Find Needful Things here
This is something that I find people asking about all the time. I had got this in a email and I thought that this would be perfect for my readers!
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I originally posted this two years ago when I was a hard core couponer…thought you guys would like!
People constantly ask me “How do you do that?”, referring to saving so much money on groceries. They look at me like I am crazy until I sit down and actually explain to them how I do it. Sometimes it takes a few times before they have epiphany moment where they finally get it. After three months, my mother in law just got it last week! I thought maybe my friends and family weren’t the only ones that didn’t quite understand so I thought I would try and break it down and really explain the concept behind what I do. So grab a cup of coffee and sit back and relax this may take a few minutes!
Please realize one thing, saving money like this takes a little work. I literally went from spending over $700 to between $100-$150, so the few hours I put in a week are worth the $550+ savings per month. You are going to have to be organized and put in a little time to really make this work, but when you get your system in place it is completely worth it!
Most important start small don’t make a huge list of deals and head to the store, you most likely get extremely confused and frustrated. Try a few things one week and then add a few more and add a few more. I did not get to this point over night it took about 4 months to really start seeing a difference. Start trying to shave $10 off your bill and then $15 and just keep going! First off, saving money at the grocery store involves lots of coupons. I get them from several sources, so start focusing on building a good stockpile. You don’t have to go as extreme as I have, but simply matching up some coupons will save you money so just do what you feel comfortable with. Even saving 20-30% off your grocery bill will be a great savings!
Where To Get Coupons:
8 Knorr Pasta Sides BOGO $1.29 = $5.16OK now here is how it would break down with coupons. Remember these are examples, but most of these are deals I have done and are possible. I am showing you a typical transaction for me…
Milk $3.69
Eggs $1.39
Bread $2.00
8 Ragu Sauce BOGO $2.39 = $9.16
8 Spaghetti BOGO $1.49 = $5.96
4 Boxes of Cereal BOGO $4.39 = $8.78
Bananas $.99
Broccoli $1.99
6 Cans of Progresso Soup BOGO $1.59 = $4.77
1 bag of frozen chicken breasts $5.99
Cheese 2/$5
Total is $52.38 plus tax
8 Knorr Pasta Sides BOGO $1.29 = $5.16OK so here is how to numbers would work out…
– use one $.75/1 manufacturer coupon for each product
– total savings would be $6.00 producing a $.84 overage
Milk $3.69
–there are rarely good deals on milk, this is what you use the overage on.
Eggs $1.39
–there are rarely good deals on eggs, this is what you use the overage on.
2 Bread BOGO $2.00
–probably no coupons, but still good deal
8 Ragu Sauce BOGO $2.39 = $9.16
–use one $.75/1 manufacturer coupon for each product = $6.00
–use one Publix $1/2 coupon or each two products = $4.00
–total savings would be $10.00 total producing a $.84 overage
8 Spaghetti BOGO $1.49 = $5.96
–use $1/2 manufacturer coupon for each two = $4.00
–total would be $1.96 for all 8 or $.24 each
4 Boxes of Cereal BOGO $4.39 = $8.78
–use $1/1 manufacturer coupon for each one = $4.00
–use $1/1 Target printable coupon for each one = $4.00
–total would be $.78 for all four or $.19 each
Bananas $.99
–use $1 off Produce coupon from Publix Baby Club
–total savings would produce a $.01 overage
Broccoli $1.99
–use $1 off broccoli printable Target coupon
–total would be $.99 after coupon
6 Cans of Progresso Soup BOGO $1.59 = $4.77
–use $1.10 printable coupon for each = $6.60
–total savings would produce a $2.13 overage
1 bag of frozen chicken breasts $5.99
–there are rarely coupons, but needed
Cheese 2/$5
–only buy 1 for $2.50
–use $.55 off coupon – really hard to get cheese super cheap
–total would be $1.95
Understanding Coupons (Lingo)
After talking to many people I thought these terms used from several sites could help others figure out what the acronyms mean. At first it may be a little confusing but soon you will catch on!
