Linda's Coupon Notebook - Two Ways To Shop With Coupons

I've been wanting to share my "Notebook" for some time. Here are some photos of my coupon notebook.  I purchased this regular binder at a back to school sales. (Otherwise this one is rather expensive.) I'm sure one could find this at a Thrift store or the like if you keep on the lookout for it.

The coupon pages are baseball card holders that I've only been able to find at Target (near the check out lanes).  Again, look for stores that sell these at a good price or it may cost more than it's worth.

I get Smart Source and Red Plum booklets every week from the Sunday paper.  And yes, I've gone dumpster hunting for discards although there are much better ways to get extra free Sunday coupons if you use your imagination. Nursing homes toss the inserts. Gas stations toss their papers at midnight. Even your Sunday carrier has extras if you want to get up early and discuss a win-win proposal.




Lindas Coupon Notebook
Of the two ways to shop with coupons, this is my way...
Each week I cut out the coupons from Red Plum and Smart Source Sunday and store them in my notebook according ot the labels I've glued to the pages.
(See next pictures for my labels)
I keep this notebook in the car and if I find unexpected, unadvertised, sales, I'm prepared.
Others couponers don't cut out the coupons until they go shopping, and then they take coupons for what is advertised.  It's less time consuming.



I've added a 'pencil holder' to the front for odds and ends.
I printed up some business cards with my website on it for women who ask me about couponing as I'm shopping.
(I never had a man ask me about couponing. I'll have to ask my sociology class about that.  lol)




Take a few minutes each week to discard the expired.
I've sent mine to military bases as they can use expired coupons.
Google for military addresses for expired coupons.




I always take this with me because some of my best deals have been UNADVERTISED sales.
Combined with coupons, I often get items for FREE.




I also plan ahead for the sales of the week and make a list of good deals.
But, I often find sales I didn't expect, and with my COUPON NOTEBOOK
I'm ALWAYS prepared for GOOD DEALS AND FREE MEALS.


May you always enjoy couponing
Your friend in life,
~Linda

email me: bestnurse@usa.com

Coupons Are Good For...

As I was checking out at the grocery store today using a big supply of coupons, the man ahead of me was buying one can of pineapple juice.

"You could have gotten that for free," I thought in my head as he dished out a dollar and change.

Today was the first day in a several months that I actually collected coupons and made a list before I left on a tour of two grocery stores and Walgreens.

I'm happy to post the list of things I got on sale and with coupons.  Not free, but a discount on each item. I saved about 75 percent today.  I didn't get more than three of each item because most of the grocery stores have a limit of three now. (And, I only get one Sunday paper.)

I used coupons for Lysol cleaning supplies, Purina cat food, cheese, vitamins ($4 off), shampoo (Aussie), toothpaste and brushes (Crest) , dish soap, frozen veges (Steamers), Land-0-Lakes butter, Tide laundry soap, and one Christmas gift for you (Sandy). The BEST deal was Cheerios. Got a large box for $3. (Actually, got three boxes.) Oh, and I got jars of Claussen pickles for 99-cents each with a sale and my (expired) coupon. Also, shaving cream and razors. Don't need bath tissue or Kleenex, but could have got that too. I'm waiting for a cream cheese sale to use this week's coupon on that. Pineapple would have been free, but I forgot it.

So, don't give up. Keep on the lookout for coupons for things you use. It really does make you feel satisfied at the end of the day and want to share the fun with everyone.

Take Care on the Journey,
~Linda

USA Weekend July 29-31, 2011 Coupon Article

Today's Sunday paper (July 31, 2011) has a nice article in the USA Weekend insert about couponing.

It's not an Extreme Couponing article, but offers some helpful information and excellent websites for understanding how to save money with coupons. 

In case you didn't get the paper, go to http://www.couponmom.com/ or http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/ and, may I suggest, my links on this blog... :))

The Article titled, How You Can Become A Coupon Queen, shares very good shopping strategies for savings including:

1. Just sitting down with the Sunday newspaper and clipping offers your family will use.
2. The Sunday paper is still the biggest bang for your buck.
3. Memorize the prices of your commonly used products. Then you will know a sale.
4. Buy when these products are on sale and then use your coupon.
5. Don't ignore mass merchandisers such as Target and Walmart.
6. Try store brands, even though manufactures coupons won't work on them.
7. Use Loyalty Cards...such as Kohls, Kroger, and more. Ask if your store has one.
8. Use technology apps like CardStar and Key Ring to manage your store loyalty cards.

