While we are waiting for me to upload all my changes to this blog I will post this great contest I found.

Enter and you just might win!!!!!


Tungsten Wedding Bands

a beginning....

I am going to cover a lot of information in a short time frame. I am hoping to get through it all. If I fail to do so it will be posted on my blog (which is listed on one of the sheets of the handouts)

I have been couponing since I was a little girl. My mother wasn’t capable of doing it and we were POOR. We needed to save as much as we could. Then I would save little bits but those little bits added up. Now I save even more, sometimes even as much as 120% off. I know that sounds a bit odd…. How can I save more than the cost of the item? I will show you.

Clipping and using one coupon of 50cents of $1 may not seem like a whole lot of money...but when you use 20 of those coupons and the item is on sale your total savings may be greater than you imagine.

Couponing and saving money can be simple. Yes, I won’t lie to become a SUPER saver it takes a little more time and a bit more initial time investment.

Yes, couponing can pay you big dollars for you time, possibly saving hundreds of dollars each month or amounting to THOUSANDS per year.

To print coupons to use at the grocery store there are numerous websites to go to:

 www.coupons.com
 www.couponsinc.com/corp/source/cp_clientlist.asp
 www.couponsurfer.com
 www.redplum.com
 www.supersavers.com
 Many manufacturer websites

Many sites are forum based where individuals will post information for others, a sharing of knowledge, deals and great buys that are found across the country.

 www.HotCouponWorld.com
 www.afullcup.com
 www.savvydollar.org (this one is a NC only forum – great to get more localized information)

There are many blogs with a wealth of information to assist in saving money:
 www.southernsavers.com
 www.abundantfoodsavings.com
 www.becentsable.net
 www.iheartcvs.com (only discusses deals at CVS, has the ads for the next month, and even lets you know what coupons to use and how to best save money)
 www.grocerysavingtips.com
 Happycouponing.blogspot.com
 www.couponmom.com – you do HAVE to sign up to see the deals BUT: it is free (be sure just to skip the offers – these offers are how the site are able to generate cash inflow into their site – they get paid for those who don't skip them)
 My blog is in the works and is in a very rough state right now, however most all the information given tonight is/will be posted there. It will be a centralized place to go for information on specials/freebies etc.
www.Savings2share.blogspot.com Please leave a comment or send an email to me at savings2share@yahoo.com and I will let you know when it is in full swing.

Online there are many terms as well as abbreviations or acronyms used (like the military or texting). Below are just a few (that pertain to couponing/coupons).

Insert Abbreviations



GM: General Mills
K: Kellogg's
PG: Proctor & Gamble
RP (or V): Red Plum (Valassis)
SS: Smart Source



$1/1: $1 off of one item (you’ll see lots of others, like $2/2, or $1.50/4, etc.)
2/$2: two items for $2, or in other words, you can get one for $1 – some stores require that you buy two (Rite Aid), but most stores will let you get just one at half price (you’ll also see others, like 2/$4, 3/$5, etc.)
BOGO/B1G1
Buy one, get one free. There are also B2G1 coupons that require you to buy two products to get the third free.
blinkies: those coupons that are sticking out of the little red boxes on the shelves at the grocery store
brick: I dunno, some weird slang term for "printable coupon" - this one makes no sense to me, LOL!
BOGO: buy one get one
CAT or cat: catalina a coupon that prints out at the cash register along with your receipt, usually valid only at the store it was received
CC: Competitors' coupon
CNP: coupon near product
CRT: customer receipt tape (coupons that are printed directly below your receipt - you'll miss them if you don't pay attention to them, and they often have expiration dates.
DND: do not double
ECB or EB: extra care bucks at CVS – they print out on your receipt after you make a purchase
ES: Easy Saver rebate at Walgreens (a mail-in/online rebate program)
ESC: Easy Saver Catalog at Walgreens (a coupon and mail-in rebate offers catalog)
EVIC: E-VIC is Harris Teeter's email/internet promotions which are only valid for those who are signed up for their E-VIC email list.
EQ: e-coupon (coupons received by email, or online printable coupons)
FLIP: Food Lion Internet Printable
FAR: free after rebate
FR: Fresh Rewards at Lowes Foods
FRC: Fresh Rewards Cash at Lowes Foods - they print out on your register receipt after making a qualifying purchase, and can be used just like cash, for an amount off of your next purchase
GC: gift card
Hangtag: a coupon on a tag that hangs or is attached directly to an item
IP or IPQ: internet printable coupon
IVC or IVQ: instant value coupon in Walgreens Easy Saver booklet
MC or MQ: manufacturer’s coupon
MFR: manufacturer
MIR: mail-in rebate
MM: money-maker (means that the value of coupons exceeds the cost of the product, in other words, you actually make money on the deal)
OOP: out-of-pocket
OOS: out of stock
OYNO: on your next order
PG: Proctor & Gamble coupon insert from the Sunday paper
peelie: a coupon stuck to an item that you can peel off and use right away
PSA: prices starting at
q or Q: coupon
raincheck or RC: a voucher to allow you to purchase an iten at its sale price if there are no longer any of those items left in the store. They are written and signed by a manager or assistant manager. (also see my article about rainchecks here)
RA: Rite Aid
RR: register rewards at Walgreens – they print out on your receipt after you make a purchase
SC: store coupon
SCR: check rebate at Rite Aid (a mail-in/online rebate program)
stacking: using a manufacturer's coupon on top of a store-specific coupon or mail-in rebate on one item
stockpile: building up a store of frequently used products buy buying several of them with coupons while they're on sale. Good stockpiling practices are to estimate the amount that you'll need and will actually use before the products expire, or else you plan to donate your extras to charity organizations.
tear pad: a pad of manufacturer’s coupons found near an item, usually on a special store display
WAG/WAGS: Walgreens
WYB: when you buy

