Couponing for Beginners

Here is my method for couponing.  This is the easiest way that works for me and I think it’s the quickest way to get in and out of the store (which is important when you have to tote around kiddos!)  I only put things on my list that are free to 75% off.   Since the commissary allows overage, I use that toward the items I need like produce and meats (if it gets that high).   For items I don’t use or need, if they are free or close to it I get them to donate or to save for care packages.  Many coupons can be found online.  You can Google ‘coupon database’ and use that to find any coupons you want.  The Sunday paper also has coupons so look into getting s subscription, asking gas stations to keep extra papers for you, or ask neighbor/family/friends/coworkers to save their coupons for you! The Sunday paper has coupon inserts called Redplum, SmartSource, and Proctor and Gamble.  I will refer to these with a date (what Sunday paper they were in) and the abbreviation (RP, SS, PG).  I leave my inserts whole and file them by date in folders.  That way when I search the database for a coupon and it says 03/03/13 RP, I know to look in the 3/3 folder in the RedPlum Insert.

Couponing Tutorial

1.Make a list with 5 columns and a bunch of rows.

 Label the columns with:

*ITEM (the product you will be buying= try to organize this by aisles)

*PRICE (what the store is selling the product for)

*NUMBER OF (how many items you can get)

*SOURCE (where I will find the coupon)

*TOTAL (the total money you will spend or earn on that product)

2. Find a place that does matchups (I will try to provide my biweekly list! Or Google Commissary Matchups) and/or use a coupon database to pair with the sale flyer to find deals 

3. From that start to fill in your columns with what you can. To do this, I just have my computer and nothing else.

4. I then write things on the bottom of my list I need and search the database to see if those items have coupons since I will get getting them regardless of their price.

5. Now the fun begins… I start gathering, clipping, and printing (usually during nap time so my toddler doesn't dump everything!).  I go through my Sunday paper inserts (which have been sorted in folders by the date). I get whats on my list, fill in how many of the item I need. I also do my printable coupons. We have three computers so I can print 2 coupons from each for a total of 6 coupons. I put all my coupons in one envelope.

6. In another envelope I put high value coupons that I THINK may have low prices at the store (like $1 off a bag of chips. Maybe that brand will be on sale for $1!) I put these in a separate envelope labeled CHECK PRICE and I write underneath what product, size I need, and the amount of coupon so I can just glance and look quickly.

7. Then I add up my totals so I know an estimate of how much I will be spending (and to make sure the cashier is close to my total so I know no coupons were not scanned or forgotten).

8. As I go through the store, I have one last envelope that I transfer the coupons to as I add the items to my cart. I try to keep things in order and put them on the belt in the order of the coupon stack when checking out.

9.  I also keep my eyes peeled for items on sale or clearance and write that down or take a picture of the item with price tag on my cell so I know to get a coupon for that item for my next trip.

10.  When checking out the first thing I do is tell the cashier I have coupons, usually they will ask for the stack then.  If you are at the Commissary, either use self checkout or remember to tip your baggers as they work for tips only! I really appreciate their help as they usually entertain my daughter while the cashier scans my coupon stack and they help me load my car which is AWESOME when I'm 9 months pregnant and have a two year old who is fussy from being dragged around couponing!! Plus, I just saved a ton of money with my coupons! Share the wealth, giving is good ;-)

Couponing at the Commissary

Important websites:
Commissary Coupon Policy
Defense Commissary Agency Facebook
Commissary Rewards Card
Whats on sale at YOUR Commissary?

