With coupons, you get so many freebies and things you may not ever use. Who could use 10 free bottles of Kraft BarBQ sauce?! So here are 10 ways to very easily give back to your community, and help others in need (besides- it can be used as a tax write off as well):
1: Any extra free feminie hygiene products or make up can be donated to a local women's shelter.
2: Any free animal products can be donated to a local animal shelter or animal rescue.
3: Any free adult diapers, toiletries, denture toothpaste, etc can be donated to a local Nursing Home.
4: Any extra non-perishable items can be donated to a local food bank, or mission.
5: Any formula coupons that you won't use or don't need could be donated to a local crisis pregnancy center, or women's clinic.
6: Last, but NOT least- RECYCLE your newspapers, and clippings each week! It truly makes a big difference!
If you have any you would like to showcase, let me know!
Here are some links to help you find local groups, charities, and shelters:
Find a local women's and children's shelter!
Find a local animal shelter or rescue!
Find a local nursing home!
Find a local food bank!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Coupons 101
For starters you will need to buy the Sunday paper every week for the coupons. Pay attention though, because once in a blue moon there will be a Sunday with no coupon inserts, usually near a holiday.
The inserts in the paper are: Redplum, SmartSource, Proctor & Gamble, and more that I'm sure I'm forgetting at the moment. Some weeks you will get 2 of the above mentioned, total. Sometimes there may be 4 or 5 total!
For more freebies and deals, it's best to buy a few papers! I typically purchase 4 or 5 every Sunday. They are $1.75 ea, or sometimes on sale at Kroger or UDF for $1.
Clip and keep every coupon, even if it's something you wouldn't normally buy, or need. Sometimes you can get those items for free, or even get them with an 'overage' so you get 'paid' to buy it. (See "Walgreens 101" and "CVS 101" for more)
There will also be many printable coupons. For the first time or two that you try printing coupons, you will need to download a free program that allows you to do so. This is completely normal. For each printable coupon, you can usually only print it twice. Sometimes after a week or two the coupon will reset, and you may be able to print two more.
Almost all stores do take printable coupons. If they tell you otherwise, look up their coupon policy online. If they're wrong, you as a customer have the right to fight that. It's sad how some stores (cough Target cough) will try to lie to unsuspecting customers, knowing they CAN take certain coupons. So just watch what you are told.
Some stores like Meijer and Target have printabe coupons that can be used in their own store. These CAN be used with a manufacturers coupon as well (printed or from newspaper), for the SAME single item. So alot of times you can get that item free, or very cheap.
Now, some stores like Kroger and Meijer will also double coupons everyday.
For every coupon worth up to 50¢ it will be doubled. Every coupon from 51¢ to 99¢ will be taken up to $1. This will only work for 2 of the same exact coupons in one transaction. So if you have more, make sure to do a seperate order!!
If you have any coupons for say: $3 off a $40 order, make sure you give that to your cashier BEFORE the other coupons are taken off!
That's all I can think of right now, Ev is getting frustrated so I can't very well concentrate!
Let me know if you have any questions!
The inserts in the paper are: Redplum, SmartSource, Proctor & Gamble, and more that I'm sure I'm forgetting at the moment. Some weeks you will get 2 of the above mentioned, total. Sometimes there may be 4 or 5 total!
For more freebies and deals, it's best to buy a few papers! I typically purchase 4 or 5 every Sunday. They are $1.75 ea, or sometimes on sale at Kroger or UDF for $1.
Clip and keep every coupon, even if it's something you wouldn't normally buy, or need. Sometimes you can get those items for free, or even get them with an 'overage' so you get 'paid' to buy it. (See "Walgreens 101" and "CVS 101" for more)
There will also be many printable coupons. For the first time or two that you try printing coupons, you will need to download a free program that allows you to do so. This is completely normal. For each printable coupon, you can usually only print it twice. Sometimes after a week or two the coupon will reset, and you may be able to print two more.
