CAN I USE 2 COUPONS ON A 2-PACK? COUPONING 101

We are re-visiting some of our Couponing 101 Series posts on behalf of all our new readers and fans, as well as anyone who may have missed any in the past!

I decided to start with the questions that are most frequently emailed to me and posted to our facebook page by those just starting out with Coupons.

Today’s FAQ is:

“I’ve seen many products packaged together lately (example:Lysol Disinfecting Wipes) into a 2 pack. Can I use 2 Manufacturer Coupons, since there are 2 products / items ?”

Wouldn’t that be nice! But….No, in order to use 2 Manufacturer Coupons there needs to be 2 items scanned-essentially 2 barcodes that get scanned at checkout. In MOST 2 packs, there is just one main barcode, so the 2 pack is considered 1 item. **read the exception to this rule below**

I don’t THINK I’ve ever seen a multi-product package in a regular store that accepts manufacturer coupons that used more than one barcode for the 1 package-no matter how many products were included with it. **Except at BJ’s Wholesale Club which is explained HERE

I hope that I’ve explained it clearly and easily to understand for all -including those new to couponing ! It boils down to using 1 coupon per item scanned – or in the case of stores accepting manufacturer and store coupons, it would be 1 store coupon and 1 manufacturer coupon per item scanned.

If you have any questions, please let me know with a comment below!

TLC EXTREME COUPONING SCENARIOS: WHY YOU CAN’T DO IT – PART 1 of 3

TLC EXTREME COUPONING SCENARIOS: WHY YOU CAN’T DO IT – PART 1 of 3


EEK!!! With TLC rolling out yet another season, I felt it was time to revisit my posts series on their Extreme Couponing Scenarios and why you CAN’T Do it – This is Part 1 of 3 for all of you that have joined us since my TLC Extreme Couponing rants during their last season 😀

I’ve tried to avoid posting about the TLC Extreme Couponing show because I get so aggrivated and worked up when I try to explain to people that it is a REALITY SHOW but it is NOT REALITY – what they are doing cannot be done 95% of the time.

I could write a huge lengthy post on all the reasons that I have come to loathe the Extreme Couponing TV Show, but rather than fill this post with my opinions, I decided to post a few FACTS for you.

This is POST #1 on Why You Can’t Do It (Wow-I’m usually such an optimist!)

Forget the fact that the shopping trips viewed on the show are all prearranged, approved by stores in advance, edited, clipped and made to get a reaction from viewers.

Forget that I myself, and thousands of other readers of this blog do shop for Free on a regular basis, Legitimately, by stacking coupons and matching up to store sales.

The number one reason I loathe TLC’s Extreme Couponing Show? Because it is deceiving viewers. Misleading the unknowing. People that have never couponed in their life and those that are new to couponing are not made aware of the REALITY that you face when couponing.

The #1 Reality Check – STORE COUPON POLICIES


Those Huge “Hauls” that you see acheived on the show are not the norm. Nor are they allowed in the majority of grocery stores. There are restrictions in most stores as to how many identical coupons are accepted and/or how many coupons or the dollar amount limit for doubling coupons. But don’t take my word for it….Here’s what the stores have to say. These are exerpts taken directly from each Stores Coupon Acceptance Policy

Food Lion:

Customers may not use more than (1) one coupon per item with a maximum of (10) ten coupons for the same item per customer
We reserve the right to limit the quantity of coupons that may be
redeemed in one shopping visit.

Harris Teeter:

Only allows 3 identical coupons doubled per transaction, others at face value
Only accepts 2 identical internet printed coupons per day
Only one coupon allowed on a BOGO sale
Only allowed to purchase 1 of a BOGO sale

Ingles:

No more than 2 identical items are eligible for double coupon savings
will only accept 2 internet coupons per manufacturer product per visit per day
Three (3) coupons doubled with each $10 order.
Six (6) with each $20 order

Nine (9) with each $30 order

Twelve (12) with each $40 order

Fifteen (15) with each $50 order…etc

Lowes Foods:

To ensure product availability for all customers, we limit redemption to 4 coupons for 4 of the same item. For example, if you have five coupons for a specific cereal and have purchased five of the item, we will honor the coupon for up to four of the boxes of cereal
With the purchase of two like manufacturer’s products, we accept two internet coupons per day
“our prevailing guideline is that Lowes Foods reserves the right to limit quantities in coupon usage and product purchases”
Kroger:

will not accept Printable Coupons for more than 75% of a product’s value.
Coupons for $.50 or less will be doubled. Any coupons between $.50 and $1 will be redeemed at $1. Coupons over $1 are redeemed at face value. Some stores only double coupons $.50 or less. Some regions double $.75 coupons to $1.50-this varies.
Price Chopper:

The total of all double coupons cannot exceed 50% of the order after AdvantEdge discounts. Single value will be deducted there after For instance, $100 order – coupons scanned after total deducted by coupons reaches $50 will only deduct face value (not double)
Stop & Shop:

You may double a maximum of 4 identical manufacturers’ coupons. For example: if a customer purchased five boxes of Cheerios and presented 5 manufacturers’ coupons for 50¢, the first four coupons would be doubled to $1. The fifth coupon would only be redeemed for 50¢
Up to an additional 12 identical manufacturers’ coupons/items will be redeemed at face value for a total of 16 identical manufacturers’ coupons
Wegmans:

Only 4 manufacturers’ coupons can be doubled on 4 of the Same Brand product per day
I decided not to continue the list with statements that cover most all other stores like this that haven’t specified a limit:

Meijer:

“We reserve the right to limit quantities”
Shop Rite:

“To help ensure product availability and an efficient checkout experience for all customers, the use of excessive amounts of coupons or multiple identical coupons may be limited at the store manager’s discretion”
I tell my kids all the time not to believe everything they see on TV. And now I’m here to tell all of you. TLC’s Extreme Couponing show is a production that was created-it is NOT the Reality for couponers.

New Couponers, Please don’t be deceived into thinking you’re gonna buy 100 Coupon Inserts (Part 2 of this series is going to tell you another reason that won’t work-as told to us by our local store managers!) and go to the store for a huge haul like you see on the show that you only pay sales tax on.

WHAT COUPONS CAN YOU STACK? COUPONING 101

COUPONING 101 – WHAT COUPONS CAN YOU STACK ?


We are re-visiting some of our Couponing 101 Series posts on behalf of all our new readers and fans, as well as anyone who may have missed any in the past!

I decided to start with the questions that are most frequently emailed to me and posted to our facebook page by those just starting out with Coupons.

Today’s FAQ is:

“What is “Stacking” and How do I know what Coupons can be stacked?”

The first thing to know
Before you learn about stacking is the different TYPES of coupons ( See Here )
Once you know the difference between a Manufacturer Coupon, a Store Coupon, a peelie, blinkie or RR, then you can progress to Stacking.

