Teach me what I don't know about couponing yet

[goofieslonglostsis]

Well, think title is pretty clear; I'm looking for some help to teach me what I don't know yet about couponing.

Let me begin by telling you guys I don't reside in the US, but do use coupons during WDW trips. Use coupons for my mall trips and for my grocery store trip. The latter is always a pretty big haul when you combine all I need for my 26 day trip diet and the "wishlist" of items to bring home for family, friends and myself. To give you an idea; that bring home alone can easily be a suitcase or more with certain drink mixes, cookies, candy/chocolate, baking products and other stuff we can't get in our country (or pay bizar prices for). So it pays to coupon.

Couple of questions I've got;

- how long out do I need to start paying attention for coupons to come out that are still usable during my trip. Is there a set amount of time most coupons tend to be valid for and thus start looking that much time ahead of my trip?
- my grocery shopping is done at Target. I know I can combine their coupons with manufacturer coupons. I already use their website for coupons as well as an outside website (not sure if I can name it, so won't). Obviously inserts wont be in my newspaper. Also signed up certain manufacturer websites when offering coupons on there. Are there more sources I need to pay attention to?
- store card; can't seem to register for it as it needs a US adress.
- newspaper at WDW. As I understand it, the sunday paper normally got some insert with coupons, right? Would this be the same if I bought a newspaper on sunday at WDW or not? (timing would be good, arrive saterday evening, grocery shopping is scheduled for sunday anyway)


Are there things I'm still missing? Any more pointers you guys could give me?

 

[Madison'smommy]

If you buy multiples of items, you can check ebay for coupons... not sure if that would work for you, but you are able to see if the expiration dates work for you.

 

[Marionnette]

Well, think title is pretty clear; I'm looking for some help to teach me what I don't know yet about couponing.

Let me begin by telling you guys I don't reside in the US, but do use coupons during WDW trips. Use coupons for my mall trips and for my grocery store trip. The latter is always a pretty big haul when you combine all I need for my 26 day trip diet and the "wishlist" of items to bring home for family, friends and myself. To give you an idea; that bring home alone can easily be a suitcase or more with certain drink mixes, cookies, candy/chocolate, baking products and other stuff we can't get in our country (or pay bizar prices for). So it pays to coupon.

Couple of questions I've got;

- how long out do I need to start paying attention for coupons to come out that are still usable during my trip. Is there a set amount of time most coupons tend to be valid for and thus start looking that much time ahead of my trip?
- my grocery shopping is done at Target. I know I can combine their coupons with manufacturer coupons. I already use their website for coupons as well as an outside website (not sure if I can name it, so won't). Obviously inserts wont be in my newspaper. Also signed up certain manufacturer websites when offering coupons on there. Are there more sources I need to pay attention to?
- store card; can't seem to register for it as it needs a US adress.
- newspaper at WDW. As I understand it, the sunday paper normally got some insert with coupons, right? Would this be the same if I bought a newspaper on sunday at WDW or not? (timing would be good, arrive saterday evening, grocery shopping is scheduled for sunday anyway)


Are there things I'm still missing? Any more pointers you guys could give me?

Most standard couponing advice is not going to help you. You have specific products that you want, your shopping days are limited and you have limited space to store/transport the things that you buy.

The most effective use of coupons is when you can combine them with a sale or cash back offer. You don't have the luxury of waiting around for sales.

For the most part, new products will be at their best sale price when they are introduced to the market. That is also when the best coupons will be published for them. But you may be around when new items are introduced.

It can be counterproductive to purchase multiple newspapers for just one or two usable coupons if you will not be able to use those coupons over an extended period of time (about 1-3 months). It will cost you more than you save. There are websites that sell coupon inserts and they usually list the coupons that are in the inserts. You can check them to see if it will even be worth purchasing one or more newspapers.

Printable online coupons require a printer, which you may not have access to when you are in the USA. Most of those coupons expire within a month of being printed. Sometimes they have limited availability and you have to be on top of them when they are released to get the good ones. Facebook is a great source for these.

Couponers often buy certain items just to get the store gift card or "$X off on your next order" coupons that come with the purchase. The stores know that you'll be back to spend more money with them when you have those incentives. But for someone who won't be back anytime soon (like you), it's not worth it.

