Coupon-ology: Gather Coupons – Part 3c of 5

May 2, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

My coupons are currently in disarray. I have about 3 – 4 weeks of inserts of which I need to sort, clip, and organize. Sometimes gathering the coupons is the easy part. It is the organizing that takes the time and energy. 😉

In investing in coupons, our family saves lots of money. Currently, our year-to-date savings percentage is 60.73%.

A good chunk of those savings is due to honing in on buy one, get one free offers matched with coupons. In using time wisely to organize my coupons, I can more efficiently save money and feed my family.

In our Coupon-ology series, we started with purge coupons in part 1, moved to organize coupons in part 2, and continue with gather coupons in Part 3. Thus far, we considered gathering from newspapers and magazines. Today, we look at printable coupon databases.

Part 3c: Printable Coupon Databases

When speaking of printable coupons, the basics needed to gain these gems are an electronic device (computer, laptop, tablet, etc.), Internet connection, and working printer with paper and ink/toner.

The first time you access a printable coupon database, you will need to download their coupon driver. This program communicates to the database limiting the number of prints to keep someone from printing all the available coupons.

1. The Printable Coupon Databases

Some of my highest-valued coupons are retrieved from printable coupon databases.

The four main printable coupon databases are:

Coupons.com
CouponNetwork
Redplum
SmartSource

2. Getting the Coupons

You should never pay for a printable coupon. You can print directly from these sites, so you need not go through a series of survey questions, sign up for a free subscription, or participate in a program to print.

Some companies or sites want additional information from you before linking to the main coupon database. If you get directed to such a site, just check the four main databases directly, and you are sure to find what you need without giving out your information.

When I create my grocery list, Jenny Martin includes a link to the printable coupon database for the needed coupon. Now, she uses the coupon databases’ affiliate program and gets paid for promoting their coupons, but Jenny only links if the product is a good deal.

Affiliate marketing is a way that bloggers earn money without readers incurring a fee. I happily print coupons from Southern Savers to support Jenny while printing the coupons I need from the main coupon databases. Jenny has proved herself trustworthy which is why I use Southern Savers to create my weekly grocery lists.

3. Printing the Coupons

When you access the printable coupon database, a chart of pictures with coupon values will meet you. Just check the boxes on the coupons you want, and click print selected coupons.

Having printed numerous coupons, here a few of my tips:

1. Print in multiples of 3

If the coupon does not have advertising on it, then 3 coupons will print per page. To save on paper, I try to find coupons in groups of 3 to get the most from the print.

2. Print each coupon twice

When accessing the databases, I print all the coupons I want. Then I go back to the home page, select those coupons again, and print again. If I go back to look for them a third time, I will find them on the last page with a notification that my print limit has been reached.

Printing twice is great for stockpiling when combining sales and coupons. You can purchase more products at that rock bottom price.

Shortcut: If an individual coupon link is provided in a post or on Southern Savers for one product, I can print the coupon and then select the back space button a time or two. A second coupon will then print. If I keep hitting the back button, I will eventually be told that I have reached my print limit.

DO NOT hit your back button with SmartSource. This database will count that as your second print without printing. For SmartSource, you will need to go back to the database or the original link to print your second coupon.

Believe me, I have lost a number of prints trying to find a way to get SmartSource to reprint without going back. I would rather save you from the frustrations I have had. 🙂

If you do not get your second print, it is NOT permissible to copy the coupon. One should NEVER copy or duplicate coupons. If you need more printable coupons, then use another computer, ask a friend to print, try your library, or contact the manufacturer. But do not copy the coupons as dishonesty hurts the manufacturer, the stores, and ultimately – couponers.

3. Print early

These databases have a limited number of prints available. Once they are gone, the database will indicate you have already exceeded the number of prints allowed. This is not saying that you printed the coupon, it is just a standard message when all the prints have been claimed.

New coupons are released throughout the month with the majority released on the first. If you are looking for a coupon, checking on the first or second day of the month is more beneficial than the end of the month as the available coupon prints decrease.

