Welcome Adams County Couponers!!!

I want to first thank you, for inviting me out to an awesome area! I'm a country girl by heart, and if i didn't have a shopping problem where i needed more then 3 of the same store, you'd be having a new neighbor! Thanks you Mrs. P for giving me this great opportunity!


I will be loading your email addresses in tonight/tomorrow and should have all your emails out no later then Monday afternoon.

In the mean time:

Here is some information for you to use:


First: Coupon Hotline, (Call or text, your anonymous!) (513) 294-8006 is our "coupon hot line phone number"

Second- Online shopping: 

Do you shop online? If you do, you need to read this!!

Ebates is an online rebate site that pays YOU to shop! Do you use ebay? Guess what, your losing money by not using ebay through Ebates! They pay you anywhere from 1%-15% cash back (yes CASH!) for your purchases!

Please use the link above and sign up. It's really easy how to earn your money!

Sign up at Ebates then when you shop online, go to their page and click your store. They track your purchase through their link and give you money back! It's free, simple, and even if you don't coupon, this SAVES you money!

Third: Swagbucks *(Paid to google!)*

If you are not familiar with Swagbucks, here is some information:

Basically, you get paid to search! Seriously….when you search through “Swagbucks” search engine, you could win Swagbucks that can be redeemed for cash through Paypal, git cards, etc. Here are some ways you can earn Swagbucks:
Search the web:
I use my swagbucks toolbar instead of Google and anytime I go to a site or search something I use it. Each time you win with a search it is usually around 10 swagbucks and believe it or not, they add up FAST!
Daily Polls:
You can also do daily polls for which you will win 1 swagbuck automatically so that’s a guaranteed 30 a month.
Mega Swagbucks Day:

Also, every Friday is Mega Swagbucks day and you could win a ton of swagbucks in one search (depending on if you’re lucky or not )! Refer People:
For every person you refer, you will earn whatever Swagbucks they earn through searches!
* Taking Surveys
Another way to earn Swagbucks is by taking surveys online through Swagbucks. Each one is worth a different amount

Thank you for allowing me to help you save money! remember, any savings is good savings and please contact me any time for help!

Amanda

ALERT! Walmart HAS A COUPON POLICY!

NOW this ladies *And gentleman* is WOW

It's in OUR favor too!

http://walmartstores.com/7655.aspx

print it out and carry it with you!

New service being given to couponers! Check this out!

Ever been out and need a question answered? Need to know if a coupon is out for a product on clearence? Have a question on a store policy? Guess what! We can help!

Launched March 4th at 9am EST:  Text or Call 513-294-8006 with your question!

A new feature to Saving Money with Amanda and her blog  Extreme Couponing with Manders and Friends!

Coupon Language--- Don't know what something means? Look it up here!

