So this is for all of you who would like to learn how to save 50-90% on all your grocery and personal care items. It's for those of you who would love to fill your garage with your spoils and have toilet paper stacked to your ceiling for a rainy day. For those of you who never want to run to the store because you are almost out of deodorant and pay FULL PRICE (*gasp*) or continue stinking.
When I first heard about couponing, I was incredulous to say the least. When Lauren said she had 6 sticks of deodorant under her sink and when her husband ran out, she didn't have to put it on the list and get out to the store, she just had to reach under the sink (I guess because men can't find things unless they are handed to them) and that she paid LESS for all 6 then she used to pay for just 1, I didn't believe it. I thought she must be cheating somehow. I thought she must not be factoring all the expenses of couponing, but I was willing to give it a try because...well, because I have no life and I won the raffle at the end which got me my coupon box and equipment. Honestly, if I had had to invest one penny in materials to begin with, I wouldn't have started. So thanks Danielle, I know you picked my name on purpose.
So to begin, I thought we would start with a pre-test. I used to take them in spelling in 5th grade and as long as I got them all right, I could skip all spelling homework and tests all week. I loved that!! So, get out your pen and paper. If you get them all right, you can skip the lessons and just go out couponing. You don't need me. Post your score when you're done and let me know if any of them tripped you up.
True or False
1. You can only use one coupon per item you buy.
2. You can't use a coupon if an item is on sale.
3. You can't use a coupon if an item is on clearance.
4. You can't return an item bought with a coupon.
5. You can't get a rebate on an item you didn't pay for.
6. You can't make money by buying a product.
7. If the coupon says "one coupon per purchase" and you are buying two, you have to separate the transactions.
8. You can't use 2 coupons with a "buy one get one free" deal.
9. If you have a "buy one get one free" coupon, you can't use a $1 off coupon on the one you are paying for.
10. You will waste more money in gas driving around to get the deals then you save.
11. You will have to buy products you don't need just to use the coupons.
12. You will get fat from all the free junk food that is now lying around the house.
13. You can't do this because you aren't organized or smart or mathematical or computer savvy or all of the above.*
*Note: This is not multiple choice, it is still True or False.
Ok, so here are the answers, I will scroll down a bit to prevent *accidental* cheating.
Are you ready? Do you have your red pens?? Are you confident in your answers??? Did you see any patterns??
Ok, here goes.....
The answer to questions 1- 13 is False.
They are all false and I used to believe them all.
1. You CAN use a store coupon AND a manufacturer coupon on each item you buy anywhere they are accepted, which is all grocery, drug and super stores, and a couple other places.
2. You CAN use a coupon if an item is on sale. I recommend it!!
3. You CAN use a coupon if an item is on clearance. I highly recommend it!!
4. You CAN return an item bought with a coupon and though they won't give you your coupon back, they will give you the cash equivalent but PLEASE don't ruin couponing for the rest of us by doing that to turn your coupons into cash. It is ok if you genuinely made a mistake, but it's spiteful to do it to make money.
5. You CAN get a rebate on an item you didn't pay for. If there's a "try it free" deal, you can still use a coupon on that item and they will refund you the full purchase price anyway! Even if they see clearly on the receipt that you didn't pay the full purchase price. You could have even gotten it for free.
6. You CAN make money by buying a product. Usually it's in the form of store rewards good on your next purchase, but often times it's a check in the mail.
7. If the coupon says "one coupon per purchase" and you are buying two, you DON'T have to separate the transactions. A purchase is 1 item, a transaction is your entire purchase. Get those two words separated in your mind. Right now! Do it!!
8. You CAN use 2 coupons with a "buy one get one free" deal (although it depends on the store policy, though most allow it) and both coupons will come off the cost of the first.
9. If you have a "buy one get one free" coupon, you CAN use a $1 off coupon on the one you are paying for (again, subject to store policy).
10. You will waste NOT more money in gas driving around to get the deals then you save, unless you want to.
11. You will NOT have to buy products you don't need just to use the coupons, unless you want to.
12. You will NOT get fat from all the free junk food that is now lying around the house, unless you want to.
13. You CAN do this even if you aren't organized or smart or mathematical or computer savvy or all of the above.
So, how did you do???
