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?

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?