In my case, I've been out of work for a few months, so we've been living on our "pantry stash" for awhile. It has been a lifesaver.  I recently returned to work as a Registered Nurse and will start looking for the best deals (on sale) and using multiple coupons (often purchased online) to stock up again.

I hope you can find that article in today's Sunday paper. 

Happy Couponing,
~Linda


email me: bestnurse@usa.com

Free - No Entrance Fee at Some National Parks on Tuesday

Take advantage of free entrance fees to a national park near you.

They are offered several times a year, and Tuesday, June 21 is next.

Don't forget that Tuesday, June 21, 2011 is a free day for national parks.

Here's a link to see if there's one close to you anywhere in the USA.

National Parks Near You

We're thinking of going to the Rocky Mountain National Park on Tuesday.

The road is finally open, and it usually costs $20 per car or $40 for a season pass.

Take Care on the Journey,

~Linda

Email me: bestnurse@usa.com

Truth or Consequences

Consequence:  the conclusion reached by a line of reasoning

I'm not sure I should even tell this story about how I got FREE paper towels, toilet paper, and tissues with Small Steps coupons that didn't match at all...

As I posted last week, I ordered Small Steps coupons from eBay when they came out in the Sunday paper.  The coupons cost me 8-cents each. When they arrived, the conditions didn't match the ones that came out in the paper although, at first glance, they looked the same.

The on-line coupons indicated the bath tissue had to be 12-packs and paper towels 2-packs. Facial tissues weren't even listed on the coupon.

I decided to give them ALL a try at the check-out anyway.  Bath tissue was four-packs. (They only come in four-packs!) Single rolls of paper towels instead of double. (They don't even come in double sets!)  And several boxes of the Small Steps tissues that weren't listed on the coupon.

The cashier not only ran them through, but they didn't even 'ding' the register. She commented that it was almost like the TV program, Extreme Couponing.

Well, after the first batch went through without a hitch, I went back for more and returned to the same cashier.  NONE OF THE COUPONS MATCHED WHAT I GOT EXCEPT IT WAS ALL SMALL STEPS BRAND!

Funny thing though, I got two packages of cat treats that DID match my coupons, but she wouldn't take them because she said it was the wrong 'flavor'.  I had her take the cat treats back.  You know, I'm a couponer after all.  Just sayin...

The best news is that we starting moving into our new home tomorrow, and the free toiletries will go in first!

(For more information on our new home, go to my blog http://dustyangels.blogspot.com/ )

Your happy couponer,
~Linda

email me: bestnurse@usa.com

PS On My Small Steps Marcel Posting

In my last entry I mentioned that the Small Steps coupon was good for an 8-pack.  I was wrong. The $1 coupon is GOOD for a 4-pack of TP that normally sells for $1.25 or $1 on sale - making it FREE. 

With three coupons, I went to Albertson's yesterday and had absolutely no problem getting two packages (4-rolls each) of toilet paper and one box of 'Kleenex'. Because they weren't on sale, I paid 33-cents each.  I can't wait for my 20 coupons to come in the mail.  I'll slip in and out of Albertson's until I have a good stash once again.

I believe you can do that with paper towels too.

Happy Couponing,
~Linda

email me: bestnurse@usa.com

Small Steps Coupon for Free Bath Tissue

This is why I haven't paid for bath tissue or facial tissue since I started shopping with coupons. 

Every few months, the Sunday paper comes out with Marcel Small Steps coupons worth $1 off paper towels, bath tissue, or napkins.

This makes it FREE when on sale or maybe 25-cents each if not on sale. 
Today, I ordered 20 Marcel Small Steps from Ebay for $2 plus 65-cents. You can usually only order these when the coupons have been published in the Smart Source of Red Plum. (I can't remember which.) If you don't do eBay, you can order online from "Dede" or HERE but that website is out of Marcel coupons today.

So, you really don't have to buy the Sunday paper to get this great deal.

