Decoding Coupon Lingo

I think it's time to decode the coupon lingo. I do abbreviate things a lot, so it's important that you know what I am actually talking about!






Here is a good list to start with...
•SS –Smart Source insert
•RP –Red Plum insert
•P&G –Procter & Gamble saver insert
•B1G1 -Buy one, get one free
•CAT- Catalina Coupon
•EX - Expires On
•GC- Gift Card
•MFR -Manufacturer Coupon
•MIR -Mail in Rebate
•MM- Money Maker
•OOP -Out Of Pocket
•Peelie- Coupon peeled off product itself
•RR- Register Rewards (Walgreens)
•SC –Store Coupon
•SCR- Single Check Rebates (Rite-Aid)
•WYB –When You Buy
•YMMV-Your Mileage May Vary (a generic term for "It worked for me, may not work for you")

What is a Register Reward?

Register Reward programs are being implemented at stores such as Walgreen's, CVS, KMart, Giant Eagle, Rite Aid, Target.

Register Rewards are Catalina coupons, Catalina coupons are those coupons that print up separately from your register receipt after you purchase qualifying items. The Register Rewards can be used like cash on your next purchase.

Catalina machines are generally programmed to print one Register Reward coupon for one qualifying item. If you purchase more than one of the same qualifying items per transaction, you will only receive one Register Reward coupon.

In order to get more than one Register Reward coupon when purchasing more than one of the same qualifying items, request that each item be rung up on separate transactions. If you purchase different qualifying items in the same transaction you will receive one register reward for each item.

Note: In some areas the request for separate transactions may be denied. I have found most cashiers to be helpful and 'couponin'g friendly. :-)

Register Rewards, being that they are same as cash, can roll over into big savings. There is some strategy that comes into play...the best scenarios are when you can combine store rebates (found in the circular), manufacturer coupons, sales and register rewards PLUS multiple transactions.

It Worked For Me: Stop Throwing Money in the Garbage!

It's the weekend which me means COUPON time in my house! I have been able to save SO much money couponing and matching them with the stores deals that when I share the savings with my family they think I am crazy! I am talking toothpaste and lotions for free, Kotex pads for .50 cents, coffee creamer for .50 cents and the list can go on. My sister has been begging me to teach her...well, really just tell her where to go as she claims she can't map it all out the way that I do.

So first things first...where do I find all these coupons on this little adventure/hobby of mine?

Here's what I've found so far.....

NEWSPAPER ~ I just signed up to receive our local newspaper on Sundays only. It's fairly inexpensive to do it this way, especially considering the savings I will be getting. Each Sunday there are 1, 2 or sometimes even 3 coupon inserts. In my research so far, I've heard that you should buy a newspaper for every member in your family. So, I have 6 in my family, so I should get 6 papers because that's SIX times the savings. I'm going to start out with one and ask around there may be a friend or family member who will give you their inserts if they aren't going to use them.

I also found a place where you can get a discount on your newspaper subscription, CLICK HERE to check it out. For me it is quite a bit of savings for the first 6 months and then it bumps up to normal price. Not bad!

ONLINE ~ I have found many websites that offer FREE printable coupons, but these are the ones that I've found, so far, to be the best. There are plenty more sites, but I'm trying to save myself time by going to the best ones. I will definitely be adding to this list more as I do more research.

www.coupons.com
www.redplum.com
www.smartsource.com
www.boxtops4education.com
www.retailmenot.com (Great for online promo codes)
www.upromise.com (And you save for college)

MANUFACTURER'S WEBSITES ~ This is a biggie! If there are some specific brand names that you like, go to their website and sometimes you might be surprised to find a coupon right there. Try International Delight Creamer to get a .55 cent coupon (that doubles at most grocery stores!). Also, FREE SAMPLES! Like the one that you can get from Pearl Tampax.

EBAY ~ Yes, I just said EBAY! There are tons of grocery coupons for sale there. Now, it is against the law for people to actually sell coupons, but they can charge a fee for their time to clip them. I was able to get 20- $3 off diaper coupons for $1. Also, most coupon Ebay sellers will ship for free or cheaply. This is a great way to get coupons for a specific item that you want to stock pile on, use on a regular basis or the store is having a mega deal and you want to match it a coupon you don't have. Look for coupons under .99 cents, so that they double! Make sure to check expiration, you don't want to only have 2 days to use them. Make sure you check the sellers details, do they ship asap and are they reputable.

