Birthday Stress and Birthday Freebies

Birthdays are usually a time of major stress for me. It's been that way for years. At this age however (I'm 33 today), more people are feeling the same way.

Time is slipping away. I need to get more things done - like getting this website up and running, so as to help people!

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With my recent foray into couponing and saving, I'm thinking more about freebies and maximizing the dollar. Inspired by the episode of "Extreme Couponing" featuring Tai and Tarin Perry, I'm planning to pick up some freebies today.

However: I got a very late start. I was up unusually late/early, though I didn't go to Denny's (not yet, anyway).

At least this year I didn't wait until the very end of the day to look into these things, like I did during the past couple of years!

Last year on this day, current events made the anxiety level even higher than usual.

I did go to an event with my father that day, and I was very glad to be at the Revival on 5th Street that evening.

The Tent Revival is taking place this summer again. It lasts for 12 DAYS. I'm planning to be there this evening:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1426413164290568


I was wondering where to go on this day, before and after that event. I think I'm going to pick up Nico Smith right now (she participated awesomely in this Tent Revival last year, and again last night!), and head to Denny's, and then the Revival on 5th Street!

I'm not sure where else I'll go today.

Check out:
http://doublesavingdivas.com/2014/02/24/its-our-birthday-our-blogs-anniversary-today/
http://www.freebie-depot.com/birthday-freebie-list/
http://www.allyou.com/free-on-birthday
http://www.buzzfeed.com/alannaokun/free-things-you-can-get-on-your-birthday

Stopping at CVS and Firehouse Subs seems good, and Applebee's late tonight.


I'm feeling much better now, than I was a bit ago. This blog post has relieved some of the angst - and the plans I just made have done so, as well!



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Birthday Celebration - Couponing style?

It is my birthday tomorrow. Inspired by my recent foray into couponing and saving money, and by an episode from the first season of TLC's show, I'm now thinking of picking up freebies tomorrow. Or maybe even tonight - a trip to Denny's after midnight?

I was hoping to have an earlier-bedtime sleep pattern this week, for the upcoming ICRC Convention on Saturday. But that may not be necessary; I'm trying to figure this out now - and I may want to get a Marco's Pizza order in, before 11 PM CDT (so I can use a related Family Video coupon this month :-), so I'd better stop typing this.

Never go directly to the website!

 Don't throw money away; Use someone's affiliate link!

Whenever you shop online, you should almost never go directly to the website you want to use. If you do that, you're essentially throwing money away, that could be donated to a person, organization, or charity. You should always go, via someone's referral link.

That's a topic I'll discuss later on this blog.* For now however, I wanted to post my referral links, for coupon printing websites. I don't know if I'm allowed to post these to Social Media, but I can post them here. Many people print coupons, to save money at the stores. That's a key focus of this website! But when you print the coupons, don't go directly to Coupons.com or RedPlum.com. If you use someone's referral link, he/she will earn a few cents, for each coupon printed.


My Coupons.com affiliate link: http://www.coupons.com/alink.asp?go=13903xh2010&bid=1312470001

My RedPlum referral link: http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-7223408-11309496



 Red Plum

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*Above, I mentioned the issue of shopping online.  That will be discussed later, but right now, I did want to share one affiliate link.

NEVER go directly to Amazon.com. Always go to that site, via the referral link of an "Amazon Associate." The Associate will earn a referral commission for any purchase made at Amazon - but it won't affect your purchase process!

My Amazon Associates referral link is: http://amzn.to/2hYHG8v

I've created a shortcut url, to that same link. I don't think we're allowed to post those here, though.  But just use the link above.



Please use that link - or use someone else's! - whenever you shop at Amazon.com.

If you go directly to these websites, it's like throwing money away.

Breaking through the Log Jam: Thanks for the help!

I've once again been mired in unproductivity... The fact that both of my new blogs have been stalled is sad.

However: The recent local couponing club that I found (thanks so much to Janna and the ladies for organizing this!), along with the Focus on the Family program playing right now* on WLUJ Moody Radio, should provide the boost that I need, to jump-start this site. It has the potential to become big.

And I need something to jump-start my other "new" weblog as well. The opening of the 9/11 Memorial Museum yesterday should be a motivator.

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We prayed about this productivity problem last evening, after the House of Prayer service. I do expect to get things 'off the ground' soon!

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* The Focus on the Family radio program now playing on WLUJ Moody Radio is a show featuring Crystal Paine of Money Saving Mom. The opening of the show reminded me I need to add a new "Coupon Database" on this site; the prior one shut down. I also need to add Money Saving Mom to the blogroll here!

