Revised Coupon Presentation - Amy Larson Strait

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YOUR GROCERY DOLLARS

description

Friend teaches a coupon class. She sent me a very plain presentation to revise/spruce up.

Transcript of Revised Coupon Presentation - Amy Larson Strait

YOUR GROCERY DOLLARS

Today’s Goal

• Understand grocery store sale cycles

• Effective use of coupons

• Save LOTS on your grocery spending

AND give more to charity!!!

Where I Started

• Two years ago I was spending $950/month for 2 adults & 4 kids

• Now I am spending $450/month for 2 adults & 5 kids

• Save over $4000 with sales & coupons

• I have not changed what/how we eat. I have only changed how I SHOP!!!!

A New Way of Thinking

Approach known as “stockpiling”

• When item is on sale buy as many as you need and can afford until the next time the item is on sale

• Approx. 3 month sales cycle

An Example

Cereal is on sale every other month

• How many will your family eat?

• If 7, then buy that many if you can afford it

• If you only buy 1 when on sale & 6 at full price, then you have not maximized your savings!

Get Low Prices

Is the advertised price a good price?

• Advertised price does not equal “on sale” or even a good price!!

Create Price List

• Notebook

• Recent grocery receipts

• One page per category

• Several columns per page• Item• Price• Stores you shop at

Price List Findings

• Things were NOT what I expected

• I was now an EMPOWERED shopper!!!

• I knew what to BUY and what to AVOID at each store – except during a sale!!!

How Do You Get ALL Those Coupons?

The real trick to maximizing your grocery savings…

You need to have multiple copies of the coupons!!!!!

Coupon Sources

1. Newspaper Coupon Inserts

• Asks friends, family, neighbors, etc.

• Check recycling bins at Dillon’s or the

recycling center

• Host a coupon swap/join coupon train

• Purchase coupons online

• Kansas City Star

• Dillon’s & QT (usually available all week)

2. Internet printable coupons

You can print 2 of each coupon

• Print first coupon• Press “Back” button• Press “Refresh” button• Click “Retry”• DO NOT COPY INTERNET COUPONS!

Coupon Sources con’t

3. E-savers Electronic Coupons (added to your Dillon’s Shoppers card).

4. Magazines

Best one: ‘All You’ magazine(available only at Wal-Mart or by subscription).

• $2.24 per issue at store

• $20+ worth of coupons each issue

• Can subscribe for much less

Coupon Sources con’t

Coupon Sources con’t

5. Catalina's (print at cash register)

6. Companies (call or visit website)

7. E-newsletters

8. Brochures

9. Blinkies, Tearpads & Peelies

10. Store coupons

Organizing Coupons

Filing Systems:

• Accordion File

• Binder with Trading Card Inserts

• Envelopes

How to Use Coupons

• Ideally:

• Use when items are on sale and then stock- up on that item

• If an item you need but not on sale:

• Go to store with lowest price

• Buy just one

• Use a coupon (if you have one)

• Wait for the item to go on sale

• Determine how many you will need until next sale

• Buy as many as you would need AND can reasonable afford until the next sale

• DO NOT stock-up on an item if you cannot afford it!!!

• Set a budget for stockpiling!

• More coupons than what you need; consider purchasing the item & donating it to charity.

How to Use Coupons

How does it really work?

• Look through insert and compare to coupons (watch for loss leaders)

• Determine net price (sale price less coupon); watch for a GREAT price!

• Make list, pull coupons, head to store

How to Use Coupons

Great price but no coupons?

• Check online database for printable coupons

Pay close attention to cashier when ringing coupons

• Most errors are accidental, but watch just to be sure!!

How to Use Coupons

Coupon Policies

• Most important thing you need to know: Most coupons state “Limit one coupon per purchase.”

• This means if buying 3 bottles of shampoo, then you have 3 purchases.

• Therefore, you can use 3 coupons in that transaction.

• “One coupon per transaction” is different!

Coupon Policies

• Double coupon up to $1: ($.50 = $1, $.75 = $1)

• No limit on how many coupons you can use

• Do not price match

• Do accept internet printable coupons

• Adjustment for forgotten coupons!!

Store Policies

Wal-Mart:

• Do not double

• DO NOT accept expired coupons!

