECB – CVS Extra Care Bucks Wags – Walgreens RR – Walgreens Register Rewards Newspaper Inserts PG – Proctor & Gamble SS – Smartsource RP – Red Plum GM – General Mills K – Kelloggs UN – Unilever Check out our Coupon Database to get more familiar with the different types of coupons. And start printing coupong from a few of our favorites. CouponNetwork, Coupons.com, SmartSource, and RedPlum! In case you missed it, here’s a link to Part 1 of our Extreme Couponing Series about Etiquette and Technique! Check back tomorrow for more on Extreme Couponing 101!
Posted by My City Moms on Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 at 9:03 am
Couponing can get a little confusing sometimes with all the abbreviations, verbiage and size limitations. Here is some “coupon lingo” that might help you out on your next shopping trip. BOGOF or B1G1 – buy one get one free Peelie – coupon that peels off package WYB – when you buy OOP – Out of Pocket MIR – Mail-in Rebate $1/2 – $1 off of 2 items 2/$1 – 2 items for $1 SC – Store coupon MFC – Manufacter’s coupon GC – Gift Card MM – Money Maker DND-do not double Ea-each IP-internet printable coupon Blinkie-coupons you get from the little machines in the aisle in the store BTFE-Box Tops for Education WSL-while supplies last OTC-over the counter medication UPC-Universal Product Code PK-pack CT-count Catalina or CAT-a coupon for an amount off your next purchase or for a free item on your next purchase-these may print out when you get your receipt. Specific Store Coupons ECB – CVS Extra Care Bucks Wags – Walgreens RR – Walgreens Register Rewards Newspaper Inserts PG – Proctor & Gamble SS – Smartsource RP – Red Plum GM – General Mills K – Kelloggs UN – Unilever Check out our Coupon Database to get more familiar with the different types of coupons. And start printing coupong from a few of our favorites. CouponNetwork, Coupons.com, SmartSource, and RedPlum! In case you missed it, here’s a link to Part 1 of our Extreme Couponing Series about Etiquette and Technique! Check back tomorrow for more on Extreme Couponing 101!
Posted by My City Moms on Tuesday, July 5th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Here is another look at Part 1 of our Extreme Couponing 101 Series. A Valpak national study says close to half of us… 40% now search for deals or coupons before making a purchase. And 41% of coupon users come from households earning greater than $70,000! (Nielsen Online Research) That means we are all becoming savvy shoppers, wanting to hang on to our money rather than spending aimlessly on daily needs. Many believe clipping coupons takes too much time or somehow looks cheap. The truth is, spending 20 minutes clipping coupons before you shop can save you up to 30% at the grocery store. What’s not cool about that? Do you get paid that amount in 20 minutes working every day? There are so many online resources and deals found for you that saving money at the store doesn’t take a lot of time. It just takes a person willing to follow directions on how to make it happen. If you buy only generics, that is a good savings tactic. But I know many who prefer national brands on certain items… if that is the case, using a coupon or two can save you even more than generics and give you the ability to stock up and save when those brands go on sale. Coupons are everywhere and more than likely available on ALMOST ANYTHING you use, and yes, you can even save going organic. The key is not buying things you won’t use just because it’s on sale and you have a coupon (or consider donating those items to the needy). I consider coupon money and treat it as such. Also, take heart in knowing that retailers don’t lose money when you use a coupon. Retailers receive back the face value of a coupon in addition to a handling fee of 8 cents. We will be sharing very valuable tips on how to coupon with you. First things first… let’s learn how to become a savvy couponer. Coupon Etiquette *Don’t photocopy coupons- it’s illegal and hurts the retailers and all using coupons *Use only one manufacturer coupon and store coupon per item *Don’t try to use a coupon for which it is not intended for- it’s unethical *All coupons must have expiration dates or stores will not accept them *Don’t clean the shelf off on a good deal- share the wealth Coupon Techniques *Stack store coupons with manufacturer’s coupons *Price Match at Walmart and Target *Take advantage of stores that double and triple coupons (i.e. Tom Thumb, Kroger, Albertson’s) *Take advantage of rain check offers *Buy only when an item is on sale *Use a Coupon Database so you aren’t always clipping coupons- find your coupons when you’re ready to shop and then clip *Stack Coupons- i.e. manufacturers coupon, store coupon and $X off $XX *Take advantage of store loyalty programs, register promotions, gas rewards Coupons to the Extreme- Now that have a general knowledge of coupon techniques, here are some additional techniques to save you even more money when you buy. * Stacking Coupons-Did you know you can stack a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon? That’s two coupons per one item. You use this technique when items are on sale and are maximizing your savings efforts. *Double Coupons- Many stores still double and triple coupons. This is a store sponsored event and a great way to maximize the