Atlanta's Frugal Mom

AFM: Frugal Fun Fact Friday   10-21-11 Did you know... ...stores MAKE MONEY when you use a manufactures coupon.  If you read the fine print on a manufacture's coupon, you'll see that a store will not only be reimbursed the cost of the coupon, but will usually get an additional 8 cents per coupon for shipping and handling.  (The store pays for the "doubled" portion of a coupon, should they choose to double.)  So, go out and make your store some money, while you SAVE money in the process!  ;o) P.S.  This only works when coupons are used ethically .   Keep on saving!  :o) --Barbara

Because I've been asked quite a few times lately where one can purchase pages for their coupon binders, I thought I'd compile a list of places you can get them, both online and in-store.   Let me first clarify, I've found two types of pages that work well in coupon binders: baseball card holders (9-slots) and picture album pages (3x5 and 4x6 work best).  There are companies, however, that have done the leg work for you, and offer various sizes/slots for your choosing. :o) Coupon Magic Organizer - CMO offers a complete system for starting a coupon binder, but also allows you to buy the individual pages in bundles, ranging from 3-slots to 9-slots.  CMO also exclusively carries double-sided 3-slot and 9-slot pages!  Prices start at $8.99 for 20 pages. The Coupon Clutch - Yeah, you've heard me talk about this one plenty of times!  In addition to getting the CUTEST coupon binder/fashion accessory around, you can also order the page inserts here ...

When you use coupons, it's important to understand how sales tax works with manufacture and store coupons. Consider the following points: 1)  A store is reimbursed by the manufacture for the value of a coupon used. Thus, the store still generates revenue from the couponed item. Therefore, sales tax IS applied to the amount of the coupon.   2)  When you use a store coupon, OR when a store doubles the value of a manufacture's coupon, the store is NOT reimbursed for that amount. Therefore, the amount for which the store doubles a coupon or the amount of a store coupon is NOT subject to sales tax. Make sense? Let's set up a scenario, with easy round numbers. Let's say you are able to take advantage of a 10 for $10 sale at Publix. Each item is thus priced at $1.00. Let's further say you are lucky enough to have matching manufacture coupons worth 50 cents for each item. That's $5.00 in manufacture coupons. If your Publix DOUBLES those coupon...

Many of you have asked me how I store and haul my coupons.  I'm not going to lie: I have yet to  perfect my system(s), but with each attempt, it seems to be getting easier as I go!  I'll take you through my coupon storage evolution, and perhaps you will find a system that meets your needs along the way.   Particularly if you are a couponing newbie, I know storing and organizing your coupons can be quite daunting and prove to be an overwhelming task, to say the least.  I'll confess that I still find the process a bit too much at times, and I've been couponing my entire adult life.  Truth be told, most Sundays, I dread the task of clipping and organizing; sometimes it drags in to Mondays as well.  (Does that make anyone feel better???) \ Please keep in mind that you will need to create your own system that works for you .  Feel free to borrow these ideas, but you'll need to make your own tweaks to make it your own.  :o)

I frequently brag about never paying more than $5 for a pack of diapers.  It's one item I refuse to pay full price for, particularly given what will -ahem- end up in them... Recently, I was asked how the heck I manage such a feat.  With this question, I realized I've overlooked explaining a few basics to y'all.  So, I will happily reveal my diaper-buying secrets.  :o) (And, yes, most of these tips can be applied to just about anything you frequently buy.) Good things come in small packages.   And I'm not just referring to yours truly. ;o)  With most items I buy with coupons, I find that nine times out of ten, I can get the best deal, not by buying in bulk, but by purchasing the smallest package .  Using coupons drives down the unit price significantly more when you buy the smaller item.  This theory will almost always hold water.  Every blue moon, I find a good deal on a box of diapers, but the vast majority of diapers I've...

Have you ever been walking through the store and found a coupon strategically placed right by its intended product?  Perhaps YOU have left a coupon for another unsuspecting shopper?  If so, welcome to the Coupon Fairy Club! I’ve long been a coupon fairy, before I even knew what I was doing.  Countless times, I’ve looked through my stash, and realized I had plenty of good coupons that I simply wouldn’t get around to using.  Thus, instead of sticking them in the recycling (NEVER THE TRASH, please!) , I always find it more helpful -dare I say altruistic?- to pass them on to someone else.  Mostly, this is done anonymously, as the coupons are simply left near the applicable items. However, on the rare occasions that I can hand a fellow shopper a coupon, it’s priceless!  I recall striking up a conversation with another new mom back when The Tot was still The Infant.  In the course of our conversation, the other mom asked for diaper recommendations.  Ever fulfilling my ...

Have you ever been walking through the store and found a coupon strategically placed right by its intended product?  Perhaps YOU have left a coupon for another unsuspecting shopper?  If so, welcome to the Coupon Fairy Club! I've long been a coupon fairy, before I even knew what I was doing.  Countless times, I've looked through my stash, and realized I had plenty of good coupons that I simply wouldn't get around to using.  Thus, instead of sticking them in the recycling (NEVER THE TRASH, please!) , I always find it more helpful -dare I say altruistic?- to pass them on to someone else.  Mostly, this is done anonymously, as the coupons are simply left near the applicable items. However, on the rare occasions that I can hand a fellow shopper a coupon, it's priceless!  I recall striking up a conversation with another new mom back when The Tot was still The Infant.  In the course of our conversation, the other mom asked for diaper recommendations....

Couponing Etiquette, Ethics, and Other Common Courtesies Aside from (what should be) the obvious “rules” that come with couponing, there can be some gray areas out there.  Further, if you are a true couponer, you will find yourself in a situation where there is no one to police you and your coupons, only your conscience and moral compass to guide you.  Here, I’ve composed a few couponing tips, based on my personal experience, my observations of others, and anecdotal tales on the blogosphere.    Let the little guy go   If you’re in line, with your stack of coupons and full cart, shouldn’t it be second nature to let the person behind you, with only a scant few items, go before you? Give fair warning!   Again, with full cart and you coupon stack, let the people behind you -or who may want to get behind you- know that you’ll likely take a while.  Yes, the full cart should be a dead give away, but  still… Sometimes, just suck it up!   I implore you n...

Couponing Etiquette, Ethics, and Other Common Courtesies Aside from (what should be) the obvious "rules" that come with couponing, there can be some gray areas out there.  Further, if you are a true couponer, you will find yourself in a situation where there is no one to police you and your coupons, only your conscience and moral compass to guide you.  Here, I've composed a few couponing tips, based on my personal experience, my observations of others, and anecdotal tales on the blogosphere.

Publix Tips and Tricks   Are you a Publix shopper?  Remember these "tricks" to their BOGO* sales:  You do NOT have to buy two of the BOGO items; they cut the price in half for each item.  This means that their BOGO sales will not result in free items, when matched with BOGO manufacture coupons. If you DO buy 2, you are allowed to use 2 coupons -- one for each item.  Don't forget, Publix will double coupons up to 50 cents, which can make for GREAT deals!  Publix has two sets of store coupon circulars they run, about every 2-3 weeks.  One is yellow and the other is green.  Always check their store coupons, to STACK with manufacture coupons .  Sometimes the BOGO items will match both a store coupon and a manufacture coupon. Publix accepts competitor's coupons.  (Competitors will vary by location, so check with your store first to see which coupons they accept.)  You may stack a competitor's coupon with a manufacture ...