Target.com coupon refresher - 101

When I link you to a Target coupon, I use my affiliate link. It is no hidden secret, all of us bloggers make some money when you click links you would click anyhow. It's not much, maybe a few pennies, but that helps a LOT!

So when I link to Target, it takes you to the Target home page. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and you will see lots of links (blue and underlined.) Right smack dab in the middle of all of them is the one that says "Coupons." You click that and there you are.

Target includes both Target STORE coupons and manufacturer coupons but I often forget how to tell the difference without printing them out. Use the following wording code to help you know:

With purchase of =Target Store Coupon
Product Name Only = Target Store Coupon
When you buy = MFG Coupon

Don't forget to use a manufacturer coupon (you can check the coupon database) when you use a STORE coupon to double your savings!

Wow - More coupon fraud

Irony is thick. This happened at a Kroger in HUMBLE, Tx. Go HERE to read the full article. And do NOT try this at home. Ridiculous!

Coupon fraud occurs whenever someone intentionally uses a coupon for a product that he/she has NOT purchased or otherwise fails to satisfy the terms and conditions for redemption, when a retailer submits coupons for products they have not sold or that were not properly redeemed by a consumer in connection with a retail purchase; or when coupons are altered/counterfeited. These activities are almost always in violation of Federal, State or local laws.
Avoid Coupon Fraud

• The Coupon Information Center has not lost a case since they began in May of 1986.
• 3-5 years in prison is a common sentence for committing coupon fraud (longest sentence: 17 years)
• Fines are often in the excess for $200,000 (highest fine: $5 million)

What is coupon fraud:

1. Using a scanner, printer, or copier to make copies of coupons.
2. Using expired coupons, unless the store specifically states in their coupon policy that they do accept expired coupons.
3. Using coupons on products other than the product specified in the print (e.g. using a coupon for Original Cheerios on Honey Nut Cheerios).
4. Using a coupon for a product or size excluded by the fine print on the coupon (e.g. using a coupon that says “excludes trial size” on a trial size product).
5. Using the coupon when purchasing a different quantity than specified on the coupon (e.g. using a coupon for $0.50/2 on a single product instead of 2).
6. Altering and/or modifying a coupon in any way.
7. Using a coupon any way other than how it is specified on the coupon.

If you have any coupon fraud questions you can go to the CIC, Coupon Information Corporation and see fraudulent coupons and ask questions.

 

Thanks Tiffany@MyLitter!

Bricks Coupons 101

A reader emailed me asking what the deal with "bricks" coupons were. I knew they were a heck of a lot easier to print, but here are some other facts about them athat you may not know:

This post originally posted by LisaB@OCD

 

BRICKS COUPONS

If you’ve been couponing for a while you might know about Bricks Coupons. (These are my favorite type to print at home because they’re so easy! Bricks Coupons are sponsored by Coupons.com)
Take a look at a sample Bricks link (you’ll know it’s a Bricks link because of the address, along with a screen similar to the one shown up top):

http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=qdfhcgw26501989&bt=wi&o=55895&c=CI&p=qNzCZsMW
Depending on the browser you’re using (Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari), the code (highlighted in red) will need to be slightly different in order for you to be able to print your coupon correctly.

Internet Explorer = wi (vi will also work)
Firefox = wg or vg
Safari (on a PC) = vi
Safari (on a MAC) = xs

Often, if the link isn’t intended for your current search engine, you’ll be asked to install the coupon printer – repeatedly, with no success. If you’re using Firefox to print your Bricks coupon and it’s not working, check the http address. Change the “wi” or “vi” to a “wg” instead (depending on your browser) and you’ll find that your problem is solved! We’ve been able to successfully “fix” the links for many printable coupons with these instructions!

If your coupon is STILL not printing after altering the address, find HELP on the bottom of the original screen. It will take you to a Troubleshooting Guide offering additional HELP suggestions.

If you find that you still cannot print the coupon, fill out the online form to request the coupon in the mail. Note that it will take a few weeks to arrive.

Be aware that Internet printable coupons (often) have limits. If a particular coupon has reached its 100,000 print limit you will receive a message indicating the coupon cannot be printed.

Obsessive Coupon Gal Tip: Most Internet printable coupons allow you to print two coupons per IP address. You could print two from your laptop and two from your home personal computer. Be sure to HIT THE BACK BUTTON to print your second coupon.

* Do not make a copy of your Internet printable coupons. These coupons are coded with special security codes and making copies is considered fraudulent. In addition, stores who mistakenly accept fraudulent coupons will not be be reimbursed by the manufacturer.

