Excellent coupon tip I learned on TV

[gabbyraja]

If you have any awesome coupon ideas, whether you learned them on tv or otherwise, please share. Mine is spectacular.

I am addicted to that extreme couponing show. For some reason I can't stop watching it. Of course, I heavily criticize the psuedo-foods they are buying, and try to figure out how I can apply anything they do to my life, where I cook most everything from scratch and buy lots of things from the farmer's market and directly from the farm.

Then, this week, I saw how they do it. This woman had a cereal coupon that did not restrict which size you buy. It was a .50 coupon, and her store doubled, so it was 1.00 off. She then used it on single serve boxes of cereal, priced at .50. So, she had a .50 surplus that the store owed here. She bought $300 worth of them, so the store owed her $300. She used that to buy her other groceries that do not usually have a coupon, like meat. GENIUS! I LOVE this idea. So, now I'm looking for opportunities to use this trick. I'm also wondering how expensive it is to buy (and where to find) 300-600 of the same coupon. And, my local Kroger will only accept 3 of the same coupon, so I'd have to try to find another local store that accepts that many... But still, genius. And then I would donate the cereal.

[Maximeee]

Stores change their coupon policies just for that show. The filmed an episode at my local store & the lady could use how every many of the same coupon she wanted. Usually the limit is 5 of the same. Also, most stores won't give you the overage (Walmart will). It looks awesome on TV, but trust me (an avid couponer), they make it look way better on TV than it is IRL.

[gabbyraja]

Can you explain WHY they would care how many of the same coupon you're using? They get paid for them either way, right? I don't understand many of the store policies regarding coupons.

I didn't know they changed their policies just to be featured on the show...

[serenbat]

Can you explain WHY they would care how many of the same coupon you're using? They get paid for them either way, right? I don't understand many of the store policies regarding coupons.

many can not stock for that type of demand and can not simply give rain checks and get a whole truck loads of one item for the demand- 5 people buy what the person did-how do you expect them to full that?

my local stores also restrict on non-coupon (ex. lobsters) items as well - often limit is 4 - all items that can be couponed are limited 4 per type (ex crackers - that would be 4 of each of the "types" in most cases)

our local stores have their policies right on their web sites and also it's listed at the stores

I didn't know they changed their policies just to be featured on the show...

this was done in an area that a  friend of mine lives in - the local paper ran the story and people were furious! the "policy" only ment for the one on TV not the rest! did not go over well

[Maximeee]

Originally Posted by gabbyraja 

Can you explain WHY they would care how many of the same coupon you're using? They get paid for them either way, right? I don't understand many of the store policies regarding coupons.

I didn't know they changed their policies just to be featured on the show...

A big reason is coupon fraud. People were figuring out that certain coupons would also work on items not listed on the coupon and when you have have a ton of coupons, it's much harder to count and make sure the coupons are being used for the correct items. That and stock. It stinks, but like always, the bad guys always ruin it for the good guys :).

 

[serenbat]

A big reason is coupon fraud.

my local stores (all major chains) are super big on this too!!!

one has signs posted all over the place on fake coupons and they take it seriously 

It stinks, but like always, the bad guys always ruin it for the good guys :).

YUP! sure does!!!

my one local store really gets around this- the loyal card keeps track and they so spit out coupons based on what type of shopper you are as well as real coupons in the mail (snail and e) they do reward "good" shoppers!

[greenmom4]

I want to know where these magical stores are that double coupons and give overages.  Or coupons that don't specify size.  Every time I think I'm going to use coupons, I lose interest after the first day.

[Mulvah]

Originally Posted by gabbyraja 

Can you explain WHY they would care how many of the same coupon you're using? They get paid for them either way, right? I don't understand many of the store policies regarding coupons.

I didn't know they changed their policies just to be featured on the show...

In several of the places I've lived, almost every store had a "maximum number of coupons for the same item" (official name ) policy, which was prior to this show's conception. 

[gabbyraja]

I am pretty sure I got the overage at Meijer a couple of weeks ago. However, I was using a "Free ham" and "Free Balloon Time" coupon, and the value was too high. They said you can only use up to $10 off. But I think they let me because it was just before Xmas. Manager overrode it, and I got the rest of my things for free. And now that PP said something about Walmart I think I'll check them out!

