Sunday Coupon Preview - 4/11

Our area (Pittsburgh/Columbus) should see two coupon inserts, one SmartSource and one RedPlum.

You can view the entire list of what's in the insert HERE. It's always wise to see the full list of the coupons BEFORE you buy your newspapers. If you happen to see a bunch of them that you know you're going to use, you may want to buy extra papers.

Also, remember to check your newspapers before leaving the store. There have been several times when I've picked up a paper to check it for the correct number of inserts, only to find that some are missing. Better to find that out before you buy rather than when you get the papers home!

Sunday Coupon Preview - 4/4

Our area (Pittsburgh/Columbus) should see just one coupon insert, a Proctor & Gamble one.

You can view the entire list of what's in the insert HERE. It's always wise to see the full list of the coupons BEFORE you buy your newspapers. If you happen to see a bunch of them that you know you're going to use, you may want to buy extra papers.

Also, remember to check your newspapers before leaving the store. There have been several times when I've picked up a paper to check it for the correct number of inserts, only to find that some are missing. Better to find that out before you buy rather than when you get the papers home!

Coupon Fraud is Serious Business

Have you ever wondered if you could just print a coupon from the Internet and then copy it? I get that question from readers every once in a while, and the answer is always a resounding NO. Copying a printed coupon (or one from a newspaper insert) is considered coupon fraud, and coupon fraud is serious business!

Head over to The Coupon Project to read her post about a man who was arrested for felony theft by deception, forgery, access device fraud, and related charges just yesterday. His crime.... making illegal copies of coupons and using them at local grocery stores.

If you need any convincing to know that copying coupons is illegal, this story should do it for you!

Photo Credit

Sunday Coupon Preview - 3/28

Our area (Pittsburgh/Columbus) should see three coupon inserts, a RedPlum and 2 SmartSources, in this Sunday's newspapers.

You can view the entire list of what's in the insert HERE. It's always wise to see the full list of the coupons BEFORE you buy your newspapers. If you happen to see a bunch of them that you know you're going to use, you may want to buy extra papers.

Also, remember to check your newspapers before leaving the store. There have been several times when I've picked up a paper to check it for the correct number of inserts, only to find that some are missing. Better to find that out before you buy rather than when you get the papers home!

Sunday Coupon Preview - 3/21

Our area (Pittsburgh/Columbus) should see two coupon inserts, a RedPlum and a SmartSource, in this Sunday's newspapers.

You can view the entire list of what's in the insert HERE. It's always wise to see the full list of the coupons BEFORE you buy your newspapers. If you happen to see a bunch of them that you know you're going to use, you may want to buy extra papers.

Also, remember to check your newspapers before leaving the store. There have been several times when I've picked up a paper to check it for the correct number of inserts, only to find that some are missing. Better to find that out before you buy rather than when you get the papers home!

Watch for Kellogg's Coupons

Keep an eye out for specially-marked Kellogg's cereal boxes. They contain multiple $1 off coupons. You'll find them in the following cereals:

Corn Pops
Froot Loops
Rice Krispies
Frosted Mini-Wheats
Frosted Flakes
Apple Jacks
Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars
Corn Flakes
Raisin Bran

Sunday Coupon Preview - 3/14

Our area (Pittsburgh/Columbus) should see two coupon inserts, a RedPlum and a SmartSource, in this Sunday's newspapers.

You can view the entire list of what's in the insert HERE. It's always wise to see the full list of the coupons BEFORE you buy your newspapers. If you happen to see a bunch of them that you know you're going to use, you may want to buy extra papers.

Also, remember to check your newspapers before leaving the store. There have been several times when I've picked up a paper to check it for the correct number of inserts, only to find that some are missing. Better to find that out before you buy rather than when you get the papers home!

Sunday Coupon Preview - 3/7

Get your scissors ready! Our area (Pittsburgh/Columbus) should see three large coupon inserts, a RedPlum, a SmartSource, and another P&G, in this Sunday's newspapers.

