Extreme Couponing Tip: Help Homeless Kids by Donating Stockpile Items

zaterdag 7 september 2013

Extreme Couponing Tip: Help Homeless Kids by Donating Stockpile Items

Does your stockpile of personal hygiene and/or household cleaning items overflow? Are you running out of space to store these items? I have a solution for you! You may have already considered donating these items to local shelters, but did you know that your local school district has a homeless liaison who might love to receive a donation?

The Federal Mckinney-Vento Act requires that every school district in the United States have a homeless liaison to assist with the enrollment of homeless students. Many times these liaisons also help families with things such as school supplies, personal hygiene items, and household items like laundry and dish soap.

I am a case worker and counselor in our local homeless liaison’s office, and we give out these things on a daily basis. Just yesterday I met a high school student who had been living in her car. Providing her with things like a toothbrush, toothpaste and a bar of soap had her beaming with joy. She hadn’t had these things in quite a while.

A few months ago I had a mom in my office who just obtained housing. While she had the money to pay her first month’s rent and a deposit, she had nothing to clean her new home with. She did not have laundry soap to use in her new washer and dryer. These are things I take for granted. I do not worry day to day about having enough toothpaste for my children to brush their teeth or enough laundry soap so that my children can go to school with clean clothing. But this mom did, and I was honored to be able to help her with these items.

School district staff often donate out of their own pocket books to help families and students such as these—pocket books that weren’t overflowing to begin with. And I realize your pocket book probably isn’t overflowing either. But the next time you grab a great deal on hygiene items, household cleaner or school supplies, why not take a small donation by your local school district homeless liaison’s office? If you do not know who the liaison is, office staff at your school should be able to connect you with them. Couponing is great, but when you can use it to help a family in need, it becomes awesome!

This is a guest post by Stephanie from Amarillo, TX
FInd out more about the KCL Contributor Network!

reacties | | Read More...

Extreme Couponing Tip: Finding Time to Coupon

dinsdag 3 september 2013

Extreme Couponing Tip: Finding Time to Coupon

“How can I fit couponing into my already busy schedule?”

Are you drawn to the idea of saving huge amounts of money on your grocery bill but wonder how in the world you can find the time to coupon? Here are some tips to help you carve out the time you need to reap the benefits of being a KCL!

Time of Day: Sometimes couponing may mean waking up early, staying up late, or condensing time spent on other hobbies. Get creative: drop by the store on the way to other errands, enlist the help of a coupon buddy, or multi-task (how about clipping while the pasta boils for dinner or while the kids play in the backyard?) Couponing takes time, but we know you’ll find it’s worth it.

Stockpile, Stockpile, Stockpile: When you have a stockpile, you actually save time! Stockpiles mean no more running to the store every afternoon for that last dinner ingredient. When products go on a rock bottom sale, buy extras and store them for future use (and eliminate paying full retail price when you run out).

Don’t Procrastinate: Find a time that works best for you to clip and organize coupons on a regular basis. When the inserts start stacking up, it can be daunting to tackle them. For many Krazy Couponers, sorting out expireds, clipping the new coupons, and filing them one day a week is the best solution. Set aside a specified time, keep on top of it, and you’ll find couponing to be less stressful.

eCoupons: Upload these coupons electronically to your store loyalty card, and they will apply automatically at checkout when you swipe your card.  They can be loaded and used one time per card. There’s no need to clip and file these, and you can add several within seconds! Find out more about eCoupons and how to use them here.

Preparation: Have a plan of attack. Be prepared and organized at the store with coupons ready to go and a shopping list in hand. This will dramatically cut down on time that would have otherwise been spent wandering down every aisle or flipping through your binder dozens of times to find the right coupon.

reacties | | Read More...

Walgreens Extreme Couponing (Week of 8/11): $5.00 or Less

zaterdag 10 augustus 2013

Walgreens Extreme Couponing (Week of 8/11): $5.00 or Less

Walgreens has just launched a Balance Rewards Loyalty Program. Click here to read about it. Here you will also find a chart indicating how many rewards dollars you’ll receive when you earn so many points. According to the chart, 1,000 Balance Rewards Points equals $1.00–$1.25, depending on when you choose to cash out your points.

Before shopping at Walgreens, you might want to review the Walgreens How-To Video. Walgreens is certainly the hardest drugstore to shop, but it has the best deals! What I like most is that you can repeat the deals and get more product. The limits are just one per transaction, so you can get more than one item–just don’t clear the shelves! Here’s a link to the coupon policy.

