It’s been a while since I’ve featured a Beginners Tip! Before you continue reading, you should know that I’m not the know all of everything coupons, and I take a low-key approach to my couponing method. I try to get the max benefit for the least amount of time and effort. It’s not for everyone, but it works for my busy lifestyle.

The topic of this tip: Creating a Stock Pile, how much to buy and when to buy it.

Most coupon blogs you read will tell you that sales cycle about every 3 months (or less in the south). In other words, if  your favorite laundry detergent is on sale for $.99 this week, your likely to see a similar sale on the same product in about 3 months (up to 6). So is this true? Sometimes! I’m not an extreme veteran, I’ve been couponing for few years and I’m not 100% convinced of this general rule. For example, I purchased Cascade Action Packs for under $.25/bag  over 2 years ago at Albertsons and haven’t seen it that cheap (locally) since  (I wish I had bought more!). Products may cycle in sales every 3 months, and the release of coupons tend to follow suit, but there is no surety that both will happen at the same time and combine with a separate, outside deal (such as a Catalina promotion). It is usually a combination of these three events that produce an actual rock bottom price. When new products are released, manufacturers generally release higher value coupons, that occasionally drop in value as the product becomes more popular. This is not always the case, but it does happen. Another exception to the 3 month rule is applies to some products, such as toothpaste, that go on sale much more frequently. You can always count on a free or cheap price for toothpaste, probably every 2 or 3 weeks at most. So what’s my point? Well, it is true that a majority of products cycle through sales every 3 or so months (cereal is a classic and reliable example), but it’s not always the case and you can’t always count on it.

So how much should you buy? Personally, I like to be prepared. I like to have a reasonable supply of food and non-food essentials in my house at all times in case of an emergency. It’s a crazy world out there! If something horrible happened and my husband lost is job or a medical emergency sucked our savings dry, I like knowing I could live on my food supply with little supplemental costs This means a year supply of the basics and a 3 month supply of more perishable foods. Like most of you, I want to buy at the lowest price possible. If I find fabric softener for $.25 (or free), that I normally see for $.99 you better believe I’m going to pre-order and fill up my year supply. If I can’t get my hands on 24 bottles, or I can’t pre-order, I’ll settle for less, but a year supply would be my goal. If the price is $.99, a good price but not rock bottom, I might buy a few months worth, just in case.

Buying a years worth during one sale saves me time! I don’t have to worry about restocking every 3 months. I can take a break from the stores if I choose. I can relax knowing our expenses would be minimal if something tragic does happen.

You don’t have to do this in one day! Stock up on one item a week, or one item a month. You will not always be able to buy a years worth during one sale, especially with more and more couponers shopping the stores, but you can build to a year over a period of a few months. The real point is, if it’s a rock bottom price on an essential, I buy up to a year supply, if possible. On a side note, if you can’t pre-order, do be considerate of other shoppers. I don’t endorse buying 40 like items if there are only 41 on the shelf .

*Not all products are essentials. Milano Melts are not in my year supply, but I do enjoy a bag or two at a good price. That is the beauty of using coupons. It’s not all about stocking up!

What do I consider essentials and what are my “good enough to buy a few months” prices?

Hygiene products

• Toilet paper – under $.25 per roll
• Deodorant – free, or $.50 or less if I love the brand
• Hair Care, Body Wash – free, or $.50 or less if I love the brand
• toothpaste, Toothbrush, Floss - free
• Razors – under $1 for Gillette Proglide, free for any other razor
• Feminine Hygiene – pads and liners  free, tampons $2ish for a 40 ct box Tampax

Household

• General Cleaners/Bathroom Cleaner - under $1 for green, $.50 for anything else
• Laundry Detergent – $.99 – $.50
• Liquid Dish Detergent – $.25 or less
• Automatic Dish Detergent – $1 for average size pack
• Paper Towels – $.50 per roll

Baby/Kids

• Diapers – $3 for a Jumbo Pack
• Wipes – under $.02 per wipe
• Baby shampoo/wash/hair – $.50 or less
• Desitin – under $1 per 4 oz tube

Food – Food prices seems to vary more by region and there is much of it! here are a few common items, leave a comment if you have more if you want to know a specific product.