You can view the entire list of what's in the insert HERE. It's always wise to see the full list of the coupons BEFORE you buy your newspapers. If you happen to see a bunch of them that you know you're going to use, you may want to buy extra papers.

Also, remember to check your newspapers before leaving the store. There have been several times when I've picked up a paper to check it for the correct number of inserts, only to find that some are missing. Better to find that out before you buy rather than when you get the papers home!

Price Matching: This is the Week to Start

Have you ever tried price matching? This is where you take a competitor's ad to your store and ask them to match the advertised price on some item. While it might seem silly to go through the trouble, there is more to it than just saving a stop at the other store.

I was finally looking through all of the ads from last Sunday's paper today. (What can I say? It's been a long week!) I came across some great sale prices! Unfortunately, they were prices at stores I don't usually shop or stores that don't take coupons. That's where price matching comes into play for me.

My plan is to take the inserts to my local Walmart and Kroger. I'm going to try to get them to match the prices because I have to stop there anyway, and they take coupons. I'm going to try to match discount store ads at Walmart and food ads at Kroger.

Here are a few examples of the items I'm going to try to price match.

V-8 Fusion Juice - $1.50 at Big Lots
(price match at Walmart)
Use $1.00 off printable coupon from Campbell's or
Use $1.00 off printable coupon from V-8
Final Price: $.50 each
I would do this at Walmart, because Big Lots does not accept coupons.

All 2x Laundry Detergent - $2.50 at Big Lots
(price match at Walmart)
Use $1.00 off coupon from 2/7 SmartSource insert
Final Price: $1.50 each
I would do this at Walmart, because Big Lots does not accept coupons.

Hefty Trash Bags - $5.00 at Dollar General
(price match at Walmart)
Use $.55 off coupon from 1/3 RedPlum insert
Final Price: $4.45 each
I would do this so that I didn't have to make a special stop at Dollar General for trash bags. I like to make as few stops as possible!

Green Grapes - $.79/pound at Aldi
(price match at Kroger)

Pineapples - $1.50 each at Aldi
(price match at Kroger)
I would do both of these to avoid a special stop at Aldi for produce.


Have you ever done this? Have you had success or frustration? I haven't tried it yet, so any tips you have to offer would be appreciated!

Sunday Coupon Preview - 2/28

Our area (Pittsburgh/Columbus) should see two coupon inserts, a RedPlum and a SmartSource, in this Sunday's newspapers.

You can view the entire list of what's in the insert HERE. It's always wise to see the full list of the coupons BEFORE you buy your newspapers. If you happen to see a bunch of them that you know you're going to use, you may want to buy extra papers.

Also, remember to check your newspapers before leaving the store. There have been several times when I've picked up a paper to check it for the correct number of inserts, only to find that some are missing. Better to find that out before you buy rather than when you get the papers home!

8 Unexpected Places to Find Coupons

If you're new to couponing, you're probably seeking out most of your coupons in the Sunday newspaper inserts. This is the absolute best place to begin amassing your coupon supply. You've probably also discovered online printable coupon sites such as Coupons.com, RedPlum, and SmartSource. If you never sought out coupons other than those from the newspapers and these printable sites, you would have a nice stash of coupons.

But if you want to find even more coupons, here are a few more places you might look.

Manufacturers' Websites
Even though manufacturers provide coupons in the Sunday inserts, they often post coupons right on their websites. Sometimes these are identical to the insert coupons, but sometimes they are higher-value or for different products. Some companies - like Kashi - only offer coupons via their websites. So, if you're a fan of a specific brand and are having trouble finding their coupons, be sure to check their website.

Mailing Lists
No one likes to get junk email. But I love it when I get coupon emails from companies! If you're heading out to visit your favorite companies online, be sure to register on their sites. I highly recommend setting up an email account separate from your personal account. It's much easier to do that than to sift through company emails to find that message from Aunt Sally.

