I get asked often how I am able to save so much at the grocery store.
Well, this is how I coupon!
First, I keep my coupon inserts for at least 3 months, organized by week into a box with hanging folders, and I don't clip them until I need them (you can pick up these items at an office supply store, or major big box stores). The sale cycles usually runs every 3 months, so I can get the best discounts with the coupons that cycled during that period as well. For the coupons that I print, I keep them in an Alphabetical Accordion Divider.
I print my coupons as soon as I see them and some of the places I use are:
Coupons.com
Target.com
Redplum.com
Smartsource.com
Second, I get papers in multiples of 2. This is a really great way to stock up on items when they go on deep discount or Buy One Get One FREE (I am a Publix Shopper). The more coupons you can match up with deep discount sales, the more you save!
Want to know how many papers you should buy this week? Want to see if you favorite brands will be in this weeks paper? Check out Sunday Coupon Preview CLICK HERE
Third, I look for blogs that do the best deals at of my favorite grocery stores (CLICK HERE for Bargain Network). I can then match up those inserts I've kept for three months with these deals. For Commonly Used Coupon Slang, Acronyms & Abbreviations, to help you match up your coupons with Best Deals, check the bottom of this post.
Fifth, anything I need to get that is not in the best deals, I check the ad for sales, and then check for matching coupons at We Use Coupons.com site's Coupon Database.
Sixth, anything that I need that is not a best deal, and not on sale in the ad, again, check the We Use Coupons.com site's Coupon Database.
Seventh, I check my favorite store's ad for coupons these can be used along with manufactures coupons.
Eighth, my store doesn't double coupons, but maybe yours does. Call your favorite grocery store and ask if they do.
Finally, I use competitor's coupons at my favorite grocery store. I check the papers, and online sites for special coupons like $5 off of $25 or $5 off of $50. Then I head to Target.com to print coupons for food items that I purchase. Call your local grocery store and ask if they accept competitor coupons, and which ones.
And always, I compare products when I am shopping, because even if I have a coupon, the best price may be a the store brand and/or a product that is priced cheaper than the item I have a coupon for. Also, I don't get caught by ads that say 10 for $10 or 2 for $5. I only buy what I want, because you are only obligated to buy one and you still get the good pricing unless otherwise indicated.
My way is just one of many different methods of couponing. I hope you you were able to gain some knowledge from this.
Happy Shopping!
At Home Moma
Coupon Legend with Commonly Used Coupon Slang, Acronyms & Abbreviations
Compliments of WeUseCoupons.com
AR - After Rebate
AYOR - At Your Own Risk
B1G1 or BOGO - Buy One Get One Free
B5G1 - 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
MOD - Site Moder
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
WUC - We Use Coupons (refers to the site)
WUCkie - Member of WUC
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
