Gathering Coupons

In a small series of posts over the next few weeks (hopefully!), I will discuss how to start coupon shopping.

First thing to do is gather some coupons.



There are several ways to do this.

Sunday papers (except holiday weekends) have coupon inserts.
(example)



Ebay also provides a wide variety of coupons, many for specific items. Just type in coupons in the ebay search bar.

There are coupons in the stores, which I usually gather a few of each as I'm shopping.....can use these to trade with family and friends if you are not going to use them yourself.
Coupons are usually on tear-pads or in blinky boxes (red blinking light) that when you pull out one coupon, it spits out another one.

(tear pad examples)


(blinkies examples)


There are catalina coupons, which are the coupons you receive with your store receipt after you have paid.

(catalina example)


There are also sights online to purchase coupons as well, along with many blogs that are great for listing where the internet printable ones are.
www.kuntryklippers.com has coupons to purchase (***NOTE!! Have your volumn turned DOWN or off :) )

www.coupons.com always has coupons there to print online. I print mine in only black ink, as I do not have color.
The internet printables are not accepted in all stores, so before printing out a bunch of them (wasting your ink, paper and time), make sure you first find out your store's coupon policy on them.

(internet printable coupon example)


While you are gathering up your coupons, I will get ready in the next few days or so to share with you some ways to keep them organized and ready to go at all times.

Kroger Shopping Today!

18 rolls Bounty Basic paper towels

18 packs of Birdseye Steamfresh veggies

2 boxes Bagel-fuls

9 Del Monte Superfruit cups

9 Johnson & Johnson Buddies soaps

5 Johnson & Johnson first aid steril guaze pads

9 McCormick Grill-Mates

3 Mentos Gum

3 packs Capri-Sun juiceboxes

12 cans Pringles

1 Quaker Rice Snacks

2 Lawrey's Marinade bottles

3 Pillsbury Cin. Rolls tubes

6 Johnsonville breakfast sausage links

1 Philadelphia cream cheese (I had no coupon for this item)

Total before coupons: $188.92

Total OOP (out of pocket) $18.13

Savings of $170.79!! :)

Our Kroger doubles $1 and under coupons and I had coupons for everything but the cream cheese.

Kmart Super Double Coupons!

I went to Kmart today (super double coupons up to $4) and here is what I brought home!

Regular Price total $55.70

1 Dawn Dishsoap $1.99 ... $0.49 after coupon (tripled .50 coupon)
4 Ziploc Freezer Bags $2.79 each ($11.16) $1.25 each after coupons
4 Ziploc Sandwich Bags $3.19 each ($12.76) $1.50 each after coupons
2 Hershey Bliss chocolates $3.99 each ($7.98) $1.00 each after coupons
4 Johnson & Johnson Sterile Pads $1.79 each ($7.16) FREE after coupons
2 Johnson & Johnson Cotton Swabs $1.49 each ($2.98) FREE after coupons
1 Reach Toothbrush $2.49 clearanced to $1.24 FREE after coupon
1 Axe Shower Gel trial size $1.19 FREE after coupon
1 Rimmel Vinyl Lip Gloss $5.29 clearanced to $2.50 ...$0.50 after coupon

After coupons, I paid $15.55!
I saved $40.15

Second shopping Trip!!

I was so excited over yesterdays shopping, that I had to go again today!! :)

I spent a total of $11.42 for all of the above.

The total before coupons and my Kroger card was $116.00!!

I did this in 3 seperate stops, as our Kroger limits 3 like coupons per visit, but I'm lucky enough to have 3 different Kroger stores within about 2 miles of each other. Our Kroger stores double the $1 coupons.

Here is what I got:

3 packs of Halls
6 Mentos Gum
9 Johnson & Johnson's Buddies soap bars
6 cans Dole pineapple
9 Knorr Butter Noodles
5 Wish Bone Bountiful Dressings
2 boxes G2 Powder Packs
4 French's Mustards
9 Johnsonville Sausage Links

The Johnson & Johnson's has been a rolling deal for me. When I purchase 3 in one transaction, I get a catalina coupon for $2.50 off any 3!
The grandkids are going to LOVE these!!

The French's mustard was also a rolling deal for me as well, as when I purchased the 2 from yesterday (the 2 only cost me .50 out of pocket after coupon and sale), the coupon dispenser shot out a coupon for $1 off my next shipping order, which Kroger also doubles these here!
It is like getting the mustard for free and then taking yet another $1.50 off my grocery bill!! YEAH!!

On the Halls, the coupon I used for each pack was $1.00 off. The coupon states Do Not Double right at the top, which Kroger does not usually double these (which is fair!). I purchased 1 pack at each store....2 of the stores doubled the coupon (making the Halls FREE) and 1 store did not double it, so I paid .50 for the pack. Still a wonderful deal!

My little shopping trip yesterday

Here is my little shopping trip yesterday......DH had to get gas in his truck and gas cans, so I rode along with him (we get .50 off a gallon at kroger) and while he was getting gas, I was in the store buying all this with coupons and the using the store reward card:

2 rolls Bounty Basic FREE
3 Johnson & Johnson's Buddies (.47 for all 3, had a catalina coupon)
3 Mentos Gum FREE
6 packs Johnsonville Sausage Link (.50 each, total $3)
3 4-pks Danimals Crush-Cups (.29 each, total .87)
2 French's Mustard (.25 each, total .50)
6 Wish Bone Bountiful Dressings FREE
4 half-dozen eggs (special at .25 each, total $1)
2 packs Halls FREE

Total out of pocket for all $5.12
Total savings of $66.43

But I then received a check-out coupon for $1 off my next shopping (which my store doubles, so is worth $2!, along with another check-out coupon for $2.50 off any 3 Johnson & Johnson's products)

Now remember, I have to drive 25 miles one way to get to the store, so we do try to make the most of each trip!

Our store doubles the $1 coupons, but even if your store does not, check your sale prices this week on some things. Most all our stores around here (even the stores that do not double coupons) have the Johnsonville sausage on sale for either $2 or $2.50, so with a $1 off coupon that was in yesterdays paper (coupons inserts), still a really good deal, as these are normally $3.99 each.