STORE ADVERTISEMENTS ~ Lots of times there are coupons in the different advertisements for different stores (ie. Target, Walgreens, Rite Aid, etc.). You would find these in the mail, in the newspaper or at the actual store. Also, a few places post coupons online!! Such as Target, Walgreens, CVS.

THE MAIL ~ I was pleasantly surprised to find a bunch of grocery coupons in my mail just this weekend! In the past, I've considered these junk and would have tossed them, but now how could I? It's like money in my pocket that I would be throwing in the trash!

PRODUCT PACKAGING ~ I was amazed to find coupons already in my pantry! Some companies put coupons right on the packaging of the food items that you already use.

MAGAZINES ~ I'm not talking about coupon magazines. I'm talking about regular ole magazines (ie. Everyday w/ Rachael Ray, Family Fun, Country Living, etc.). I love ALL YOU magazine, they also have coupons on their website.

Wow, that is a lot of places to find coupons! Just think, that I've been throwing away all of these things all these years! I am seeing coupons in a whole new light these days. They are like free money. I now save my receipts to calculate my savings at the end of the month. What to do with the extra money? For us, right now that is, I can just get more with the money budgeted for groceries BUT this could be a great way to start a savings account. Take the "savings" listed on each receipt and move it over to savings, you can collect enough for a family vacation or add to a college fund.

Do you have any coupon resources that I haven't already mentioned here? I would love to hear 'em!

Mission: Eat Right, Eat Good but DO it Cheap!

One of my biggest challenges is feeding a family of 6, and often more since we always have guests, on a tight budget. Call it maturity or whatever you want to call it, but I realized that alot/most of our "extra" money was being spent on FOOD!! Our hard earned cash all gone to food! I thought, 'what a racket?...If I could cut our food bill by $50 or more that could really add up or help in other areas in our financial budget that has a need.' Unfortunately, it took tight times to force us into this more disciplined nature of resourcefulness but the Lord used this as an opportunity to show me that this is an area that we as Christians are to focus on and me/we were in desperate need of a makeover. We are called to be resourceful, whether there is a current pressing need or not. We are to learn to be good stewards as God expects His people to use the resources of time, money, abilities, and spiritual gifts to the best possible advantage in their pursuit of excellence in ministry.

Luke 16:10-11 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"

So I made it one of missions for 2010 to be a better steward of the money that we do have. One area I could immediately modify was to work at cutting our grocery bill by $50-$100 a week! Yes, I said a week and yes I said work at! And I will say that so far so good. If you would like to strive to do the same, follow me as I am going to start posting the strategies that I have learned, from so many others willing to share, and use to accomplish this monstrous task.

Proverbs 24:3-4
Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms shall be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

I am going to start a little out of order but today I felt compelled to share a recipe that I found that is SO resourceful and looks so yummy!

Today's Tip: Find recipes where the majority of ingredients can be found amongst your pantry staples and then purchase the supplemental ingredients.

Here is a recipe that I found in All You Magazine that is healthy and will cost me barely anything to make and feed our mass family.

Black-Bean Burgers
Prep: 10 min.
Bake: 20 min.
Serves: 4
Cost per serving: 67 c.

*2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
*1 stalk of celery chopped
*1 onion chopped
*1 clove garlic, minced
*1-15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
*1 large egg
*1 Tbsp. Cumin
* 1/2 c. plain bread crumbs
* Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees; lightly grease a large rimmed baking sheet.
2.Warm oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add celery and onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and saute 1 minutes longer.
3. Our beans into a large bowl and use a fork to mash into a thick paste. Scrape vegetables from skillet into bowl. Stir in egg, cumin, and bread crumbs. Season with salt and pepper and use your hands to form 4 patties. Place on baking sheet and bake until firm and set, about 10 minutes on each side.

Per Serving: 215 cal., 9g Fat (1g sat.), 53mg. Chol., 7g Fiber, 8g Pro., 28g Carb., 821mg Sod.

Kitchen Tips:
*Do the mash. The burgers turn out better when the beans are well mashed. use a food processor if you prefer.
*Add extras. Present the burgers just like regular hamburgers. Add a slice of cheese just after they come out of the oven, if desired.

YUM and SO HEALTHY! I carry all but beans as staples in my kitchen so all I have to get is the beans!! This meal will cost me under $10 for 8 to eat and we'll probably have left overs!

ENJOY!!

xoxo Halley