Intro to Couponing: Volume 3- Applying Your Knowledge

Now that you’ve gathered your coupons as discussed in Volume 2, it’s time to learn to use them! I’m sure this is what you’ve all been waiting for. How do you use your coupons to achieve maximum savings at the grocery store? How do you go from a $.50/1 coupon to getting the item for FREE?

Let’s start with an overview of the formatting that is used on most of the couponing blogs that you will be viewing. Here is an example:

Buy (1) 12oz bag of M&Ms- $2.50
Use $1.50/1 Store coupon exp. 3/24/12
AND use $1.00/1 M&Ms coupon SS 4/7 exp. 5/15/12
Final Price= FREE

In the above example, you will be using two coupons on one item (called stacking) to get the item for free. “But, Robyn, the coupon says only one coupon per item! Are you teaching us to cheat?” Take a deep breath, Couponista. I would NEVER advocate coupon fraud. Yes, the coupon says 1 coupon per item, but it is allowable to have 1 manufacturer coupon (MFC) and 1 store coupon per item. I bet most of you didn’t even know that!

So in the above example, a 12oz bag of M&Ms is on sale for $2.5o. There is a store coupon for $1.50/1 bag of M&Ms, making the current price only $1.00. This in itself is a good deal, but to make it a GREAT deal, you just found a $1.00/1 M&Ms MFC in your Smart Source Insert from 4/7. Using both of these coupons, or stacking them, makes your bag of M&Ms completely FREE!

Check out this example below. This is is a little bit more complicated, but you can handle it!

Buy (2) 12oz bags of M&Ms- $2.50 each
Use (2) $.50/1 M&Ms store coupon
And use (2) $1.00/1 M&Ms coupon SS 4/7 exp. 5/15/12
OOP= $2.00
Get a $3 Catalina
Final Price= FREE + $1.00 overage

In the above example, the M&Ms are the same sale price of $2.50, but your coupon values are a bit different. The store coupon is for $.50/1 and the MFC is $1.00/1. The store is also running a deal where if you buy 2 bags of M&Ms, you will get a $3 catalina store credit back (Register Rewards at Walgreens or ExtraCare Bucks at CVS). In order to maximize our savings, we’re going to buy 2 bags of M&Ms and use multiple coupons. You will need 2 store coupons and 2 MFCs (1 of each for each item). After coupons, your out of pocket (OOP) total comes to $2.00. So, you will spend $2.00 on 2 bags of M&Ms and get back a $3 store credit. That makes your M&Ms completely FREE + you will have $1.00 left over from your Register Reward. That is the best kind of deal because you will have $1.00 to spend on anything else!

It’s a lot to take in at first, but it will become easier as you practice. Soon, you’ll find that couponing is second nature to you!

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