Send it & Save!

There’s a brand new way to use coupons at CVS!!! CVS has introduced the new “send to card” option to those receiving their money off coupons via email! 

I absolutely love this new method (saves ink and paper), which requires nothing more than the press of a button to save you money when you shop. If you sometimes forget your coupon or don’t have printer access, this will be your saving grace (no pun intended)!

Be sure you are signed up for CVS emails to receive the coupons & don't forget your Green Bag Tag!

Do the math...

Ever wonder how to figure out your savings percentage for your shopping trips? I don't know about you but I get so excited when I calculate up my savings for each trip. Below is the equation I use to determine how much I save.

Equation:

Step 1: Amount Spent + Amount Saved = Total Value of purchase

Step 2: Amount Spent/Total Value = a decimal (we’ll call the decimal “A”)

Step 3: Multiply A x 100 = % Spent of total items purchased

Step 4: 100 – % Spent = % Saved of total items purchased

Example:

Let’s say I spent $11.00 and saved $76.00

Step 1:  $11 + $76 = $87.00 (total value of my purchase)

Step 2:  $11.00 divided by $87.00 = 0.12

Step 3:  0.12 x 100 = 12.6% (this is the percentage of money I spent on the groceries – So I spent 12.6% of what the grocery bill would have been w/o sales and coupons)

Step 4: 100 – 12.6 = 87.4% saved (I saved 87.4% on my grocery bill)

Thanks Addictedtosaving!

Quickie CVS Reminders

Maximize your savings reminders!

Scan your Extra Care Card at the in-store kiosk before you shop every time at CVS. You can usually scan it 2 or more times.

Receive a $4/$20 coupon when you sign up for the CVS ExtraCare email (If you haven’t already registered a card with an email address.)

Don’t forget your reusable bag with Green Bag Tag! It will generate $1 Extra Care Buck every 4 times it is scanned. 

Every 2 prescriptions filled at CVS will generate $1 ECB.

Register for the CVS Advisory Panel and earn more ECBs by completing online surveys from CVS.

Thanks Truecouponing!

Important Swagbucks News!

Swagbucks has announced a major policy change on their blog, they have announced they will permit more than one account per household. Previously, only one account was permitted but now you can refer your spouse, children, or anyone else living with you and they can earn Swagbucks too!

This is fantastic news! More swaggers means more prizes to your home! Not familiar with Swagbucks? Swagbucks is a search engine similar to Google, however you will randomly earn points for searches called “Swag Bucks” that you can redeem towards prizes like gift cards. You can earn anywhere from around 7-50 Swagbucks for your searches. JOIN HERE and earn 30 Swagbucks!

2011 Coupon Insert Schedule

2011 Sunday Coupon Insert Schedule

2011 Sunday Coupon Insert Schedule (Smartsource Coupon Preview 2011, Redplum Coupon Preview 2011, Proctor & Gamble Coupon Preview 2011, General Mills Coupon Preview 2011)

January
2— (2) Smart Source (2) Red Plum and General Mill
9— Smart Source and Red Plum
16 — Proctor & Gamble
23 — Smart Source and Red Plum
30 — Smart Source and Red Plum

February

6 — Smart Source
13 — No Inserts scheduled (Valentine’s Day)
20 — Smart Source, General Mills and Procter & Gamble
27 — Smart Source and Red Plum

March
6— Smart Source, Red Plum and Procter & Gamble
13 — Smart Source and Red Plum
20 — Smart Source and Red Plum
27 — (2) Smart Source, Red Plum

April
3— Smart Source and Red Plum and Procter & Gamble
10 — Smart Source and Red Plum
17 — Smart Source and Red Plum
24 — No Inserts scheduled

May
1 — Smart Source, Red Plum and Procter & Gamble
8— Smart Source and Red Plum
15 — (2) Smart Source and Red Plum
22 — Smart Source and Red Plum
29 — No Inserts scheduled (Memorial Day)

June

5 — Smart Source, Red Plum and Procter & Gamble
12 — Smart Source
19 — Smart Source and Red Plum
26 — Smart Source and Red Plum

July
3 — No Inserts scheduled (Independence Day)
10 — Smart Source and Red Plum
17 — Smart Source
24 — Smart Source and Red Plum
31 — Smart Source, Red Plum and Procter & Gamble

August
7 — Smart Source and Red Plum
14 — Smart Source and Red Plum
21 — Smart Source and Red Plum
28 — Smart Source, Red Plum and Procter & Gamble