Next, you need to know
NOT ALL STORES Allow Coupon Stacking – you’ll need to know your Stores Coupon Acceptance Policy HERE

It’s very simple. I’ll try to explain with an example:

Item X is on sale for $2 at drug store X

Drug Store X (say RiteAid, Walgreens or CVS) offers Store Coupons.
***These may be In-Ad Coupons that you cut out of their weekly sales circular or Printable Coupons from their website, or coupons they sent you in the mail,etc., that say Store X Coupon instead of Manufacturer Coupon on them and they usually have that stores Logo.

You want to buy the $2 item on sale and you have a $1 off Manufacturer Coupon that you printed online (Printable Coupon Sites HERE).
You also have a $.50 off Item X Store Coupon for Store X where it is on sale.

You can use both of these coupons (because they are diffrerent TYPES of coupons) on that 1 item. That’s called Stacking.

Your final cost on Item X will be just .50 because you stacked the coupons with the sale price.

I hope I made that simple enough. You can sweeten that scenario by again stacking with your ECB’s, RR’s or +Up Dollars or an overall transaction amount coupon for store X. That is explained in detail in my post HERE.

For us long time couponers, we forget how mind boggling simple stacking with just a store coupon and manufacturer coupon can be! But we all started there and once you’ve got this part down, you’ll be on a roll to how much more you can save in the stores and what other coupons & saving offers you can Stack!

Examples of Stores that DO Allow Coupon Stacking
-VERIFIED in their Coupon Policy:

Target
Staples
OfficeMax
Family Dollar
Dollar General

Rite Aid
CVS
Walgreens
Meijer
Bi-Lo
Dorothy Lane Market
Publix
Homeland

BJ’s Warehouse Club

If you have any questions, please let me know with a comment below!

COUPONS THAT DO NOT DOUBLE: COUPONING 101

COUPONS THAT DO NOT DOUBLE – COUPONING 101


We are re-visiting some of our Couponing 101 Series posts on behalf of all our new readers and fans, as well as anyone who may have missed any in the past!

I decided to start with the questions that are most frequently emailed to me and posted to our facebook page by those just starting out with Coupons.

Today’s FAQ is:

” Why Didn’t my Coupons Double during the Stores’ Doubles Event ? “

This is something you will need to plan for and choose your coupons wisely for a doubling event, such as Harris Teeter Super Doubles where only 20 coupons will double per day. You’ll need to take a little time before your trip to gather your coupons and check all 20 that you plan to be doubled.

Here’s some insider info. on coupon doubling and those marked “DO NOT DOUBLE” that you will need to pay attention to to maximize your savings.

Do Not Double = DND

Stores like Ingles, Harris Teeter and many others only double a certain number of coupons daily or with a weekly sale event. It’s not a pick & choose- the computer/register will automatically double the first 20 (or X number) of coupons that are scanned. This is another reason why you need to pay attention to the order of the coupons you hand over to your cashier, especially if you are purchasing more than just the items for your 20 double coupons.

Secondly, The computer WILL NOT double certain coupons.

Many manufacturer’s will mark coupons as “Do Not Double” in the print and the store will double anyways. It’s not a favor they are doing for you. These are regular manufacturer coupons that begin with a number ” 5 ” in the UPC Barcode Label.

Coupons that the computer WILL NOT Double start with a ” 9″ instead of a ” 5 “ . This means the manufacturer has set this coupon as DND and it cannot be overriden by the store. It is not your cashiers fault and it’s not the stores fault. It is the rule set by the Brand Maufacturer.

Remember to pay close attention to this when you are counting on certain coupons to double-especially for doubling events where only a limited number of coupons will double per transaction/day.

I hope this info. was helpful!

I remember hitting Harris Teeter when I was new to couponing and had my huge stack of coupons….only to find out that 20 of them doubled and not the 20 that I wanted to double (highest value) but instead a lower double value of the 20 that were scanned first. We learn by error as I did that day, but hopefully I can save you some time & money by sharing my own mistakes & tips!

USING COUPONS WITH FOOD STAMPS: COUPONING 101

USING COUPONS WITH FOOD STAMPS – COUPONING 101
We are re-visiting some of our Couponing 101 Series posts on behalf of all our new readers and fans, as well as anyone who may have missed any in the past!

I decided to start with the questions that are most frequently emailed to me and posted to our facebook page by those just starting out with Coupons.

Today’s Reader Sumbitted FAQ is:

“Can I use Coupons even if I’m paying for my groceries with Food Stamps ( EBT Card ) ?”

The quick answer is YES !

And to elaborate….this question gets asked so often – for some reason people get confused about using coupons with food stamps, but it is very simple.

You should think of your Food Stamp dollars just as you do your own dollars. You have a limited amount alotted each month for groceries– think of that as your set grocery budget – therefore you need to stretch them as far as you can! The best way to do this is planning your grocery trips carefully and couponing.

In other words…every coupon you use that takes a dollar off your grocery bill at check out, is LITERALLY a dollar that will remain spendable on groceries for the rest of the month.

By planning your trips carefully and using coupons with your food stamps , you can possibly double the amount of groceries you are able to get. Couponing to stretch your Food Stamp dollars is the wisest and most responsible use of your benefits.

If you have any questions, please let me know with a comment below!

WHAT ARE REGISTER REWARDS, EXTRACARE BUCKS and +UP DOLLARS? COUPONING 101

WHAT ARE REGISTER REWARDS – EXTRACARE BUCKS and +UP DOLLARS – COUPONING 101


We are re-visiting some of our Couponing 101 Series posts on behalf of all our new readers and fans, as well as anyone who may have missed any in the past!

I decided to start with the questions that are most frequently emailed to me and posted to our facebook page by those just starting out with Coupons.

Today’s FAQ’s are:

What is a Register Reward ( RR ) ?

What are ECB’s (ExtraCare Bucks) ?

What are +Up’s ?

All 3 of these are essential to use when shopping the drug stores to save hugely, shop for Free and for moneymaker scenarios.

RR’s = Register Rewards which are printed after your purchase of specific items each week at Walgreens
ECB’s = ExtraCare Bucks which are printed on the bottom of your receipt after purchase of specific items each week at CVS
+Up’s = +Up Dollars / Rewards which are printed on the bottom of your receipt after purchase of specific items each week at Rite Aid

These are NOT coupons-they are spendable in that store just like regular Cash Dollars. You’ll need to note that they DO have an expiration date.

Here are some recent reader questions that might also be helpful to someone else that is new:

” on the bottom of my receipt at cvs i have 5.99 ecb and a 25% percent off next purchase …can i use these together? ”
Yes! The ECB’s spend just like dollars – you can combine that with manufacturer coupons, store coupons and a total transaction Q (like the 25% off) . You want to make sure you hand over the 25% off coupon to be scanned AFTER all coupons but BEFORE you use any ECB’s.

” How does the extra care bucks work? does it just fly right off your bill? ”
” So with your coupon matchup that says it’s free after the $5 +Up, Do I just hand the cashier the tax and she’ll apply my $5 +Up? ”
We wish it worked like this ! The best way I can explain the advantage of the RR, +Up or ECB system if you are just starting out is this:

Yes, you will pay OOP (out of pocket) for the initial purchase. You will get the stated amount back after that purchase. For seasoned couponers, we rarely pay OOP because we have existing +Up, ECB’s or RR’s that we use instead of cash. If you’re just starting you will pay out of pocket until you get on a “roll” with it.