We only have one store in Denver that I know of that sells Small Steps, and that is Albertsons. If anyone knows of another store, please let me know.

Coupon Blessings,
~Linda

email me: bestnurse@usa.com

Mummy Deals - Walgreen Freebies!

I'm suppose to be doing something else right now, but wanted to alert all couponers and those who want to save money, and those who like getting freebies that this Mummy Deals Blog (click here), is always up-to-date with the best deals around and weekly free stuff and Walgreens, CVS, grocery stores, and more.  (Especially Walgreens for me!)

This week (Feb. 27 - Mar. 5, 2011) you can get a 'ton' of free items at Walgreens. Well, 'free' because you get a store coupon you can use on other things there. I often stock up on a selection of Hallmark cards using the coupons.

I've added Mummy Deals link on the top left-hand side of this blog.  Enjoy :))

Take Care on the Journey,
Your friend in Coupons,
~Linda

email me: bestnurse@usa.com

Email Me For Extra Coupons

Here in Denver I'm running into more people using coupons each week. I give some of them my blogger address, then wonder if it's helpful to them.

So, the story is...If there are certain coupons that you want, please email me and I'll mail them to you if I have them.  bestmomlinda@yahoo.com is checked every day.

At work, I saw someone cutting out pamper coupons, and today I felt badly putting my extras in the "file' drawer. I sure don't need them.

The Sunday paper of February 27 has an excellent P&G insert that, if combined with Walgreens sales, can have some pretty awesome deals this week.

I've been watching for the Lindsay Black Olives at Walgreens for .99 cents a can. (Limit 3, but most stores don't care.) Today I got six cans with no problem - and I didn't pay anything for them after the store cash rewards coupons I got for the Gillette razors.

Normally the razors cost $9.99 which I would NEVER pay, but the store is offering $4 back, and I had the $4 coupon. I bought two, but discovered that there is a limit of 1 on this one, so you have to run each one in a single purchase (or you will only get one $4 store rewards coupon back). Then, I did a third purchase for the olives using the two $4 coupons.

I know it sounds complicated, and I don't do this too often for that very reason. It's easier to run over to King Sooper (Kroger) and get double coupons without any fuss!!!!

But, I do this at Walgreens every couple months when the black olives are on sale.

Don't forget to email me if you want selected coupons.  If you are from work, I can bring them in, but I'm only there on the weekend. It's much more simple to mail them, and I don't mind the postage for a friend. :))

PS:  Enjoy my geocaching blog at http://geocachingindenver.blogspot.com

Take Care on the Journey,
~Linda

bestmomlinda@yahoo.com

King Sooper Friend - Please Call or Email

I know I'm not posting on this coupon blog as often as I should, but I'm happy to report that I'm finally getting back into awesome coupon savings after our move from Ohio to Colorado.  The biggest challenge is finding extra coupons (for free). In Ohio, my newspaper carrier left all her "extras" at my doorstep, and I was able to stock up on so many things and share with others.

Yesterday as I was shopping in King Soopers (Kroger in Ohio), a young mother stopped to comment on my notebook full of coupons. We enjoyed sharing information as this was her FIRST TIME to shop with coupons.

I'm so sorry, but I think her name was Anne?  How terrible I am with names even though I repeat them several times in my mind and vow that I'm not going to forget it. But alas, I'm  not sure now.

I was absolutely thrilled to find another serious couponer here in Colorado!  I wish we had shared phone numbers (both our cell phones were almost dead - lol). But, I did give her my homemade business card for this blog, so I hope she will read this and contact me. I have so much more I can share with her - including extra coupons!

"Anne" asked me if we really could save using coupons. I hope she got lots of savings yesterday. (She checked out behind me taking my advice to seek out a happy, friendly, cashier.)  She has really done her homework already!

"Yes, Dorothy, we're not in Kansas...but we can save a bundle with coupons!!!"

Take Care on the Journey
Your friend in Coupons,
~Linda

email me: bestnurse@usa.com
Home: http://dustyangels.blogspot.com

My Coupon Notebook

"Wow! That is beautiful!"