September
4 — No Inserts scheduled (Labor Day)
11 — Smart Source and (2) Red Plum
18 — Smart Source and Red Plum
25 — Smart Source and Red Plum

October
2 — Smart Source, Red Plum and Procter & Gamble
9 — Smart Source and Red Plum
16 — Smart Source and Red Plum
23 — Smart Source and Red Plum
30 — Smart Source and Red Plum

November
6 — Smart Source, Red Plum and Procter & Gamble
13 — Smart Source and Red Plum
20 — Smart Source and Red Plum
27 — No Inserts scheduled (Thanksgiving)

December
4 — Smart Source, Red Plum and Procter & Gamble
11 — Smart Source and Red Plum
18 — No Inserts scheduled (Christmas)
25 — Procter & Gamble

To match or not to match...

I found this article on www.krazycouponlady.com and wanted to share it with you. I had never given thought to this whenever I requested an "Ad match" at Walmart, so when I read it, a light bulb went off (I need to pay closer attention, because I thought I was getting a great deal, but I still got the regular price).

Does Walmart price match the "before Rewards" or "after Rewards" pricing?

Walmart will not price match an “After Rewards” price, especially since sometimes items are “Free after Reward”. This is because the different types of checkout coupons (“Catalinas”) are to be used on a FUTURE purchase, so they cannot be used in the transaction that you use to buy that item. Most of the different store “Rewards” (RR, EB, +UP) cannot be redeemed at Walmart (store coupons must be for a specific price for a specific item, and Catalinas must be manufacturer coupons for an amount off of a specific item). Therefore it is not fair to ask Walmart to include it in the transaction for the item that you are purchasing, when not even the original store does that. 

If your store currently allows price-matching for “After Rewards” prices and you have spoken with the manager, then that is that store’s choice. But keep in mind that it is a courtesy, not a rule they have to follow. 

For more, checkout Walmart’s Coupon Policy and Ad Match Guarantee.

Thanks Krazy Coupon Lady!

Goodbye UPC, Hello Databar

The normal 12 digit UPC code we normally see on a coupon is nearing its expiration date! Beginning on June 30th, 2011 many manufacturers will be removing the 12 digit barcode and leaving the other, longer barcode, called a DataBar barcode.

Some manufacturers have already replaced the standard UPC code with a DataBar barcode. For example, a few recent Sally Hansen coupons had this new barcode. I was worried about it not scanning at the register, but to my surprise, it scanned just fine. I was redeeming this coupon at Target, and this means they have updated their POS system to be compatible with these new barcodes.

The DataBar barcode contains much more information than a UPC code does. For example, it accommodates longer manufacturer identification numbers, which check to see if you purchased the correct item. Also, since there is minimal human readable text, this means the end of barcode decoding!

Retailers that utilize DataBar will experience automatic expiration date checking, reduced cashier intervention and improved scan rates. This means your checkout experience should be much less painful and will be faster.

Of course, in order for these coupons to scan, the retailer would need to update their POS system to accommodate the new barcode. Most major retailers like Target and Walgreens already support DataBar barcodes, with other retailers soon to come.

Thanks Frugal Finders for this great post, this will certainly help us consumers to stay informed!

CVS Green Bag Tag

There is a great program now being offered by CVS called "Green Bag Tag". For a cost of .99 cents, you will receive a tag that earns ECB's just for using a reusable bag. What a great way to reduce the waste of plastic bags and earn ECB's for being environmentally savvy. Go to www.cvsgreenbagtag.com for more details and stop by your local CVS to get yours today!

10 ways to score Swagbucks!

If you love Freebies as much as I do and enjoy getting free gift cards then you've got to try Swagbucks!

Simply use Swagbucks instead of your regular search engine when searching the web and start scoring your Swagbucks. You can cash in your virtual bucks for FREE gift cards from Home Depot, Target, Starbucks, Amazon, and much more! I especially enjoy cashing in my bucks for the $5 Amazon gift cards! I use them to purchase Christmas gifts for loved ones. After you have registered for Swagbucks, here are 10 Ways to Earn More Swagbucks...

Vote in the Daily Swagbucks Poll to score 1 extra Swagbuck each day!

Read the Swagbucks Blog, and watch for periodic swag codes!

Follow Swagbucks on Twitter, and watch for periodic swag codes!

Follow Swagbucks on Facebook, and watch for periodic swag codes!

Install the Swagbucks Toolbar (Each day when you reboot your computer, you’ll receive 1 Swagbuck!)