AR - After Rebate
AYOR - At Your Own Risk
B1G1 or BOGO - Buy One Get One FreeB5G1 - Buy FIVE Get One Free
BC/AC – Before/After Coupons
BIL - Brother-in-law
Blinkie - SmartSource machine with a red blinking light on it. Coupons are thus referred to as ‘ Blinkies’
BTFE - Box Tops for Education
BTW - By the way
CAT - Coupon that prints from a Catalina machine at the register.
CC - Concealed Cash
CH - Clearing House
CLFE - Campbell's Labels For Education
C/O - Cents Off
CRT - Cash register tape (receipt)
CYE - Check your email
DB - The WeUseCoupons.com coupon database
DD - Darling  daughter
DEAD - Refers to a dead deal, or that the offer is no longer valid
DH - Darling husband
DND - Do Not Double
DS - Darling son
DW - Darling Wife
ECB - Extra Care Buck (earned at CVS)
ENVIE - Envelope
ES - Easy Saver, seen at Walgreens rebate booklet
ETS - Excludes Trial Sizes
EX or X. - Expires on
FAR - Free after rebate
FC - First class postage stamps
FIL - Father in law
FL - Could refer to Food Lion, or to a site Forum Leader
FS - Forever Stamp
FS - Free Shipping
FSOT - For Sale or Trade
FWIW - For what it's worth
GC - Gift Card
GDA - Good Deal Alert
GM - General Mills Insert, a booklet of coupons that appears in newspapers every month or two.
HBA - Health & Beauty Section in the store
HTH - hope that helps
IDSO - in desperate search of
INSERTS – Coupon booklets found in the Sunday paper
IMHO - in my humble opinion (there are variations of this, but that's the most common!)
IMO - In My Opinion
IP – Internet Printable coupon
IRL - In Real Life
ISO - In Search Of (basically you need it)
IVC - Instant value coupons - seen in Walgreens rebate booklet
IVDSO - In very desperate search of
KWIM - Know What I Mean
LMK – Let Me Know
LOL - Laugh/Laughing Out Loud
MFR - Manufacturer
MIL - Mother in law
MIR - Mail In Rebate
MQ - Manufacturer coupon
MRP - Manufacturer's retail price
NAZ - Name, address, zip code
NAZP# - Name, address, zip code, phone number
NED - No Expiration Date
NFN - No Form Needed
NIB - New in Box
NIP - New in Package
NP - No problem
NT WT - Net Weight
OAS - A Coupon that is good on one Purchase, Any Size
OASN – On A Side Note
OOP - Out Of Pocket
OOS - Out of Stock
OP - Original poster or original post (person who started the thread)
OT - Off Topic
OYNO -On Your Next Order
P&G - Proctor & Gamble (Sunday Booklet Coupons)
Peelie - Coupon found attached to a product. You have to peel it off.
PITA - Pain in the *** (we use abbreviations for a reason!)
PLMK - Please Let Me Know
PM - Private Message
POP - Proof of purchase
PP - PayPal
PSA - Prices Starting At
Q - Coupon
QQ - Coupon Queen
RAOK - random act of kindness (means you will give the coupons away free)
RC - Rain-check
ROFLMAO - Rolling on the floor laughing my *** off (found in the mood tab)
RP - Red Plum (Sunday Booklet Coupons) (formerly Valassis)
RR - Register Reward from Walgreens - use as a $ off coupon on your next purchase
SAHM - Stay At Home Mom
SAHW - Say At Home Wife
SASE - Self addressed stamped envelope
SCR - Rite Aid Single Check Rebate
SIL - Sister or son in law
SMP - Specially marked package
SO - Significant other
SRP - Suggested retail price
SS - Smart Source (Sunday Booklet Coupons)
STACKING - Often stores will allow the use of more than one coupon per item, IF the coupon itself does not restrict such usage. (Usually store Q + mfr Q)
SUPER DOUBLES or DOUBLES - coupons that are doubled $1 + in value (IE, a $1 coupon - $2, etc)
TEARPAD - A pad of forms/coupons found hanging from a store shelf or display
TIA - Thanks in Advance
TMF - Try Me Free - mail in rebate for full amount of product
TMI - Too much information
TRIPLE COUPON - A coupon that a grocery store triples in value
TRU - Toys R Us
TYVM - Thank You Very Much
UPC - Universal Product Code, barcode on the product
WAGS - Walgreens
WL - Wish list
WM - Walmart
WSL - While supplies last
WYB - When You Buy
YGEM - You've got an email
YGPM - You've got a private message!
YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary ("Worked for me, may not work for you")
YVW - You’re very welcome

 

 

**Thanks to WUC for the info**

Coupon Binders, Purse, Baggies etc..

I'd like to hear from everyone. Which method do you use?

I have a purse with filing tabs, i also sometimes use ziplock baggies....

For the drug stores, We use an envelope for CVS and Put my RR's in the purse.

What do you use?

Welcome Everyone from Clough Pike Church 2-26's Coupon Class

I would like to warmly welcome everyone from my 1st coupon class today at Clough Pike Church!

Please feel free to ask any questions, if you have facebook make sure to "like" our page for up to date information!

Thank you again for allowing me to come teach you how to save lots of money on your groceries!

