coupons 101

How to read your receipt... @ Lowes Foods

suestock — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:00:00 -0400

This is the second in my occasional series of posts on how to read your receipt at various stores. So far, the only other store I've done a post for is Harris Teeter.

You can always find these posts in the left-hand "rail" of this page, in the Coupons 101 section. I hope to add more stores over time.

Click Read More to learn how to read your Lowes Foods receipt!

How to read your receipt... @ Harris Teeter

suestock — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 07:00:00 -0400

Several weeks ago, I got a suggestion from reader Jen. She wanted to know if I could do a post about how to read the receipts at Harris Teeter. I thought that was a really good idea, since receipts can be very confusing. So I'm hoping to make this the first of several "how to read your receipt" posts.

Like all my Coupons 101 postings, I will build a permanent section for these posts on the left-hand side of this page so that you can find them easily.

So thanks for the suggest, Jen! And click "Read More" to learn how to read a receipt at Harris Teeter!

Managing your coupons and your time...

suestock — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:00:00 -0400

One of the most common things I hear from non-couponers is that it simply takes too much time to use coupons. All the clipping and sorting makes people feel like it's too much of a commitment.

Well here's my answer. If you can devote one to two hours a week to clipping, sorting and reviewing the sales fliers, you will be able to save a substantial amount. Probably at least $20 a week. $20 a week is more than $1,000 a year. And those are post-tax dollars, too, so that's some real money.

If you don't think you have an hour or two each week to spare, ask yourself this: do you have one or two TV programs you watch every week? Clip and sort when you're on the couch. You'll be more productive with your time and you'll save money.

And, don't "purge" your expired coupons every week. Once a month should do for most people.

On your next order...

suestock — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:00:00 -0400

For those of you who are new to couponing, I thought I'd take a minute to talk about coupons good on your next order, or OYNO in coupon slang. OYNO coupons are usually ones that print out at the register after you've completed your order. If you've made the qualifying purchase, you then get your coupon good for a certain amount off your next order. These are great because they're like cash, and you can use several in one transaction if you choose.

Lots of folks don't know this, but some of our area grocery stores actually list all of the valid OYNO deals on their Web sites. You can check them out before you go to the store. Remember you will need to scan your loyalty card when you check out to get the coupon. Here are the links:

Harris Teeter

Food Lion

Lowes Foods (under the Cash Back Checkout Coupons heading)

Coupons 101: Lowes InstaSave

suestock — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:15:13 -0400

Lowes has put up a new batch of InstaSave offers, and I thought I'd take the opportunity to write a Coupons 101 post about the program. (For future reference, you can find all such posts in the Coupons 101 section of this page on the left-hand side.)

InstaSave is an electronic coupon program. If you already have a Lowes Foods loyalty card, all you need to do is go to this Web site and create an online account. You will need to enter some information, including an e-mail address and the number from your Lowes card. Once you've set up an account, you can then log into your account and "load" electronic coupons onto your card. You will get an e-mail notification each month when new offers are issued.

So, for instance, this month, there's an electronic coupon for $1 off when you buy Prilosec OTC. I would log into my account, select that coupon and load it onto my card. Then I would go to the store and purchase Prilosec OTC. When I make the purchase and swipe my Lowes card at the checkout, the coupon amount will automatically be deducted from my total. It is my understanding that you cannot combine this discount with the use of a paper coupon, but sometimes that's a situation in which your mileage may vary depending on the store, the cashier and the manager on duty.

Coupons 101: Kroger eSaver

suestock — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0500

A long, long time ago, I asked you all for suggestions for new Coupons 101 topics. I know I didn't do much with them then, but I still have the list and plan to try to write posts on some of the topics you suggested as we move through November. (Feel free to make more suggestions if you like.)

Right now I want to talk about Kroger's eSaver program. This is a partnership with Procter & Gamble. You can register your existing Kroger Plus card for the program on this Web site. Then you can log into your account and load "eCoupons" onto your card. Once you have done this, the coupons are linked to your card in the computer system. When you go to Kroger and buy the qualifying item, your discount comes off your total automatically as long as you remember to swipe your Kroger card.

At this point, you can also match up a paper coupon with your purchase for double savings (and if the paper coupon is 50 cents or less, it will double, making that a triple savings!) I have been told that eventually, you will not be able to use paper coupons, but so far this has not happened. It's a nice way to save more if you buy P&G products a lot. And if you can time your purchases for the beginning of the month when the new P&G coupons are issued and there are typically sales on P&G products, it could be a sweet deal.

Upromise bonus at Harris Teeter...

suestock — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:54:41 -0400

What is Upromise?

Upromise is a savings program designed to help you pay for college. That can be your children's education, your yet-to-be-born child's education, your own education or your spouse's education.

But I should note that even though the program is set up to be an educational program, you do NOT have to use the money in the account to pay for educational expenses. The Upromise Web site itself acknowledges: "Upromise was created to help families save for college and we strongly encourage members to use the money they’ve earned towards education expenses. However, members may choose to withdraw the money they’ve saved for other purposes if they wish."

So, you can also use Upromise simply to get a little extra back on purchases you'd make anyway, and that is a good thing.

How does it work?

Upromise has partnered with hundreds of companies to earn you a percentage of each qualifying purchase that is then put into your Upromise account. So, for example, if I buy Tylenol, 2 percent of my purchase price is credited to my Upromise account.