Check out Crystal's book... From what they said on the show, it's like having a "cheerleader" with you, as you save money!




Please purchase Crystal's book, via my Amazon Associates link!

Layer 2.5 - Tearpads

HOW TO DO IT: The layout of LAYERS

As discussed below, the key to shopping for free (or for very little, or sometimes less than free!) is stacking LAYERS of savings, atop each other.  I'll try not to make this too complicated (which can sometimes be a challenge for me :-)... I've realized it will require a separate blog entry for each Layer, however. 

And for some of this, it'll require a separate post for each "sub-Layer," too. I hope you find this easy to follow.

Stack of Savings Stuff:
LAYER #1: Weekly Store Sales
LAYER #2: Manufacturer's Coupons
- LAYER #2.1: Printable internet coupons
- LAYER #2.2: Newspaper coupons
- LAYER #2.3: Catalina Register Printout Coupons
- LAYER #2.4: Blinkies 

LAYER #2.5 ~ Tearpads

Like with Blinkies, also keep an eye out for those pads (not tear pads, but tearpads :-) in your store, on which you can tear away paper coupons. These sometimes have later expiration dates (though not necessarily).

My Coupon Database should include tearpad coupons, that are currently out.  And here is a helpful list of current tearpad coupons.

Layer 2.4 - Blinkies!

HOW TO DO IT: The layout of LAYERS

As discussed below, the key to shopping for free (or for very little, or sometimes less than free!) is stacking LAYERS of savings, atop each other.  I'll try not to make this too complicated (which can sometimes be a challenge for me :-)... I've realized it will require a separate blog entry for each Layer, however. 

And for some of this, it'll require a separate post for each "sub-Layer," too. I hope you find this easy to follow.

Stack of Savings Stuff:
LAYER #1: Weekly Store Sales
LAYER #2: Manufacturer's Coupons
- LAYER #2.1: Printable internet coupons
- LAYER #2.2: Newspaper coupons
- LAYER #2.3: Catalina Register Printout Coupons

LAYER #2.4 ~ Blinkies

Pay attention to those machines you see, in the store aisle, which dispense coupons. Though hard to see, they can end up being useful.

Later on, I'm going to cover an exciting "Challenge" that I came across, where a guy tried to eat well for a month, while spending only $30 total on food (an average of a dollar/day). Blinkies came in helpful. (Was he able to eat well on $1.00/day? We'll see.)

The coupons from Blinkies also probably last longer (re: their expiration dates) than the printables.

My Coupon Database should include Blinkies. Here is another site with a good list of some of the current Blinkie coupons.

Layer 2.3 - Catalina Register Coupon Printouts

HOW TO DO IT: The layout of LAYERS

As discussed below, the key to shopping for free (or for very little, or sometimes less than free!) is stacking LAYERS of savings, atop each other.  I'll try not to make this too complicated (which can sometimes be a challenge for me :-)... I've realized it will require a separate blog entry for each Layer, however. 

And for some of this, it'll require a separate post for each "sub-Layer," too. I hope you find this easy to follow.

Stack of Savings Stuff:
LAYER #1: Weekly Store Sales
LAYER #2: Manufacturer's Coupons
- LAYER #2.1: Printable internet coupons
- LAYER #2.2: Newspaper coupons

LAYER #2.3 ~ Catalina Register Printout Coupons

There is another type of "Catalina," which we'll discuss later. (It can be another layer.) But right now, we're talking about those (random?) coupons that print out at your register along with your receipt, which are coupons for certain specific products. They may be somewhat-random, but they were triggered by your purchase of that same (or similar?) product. Many people just throw these away - but they can end up being handy!

COMMON MISTAKE #2: Throwing away or ignoring the cash-register coupon printouts.


COMMON MISTAKE #3: Thinking those are store coupons, because they say "Redeem at [Store Name: Meijer, Walgreens, etc.]" on their right side.

These are actually Manufacturer Coupons, as they should say on their top. Most stores will officially* accept these, regardless of what store's logo is printed under "Redeem at" on their right side. (CVS is a notable exception; their coupon policy rejects Catalinas with another store's logo.)

*Although most stores have the official policy to accept clearly-marked Manufacturer Coupons, even though they say "Redeem at... [another store's logo]" - some of the cashiers aren't aware of that policy.

It's a good idea to carry each store's coupon policy with you, in your coupon envelope (which we'll discuss later! :-)... though you might also be able to pull it up on your smartphone, when needed.


IMPORTANT NOTE #3: If the store cashier wrongfully rejects a coupon, or if you forget to use a coupon at checkout, you can take your coupon to Customer Service afterwards (within a certain number of days), and most stores will retroactively apply the coupon. I wasn't aware of this, when I started couponing!