Here’s an example of how to work it to your advantage when you do have to pay OOP.

Say I need a gallon of milk. I go into drugstore X to get the milk. Instead of just paying for my milk, I grab their weekly circular and find an item that is offering +Ups, ECB’s or RR’s and match up any coupons I have to that item that will make it free or nearly free. I purchase that item in order to get those Reward Dollars back, which I then use to pay for my milk.

That way, I’ve spent the same amount of money I would have spent on the milk I needed, but I now also have another item that I basically got for Free.

As you shop each week and take advantage of each weeks offers, you will keep a “credit” of those reward dollars, so that your transactions “roll” and you pay very little out of pocket.

I hope I’ve explained this in a way that is easy to understand! I know it can be very confusing when you are just starting out, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be shopping for Free & Huge discounts each week to help save your family money!

COUPON FRAUD: BUYING OR SELLING COUPONS: COUPONING 101

COUPON FRAUD – BUYING OR SELLING COUPONS – COUPONING 101


Coupon Fraud is on the rise again and the TLC Extreme Couponing Show continues to support and air the practice, teaching unknowing and uneducated new couponers all the ways NOT to use coupons.

Nearly 2 years ago, I published my opinion about buying and selling coupons HERE One of the other reasons that manufacturers are distributing LESS coupons now and are straying from high value coupons.

This time around, I thought I’d provide more FACTS from the CIC (Official Coupon Information Center) to further endorse my opinion on this matter. I can’t believe it’s been nearly 2 years since I first wrote about this! Yet, to date, I have still NEVER bought or sold a coupon online, and I shop for FREE every week.

The following information comes straight from the CIC :

Couponing 101 – Coupon Sales on Internet Auction Sites

Coupon auctions may be removed from Internet auction sites for various reasons:

Some auction sites prohibit the sale of coupons on their sites
Some auction sites restrict the number of coupons you can sell on their site
An auction may violate the manufacturers’ nontransferability clause
An auction may violate a copyright or a trademark belonging to the coupon issuing manufacturer
An auction may be selling counterfeit coupons
An auction may violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
Virtually every coupon issued in the United States features a “nontransferability clause” that prohibits the sale or other unauthorized transfer of the coupon and voids the coupon in the event of such a transfer.
Many coupon sellers include “legal disclaimers” in an effort to claim that they are not really selling coupons, for example, stating that they are instead selling the envelope the containing the coupons, or their time and effort to obtain and clip the coupons, not the coupons themselves. Such “disclaimers” are invalid and do not provide the seller with any legal protection. Indeed, such obviously false statements merely underscore the fact that the sellers are aware that the sale of coupons is prohibited and improper.
The unauthorized sale of coupons increases consumer costs, provides outlets for stolen and counterfeit coupons, and creates opportunities for organized criminal enterprises. See the Federal Trade Commission’s brochure on “Costly Coupon Scams” at this link: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/invest/inv06.shtm
Can I sell my extra coupons?

No, there is no legitimate way to sell your unwanted coupons.

The sale or transfer of coupons is a violation of virtually all manufacturers’ coupon redemption policies. These policies are generally printed on the coupons or are available from the manufacturer upon request. Any sale or transfer voids the coupon.

Persons purchasing coupons have often been associated with organized criminal activities. They often purchase the coupons as one aspect of a scheme to defraud the coupon issuers/manufacturers, usually by seeking to redeem coupons without purchasing any products. Individuals selling coupons to such crime rings have been charged with and convicted of criminal violations.

What about selling “the service of clipping coupons” or an envelope that “just happens to contain coupons”?

Individuals selling or auctioning coupons often know that such sales and auctions are in violation of the terms and conditions of the coupons. As such, they may include an invalid disclaimer, such as, “I’m selling my time to clip the coupons, not the coupons themselves. Such disclaimers are invalid and do not provide any legal protection to either party. Such obviously invalid disclaimers merely serve to prove that the seller/auctioneer knows that their illicit coupon sales are inappropriate, wrong, and subject to civil and/or criminal penalties, depending on the situation.

Can I buy coupons?

No, there are good reasons not to purchase coupons. In addition to being in violation of the manufacturers’ policies, it simply does not make sense to pay for something that is given away for free.

Coupons being sold on the Internet or by other means may be stolen property or counterfeit. Individuals attempting to use these coupons may be subject to prosecution.

How can I avoid getting counterfeit coupons?

Simply use the coupons you obtain from your newspaper, manufacturer’s web site or their authorized coupon distributor.

Never pay money for a coupon
Do not download coupons from Internet forums
If a friend e-mails you coupons, especially high value or free product coupons, the coupons are most likely counterfeit.
Most manufacturers follow common sense practices about Internet Print-at-Home Coupons, for example, the coupon itself should not be visible on your computer screen.
Check the counterfeit coupons listed on the CIC website
As I’ve said many times before – using Coupons in the way that they were intended to be used, along with strategic planning of your shopping trips is the ONLY ethical and legal option. In 15+ years of couponing, I have yet to stray from my opinion on this matter and yet I still shop for FREE on a weekly basis.

There is just no need or justification to do it differently.

TLC EXTREME COUPONING SCENARIOS: WHY YOU CANT DO IT – PART 2

TLC EXTREME COUPONING SCENARIOS – WHY YOU CANT DO IT – PART 2

Ok, so by now, if you read PART 1 of this post series and if you actively keep a check on our facebook page posts, you know that I don’t just dislike the TLC Extreme Couponing Show, I LOATHE it to the depths of my soul! If I were to write a post just sharing my personal feelings and thoughts on the show, I’m sure I could fill pages. But I’ve chosen to stick to The FACTS on why this show aggrivates me.

We are receiving even more daily questions and complaints from New Couponers that are disappointed in their shopping trips with coupons. TLC Extreme Couponing is to blame without question. As I’ve said before, it’s a REALITY show that has NOTHING to do with the Reality of Smart Couponing to Shop for Free and to save money each week in the stores.

The #1 Reality Check – STORE COUPON POLICIES was posted HERE.

And now we’re on to #2…

The #2 Reality Check – GANG CUTTTING & BUYING COUPONS
Huh? What did I just say ? GANG CUT COUPONS Yes, it’s a foreign term to most. I’m going to try to make this couponing rule as simple as possible to understand.

What you saw on the show: Consumers buying coupons from clipping services, ebay., etc. to score 20, 40, 100 + of the same item for Free or extremely discounted.

Why you can’t do it: This also points back to REALITY CHECK #1 – Store Coupon Policies won’t allow this many identical coupons Reality Check #2 – GANG CUT COUPONS NOT ALLOWED and NOT Reimbursed by Manufacturers to the stores.

For instance: There is a $1.00 off X brand product coupon, which goes on sale for $1 so I can get it free. I order 100 of those coupons from a clipping service.