savings of a coupon. Become familiar with your store coupon policies and what they will double and triple. When a coupon is doubled, the store pays for half of the value of a discount. *Overage- Overage happens when the value of a coupon exceeds the price of the item. Many stores will allow you to apply the exceeding value to the rest of your shopping order. *Price Match- Walmart and Target will offer a price match guarantee. The items will have to be identical and you will have to bring the print ad to show to the cashier. *Rebates- Mail-in-rebates are an added way to save and often honored based on the price of an item or an amount you will spend *Rain Checks- When there are good sales, often stores will run out of items. Don’t forget the power of a rain check where a store will honor the sale price of an item at a future time. *BOGO Coupons- Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupons (also known as BOGO coupons or B1G1 coupons) allow you to purchase one item and get a second item of equal or lesser value for free! You’ll want to pay special attention to the fine print on the coupon as there is usually a maximum value stated on the coupon (this maximum value is the most that the manufacturer is willing to reimburse the store for the “free” item). With a B1G1 store sale, you are purchasing 2 like items and then automatically getting one item for free when you checkout. Since you are still essentially purchasing 2 items, you can use a B1G1 coupon in conjunction with the B1G1 store sale to get the both items for free (one is free after the store sale and one is free after the coupon). *Important Note: Read your store’s coupon policy very carefully as some stores (most recently Rite Aid ) may prohibit the use of a B1G1 coupon in conjunction with a B1G1 store sale. You will also note that many are considering this usage of B1G1 unethical. You have to use your own judgement on this one. Check back again tomorrow for a lesson in Coupon Lingo.
Posted by My City Moms on Tuesday, July 5th, 2011 at 9:03 am
A Valpak national study says close to half of us… 40% now search for deals or coupons before making a purchase. And 41% of coupon users come from households earning greater than $70,000! (Nielsen Online Research) That means we are all becoming savvy shoppers, wanting to hang on to our money rather than spending aimlessly on daily needs. Many believe clipping coupons takes too much time or somehow looks cheap. The truth is, spending 20 minutes clipping coupons before you shop can save you up to 30% at the grocery store. What’s not cool about that? Do you get paid that amount in 20 minutes working every day? There are so many online resources and deals found for you that saving money at the store doesn’t take a lot of time. It just takes a person willing to follow directions on how to make it happen. If you buy only generics, that is a good savings tactic. But I know many who prefer national brands on certain items… if that is the case, using a coupon or two can save you even more than generics and give you the ability to stock up and save when those brands go on sale. Coupons are everywhere and more than likely available on ALMOST ANYTHING you use, and yes, you can even save going organic. The key is not buying things you won’t use just because it’s on sale and you have a coupon (or consider donating those items to the needy). I consider coupon money and treat it as such. Also, take heart in knowing that retailers don’t lose money when you use a coupon. Retailers receive back the face value of a coupon in addition to a handling fee of 8 cents. We will be sharing very valuable tips on how to coupon with you. First things first… let’s learn how to become a savvy couponer. Coupon Etiquette *Don’t photocopy coupons- it’s illegal and hurts the retailers and all using coupons *Use only one manufacturer coupon and store coupon per item *Don’t try to use a coupon for which it is not intended for- it’s unethical *All coupons must have expiration dates or stores will not accept them *Don’t clean the shelf off on a good deal- share the wealth Coupon Techniques *Stack store coupons with manufacturer’s coupons *Price Match at Walmart and Target *Take advantage of stores that double and triple coupons (i.e. Tom Thumb, Kroger, Albertson’s) *Take advantage of rain check offers *Buy only when an item is on sale *Use a Coupon Database so you aren’t always clipping coupons- find your coupons when you’re ready to shop and then clip *Stack Coupons- i.e. manufacturers coupon, store coupon and $X off $XX *Take advantage of store loyalty programs, register promotions, gas rewards Coupons to the Extreme- Now that have a general knowledge of coupon techniques, here are some additional techniques to save you even more money when you buy. * Stacking Coupons-Did you know you can stack a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon? That’s two coupons per one item. You use this technique when items are on sale and are maximizing your savings efforts. *Double Coupons- Many stores still double and triple coupons. This is a store sponsored event and a great way to maximize the savings of a coupon. Become familiar with your store coupon policies and what they will double and triple. When a coupon is doubled, the store pays for half of the value of a discount. *Overage- Overage