Upromise has partnered with retail stores, restaurants, airlines, hotel chains and even realtors. A lot of the credits you get may seem small... a couple of pennies here and a couple of pennies there. But over time, they add up. And there are larger bonuses, too. Every Netflix account that is started through a Upromise account earns $12 credit. And if you are buying a house, you should definitely look at starting a Upromise account first. You could get a percentage of your purchase back! To me it's like getting a little extra discount on things you'd buy anyway.

How do I participate?

1) You first need to register and set up an account with Upromise at www.upromise.com. During the registration process, you will be asked to enter your loyalty card numbers for your VIC card, your Kroger card, your Lowes Foods card, your CVS card, etc.

You can also register credit cards, debit cards, etc. I do recommend doing this because you can earn additional credits in your account when you eat at certain restaurants or shop at certain stores. I have registered all my cards and not had any security issues. This also serves as a back-up if, say, you forget your VIC card one day. As long as you pay with one of your registered credit or debit cards, the Upromise system will still see the transaction, and you will still get credit.

2) Once you've registered, you then can earn credit in your account in a variety of ways. You get credit at the food store or the pharmacy when your loyalty card is scanned or you use a registered credit or debit card. You get credit for shopping online at hundreds of online retailers. And you get credit for dining in restaurants and using the registered card. Once you set the system up, it should work pretty much all by itself, accumulating money for you as you go.

What's the catch?

Personally, I don't really think there is one. To me it's like free money. And saving money in any form is a really good thing.

I don't buy anything I wouldn't normally buy because I have a Upromise account. But I've found Upromise partners with so many retailers and companies that I can often get a little back on my everyday purchases. I don't even have kids yet, but I have a Upromise account. I figure that if I can some day pay even part of a semester's tuition from this account, it will totally be worth it. Or, I can just withdraw the money when I want, and use it for some other need.

That 529 plan they talk about...

Upromise will ask you to link your Upromise account with a 529 educational savings plan. They really, really would like you to do that. But you don't have to. As I've already mentioned, you can simply save up funds and then withdraw them, without ever opening an affiliated 529. (If you do want a 529 plan, shop around, as plans vary from state to state.)

They also would really, really like you to open a Upromise-linked credit card. But you don't have to do that either.

Sue's tips for maximizing savings with Upromise:

1) Do take advantage of the Friends & Family option. You can invite your friends and family to register their VIC cards, CVS cards, etc., and contribute to your account. Especially if you are saving for a child, this is a really easy way to get grandparents and aunts and uncles involved in helping that child in a pretty much painless way. Plus, your savings will rack up much faster!

2) Do download the Upromise toolbar from the Upromise Web site. This is a toolbar that basically looks for Upromise savings for you. It will tell you when you visit any Web site that qualifies for savings, and it will remind you to log into your account to get your savings before you complete your purchase. So, you may go to shop online on a Web site you didn't even realize was a Upromise partner, but the toolbar will alert you that there are potential savings. You will never miss an opportunity, and the toolbar also gives you special offers for Upromise members.

3) Do check your e-mail. Upromise will often have special offers from certain retailers or even bonuses for referring friends. Check your e-mail to learn about these offers.

4) Do start right away. If you've read all the way to the bottom of this post and still haven't started an account, hop to it! There are a ton of products you buy every week that I'll bet qualify for some sort of bonus. You can always view the list of grocery/drug store items that qualify here. There are also lists on Upromise.com of restaurants and online retailers that qualify.

Coupons 101: Walgreens Register Rewards explained...

suestock — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:14:03 -0400

It's been a long time since I wrote a coupons 101 post, but I know that there are lots of new people out there learning about coupons for the first time and using my Coupon Corner over on the left-hand side of this page to do so. I realized the other day that I didn't have a post about Walgreens' Register Rewards program, so here goes...

The Register Rewards program is another type of rebate program run by Walgreens. Unlike the EasySaver program, which is for mail-in rebates, Register Rewards are "instant rebates." [Edit: Walgreens discontinued the EasySaver program in May 2009.] Items qualifying for Register Rewards are marked in the weekly sales flier for Walgreens. When you go to Walgreens and buy an item that is eligible for a Register Rewards rebate, you will get a coupon that prints out at the register that is good for a certain amount off a future order.

So, let's say Head n Shoulders shampoo is $3.99 but comes with a $2 Register Rewards rebate. You'll go to the store, buy your shampoo for $3.99 and pay at the register. Your receipt will print out, as will a Register Rewards coupon that is good for $2. Then you can redeem that $2 coupon on a future order. There are a few restrictions, like you can't use Register Rewards to pay for tobacco or alcohol. And you should also note that Register Rewards coupons DO EXPIRE. But other than that, they can be a great way to save a little more at Walgreens.

Last updated: May 6, 2009

Can I print these?

suestock — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 05:00:00 -0400

No, unfortunately, the coupons in this database are not "printable."

This database is simply a list of coupons that have been offered in our market (ie. have been published in the Sunday newspaper coupon inserts).

Many people use the database to match up sales and coupons, or they use it to see when a specific coupon was issued.

I use it myself for my weekly list of Wednesday deals, where I match up sale items and coupons for readers (you can click on the "see this week's list" link on the left-hand side of the page to find this week's Wednesday deals).

There are many sites where you can find printable coupons, but I am afraid this is not one of them. However, I would recommend my post on finding coupons for more information on that topic.

Also, if you are new to coupons entirely, you may find other useful information in the Coupon corner Q&A section on the left-hand side of my blog.