Almost all stores do take printable coupons. If they tell you otherwise, look up their coupon policy online. If they're wrong, you as a customer have the right to fight that. It's sad how some stores (cough Target cough) will try to lie to unsuspecting customers, knowing they CAN take certain coupons. So just watch what you are told.
Some stores like Meijer and Target have printabe coupons that can be used in their own store. These CAN be used with a manufacturers coupon as well (printed or from newspaper), for the SAME single item. So alot of times you can get that item free, or very cheap.
Now, some stores like Kroger and Meijer will also double coupons everyday.
For every coupon worth up to 50¢ it will be doubled. Every coupon from 51¢ to 99¢ will be taken up to $1. This will only work for 2 of the same exact coupons in one transaction. So if you have more, make sure to do a seperate order!!
If you have any coupons for say: $3 off a $40 order, make sure you give that to your cashier BEFORE the other coupons are taken off!
That's all I can think of right now, Ev is getting frustrated so I can't very well concentrate!
Let me know if you have any questions!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
CVS 101
If you're new to shopping at CVS, you're in the right spot!
CVS has what is called the "Extra Care Bucks Card," or just the "CVS card." It is completely free to get one, just ask the front desk!
If you purchase certain items in the store, and use your card, you will get what's called an "ECB," which is a "coupon" that can be used on your next purchase. The items that will give you ECB's will change weekly. It will run during that ad, which is Sunday-Saturday. You can grab a CVS ad, and see which items will give you ECB's.
When you use your card, and purchase an item that will get you ECB's, it will print ON your receipt. You will need your card, and the bottom of your receipt to use your ECB on your next purchase.
Alot of times, using the card can actually get you free items! When using coupons with ECB's, you can even 'make money' by purchasing the item(s).
Scenario #1:
If you buy 2 Dry Idea deodorants at $2 ea, you get a $3 ECB.
That means you will pay out of pocket (oop) $4, and get a $3 ECB to be used on your next purchase. Which means you're getting your 2 deodorants for $1 total.
Scenario #2:
If you buy 3 Dove Soaps at $1.25 ea ($3.75 total), you will get a $3 ECB.
You have 3 coupons for $1 off Dove Soap.
So you will pay out of pocket 75¢ and get back a $3 ECB for your next order.
That means you actually 'made' $2.25 for purchasing 3 Dove soaps!
Ok, seems easy enough right?! It IS!
Extra Pointers:
ECB's CAN be used to buy other items that will give you ECB's as well. Meaning after your first few trips to CVS, you should be able to walk out of CVS -almost every trip- having only paid tax, or pennies for the items you have purchased!
You CAN use coupons even when using ECB's to pay for items, which is great!
You will want to make sure that when you are going to spend your ECB's, that the order you're purchasing will come up to atleast the amount of the ECB you are using. Otherwise you're throwing money away.
Because some of the items are considered free after ECB's, they may go fast! It's best to get your deal shopping done at CVS early in the week! You may also ask a clerk what day(s) your CVS restocks, so you will know for the future!
I hope it all makes sense, and if you have anymore questions leave a comment or email me!
CVS has what is called the "Extra Care Bucks Card," or just the "CVS card." It is completely free to get one, just ask the front desk!
If you purchase certain items in the store, and use your card, you will get what's called an "ECB," which is a "coupon" that can be used on your next purchase. The items that will give you ECB's will change weekly. It will run during that ad, which is Sunday-Saturday. You can grab a CVS ad, and see which items will give you ECB's.
When you use your card, and purchase an item that will get you ECB's, it will print ON your receipt. You will need your card, and the bottom of your receipt to use your ECB on your next purchase.
Alot of times, using the card can actually get you free items! When using coupons with ECB's, you can even 'make money' by purchasing the item(s).
Scenario #1:
If you buy 2 Dry Idea deodorants at $2 ea, you get a $3 ECB.
That means you will pay out of pocket (oop) $4, and get a $3 ECB to be used on your next purchase. Which means you're getting your 2 deodorants for $1 total.