Sometimes you can find a coupon that exceeds the sale price of the item you're buying. Some stores will give you the overage which you can apply to other items in your cart. Not every store does this. Some stores will adjust the coupon price down to cover just the price of the sale item. You need to know which stores will allow overage and which ones don't.

In fact, you should familiarize yourself with the store's coupon policies. For instance, Target allows you to combine a Target coupon with a manufacturer's coupon but they will only allow one of each kind of Target coupon per transaction and only 4 "like" manufacturer's coupons in one transaction. You can't walk into Target with 100 coupons for Mars candy bars and use them all at one time. You would have to check out 25 times to use them all!

 

[GigglyFigment]

I have found couponing to not be worth it to me - while I live in the U.S., I have do not have the flexibility to shop sales at a variety of stores AND my mom is on a special diet. I gave it a good try - buying multiple newspapers, etc., but when you want specialized items - i.e. not any old chocolate bar will do, it has to be snickers - then going out of your way to coupon isn't the best method.

A big part of couponing is making lists and menus and then sticking to what you've decided to purchase - and then shopping to the BRANDS you have coupons for at the store with the best deal. Successful couponing depends on flexibility.

If I were you, the only effort I'd put into it is looking at the paper and seeing if there is are coupons and/or sales for things that you already intended getting. Buy more newspapers for the coupons if there are a lot of coupons for those items. It's not worth it to spend $3 on a newspaper for just 50 cents in coupons.

I think you'd save a lot more just by broadening your options for shopping. Publix and Wal-Mart (of course) tend to have better sales and prices than Target. I hardly ever buy food products at Target near me as they tend to be higher priced than other stores.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Thanks for all of the replies, really appreciate it!

I know Target isn't the cheapest, but it's the best fit for us when you look at assortment and getting it all done in one location.

Reading your posts, I'm getting the idea I might already know more than I expected. Reckoned I might be missing more given how coupons is something that isn't on our market, but guess I learned quite a lot havign seen a few episodes of TLC's Extreme Couponing. Like Marionettes tip to be very aware of shops policy.


Obviously my time is limited and some options don't work given my location (for instance printing coupons on many websites do not work because I'm not in the US). It's not like I'm planning on huge hauls or whatever, but whatever saving I can do on stuff we need anyway is welcome.

Also once on the plane; it's vacation and that's it with regards to printing for instance. I'm fine with buying a newspaper during my vacation if having certain coupons in it I can use anyway and the savings is more than price for the paper, but it is vacation after all and not going to go overboard timewise.

Last year with this strategy of keeping an eye out at for online printable options I ended up saving a little under $75,- by using coupons and certain savings going on. Am I right in having the idea certain deals get out around the same time every year? Might be pure luck, but had some exact same deals on last trip that were also on in the exact same week on the trip 2 years prior. And as luck would have it; some of those were on stuff that is on the list anyway.

 

[psimon]

2 things you way want to consider if you do your shopping at Target:

1. Target has their own coupons. Look at the bottom of the Target page. They should be good for a week or two after you print them.

2. Target has started something new called Cartwheel.. (cartwheel.com). There you select what you want and print a single piece of paper with barcode at the top that they scan at the register for additional savings.

Hope that helps....

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[pocomom]

oh, I have a tip! By a Target gift card online for a savings of 6 percent or so! I like ABC gift cards they buy back unwanted gift cards and resell them so alot of times they are weird amounts but it is an extra few bucks of savings. with very little work for you!

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Paul, definately helps! Already knew about the coupons on their website but Cartwheel is new to me. So thanks!

Pocomom, wouldn't that require having the gidtcards shipped to a home adress? I'll look into that, though!

 

[pocomom]

Paul, definately helps! Already knew about the coupons on their website but Cartwheel is new to me. So thanks!

Pocomom, wouldn't that require having the gidtcards shipped to a home adress? I'll look into that, though!

No, some are virtual. In fact you can get .5% higher rate of savings with an e-gift card. Get a target mobile app on your phone and you won't even have to print them out.

Or you could order ahead of time which is what I was originally thinking. The abc gift card place does free shipping, not sure about international.

 

[TLuvsD]

Check a website like TotallyTarget.com or couponmom.com to see what's on sale and what coupons may apply. With your situation, it will be a little different that someone living here, but you might find some "hidden' deals.