Wake Forest Elementary School PTA Gathering

Last night went well. I really enjoyed myself and hope that I taught some new things. Really, I just hope that I conveyed everything that I could about couponing in such a short time.

I realize there is far more to couponing but in such a short time getting through everything is well.... difficult. *smile*

I am adding lots of information to this blog and will be here before the end of the weekend.

As well as coupon information I will post different sites where you can either take survey's for cash/prizes/Gift Cards as well as some of the reputable Secret Shopper sites that have been "proven" to be worth your time and energy.

Please have patience with me as I get this going. I do want it to be awesome for ALL of us.

The only thing I ask is that you don't call me out on my bad grammar skills. *smile*. I can spell well *giggle*, does that make up for the grammar?

Look forward to more.
Monika

A background and a banner....

I am amazed I was able to figure out how to add a custom (or semi custom since it isn't just "mine") background.

I am hours away from giving my first real, but short and abbreviated class on how to save with coupons. I am soooooo excited and fearful I will forget something. I know that I will direct the people that come to the class here, but well, what if forgetting makes them doubt it is possible? I know it is and many frugal bloggers out there do to... but will I convey that well enough for them to have faith in it? Gosh I hope so.

Anyway.... More "basic" information is coming and so too will be tabs and formatting of this blog in a easy to navigate manner. (hopefully anyway).

Please let me know if I need to change anything, add anything or if you want to "create" a beautiful blog for me.... *smile*.

Off to type some of the basics out, create my bullet points for tonight (so I don't forget anything) and then do some speedcleaning of the house too. Wow, lots to do huh. Oh almost forgot I need to gather the things I will be raffling off tonight too. (*some great lil treats*) Wonder what give-a-way I should have for my blog launching? Any ideas? Of course nothing huge I am a poor single unemployed mom to four. *giggle*

Hope your day is great.

My goals, ideas and what will be......

Right now this blog doesn't look like much, have much content or even have perfectly composed posts --- but, it will be making amazing transformations over the next few months. I plan that this will be a place where you can visit to find great information or be pointed to various blogs of others where great deals can be found.

I won't do match-ups of coupons to sales since there are so many who already do that and well.... they do it so well that we can just go there for that.

Ideally, this site will be where you can come to find deals that are for the Wake Forest/Raleigh area.

I welcome any and all input, deals found, specials in local businesses or anything you think would fit in with this blog.

At some point I will begin a cheap meal recipe share -- helping further our savings when we can make healthy meals for low cost. I would love for recipes to be shared from you as well.

The total goal for me and this blog is to help you save as much as you can, so that with those savings you are able to better help your family as well as others. Each week there are numerous things that can be picked up for little to no money keep what is needed for your family and share the rest with others. Get a box, stash it in a corner of a closet and start filling it, when it is full you can drop of at numerous great organizations in our area -- women's shelter, homeless shelter, Dubois Center (which helps local residents and has a food bank), Faith Baptist Church (in Youngsville -- they have a closet shop and food bank) and that is just the short list. At some point I will compile a listing with all information of all area organizations in need of donations.

Well, I have rambled long enough and I have to get the information ready for the basics Couponing 101 class at Wake Forest Elementary.

Savings for you.

Two Scenario's for "Stacking" Coupons

There following are just some quick examples of how to expand your ability to use a coupon.
Some stores create coupons which are to be used ONLY at their stores. Food Lion, Walgreens, Target and now even CVS are doing this. This is awesome for couponers for one reason – you can “stack” coupons!!! Stacking coupons is the using of two coupons on one item, or that you can use one store coupon and one manufacturer’s coupon together.
Assume that you have a Target coupon on Goldfish for 75cents off, and you have a manufacturer’s coupon for 50cents off – you can use both coupons for one package of Goldfish.
Assuming the Goldfish cost $1.54 it calculates as follows:
1.54-.75= .79-.50 = 29 cents for one package of Goldfish !!! Great deal huh!!
A few months ago I was able to get several boxes of 100calorie packs from Nabisco for 4cents a box using the stacking method at Target.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is another way you can “stack” coupons, it involves the Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupons (B1G1).
Assuming you have a B1G1 free coupon for an item, and you have another coupon for $/1 off that same item you can use both of these coupons.
The B1G1 is for the free item and the $/1 off coupon is for the one you have to buy to get the free one.
For example recently there were B1G1 coupons for Oust in the Sunday paper, and there was a $2 off coupon found at Coupons.com both are for Oust Sanitizing Air Spray.
Buy 2 of these, use both coupons and get a really great buy.
Assuming the Oust Spray cost #2.99 it calculates as follows:
2 cans @ 2.99 = 5.98
5.98-2.99= 2.99-2.00= 99cents for 2 Oust Sanitizing Spray !! another great deal
This deal also works the same if you have a Buy one item get one of another item free, you can use that coupon as well as a coupon for the item you need to buy for a really great deal.

swagbucks is fun

Buying the Sunday paper.....