I try to make out my grocery list by the day the sales begin, so I can print the coupons I need. Then when I get to the store, I will have my coupons in my envelope.

Printable coupon databases are a fabulous resource, especially for those who do not get the coupon inserts from the Sunday newspaper. Even with the newspaper coupons, I sometimes find the printable coupons more valuable.

In gathering coupons, using the coupon databases will take some time to setup and print, but the effort may be worth it to you. With so many options for gathering coupons, your coupon binder will quickly become your savings partner. I just need to help out my partners by getting them organized. 😉 Happy coupon finding!

Question: What tips do you have for printing coupons?

Coupon-ology: Gather Coupons – Part 3d of 5

May 9, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Really thought I would have made some progress on my coupon organization since last week, but no progress.

We have enjoyed the outdoors and kept the house clean, so progress is made – just not with the newspaper inserts and coupon filing. When I get to my coupons – hopefully early this week, I will file the coupons I have gathered, and there are a lot.

In our Coupon-ology series, we are compiling ways to gather our coupons in Part 3. Having looked at newspapers in part 3a, magazines in part 3b, and printable coupon databases in part 3c, I turn to manufacturers in part 3d.

Part 3d: Manufacturers

Marketing departments across the world are vying for your hard earned dollars. They spend hours developing advertisements and strategies to make their products seem necessary to your family’s existence. They want you to need their products, so they create promotions and coupons to make their products luring and easy for you to purchase.

If you use an abundance of product from a manufacturer, then you will want additional coupons from what you find in the newspaper inserts. For example, I have used Huggies diapers exclusively for more than 8 years with 2 children in diapers/pull-ups for multiple years. Exhausting the coupons received in the newspaper, I turn to these strategies for finding more manufacturer coupons:

1. Manufacturer Website

Visiting the manufacturer’s website and locating the coupon or promotional page provides information on where to find additional coupon savings.

2. Manufacturer Newsletters

In addition to informing e-mail subscribers to news and product information, manufacturers include coupons and additional promotions for their valued customers. Using my junk e-mail account provides room for lots of savings without cluttering my personal inbox with coupons, news, samples, and promotions.

3. Manufacturer Social Media Accounts

Keeping a junk Facebook and Twitter account, I can “like” and “follow” my favorite manufacturers and gain special discounts and coupons as a fan.

4. Contact Manufacturers

Sending an e-mail via their website’s contact page or placing a call to request coupons, thank them, or offer a suggestion for improvement usually nets you one or more high-value coupons. If you report a problem with a product, you will usually get those coupons as well.

5. Check Product Packaging

Some manufacturers (e.g., Dannon yogurt) add coupons inside their packaging. So, before you toss that cardboard covering, take a peek inside to check for coupons.

With manufacturers generously providing coupons and promotions to save you money, they desire to keep you as a paying customer. What they don’t know is how smart you are, and how you will combine their coupons with sales and promotions to get their products for more than 50% off. But we still want those coupons. 🙂

In gathering coupons, the manufacturer needs you to purchase their products, so take advantage of their generosity in providing coupons. Keep gathering and organizing to save your family’s resources while providing nourishment. Happy gathering!

Question: Where do you find additional manufacturer coupons?

2013: Garden Journal – May Edition

May 15, 2013 by Tracy

Warm weather arrived in mid-April, so we celebrated by planting our garden.

Thrilled with the results of our 2012 garden, we learned that lettuce does not like hot weather, so we didn’t plant any this year. We also learned that more plants can fit in our 1-foot square sections, so we bought more plants this year.

Also, I will clear out the garden at the end of this season because left alone, it becomes a huge mess.

Before we dive into all the details of our new garden plot, I will share how we began the process.

Though a bit embarrassing as we did not touch the garden since the end of last summer, I will share the tangled, weed-filled disaster with which we started. Though it starts out ugly, this garden journal ends with a beautiful result. (If you follow me on Facebook, then you got a sneak peek. 🙂 )

Preparing our Garden

Armed with my gloves, a spade, a rake, scissors, buckets, and a trash bag, I braced myself for the task at hand.