As I stood in the isle of King Soopers (Krogers in other parts of the country), I heard a women beside me commenting on something in my grocery cart. No, it wasn't my worn out purse. Or, the faded sweater tossed over the edge.

Ahhh, it was my blue 'coupon notebook' nestled in the front part of the grocery cart and open to the 'bread' section. (Pillsbury rolls were on sale, and with my coupons I was about to get a half dozen free!)

The notebook is a WalMart back-to-school special. The 'pages' are for baseball cards holders from Target. The tabs were designed to fit my personal shopping needs in alphabetical order. Batteries-Breads-Cleaning Supplies-Juice-Laundry-Meats-Paper Products-Pasta-Pet-Rice-Toothpaste-Vegs-and so on.

The woman went on to tell me she had just started a coupon class at her church, and she was quite excited to start using coupons on a regular basis in order to save money.

As I gave her several of my homemade business cards listing my coupon blog (this one), and my email address, she promised to give one to the coupon teacher at her church. I'm looking forward to hearing from them.

While professional coupon shoppers are quite likely to be discovered in most every isle of your favorite store, each one has their individual method of storing, shopping, and organizing. The 'notebook" is just my personal preference.

My friend, Buffy, keeps her coupons sorted in boxes at home and only carries what she plan to use as she shops. Others cut out their coupons just before shopping. Some carry a few in their purse. I prefer to store all my coupons in my coupon note book and take it with me as I shop. You never know when you're going to find a close-out on something. Or, you find an unadvertised deal on laundry detergent that offers enough free Tide to last a year with coupons added to the special price. Palmalive dish soap is another frequent freebie.

Each week as new coupons are posted online or after the Sunday paper coupons come in, I search for my favorite products and cut out any coupons. I'm able to get extras at my work on Sunday, so this has been very helpful. (I do save the coupons that I don't cut out for my notebook. Sometimes I mail coupons to my kids and coupon-saving sister, Sandy.)

If you can locate a newspaper carrier in your neighborhood, stop and ask them if they have a source for the Smart Source and Red Plum coupon booklets. For a little tip each week, they might drop off extras at your house. I happen to know that hundreds of these booklets are TOSSED OUT by newspaper carriers after they insert them into their Sunday papers.

In the evenings while hubby and I watch a few of our favorite TV programs, I organize the coupons into my coupon notebook.

Each week, I search the local grocery store weekly deals (including Walgreens and Target), to see where I want to use my coupons this week. Be forewarned, if it's a really good deal, the item will be 'off the shelf" by the day after! That's how I'm positive that there are far more serious coupon shoppers than we are aware of!

In my case, my coupon notebook includes sections for things I regularly use in my home. We live in a small apartment where space is limited, so getting 12 gallons of "free' milk is not cost effective for me. Getting 12 rolls of free tissue paper and storing them in the garage is my idea of great coupon usage. I have secret stashes of cereal (Honey-nut Cheerios for 97-cents a box is the highest I will pay), pasta, tuna, ziploc bags, popcorn, hot chocolate, bath cleaners, shampoo, pet food, and more.

I hope this helps those who are interested in using coupons. Maybe you can pick and choose how you will use your coupons. I can promise that you will never pay for toothpaste, bath tissue, dish soap, laundry detergent, or Kleenex again.

Take Care on the Journey,
Your friend in life and coupons,
~Linda

email me: bestnurse@usa.com

Coupon Hopping Once Again! October 18, 2010

We've been in Colorado (from Ohio) for going on three months now! How time flies! Today was the first day I actually took my big coupon book and went grocery shopping with a plan - and coupons!!!!

I was spoiled in Ohio because my newspaper carrier left extra coupons every Sunday. Here I have to buy the extra papers, and it's not something want to do. So, my coupons are only one or two at a time.

At Scoopers (called Kroger in Ohio), they have a 10/$10 sale this week. In order to make sure I got the minimum quantities, I put a smaller carrier in my cart and put those items in there. (You don't have to get 10 of each item, just a total of 10 of those that are in that sale.) That helped a lot for less confusion on how many of the 10/$10 I had in my cart, so I would get the free $5 at checkout AND get the reduced price for getting 10.

I tried to use my coupons also on those special cost items. I hear there is a much bigger and nicer "Kroger" close to where we live, so I'm going there next time.

