Question of the Week: Where do I find coupons?

I get asked this question frequently. My answer is usually, "from the Sunday paper". However, there are many ways to get coupons.

1) Most coupons are found in the Sunday paper coupon inserts. Every week (except holiday weekends) there is at least one insert, but usually more. This week there are FIVE! I buy 4 copies of the paper each week, but on big weeks I buy more. If I know about some really high-value coupons coming out, I will buy more. This week I bought 6 copies - I've got a lot of coupon cutting to do!

2) Peelies, Blinkies and Tear-Pads. What? Let me explain.

Peelies are those sticky coupons attached directly to some products on the shelves. Like finding gold! Keep your eyes open for these.

Blinkies are the coupons that pop out of those blinking boxes near the product they're for. Most of the time they say "Do not double", which is a bummer, but some are worth collecting. Look for high-value ones and keep them on hand for those upcoming sales.

Tear-Pad coupons are found all throughout the stores in various locations (sometimes even in the produce section) on tear-pads. Take a couple if they're for products you use - you may find a sale in the future where they'll come in handy.

3) In-Store Coupon Books

You can find these in all sorts of places throughout some stores. Fred Meyer has one called "Naturally Preferred" and it's usually located in or near the health foods section. It's free and it comes out once a month. This month you'll find the following coupons in it:

$1/1 ANY Kashi organic cereal (expires 10/31/09)

$1/1 ANY Annie Chun's item (expires 3/31/10)

$1/2 ANY 2 Amy's products (expires 11/30/09)

$1/2 ANY 2 Simply Organic spices or grinders (expires 3/31/10)

(the above coupons are manufacturer coupons and are valid at any retail store)

25% off Nutrition Now Kids' Rhino Supplements (first 2)

$1/1 Knudsen Just Juice 32 oz. (first 2)

$0.50/1 Naturally Preferred Organic Veggies or Berries 10 oz. (first 4)

$0.50/1 Naturally Preferred Brown or White Cage Free Eggs dozen (first 4)

Cliff Twisted Fruit or Z Bars 2/$1 (first 10)

Country Choice Organic Cookies or Oatmeal 2/$5 (first 4)

$0.50/1 Naturally Preferred 1/2 Gallon Organic Milk (first 2)

25% off Naturally Preferred Herbal Supplements (first 2)

(the above coupons are Fred Meyer coupons)

A similar book is available at Thriftway and has similar manufacturer coupons in it. I found it in the produce section. Walgreens has their own coupon leaflet each month (not the weekly circular), as well as sometimes a pharmacy booklet. I usually just go to the pharmacy counter and ask if they have a new one. Walgreens has one right now called "Healthy Savings" and it is full of health-related coupons in it. Don't forget that you can "stack" these store coupons with manufacturer coupons on the same item. (i.e. Walgreens coupon for $2/1 Triaminic Thin Strips from the Healthy Savings booklet stacked with manufacturer coupon for $1.50/1 Thin Strips makes for FREE product at Walgreens starting tomorrow! Read about it in It's Hip 1 Save's Walgreens post.)

4) Samples

Many times a manufacturer will send samples to you for free and include high-value coupons with it. Often I will sign up for a sample simply to get the coupons.

5) Coupon Booklets Directly From the Manufacturer

As I've posted before, you can often sign up for a booklet full of coupons sent directly from the manufacturer. Proctor & Gamble puts one out at least 3 times a year called Home Made Simple. You can order one right now by signing up here (thanks, Saving with Shellie!).

6) In the Mail

I've tried this and it works! Send an e-mail to a company and request coupons from them! Go to their website and click on their "Contact Us" link. Send a simple e-mail with a comment on their products or a reason why you'd like some coupons. I've written to several companies recently and received coupons for cents-off specific products and even coupons for free products! Check out this post by Nicole's Nickles. She gives links to many companies to make it easy for you!

7) Internet
You can print off coupons at thousands of websites on the internet. Many are found on product websites, many can be found on coupon websites like coupons.com and redplum.com. If you want to know if there is a specific coupon available, check out hotcouponworld.com. They have a coupon database where you can locate practically any coupon available!

As you can see, it pays to keep your eyes open! Don't be shy about taking coupons you find! You may not need them right away, but you never know when a great sale may come around when you'll be happy you have them.

Free Redbox Codes are Back!

Just got an e-mail from Redbox letting us know that their codes for free Monday rentals are back!

Today's code (Monday, September 7) is:

T46T3Q7

This code is good until midnight Central time.

Happy Labor Day!

Send a Free Card!

Today through next Monday (9/7) you can personalize and send a card from the Hope Collection at cardstore.com for free! This promotion is part of The Week of Hope campaign.

