TUE 1/4 QUESTION: How much do you coupon?

[Deleted]

I'm a consistent couponer - usually end up saving about 50% which includes diapers for 2 kids and cat food/litter. My style is very similar to Dancinmama when it comes to couponing... I shop at publix and will go to a website that matches the current sales circular with coupons and lists all the IPs and competitor coupons. Then I decide what I need and how many and enter it into an excel spreadsheet, gather my coupons and shop. I currently just stack my paper inserts into a desk drawer with post-its flagging the different inserts and dates. Then I have envelopes that I use to store (by category) any IPs that I've printed but not yet used. I haven't used any of the clipping services, but I may in the future...

[Apple]

While I'm going through the coupons and getting a list all organized, I write the grocery list on half of a junk-mail envelope (or one that comes with a bill since I do mostly online payments now) and put all the coupons I'll use at the store in it--each store gets its own envelope. DS is usually with me when I go shopping so I try to have any "loose" coupons I'm not planning on using but might "come in handy" in the car, just in case I find something on sale that I've got a coupon for. If I find something, I'll just send DS out to the car to get the other coupons. If I get more "into" couponing, I'll probably go with the issue date to store coupons, except for those that I absolutely must not forget to lose (like a free item). I put a lot of those free items coupons on the visor of my car--when I get to a store I just glance up and see if something is there.
I didn't start carrying a purse until I got my CWP (insert small-red-neck-town-girl joke here) and I avoid opening it to "just get something" out of it, a small half-envelope is easy to manage when shopping.
I also send DS (13) off with his own cart now with his own coupons and simple instructions. If I'm getting something that has a "choice" and would end up asking him "what kind do you want?" anyway, he can get it himself (like cereal or crackers).

[Deleted]

It depends on the store policy if they will accept two coupons per item or not. Some stores will allow one store (either theirs or a competitor) coupon in conjunction with one manufacture coupon. It doesn't matter if they are printed off vs from an insert as long as it's one for one.

To use your example, if both coupons are $1 off 2 and one is a MQ where one is a store Q then as long as your store allows stacking it should be OK. But (again) you should check your store policy because some don't allow stacking, some allow use of competitor's coupons, and some consider different stores competitors than others.

[Apple]

insurancegal--
different stores might have different rules, but most I've gone to will allow both a manufacture's coupon (found in coupon inserts, magazines, etc) and a store coupon (on you get in the store flier).
Sometimes the coupon will say "cannot be combined with any other coupons" so you probably won't be able to use another one (unless your cashier will let you).
Some stores have rules that you must have at least as many items as you have coupons, so, if you have a BOGO free coupon and two $1 off coupons, and want to use all three for just two items (I've done this before and was able to make money you'll need to buy some little cheap item--a clearance eraser--whatever it takes to meet the item limit and only pay a few cents.

[Apple]

The best advice is to have a coupon-friendly cashier, they are less likely to argue and will let you arrange the coupons to get you the most "bang for your buck"--the order of the coupon can make a BIG difference!
EX: Kleenex is $1.29, you have a mf coupon for "free box of kleenex, up to $1" (in this example the coupon doesn't cover the full cost so would just be a $1 coupon) and a store c for "Kleenex is 79 cents" If you have the right cashier she'll let you scan the mf coupon first
$1.29-$1= $0.29
then she'll scan the store coupon
$1.29-$0.50=$0.79 (the price you would pay if you ONLY had the store coupon)
Your savings = $1 mf + $0.50 store=$1.50 savings
so, $1.29-$1.50=$0.21, you just "made" 21 cents by buying Kleenex! That 21 cents will deduct from your total, so if you buy only one box of Kleenex and a 25 cent item, you only pay 4 cents.

Same purchase, different coupon order...
store coupon makes kleenex $0.79
give them the mf coupon next and sometimes they will only take $0.79 off, not a full dollar. You still get free kleenex, but you didn't make any money. Multiply this by a lot of combined coupons and it can make a big difference.

One tip with mf coupons where they have to write down the price--give them the mf coupon when the item rings up, that way they can just look at the screen and write down the amount. Some cashiers will do that automatically if you just give them the pile when you start, but if you wait til the end they have to scroll back up and write the price down--sometimes after the other coupon was taken off.

[Apple]

Ok, after all that, if you want the best coupon tips ever, the WIR are awesome with advice and explain much better than I can. They even have a "guide" they will email to you if you ask that explains their abbrevriations, etc. AND they are very patient and encouraging with newbies

[Apple]

LMAO! I realized I just reached post #500 giving coupon advice I've migrated to EE mostly, but I am still a SmartSpender at heart!

[jsjjkelly]

I use coupons, but I just wish I was organized better. I'll go shopping once a month at the base commissary (because it's an hour away) and I'll do pretty good. But the rest of the month, I try and just run to the local store and get milk, oj, fruits and veggies.

There's a woman at my son's karate class who knows all the rules. One of those who, the day after Thanksgiving was at Walgreens with 50 some different transactions to get it all free. She was trying to explain how she did it (stacking???) Her church puts on this free coupon seminar... I might just attend it next time.

I kind of like the daily questions! How fun!
Shawn in FL