Discount Diary for Coupon Organizers and Smart Bargain Hunters.

Updates from May, 2012 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  eventbin 10:52 am on May 7, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

  Coupon Lesson #3: Where Do Coupons Come From? 

  There are 4 major sources for coupons:

  1. Newspaper: Usually papers with larger circulations have the better offers. Quick tips: Buy multiple copies if possible of the largest weekend newspaper that offers coupons in your area.
  2. Stores: These come in the Mail. Or if you start observing in your stores you will find them: next to price tag as a Tearpad, next to items in a dispenser usually with a blinking light called Blinkie, stickers adhered to the item you are purchasing called Peelie, at the back of receipts called Catalina. Some store coupons are also available online for stores like Target.
  3. Electronic: These come in 3 varieties printable, ones that load on your store or credit card and mobile apps that can be scanned at the checkout counter.
  4. Online: The major source for grocery coupons are coupons.com, smartsource.com and redplum.com

  If you know of other major sources please comment below.

   

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  eventbin 9:55 am on May 7, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

  Coupon Lesson #2: Plan your Meals and Trips 

  Never shop when you are hungry: This is a bizarre situation, for some reason I and most people I know tend to buy unwanted stuff and lots of them when we go shopping on an empty stomach. The best time of the day to shop is after lunch or dinner. It not only kind to your wallet but also to your body because it keeps you moving it can help burn some of that extra fat!

  Make a simple meal plan for the week: Check with yourself and family about what they would like to have for the upcoming week.

  Check what ingredients you would need: Once you have made up what you are going to eat each day of the week. Then make a quick list what you would need to cook them up.

  Dive into your pantry/fridge/freezer to see if you have those ingredients: Take a look at your stashes to see if you have all what you need to make your meals. Quick tip: Really check all what you would even things like salt. Note, salt can be expensive in grocery stores compared to stores like Target or Walmart.

  Always have a Shopping List: This way you don’t cave into impulse buys and don’t make extra trips to the store just because you forgot one item. Best of all it will save you loads of time because you are not wandering the store trying to recall all what you need.

  Improvise: Repeat the above steps, looks for patterns. See if your weekly meal plans can be turned into monthly plans, that way you can figure out how much to buy in bulk and save time on planning. Quick tip: Consider preparing freezer meals, especially for non-vegetarian meals because meat, fish and poultry are one of the most expensive items on grocery bills. More about freezer meals in another post.

  I will cover more about buying in bulking or stocking up in later lessons.

  Have fun eating and saving!

   

   
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  eventbin 7:20 am on May 7, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

  Coupon Lesson #1: Coupon Acronyms. 

  In this series I will cover short coupon lessons (should not take more than 5 minutes of your reading time.)

  Coupon lingo (abbreviations, acronyms) can be confusing for a coupon newbie. Sometimes it looks like a language of its own. I have the low down on the lingo to help you become a couponing rock star:

  (x) before coupon: multiple of same coupon
  +UP Reward: Rite Aid Reward program
  2/$1, 3/$2: Two items for one dollar, three items for two dollars
  AC: After Coupon
  AR: After Rebate
  Blinkie: Coupon boxes located next to items in the store. Usually a blinking box.
  BOGO/B1G1: Buy 1 Get 1 Free
  Catalina: Coupons the print out from a separate machine that your coupon at the register. Some coupons may be in store coupons while others may be manufacturer coupons.
  CPN: Coupon
  DND: coupon states Do Not Double
  DND: Do Not Double
  ECB: Extra Care Bucks (CVS Loyalty Rewards)
  ETS: Excludes Trial Size
  ETS: excludes trial sizes
  EXP: Expires
  FAR: Free After Rebate
  FS: Free Shipping
  GC: Gift Card
  GM: General Mills
  IPQ: Internet Printable Coupon
  IR: Instant Rebate
  IVC: Instant Value Coupon ( Found in Walgreen’s Monthly In-Store Coupon Book)
  LIMIT1: Limit 1 per transaction
  LIMIT1: Limit of 1 coupon per day
  LIMIT2: Limit 2 per transaction
  LIMIT2I: Limit of 2 identical coupons per transaction
  LIMIT4T: Limit of 4 coupons of any kind for the same product pre transaction
  LIMIT4TX: Limit of 4 coupons for the same product per transaction
  MFG/MFR: Manufacturer
  MIR: Mail-In Rebate
  MQ: Manufacturer’s Coupon
  NED: No Expiration Date
  NLA: No longer available
  OOP: Out of Pocket
  OOS: Out of Stock
  OYNO: On Your Next Order
  P&G: Proctor & Gamble (coupon insert found in the Sunday paper)
  Peelie: A coupon attached to a product which can be peeled off
  PSA: Prices Starting At
  Q: Coupon
  Regional/R: A coupon that can only be used in specific regions
  RP: Red Plum (coupon insert found in the Sunday paper)
  RR: Register Rewards (Walgreens Catalina coupons which print at register)
  SCR: Single Check Rebate (Rite Aid)
  SS: Smart Source (coupon insert found in the Sunday paper)
  Stacking: Using a store coupon and manufacturer’s coupon on the same item to get the best deal possible
  Tear Pad: Pad of coupons attached to shelf next to products
  TMF: Try Me Free
  UPC: Universal Product Code (aka: barcode)
  WSL: While Supplies Last

   

  Learning the ropes of couponing doesn’t seem all that hard once you know
  the “language”. Please contact us to learn more about couponing!

  If you think there are any errors or would like to add to our acronyms list then comment below.

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