Here are the facts, as explained to me by my local Rite Aid Store Manager. This is an issue that stores and brand manufacturers are very aware of and are now cracking down on even more so.

Those 100 Coupons were cut with a “Paper Cutter” or even scissors or other device so that you have a nice neat stack of perfectly shaped coupons.

X Brand Manufacturer will not reimburse the store for these. If there are more than 5 coupons with the exact same “Cut” ( GANG CUT ) they are not allowed, not reimbursed. For this reason, the stores won’t allow it-even if you did find one that didn’t have a number limit set on identical coupons.

Can you still stockpile and use a larger quantity of the same coupon? Most grocery stores disallow identical coupons beyond a few- most drug stores however do not have limits currently.

Many of you remember my “Dumpster Dive” where I scored 48 of the $1 off Purex Laundry Detergent Coupons. So, how did I do this?
I called my store manager the week they had it on sale and told her I had 48 of those coupons and that I wanted to make sure they had enough InStock for me to stock up. She told me NOT to cut them-to tear them out or to at least cut them individually so they did not match. I wanted to make sure the store would get reimbursed for all 48 coupons. I made my trip and they tool all 48 of my coupons so I was able to stock up on detergent for less than $1 per bottle.

That’s a score and I didn’t have to break any rules or cause the store a LOSS for it.

She also informed me that the “In-Ad Coupons” in the circulars are at risk by couponers that are redeeming/attempting to redeem Gang Cut coupons.

If the store tries to submit a large number of gang cut coupons which are disallowed-that manufacturer/brand will be less likely to sponsor an in ad promotion or will reduce the coupon value of amount of future in ad coupons.

We all suffer for those that try to cheat the system. And there is NO NEED ! You CAN Coupon wisely and within the boundaries set to stockpile, shop for free and/or save your family a large amount of money each week.

If you’re new to couponing, don’t try to learn from the Reality show. It hurts us all in the end.

Print your store Coupon Policy, Have it with you when you shop and know it well
Learn the rules and educate yourself on Coupon Fraud – YES, using a coupon incorrectly IS Fraud

It’s really that simple! Yes, that’s the Real REALITY…you don’t have to break the rules to save just because you saw it on TV!

TLC EXTREME COUPONING SCENARIOS-WHY YOU CAN'T DO IT - PART 1

I've tried to avoid posting about TLC's Extreme Couponing show because I get so aggrivated and worked up when I try to explain to people that it is a REALITY SHOW but it is NOT REALITY - what they are doing cannot be done 95% of the time.

I could write a huge lengthy post on all the reasons that I have come to loathe the Extreme Couponing TV Show, but rather than fill this post with my opinions, I decided to post a few FACTS for you.

This is POST #1 on Why You Can't Do It (Wow-I'm usually such an optimist!)

Forget the fact that the shopping trips viewed on the show are all prearranged, approved by stores in advance, edited, clipped and made to get a reaction from viewers.

Forget that I myself, and thousands of other readers of this blog do shop for Free on a regular basis, Legitimately, by stacking coupons and matching up to store sales.

The number one reason I loathe TLC's Extreme Couponing Show? Because it is deceiving viewers. Misleading the unknowing. People that have never couponed in their life and those that are new to couponing are not made aware of the REALITY that you face when couponing.

The #1 Reality Check - STORE COUPON POLICIES

Those Huge "Hauls" that you see acheived on the show are not the norm. Nor are they allowed in the majority of grocery stores. There are restrictions in most stores as to how many identical coupons are accepted and/or how many coupons or the dollar amount limit for doubling coupons. But don't take my word for it....Here's what the stores have to say. These are exerpts taken directly from each Stores Coupon Acceptance Policy

Food Lion:

Customers may not use more than (1) one coupon per item with a maximum of (10) ten coupons for the same item per customer

We reserve the right to limit the quantity of coupons that may be
redeemed in one shopping visit.

Harris Teeter:

Only allows 3 identical coupons doubled per transaction, others at face value

Only accepts 2 identical internet printed coupons per day

Only one coupon allowed on a BOGO sale
Only allowed to purchase 1 of a BOGO sale

Ingles:

No more than 2 identical items are eligible for double coupon savings

will only accept 2 internet coupons per manufacturer product per visit per day

Three (3) coupons doubled with each $10 order.
Six (6) with each $20 order
Nine (9) with each $30 order
Twelve (12) with each $40 order
Fifteen (15) with each $50 order...etc

Lowes Foods:

To ensure product availability for all customers, we limit redemption to 4 coupons for 4 of the same item. For example, if you have five coupons for a specific cereal and have purchased five of the item, we will honor the coupon for up to four of the boxes of cereal

With the purchase of two like manufacturer’s products, we accept two internet coupons per day

"our prevailing guideline is that Lowes Foods reserves the right to limit quantities in coupon usage and product purchases"

Kroger:

will not accept Printable Coupons for more than 75% of a product's value.

Coupons for $.50 or less will be doubled. Any coupons between $.50 and $1 will be redeemed at $1. Coupons over $1 are redeemed at face value. Some stores only double coupons $.50 or less. Some regions double $.75 coupons to $1.50-this varies.

Price Chopper:

The total of all double coupons cannot exceed 50% of the order after AdvantEdge discounts. Single value will be deducted there after For instance, $100 order - coupons scanned after total deducted by coupons reaches $50 will only deduct face value (not double)

Stop & Shop:

You may double a maximum of 4 identical manufacturers' coupons. For example: if a customer purchased five boxes of Cheerios and presented 5 manufacturers' coupons for 50¢, the first four coupons would be doubled to $1. The fifth coupon would only be redeemed for 50¢

Up to an additional 12 identical manufacturers' coupons/items will be redeemed at face value for a total of 16 identical manufacturers' coupons

Wegmans:

Only 4 manufacturers' coupons can be doubled on 4 of the Same Brand product per day

I decided not to continue the list with statements that cover most all other stores like this that haven't specified a limit:

Meijer:

"We reserve the right to limit quantities"

Shop Rite:

"To help ensure product availability and an efficient checkout experience for all customers, the use of excessive amounts of coupons or multiple identical coupons may be limited at the store manager’s discretion"

I tell my kids all the time not to believe everything they see on TV. And now I'm here to tell all of you. TLC's Extreme Couponing show is a production that was created-it is NOT the Reality for couponers.

New Couponers, Please don't be deceived into thinking you're gonna buy 100 Coupon Inserts (Part 2 of this series is going to tell you another reason that won't work-as told to us by our local store managers!) and go to the store for a huge haul like you see on the show that you only pay sales tax on.

More to come...


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FrugalFabulousFinds.com is a personal blog written and edited by Wendy Kohn Little. As a full time Blogger, I do selectively accept various forms of compensations such as cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions and/or products and other forms of compensation and incentives from companies and organizations. Compensation will never influence the content or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network. As the owner of this blog, I am sometimes compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though I may receive compensation for posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own and will NEVER be influenced by any form of compensation.