Invite your friends to join Swagbucks (When they search & win Swagbucks, you’ll win, too!, up to 1000 bucks)

Use Swagbucks for all of your Internet searches! (No matter how silly or small)

Watch Swagbucks TV

Play Swagbucks Games!

Use Swagbucks on Fridays! (Every Friday is Mega Swagbucks Day, your chances of scoring higher value bucks increases)!

So what are you waiting for? Go to Swagbucks, and get searching! 

Thanks Frugal Girls!

Welcome to Grace Saved

We would like to extend a warm welcome to all the new Grace Saved followers that have recently joined us. Your decision to visit this site is both a compliment and an honor, one that we don't take lightly. There are many other wonderful money saving websites that offer great information on how to pinch your pennies, what's different about Grace Saved is that here, you learn the fundamentals of couponing and how to maximize your savings with a purpose. My husband and I work very hard to find the best deals with our coupons so that we can build a stockpile for our household needs, but we also shop for the purpose of blessing others.

You will often find that I quote Luke 6:38 which reads

"Give and it will be given unto you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Essentially, it says that when you bless others that God will bless you in such a manner that you would not be able to contain it. We don't do it for that purpose, although we don't say No to Gods best for us. We do it because out of our own needs, God gave us this ministry to bless those that do not have. Just a year ago, I lost my job of 5 years and we had to make some pretty hard decisions about our finances and living situation so that we could make ends meet, that is how Grace Saved was birthed. We went through the tough times in order to be a testimony to others that are going it through it now. I don't question Gods plan behind it, and we are even grateful that things turned out the way they did. We give God the glory for all that He has done and continues to do in us and through us.

At Grace Saved, you will find information ranging from stories about family, savings, coupons, crafts, money saving deals & more. This site is no frills, there are no bells and whistles, just good old fashioned friendly advice on how to stretch your money & maximize your savings. We hope that you find the information useful and that you will come back often. We would also love to hear from you, so feel free to leave a comment or email us at gracesavedanna@gmail.com

Thank you and God Bless you!

Save more with Savingstar

Save BIG at your local Grocery or Drugstores when you sign up for SavingStar eCoupons!

Here is how to signup:

Go to SavingStar

Select ‘Join Saving Star’ at the top right of the page

Create your login

Register your Grocery & Drugstore Loyalty Cards

Select ‘Go To eCoupons’ and get your coupons

Shop using your Grocery & Drugstore Loyalty Cards

Your E-Coupon savings will then be deposited automatically to your account within 7-30 days

Once you have saved $5.00, you will be notified via email to pick your preferred payout method on SavingStar (Bank Account, PayPal or Amazon Gift Card). You can also email or print your list of Coupons by clicking on ‘My eCoupons’ on the right hand column. Or download your list to your smartphone with the iPhone App or Android App! Saving has never been so easy, sign up today!

Thanks Frugal Girls!

Text it, Share it! (Frugal Alerts)

 Last week while adding contacts to my cell phone, I came across a feature that allows me to create "groups", I realized I could create a specific list of contacts for a specific purpose. Then it dawned on me, I was going to start a group called "Frugal Alerts"! It's a text message with the intended purpose of sharing an Awesome deal that I may find while I'm out shopping. After inviting my friends to be apart of the group, I began to put my plan into action. In these 'Frugal Alerts', I advise them of the product, the price, the store name & if there's a corresponding coupon for the product (this also works for online deals too).

I love sharing deals with my frugal friends as much as I enjoy sharing them with you. I would encourage you to start your own Frugal Alerts with your friends so that you can share great deals too. 

I love the Luke 6:38 NIV principle

"Give and it will be given unto you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Military Coupons

Did you know that AAFES & Commissaries around the globe accept coupons! They also have printable coupons on their sites for all those that have access to these retailers with their military identification. Click on the links below to learn more about their policies and to view the printable coupons.

Commissaries.com (Coupon Policy)

Conagra Commissary  (Printable Coupons)

AAFES on Facebook (Printable Coupons)

AAFES (Coupon Policy)

Thanks Frugal Girls! 

New Coupon Policy @ Target

Target has just rolled out their new coupon policy today and there are major changes when it comes to BOGO purchases! Click on the link www.target.com to read it in it's entirety. Just another way that 'Extreme Couponing' Reality Show is affecting the masses!