By registering with your favorite companies online, you are usually signing up for their e-newsletters. These newsletters often come with coupons or free sample offerings. Plus, having the coupons delivered to your inbox beats having to continually go to company to check for coupons.

Store Websites
Retail stores are jumping on the printable coupon bandwagon. Kroger has their own printable and e-coupons. CVS and Save-a-Lot have some printable coupons I've not seen anywhere else. Sometimes the coupons found on retail stores are store-specific, and other times they are manufacturers' coupons.

Your Cell Phone
Your cell phone is starting to become a huge savings tool. If you register with Cellfire, you can load e-coupons to your local grocery store's shopping card... no clipping involved! Target has recently started providing mobile offers on your phone. If this keeps up, I might have to set up texting on my phone!

Free Samples
I love getting free samples in the mail, especially when they come with coupons! If you're even remotely interested in the sample being offered, sign up for it. Hopefully there will be coupons inside the package.

eBay and Clipping Services
There are TONS of coupons available on eBay. I've purchased them a couple of times, but only when the coupons will arrive before the sale ends. This is a great way to stock up on items that you know you're going to buy several times throughout the year. Having a year's supply on-hand means that you're not going to pay full-price. You can use your supply until another great sale comes around. If you're shopping on eBay, be sure to read the auction details and check the expiration date and shipping time.

At the Grocery Store
When you're doing your grocery shopping, be on the lookout for the little blinkie machines in the aisles. These coupons can be used immediately or saved for later purchases. You might also find peelie coupons right on the products that you want to purchase. You can read my post HERE to learn more about peelies and blinkies and the etiquette involved with them.

Just Ask
I've had a lot of coupon success emailing companies whose products I use on a regular basis. I've emailed them to let them know how much my family enjoys a particular product, and many of them have responded by mailing me coupons. I've received coupons for Liquid Plumr, Splenda, Goldfish Crackers, and more! Not only is it encouraging for companies to know what you like about their products, you are rewarded for being a loyal customer.

Are there any other places that you find coupons?

For more great frugal ideas, stop by Frugal Friday hosted by Life As MOM.

JCPenney Savings

Head over HERE to sign up for the JCPenney savings newsletter. When you sign up, you'll receive online and in-store JCPenney coupons. I love coupons from JCPenney, because I usually get free or almost-free stuff!

Sunday Coupon Preview - 1/7

Our area (Pittsburgh/Columbus) should see just ONE coupon insert, a RedPlum, in this Sunday's newspapers.

You can view the entire list of what's in the insert HERE. It's always wise to see the full list of the coupons BEFORE you buy your newspapers. If you happen to see a bunch of them that you know you're going to use, you may want to buy extra papers.

Also, remember to check your newspapers before leaving the store. There have been several times when I've picked up a paper to check it for the correct number of inserts, only to find that some are missing. Better to find that out before you buy rather than when you get the papers home!

Buy 1 - Get 1 FREE P&G Coupons

I just got an email from P&G stating that there will be 4 Buy 1 - Get 1 FREE coupons in this week's coupon insert. Of course, they didn't say which products these were for, but in the picture that went with it I saw CoverGirl, Olay, Secret, and Herbal Essences. We'll see! If you're a big fan of P&G products, you might want to pick up an extra paper or two.

New ConAgra Coupon Booklet

Head over HERE to request your copy of the new ConAgra coupon booklet. ConAgra makes products like Hunt's Snack Packs pudding, Ro-Tel tomatoes, Peter Pan peanut butter, Manwich, Hunt's ketchup, Banquet meals, Chef Boyardee, and many others. This booklet offer usually maxes out pretty quickly, so hurry over to get yours.

Thanks, Stretching a Buck!

Coupon Preview: 1/31

Our area (Pittsburgh/Columbus) should see two inserts in this Sunday's newspapers, one SmartSource and one Red Plum.

You can view the entire list of what's in the inserts HERE. It's always wise to see the full list of the coupons BEFORE you buy your newspapers. If you happen to see a bunch of them that you know you're going to use, you may want to buy extra papers.

