Have you tried couponing, only to give up frustrated?

Below is a list of retail items, most of which are in your home right now. How much did you pay? What if I could tell you how to cut the retail costs of these, and like items, in half or better.  Would you want to know? My name is Samantha Clattenburg.  I am not an EXTREME couponer. I am an excellent one. I do not hoard or shelf clear. Look at the list below and ask yourself one question. “Am I sick of paying through the nose for items that I need to live?” If the answer is yes, we should talk.

*Detergent (Tide, Gain) 40 loads;

Retail between $8-$10

I pay $4 AT THE MOST

 *Razors  (Gilette, Schick, Bic) refillable

 Retail between $10-$20, depending on starter kit or refill cartridges.

I pay $1.

*Body wash (in lieu of hard hand soap)

Retail between $3-$5

I pay 50 cents

*Toothpaste

Reatail between $2-$4

I PAY NOTHING!!  In fact, toothpaste, toothbrushes , deodorant, and shampoo are almost always FREE!

*Bengay

Retail between $5-$10 depending on specialty item

I pay nothing. In fact Target paid me 75 cents to take it out of the store.

*Cereal

Retail between $3-$4

I pay $1.50 a box AT THE MOST

*Frozen Fruit Smoothies (Yoplait, Jamba )

 Retail $3ea.

I pay $1ea.

*Bottled juice (100% juice, not a high fructose corn syrop infested drink)

Retail depending on specialty items ie. POM Wonderful, V8 Fusions, Welch’s, between $3-$5

I pay $1.50 AT THE MOST

Flavored Coffee creamer ie. Coffee Mate, Baileys, International Delight

Retail approx. $3

I pay 50 cents. PERIOD!

If you are interested in having a coupon party, I can teach you and your friends how to maximize your food and personal needs budget. Whether you want to use couponing to try items you thought were not affordable, or simply cut your spending in half, a two hour investment of your life will give you an epiphany that will make you laugh.  Couponing is a life-long skill. Once you know how, you will never shop any other way.

cpn101cncrd@gmail.com

The Devil made me do it...

Out of these choices, what is your biggest impulsive craving?

*Coffee

*Ice cream

*Candy

*Chips

*Clothes

*Shoes and Accessories

*Make-up

*Jewelry

*Electronics

*Manicure

Shaw's line up 8/19-8/25 -updated

Dear Shaw's, I am not in love with you this week. I forgive you.


Not any great double Q opportunities this week. But Great $1 Deals below.

*Barilla Pasta and Near East Rice Mix 10/$10


*Fresh Express Salad Mix $3.59 BOGO


*Chobani  Greek Yogurt $1 - use $.30 Q doubled = $.40

http://www.chobani.com/coupons

*Wishbone 8oz. dressing $1 - $1.25/2 Q from previous RP = 2/$.75

*Arm and Hammer dryer Sheets $1 - $1/2 Q in previous SS = 2/$1

*Eat Smart cut Vegatables -$1 ea.

*Green Giant frozen vegatables -$1 ea.

*Mama Rosa’s Pasta Meals - $1ea.


*Oscar Mayer Lunchables $1ea.


*Sunkist, A&W, or 7up 2 Liters $1ea.


*Softsoap Hand soap pump 7.5oz. $1ea.


*Crest Anti Cavity 3.5oz. $1ea.

*Kens Steakhouse Marinade $1.99- $1 Q in SS = $.99

*Coke (12 pk.) 3/$9 and FREE 8 pk. Gatorade WYB (3) 12 pk. Coke

*Cheerios 2/$4 - $1/2 Q from previous SS = 2/$3

Practical and Ethical Couponing.

I think there is an art to couponing. Most people who do it well think the same. But my interpretation of the ethics may differ than someone else. At the risk of alienating certain readers, I want to say straight up, I think shelf clearing is absolutely wrong. No excuses. That being said, I would like to offer some tips about how to coupon practically and ethically.

Many people are beginning to realize that their savings are considerably better when they focus on smaller trips to the store, two or three times a week, rather than making one large weekly haul. And many people are also starting to think outside the box regarding where it is they chose to purchase certain items. But the cost of gas is certainly a contender in this battle of balance. This is my advice.

#1: Get a coupon buddy. This will help you in two ways. The first of which can be that you carpool once or twice a week, and make your circle around town. Believe it or not, this is SO MUCH FUN! The second way this will help you is that two heads are better than one. I have been couponing for a while now, and I miss deals too. My buddy says “DUH” and points it out. Again, so much fun.

