Sunday, May 8, 2011

How Do You Get All Those Coupons???

I had a cashier ask me yesterday how I got all my coupons.  Now I just have a smaller sort of binder, and there's probably 4000 coupons in it - if only she could see my desk!  :-)

I have my binder that I carry everywhere, but I also have a "stockpile" of coupons that aren't in my binder.  I typically know if I have a coupon for something, and most of the time can tell you exactly how much it's worth....whether in my binder or not.

So how do I get all those coupons? 

Well I buy multiple weekly papers.  The # of papers I purchase depends on the coupon inserts that are included that week.  I also print coupons every chance I get from every site I can print them from.

Printed coupons are accepted almost everywhere.  Of the 9 stores I frequent most often only 1 of them does not accept printed coupons, and that is a new policy they put in place about a month ago - so I don't shop there as often anymore either.

Find your favorite online coupon printer and use it routinely.  Keep in mind most will let you print the coupon only twice - so you're going to need to find multiple sites or use multiple computers to get more than 2 coupons for a product.

Inside this blog there are some links for printable coupons.  I usually have a page called "printable coupons" that will take you to specific coupons I've mentioned in articles, and I've also let some advertising take place on my page which is content specific so they're usually coupon sites too. 

Also - let me reiterate that if you're not already a member of an online coupon forum, such as WeUseCoupons or CouponMom, then you need to be!  Both sites are free to join!  If....no when....you sign up be sure to tell them that you heard about them through stretchthatdollar!

Once you sign up let me know if you have questions.  Both of the databases are huge, and offer lots of information, which may be overwhelming at first!  But they're fun to use and addicting.......and sooo worth the couple minutes it takes to sign up and get started!

I don't dumpster dive - the recycle containers here have very specific language on them that scares me - so I stay out!  I don't need the hassle with the law for coupons.  I do like to save, therefore hiring an attorney because I was digging through a recycle bin isn't worth it for me personally. 

I do check the local coffee shops when I stop for coffee in the morning - lots of times people have purchased a paper, enjoyed their coffee, and left the paper sitting when they left.  I also have some friends that do not coupon that save their coupons for me - which is a bonus too.  From time to time, when there's a very specific coupon out that I want quite a few of I will purchase them from online coupon clipping services - but those times are few and far between.

My stockpile has taken over a closet, 2 bathroom cabinets, and headed to the bedroom - so I do well with what coupons I do get.  I'm not in this to clear shelves or anything like that - just get the best deal I can get and save my family some money doing it. 

If you have questions, need to know where to get a coupon from, can't figure out how to navigate a site, etc. please don't hesitate to contact me!

Things My Mother Taught Me

Since it's Mothers Day I thought I'd share a little something I received in an e-mail.  The author of this piece is unknown....probably because they didn't want their mom finding out they wrote it!  :-)

How many of these do we "teach" our kids these days?  There's quite a few in here that I know I teach on a daily basis, and after reading them I've decided that I am becoming my mother! 

                                              THINGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME

My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE - "If you're going kill each other, do it outside - I just finished cleaning the house!"

My mother taught me RELIGION - "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL - "If you don't sort yourself out, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week"

My mother taught me LOGIC - "Because I said so, that's why."

My Mother taught me LOGIC...#2 - "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going shopping with me."

My mother taught me FORESIGHT - "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

My mother taught me IRONY - "Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about."

My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS - "Shut your mouth and eat your dinner!"

My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM - "Will you "look" at the dirt on the back of your neck!"

My mother taught me about STAMINA - "You'll sit there 'till all that spinach is finished."

My mother taught me about WEATHER - "It looks as if a tornado swept through your room."

My mother taught me how to solve PHYSICS PROBLEMS - "If I yelled because I saw a meteor coming toward you, would you listen THEN?"

My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY - "If I've told you once, I've told you a million times - Don't Exaggerate!!!">

My mother taught me THE CIRCLE OF LIFE - "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION - "Stop acting like your father!"

My mother taught me about ENVY - "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do!"

My Mother taught me about ANTICIPATION -  "Just wait until we get home."

My Mother taught me about RECEIVING - "You are going to get it when we get home!"

My Mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE - "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to stick that way."

My Mother taught me to THINK AHEAD - "If you don't pass your spelling test, you'll never get a good job."

My Mother taught me ESP - "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you're cold?"

My Mother taught me HUMOR - "When that lawnmower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT - "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

My Mother taught me about GENETICS - "You're just like your father."

My Mother taught me about my ROOTS - "Do you think you were born in a barn?"

My Mother taught me about WISDOM OF AGE - "When you get to be my age, you will understand."

And my all time favorite... JUSTICE - "One day you'll have kids ...and I hope they turn out just like you!"

FREE Tylenol Precise

Rite Aid has Tylenol Precise on sale for $5.00 this week.

Use your $5.00/1 coupons that came in today's inserts, and they will be FREE!

CVS Trip 5/8/11 - 98% SAVINGS

2 Herbal Essence Shampoo
2 Carefree PantyLiners
3 Similac Ready to Feed (that's all they had at this particular store)
2 Skintimate Shave Gel (on sale for $1.99 / I had 2 $0.55 coupons that were about to expire)
6 Sobe Life Water
2 Revlon Eyeliners

TOTAL BEFORE SAVINGS:  $64.78
Used $17.54 in previously issued ECB's
Paid $1.80 out of pocket
TOTAL SAVINGS 98% plus received $9.00 ECB's for next purchase

QUICK deal update

I will post full deals & steals later - but here's a quick run down of the best deals out there this week:

CVS

Country Fresh Milk - 2.99
     get $1.00 ECB
     final price $1.99
     limit 2 ECB rewards

Herbal Essence - 2/$5.97
     get $2.00 WYB 2
     use 2 $1.00/1 coupons
     final price $0.99 each
     limit 1 ECB reward

Similac Ready to Feed - $4.99
     use $5.00/1 coupon
     final price FREE

Carefree Pantyliners - $0.99
     Use $1.00/1 coupon
     final price FREE


Walgreens

Pampers - 2/$18.00
     get $3.00 RR WYB 2
     use 2 $1.50/1 coupons
     *if you have or can find an infant care booklet there is a $1.00/1 coupon in there - will ring twice
     final price with infant care booklet = $5.00 each

Unadvertised Pampers Reward = spend $20.00 get $5.00 ECB's
     Add a box of wipes to your 2 diapers - or a 3rd bag to get your $5.00 ECB

Clean & Clear Body Wash - $5.99 BOGO Free
     Use BOGO Free coupon
     final price FREE

Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner - BOGO Free ($2.99)
     Use $1.00/2 coupon
     final price = $1.00 each

Lays or Rold Gold chips - $1.99
     Use $2.00/2 coupon
     final price = $0.99 each

Colgate Toothbrushes - 2/$6.00
     Use 2 $0.75/1 coupons
     get $2.00 RR
     final price  1.25 each

More to come after I finish my shopping today - I like to verify prices so that I'm posting accurate information!

Happy Mother's Day

If you don't already have plans yet for mothers day head on over and check out Hooter's Mothers Day giveaway!  10 FREE wings!

While you're there - have some for me!  :-)

Enjoy your day!  Deals will be up in a couple hours for this week!!

Happy Mother's Day

If you don't already have plans yet for mothers day head on over and check out Hooter's Mothers Day giveaway!  10 FREE wings!

While you're there - have some for me!  :-)

Enjoy your day!  Deals will be up in a couple hours for this week!!