Buy 1 Revlon Nail Color $4.99
Buy 1, Receive $3.00 Register Reward
Use one $2.00/1 Revlon Cosmetic from SS 7/28 (exp 9/8)
Or $1.00/1 Revlon Color Cosmetic from SS 7/28 (exp 9/8)
Pay $2.99, Receive $2.00 Register Reward USDBuy 2 Caress Bar Soap $1.29 
Use two $1.25/1 Caress Product, excludes trial/travel size, Limit 2 identical coupons per shopping trip from RP 7/28 (exp 8/25)
Or $0.75/1 Caress Product, excludes trial/travel size, Limit 2 identical coupons per shopping trip from RP 7/28 (exp 8/25)
Pay $0.08
USDBuy 2 Butterball Turkey Bacon, 6 oz $0.99, sale price
Use one $1.00/2 ButterBall Turkey Bacon or Breakfast Sausage, Limit 4 like coupons per household per day from SS 6/30 (exp 9/30)
Pay $0.98 USD

Total: $4.05
Receive: $2.00 Register Reward

Buy 3 Crest Whitening Expressions, Whitening Plus Scope or Complete Toothpaste, 5.8-6.2 oz $3.00 each, when you buy 3
Buy 3, Receive $5.00 Register Reward
Use three $0.50/1 Crest Toothpaste, 4 oz or larger, excludes Crest Cavity, Baking Soda, Tartar Control and trial/travel sizes, Limit 4 like coupons per household per day from PG 7/28 (exp 8/31)
Pay $7.50, Receive $5.00 Register RewardUSD

Total: $7.50
Use: $2.00 Register Reward from transaction #1
Pay: $5.50
Receive: $5.00 Register Reward

GRAND TOTAL: $9.55 with $5.00 Register Reward remaining, so $4.55 plus tax for about $18.00 worth of product!

reacties | | Read More...

Extreme Couponing Tip: Clean Out Expired Coupons

Extreme Couponing Tip: Clean Out Expired Coupons

A key step to keeping your coupon binder, folder or file system organized is cleaning out expired coupons on a regular basis. Set aside a time every week (or month) to go through your binder. Consider choosing the end of every week before you insert new clipped coupons, or the first day of every month. Rotating out unused coupons will create more space. Instead of throwing away coupons you won’t use or that are expired, check out this link to learn how you can donate them to military families overseas!

If you often forget to use coupons before they expire, try to keep about-to-expire coupons in a prominent location, such as a designated envelope or 2–3 extra baseball sleeves at the front of your binder, or keep a running list of coupons you have, organized by expiration dates.

reacties | | Read More...

Rite Aid Extreme Couponing (Week of 8/11): $5.00 or Less

Rite Aid Extreme Couponing (Week of 8/11): $5.00 or Less

Welcome to this post where we will lay out some extreme couponing deals that will cost you about $5.00 each week! First, here’s everything you need to know about shopping at Rite Aid: Before shopping at Rite Aid you should sign up for a Wellness card or get one in your store. The best deals at Rite Aid utilize the +Up Rewards. Go here for Rite Aid’s updated coupon policy and here to watch the video on shopping at Rite Aid.

Rite Aid +Up Rewards cannot be used until 6:00 a.m. the following day. That means you’ll have to do your second transaction the next day or do all transactions the same day and roll your rewards the next week.

Buy 2 LaBella Styling Gel $2.99
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 +Up Reward, Limit 2
Use two $1.00/1 – La Bella Product Full Size – (coupons.smartsource.com)
Pay $3.98, Receive two $2.00 +Up RewardsUSDBuy 1 Stayfree Maxi Pads, 14-24 ct $3.00
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 +Up Reward, Limit 2
Use one $1.00/1 – Stayfree or O.B Tampon Product, excludes trial size, no more than 4 coupons of any kind for the same product in the same transaction, 1 coupon per person – (healthyessentials.com)
Or $1.00/1 – Stayfree Product, limit 4 like coupons in same shopping trip, 1 coupon per person – (stayfree.com)
Or $1.00/1 Stayfree Product, excludes trial sizes, Limit one coupon per person, Limit 4 coupons in same transaction from SS 7/28 (exp 8/25)
Pay $2.00, Receive $2.00 +Up Reward USDBuy 2 Food Should Taste Good Chips, 5.5 oz $2.00 each, when you buy 2
Buy 2, Receive $1.00 +Up Reward
Use two $0.75/1 – Food Should Taste Good Chips, any flavor/variety, 4.5 oz or larger – (coupons.com)
Pay $2.50, Receive $1.00 +Up Reward Buy 2 Crest Toothpaste 3D White, 5.8 oz $3.49
Or Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste, 6 oz $3.49
Or Crest Complete Toothpaste, 7.6-8 oz $3.49
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 +Up Reward, Limit 2
Use two $0.50/1 Crest Toothpaste, 4 oz or larger, excludes Crest Cavity, Baking Soda, Tartar Control and trial/travel sizes, Limit 4 like coupons per household per day from PG 7/28 (exp 8/31)
Or $0.50/1 Crest Pro-Health Stages or Kid’s Toothpaste, 4.2 oz or larger, Limit 4 like coupons per household per day from PG 7/28 (exp 8/31)
Pay $5.98, Receive two $2.00 +Up RewardsUSD