Scenario #2:
If you buy 3 Dove Soaps at $1.25 ea ($3.75 total), you will get a $3 ECB.
You have 3 coupons for $1 off Dove Soap.
So you will pay out of pocket 75¢ and get back a $3 ECB for your next order.
That means you actually 'made' $2.25 for purchasing 3 Dove soaps!
Ok, seems easy enough right?! It IS!
Extra Pointers:
ECB's CAN be used to buy other items that will give you ECB's as well. Meaning after your first few trips to CVS, you should be able to walk out of CVS -almost every trip- having only paid tax, or pennies for the items you have purchased!
You CAN use coupons even when using ECB's to pay for items, which is great!
You will want to make sure that when you are going to spend your ECB's, that the order you're purchasing will come up to atleast the amount of the ECB you are using. Otherwise you're throwing money away.
Because some of the items are considered free after ECB's, they may go fast! It's best to get your deal shopping done at CVS early in the week! You may also ask a clerk what day(s) your CVS restocks, so you will know for the future!
I hope it all makes sense, and if you have anymore questions leave a comment or email me!
Walgreens 101
If you're new to Walgreen's, and need to know how Register Rewards work... or even if you need to know what Register Rewards are, you have come to the right place!
Register Rewards (also known as: RR) are 'coupons' that print off when you buy certain items at Walgreen's. Every week you can check the Walgreen's ad to see what will give you RR's. Most of the items are weekly, running from Sunday-Saturday. Some are monthly, so you can buy that item anytime during that month, and get the RR's for it.
With RR's you have to pay upfront for the item, and use the RR print out for your next purchase. You CAN use RR's to pay for things that will give you more RR's IF the RR you're using to pay for it wasn't from the same item.
Let's say Colgate toothpaste is on sale for $2.00 and when you buy 1 of them you get a $1.50 RR print out. That means you will come out of pocket $2, but will have $1.50 to spend on your next order. So, you're toothpaste was really only 50¢ when it's all said and done!
Now, lets say Herbal Essence Shampoo was on sale for $2.50 and you get $2.50 in RR when you purchase 1. Let's also say you have a coupon for $2.00 off any Herbal Essence product.
You will come out of pocket (oop) 50¢ and will get a $2.50 RR to be used on your next order.
Which means your shampoo was really a $2.00 money maker!
Ok, I hope everything is making sense so far!
RR's are considered "manufacturer coupons," so you may only use 1 per item when purchasing something.
Let's say I want to buy a $25 canister of formula. Obviously no one RR print out will be that high, so I will need to use "filler" items. Filler items are usually something very cheap. Cheap gum, candy, drink, baby food jar, etc! So I have:
$5 RR coupon
$9 RR coupon
$8 RR coupon
$5 RR coupon
Total RR's to use: $27
BUT- there are 4 of them, meaning I have to buy 4 items. So in order to get my $25 can of formula for free, I need to buy 3 cheap items as "fillers."
So in my case, I will grab 3 jars of baby food for 79¢ ea. 3x 79¢ = $2.37
$2.37 for baby food, and $25 for formula totals: $27.37
So I can use my 4 RR print outs to get my formula and baby food for 37¢ out of pocket!
A good way to look at it is like this:
I personally, am going to be buying formula on a weekly basis anyways. So I'm going to be spending roughly $35-$50 during the week on baby food, and formula. Why not buy items that will give me RR's (get the items for free) and use my RR's on my formula and baby food?
So you can either look at it like I'm getting my formula and baby food for free, and paying for the other items I'm getting, OR I'm getting the items for free and paying for the baby food and formula-- which I would be doing anyways?!?
Some Extra Pointers:
Always grab an ad, located in the front, for when you're shopping through the store! Sometimes an item will be on sale, but it wont show it on the shelf! Also, sometimes an item will give you a RR if you purchase it, but wont show that on the shelf either! Carry the ad with you to make sure you're getting the right deals!