In this 'sport,' it can be frustrating when you've realized you forgot to use a coupon. Most stores will retroactively apply Manufacturer Coupons (either in cash or on your credit card), if you go to Customer Service within a certain number of days after your purchase. (For Target, it's two days; For Meijer, it's six.)

Layer 2.2. - Newspaper Coupons

HOW TO DO IT: The layout of LAYERS

As discussed below, the key to shopping for free (or for very little, or sometimes less than free!) is stacking LAYERS of savings, atop each other.  I'll try not to make this too complicated (which can sometimes be a challenge for me :-)... I've realized it will require a separate blog entry for each Layer, however. 

And for some of this, it'll require a separate post for each "sub-Layer," too. I hope you find this easy to follow.

Stack of Savings Stuff:
LAYER #1: Weekly Store Sales
LAYER #2: Manufacturer's Coupons
- LAYER #2.1: Printable internet coupons

LAYER #2.2 ~ Newspaper Coupons

Your local Sunday newspaper will have some of its own, unique coupons.  (It will also contain a collection of store Weekly Circulars - discussed in Layer #1.)  There are, however, certain Coupon Inserts that appear in most newspapers throughout the country (with regional variations).

The RedPlum (RP) Insert
The SmartSource (SS) Insert
The P&G Saver (PG) Insert

If it seems that these include the same names you just saw, they are!

IMPORTANT NOTE #1: Which of these inserts will appear in the Sunday newspaper will change, from week to week!  Also: There are differences between regions and localities.

COMMON MISTAKE #1: Thinking that every Sunday newspaper is going to carry RedPlum and SmartSource inserts.

Here is a 2014 schedule listing what inserts are expected to appear, on what dates.  And each week, you can get a preview of the coming inserts (with the specific brand coupons that are expected), through this site.

And one more note: Insofar as Couponing Lingo, when you see "RP" and "SS" and "PG" (mentioned above), that's the abbreviation that represents the respective insert.


IMPORTANT NOTE #2: When listing a Coupon, websites will typically list the:
- Dollar amount the coupon deducts
- The Product Name
- Expiration date ("exp. x/xx/14")
- The Abbreviation for the Insert (typically "RP" or "SS" or "PG"), with the date of the Sunday newspaper in which it came

For example:
The coupon that appeared in the February 2, 2014 SmartSource newspaper insert, and which expires on March 29th, and which is for $0.50 off, when you buy ("wyb") eight Yoplait Yogurt Cups... would be denoted as:

$0.50/8 Yoplait Yogurt Cups, exp. 3/29/14 (SS 02/02/14)


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Please use my Amazon.com referral link, whenever you visit Amazon.com. (Or use someone else's; Never go directly to Amazon.com's site! :-)

Layer 2.1 - Printable Internet Coupons

HOW TO DO IT: The layout of LAYERS

As discussed below, the key to shopping for free (or for very little, or sometimes less than free!) is stacking Layers of savings, atop each other.  I'll try not to make this too complicated (which can sometimes be a challenge for me :-)... I've realized it will require a separate blog entry for each Layer, however.

And for some, a separate entry for each "sub-Layer"! I hope you're able to follow well; the template/formatting of this site might need some tweaking.

Stack of Savings Stuff:
LAYER #1: Weekly Store Sales
LAYER #2: Manufacturer's Coupons

LAYER #2.1 ~ Printable Internet Coupons

You may think that stores are reluctant to accept Printed Internet Coupons, because of potential fraud.  This info is out of date!

With a couple of exceptions, all major stores DO accept coupons printed from certain websites.  To protect against fraud, you're required to install a printer app (for each of these websites) on your computer; these installations are safe and harmless.  Each printed Coupon will contain a unique bar code, for your use.

The following are the major websites from which you can print reliable coupons, for use at the store.  You will need to install each website's printer app; As mentioned above, that's a quick and painless process.

Please use my specific referral links (below, or in the left sidebar), when printing your coupons from these major sites - It doesn't affect your Coupon, but I will earn referral credit for each one printed.

- Coupons.com
This is the gold standard of reliable internet coupon sites.  (I actually print Coupons.com coupons through Swagbucks, to optimize my earnings - but Swagbucks is a topic for another time/blog entry!)

- RedPlum

- SmartSource

- Campbell's Kitchen  (contains v8 coupons, too)

- Post-It Coupons  (contains 3M product coupons) - currently empty

- The Coupon Book - currently empty

- Direct-Linked Coupons
Some manufacturers don't want their coupons listed in the general collection of coupons, on those sites.  They still use those sites to serve up their coupon(s), but direct link them - either from their company website, their company Facebook Page, or perhaps from an e-mail/newsletter that they send out.