You can always reach me by email:

manders@amandaostrowski.com

Ask the experts!!

Do you have questions about couponing? Please contact us by leaving a comment here or check us out on facebook

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couponing 101

New to Couponing??
Some Valuable Trips and Tricks from a Veteran Couponer!

I want to start this by saying; I am just astonished at the amount of people who took interest from the show! That is AWESOME! Now, I also see a lot of people getting discouraged, DON’T! Here are some tips and guides to help that NOT happen! (I will group them in relevance since some information does run with others)
1. Not everyone has the same stores!
A lot of people can’t figure out “how we do it and get it for free” I am blessed to be able to shop at Kroger, and also with a big of a long drive shop at Giant Eagle, which in my opinion are 2 of the BEST places to shop! I can stockpile a TON of stuff there! Others have very overpriced stores and really can never get a good deal, that’s why you NEED to LEARN your stores rules!Even with stuff I can’t get cheap/free there are money making transactions that allow me to stock up on items I can’t get for cheap/free. Not everyone will be able to do this. ANY savings is Better then NONE!****A GREAT PIECE OF ADVICE REGARDLESS WHAT SITE YOU USE**** Remember the BUDDY system when we were kids? Find someone who SHOPS at the store you do, see if they will help you understand your stores rules!!2. Not all stores, double/triple/super double!
Common sentence I hear is “well they can do it because they have doubles” which is true we do. Kroger Cincinnati DOES have doubles .50 and under anything between .51-.99 double to a DOLLAR. If we drive north a bit, Kroger in Columbus doubles .99 so does Giant Eagle. Just because your store does NOT double doesn’t mean you CAN’T save money! You just may have to work a bit harder at saving! From what I have read/seen a lot of people who don’t have doubles/triples etc, they do a lot of shopping at Target and Wal-Mart (which I will talk about this later) Please do not get discouraged if your store doesn’t double! Not all the stores have the same rules either, (I’ll touch on that in a bit!) Main point to #2, FIND OUT if your store doubles/triples etc, if they don’t then it’s ok!3. Your store doesn’t have what my store has on-sale!
This is where knowing your store comes in, what is GREAT about Weusecoupons.com is that they have pretty much every store covered. So please, check the threads. No 2 stores will run identical ads, There is ALWAYS a variance even its its price between stores (such as the different regions of Kroger) Mid Atlantic may have Box noodles on sale for .50, we may have them for $1.00! No 2 stores are going to have the same sales! Start here; find your store and POST! http://www.weusecoupons.com/upload/grocery-stores/

And also remember, while we ALL want to get the best deal, EVERYONES bottom price is different. Some may be comfortable paying a little more for something while another person might wait till they can get a even lower price. Like me, I had NO problems paying full price for the Chex Mix last week, but there were some that would not buy it without using the available coupons! Everyones best price is different!

