Did you miss Day Five? Find it HERE.
Coupons
Probably the number one question I am asked is, “Where can I find good coupons?”
Honestly, EVERYWHERE! I even recently picked up coupons from the pediatrician’s office beside the appointment’s window. I have gotten coupons from my dentist too. You just have to keep your eyes open.
But, if you are not into treasure hunting, there are a ton of readily available places to find coupons.
1) Newspaper Inserts
In a typical Sunday newspaper, you will find two coupon inserts. Ther have been days when I have received as many as five. The insert companies include: Red Plum (RP), SmartSource (SS), General Mills (GM or SS2), Proctor & Gamble (PG), and once in a while you can find a few in Parade.
The key to getting coupons from your Sunday paper is to get more than one copy! Whether you get the coupon inserts from non-couponing friends or from the bottom of the paper vending machine (where people toss the unwanted ads), get as many copies as you can. I personally have a subscription to the paper and they drop two papers on Sundays.
Also, get copies from other cities if possible. I swap coupons with my cousin, Ramona (LOVE YOU!), who lives in Florida. Those coupon inserts are always so fat and full of stuff we did not get. So, contact your friends who live out of town near bigger cities and ask if they would like to coupon swap with you.
The Pensacola newspaper is available at the Publix in Fairhope but they only get a small number so you would have to get up terribly early to get one.
2) Sales Advertisements
Look in your Wednesday’s newspaper for grocery ads. If you are not a newspaper subscriber, you probably get the Subscriber Plus in your mail. Many times, you will find coupons inside these ads. Sometimes, you can print coupons from the online copies of the sales ads, especially from Publix and Toys R Us/Babies R Us.
3) Magazines
Some magazines are chock full of coupons. Martha Stewart publications, such as Living and Everyday Food, tend to always have coupons. However, All You (only at Walmart) is probably the number one magazine resource for coupons.
Publix has a list of free publications available at their website and each comes with coupons inside.
4) Junk Mail
I used to toss junk mail without a glance. Now, I have learned to comb through it before chunking it into the recycle box. My knees get weak when I get junk mail from Target sicne they send our grocery and baby coupons. About four times a year, you will even get a $5 off $50 coupon from them. If you do not get Target mailings, contact them today to get on their mailing list.
The Publix Baby Club mailer is another one that makes me giddy. These coupons are not just for babies so do not hesitate to sign up.
Other junk mail includes coupons too. So always be vigilent. And, if you get a Val-Pack, jump for joy!
5) Samples
Free samples from manufacturers often come with a coupon enclosed. The best place to get free samples is from Walmart.com, but these rarely come with coupons. Seems strange to me.
6) In the Store
There are several places in a store to look for coupons:
- Blinkies – SmartSource machines near the product
- Peelies – Stuck to the product or a partner product
- Displays/Tearpads – Free standing displays
My rule is to browse each aisle quickly every time you go & take TWO of each coupon you find. NOTE: Please do not remove peelies from products that you are not purchasing. To me, this is stealing!
6) Online
There is much to say about online coupons so we will leave that for tomorrow’s lesson.
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Your Assignment/s:
(1) When you head to the grocery store this week (whether Publix, Food World, Brunos, Winn Dixie, where ever) quickly browse each aisle looking for coupons. Report back here with what you found.
(2) Sign up for mailers with Target and Publix. You can contact Target at 1.800.440.0680 and sign up for Publix mailers HERE.
Find DAY SEVEN HERE.
, I receive a small commission but will not know what you purchased and it will cost you nothing extra. You can even use your gift cards. Thank you for supporting our family.)