• If more than 40 coupons need to be approved by customer service manager

• Do price match if you have inserts to show price.

Store Policies

Target:

• Do not double coupons

• Do accept internet printable

• Can combine store coupons with manufacturer coupons

• Do not price match

Store Policies

Walgreen’s:

• Do not double

• Do accept internet printable

• Can combine store coupon with manufacturers coupon

Sam’s Club and Aldi’s:

• Do not accept any kind of coupon

Tips & Tidbits

Reading shelf tags to know end of sale date at Dillon’s:

• Lower right side of tag under price

Tips & Tidbits

Buying SMALLER sizes often BETTER DEAL when using coupons:

• Better deal to use 2 coupons on 2 smaller sizes than 1 coupon on a larger size

Tips & TidbitsSyrup on sale for $1.50 for 24 oz.

• You have coupons for “$.50 off any size”

• You purchase 2

• $1.50 each, less $1.00 coupon ($.50 doubled), for a final cost of $.50 each or $1.00 total

Syrup on sale for $3.00 for 48 oz.

• You have coupons for “$.50 off any size”

• You purchase 1

• $3.00 each, less $1.00 coupon ($.50 doubled), for a final cost of $2.00

$1.00 (or 50%) cheaper in the first example for the same quantity of syrup.

General Coupon Info

1. Can stack Buy One, Get One Free coupons.

Use BOGO coupon with a $.50/1 to get 1st one $1 off ($.50 doubled) and 2nd one FREE.

2. Can only use 1 coupon per item

3. Only use picture on coupon as a guide. Read what the coupon says.

4. Again, you can combine store coupons with manufacturer coupons!

General Coupon Info

Expired coupons:

DO NOT use a coupon simply because it is about to expire!!!!

Pharmacy coupons:

Can be used for EACH new or transferred prescription, NOT on refills

Tips & Tidbits

Pricing errors:

• Overcharge at Dillon’s:

1st item FREE & adjustment on all like items on the same transaction!

Rain checks:

• 10 items per rain check

• Good for 90 days

• Buy when you have funds & additional coupons

• Put with item when purchasing

Sales

10/$10 sales:

DO NOT need to purchase 10 to get the sale price (unless stated otherwise)

Mega/Super Sale limits:

• Generally limit of 2 or 3 per transaction

• Ask customer service or check shelf tag

• Split order into multiple transactions

Sales

Great sales DO NOT come every week!

• Will not save 80% each week on your general grocery list

• Stockpiling will lead you to buying items when they are a GREAT price!

• 6-12 months to build good stockpile

• Your % savings will increase over time!

Questions

What about meat?

Sam’s Club (prices on 2/1/10)

• Whole Pork Loins: $1.97/lb.

• Pork Loin Chops: $2.88/lb.

• Beef Roast (Chuck): $2.88/lb.

• Jenny O Ground Turkey (93/7): $1.96/lb.

• Chicken Breasts (BL/SL): $2.80/lb.

• Chicken Thighs: $. 98/lb.

• Chickens, Whole: $ .85/lb.

Questions

Sam’s Club meat, cont.

Ground Beef (90/10)

$2.88/lb. from case$2.46/lb. in 10-lb. log$1.73/lb in bulk (8 – 10-lb. logs)

Ground Beef (80/20)

$2.68/lb. from case$2.24/lb. in 10-lb. log$1.57/lb in bulk (8 – 10-lb. logs)

Questions

Do I use coupons for everything I buy?

What items do I regularly get for FREE? Toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, toilet paper, etc.

Store brand vs. Name brandDepends on when and where you use your coupons

Questions

What are the sales cycles?

• January: health foods, hearty meal items, party supplies

• March: frozen food month

• March/April: eggs, ham

• May: picnic supplies

• September: canned goods

• November: baking supplies

Questions

What about organic food?

Walgreen’s: Isn’t it expensive??

• Store coupons• Register Rewards… be careful!

Questions

What do I do with all of this food?

• Plan meals based on what is in your pantry & freezer

• Keep inventory

• Websites to do ingredient searches\ or visit company websites for recipes

In Closing…

Today’s Goal:

• Understand grocery store sale cycles

• Effective use of coupons

• Save LOTS on your grocery spending and give more to charity!!!