This is a great piece of advice. I personally will not pay more then .99 for a four pack DOUBLE roll of TP.
Make a LIST of items and what your willing to pay.
Things i've never gotten free, free after coupon-- Trash Bags, Swiffer, Olives, Velveeta Mac and Cheese, napkins, yogurt, (there are others i cant think of them at the moment)
4. Not all weeks are shopping weeks!
When it was said I spend 70 hours shopping a week, it was of course stretched a little too far. Have I spent 70 hours a week shopping? Yep. Do I do it every week? NO.There are weeks I don’t even SHOP. You don’t have to shop EVERY sale just to say you shopped. What makes me want to go to a sale?1. It’s something I need or someone I know can use it
2. There is a COUPON to make it free/close to that I can pair up with the sale
3. If I don’t have a coupon, it is a good sale price for me to stock up on (IE: my opinion if I can get boxed Mac and cheese for a quarter a box, I will stock up with or without a coupon)
4. I tend to shop MORE in the summer then I do the winter (my preference J )
5. Is it a money maker? If so, I’m THERE!!!
Ok back on track here, so there are a few points to decide how you want to split up your shopping, if you feel you can handle it every week have at it. But coming from someone who has been doing this a LONG time, you will get burnt out.I do however roll my ECB’s and RR’s (Please read further to find out what this means) every week if I can. Especially RR’s since they have such a short exp date!These are some great topics to read and consider when first starting out!!1. How to read your AD.
FIND YOUR STORE HERE Grocery Stores - WeUseCoupons.com
What’s great about Weusecoupons.com is usually the ads are posted right there on the site! Usually “match ups are done” so all you have to do is get your coupons and SHOP!If your store has “ a club card” such as an advantage card, a MVP card etc, GET ONE! These are usually free and you will then get your stores sale prices! Just because an item shows on sale with savings already (with your card) doesn’t mean you can’t save more! That’s how the game is played! READ THESE WORDS CAREFULLY:A COUPON IS LIKE THAT ACE IN YOUR HAND. YOU’RE WAITING FOR THAT KING TO FALL, TO MAKE A WINNING HAND. THE KING IS THE SALE PRICE!
Example-I have a coupon for $1/1 Crackers (any variety any size)Big Bob’s store has Crackers for a BUCK!GUESS WHAT? I get at least 1 box of FREE crackers!! That coupon was the ACE and I was dealt the winning hand! Heck, I held onto a coupon for 4 months waiting for it to go on sale, my reward for waiting? A NICE Moneymaker sale!!So check over your ad, KNOW YOUR COUPONS! Write down what you see on-sale you want, and use www.weusecoupons.com coupon database! Check to see if there is a coupon for THAT item! Check out your local grocer thread too http://www.weusecoupons.com/upload/grocery-stores/2. How to read a COUPON and NOT ALL COUPONS ARE THE SAME IN EVERY AREA
Not all coupons are the same. I’m actually going to hit 2 different subjects right here.1. How to read a coupon
a. If it says $1/2 it means a Dollar off 2 items!
b. If it says $1/1 it means a dollar off 1 Item
c. 1 coupon per purchase means= 1 coupon per item purchased in conjunction to the wording of the coupon. IF the coupon says $1/2 then you need to purchase 2 to use that 1 coupon. If you have 2 coupons for $1/2 then you must purchase 4!
d. 1 coupon per transaction- you can only use ONE of them. Period. If you want to use more, then you need to do another transaction at the register
e. 4 like coupons per shopping trip***THIS IS THE WORDING ON PG COUPONS!*** please take note! As it says, you can’t use more than 4 of the SAME coupon in a shopping trip. So even if you buy 10, you can only use 4 of the same coupon.
f. Some say “1 per household or person” I am touching on this because a lot of places have different feelings on this. Some say 1 per person means 1 per person, some say it means one per transaction. Find out how YOUR board handles that! (coupon board)
g. MAKE SURE YOU READ THE RESTRICTIONS! I will touch later on coupon misuse, but make sure you READ THE RESTRICTIONS!!!! If it says not valid on trial size, THEN DON’T TRY TO USE IS! If it says only valid on the 60 ct, don’t use it on anything else! What’s written is what the manufacture wants! You make them mad, we lose these great coupons!