Which comes first? Coupon edition

Much like the question of which came first, the chicken or the egg. Yes, there is an order to how you should distribute your coupons to the cashier when your ready to complete your purchase in order to maximize your savings. In this tutorial, I will use Walgreens & Winn Dixie as my examples. Now that you've crossed everything off your list and your coupons are organized, let's get them in order. Below is the best & proven method I have found to maximizing my stacked coupon savings. 

Here is the order in which I provide my coupons at Walgreens.

A. Manufacturer Coupons (MFG Q's)

B. In Ad Coupons (Wags In Ad)

C. Register Rewards (RR)

Why this method? If I were to hand my In Ad coupon first, I will only get the store discount on that item, the manufacturer coupon will then take the remaining small balance off after the In Ad coupon is deducted. However, if I provide the MFG coupon first, then the In Ad coupon, this will ensure I get the full value of both and perhaps get an overage to use toward my total purchase. The point is to get my OOP expense on my total purchase to zero, not just on that item that is on sale. Lastly, if you have a remaining balance, hand in your RR's so that it can be applied to your total. You may want to write the order down and store it in your coupon pouch as a quick reference guide.

Now, when it comes to stacking coupons at your local grocery store, there is a similar school of thought. Most grocers offer a loyalty card, and often times the Catalina machine will provide me with a $5 off $50 purchase coupon, plus I would have my MFG coupons. Here is how I stack my grocery coupons for the best value.

A. Loyalty Card (grocers often require this first in order to use $5 off coupon)

B. $5 off coupon 

C. MFG coupons

Why this method? By scanning your loyalty card first, this will show you what the remaining balance is after the store savings have been applied. Next by providing the $5 off $50 coupon, this will ensure that they have to give you that money off, and finally the MFG coupons. Here is why this order is so important as reflected in the example below.

My total purchase is $77.05, after my loyalty card is scanned my balance falls to $56.22, after my MFG coupons are applied my balance falls to $48.09. Which means I CAN NOT use the $5 off coupon because my total has fallen below the required threshold of $50 in order to use the $5 off coupon thus making you lose out on savings. However, by scanning your loyalty card first, then using the $5 off coupon, and finally your MFG coupons, this allows you to maximize your savings by getting all potential discounts. This proven method has allowed me to get more bang for my coupon buck. I hope this tutorial has helped to shed some light on how to stack your Q's for the best savings.

The fundamentals of couponing pt.#2

Learn the talk!

Since we have this weekend off from clipping our coupons, let's get back to class and learn something new. Last week you learned a bit about the fundamentals of couponing and how to get started, today we're going to learn about the language of couponing. Here you will find the meanings to common coupon abbreviations or as I like to call it "coupon talk".

Q (Coupon)

CAT (Catalina)

AR (After Rebate)

AC (After Coupon)

BLINKIES (In-store coupons found near product, usually from red blinking box)

BOGO or B1G1 (Buy One Get One Free)

BO50 or BO50% (Buy One Get One Half Off)

CATALINA (coupon dispensed at register after purchase)

DND (Do Not Double)

ECB (CVS Extra Care Bucks earned for purchases)

HBA (The health and beauty section)

HANGTAG (coupons hanging on a product)

IP (Internet Printable Coupon)

MIR (Mail In Rebate)

MQ (Manufacturers Coupon)

OOP (Out of Pocket) related to your total expense

OYNO (On your next order)

P&G (Proctor & Gamble)

PEELIE (coupon that you peel off the package)

RC (Rain check)

RP (Red Plum) 

SS (Smart Source)

RC (Regional Coupon)

RR (Walgreens Register Rewards, earned for purchases)

STACKING (Using a store specific coupon along with a Manufacturer coupon)

TEARPAD (A pad of coupons found hanging from a store shelf or display)

TMF (Try Me Free)

WYB (When You Buy)

ETS (Excludes trial size)

OOS (Out of stock)

WSL (While supplies last)

This list will help you obtain a better understanding of coupon talk, it will be updated as needed. You can locate this list under my Linky Pages subcategory "Misc & Money Savers". If you have any abbreviations that are commonly known that I may have missed, let me know by posting a comment below. Happy Couponing!

The fundamentals of couponing pt.#1

How to maximize your coupon savings!

So you finally decided that coupons are no longer lame and you want to start using them, but you don't exactly know how or where to start. Here are some must have tips to start you on your couponing adventures.

• Save every coupon you get! Even those coupons for items that you don’t think you need or would ever use. You never know when those coupons may come in handy.  

• Have products that you don’t use or need? Bless others by donating those items. There are many non profit organizations and individuals such as food pantries, shelters, local churches, a family in need, those on fixed incomes, the needs are endless.