• Cereal – $1 if I love the cereal, $.75 – $.50 for anything else
• Butter – $2 or less per pound
• Granola bars – $.70 or less per box
• Cheese – $2/lb
• Oatmeal – $.50 for canister or box of single serves
• Pasta – $.50 – free
• Pasta Sauce – $1 or less (depending on brand)
• Canned Veggies – $.33 (Fred Meyer!)
• Canned fruit – $.50 or less

Any price less than in these examples, is a year supply stock up price for me!

Have you ever wondered why some coupons beep, some don’t, what products are really included in the vague wording, why some coupons take off different values than printed on the coupon? Well, it’s all in the code - the barcode that is! Here is your guide to understanding the coupons you are using – just in case you wanted to know!

I’ve taken a bar code from a currently available PDF coupon. I’ve blacked out the actual barcode for copying purposes. This should help you visualize what I am referring to.

1.) The fist number you find on the barcode will generally be a 5 or a 9. This number tells the register if it can double the coupon. This will only apply to you if you are using the coupon at a store that has a policy to automatically double a coupon. This will not apply to Albertsons double coupons that are released in the ads. If this number is a 5, the register will double the coupon according to the store’s policy. If the number is a, 9 the register will not double the coupon. See? This is easy, right?!

2.) The next set of numbers (5 of them) refer to the Manufacturer Code. These numbers should match the numbers found on the barcode on the product (same spot).  This a general number that usually matches up with an entire brand or product line. It’s usually not specific to one variety/flavor of the product.

3.) This set of 3 numbers is the Family or Product Code. This is where coupons become more of less specific on the products included. The language on the coupon is the intended use of the coupon! Please use this information responsibly. Here are a  few special family codes to be aware of:

• 000 -  This coupon will not beep on any product if the Manufacturer code matches
• XX0 - Any code with 1 zero at the end means the coupon can be used for more than one variety/flavor of the product
• X00 - Any code with 2 zeros a the end can be used for more than one product in the brand line
• 992 - The coupon will either beep every time, or never beep on any product, regardless of your purchase. Because the item does not have to be purchased for the coupon to be redeemed, most retailers have programmed their registers to beep every time a 992 code is used. This prevent fraud and encourages the cashiers to verify the product is bought. There used to be mass amount of coupon fraud with people trying to use these coupons without purchasing the product.

4.) This set of 2 numbers refers to the value of the coupon. It tells the register how many products need to be bought and how much to deduct. I’ve only posted some of the most common amounts. To see a full list of code amounts, go HERE.

00 – Manual Input (from cashier)
01 – Free item (manual input usually required)
02 – B4G1 Free
07 B3 – $1.50
08 B2 – $3
10 – $.10
13 B4 – $1
14 – B1G1 Free (this tags to both products, so if you try to use another $ off with it – it will beep)
16 – B2G1 Free
20 – $.20
21 - $.34
22 – $.40
23 – $.45
24 – $.50
25 – $.25
28 B2 – $.55
30 – $.30
31 B2 – $.60
32 B2 – $.75
34 B2 – $1.25
41 B3 – $.50
42 B3 – $1
75 – $1
78 – $1.50
82 – $2.00
84 – $2.50

- The second bar code has to deal with the expiration date – I think. From my limited understanding, most registers aren’t programmed to read this code so it’s not really that relevant to us couponers. The expiration date is pretty straight forward anyway:).

I think that sums it up. I’m not a coding specialist or claim to know everything about codes, this is just the general info that I do know. I’m sure there are exceptions and other rules or factors involved. If anyone has anything to share – I would love to hear from you!! Leave a comment!

Thanks Slick Deals and more specifically mahgobbi for sharing the code values!

One of the most confusing and controversial topics in the world of couponing is the discussion of Buy One Get One Free coupons and sales. How do they work with other $ off coupons. Can you use BOGO coupons on BOGO sales? Can you use 2 BOGO coupons to get 2 free products? There are differing opinions out there but I’ll share with you mine (of course I think mine are the right ones ).

Q.) Can you use a $ Off coupon WITH a BOGO Coupon?

A.) This answer gets complicates . BOGO coupons generally attach to one product, the product you’re getting for free. The other product you are technically “buying” so you can use a coupon on that product. The general rules of couponing apply. Use 1 manufacturer coupon per item. You CAN NOT buy 2 items and use a $1/2 coupon AND a BOGO coupon. Even though your only using 2 coupons, they will be attaching to 3 products, meaning your double dipping on 1 of the products. If you wanted to use a $1/2 Coupon, you would need to “buy” 2 items that weren’t already tagged to a BOGO coupon. You would want to purchase 4 items, use (1) $1/2 and use (2) BOGO coupons. Each product only is tagged by one coupon.