happens when the value of a coupon exceeds the price of the item. Many stores will allow you to apply the exceeding value to the rest of your shopping order. *Price Match- Walmart and Target will offer a price match guarantee. The items will have to be identical and you will have to bring the print ad to show to the cashier. *Rebates- Mail-in-rebates are an added way to save and often honored based on the price of an item or an amount you will spend *Rain Checks- When there are good sales, often stores will run out of items. Don’t forget the power of a rain check where a store will honor the sale price of an item at a future time. *BOGO Coupons- Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupons (also known as BOGO coupons or B1G1 coupons) allow you to purchase one item and get a second item of equal or lesser value for free! You’ll want to pay special attention to the fine print on the coupon as there is usually a maximum value stated on the coupon (this maximum value is the most that the manufacturer is willing to reimburse the store for the “free” item). With a B1G1 store sale, you are purchasing 2 like items and then automatically getting one item for free when you checkout. Since you are still essentially purchasing 2 items, you can use a B1G1 coupon in conjunction with the B1G1 store sale to get the both items for free (one is free after the store sale and one is free after the coupon). *Important Note: Read your store’s coupon policy very carefully as some stores (most recently Rite Aid ) may prohibit the use of a B1G1 coupon in conjunction with a B1G1 store sale. You will also note that many are considering this usage of B1G1 unethical. You have to use your own judgement on this one. Check back again tomorrow for a lesson in Coupon Lingo.
Posted by My City Moms on Monday, July 4th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
Everything you ever wanted to know about couponing you will learn from our Extreme Couponing 101 class. The My City Mommy Network created an all encompassing series that covers many aspects of couponing. From coupon lingo to techniques to where to find coupons, we have you covered. And we’ll go over all of the couponing policies from your favorite stores (Kroger, Walgreens, CVS, Dollar General and more) and provide you some inside secrets to getting the most out of a deal. The series begins tomorrow. We hope you will follow along with us and ask any questions you may have. Don’t want to miss it? Be sure to subscribe to our daily email and follow along on Facebook! Simply “LIKE” My City Mommy! We hope you learn everything you need to know to be experts in Extreme Couponing!
Click here 
In case you missed it this morning. Here is Extreme Couponing 101 at Target. 
As with anything, “practice makes perfect” so don’t be discouraged if you make a few mistakes. You’ll be shopping like a pro soon enough. 
You can find really great deals at 
Walgreens Coupon Booklet: These are put out monthly and are located at the front of the door near the store ads. (You can stack mfg coupon). Pick one up and carry it with you, so you are able to use it at anytime. 
*a Register Reward (RR) counts as a coupon, so you have to have equal or greater amount of items in order to use coupons and Register Reward (RR) 
There are many ways to save and even earn money while shopping at 
your local Sunday paper. The Ad lists all sale items and items that will produce 
You can get a card simply by asking a cashier for a form or by 
In case you missed it this morning, our Extreme Couponing 101 Series continues with tips on stocking up on specific items. 
Kroger
Walgreens
1) Three-Ring Binder: This is a great way to organize whole coupon inserts. I keep all of my 
2) Accordion Folder: A large accordion folder is a good choice for those who clip all of their coupons in advance. You can use the various pockets to divide coupons up by category and keep them sorted by expiration date. 
3) The Couponizer: This is a fantastic organizer especially for the beginning couponer. The Couponizer is a complete set of tools designed to make saving money easy. It is made up of 18 category pockets for grocery coupons and other coupon and discount category pockets. The Couponizer includes a section for store loyalty cards, a shopping list, a CoupTracker (to keep track of your fabulous coupon savings!), and a pair of scissors. It also comes with a CoupStacker to store coupons that don’t fit into the Couponizer. 
All week we have been sharing tips and great advice on Extreme Couponing. We talked about coupon etiquette, specifically about not being a coupon hog. We believe you should allow other customers to also take advantage of a great deal. 
In case you missed Part 3 this morning, here it is again. 
If you have any questions about our Extreme Couponing 101 Series, please let us know. We hope you will continue to follow along. 
In case you missed it this morning. Here’s another look at Part 2 of our Extreme Couponing 101 Series. 
In case you missed it, here’s a link to Part 1 of our 
Here is another look at Part 1 of our Extreme Couponing 101 Series. 
Everything you ever wanted to know about couponing you will learn from our Extreme Couponing 101 class. The My City Mommy Network created an all encompassing series that covers many aspects of couponing. 