AC - After Coupon
Actual - Physical items you hold in your hand meaning a box of hamburger helper rather than a hamburger helper coupon
Addy - Address
AR - After Rebate
BLINKIES - These are found in stores in a box most often the box will have a red blinking light on it
BOGO or B1G1F - Buy one get one free
BTFE - Box Tops for Education - special markings on products that schools can redeem for free or discounted items
B&M - Brick & Mortar means a physical, not online store
Cat or Catalina - Coupons that come from a box next to the CRT machine
CLFE - Campbell's Labels for Education - labels from products that schools redeem for free or discounted items
COH - Cut Out Hunger
CRT - Cash register tape
CW - http://www.couponerswanted.com/
DCRT - Dated/Detailed cash register tape
DCRTC - Dated/detailed cash register tape with the price circled
DND - Do Not Double - Not a problem in my area!
Double Coupon - Means the value of the coupon is doubled at the register
ECB - Extra Care Bucks ECB's are a CVS exclusive
Envie - Envelope used for mailing items
ESR - EasySaver Rebate - Rebates found in the monthly rebate booklet in stores
FAR - Free After Rebate
FREE ITEM COUPON - GOLD! You get a free product at the store at no cost or just tax
FSOT - For Sale or Trade - meaning I want cash or other item in return for something I have
GDA - Good Deal Alert - heads up to a deal you should go get
HBA - The health and beauty aid section - my cvs has H on one side and the store BA on the other but most stores put them closer together
HT - refunds or coupons that are found on the necks of product bottles
IMHO - In My Honest Opinion
ISO - In Search Of - looking for an item/coupon
IDSO - In Desperate Search Of - looking hard for an item/coupon
IVC - Walgreen's Instant Value Coupon- coupons from the weekly ad or ESR booklet
IVDSO - In Very Desperate Search Of - major need to find something
IP - Internet printable coupon
MANU - Coupon issued from the manufacture
MIR - Mail In Rebate - you have to mail it to a clearing house to redeem
NAZ - Name, address, zip code - used for trades
NED - No expiration date - rare coupons that never expire
NBPN - No Beer Purchase Needed - sometimes beer rebates won't require a beer purchase
NWPN - No wine purchase needed - sometimes wine rebates won't require a wine purchase
OOP - Out of Pocket - money paid after coupons
OOS - Out of Stock - get a rain check for these items!
OYNO - On your next order - a lot of catalinas fall under this, meaning you need to make an additional purchase to redeem
P&G - Proctor & Gamble Sunday insert coupons
PEELIE - coupon's found on product that are sticky unless removed carefully
PITA - Pain in the ass
POP - Proof of purchase found on actual item
PPHF - Paypal handling fee - money used to trade coupons
PSA - Public Service Announcement - not as cheesy as the ones from childhood!
QUALIFIER - The items needed to complete a rebate
RAOK - Random act of kindness - offers of coupons/actual at no expense, given out of the love in your heart
RC - Raincheck - your best friend if you coupon!
RP - Red Plum Sunday Insert Coupons
RR - Register Rewards - These come from Wags, a lot like ECB's
SASE - Self Addressed Stamped Envelope some freebies require them
SF - Store form, forms found in the store good only at that store
SMP - Specially Marked Packages - some rebates require you buy products with special advertising on them
SS - Smart Source or Sunday Insert coupons
STACKING - Wags and CVS allow you to use a store coupon + a manufacture coupon on the same item
TEAR PAD - A pad of refund forms or coupons found hanging from a store shelf or display
TMF - Try Me Free - rebates for the full price of the item when it first is new to the market
WINE TAG - coupons found on the necks of wine bottles
WL - wishlist
WPN - Wine purchase needed
WSL - while supplies last usually no rainchecks issued
WT - winetag
WYB - When You Buy - additional purchase is required to redeem
YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary - sometimes deals work well for others and not some. It comes from each person has a different distance to the store so each person has a different experience
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Labels: Coupon Basics and Understanding Coupons (Lingo), Needful Things, Saving with Sara