It's easy:

1) Go to cardstore.com

2) Pick your card and personalize it

3) Enter your address and the address of the person you want it mailed to

4) Enter promotional code SENDHOPE

5) Pay nothing! The card and postage are completely free and you don't have to enter any payment information!

So send an encouraging card to someone you know and brighten their day!

Thanks, It's Hip to Save, for this great deal!

Kraft Free Food Promo

Have you heard about the free Kraft food promo? When you spend $25 in one transaction on select products, you'll receive a $5 coupon to use on your next store purchase, then when you submit your receipt and the rebate form that prints out at the time of purchase, you'll receive a $20 check! That's $25 in free food!

Please note, the $25 must be AFTER coupons have been applied, so make sure your total after coupons is at least $25.

Some important details about this promotion:

*This promotion is only valid at certain stores (including Albertsons stores (except in Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Florida). Go here to find a store near you.

*Valid dates 8/7 - 8/23

*Only one $5 coupon per transaction; only one $20 rebate per household

*Click here to see a list of all participating items in this promotion.

Personal Update

As you have probably noticed, my posting has been spotty at best lately! Most of that is due to the fact that it's SUMMER! With both of my kids home, tons of family vacations going on, and no air conditioning in our house, I haven't had much time with my computer.

I appreciate all of my readers so much and hope that you will check out my favorite blogs for current deals when I fail to post them here! I promise that I will try to keep up more faithfully once our vacations are past.

I hope you're enjoying your summer as much as I am!

Incredible Bottled Water Deal!

This deal is for those of you who have access to multiple computers and can print multiple copies of some high value coupons. If you can figure out a way to get them, though, you can get 14 cases of water (24-packs) for as little as $1 (plus deposit)! Follow these instructions carefully:

1) Print at least 6 copies of each of these coupons (you'll only be able to print 2 per computer):

$1/1 Nestle case water - you'll need to register with an e-mail address and physical address

$1.50/1 24-pk Nestle water - Internet Explorer, Firefox or try this one if you're using Safari on your Mac

2) Go to Safeway and get an ad and tear out the coupon doubler. Buy five 24-pk. cases of .5L Nestle water

3) When you check out, use 5 of the $1.50/1 coupons and the Safeway doubler. Here's the price breakdown for this transaction:

$3.99 x 5 = $19.95

-$5 Instant Savings (automatic savings when you buy 5)

-$7.50 coupons

-$2.00 Safeway doubles

=$5.45

*note: don't forget that you'll pay $1.20 per case in Oregon for deposit

4) At the end of your transaction you'll receive a catalina for $5 off your next purchase.

5) Take the water to your car, then go back in and buy 5 more cases of water. When you check out, use your remaining $1.50/1 coupon and 4 of the $1/1 coupons, plus your Safeway doubler and the $5 catalina from the previous purchase. Here's the breakdown:

$19.95

-$5 instant savings

-$5.50 coupons

-$2.00 Safeway doubles

-$5 catalina

=$2.45 (plus deposit in Oregon)

You will again receive a $5 catalina at the end of your transaction.

6) Cut all 10 upc codes from the top of each case of water and send them with your receipts and this form to Nestle's Pure Life / Best Life Healthy Rewards program. You will receive 4 coupons for case packs of Nestle Pure Life water!

Not factoring in deposit in Oregon, your total for all 14 cases of water will be $2.90! That's less than a penny per bottle! When I did my first transaction, I also received a coupon good for $3 off a $10 produce purchase. Of course, if you had access to more than 3 computers, you could print more than 6 of the $1.50/1 coupons and your deal would be even sweeter. The Nestle rewards deal allows up to 10 case pack coupons per household, so if you can print more coupons, you can continue to roll this deal and claim more free cases from Nestle.

The catalina deal is running through 8/9, but the Safeway Instant Savings deal only runs through 7/28, so get there before next Wednesday!

Thanks to Hip 2 Save and Abundant Food Savings for much of the deal details!

Lots of Albertsons Deal Scenarios

Because the Epic Savings event is still going on at Albertsons, there are many great deals to be had. I've had fun stocking up on freebies to donate to the food bank (and to a few lucky friends!). There are lots of great deal scenarios created by my fellow bloggers. Here are a few I'm particularly fond of:

Frugal Living NW here, here and here

Fabulessly Frugal

Mama Loves 2 Save

Don't forget to use those double coupons from this week's Food Day! There may be more on Sunday, too, so grab a few of the ads when you're at the store. Then, save some doubles to use with the ones that may (*hopefully*) come out Sunday.