Coupon Class – Lesson Five

 Welcome to lesson five of my FREE 9 lesson online coupon class. Please ask questions and leave comments so that we can all learn from each other.

  Assignment #1 – Sign up for your grocery store’s loyalty card (if they have one).

The bulk of your weekly shopping will be done at the grocery store. While you won’t be able to score all the awesome FREEBIES like you get at the drug stores, smart shopping will allow you to buy groceries at rock bottom prices.

 Here are some tips I have learned along the way:

• Sign up for your store’s loyalty card (if they have one).
• Visit your store’s website – often they have coupons to print or coupons you can load to your loyalty card. See if you can find their coupon policy. Also, sign up for any clubs that they offer (think coupons and FREEBIES).
• Be willing to shop at other grocery stores. I shop at Kroger and Meijer to get the lowest prices possible.
• Be aware of store policies. Kroger has an awesome policy if an item rings up incorrectly at the register: You get one of that item for FREE. All additional items are charged at the correct price.
• Find out the days your store runs it sales (Sunday to Saturday, Wednesday to Tuesday, etc…).
• Find out if your store offers a discount for bringing in your own bags.
• Look in the beer isle (if your store has one) and by beer displays for beer rebates. In many states you can qualify for rebates from beer companies (you don’t have to buy beer in many states to qualify) to help pay for your groceries. Go here to read more about beer rebates.

Assignment #2 – Go to Upromise, Cellfire, Shortcuts, SavingStar, and P&G and load eCoupons to your shopper cards.

eCoupons are coupons that you can load to your store loyalty card. They can be stacked with paper coupons at some stores so you can receive even greater savings. Kroger does not allow you to stack eCoupons with paper coupons anymore. Be careful: At Kroger, if you load an eCoupon it will override your paper coupon and you will not be able to use the paper coupon. All of the eCoupons (except Upromise and SavingStar) are taken directly off your bill at the register. Upromise coupons load to an account that can be used to save for your children’s education (or for someone else’s children if you have no children). The amount of SavingStar coupons is kept in a SavingStar account and you request the your funds once the balance is $5.00 or more. Not all grocery stores use these companies. My advice is to check the companies out and see if your store is listed.