[lilacvioletiris]

Are there actually coupons out there for people like me who cook from scratch because it is cheaper and healthier than boxed/package/processed food?  I have yet to find some "awesome deal" on rice, pasta, potatoes, beans that couldn't be outdone by Aldi (my favorite U.S. discount grocer). 

[lilacvioletiris]

Are there actually coupons out there for people like me who cook from scratch because it is cheaper and healthier than boxed/package/processed food?  I have yet to find some "awesome deal" on rice, pasta, potatoes, beans that couldn't be outdone by Aldi (my favorite U.S. discount grocer). 

[RainbowTurtle]

Well, I generally get frustrated with coupons.  Here (in Canada), coupons are only valid on a one-coupon-per-item basis, there are no stores that match coupon's values (and some stores won't let you use coupons on sale items) and there are very few coupons on stuff I use as I cook from scratch and don't use cleaning products.  Otherwise, I could get very excited about coupons. 

[Imakcerka]

There are very few coupons that are for foods my family actually eats.  When I'm lucky Costco has some decent discounts.  I think I save 50 on my last bill but that was only because they had coupons for things I buy.  Normally they don't.  We have HEB here and will run some great deals periodically but I don't feed my family based on their deals.  Otherwise we'd sometimes be eating mac and cheese with slabs of pork for a week.  Ew pork.  Can't stand the texture or taste!

[serenbat]

Are there actually coupons out there for people like me who cook from scratch because it is cheaper and healthier than boxed/package/processed food?  I have yet to find some "awesome deal" on rice, pasta, potatoes, beans that couldn't be outdone by Aldi (my favorite U.S. discount grocer). 

I guess it depends on what you want - we don't do Aldi's.

I do get lots of coupons for organic pasta, organic rice and organic canned beans (but we only buy dry and I can get them dirt cheap by bulk at 10% at my local health food stores)-and  local chain stores in my area do give "organic" coupons, some are generic for items such as organic veggies.

We do get what we consider "awesome deals" but not like apples to apples when you compare it to Aldi's vs organic products.

Aldi's is doing more non-store label items and putting in more items that can be couponed. Bottom Dollar just opened up stores in my area and offered GREAT coupons! $8.00 off $20.00 orders no matter what you bought and they did that for 4 weeks and now they are offering nothing but they do take coupons- for certain items they really are only pennies difference in price compared to main stream chain grocery stores. The also allowed you to use coupons so I got four weeks of items and only paid a total of $25.00 all together on 80+ dollars of items, that included fruits (we don't buy meats from there).

[mar123]

My best tip is to stack coupons. First, Wal Mart will take other stores specific coupons, such as ones from Target or Walgreens. They will also take a manufacturers coupon for the same item. I go to a website, jillcataldo.com, and she links to many places coupons. it is so easy to just click and print. No signing up for anything. Target will also take their own coupons as well as manufacturer coupons for the same item. If there is a sale on the item at the same time, I have gotten things for free. I am no where in the ball park of extreme couponers, but I have saved 50-65% at stores before.

Also, many coupon sites online have coupons for clothes, shoes, etc. I once paid $1 for a shirt. I have also found coupons for meat, ground turkey, Greek yogurt, organics, etc. You just have to know where to look, combine with sales, and stack when possible.

[MommyDOK]

where do you get coupons for shirts?? I've never seen that. 

[mar123]

Target online. They have AWESOME coupons for their own brands of clothes and shoes.

[gabbyraja]

Plus, if you have a Target REDcard you save another 5%. You don't have to have the credit card, either. You can get a REDcard debit card (no credit check) and link it to your bank account. It works like your own debit card, but gets you the discount. Stack that with your coupons and get a great deal.

[4midablemama]

I love Aldi for things like frozen chicken-they are close to $3.00 cheaper than my favorite grocery store, AND there's more in the bag. 

[Imakcerka]

Target red card?  I don't think I'd like that linked to my bank account.  I'm incapable of making good purchasing decisions.