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Signup with Kraft Foods for FREE and they will send new, easy-to-prepare recipes PLUS money-saving Printable Coupons directly to your inbox!

The weekly Kraft Foods newsletter also has tips for living well with diabetes, and other great info as part of the Kraft Foods Good Eating Good Living e-newsletter!

Click Here to Signup with KRAFT Foods Now!

Don't forget you can still also signup with Kelloggs for $5-$10 worth of Printable Coupons for Kellogg's Brand Products!

If you are serious about couponing to save your family money, you definately want to signup with all your favorite brands to receive coupons that aren't offered anywhere else!


Never Miss a Deal! Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter
Many Freebies & Deals expire so quickly, we post them on Facebook - CLICK HERE to see what you've been missing!

FrugalFabulousFinds.com is a personal blog written and edited by Wendy Kohn Little. As a full time Blogger, I do selectively accept various forms of compensations such as cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions and/or products and other forms of compensation and incentives from companies and organizations. Compensation will never influence the content or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network. As the owner of this blog, I am sometimes compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though I may receive compensation for posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own and will NEVER be influenced by any form of compensation.

ALL YOU MAGAZINE COUPONS LIST FOR MAY+$1.66/ISSUE DEAL NOW!

I've had several of you ask about our reference to Coupons from "ALL YOU" in our weekly store matchups. If you’ve never heard of ALL YOU MAGAZINE, check out my first post about it HERE, when I was also missing out! You can only get ALL YOU at Walmart or by subscription. Each month is packed with so many high value coupons that 1 issue really does pay for the entire years subscription, which you can get right now for just $1.66 per issue!!

If you're not subscribing to ALL YOU and you are serious about couponing and saving your family money, I highly recommend it! I actually have 4 subscriptions to this Coupon Packed Gem *smiles*

Below is a list of the coupons that came in the May issue- tons of awesome buy one get one free coupons and other rare & high value Coupons!

ALL YOU MAGAZINE - May issue Coupons:

■$2/1 Ageless Reflection Product, exp. 9-30-10
■$5/1 Aveeno Ageless Vitality Elasticity Recharging System, exp. 6-30-10
■$1/1 Body Fortress Product, exp. 6-30-10
■$3/1 Boost Kid Essentials Multipack, exp. 6-30-10
■$1/1 Brut Fragrance or Anti-Perspirant Product, exp. 5-31-10
■$1.50/1 Buitoni Frozen Product, exp. 6-30-10
■$3/1 Carvel Ice Cream Cake (29 oz.+), exp. 7-31-10
■$1/1 Contessa MicroSteam or On The Stove Meals, exp. 7-31-10
■$0.75/1 Dole All Natural Fruit Plastic Jar, exp. 7-31-10
■$0.75/2 Dole Fruit Bowls In Gel, exp. 7-31-10
■$3/1 Dr. Scholl's Pain Relief Orthotics, exp. 7-31-10
■$5/1 Dulcolax Balance (14 dose+), exp. 9-30-10
■$1/2 Edy's Fruit Bars (6 ct.), exp. 5-31-10
■$10/$25 Fashion Bug Purchase, exp. 5-21-10
■$1.25/1 Fast Classic Bag, exp. 9-30-10
■$1/1 Fast Fixin' or Fast Fixin' On The Go, exp. 9-30-10
■$1/1 Hartz Crunch 'n Clean Dog Biscuits, exp. 3-31-11
■$3/1 Infusium 23 Shampoo, Conditioner, or Leave-In Treatment, exp. 6-30-10
■$1/1 Jillian Michaels Whey Protein, exp. 6-30-10
■$2 off any La Cross Beauty Tool Purchase ($4+), exp. 5-31-10
■$0.55/1 Marzetti Slaw Dressing, exp. 7-31-10
■$1/1 Met-Rx Product, exp, 6-30-10
■$1.50/1 Nancy's Frozen Appetizer, 6-30-10
■$1/1 Nestle Drumstick or Lil' Drums, exp. 5-31-10
■$0.50/1 New York Frozen Product, exp. 7-17-10
■B1G1 Nivea Body Wash For Women (16.9 oz.), exp. 5-31-10
■B1G1 Nivea Lip Care, exp. 5-31-10
■B1G1 NYC Color Minute Nail Polish Product (up to $1.72), exp. 5-31-10
■B1G1 Old Orchard Healthy Balance Juice (64 oz.), exp. 12-31-10
■$1/1 Oreo Fudge Cream Cookies (8.5 oz.), exp. 7-31-10
■$1/2 Ortega Products, exp. 7-31-10
■$1/1 Oscar Mayer Deli Creations, Sandwiches, or Cracker Combinations, exp. 6-30-10
■$0.50/1 Peanut Butter & Co. Product, exp. 7-31-10
■$0.75/1 Poise Product, exp. 7-3-10
■$1/1 Pure Protein Product, exp. 6-30-10
■$3/1 Rimmel Moisture Renew Lip Color, exp. 5-31-10
■$2/1 Sally Hansen Nail Treatment wyb Complete Salon Manicure Nail Color, exp. 5-31-10
■$1/1 Scott Extra Soft Tissue Double Roll (12 pk.), exp. 6-30-10
■$0.50/1 Scott Flushable Moist Wipes Tub, exp. 6-30-10
■$1/1 Scott Towels Mega Roll (6 pk.), exp. 6-30-10
■$1/1 Sea Breeze Product, exp. 5-31-10
■$1/2 StarKist Pouch Products, exp. 8-6-10
■$1/1 Sunsilk Shampoo, Conditioner, or Styling Product, exp. 6-23-10
■$1/1 The Skinny Cow Ice Cream Novelties, exp. 5-31-10
■$1/3 The Skinny Cow, Haagen-Dazs, or Edy's Cups (6.3 oz.+), exp. 5-31-10
■$0.60/1 Weight Watchers Yogurt Cup (32 oz.) or (4) 6 oz. Cups, exp. 6-20-10
■$3/1 Zantac Product (24 ct.+), exp. 9-30-10
■$1/1 Zapzyt Acne Treatment Gel, exp. 7-31-10
■$2/1 Zicam Extreme Congestion, Intense Sinus, or Allergy Relief, exp. 3-11-11

Don't miss another month of Coupons in ALL YOU Magazine!

CLICK HERE to get your Subscription for just $1.66 per issue Now!




Never Miss a Deal! Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter

FrugalFabulousFinds.com is a personal blog written and edited by Wendy Kohn Little. As a full time Blogger, I do selectively accept various forms of compensations such as cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions and/or products and other forms of compensation and incentives from companies and organizations. Compensation will never influence the content or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network. As the owner of this blog, I am sometimes compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though I may receive compensation for posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own and will NEVER be influenced by any form of compensation.

DUMPSTER DIVING FOR COUPONS-YES I DID-CALL ME CRAZY-SEE MY SCORE!

Yeppers....I really did it! Today I went Dumpster Diving for Coupons! Now, I'm sure some of you just cannot imagine the thought, but let me tell you, I had a blast and the excitement of what I was able to snag today will bring me HUGE scores at the stores tomorrow, so go ahead...call me crazy!