Wow, I posted the Sunday Coupon schedule and totally forgot to bring up the "Where to buy" question.

There are many options on getting the Sunday paper, delivery, stores, curbside machine, neighbors front yard... oops scratch that last one it isn't the best way to stay on good terms with the neighbors.

Anyway, delivery is great and you get the paper without having to leave the house -- they often run deals if you prepay for a certain length of time. Currently (2/4/10) the News & Observer is charging more for Sunday only delivery than it would cost to grab one at the store!!!!

There is one great place to get the paper -- Walgreens, yup Walgreens. They charge $1.50 for the Sunday paper instead of the $2 price. This is a great way to be able to get 2 papers and already be saving money.

I am working on getting a deal set up with N&O, its worth trying for anyway.

The Sunday paper is the quickest way to get the most coupons possible.

Below is the 2010 Sunday Coupon Insert Schedule -

Coupons are in each week EXCEPT holiday weekends.

February
2/7: Smart Source
2/14: No Inserts << Edit: There will be one Red Plum insert this weekend
2/21: Smart Source & General Mills & Procter and Gamble
2/28: Smart Source & Red Plum

March
3/7: Smart Source, Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
3/14: Smart Source& Red Plum
3/21: Smart Source& Red Plum
3/28:2 Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble

April
4/4: No Inserts
4/11: Smart Source & Red Plum
4/18: Smart Source & Red Plum
4/25: Smart Source & Red Plum

May
5/2: Smart Source & Red Plum & P&G
5/9: Smart Source & Red Plum
5/16: 2 Smart Source & Red Plum
5/23: Smart Source & Red Plum
5/30: No Inserts

June
6/6: Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
6/13: Smart Source
6/20: Smart Source & Red Plum
6/27: Smart Source & Red Plum

July
7/4: No Inserts
7/11: Smart Source & Red Plum
7/18: Smart Source
7/25: Smart Source & Red Plum

August
8/1: Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
8/8: Smart Source & Red Plum
8/15: Smart Source & Red Plum
8/22: Smart Source & Red Plum
8/29: Smart Source & Red Plum & P&G Insert

September
9/5: No Inserts
9/12: Smart Source & 2 Red Plum
9/19: Smart Source & Red Plum
9/26: Smart Source & Red Plum

October
10/3: Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
10/10: Smart Source & Red Plum
10/17: Smart Source & Red Plum
10/24: Smart Source & Red Plum
10/31: Smart Source & Red Plum

November
11/7: Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
11/14: Smart Source & Red Plum
11/21: Smart Source & Red Plum
11/28: No Inserts

December
12/5: Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
12/12: Smart Source & Red Plum
12/19: No Inserts
12/26: No Inserts

Each week I will *try* to post a peek at the upcoming coupons. I find them announced all over the web, the list is great BUT there are variations depending on newspaper bought.

This blog is just the beginning of a really great venture for me. My goals and wishes will be a dream come true if they come to fruition. My love for saving and my desire to help others mesh together perfectly. Having it become something larger each day is ... well.... humbling.

Over the past few years I have opened up my mind, life and family up to guidance that had never been there before. With that guidance came a renewed "faith" in myself. Now I aim to become all that God has enabled me to be.

To go backwards and start from when I began couponing is funny. I started when I was about 7 or 8 years old. Yes, that long ago! My mom was divorced and money got tighter, I found that coupons was a great way to still get great food that she wouldn't have been able to afford without them. Over the years I have come and gone from couponing not out of lack of wanting to save but lack of time and energy to do it.

I won't lie to you and tell you that couponing is always simple. For the most part it is but, really it is something that does require some effort, especially in the beginning, once your rolling the whole process becomes easier.

My goal with this blog is to "combine" together information from the many websites as they apply to the triangle area/Wake Forest stores. I may from time to time just direct you to another website or have the information here. I am trying to make it easier for everyone to get deals information in one spot rather than having to go searching for them among many websites. I know that time searching lessens the value of our savings.

A little bit about me, I am a single mom with four beautiful daughters ages 16. 7 1/2, and twins that are nearly 5. I love saving money and getting free things. Walking out of a store with many bags and paying pennies is awesome and give me a great "high". My kids and I love to share the savings with everyone we can -- and now you too.

Now to get down to writing some informational posts and gathering the websites that I love to go to and putting them together in one spot.

Savings 2 Share -- Can't wait until you begin to share your savings with someone else.