Coupon previews that are listed on websites are not all the same.For example----- I live in Cincinnati Ohio. My Grandma who lives in the Montrose Area of Akron, Ohio sends me her coupons each and every week. She doesn’t always get the same coupons we do here in Cincinnati. Just like some places in North Carolina didn’t get an electrasol coupon on 1-2-2011 like some other places did.If I get a coupon for .35/1 softsoap hand soap, she will get a $1/2 coupon in her inserts, so know your inserts! Some people just live in a crappy insert district, this is why trading- or using a clipping site is important.Now I want to go off track just a bit for a second and point something else out
FOR ME- .35/1 soft soap is better than a $1/2
FOR YOU if YOUR stores do not double or TRIPLE--- a $1/2 is BETTER for YOU (you’d get .50 off each item and not .35!!)
Not all areas get the same amount of inserts. Some places don’t get a Red Plum, where others don’t get a Smart Source or heck, some don’t get any inserts at all! So please, look into trading on websites or using a clipper!
3. Coupon Misuse hurts you, me and everyone else in the long run.
I went over earlier how to read a coupon. Doing anything above and beyond that, to defraud the manufacture is just wrong. You can get SO MUCH free without having to commit coupon misuse. If you have a question about the wording on a coupon, ASK. It’s not worth risking your relationship with your store by trying to redeem a coupon on the wrong item.
There are a lot of places that will try and teach you, or have very slack rules on this subject. I for one will tell you in person, if you’re misusing a coupon. Why? Because! It hurts my bottom line and everyone else’s when manufactures quit putting out high value coupons due to misuse!
4. Shelf clearing
What is shelf clearing? Taking all the product off the shelf. If there is 100, and you take all 100. A lot of people saw on the show, Nathan and I taking many items off the shelf. We did not shelf clear! The TV camera's did record us pulling items off the shelf, but that was for TV only, all of the items we purchased were pre-ordered through the customer service desk and then stocked at the producers request. If there is 100 of something, don’t take all 100. Now if there is 5 of something, and that’s all that’s left. That’s totally up to you. PREORDER IF POSSIBLE! Preordering is asking your store if you can place a special order so you can get as many as you would like!
5. Stockpiling won’t happen over night.
Getting to the point a lot of us veterans are at, isn’t going to happen over night, or even in 6 months! Understand that. Heck just a few months ago was the first time ever I was able to get a stock pile of pine-sol! Which I use almost every day, and was paying FULL PRICE FOR IT! Don’t get discouraged. Keep reading!Here are some common things you can get free
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Shampoo
Conditioner
YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT for the sale, it may not be free today!
The first thing I stockpiled was toilet paper—Then came toothpaste and hair products. Then I was able to stockpile from there air freshener, and boxed food goods and canned goods. I waited for the sale and read the forums daily! You’re not going to stockpile everything at once! As I said, I’m 4 years at this.
6. DON’T JUMP IN HEAD FIRST! Wade in the shallow end! One Store at a time!!
This is a huge point and this will be something you need to repeat over and over again, if you jump in head first, you get overwhelmed. Easily enough, all stores have something in common (well most stores) they take coupons! So learn one store, after you learn that store then move on to something else. Trying to learn 1 store and 1 drugstore at a time is a bit much to bite off.
Grocery stores tend to all follow the same game. Your matching up coupons to sale prices. Like with me, I have Remke, Kroger and Meijer. I know that Kroger (Cincinnati Region) offers unlimited doubles (managers do have the right to limit) Remke doubles 12 like coupons, Meijer only doubles 2 like coupons BUT ALL STORES do take coupons unlimited at face value. (Remember stores can limit coupons, managers at all stores have that right!)
When it comes to drug stores--- this is where it gets tricky, and I will touch on that later!
If you have 3 different grocery stores in your area, take one at a time. READ AS MUCH AS YOU CAN! That’s how I was taught. READ EVERYTHING on the forums!
When it comes to drugstores---- This is something that’s universal. Most everyone has one of the 3 major drugstores
So if your interested in shopping at one of them, CLICK the LINK for the one your interested in! Information is already listed on how to shop at them!
http://www.weusecoupons.com/upload/cvs-helpful-hints/
http://www.weusecoupons.com/upload/wags-101/
http://www.weusecoupons.com/upload/rite-aid-101/
You should always read FIRST. Any question you may have could already be answered. So instead of waiting for your answer and wasting valuable time, read read read!
I personally shop at CVS and Walgreens. We don’t have Rite Aid. So after reading, if you have questions, PLEASE send me a message or post the question on the forum! QUESTIONS ARE EXPECTED assuming you know the answer is not.
We are here to help you! So please, read as much as possible, the more you read the more it makes sense!