It wasn't a typical "Dumpster Dive" per say....but I did map out a plan the minute I got my own mail today. I received the $10 off $10 Coupon for JCPenney and also a "SmartMarket" Coupon Insert that featured a $1.00 off any 1 Purex Laundry Detergent and a $1.00 off any 1 Soft Scrub Product.

The $10 off $10 at JCPenney Coupons are a no brainer-all you pay is sales tax for an item $10 or less.

The $1.00 off Purex Laundry Detergent is a rare coupon and this detergent goes on sale often. This week at Rite Aid it is on BOGO FREE Sale for $5.99. 2 of the Coupons in this mailer will make that 2 Purex Laundry Detergents for just $3.99 ($1.99 each). Combine those with any Transaction Coupons such as the $3 off $15 Survey or the Video Values $1 off Transaction Coupons and I'm at my rock bottom stockpile price when split into separate transactions.

So, I knew needed more! And knowing how most people throw out what they consider "junk mail", I knew that the trash cans at the post office would be overflowing with free money for me *SMILES*

There is also nothing but "junk mail" in these trash cans, but I gloved up anyways.

So here's my score....

Total of (11) eleven of the $10 off $10 Coupons for JCPenney = that's $110 FREE Items for me, I'll just pay sales tax.

Total of (45)Forty Five Coupon Inserts with the $1 off Purex and $1 off Soft Scrub Coupons.

Yippeeee!!! I can't wait to hit the stores tomorrow!

So, have you or would you ever consider "Dumpster Diving" for High Value or Rare Coupons ?

Please share with a comment below! Inquiring minds want to know!



Never Miss a Deal! Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter
Many Freebies & Deals expire so quickly, we post them on Facebook - CLICK HERE to see what you've been missing!

FrugalFabulousFinds.com is a personal blog written and edited by Wendy Kohn Little. As a full time Blogger, I do selectively accept various forms of compensations such as cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions and/or products and other forms of compensation and incentives from companies and organizations. Compensation will never influence the content or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network. As the owner of this blog, I am sometimes compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though I may receive compensation for posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own and will NEVER be influenced by any form of compensation.

COUPON FRAUD-FRAUDULENT COUPONS+USING COUPONS FRAUDULENTLY-EDUCATE YOURSELF!

There are so many fraudulent coupons floating around right now, as well as talks of using coupons Fraudulently , so I thought I'd repost this post to clarifly both of these situations! I feel very strongly that if you are couponer or even just beginning to use coupons, it is our duty to be educated about this.

If you are going to coupon, which is the equivalent of Making Extra Money for your family, then you should take it that seriously and "Be armed" with knowledge...in other words, KNOW YOUR TRADE ! It's like working a job and getting paid to do it, but not knowing the rules? That would be absurd!

So, here we go. If you are serious about couponing to save at least $50-100 per week, it's a MUST.

First up is to know that You CANNOT Copy coupons! It enrages me every time I see someone on Facebook posting that they got 10 coupons because they copied them (and those comments are daily across the blogosphere!). THIS IS FRAUD. Each individual coupon is verifiable through www.veri-fi.com for ONE TIME USE. The coupon format, barcode and scan numbers are coded with the information that tells the retailer, manufacturer and/or coupon verification software what I.P. address was used (your location) and is traceable directly back to you. So if you make copies, once they are used and then returned as invalid, it can be traced to you having made illegal copies. You can and will be prosecuted for Coupon Fraud. Penalties for those convicted of coupon fraud related crimes vary by each case and the number of laws violated.Here's the breakdown on that:

As of this date:

Longest prison sentence: 17 years

Highest financial penalty: $5 million

Prison sentences of three to five years are not uncommon

Financial penalties generally vary, but have often been in excess of $200,000

OK, that's for the obvious, that you should definately know is a "NO, NO" in the coupon rulebook. I hope that we don't have anyone here that is doing this. It is the reason behind all of the problems we have at the register and all of the suspicions behind internet printable coupons. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS!!

Next big mistake/rule breaker is using a coupon for an item other than what the coupon states. We've seen this done lately on the TLC Extreme Couponing series. Sure, you might get away with it, but say I use a $1 off Tide 50oz on a Tide 30oz. The retailer/store WILL NOT get reimbursed for that coupon, which results in higher store prices for us, as well as even more in depth scrutiny over using coupons at the register.

Here are more examples of fraudulent misuse of coupons:

Using a coupon for other than what is written on the coupon.

Using the coupon for another product that is not listed on the coupon.

Purchasing a different size than what is listed on the coupon.

Purchasing a different quantity than what is listed on the coupon.

Purchasing less than specified minimum dollar amount when using a coupon for $X off a purchase of $Y or more.

Using a coupon after it has expired (unless approved-few stores do so)

OK, next up and one of the next best things to know is that the P&G Brand Name, which consists of many brands we know & use, DOES NOT ever issue or authorize Internet Printable Coupons. So, if you receive a link to a coupon to print for a Proctor & Gamble Brand Product, it is fraudulent without a doubt. You can only receive their coupons via mail, product packaging, etc. NEVER INTERNET PRINTABLES. More info Here

Finally, visiting the online authority on COUPON FRAUD will give you a more in depth look at what retail stores are facing with Coupon Fraud. It is a shame and it makes it worse on all of us that are using coupons legitimately to save our families money. View THIS LIST for all the current Fraudulent Coupons that are floating around, and make sure you don't have any of these. There are rewards on some of them if you should find one, report it.

I hope these tidbits at least make you stop and think about the responsibility of using coupons legitimately. As you can see through my weekly (sometimes daily) posts here and on Facebook, using coupons the way they were intended can and does save serious money and result in many freebies...just make sure you know what you can/cannot do. Knowledge is power!

Never Miss a Deal! Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter

FrugalFabulousFinds.com is a personal blog written and edited by Wendy Kohn Little. As a full time Blogger, I do selectively accept various forms of compensations such as cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions and/or products and other forms of compensation and incentives from companies and organizations. Compensation will never influence the content or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network. As the owner of this blog, I am sometimes compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though I may receive compensation for posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own and will NEVER be influenced by any form of compensation.

FREE ROUGE MAGAZINE=P&G COUPONS IN THE MAIL ! SIGNUP NOW !

In our deal matchups, You may have noticed my references to a coupon from Rouge Magazine for a P&G Brand product. If you aren't getting this Freebie in your mailbox, you definately should be!

P&G Brand Coupons are highly coveted on my list since there are NO printables for a P&G Brand product. The only way to get them is on product packaging, P&G Inserts, with samples, etc.

Right now you can subscribe to ROUGE MAGAZINE Free and you'll get their magazine filled with high value coupons for FREE !


Many Freebies & Deals expire so quickly, we post them on Facebook
CLICK HERE to see what you've been missing!

TLC EXTREME COUPONING+FRUGAL TV ANNOUNCEMENT! MUST SEE !