Also, I always ask the clerk if the RR printer is working, before I go buying things to get RR's. You never know if the printer is down, or they might be out of paper rolls for the machine! It HAS happened before!
EDIT: You can only buy 1 per item, per order- to get the register reward for that item!
Let's say shampoo is $2, and you will get $2 RR. You can only buy ONE per order, to get the $2 RR for each item!
Because alot of the items are free after RR's are considered, they may go fast! It's best to get your deal shopping done at Walgreens very early in the week! You could also ask the clerk what day(s) your store restocks, so you will know for the future!
I think that's it! If you have any other questions, feel free to leave a comment or email me!
Register Rewards (also known as: RR) are 'coupons' that print off when you buy certain items at Walgreen's. Every week you can check the Walgreen's ad to see what will give you RR's. Most of the items are weekly, running from Sunday-Saturday. Some are monthly, so you can buy that item anytime during that month, and get the RR's for it.
With RR's you have to pay upfront for the item, and use the RR print out for your next purchase. You CAN use RR's to pay for things that will give you more RR's IF the RR you're using to pay for it wasn't from the same item.
Let's say Colgate toothpaste is on sale for $2.00 and when you buy 1 of them you get a $1.50 RR print out. That means you will come out of pocket $2, but will have $1.50 to spend on your next order. So, you're toothpaste was really only 50¢ when it's all said and done!
Now, lets say Herbal Essence Shampoo was on sale for $2.50 and you get $2.50 in RR when you purchase 1. Let's also say you have a coupon for $2.00 off any Herbal Essence product.
You will come out of pocket (oop) 50¢ and will get a $2.50 RR to be used on your next order.
Which means your shampoo was really a $2.00 money maker!
Ok, I hope everything is making sense so far!
RR's are considered "manufacturer coupons," so you may only use 1 per item when purchasing something.
Let's say I want to buy a $25 canister of formula. Obviously no one RR print out will be that high, so I will need to use "filler" items. Filler items are usually something very cheap. Cheap gum, candy, drink, baby food jar, etc! So I have:
$5 RR coupon
$9 RR coupon
$8 RR coupon
$5 RR coupon
Total RR's to use: $27
BUT- there are 4 of them, meaning I have to buy 4 items. So in order to get my $25 can of formula for free, I need to buy 3 cheap items as "fillers."
So in my case, I will grab 3 jars of baby food for 79¢ ea. 3x 79¢ = $2.37
$2.37 for baby food, and $25 for formula totals: $27.37
So I can use my 4 RR print outs to get my formula and baby food for 37¢ out of pocket!
A good way to look at it is like this:
I personally, am going to be buying formula on a weekly basis anyways. So I'm going to be spending roughly $35-$50 during the week on baby food, and formula. Why not buy items that will give me RR's (get the items for free) and use my RR's on my formula and baby food?
So you can either look at it like I'm getting my formula and baby food for free, and paying for the other items I'm getting, OR I'm getting the items for free and paying for the baby food and formula-- which I would be doing anyways?!?
Some Extra Pointers:
Always grab an ad, located in the front, for when you're shopping through the store! Sometimes an item will be on sale, but it wont show it on the shelf! Also, sometimes an item will give you a RR if you purchase it, but wont show that on the shelf either! Carry the ad with you to make sure you're getting the right deals!
Also, I always ask the clerk if the RR printer is working, before I go buying things to get RR's. You never know if the printer is down, or they might be out of paper rolls for the machine! It HAS happened before!
EDIT: You can only buy 1 per item, per order- to get the register reward for that item!
Let's say shampoo is $2, and you will get $2 RR. You can only buy ONE per order, to get the $2 RR for each item!
Because alot of the items are free after RR's are considered, they may go fast! It's best to get your deal shopping done at Walgreens very early in the week! You could also ask the clerk what day(s) your store restocks, so you will know for the future!
I think that's it! If you have any other questions, feel free to leave a comment or email me!
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