Commissary Coupon Resources
How to order military coupons by mail
MaxiSaver
Quaker/Gatorade Military
Kraft Military
ConAgraDeals
Operation in Touch

General Coupon Resources
Coupon Database (search for what items you need!)
Coupons.com
SmartSource
RedPlum


My Favorite Coupon Blogs!
WeUseCoupons (Great Commissary Section!)
hip2save (General couponing)
Spoiled but not Rotten (Couponing for kids, baby, toys, etc!)
Delly's Deals  (General couponing - local, Wilmington/ Eastern NC)
The Krazy Coupon Lady (General couponing)


My Favorite Online Shopping Deals
Amazon Mom (20 percent off diapers and wipes, FREE 2 day shipping!)
Amazon Coupons (Yes, you can clip coupons for diapers AND get the Amazon mom discount!)
Ebates (Get a percentage back at most stores you shop at online! They mail a check directly to you.)
Zulily (Daily deal site - most deals are awesome, but do a price check with Amazon to compare incase)


*Remember to use ibotta (phone app), look for peelies on products and tear pads, and check out the front table of coupons and flyers at your commissary for further savings!  Also, find out where your stores clearance section is (at my store, it is hidden in the back on a small shelf). For additional high value coupons try writing or emailing companies asking for coupons to try products!

Commissary Couponing April 2013

Here is my trip from yesterday!  There are lots of coupons that were available last month that have been reset for this month so check the previous posts to get those deals again (I don't have time to link all of them so check out the old posts or search in a coupon database).  As I am due any day now, I was thrilled I was able to make another commissary trip to stock up on some things!  This trip was full of deals on meats, dinner items, and snacks/frozen meals that my husband likes since he will be taking leave for a few weeks.  If you don't have a Commissary Rewards Card, pick one up next time!  They are now offering FREE items that you can load to your card!!  I was able to get a box of kcups and there was a Carving Board Meat coupon but the limit must have been reached since its no longer there.  Keep logging onto your rewards card to check for new offers and to load the free coupons! Also, if you don't have Ibotta get the app ASAP!  You can use it to get cash back (through Paypal and I think there may be other options too..) on items you buy at the Commissary and other stores and it can be combined with a coupon making some items have overage!

         ITEM                                      PRICE       # OF     TOTAL $                      SOURCE

Armour Pepperoni                             .89                          +.11                       Coupons.com

Muir Glen product                              .78                             .03                       Facebook

Playtex Fresh + Sexy Wipes          4.29                          +.71                       Here

Poise Product                                  2.29                          +.79                       01-13-13 SS

Hormel completes                           1.76                            .76                    

Pantene                                            1.89                            .39                        03-31-13 PG

Secret clinical                                   3.99                          1.99                      03-31-13 PG

Duncan Hines Frosting Creations    .68                         +.32                       See other posts-print

Sparkle paper towels 6 pack         4.99                          3.99                       Printable (no more)

El montery Single Buritto                  .85                          +.15                       03/03/13 rp, 01/27/13ss

Smuckers grape jam                      1.39                             .64                       Print, use ibotta for overage

MAXWELL HOUSE or GEVALIA <6.06                         Free                     Commissary rewards card

Dole Fruit Squish'ems                     1.95                           .95                       Coupons.com

Neosporin Neo-to-Go                      3.58                         1.58                       Here

Ore Ida crinkle cut box                       .59                            .09                     03-17-13 SS, use ibotta also!

Chinet beverage napkins                  .98                          +.02                      Here

Betty Crocker frosting                        .61                            .23                     SS 03/24/13, printables 

Frenchs Worcestershire sauce         .99                          +.01                    SS 03/17/13

Dole fruit cups                                   1.79                         1.04                     Printable

Motts pouches                                   1.89                         1.14                     Printable

Egglands Best Cagefree Eggs       2.69                         1.44                    Newspapers AND use ibotta!

Buitoni Riserva                                  2.86                         1.86                     Here

Weight watchers cheese                  1.89                           .89                     printable

Activia 4 pack                                    1.97                           .97                     SS 03/03/13 R

Hinode rice                                        1.49                           .49                      facebook

Heinz vinegar                                    1.99                         1.74                      Military tear pad

Shady Brook Farms Turkey             2.21                        1.66                      Here

Hilshire farms sausage                    1.99                         1.24                     RP 03/24/13

Loyds pulled pork                             1.76                            .76                     Printable and tearpad

Butterball turkey sausage                1.50                            .95                     Here 

Banquet chicken nuggets                1.99                           1.99                    No coupon (sale)

Cheerios                                            1.99                          1.49                     printable

Superior farms lamb                       -2.00 coupon                                         Commissary rewards card