COMMON QUESTIONS-FAQ-101

Most stores have a “sticky” in their thread/forum with a “how to” or “common questions answered” Make sure you read these over!
Ok, now that I’m getting near the end of my little check list-
Blinkies tearpads peelies OH MY!(coupons found in the store) Is it ok to take them? That is entirely up to you What YOU feel comfortable doing. I always say, leave some for others if you do take them. (To find out what a blinkie or tearpad is, check out the abbreviations page located in the navigation bar under coupon resources)How to get something for free/high value coupons:
Do you have a favorite bread? Maybe a favorite ice cream? SEND THEM AN EMAIL OR GIVE THEM A CALL! A lot of times if you do that, they will send you freebie coupons in the mail!
Is there a coupon for EVERYTHING?
If you follow my advice above, and call your manufacture, you may be surprised! I just found out that you can get coupons for guinea pig food!! If in doubt, make a ISO (in search of) list. Check the coupon database. Check EBAY!
How to Get Coupons?
Check with friends and family for extra inserts, Use a clipping service! Trade online with other couponers! Buy your papers every week! There are LOTS of ways to get coupons!
Do Coupon Clipping Services Really Save you Money?
Papers here are 1.75 each and I never can use every single coupon.So if i need 50 of 1 particular coupon, it's $75 bucks for 50 papers!!
Well, if i only need say for this week, the electrasol, the yakisoba and $1/1 special K,
I can either trade for them or buy them from someone!I'm going to guess the electrasol is on a clipping site for about .25 a coupon, so for 20 of those it's 5 bucks x 3 (to get 60) is 15 bucks. (BUT this will give me my mom and my neighbor a years supply and they will chip in on the cost of q's PLUS pay me for the tax it will cost on product and a bit of gas money) yakisoba i know i can get 20 for $2 which these are ALWAYS free after doubles at kroger, so, to get 40 q's it iwll be... roughly $4. (no tax on these since it's food) and the special k i can get 20 coupons for $1.50
So let's add it up...
$15+4+1.50= $20.50 and i'd get about $5 back from my mom and neighbor so really i'm paying $10.50 for the exact coupons i need instead of buy 50 papers.
Big Box Stores- Target and Walmart
Not all stores are created equally. Especially Wal-Mart and target. Just because you read something on a website doesn’t mean it is going on at your Wal-Mart too. Like an item on clearance, accepting internet pintables or a whole slew of other things.
1. Always call AHEAD instead of wasting gas. Talk to the manager; find out the rules to HIS / HER store.
2. Ask about items on clearance! Have someone check before wasting gas!
Not all stores follow the same rules; My stores around here are horrible. I don’t shop at them unless I have to have what they have. Usually they aren’t very coupon friendly. So I am jealous of all who have nice walmarts and targets!
Which brings me to my next point
KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NEVER EVER be rude to a cashier or management REGARDLESS how wrong they are! Never cause a public scene. If the situation is outta hand, call corporate. I personally have walmart, target and Kroger’s corporate numbers in my cell phone. Print the coupon policy from the stores website and CARRY IT WITH YOU!
How to tell if couponing is for you?
If you’ve read all this, you’re on your way. Don’t give up. Even if you don’t want to do it with the stockpiling etc, saving a $1 is better than nothing. I don’t know about you, but I don’t just throw money on the ground or in the trash, do you? That’s what you’re doing if you’re not clipping coupons!
Final thought (for now)
Ask questions if you can’t find the answer. One thing that I feel sets www.weusecoupons.com apart, is that people here really want to HELP you save! So if your stuck, even after reading this, reading your forum for your store, ASK A QUESTION! You won’t get your head bitten off, you won’t get snarky answers, you will truly get help with what your looking for!
If I have not covered a question, please post it here! I will be more then happy to answer.
I know a huge question I got from a lot of people was “is there just one place that covers what we need to know?”
No. But this is a start. As I said, everyone will have different answers because we don’t all have the same stores. But this will point you in the right direction rather it’s to a drug store or a grocery store :0)

Do you LOVE to shop online?! Then sign up for Ebates.com! Join for FREE, shop online as you normally would, and GET PAID! You could earn up to 25% back from all of your online purchases!