Total: $14.46
Use: one $3.00, three $2.00 and one $1.00 +Up Reward from last week
Pay: $4.46
Receive: five $2.00 and one $1.00 +Up Rewards to use next week

GRAND TOTAL: $4.46 plus tax for $20.00 worth of product!

reacties | | Read More...

CVS Extreme Couponing (Week of 8/11): $5.00 or Less

CVS Extreme Couponing (Week of 8/11): $5.00 or Less

Welcome to this post where we will lay out some extreme couponing deals that will cost you about $5.00 each week! First, here’s everything you need to know about shopping at CVS: CVS allows one manufacturer coupon and one store coupon per product. You may use CVS ExtraBucks (EBs) in addition to these coupons. ExtraBucks are their rewards that are printed at the end of your cash register receipt. These coupons can be used on your next purchase. Remember, if there is a limit in the ad for the ExtraBucks items, this limit is per CVS ExtraCare Card. The best deals to be had at CVS are “ExtraBucks” offers. The best thing about CVS is their rain checks, which include the “ExtraBuck” offers, so you can still get the offer when they have more stock! Get your CVS card so you can enjoy these extreme savings! Be sure and read the CVS coupon policy. You can also go here and review the CVS How-To Video.

Buy 1 Bausch+Lomb Soothe, 0.5 oz $7.99
Buy 1, Receive $5.00 ExtraBucks, Limit 1
Use one $4.00/1 Bausch+Lomb Soothe Product from SS 6/30 (8/31)
Or $3.00/1 – Bausch + Lomb Soothe Dry Eye Product – (bricks.coupons.com)?
Or $3.00/1 – Bausch + Lomb Soothe Dry Eye Product – (bausch.com)
Pay $3.99, Receive $5.00 ExtraBucks USDBuy 2 Nature’s Bounty Vitamin D3 400 Iu Tablets, 100 ct $4.99, regular price
Buy One Get One Free, Limit 6
Use one $2.00/1 Nature’s Bounty Vitamin or Supplement, Limit one coupon per customer from RP 7/28 (exp 8/31)
And use one $1.00/1 Nature’s Bounty Vitamin or Supplement, Limit one coupon per customer from RP 8/4 (exp 9/3)
Pay $1.99 USD

Total: $5.98
Receive: $5.00 ExtraBucks

Buy 1 Gillette Venus Razor, 1 ct $6.79, regular price
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks, Limit 1
Use one $3.00/1 Gillette Venus Razor, excludes disposables, Limit 4 like coupons per household per day from RP 8/11 (exp 9/30)
Pay $3.79, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucksBuy 1 Zantac 150, 24 ct or Zantac 75, 30 ct $8.99
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks, Limit 3
Use one $5.00/1 – Zantac Product – (zantacotc.com)
Pay $3.99, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucksUSD

Total: $7.78
Use: $5.00 ExtraBucks from transaction #1
Pay: $2.78
Receive: two $2.00 ExtraBucks

GRAND TOTAL:  $8.76 with two $2.00 ExtraBucks remaining, so $4.76 plus tax for about $34.00 worth of product!

reacties | | Read More...

Extreme Couponing Tip: How to Stockpile with Limited Storage Space

donderdag 11 juli 2013

Extreme Couponing Tip: How to Stockpile with Limited Storage Space

We’ve all seen them—beautifully organized shelves full of food and toiletries in neat, tidy rows. It would be great to have an entire room dedicated to storing all those coupon deals, wouldn’t it? However, most of us don’t have the luxury of all that extra space to store our cherished stockpiles.