Portraits 101 - And CHEAP Photo Packages

Free Olan Mills Photo Package!
The package includes: 1-8×10, 2-5x7s, and 8 wallets.
If you don’t see it choose the PHOTOGRAPHY category to the far left

*Make the deal even better and take this coupon to MY FAVORITE COMPETITOR and see how to get a TON of pictures for under $5! Portraits 101

 Thanks Swaggrabber & CouponingToDisney!

Travel Section 101 - FREEBIES

Are you catching onto a trend? If you find a coupon for $1 off an item (of ANY size) you MIGHT get for a travel size freebie - CLIP THAT ONE and carry it with you. I am not an advocate for clipping, but in this case, you should! Items you can generally find in the travel section: Johnson's First Aid kits, toothpaste, mouthwash, shaving cream, detergent - laundry and dishes, shampoo, conditioner and many many others

What are your favorite travel size freebie finds?

Yogurt... The best deal may not be the sale

My sister did some math while shopping for yogurt. I can't do anything but shop from my list, forget the math! If I havent done my figures before I go, then I should just skip that deal! But her brain was working overtime and she shared this with me:

Publix brand yogurt = 10/5.50 = .55 each
Activia on sale = 3 4-packs for 6.00 or 12/6.00 = .50 each

Activia NOT on sale = 12 pack boxes for 4.99
-$1.00 off coupon from 7/10 ss (?)

Total = 12/3.99 or .33 each.

So even NOT on sale, the larger packs of Activia are a better deal!!

TIP: Always carry a calculator with you (it also helps to have a pen and some scrap paper too!)

Meat 101 - Stockpiling CHEAP!

I know some of you are waiting on that post.. I am uploading pictures RIGHT NOW!!!
If you are getting the daily email, this will be one of the latest post in that email and I wanted you to know that the post should be up by 3:00pm!

Donating - So you have your stockpile, now what?

Sales come in cycles. You may be able to get 8 o'clock coffee on BOGO for $4.99 with $1 coupons PLUS get free cookies... but that deal isnt going to stick around. So you stockup on the coffee you need for the next 6 months and then you hit the next cycle.

But what do you do when pasta and sauce goes on sale and you get the pasta for free and the sauce for $1 a jar every month? You donate the older items to people who need them NOW!

A few of you have commented on how many cereal boxes I have, how much dressing I have, how many whatever I have.... Well, it's simple. When I end up with more than I will use in the amount of time the cycle runs, I donate it. I normally take reusable bags full of items to my church or the Beta House for Women, but sometimes I get lucky and get contacted by someone who knows I do this and I get to help a family in need.

Saturday I get to donate to a real live family. That excites me!!! I don't want to share details, being in need is extremely humbling. But when I was 19 and on my own (for 2 years) and in college, riding my bike to school and work (at a daycare for $5.25 an hour) one of my baby's mothers asked me (in secret, thank God) if she could bring over some groceries.... (I wasn't looking so hot) I cried. She brought over enough groceries for a week or more. I told her I could never repay her and she told me, "When you are able, help someone else." I am proud to say I have done that many times and I continue to. And I will continue to! It makes me feel so happy to know that I am able to do something!

 

This is only ONE donation I have made. The really cool part about it, I spent maybe $22 on all of this. You can too and this blog is going to show you how. Stick with me. 

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Stockpile - I'll show you mine, if you show me yours!

People always ask. I know you were thinking it too. I love seeing other people's stockpiles too! So email them to me if you dont mind me sharing! beadandelion at gmail dot com

 This is our main pantry... Baby foods and snack on the bottom, along with coffee, noodles, rice, frosting and a few random unorganized things. Middle shelf has condiments, mustard, BBQ, dressing, snacks, pretzels, junk food in the baskets and oatmeat in the corner that you cant see. Top shelf has ziploc bags, tin foil and saran wrap in the left hand corner, cans in back, packet meals and rice boxed in front, jellos, joint juice and Crystal light on the right hand side.

 Toilet paper, games, juice. The freezer holds the meat we buy in bulk (currently is houses 1500 ounces of milk, about half of which I need to donate to Get Pumped) we also once had 40 bags of cheese.. mmmm!! That is long gone :-(

 Household items like detergent, paper towels, damp rid up top. Next row down toothpaste, tooth brushes and other oral hygiene items, there are 4 boxes of razors around there and over a dozen cans of tomatoes. The green bag on the left is full of vitamins, all free. The white bag under it is full of makeup both samples and full size. There is a full shelf of medicines gotten for free and under that a bajillion candles, we keep them lit in the kitchen. The 2 bottom shelves - dog treats and then in front of that baby formula samples and free cans.

 That shelf in the middle has feminine products up top and some more detergent crystals. The next one down has body washes and shave creams. the next one down kitchen soaps, the next is ALL shampoo and conditioner. Next one down is light bulbs and the cabinet below is all cleaning supplies.

