Welcome to lesson one of my FREE 9 lesson online coupon class. My goal for this class is to teach you everything I know so that you can save as much as possible and spend as little as possible. Don’t stress during the first lesson. We will take it slowly. Please ask questions and leave comments so that we can all learn from each other. Here’s a printable outline for all 9 lessons.
Did you remember to get the Sunday paper? I hope so. Having coupons is the key to saving the most money possible. During the next lesson we will look at different ways to organize your coupons. For this lesson, place your coupon inserts inside your pocket folder. Get a permenant maker and write 1/09 in the top right hand corner of the inserts – I’ll explain why I do this next lesson.
Here are the first few assignments that I want you to work through this lesson:
Assignment #1 – Know the Coupon Lingo.
Go here and print the coupon abbreviation list that I have compiled and place it in your folder. You need to understand the common coupon/shopping abbreviations that are used by stores, on blogs, and in forums. Look at the list a few times this week so you can start to memorize the abbreviations. At first, you many think you have discovered a foreign language, but you will get the hang of it pretty quickly.
Assignment #2 – Know What Coupons to Expect Each Week.
Go here and print the 2012 Coupon Insert Schedule and place it in your folder. An educated shopper is a shopper that saves the most money. Know what coupons to expect in the Sunday paper and plan accordingly. A paper in a larger city usually has more coupons and coupons with larger values. Therefore, if you have more than one newspaper in your area, check the larger newspaper to see if there are more/larger dollar amount coupons first. The list is quite accurate but sometimes I am surprised with a change. On Thursdays I post what coupons to expect on Sunday. When you know what coupons are in the newspaper you can decide how many papers you want to buy!
Assignment #3 – Get Store Reward Cards.
If you don’t have a CVS Extra Care Card or a Rite Aid Wellness Plus Card get them ASAP. You will not be able to maximize your savings without these cards. They are FREE. You can sign up online (CVS here and Rite Aid here) but they will take time to arrive in the mail. You can get them immediately in the store.
Assignment #4 – Get Something for FREE this Week.
Check out my match-ups for CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens and get something for FREE (to find them quickly, use the category drop down menu on the right hand side of this page). If you are a newbie to couponing only go to one of the drug stores.
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{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Just getting started in all of this. I like your site a lot, because you are quick to share and how-to’s are awesome. Lingo was the best thng I got out of this one. Aleady have most of the reward cards. CVS is my favorite to shop, learning to really watch. Thanks!
I just started using more coupons. I used them in the pass but not like this I’m tring to get he hang of this. All we have for store without traveling a hour away is rite aid, family dollar, shop and save, shaws, and save alot.Our budget a week is 150.00 it is I, and 3 kids at home my husband driver truck plus we have 2 dogs and 7 cats. I do so so with our stuff for us but what kill us ever week is his food. He eat tv dinner on the truck. I would like to drop this price a lot lower a week if I could.
Need to know how to work swag bucks. Just can’t grasp it! Help!
Swag bucks are digital “dollars” that are randomly earned through web searches – instead of using Google use Swagbucks. Your “dollars” are held in your account and you can spend them when you have saved up enough. For example, you can turn in 450 swagbucks for a $5.00 gift card to Amazon.com. Swagbucks can also be earned by getting the random codes they put out. Check out their FAQ page for more information: http://swagbucks.com/g/faq
I am just getting started with couponing, currently feeling lost! I am reading through your lessons to get more aquainted with couponing. I am curious about “double coupon days” are there certian days for certain stores ?
Stores in my area don’t do double coupon days (every day is double coupon day!).
If stores in your area do that, I would talk to your store manager and ask them on what days they do it. It may be one day a week or a promotion that runs every so often.
Been couponing for years – became obsessed with the extreme couponing on TLC and when my local Fox station featured you on a segment about extreme couponing, I just had to check out your website, Boy was I ever impressed. I liked Krazycouponlady.com, but have to say – your onlilne class made a faithful outta me. I lve the site, I love the helpful hints and tidbits, and thank God for you!! Have a Blessed day.
Thanks Jennifer – and I’m glad you found me.
I love your website. I saw you on Fox just when I needed you. About a week ago I decided to try couponing to cut my budget. I was beginning to get overwhelmed. You have been very helpful. How do you do this and work?
I have a wonderful husband who helps out!
How do coupons work at Kroger? Been told they double but not sure what this means in their store.
If you have a coupon for $0.30 it will double to $0.60. When the cashier scans the coupon it will scan as $0.30 and then another line will print on your receipt that says bonus coupon $0.30 – giving you a total of $0.60 off your item.
Julia, how do I find out which stores double their coupons…Thanks for the help, I’m just getting started…Lori
If you live in Louisville, KY, Kroger and Meijer do (up to $0.50). My advice is to call your local store and ask the manager if you live in another area.
Here is a dumb question, how many inserts should I write 01/09 on?
All the ones that would be from January 9th.
You put the date that the insert was in the Sunday newspaper.
ok.. I am getn started now…this is great!
I go the the New Albany Meijer and was wondering when do they double coupons? Is that only on special days?
The Meijer in Louisville doubles coupons everyday
Im so thankful you have these classes to help the newbies.. Thanks a million.. Alex
Where can I find out if stores in my area double coupons and I’ve been watching Extreme Couponing on TLC and I can’t figure out how these women get like 20 inserts, I mean surely they don’t buy 20 papers everyweek?
They probably get extra inserts from friends, family members, etc…. Call your local store and ask them if they double coupons. You can also check their websites (do a search for their coupon policy).
Just beginnig to take your online classes.Thanks so much for sharing your wealth of information.
“squirrel” i think i am getting coupon overload. with each lesson i go in all directions. how do i stay focused to the end. i am so anxious to do this well. thank you so much for your class…
I have noticed that I do most of my shopping @ Kroger because they double every coupon where as Meijer only would do the first 2 (of the same item). So when I was getting 4 of the same itm only 2 of my coupons would be doubled the other two would be at face value. This is what has kept me from going there for anything other than produce. Also, with Kroger I noticed if I waited until the end to use my reward card the coupons wouldn’t automatically double. The only reason I did it this way is because I was using the digital coupons and was told they didn’t double at all. I have learned to pay great attention to the screen at the check out.
I am going through your lessons again. I learn something new each time I review them. Thank you for all the knowledge you share.
This class is invaluable. I can’t wait to see whats in the other lessons. Thank you
Since Kroger doesn’t double the coupons on your Kroger card I only load the ones that are over 50 cents. For anything 50 cents or under I use the paper coupons. I usually shop at Wal-mart since I work there and it is easier to just pick up my items when I get off work.
this is my first time couponing it looks lik something I can do so I’m gonna give it a try
Done with Lesson 1 on to the next…! Oh, unfortunately, I just learned that there is no CVS store in our area…but no worries I shall continue my journey!
Moving forward,
Shirley
What exactly is feedburner, & how do I use it?
Do you have the 2o12 Coupon Insert Schedule ready. I would like to print it off. I just love your classes. They are so helpful, God Bless!!
“Go here and print the 2012 Coupon Insert Schedule and place it in your folder.” I tried to do this and got the error message that the file wasn’t found?