FAQs
“I’m new to couponing- where do I start?”
First- start buying the Sunday paper if you don’t already. You can get the paper at Dollar Tree for a $1- everywhere else it runs up to $1.75. I always buy 2. Keep these inserts- you never know when you will need a coupon
from a month ago for some great deals. Secondly, get on coupons.com,
redplum.com, and smartsource.com and print out any and all coupons you think you will EVER need. Print twice. If you have more than 1 computer, print 4 times. Organize your coupons so they aren’t everywhere. Look for sales and read blogs. Bloggers do most of the work for you- they will find the deals and tell you how to go about getting them- but you have to have the coupons.
Is it safe to install the coupon printer application?
Yes- you will need these application for printing coupons. Coupons.com, Redplum.com, Smartsource.com, Target.com….they all are linked to a coupon printer application. These installs are completely safe for your computer.
How do you “stack” a coupon to get bigger savings?
Stacking means you have a STORE specific coupon as well as a MANUFACTURER coupon for the same item. Many stores (all that I shop at) will accept one of their store coupons WITH a manufacturer coupon on the same items, which means BIG savings for you. If you can find these items on sale or BOGO- you are golden ♥
Where can I find internet printable coupons?
These coupons are going to be used very, if not the most, frequently. There
are several coupon websites- Coupons.com, Redplum.com, and
Smartsource.com. These are typically Manufacturer’s coupons and can be printed off TWICE each from a particular computer. If you are lucky enough to have a computer at home and at work- print 2 at each to stockpile. Different companies have their own websites where they will post their own coupons for you to print. We at Happy Couponing will try to get you as many as we can as they are posted. However, if you are looking for something inparticular- go to that companies website and just check to see if there are any coupons available.
Do you end up buying things you don’t need just because you have a coupon?
No. It would be easy to, but you have to be aware of what kind of things you would typically buy. I don’t buy 6 bottles of VO5 shampoo because I have coupons to make them free….because I don’t use VO5 shampoo. Be careful not to get caught up in “I got it because it was free or really cheap” mentality. Buy the things you typically would when you have the coupons for them- and buy enough to last you until the sale cycle comes around again.
How do I use coupons on BOGO items?
Please note that your stores may be different than ours. Here is middle Tennessee, we utilize our Publix BOGO event. They have a list of about 20-25 items each week that are Buy One Get One free. When ringing up BOGO items, they each ring up HALF PRICE. In some Publix stores, one item will ring up FULL PRICE and the other will ring up FREE. Check with your local grocery store. If you are lucky enough to have each item ring up 1/2 price, you may use a coupon on EACH item. For example: Cheez-its are BOGO for $3.99. I have two coupons for $1/1. Each box of Cheez-its will ring up for $1.99. Use both coupons (one on each item) which bring your total for BOTH boxes to $1.99. ANOTHER SCENARIO: If your store is running a BOGO on an item- and then you have a coupon as well that is BOGO- you may use 1 coupon and get both items for free. The store pays for you and your coupon pays for the other. You will pay tax. Check your stores policy on this as well.
Why would you “buy” a coupon?
There are some coupon clipping sites that will clip only the coupons you want and charge you a SMALL fee for clipping and shipping (we’re talking $.05-$.40 depending on the value of the Q). This may seem ridiculous to buy coupons when the whole point is to save money. You buy coupons when you buy the Sunday paper, right? Also, if you have found a great deal on something (especially FREE), you may want to stock up while you can. I bought several of the $4/1 Olay Body Wash coupons (for $.20 each) and got 6 bottles of it for $4.74. If you find a good deal, take advantage- buying coupons is a wonderful thing. Some of the clipping services I use:
www.theqhunter.com and www.coupondede.com.
Do you have to change the brands that you like in order to get the best savings?
Not usually!! You can honestly find great deals on brands that you regularly buy….you just have to look for deals. One of the best ways to save on particular items or brands is to go to the manufacturer’s website directly and see if they have any special offers or promotions or even online coupons. You could also sign up for an account with them (if they offer it) to receive emails when they have specials or saving offers. You can get some really great coupons by doing this. You also want to watch for sales at the stores that are local to you or that you regularly go to for shopping and check prices. See what they charge for regular price vs. other stores and watch for what they charge when the item is on sale. Monitor coupon websites, like Target’s coupon site, SmartSource, RedPlum, Rite-Aid, and Coupons.com. Also, watch for Publix coupon booklet offers (usually located around their customer service desk) or Kroger coupons (that are sometimes mailed) or Walgreens (located in the front of the store on a rack) or CVS (located at their Price check machine, which also prints out Coupons). The best way to save is to stack a manufacturer coupon with a store coupon when the item is on sale. Sometimes this isn’t an option and that’s o.k. too! You are saving money by using a coupon regardless….but you want to try to be aware of which store prices it cheaper or has it on sale so you can get the best deal with or even without a coupon. Buying products with coupons while on sale is typically cheaper than buying off-brand products. You will find yourself buying name brand stuff and getting it cheaper.