This WAS 40 boxes of cereal a month ago. Now there are about 25. I told ya, we use it! There are also now 10 boxes of Ritz.. those wont last.

OK I showed you mine, you show me yours!

101 - When is a FREE coupon a BAD deal?

I could shoot myself right now.

So I had this coupon for a free Suave Dry shampoo (I really wanted it too) or other product line product up to $3.00.

I JUST found my coupon clutch and realized I needed to use this coupon by tomorrow or I was SOL.

Well on my way to make some money at Publix, I stopped at Walgreens. I had a few freebie coupons for coffee drinks and Lipton, but I didnt find them. I also didnt find the dry shampoo. Being baby-free I didnt want to waste time so I grabbed a suave product  and headed to the counter. $3.00 turns out to be $3.20 and the coupon takes off $3.00... I am stuck paying $.20 for a fine mist hairspray I will likely never use and will probably donate.

THIS WAS A BAD DEAL. I paid $.20 for a freebie I will never use. I didnt break the bank... but do you KNOW what I can buy with $.20?

I redeemed myself by making $.06 at Publix... so technically I was only out $.14 cents... but that $.14 cents was on something I dont need or want. Thank goodness I only had ONE of those coupons! No telling the damage I would have done!

Prescriptions - 101

My favorite way to save on prescriptions is to drug store hop. When I get it filled at one place, I will transfer it next time I need it refilled. Now that I will be on Thyroid replacement for the rest of my life, I assume I will be doing this forever. The trick for me is to get the coupons from the ads or from the mailers that say "transfer your Rx and we will give you $25"... somehow CVS ALWAYS knows when I get an Rx at Walgreens. They will snail mail me a coupon for a $25 (use in 1 transaction) check. Then I go back to Walgreens the next month. Last year I spent about $2 of my own money in the drug stores and was so happy when I finally used up all of my RRs and ECBs. I don't think I have been back in a while.


Publix will give you Free Antibiotics. But Rita from Chitowncheapskate has many more tips on how to save money on prescritions HERE.

Some of her talking points are:

• Ask your Doctor for Generic
• Get Higher-Dosage Pills and Split Them in Half
• Ask whether a prescription is necessary
• Order in Bulk
• Coupons & Rebates
• Ask for Samples
• Contact the Drug Manufacturer Directly
• Prescription Plans and Online Resources
• Shop Around

Stockpiling - 101

Photo Credit SavvySpendingMommas

Ever wonder what is reasonable for your stockpile? Here are a few good tips to keep in mind:

• 2 week supply of milk, eggs, and bread. (yeah, not really stockpiling)
• 1-2 month supply of perishables that can be frozen, such as meat, cheese, berries, grapes, etc.
• If you can get cheese and meat for an exceptional price - cheese-use ALL of your coupons! I will stockpile bags of shredded cheese for 6 months if possible. I buy meat in bulk and it lasts 3-4 months.
• 6+ months edible non-perishables, such as canned goods, drinks, packaged food like applesauce, crackers, cereal, etc.
• These can last much longer than 6 months. If you get an amazing price and have the room.. DO IT!
• 1-2 years of non-perishables, such as laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, toiletries, etc.
• You will certainly get these items for free in the next 2 years, so stockpile what you can afford to store... then wait for the next major sale to buy them for free! 

Freebie coupons - Have them mailed to you!

I was just telling my friends today that you have to have a binder or clutch or something to hold the loose coupons you acquire, but ALWAYS keep the "free ____" product coupons with the coupons you carry with you! Never know when you will find those items and you dont want the coupon to expire, now, do you?!

These sites will send you coupons for free full sized products! Make sure you are signed up with them! 

Kraft First Taste: Will get FREE Product Coupons for new Kraft Products.
Right @ Home: Has many FREE offers that include SC Johnson Products.
Vocalpoint: Will send FREE Product Coupons and High Value Coupons to share with friends. Usually will receive a new offer every couple of months.
Woman's Freebies: Will update you about all the Online FREEBIE Offers including Facebook Offers.

Individual Coupon Tutoring - Starts Wednesday

Wow! you guys are finally coming out of the woodwork! AND I LOVE IT!

I have had so many people ask me when I was going to start a couponing class and I just am NOT ready for that. I am not a teacher to a group of people... BUT even better (for you)! I have decided to dedicate 2 hours every Wednesday morning to teaching individual coupon classes!

Every Wednesday morning I spend about 20 minutes pulling coupons for my shopping trip on Thrusday (Thursday is when all the stores put out their new sales fliers) I am not sure how quickly you guys are willing to sign up so here are the stipulations.

• I will not take more than 2 a day 
• You can bring your children, I have a padded room we can stack them in, they must be willing to play with the cutest little boy in the world.
• I have a cat and a dog (if you are allergic)
• If you cancel, you will be put on a waiting list or the like. If it so happens that the very next week I only have 1 person coming, you are more than welcome to join. 
• This is for serious couponer inquiries only.