This is super exciting! Our friend Nathan Engels of WeUseCoupons , one of the best resources for Couponers online, will be appearing on TLC tomorrow, December 29th, at 8pm EST, along with 3 others, to share more about Extreme Couponing.

While couponing has become a way of life for many of us and the thought of paying the amount listed on a price tag is extremely foreign to us, there are still so many people that are completely oblivious to how much money they could be saving!

Nathan, a.k.a. "Mr. Coupon", says "We may be a little 'extreme' but our desire and hope is for families that need to save money will check out couponing".

I believe that with exposure from this show, many more will be introduced to the ways to save money and actually even live a greater lifestyle by doing so. While many families control their spending and cut back by purchasing store brands,etc., Couponing enables me to obtain name brand items that I would otherwise never buy, whether that relates to clothing or groceries. When I say that I NEVER pay the asking price for ANYTHING... I really mean it! Whether it's a movie ticket, a pair of shoes or necessities and groceries, there is always a way to use couponing & deals to get what we need either FREE or at well below the retail price!

As for the Extreme Couponing episode, I hope you'll all watch it tomorrow! I think it's very exciting to have one of our own being featured on TLC ! I understand that they will take a negative spin on the meaning of "extreme" as TV shows usually do, but I still think it will broaden the reach of couponing in general and open eyes of those that could be utilizing coupons to save their families a lot of money.

Nathan gave us the following sneak peak info. as to what is planned for his debut on the show tomorrow:
I built something that was about 15 feet tall!! They filmed it's creation and it was almost entirely donated to local foodbanks! TLC also filmed our the giving aspect of couponing!! During this episode we donated around $6000-$7000 in product to a fantastic pantry!!! (we share this not to brag, but to lead by example, giving is such an amazing aspect of couponing!!!)

I can't wait! Be sure to visit WeUseCoupons and FrugalTV to get more info and as always, be sure to check their forums for the stores you shop at to get each weeks Flyer Sales & Coupon Matchups in detail!

CLICK HERE to visit WeUseCoupons now!

The following links go directly to our favorite pages at WUC !
Coupon Previews on WeUseCoupons
Walgreens Deals at WUC
CVS Deals on WeUseCoupons
Rite Aid Deals on WeUseCoupons
Food Lion Deals on WeUseCoupons
Walmart Deals on WeUseCoupons
Target Deals on WeUseCoupons

BLOGGERS: CLICK HERE to utilize the WeUseCoupons Affiliate Program to Monetize your Blog! Be sure to tell them Wendy @ Frugal Fabulous Finds sent you!

COUPONING QUESTION OF THE DAY-BUYING COUPONS

This question was asked on our Facebook Page today and I felt the answer needed it's own post. The question was:

"What is your opinion about buying and selling coupons on Ebay?"

Most of you know I'm an avid Ebayer...I've obtained Power Seller status over the years and I'm just as active as a buyer. I'm aware of the coupon listings on ebay, as well as various other ways to obtain coupons and inserts. Before I give you my "opinion" which is what was asked for, and also the "facts" from various coupon and manufacturer sites, let me tell you that I have never bought or sold coupons on ebay.

People that have never practiced extreme couponing or stockpiling will read this article like it was written in a foreign language. Those people can't imagine "buying" coupons that you "get for free" in the newspaper. So, I'll clarify quickly on that note. Extreme Couponing and stockpiling is obtaining items FREE or nearly Free by smart couponing, stacking coupons and matching to sales. Here's an example:

Drug Store A has a HairCare product, which is regularly priced at $12.00 on sale for 50% off. There is a store coupon for $3.00 off and you also have a manufacturer coupon for $2.00 off. This brings the final cost to $1.00.

Those of us that stockpile immediately want to buy as many of that item at that price as possible for future savings.
It's at a moment like this that we hope we have lots of those same coupons so we can stock up while at this awesome price.

This is where the idea of "buying coupons" comes in.

This is also why I stay aware in advance of the New Coupons coming out each week, and make sure to purchase as many papers as I can, always in multiples of 2, so that I can use 2 coupons for items on 2/$$ sales and BOGO sales.

If you don't do that, you may find yourself in a situation where you want to "buy coupons".

"Buying Coupons" - in that terminology is illegal.

The Ebay Auctions you see and other options to obtain coupons are based on the idea that you are paying a handling fee for the clipping of the coupons and not paying for the actual coupon itself.

The Coupon Industry, along with the Federal Trade Commission have much to say about Buying & Selling Coupons.
Federal Trade Commission
Coupon Fraud Site

OK...that's the legal jargon.

Now, for my opinion.

Selling coupons or Buying coupons is illegal. Buyers & Sellers sugar coat the act by stating the fee is for their time (organizing and/or clipping).

Hello???...Are you aware that Escort Agencies exist because they are not "selling" sex, they are just taking a donation for that persons time. Guess what, they can and do still get arrested, because there is money exchanging hands directly in relation to an act that is illegal.

If the legality exists in how we phrase something, I choose to stay far away from that issue.

I apply this thought to buying and selling coupons. We all know you are really paying for the coupons and they are really selling them. So, to try to say that it is something else, is just silly.

If you want to buy or sell coupons, I have no problem with it, but to me it just doesn't feel right to have to lie about what you're doing. And I'm really not willing to risk being arrested should the authorities be watching a certain ebayer who is "selling a service" which is actually "selling coupons".

I am sure 90% of couponers completely disagree with me and I will hear about it either in comments or email. But having been asked my opinion, I feel obligated to make sure you know the facts. What you do with my opinion, after you are aware of the facts, is up to you!

At the end of the day, we each have to answer for our own decisions. I make no judgements to others decisions. I choose to live by the principle that God provides and I do not have to try to "make" things happen with my own efforts or energy, especially when it means crossing a line, breaking a law or anything that could be seen as such.

I hope that answers some questions! As with all things, knowledge is the best way to make a decision to do or not do something, and I hope, if nothing else, the links I gave can provide you with that!

WISE CONSUMERS USE COUPONS, SAVE MONEY & EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT COUPON FRAUD

My most recent post ( Letter To Food Lion / Accused of Coupon Fraud ) sparked many emails and comments about what makes a Coupon "Fraudulent" and other things that I feel very strongly we should all be educated about.

If you are going to coupon, which is the equivalent of Making Extra Money for your family, then you should take it that seriously and "Be armed" with knowledge...in other words, KNOW YOUR TRADE ! It's like working a job and getting paid to do it, but not knowing the rules? That would be absurd!

So, here we go. If you are serious about couponing to save at least $50-100 per week, it's a MUST.