At Target, I matched the store $1 coupon with a manufactures $1 coupon to get dark chocolate kisses for only 99-cents a bag. I like them frozen!

At Walgreens, I was very disappointed that they wouldn't take my $3 off Nieva body wash making it free. They said it was only for men's body wash. I could have gotten some for hubby for free, but he has a closet-full of body wash already! I did go ahead and get cans of black olives and jars of green olives for 99-cents each.

So, in the future I hope to give you more up-to-date coupon deals and free meals now that I'm getting back on track.

Take Care on the Journey,
Your friend in life and coupons,
~Linda

Sunday, October 3, 2010

We should have three coupon booklets in our paper today. For my friend, Edith, please find in the Smart Source the nice PediaSure $2 coupon and the 50-cent Irish Spring off any one coupon.

There's 75-cents off Colgate that, if doubled, provides free toothpaste.

We also like the Brush's Grillin Beans for $1 off.
75-cent V8 coupons, and $1 Softsoap.

I may order extra Mentos' $1 off so I can send a little care package to my son in South Carolina for his math students.

This is just from the Smart Source alone. I haven't looked at the Red Plum or P&G as I got up late and have to leave for work in an hour or so.

Have fun today. Enjoy the fine autumn weather! I see on Facebook from Buffy that it looks like rain in Columbus.

Take Care on the Journey,
~Linda

Extra Sunday Coupons Today 9-12-10

Here in The Denver Post I found four coupon booklets today! There are two Smart Source, one Red Plum, and one called, Better at Home. Might be worth it to pick up the paper today if you don't already get it.

I hope you'll click over to my Linda's Notebook blog to keep up with the 5 W's of life in Denver.

Your friend in life and coupons,
~Linda

Before You Call...

Before you call your newspaper to complain about no Red Plum, Smart Source or P&G this Sunday (September 5, 2010), please note there are none scheduled due to the Labor Day holiday...(And my birthday. lol)

I post this because I was reaching for the phone before it dawned on me that today is one of the few Sundays the paper does not carry my favorite coupons!

What a dork! Well, I'll take the time to organize the few I have collected since our move to Denver and try to match them with this week's sales. We pretty well lost all our "pantry" with the big move. Except for paper towels and toilet paper. What more does one need in life anyway?

Hope all are enjoying nice weather and taking advantage of some happy family time together. Or, sleeping in. Or, cleaning out the garage. Or, taking long walks. Or, catching up on housework. Or, washing the car. Or, going to a local festival. Or, a cool bike ride. Or, doing something special with the kids. Or, just hanging out and catching up.

Take Care on the Journey,
Your friend in life and coupons,
~Linda

New Blog for Great Deals

Sometimes I think I'm the lone writer/reader of this blog, so this is a link I want to save. It might be a Denver link, but it also has some great information for anyone else visiting my Good Deals and Free Meals world.

HERE or http://www.groceryshopforfree.com/

Take Care on the Journey,
~Linda

Great Target/Coupon Website

Here in Denver, I finally started getting the Sunday newspaper but no Red Plum on either Sunday! Bummer. If anyone in the Denver area knows the deal on that, please let me know. Does the Red Plum get inserted on another day?

Here's a link for many Target deals: HERE Thanks to iheartsavingmoney.com

I'm still getting used to Target even though it's within walking distance to our home now. But, maybe something at that website will have a great deal for you.

I miss all of you!!!!!

Take Care on the Journey,
~Linda

Update From Denver

Wow! What a difference a month makes! I'm having trouble even getting a Sunday paper's worth of coupons, much less the "extras" that I'm used to. This last Sunday, I bought two Sunday papers from a machine, and neither of them had the Smart Source or Red Plum.

I called the Denver newspaper office, and they said that coupons couldn't be guaranteed in the paper that you buy off the street. Only the home delivery. Seriously!!!! Take me back to my "coupon guaranteed" city in Ohio! I signed up for the 'home delivery' Sunday paper. They wanted me to pay for one year in advance, but I declined. Said I'd wait to see what coupons they really gave me.

I'm still trying to figure out where to get the weekly fliers for Kroger, ...err..., it's called King Soopers here, but the deals are the same. We got the fliers in today's mail, but the ads started yesterday, and I like to be a little more ahead of the game.

