Coupon Questions 101

Coupon Hints

• How to shop at CVS. CVS has a program called Extra Care Bucks (ECB). Sign up at the store to get a card, and then when you purchase certain item(s), you will get ECB back. They print out at the bottom of your receipt. You can use these on your next purchase on basically anything. The best way to use these is to "roll them" into other ECB deals. If you are just starting out, the best way to do it is by buying something that is free after ECB. For example, in February, when you buy EaRinse @ $7.99, you will receive $7.99 in ECB back. So you could take that $7.99 and use it towards another EaRinse (the limit on the deal is 2) and pay NOTHING out of pocket, and receive another $7.99 in ECB, or you could use it towards another ECB deal. The object of the game is to pay the least out of pocket as possible.
• How to shop at Walgreens. When you buy certain items at Walgreens, you can earn Register Rewards. They are similar to the ECBs at CVS in that they are used like cash towards your future purchase, but with a lot more stipulations. You can only use 1 RR per item, and they count as a manufacture's coupon (so you can't use another manu coupon with that item). Your total number of coupons cannot exceed the number of items you are buying. For example, if you are buying St. Ives body wash for $2.99, and you have a $1.50 coupon and $1 RR, pick up a candy bar or pack of gum so you can use both coupons. You cannot "roll" you Register Reward into the same deal (if you got $4 RR from Soft Soap, you can't use that $4 RR to buy another Soft Soap or the RR won't print). Also, your RR can't exceed the PRICE of your purchase before tax. So if you have a $3 RR, you can't purchase solely an item for $2.99. This applies to most coupons there- they can't exceed the amount of the product or the register will beep and the cashier will probably not allow it.
• There are many websites that you can print out free internet coupons. Most stores allow them, but you'll run into a store here and there that don't. Here's a HUGE list of internet coupons courtesy of slickdeals.net: http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=836711
• Most stores (Publix, CVS, Walgreens) will allow you to use 2 coupons on BOGO items. And at Publix, if you have a BOGO manufacturer's coupon, you can use it on a BOGO sale item = both FREE!
• Many stores (CVS, Walgreens, Publix, Target) will allow you to use 1 manufacturer's coupon (like the kind from the Sunday paper or on the internet) and 1 store coupon per item! Target has store coupons on their site www.target.com and they change every few weeks. Walgreens has store coupons in their ads and in the Easy Saver Catalog which are located next to the ads in the stores. Word of warning- sometimes you'll run into a cashier at Target who isn't aware of this policy, but if you have them ask their manager, they will confirm it. It's the only store I ever have issues with this.
• A super easy way to get free stuff is by joining MyPoints. They'll send you emails soliciting different companies, and all you have to do is open the emails to receive points. You also can do surveys to earn points. Or if you shop online, go through the MyPoints site first and score LOTS of points. Then you can use your accumulated points to get gift cards from almost any conceivable store. I have gotten hundreds of dollars in gift cards to Target and CVS doing this! Let me know if you want to try it, and I'll email you a referral.
• You MUST buy more than one newspaper each week for the coupons! You can get the best deal this way on buy one get one free sales, in which you may use 2 coupons.
• Shop early in the week, or the sale items will be gone!
• If CVS or Walgreens runs out of an item, always get a raincheck. They may/will benefit you to get them at a later date.
• To get more than one Internet Printable coupon (IP), as soon as your printer starts printing, hit the back button on your browser a few times until the printer icon shows up again on your screen. Most of the time, you can print a total of 2 coupons. These coupons have unique codes on them, so you cannot photocopy them.
• This can be very overwhelming, so if you ever have any questions, just ask! I'm here to help! :)