First up is to know that You CANNOT Copy coupons! It enrages me every time I see someone on Facebook posting that they got 10 coupons because they copied them (and those comments are daily across the blogosphere!). THIS IS FRAUD. Each individual coupon is verifiable through www.veri-fi.com for ONE TIME USE. The coupon format, barcode and scan numbers are coded with the information that tells the retailer, manufacturer and/or coupon verification software what I.P. address was used (your location) and is traceable directly back to you. So if you make copies, once they are used and then returned as invalid, it can be traced to you having made illegal copies. You can and will be prosecuted for Coupon Fraud. Penalties for those convicted of coupon fraud related crimes vary by each case and the number of laws violated.Here's the breakdown on that:

As of this date:

Longest prison sentence: 17 years

Highest financial penalty: $5 million

Prison sentences of three to five years are not uncommon

Financial penalties generally vary, but have often been in excess of $200,000

OK, that's for the obvious, that you should definately know is a NO, NO in the coupon rulebook. I hope that we don't have anyone here that is doing this. It is the reason behind all of the problems we have at the register and all of the suspicions behind internet printable coupons. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS!!

Next big mistake/rule breaker is using a coupon for an item other than what the coupon states. Sure, you might get away with it, but say I use a $1 off Tide 50oz on a Tide 30oz. The retailer/store WILL NOT get reimbursed for that coupon, which results in higher store prices for us as well as even more in depth scrutiny over using coupons at the register.

Here are more examples of fraudulent misuse of coupons:

Using a coupon for other than what is written on the coupon.

Using the coupon for another product that is not listed on the coupon.

Purchasing a different size than what is listed on the coupon.

Purchasing a different quantity than what is listed on the coupon.

Purchasing less than specified minimum dollar amount when using a coupon for $X off a purchase of $Y or more.

Using a coupon after it has expired (unless approved-few stores do so)

OK, next up and one of the next best things to know is that the P&G Brand Name, which consists of many brands we know & use, DOES NOT ever issue or authorize Internet Printable Coupons. So, if you receive a link to a coupon to print for a P&G Brand Product, it is fraudulent without a doubt. You can only receive their coupons via mail, product packaging, etc. NEVER INTERNET PRINTABLES. More info Here

Finally, visiting THIS WEBSITE will give you a more in depth look at what retail stores are facing with Coupon Fraud. It is a shame and it makes it worse on all of us that are using coupons legitimately to save our families money. View THIS LIST for all the current Fraudulent Coupons that are floating around, and make sure you don't have any of these. There are rewards on some of them if you should find one, report it.

I hope these tidbits at least make you stop and think about the responsibility of using coupons legitimately. As you can see through my weekly (sometimes daily) posts here and on Facebook, using coupons the way they were intended can and does save serious money and result in many freebies...just make sure you know what you can/cannot do. Knowledge is power!

NEVER MISS A PRINTABLE COUPON AGAIN!! SIGNUP FOR FREE COUPON ALERTS HERE!

Don't you hate it when you find out about an awesome Printable Coupon, go to print it only to learn it has already reached print limit or the campaign is over? Grrrr...Now you NEVER have to miss a Printable Coupon again!

FREE COUPON ALERTS wants you to save more on your weekly grocery trips by giving you ALERTS when new printable, electronic, direct, and mailer coupons are available. Free coupon alerts is updated during the day, EVERY DAY, as new coupons become available.
I signed up last week and that's how I've been able to alert all of you the minute new coupons become available! I love it! But for those times when I'm away and can't let you know, you can now get those alerts directly!! Skip the middle man (me! *Sniff, Sniff!*)and Signup to get your FREE COUPON ALERTS now!

VISIT PENNY PINCHER GAZETTE FOR FREE PRINTABLE GROCERY COUPONS

Visit Penny Pincher Gazette for Free Printable Grocery Coupons. Register and receive free printable coupons, email newsletter and local grocery store circulars, recipes and articles.

I signed up with them quite a while back and love getting the emails and being able to print coupons all in one spot! Be sure to check it out! It's a quick signup with just your email, a password and your zip code to submit. Another great Savings & Coupon Resource!

How to Better Manage Your Coupons ! My DIY Coupon Organizing Systems - Old & New !

WOW, I can't believe I waited so long to implement my new Coupon Organizing System! So many have you have had struggles with your "Coupon Binders" and other various ways to keep your coupons in one spot and so did I ! You've been asking me this for quite a while now, and I've finally gotten it finished enough to share with you! (Although I've implemented it for the past week and it's gone so smoothly!)

The number one complaint is about printing your coupons and then having a stack of printed pages to pile up that you will need to cut and then put into your binder or whatever system you are using.

Here is a shot at my OLD "coupon binder", which I made from CD holder. The pages held CD's so they were larger than the 9 pocket baseball card style pages. That was a definate improvement, but it still didn't fix my problems with keeping the Q's cut and filed, and readily available without a major hunt.

THE OLD COUPON BINDER MADE WITH A 4 POCKET CD HOLDER


I have made this constant task so much easier! In my new system, I can quickly file any printed page without having to cut or clip, and wait until I'm preparing my shopping list and matching up my coupons before I cut them out! This has saved me a lot of time just in the last week alone! And better than that....I've had NO huge pile of coupons at my printer that I needed to sort and file or clip and cut ! Whew, that helps me out in the "procrastination" department, as I always looked at that pile and told myself I'd do it "later"! Apparently, from your emails and FB posts, so have you!

I have to thank my years of working in offices for this one. It really is a no-brainer. We are on the constant hunt for this perfect coupon filing system, when a "filing system" has existed forever for most everything! As I've mentioned before, if you're serious about saving your family money, you have to view your couponing efforts as a business! And so, naturally, a business "Files" all things that are necessary to do business. If you've ever worked in an office (before major technology and transferring customer files,etc. into a computer database) then you recall the constant locating and grabbing a file for the task at hand.

So let's just get back to basics! Why make it so complicated? And that's what I've done and it is already paying off for me! ( You saw my .47cent and .68cent CVS and RITEAID trips this week! ) I account the ease of organizing this weeks coupon matchups and sales to my new "Frugal Fabulous Filing System" :)

At the moment, it is bare bones! Aside from my color choice of pink files and a black folder for them, there has been no "glamour" added. It is exactly what it needs to be. Sitting right on top of your desk or by your printer, it is always open and only takes a quick glance to see what folder to place the printed paper in. It's a way to quickly file your coupons when you print them, so they don't pile up, and then quickly grab them when you get ready to head to the stores. Only cut them as you need, while you are already organizing your trip & savings! It really is that simple!






One quick tip and explanation!More will follow in a later post:

I've posted before that I have a distinct way of organizing my trips based on the store coupons & matchups I do at home. I'm going to do another full post on that ( I did it once about CVS and RITEAID) But basically, I have all the Q's filed by categories in files. I also have folders for specific stores. I pull the store I'm going to go to, print my list from that stores site/weekly circular, match my coupons to sales and then it all remains in that stores folder. I take that one folder into the store with me that already has my shopping list printed, with my actual pricing info (so no surprises at the register!) and all my coupons! It has been working very well for me! I used to do take my whole binder and before that my "organizer" and I just got too aggrivated hunting through them while in the store. This simplifiles it for me- list, coupons...get what you came for snag your savings and get out, with no extras to hunt through!

Stay tuned and check back soon, as I will be posting in detail all of the "How-to" Suggestions and tips to start your own!