The mini tree on the bottom left corner is our parsley that overfilled its square and visited with the strawberries to its right and the dead basil behind it.

As I pruned the existing plants, I was surprised to see how well the parsley was doing when I found 4 happy slugs under the leaves.

The strawberry plants continue to thrive, and the oregano is also growing well. The rest of the green items were weeds, so I began digging and pulling up stems, roots, and weeds from each quadrant.

I also removed the top layer of soil and dug around looking for slugs to remove from the garden. Though I found no more (thank goodness), we did find worms.

After getting all the weeds out, I removed the strawberries and the oregano into buckets of top soil to replant. Leaving the garden bed empty to recover.

Planning our Garden

Making a few changes from last year, I mapped out the 16 slots on a sheet of paper and began making a list of plants to grow. I kept to the basics with a couple herbs and the rest fruits and vegetables.

When we went to Home Depot, I purchased the items on the list and added in a few extras for the remaining 2-4 squares. I increased the number of plants in each square to multiply our harvest.

Purchasing supplies for our Garden

Our family went to Home Depot for our garden trip. Spending $160, we purchased our plants, slug killer, top soil, Miracle Grow soil, stakes, and trellises.

BONUS: By spending $100 at Home Depot, we submitted a promotional rebate and will receive 2 free tickets to an Atlanta Braves baseball game. With my husband passing on his love of Braves baseball to our son, they will enjoy a game this summer.

While shopping, I met a wonderful gardener, who works at Home Depot, named Jennifer. She answered my questions and made some suggestions regarding which plants to put together or beside each other. I am very grateful for her and will return to her when I need further help.

Providing support for our Garden

With the supplies purchased, Paul added the soil to our garden bed. (See his well-worn Braves cap. ;-))

He also added the trellises for the climbing plants and stakes on the corners to hold up the bird netting.

With the bed finished, Paul created the side beds for our blueberries and blackberry shrubs. Now, it was my turn to begin planting.

Planting our Garden

With the bed prepared, I began transplanting our oregano from last year in one square, and in another square, I transplanted all 5 strawberry plants from last year. We are going to have lots of strawberries this year.

I then began in the back row, and followed my plan. I dug a little hole, and planted the plant from the containers. I then moved to the next one. When I finished the back row, I moved up to the next row, and continued until I finished planting the bed.

Then Paul helped me by digging the holes for the blueberry and blackberry shrubs. My girls are really excited about these plants. Our youngest daughter enjoyed holding the shovel between plantings.

After all the planting, I gave the garden a good watering and applied the slug killer. With the garden cared for, I covered the bed with the bird net to keep the rabbits and birds away from our tender plants. Having lost multiple strawberries last year and catching one thief in the net, I have learned the value of protecting our investment.

Plucking harvest from our Garden

Thus far, we have retrieved 6 strawberries from our mini-patch in the center of our garden. Yum! The buds have lots more coming. The rest of the plants are still establishing root before taking off.

Planting a garden sure is hard work. We make our garden a family project and enjoy watching and eating the harvest. Though I will share our garden journey with you, we are still novices and will make mistakes along the way.

If you are planting any type of garden, then I would love to learn from you. In using time wisely, I will not hesitate to ask my neighbor or Jennifer, at Home Depot, any question. No matter how basic my request, they willingly help me without making me feel like a novice. By asking these seasoned gardeners, we save money, energy, and time. Wishing you success with your plantings!

Question: Did you or are you planting a garden this year?

Coupon-ology: Gather Coupons – Part 3e of 5

May 16, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

On Monday, I cleared my day and focused on my coupon binders. I got all the coupons cut and organized.

Then on Tuesday, I received more newspapers, but I’m already making progress on this stack. Yay!

In our Coupon-ology series, we started with purging and organizing.