*EXCEPTIONS: There are always exceptions to the rule . Some BOGO coupons are coded differently than others. An average bar code on a coupon consists of 5 groups of numbers : 1-22222-333-44-5. If by chance the number in the “44” range of a BOGO coupon is a 14, then you will not be able to use an additional $ off coupon with the BOGO coupon. BOGO coupons coded with a 14 tag to 2 items and will beep if an additional manufacturer coupon is used. If a coupon is coded with a 01, then you can use and additional manufacturer coupon (using the rules above) with no problems.

Q.) Can you use 2 BOGO coupons to get 2 items for free?

A.) My opinion? No! Regardless of coding or beeping, I don’t think so. But that’s my opinion. I know it’s similar to using a $ off coupon with a BOGO, but I don’t think this is the intention of the manufacturer.

Q.) Can you use BOGO coupons on BOGO sales and get 2 items for free?

A.) Yes! At least if your store allows it. And they should, it makes perfect sense. Basically the manufacturer will be giving you a free product and the store will be giving you a free product. The Manufacturer will buy one (as anticipated by releasing the coupon) and the store will be soaking up the cost for the other (as anticipated by the advertised sale). It’s a win win for everyone! Wahoo! Rite Aid specifically allows for this in their coupon policy.

I think that’s the basics. Anymore questions? I’ll answer the best I can!

FYI: When I was starting out, I learned a ton from the forums. Slick Dealsis probably one of the best. A little hard to navigate and the commenters can be brutal , but LOTS of good info!

I can’t tell you how many people I’ve talked to, or received e-mails or comments from, who are completely lost and overwhelmed with the world of couponing! And I can see their point. If you log on to any coupon site, you’ll see upwards of 30 posts a day with numbers and slashes and abbreviations that make up the bulk of the content, it’s confusing! I get it.

I won’t pretend to be some expert couponer, and I don’t know everything about every store, but I’ve figured out a few tips and tricks over the past few years that have helped me save a lot of money in a little amount of time. They may not work for all of you, but for those completely lost and overwhelmed, hear me out. I might be able to help you!

Tip #1:  If you are brand new to coupons, DON’T start by getting a newspaper subscription! I know that’s probably the last thing you expected me to say . Now, if your ready to go completely crazy and have a large amount of time to spend, you may want to. But if you’re brand new and not quit sure, a newspaper will overwhelm most of you and waste your time and money. I recommend you start by watching the coupon blogs (mine preferably ) for deals that interest you. There are plenty of tester deals that you can try using printable coupons. If you see a really really great deal that you want to get, and stock up on, head over to a clipping service and buy a bulk amount of coupons. I prefer eBay. Just type in “blah blah coupon” and you’ll see lots of auctions. I always search for “Buy It Now” auctions, so I can be sure the coupons will arrive on time. You can generally snag 20 coupons for around $2 shipped, give or take depending on the coupon. Call ahead to your store where the deal will be and see if you can pre-order the amount you want. If you can’t, get to the store early!

Tip #2:  Once you have done a few of these deals, got that “Coupon High” from getting tons of stuff for cheap, assess if you have the time and commitment for newspaper subscription. Time for a confession: I do not always have a newspaper subscription. It’s true! There have been times over the past few years where I have had too much going on, or I was focused on something else, and I just couldn’t get around to shopping as often as I would have liked. I used the strategy in Tip #1 to keep my pantry stocked. However, if you do have the time and energy for a newspaper subscription, you will see an increase in your savings. You will be able to participate in a larger variety of deals and clearance finds that those without the subscription. You’ll need more than 1 paper (preferably 5 or 6) so call your local newspaper and ask for the “Coupon Special.” Once you have the coupons, organization is the key to success. There are different levels of organization, depending on your commitment and time needs. Check out my Couponing 101 for more details on this topic.

So those are my 2 tips for today. I plan on sharing my tips and tricks with you on a regular basis, so if you have any you want to share, leave a comment or send me an e-mail and I’ll try and post it! My kids are needing attention, so I’ll continue this discussion on my next Tips and Tricks post!  You can head over to Couponing 101 to get a few more tips in the meantime.