Centsible Saving 101: Coupon Info

Coupon Basics

If you're a newbie to couponing (or even as a refresher for long-time couponers), these basics will head you towards saving money on your everyday necessities:

Manufacturer Coupons:
These coupons are issued by the manufacturer to help increase the sales of specific products.  When you present a manufacturer coupon at your local store, the value of the coupon deducted will be deducted from your total at checkout.  The store then sends the coupons to the manufacturer and redeems them for the value of the coupon plus a small handling fee (typically $0.08 per coupon).  Retailers are NOT losing money when they accept your coupon.

Store Coupons
Store coupons are issued by specific retailers and are valid only at their stores.  The most common retailers issuing store coupons in our area are Target, Walgreens, CVS and Family Dollar.  Store coupons from other retailers can be found on occasion.

• Store coupons can be 'stacked' (or used in conjunction) with manufacturer coupons at most retailers.  (Stores like Walgreens, Target and CVS allow you use one store coupon and one manufacturer coupon per item)
• Store coupons have their own barcode and usually do not look like manufacturer coupons.

Where Can You Find Coupons?
Once you begin looking for coupons, you'll be surprised where they turn up:

• Newspaper inserts.  This will be your best source for coupons.  Inserts include SmartSource, Proctor & Gamble, & General Mills among others.
• Printable Internet Coupons.  Popular internet coupon sites include:  Coupons.com, Smartsource.com, Target.com, CouponNetwork.com and RedPlum.com
• Manufacturer & Company Sites.  BettyCrocker.com, EatBetterAmerica.com, Pillsbury.com, etc.
• Store Shelves, Product & Product Displays.  Coupons found on store shelves are usually displayed in coupon dispensers with blinking lights - so they've been nicknamed 'Blinkies.'  Coupons found directly on the product need to be peeled off to redeem and are nicknamed 'Peelies.'  Store display coupons are usually attached to the display on a tear-off pad.
• Family Oriented Magazines.  All You Magazine -  found only at Walmart (or by subscription) - is FILLED with coupons!  Others include Parents Magazine, Family Circle and more.  Once you become a full-fledged couponer you'll become more aware of coupons in magazines you might have passed by in an earlier life!
• Home Mailers and Newsletters.  The most important mailer locally is the RedPlum insert that is  usually included in most zip codes with your 'junk mail' on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
• Digital Coupons.  Cellfire, Softcoin, and Proctor and Gamble are the most common.  When using these sites, you are able to download coupons directly to your store loyalty cards (typically Smiths, Albertsons and Vons in our area).  The value of these coupons is deducted from your total without your having to produce the paper coupon.
• Facebook.  Companies will often issue coupons from their Facebook sites.  When you 'like' them, you can download and print.