#2: Be organized. You probably have your binder, and that is a great start. But I like to individualize a store plan, if you will. I put certain coupons in an envelope, then in my purse. I know what I want, what I am willing to pay, and I also have a back-up plan if some things don’t work out. Remember, if you don’t hit it big one week, you will the next. Just be realistic.

#3: Realize that everyone makes mistakes. This includes the cashier, AND YOU. I have been at the register before only to realize that I misread a coupon. Decide before hand how you are going to deal with such a mistake. Is it something you really want or need, and is it worth the ACTUAL price you are going to pay? If not, politely apologize, say "my bad" and ask to void it before you cash out. 

If the cashier messes up, look at the line behind you. If there is no one, you can ask for a manager. If there is a long line, please consider that those people are waiting. I personally just pay, step to the side, figure out the problem, and get the manager when the line has dissipated. Don't forget, these people are going to remember you if you are the person who makes a scene. I don't want people to think of me this way. 

#4: Eat before you shop!! This is the golden rule since the dawn of time. It is one thing to get a coffee for the road, but it is such a bummer when all your savings go out the window on an impulsive binge because you are hungry.

Happy couponing people.

Brand Loyalty?

Are you stuck on the idea that the specific shampoo you use every day, or the detergent, deodorant, toothpaste, razors etc...(you see where I am going with this) that you purchase on a weekly basis, are an ingrained part of your budget, and only when you see a coupon for that specific item, can you MAYBE score?

Let me put it this way. Do you put flavored coffee creamer in your coffee? Is it Coffee Mate brand? Did you pay $3 or more for it? What if I told you I had 4 Bailey’s brand (assorted flavors) in my freezer and one in the fridge? And what if I said they were 50 cents each? Would you switch? This theory applies to EVERYTHING in couponing. Most of the time, the items that are the most expensive, are the easiest to get for next to nothing. But ironically, you have probably been settling for a mediocre product because it was more affordable.

No more. Brand loyalty will hinder your ability to save BIG! If you have allergies to certain things, that is obviously understandable, but otherwise you need to reconsider those preconceived notions of brands that you have used forever. I mean, if something is practically free, wouldn’t you at least try it? I would. I do. ALL THE TIME!

Let me spell it out further. Do you, or your spouse, pay between $15 and $25 for razor refills? Why would you spend that kind of money on say, Schick refills, when you can get a new Gillette system for $1 (2 cartridges with 5 blades)? Or vice versa. Why would you pay $4 every 2 or 3 weeks on the same mediocre shampoo, if you can get a better one for FREE!

This is couponing. No joke. I have the receipts to prove it. For those of you who are new, I do classes once or twice a week. $10 and 2 hours of your life you will never regret spending. But I bet you can think of a movie or two, where you’d like your money and your 2 hours back ;)

COUPON ABBREVIATIONS (your survival guide to the coupon underground)

*Q (or) q= coupon

*Man= Manufacturer

*BOGO or B1G1= Buy one get one

*CAT= Catalina coupon (these are the coupons that pop     out after a sale for use on your next purchase)

*ECB= Extra Care Bucks, CVS rewards to be used same as cash on next purchase (with provisions)

*RR= Register Rewards for Walgreens (CAT coupons)

*Wags= another name for RR’s (short for Walgreens)

*Up+ Rewards= Rite Aid version of the same

*OOP= Out of pocket

*WYB= When You Buy

*MIR= Mail in rebate

*P&G= Proctor & Gamble

*K= Kellogg’s

*GM= General Mills

*SS= Smart Source

*RP= Red Plum

*Blinkies= In-store Smart Source coupons

*Peelie= Coupons that you peel of a product

*Stacking= Using manufacturer coupons with store coupons on the same item

*FAR= Free After Rebate

*DND= Do Not Double

Print them before they go away...

Zantac!!!If you have not redeemed the Zantac coupon offer, you have a second chance. AND, you can get a free sample. After you fill out the required fields for the sample, simply click coupon and offers.

http://www.zantacotc.com/sample/

Starbucks ice cream $.75 coupon. Great for doubling. Print 2.

https://ssl.unilever.com/starbucksicecream.com/Coupon-Reg.aspx?coupon=monthly&utm_source=starbucks_August&utm_medium=email&utm_content=save_button&utm_campaign=nonsubscribers

Dole Juice $.50 coupon.  Another one great for doubling. (P.S. Great for smoothies.)

http://coupons2.smartsource.com/smartsource/index.jsp?Link=DKLNRKAH7XZK2

Schick Extreme 3- $3 coupon on FB page.

https://www.facebook.com/schickxtreme3?sk=app_188245207893606&app_data=coupons