If you are local to Orlando, please email me at BeaDandelion at gmail dot com if you are interested.

101 - Missing inserts?

I just had this conversation with a friend today.

Yesterday in my mail box I got one of those Redplum ad packs and it had a $5/$50 Publix coupon, a sheet of cool Dunkin Donuts coupons including a free specialty coffee and a coupon for a $5.99 Hair cut at Great Clips. She didn't get all of those and was a bit upset over it.

Also, today I got a $5/$30 Publix coupon in my daily paper. 

However there are several reasons you might not get the same inserts... whether throughout the week or on Sundays. Advertisers discretion as to distribution, supply and theft.

You can read more about it HERE.

101 - NEVER COPY A COUPON!!!! Coupon Counterfeiter Faces Up To 30 Years In Jail!

Coupon Counterfeiter Faces Up To 30 Years In Jail!

This is awesome!

These people are the ones who make honest couponers look bad! Just DO NOT cheat the system folks. If you follow this blog and/or many other VERY reputable blogs, you WILL save the money. I promise you! Cheating never gets you anywhere... and for this one 22 year old man, it only got him to jail! How's that $.75 coupon looking to you now?!

Lucas Henderson, a 22-year-old Rochester Institute of Technology student, is facing a pair of federal felony charges--wire fraud and trafficking in counterfeit goods--for allegedly posting counterfeit coupons on zoklet.net.

Henderson, pictured at right, is also accused of directing users of that message board to 4chan, where they could download a copy of "How to Make Coupons,” a 45-page tutorial on designing coupons that would “scan at most any store in the U.S.,” thus tricking retailers.”

You can read more about this issue at the Coupon Information Center as well as The Smoking Gun!

Thank you for posting this Mindi Cherri!

Publix - Item vs. Unit

Do you know the difference?

Apparently most of us don't.
Today, Publix nearly refused to let my sister buy 20 Whiska's Cat food trays. Apparently they are now only letting you buy 10 UNITS of anything.... They werent on sale, but she had BOGO coupons for them. Coupons are reimbursed by the manufacturer and the company not only gets full face value, but $.08 on EACH coupon. That adds up...if only from my household!

If the coupon says BOGO, then 1 deal is a Unit, right? The manager kept switching the words around. For somethings a sale was a unit, other things an item was a unit.

What if she didn't have coupons but wanted to pay straight up cash for all 20 trays of cat food? They said she could not. It is 10 per person, period.


What are your thoughts on this? She wasn't clearing a shelf, she was trying to buy a weeks worth of food for 2 cats.

Collin's Scenarios - CVS and Walgreens

If you are a regular, you know I post Kristin's Lists (HERE) every week.... Each time Kristin at CouponingToDisney posts her "this many under $1 and this many FREE" posts, she has given my permission to post the links here so you can hop over there and snag the same deals!

Well, it seems that of the 60+ blogs I follow and repost about, many are posting a weekly "scenario" of the drug stores... however, I am not about to link you to the first email I open. What I need to do is a Collin's Lists. Collin is the blogger at Hip2Save and she is a.maz.ing. If you follow her scenarios then you will absolutely get the deals for free that you are looking for.

This is the first week I am featuring her as her own titled column. I hope you all check her out... and don't forget to start here... I will update you whenever she posts these!


CVS Shopping Scenarios 5/8-5/14
Walgreens Shopping Scenarios 5/8-5/14

New to Walgreens?

AKA Wags. Not sure how that nickname came about, but you will find many blogs referring to it as Wags.

If you are new to Walgreens and wondering what the heck a RR is.. start HERE

Simply put a Register Reward is like money rewarded to you for buying certain sale items. The weekly ad will tell you what items give you RRs. Those are the items you are shopping for each week.

Now, Collin has put together a great beginners scenario for you HERE. You don't have to start out with any RRs to walk out of the store with a bag full of loot for under $10.

If you have a scenario you like better, please leave me a comment... or you can email me your "Reader Trip" to beadandelion at gmail dot com. I love to hear from my readers!

New to CVS?

If you are new to CVS and wondering what the heck an ECB is.. start HERE

Simply put an Extra Care Buck is like money rewarded to you for buying certain sale items. The weekly ad will tell you what items give you ECBs. Those are the items you are shopping for each week.

Now, Collin has put together a great beginners scenario for you HERE. You don't have to start out with any ECBs to walk out of the store with a bag full of loot for under $10 and $5 in ECBs for next week.

If you have a scenario you like better, please leave me a comment... or you can email me your "Reader Trip" to beadandelion at gmail dot com. I love to hear from my readers!