Having those done, we moved on to gathering coupons from newspapers, magazines, printable coupon databases, and manufacturers. Another source of coupons comes from direct mail.

Part 3e: Direct Mail

Good mail is not a thing of the past. I enjoy getting coupon surprises in the mail from multiple sources. Some resources for getting coupons via direct mail include:

Freebies and Samples

When I sign up or request a free item or sample, the company usually includes a coupon along with the sample item. Sometimes I have to hunt for the coupon in the midst of the packaging, but most of the time it is there.

Mailers and Advertisements

These are the packages of coupons for local establishments (e.g., Valpak). These coupons are usually for services and restaurants, but sometimes I find a coupon gem within the package.

Phone Book

Though not obsolete yet, the phone book has a section of coupons. I have found coupons for free or very inexpensive items from the phone book. I tear out the coupons and file them with my restaurant and entertainment coupons for when I’m looking for a discount.

Loyalty Programs

By signing up with loyalty programs at your local grocery stores, you may find surprises coming in your mailbox. I enjoy the store coupon booklets and special promotions delivered to my mailbox.

With lots of junk mail delivered to our home, I sort through the freebies, samples, mailers and advertisements, phonebooks, and loyalty programs to find the coupons our family might use. My favorites are the coupons from the freebies and samples as some of the products are so new that coupons are not yet available through other sources.

As you gather coupons, try not to overlook the value in the direct mail approach. Personally, I rarely turn away a coupon. In saving my family money, I gather responsibly from many sources with direct mail being one. Next week, I’ll share ways to find coupons through local stores. Happy coupon gathering!

Question: Do you find coupons in your mailbox?

Coupon-ology: Gather Coupons – Part 3f of 5

May 23, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

With my coupons organized, I finally made it out to the grocery store. I chose a great week as a few cuts of meat that our family consumes were on sale. I stocked up to the tune of $85 at Bi-Lo alone. I was over-budget for the week, but under-budget for the month as I had not been shopping in 3 weeks.

Even with the break, our pantry, freezer, and refrigerator were still doing well. We did shop for eggs, bread, milk, and fruit within those 3 weeks, but I turned to my stockpile for the staples. By using coupons and sales, I continue to stockpile, so I do not need to run to the store every week.

Continuing our Coupon-ology series, we are gathering coupons. The sources covered thus far are newspapers, magazines, printable coupon databases, manufacturers, and direct mail. Today, we move to stores. Strategically placed throughout some stores, you can find both store and manufacturer coupons.

Part 3f: Stores

Keeping our eyes open, we find coupons in stores at these locations:

Entrance

Checking the stands and displays, we find flyers and booklets. Walgreens displays their monthly coupon booklets at the front of each store. The coupons are valid all month long with a new book available next month.

Front of the Store

The weekly circulars at Publix often have store coupons. These circulars are usually located at the front of the store or near the registers.

Customer Service

When we visit Publix, we stop by customer service requesting coupons before beginning our shopping trip. Almost always, we are rewarded for our request.

Pharmacy

Displays often carry literature on products. I have found high-value coupons from pharmacy brochures.

Blinkies

These are the little machines with red blinking lights by products throughout the store. My children love to look and acquire these coupons.

Peelies

These are coupons attached to the package on products.

Coupon Machine

At CVS, you can scan your Extra Care card to receive coupons to use on your current visit.

Receipt

Some stores print coupons at the bottom of your receipt. At CVS, the Extra Bucks you earn print on the bottom of your receipt.

Catalinas

These coupons print from a separate printer at checkout. Usually they are printed on white paper with red borders. Sometimes these offers are coupons, and other times, they are rewards for completing a promotion. For example, I earned $3 off my next purchase at Bi-Lo by purchasing 3 boxes of cereal in one transaction.

By checking your surroundings while shopping, you may pick up a few more coupons to help you save money. In using time wisely, I focus on the shopping while my children hunt for coupons. This arrangement is a win-win for our entire family. Happy gathering!

Question: Where else in stores do you find coupons?

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