Also, remember to check your newspapers before leaving the store. There have been several times when I've picked up a paper to check it for the correct number of inserts, only to find that some are missing. Better to find that out before you buy rather than when you get the papers home!

Coupon Preview - 1/24

Our area (Pittsburgh/Columbus) should see two inserts in this Sunday's newspapers, one SmartSource and one Red Plum.

You can view the entire list of what's in the inserts HERE. It's always wise to see the full list of the coupons BEFORE you buy your newspapers. If you happen to see a bunch of them that you know you're going to use, you may want to buy extra papers.

Also, remember to check your newspapers before leaving the store. There have been several times when I've picked up a paper to check it for the correct number of inserts, only to find that some are missing. Better to find that out before you buy rather than when you get the papers home!

Coupons & Deals: You Don't Have to Do It All

Has there ever been a time when you've felt overwhelmed by the whole frugal, bargain-hunting, coupon-clipping way of shopping. Have you ever wanted to throw up your hands and just quit? Have you ever felt like you just can't keep up with all the deals? I know that I've kicked myself more than once when I've missed out on one spectacular deal or another! Why didn't I just muster up the energy and motivation to get to Rite Aid last week? How could I possibly have missed that sweet deal at CVS?

Then I remind myself that I don't have to do it all. Not only do I not HAVE to do it all, I simply can't do it all!

I have a sneaking suspicion that some of you think I shop more than I actually do. I'm a big CVS and Kroger shopper. Most weeks, those are the only stores I make it to. On my site, you'll find the deals for many other stores. I just don't want to give you the impression that I actually shop at all of them. The mere thought of it makes me feel a bit faint.

And the deals... Oh, there are some fabulous deals to be had! I like to post the ones that I think you'll be interested in. I just don't want you to think that I take advantage of all of them. If I did, we'd be broke! But I want to post the deals in case one of my readers is looking for a deal on a particular item or for a gift idea. Please don't think that I'm encouraging you to grab each and every one of these deals!

While bargain shopping can be fun - an adventuresome game to some! - it can draw you in and cause you to end up spending more than you would if you were just paying full price. I just wanted to take a minute to offer a bit of encouragement to those of you who are trying to do more frugal shopping in order to save your families money. I am doing the same thing. Let's agree together to just buy what we need and will realistically use (or what we can get free or almost-free for others) and not get drawn in by all of the deals at all of the stores. Let's promise each other that we're not going to try to do every single deal - at every single store - every single week. We're all going to be worn out if we try that! And where's the fun in shopping then?

Do you have any tips for keeping yourself in check when it comes to bargain shopping? How do you set a limit money-wise and time-wise? How do you stick to it?

For more ideas that work, stop by Works for Me Wednesday hosted by We Are THAT Family.

Coupon Preview - 1/17

Our area (Pittsburgh/Columbus) should see three inserts in this Sunday's newspapers, one SmartSource, one Red Plum, and one P&G.

You can view the entire list of what's in the inserts HERE. It's always wise to see the full list of the coupons BEFORE you buy your newspapers. If you happen to see a bunch of them that you know you're going to use, you may want to buy extra papers.

Also, remember to check your newspapers before leaving the store. There have been several times when I've picked up a paper to check it for the correct number of inserts, only to find that some are missing. Better to find that out before you buy rather than when you get the papers home!

Coupon Preview - 1/10

Our area (Pittsburgh/Columbus) should see two inserts in this Sunday's newspapers, one SmartSource and one Red Plum.

You can view the entire list of what's in the inserts HERE. It's always wise to see the full list of the coupons BEFORE you buy your newspapers. If you happen to see a bunch of them that you know you're going to use, you may want to buy extra papers.

Also, remember to check your newspapers before leaving the store. There have been several times when I've picked up a paper to check it for the correct number of inserts, only to find that some are missing. Better to find that out before you buy rather than when you get the papers home!