ABC’s of Couponing

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INDEXSection 1 What is Couponing?  10 Steps to Couponing

Section 2 Creating the Shopping List Getting Organized

Section 3 Weekly Coupon Maintenance  Couponing Resources

Section 4 Record Keeping  Economizing

Section 5 Couponing for Healthy Eating Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)

Section 1: What is Couponing?

Couponing is a noun meaning the redemption and or distribution of coupons.

The term first became popular in 1954.

Today the term commonly refers to the act of using coupons for free or reduced price manufactured items.

10 Steps to Couponing

10 Steps to Couponing Cont…

10 Steps to Couponing Cont…

ABC’s of Couponing Discussion #1

If you had two grocery stores you shop in regularly and one

offers coupon doubling every day and the other did not but had

a lot of BOGOs specials each week which store would use most

often and why?

Review Appendix D for a comparison of local grocery store

coupon policies.

Q. What did you learn from the chart?

Q. What information will you use on your next grocery

shopping trip?

Couponing Tips #1

Check your pantry to see what you already have. Don't spend money on things you don't need.

Only use coupons on items you would normally buy.

If a coupon is due to expire and you will not be using it, leave the coupon by the item in the store for someone else to use.

Combine coupons with extra rebates for additional savings.Refer to the educational games of Scavenger Hunt. A fun way to prepare you for couponing!!!

Section 2: Creating the Shopping List

Begin simply by writing down your most frequently used grocery items.

Arrange the items according to food departments

Take the various departments and put them in order

according to the grocery store layout and aisles.

Put your list on a clean sheet of paper

For the zealous organizer you may want to put the items under

each department in alphabetical order.

Bread

Milk

Sugar

Getting Organized

System 1: Envelopes

System 2: Expanding File or Wallet

System 3: Index File Box

System 4: Coupon Binder

Mommysideabook.com

ABC’s of Couponing Discussion #2

Watch the YouTube clip Couponing and Saving Money 101: Organization

Q. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a binder versus a file box for coupons?

Q. Which coupon organizational system works best for you and why?

Section 3: Weekly Coupon Maintenance

Your coupon organizer needs to be purged every week. There are three options for filing coupons efficiently to save time and purging expired coupons.

By Termination Date

By Products

Sort Alphabetically

Couponing Tips #2

Check the back of the register receipt for additional coupons.

Some grocery stores will print coupons on the cash register

receipt for items you most frequently purchased.

While shopping take advantage of “Blinkies” located near the

items. Blinkies are the flashing light coupon dispensers

usually connected to the items shelf.

Children and Couponing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGd-XgwmvZs

Couponing Resources

ABC’s of Couponing Discussion #3

Watch the YouTube clip Where to Find Coupons:

FrugalLivingNW.com

Discuss the different types of coupons, where are they found,

and how they are used (catalinas, blinkies, pealies, double

coupons, SS, RP, and P&G).

Section 4: Record Keeping

Keep your Receipts For you record Returning product/item

Create a Receipt Spreadsheet Spreadsheet should include the date, store

name and location, total bill before discounts, tax, total bill after discounts, and total discount dollar amounts

File your Receipts Receipts can be filed at the back of your

coupon organizer or an envelope.

Reading the Small Print

Coupons can be tricky and cause confusion because of restrictions or limitations. Reviewing some of the small print and restrictions can help you avoid returned coupons. Expiration date:

Once the coupon expires, it is usually void.

Buy Item X to Get Item X Free:

Buy a certain amount of items in order to receive item X for free

Specific Item

Coupon limitations

The number of items you can purchase

Number of coupons you can use per transaction

Restrictions on products that are already on sale

Note: Always check the store policies. Refer to the Store Policy Resource page.

The Coupon

Discount Expiration Date

Small Print

Item / ProductName

# of Items per Discount

Couponing Tips #3

Don’t throw away your expired coupons! Instead send them to military families overseas who can use the coupons up to six months after they have expired.

Visit the Overseas Coupon Program website for more information on adopting a military base.

http://www.ocpnet.org/

Economizing

Buying in bulk can be a money savings opportunity when the savvy shopper understands the advantages and disadvantages and makes good choices.

Extra Storage Space. Create a space in your home needed to store items bought in bulk.

Disadvantages. Companies try to promote unhealthy products via coupons and customers tend to buy items they don’t need.

Stacking Coupons

Example: Cereal (14 oz.) regular price =

$3.25/box Store sale 2 boxes for $5.00 Manufacturer’s coupon buy one

get one free. Another manufacturer’s coupon

$.55 off a box of cereal and the store doubles manufacturer’s coupon under $.99 (print two coupons)

Here is how the deal works!Buy 2 boxes of cereal on sale for

$5.00

Less one box free -$2.50

Less (.55 x2) -$1.10Less (.55 x2) -$1.10You pay $ .30Yes, you pay only $.30 for two

boxes of cereal that at regular price would

have cost you $6.50! For a total savings of $6.20

Men Like Saving Money Too!

Websites close the coupon gap between women and men.

Interactive poll revealed that 87% of men and 93% of women online shoppers use coupons for groceries.

Men 55 and older had an increase coupon usage from 16% to 24 % since 2010.

Stay at home dads, single dads, and other guys want to save money and are learning to use coupons.

Men use coupons for groceries, automobile services, gasoline, home improvements, haircuts, and tools.

ABC’s of Couponing Discussion #4

Review the YouTube video on stacking coupons

Discuss how simple or confusing stacking coupons can be

Which is used first the store or manufactures coupon?

Which coupon will have limits?

Section 5. Couponing for Healthy Eating

Small changes in your diet can result in healthier eating.

Choose foods that are rich in vitamins and nutrients and low in sugar, sodium, fat, additives and preservatives.

Many disease and allergies are the result of poor food choices.

Smart couponing can be used for healthy eating or specialized diets.

Reading for Healthy Eating

Be conscious of eating a healthy and balanced meal.

Unhealthy eating habits can lead to various illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, among other illnesses.

Make better-informed decisions about food and calorie.

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is recommended (MyPyramid.com)

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is a program offered at North Carolina State University and North Carolina AT&T University.

For more information please visit the NC EFNEP website

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/EFNEP/

ABC’s of Couponing Discussion #5

Watch the YouTube clip “Healthy Eating with Printable Grocery Coupons”

What is a serving size?

A serving size of meat for a meal should be about the size of a deck of cards, do you agree or disagree?

How do you determine a serving size when putting food on your plate?

Resources

Couponing www.coupons.com www.couponing101.com www.couponladyonline.com www.southernsavers.com www.thekrazycouponlady.com moneysavingmom.com

For More Resources Visitwww.couponingnc.wordpress.com