• Buy multiple copies of the Sunday paper, you can get them at a local convenience store or retailers like Walmart. BTW, Walmart sells the Sunday paper for .88 cents. The coupon savings you receive more than pay for the paper. You can also find coupons online at Redplum, Smart Source, P&G, SC Johnson, Coupons.com. Keep an eye out at your local grocery store for “blinkies”, “tear pads”, “peelies” & “hang tags” You will find links to each of the online resources at the end of this post.

• Never PAY for toothpaste again! You will almost ALWAYS be able to get free toothpaste when you match your coupons to store circulars, especially at Walgreens. 

• Give up on brand loyalty! Have you always used Dawn dish liquid? Ajax is just as good and if you can get it for FREE. The freebies don’t stop there, you can also get shampoo, hairspray, body wash, detergent, deodorant, and so much more. 

• Get focused and organized! Coupon organization is key to maximizing your savings! If you’re stuck fumbling around for your coupons, you may get frustrated & overwhelmed and miss out on potential savings.

• Find a couple of “money saving & coupon blogs” that you like and sign up for their daily emails. They will help you stretch your pennies and give you lots of great information on ways to save!  

• Sign up for loyalty rewards cards from your favorite retailers. These can save you big money! 

• Make your list and sort your coupons before you go to the store. It’s  also a good idea to paperclip similar coupons so that you know exactly how many items you can get and you won’t have to worry about searching through your coupon holder. I keep my list in the front pocket of my pouch with the corresponding coupons I plan to use on my shopping trip.

• Stack your coupons! You can use one manufacturers coupon and one store coupon for the same product, this is called “stacking”. This is not double dipping, this is a legal and ethical means of saving money. The majority of retailers accept stacking coupons, however double check the stores coupon policy.

• Keep a copy of the coupon policy on hand. I keep a copy of each of my favorite stores policies with me at all times, just in case I need to reference a rule or in case there may be a discrepancy that requires clarification.

• Don’t be intimidated by BOGO (Buy One Get One). Often times, retailers like Walgreens or CVS offer a sale promotion of BOGO, for example; Walgreens has Zest body wash on BOGO which means you have to purchase one bottle to in order to get one free. But what if you have a BOGO coupon for the same product? You can confidently walk in with your BOGO coupon and use it on the corresponding BOGO sale which would make both items free.  All you pay is tax! You’re probably wondering how that’s possible. Because you used the BOGO coupon, it made the bottle that you were purchasing FREE since the other one was already FREE.  This is not unethical nor illegal!!! In fairness I was very scared when I first tried this, I thought the police would be standing outside waiting to hall me off to jail.  

• If the store runs out of the products you are looking to purchase, don’t leave without a Rain Check! A rain check is like a promissory note, it guarantees that once the item is restocked, you will still receive the sale price even after the sale is over. A rain check indicates the product, the sale price, and the quantity you want to purchase. *Keep in mind, you may be relying on being able to stack a coupon with the sale price, be careful to ensure that the coupon is still valid and not expired. The rain check is only good for the retailers sale price, it does not include a guarantee on the coupon! I’ve made this mistake a couple of times and walked out red faced.

• Ad matching is a huge money and gas saver! Many retailers will match a competitors sale price and some times beat it too. This saves you from having to drive to the other store. 

• In addition, many retailers will accept competitors coupons. For example, if you have a Walgreens coupon for a Snickers candy bar for .49 cents and Target sells the same product for .89 cents, you can use the Walgreens coupon at Target to get the sale price. Always be sure to verify which retailer accepts competitors coupons by reading their coupon policy.

• Pay attention to your coupons! Read them carefully to ensure you are following the rules of the coupon and the rules of the store. Some coupons use verbiage like “Limit one coupon per visit” or “Limit one coupon per item” or “Limit one coupon per purchase", there are huge differences between them. 

• Always remain calm when dealing with a difficult cashier, they may interpret the policy differently or may be confused. If you feel you are honestly right about the use of a coupon, don’t be afraid to ask for a manager who has more authority. If you are still experiencing a problem, you have the right to request to speak to a District Manager. 

Following these guidelines will certainly help to get you on your way to mega money savings! Don’t get frustrated, it takes time to get the hang of it all, it took me almost 6 months to get a true understanding of couponing, so don’t beat yourself up when you don’t get it right the first time.

www.redplum.com

www.smartsource.com

www.coupons.com

www.rightathome.com

www.pgeverydaysolutions.com