When I first began couponing I was surprised at how quickly my own stockpile accumulated. My family of four lives in a modest home with no basement and very little storage space. With no obvious place to store anything, that great deal on deodorant became a permanent eyesore on the kitchen counter. The top of the dryer was filled with toothpaste and mouthwash bargains. The pantry was overflowing.

I knew if I didn’t get organized I would have to give up on couponing altogether. It took a little creativity, but with a few simple changes I found ways to manage my stash.

It’s very tempting to cash in on that free toothpaste deal every single week. However, you also need to consider where you will store it. Buy just enough to get the best deal and to get you through until the next sale. There will be more coupons when it’s time to replenish.

If you have a hard time passing up a great bargain, find a place in your garage to store a large box. Fill the box with any items you don’t need or use. Once it is full, donate it to a local shelter, and know that it is being put to good use by people who really need it.

When I began to organize my pantry I found that there was a lot of unused space. Because the shelves are deep we tended to only use the front half of the cabinet efficiently. The back of the cabinet was littered with half empty bags of stale chips. I pulled everything out, sorted it, and carefully packed it back in. By grouping everything into similar categories, it fits into the cabinet nicely. Now, my cereal bargains are tightly lined up at the back of one shelf. Canned goods are neatly stacked in the back of another, and plastic containers hold bulk items like rice and pasta. The fronts of each cabinet are reserved only for the individual items we will need for the week or those we use on a regular basis.

I took the organization a step further and mounted a dry erase board on the back of each cabinet door to maintain an inventory of what is stored on each shelf. This system makes it easier to plan our meals and nearly eliminated our issue of wasting food.

Items are often sold in boxes and packaging that take up more space than necessary. A small bin in your pantry can contain loose fruit snacks, oatmeal packets and granola bars more efficiently. Loose razors can be stored together in a Ziplock bag. If necessary, liquid cleaning products can even be combined into larger containers (recycled milk jugs work well) and used as refills, instead.

Our laundry room had a lot of unused wall space. By installing two shelves that ran the length of the room, we gained an additional 12 feet of storage for our cleaning supply and paper product stockpiles. A shoe rack on the back of my closet door cleared shelf space for toiletries. Bed skirts hide crates filled with extra food. I even have stashes hidden in the pretty baskets on my living room shelves.

Some bargains can look beautiful if displayed in a new way. A large glass jar in my bathroom shows off the bars of soap I have accumulated. Other jars in my kitchen show off bulk grains. Extra produce can make a pretty table centerpiece when you need more space in your fridge. You will be surprised what an interesting container can do to transform (or hide) your stash.

If all else fails, consider other locations. Buying or renting a small storage shed may be worth the savings as your stockpiles grow. Your church may offer you storage space in return for bargain cleaning supplies. A friend may let you keep a shelf of items in her basement if you help her find those great diaper deals. Although less convenient, these options will allow you to continue couponing until you find other options.

Using coupons doesn’t have to cause chaos. Stop drowning in your stockpiles and look around your home for storage options.  With a little bit of creativity, your stash will be well organized — even in the smallest spaces.

This is a guest post by Andi from Webb City, MO
Find out more about the KCL Contributor Network!

reacties | | Read More...

Extreme Couponing Tip: Back-to-School Stock-Up Prices

Extreme Couponing Tip: Back-to-School Stock-Up Prices

Back-to-school is in full swing mid-July to early September, so know when to wait and when to stock up by using this list as your guide. Remember, you can buy extras of the Krazy deals and donate them to local classrooms!

$0.10 or under

Pencil cap erasers pack, 10+2 pocket paper portfoliosRulers, plastic

$0.25 and under

Tape roll, clear regularComposition notebooksPens, pencils, 8 ct+Rulers, woodCrayons, 24 ctPencil sharpener, manualCompass toolIndex cards, 3×5Paper clips, 80 ct+Rubber bands, 50 ct+Spiral notebook, 1 subjectGlue, liquid school 4 ozGlue, stick 2 ct+Blackboard chalk, 12 ct+Permanent markerHighlighterDry erase marker

$0.50 and under

White correction liquidDivider tabs, 5 ct+Generic brand markers, 10 ctGeneric brand colored pencils, 12 ctSticky note pad 3? x 3?Scissors, kid sizeZippered pencil pouchFiller notebook paper, 150 sheet+Posterboard, 22? x 28?

$1.00 and under 

Crayola Markers, 10 ctCrayola Colored pencils, 12 ctConstruction paper, 75 sheets+Scissors, full sizeBinder, 1 inchMini staplerGraph filler paperCopy/printer paper, ream (after rebate)

reacties | | Read More...