When Coupons.com is used for this, it's called "Bricks" [http://bricks.coupons.com...]. Here is a solid list of Bricks Coupons; those links will take you to the company website or FB Page, from which you can obtain the coupon link.


The most comprehensive listing of Printable Coupons (including the Direct-Linked ones) is provided by Krazy Coupon Lady:
http://thekrazycouponlady.com/print-coupons

Rachel E. Holland also provides a regular Round-Up of printable coupons.

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A special note:



Please use my Amazon.com referral link, whenever you visit Amazon.com. (Or use someone else's; Never go directly to Amazon.com's site! :-)

Layer 2: Manufacturer's Coupons

HOW TO DO IT: The layout of LAYERS

As discussed below, the key to shopping for free (or very little, or sometimes less than free!) is stacking Layers of savings, atop each other.  I'll try not to make this too complicated (which can sometimes be a challenge for me, though other times not :-)... I've realized it will require a separate blog entry for each Layer, however.

Stack of Savings Stuff:
LAYER #1: Weekly Store Sales

LAYER #2: Manufacturer's Coupons

With a couple of exceptions, all stores accept Manufacturer's Coupons.  Each store's Coupon Policy varies a bit, and the staff aren't always aware of their Store's official Policy.

Where to obtain Manufacturer's Coupons?


...LAYER #2.1, coming next!


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A special note:



Please use my Amazon.com referral link, whenever you visit Amazon.com. (Or use someone else's; Never go directly to Amazon.com's site! :-)

Layer 1: The Weekly Store Sales

HOW TO DO IT: The layout of LAYERS

As discussed below, the key to shopping for free (or very little, or sometimes less than free!) is stacking Layers of savings, atop each other.  I'll try not to make this too complicated (which can sometimes be a challenge for me, though other times not :-)... I've realized it will require a separate blog entry for each Layer, however.

LAYER #1: The weekly store sale.

Every week, every store has items that are marked down.  The Weekly Ad (also known as Weekly Circular) is the guide to this.  Almost all stores make their Weekly Ad available online. Most stores have their Ad Week as Sunday through Saturday.  However: At least two of my local stores (Schnucks, and now County Market as well) run their Ad Week from Wednesday through Tuesday.

Also: Many Walgreens stores actually start their week's sales 1-2 days early; this can lead to the 'Saturday night loophole' which can sometimes be exploited for freebies - We'll discuss that later.

Weekly Circulars:  Target || Meijer || Dollar General || Dollar Tree || Family Dollar || Walgreens || CVS || Schnucks || County Market || Shop 'n Save || Kroger || Kmart || Walmart ||

How To Begin

One of my longtime problems has been deciding the right way to get started. I sometimes end up delaying making any decision at all, due to this!

I was unsure how to begin explaining how to begin this saving/couponing process.  But I'm just going to go for it:

The key to shopping for free/little is to STACK LAYERS of savings methods, on top of each other.

Here is an overview:

LAYER #1: The weekly store sale.

Every week, every store has items that are marked down.  The Weekly Ad (also known as Weekly Circular) is the guide to this.  Almost all stores make their Weekly Ad available online. Most stores have their Ad Week as Sunday through Saturday.  However: At least two of my local stores (Schnucks, and now County Market as well) run their Ad Week from Wednesday through Tuesday.

Also: Many Walgreens stores actually start their week's sales 1-2 days early; this can lead to the 'Saturday night loophole' which can sometimes be exploited for freebies - We'll discuss that later.

Weekly Circulars: Target || Meijer || Dollar General || Dollar Tree || Family Dollar || Walgreens || CVS || Schnucks || County Market || Shop 'n Save || Kroger || Kmart || Walmart ||

LAYER #2: Manufacturer's Coupons

With a couple of exceptions, all stores accept Manufacturer Coupons.  Each store's Coupon Policy varies a bit, and the staff aren't always aware of their Store's official Policy.


There are several key points to make about Manufacturer's Coupons.  I think I will have to separate this "Layer" layout into separate blog entries, after all.



...

Merry CHRISTmas!

In looking back, I see I was "still behind on things" in prior years, as well.

I am making progress this time though, and expect to have things underway soon.  2013 was already a year of major progress, in several vital areas!!


I wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Merry Christmas!

Yes, today. In response to some angst I expressed at my original blog, years ago (wow; It's now been 10 years?!)... the lovely Adrianne Truett informed me that Christmas actually lasts up through tonight!

So, Merry Christmas to you and yours!



(Due to the #snowpocalypse, we may need to extend Christmas for a few more days, as well!)