We live right next to a Super Target, but I never liked them in Columbus. They were too rude and picky about coupons. But, it looks like I need to forgive and forget past prejudices. ha ha

In the meantime, the pantry here is full. The garage is packed. Closets are stuffed, and I even have a stash under the bed. There's time to get my act together and move forward with continued Good Deals and Free Meals!!!!

I'll keep in touch.

Your friend and life and coupons,
~Linda

Lost My Coupon Fairy

For every thing there is a season...

...And it appears my golden season of free coupons has ended.

I wish my Coupon Fairies (a sweet couple), the very best as they take up different duties in the newspaper world.

They have made changes at the same time that we are making our move to Denver, so it was only a matter of time before one of us wasn't up to bat anyway.

Today, I only got one newspaper and one set of Red Plum and Smart Source. I felt lost without all those papers, and sorting and sharing!!!!

If I come across any real good deals this week, I'll let you know, but strangely, the grocery store sale bags didn't get delivered up at the mailboxes either. So I'm in the dark all the way around. I haven't seen anything from Buffy in a while either. She's been getting ready for a big marathon (running), so wish her well with that.

It's 20 days until we plan to pull out with the Penske truck for Denver. (Friday, July 30). It looks like we may have more boxes already packed than we will have left to pack!!!! Hubby and I have been working hard to stay organized and on a strict time table.

Woo Hoo!!! Sometimes it's more like Boo Hoo!!!

Stay here for updates on Good Deals and Free Meals.

Take Care on the Journey,
Your friend in life and in coupons
~Linda

July 4, 2010

Just in case you're on the computer instead of watching the fireworks - both in the sky and around the house with everybody HOME and in your SPACE - I thought I'd drop a line to let you know I'm alive and well.

I believe the only coupons in the Sunday paper this weekend will be the P&G, but it is a favorite for some of us, so we will hope to enjoy several copies.

My computer and my iPhone have been mysteriously losing my favorite things in the last few days. In My Favorite section of my computer, the link for all my coupons blogs has completely disappeared!!!!

I had to click on my own blog to find out what's going on in the local grocery stores.

Today, I tried a simple download of my photos from my iPhone and completely LOST every single program in my phone. I couldn't even make or receive calls. The simple message indicated in Spanish how to call for emergency - the word for emergency was in Spanish, but I understood it. That dropped my heart right down to the basement!!!

But, techno tinker that I am, I got on Google and searched for answers and programs that my iPhone needed to come alive again (iTunes 9.2), and after MANY hours at the computer, WE are up and running fine as a fiddle once again.

For those who understand these things and want slightly additional information, I think that Outlook on my computer does not save addresses, so when my iPhone does a sync, it can't reload numbers back into my phone like it's suppose to.

Many others have encountered this same problem, and are not very kind to Apple when complaining about it on the web!!!! Of course, losing 400 contacts, as some have done, is a serious injustice!

Using a suggestion I found on Google, I created an contact list on my Yahoo account and then 'instructed' my iPhone to get that information from my Yahoo account instead of Outlook.

The other problem started when I accidentally stopped my computer from downloading (or is it uploading?) (or is it upgrading) my iTunes, so when the iPhone tried to complete the sync, it had nothing to work with. (OK. I thought it was stuck and wasn't loading.)

After fixing all that, (I like to call it a 'work-around"), I gritted my teeth, plugged my iPhone into the computer and asked it to sync again. Whew. It worked. There are some little changes such as now I can use ZOOM when I take a picture on my phone. I lost my wallpaper, but simply changed it to a picture of the Rocky Mountains that I took while I was in Denver.

Back to coupons, I believe that even the managers have gone to the lake or taken a summer vacation because I haven't found many good deals around town this week. (Except for Finish at Drug Mart).

So, don't worry that you are stuck with cleaning the grill and taking out large bags of trash. You haven't missed much coupon deals, and others are glad to have you around to take care of all the little things that make for happy family time on the 4th of July.

Happy Fireworks! **** {{{{ }}}} \\\\ ****
(Not as good as Red, White and Boom, but what do you expect from a computer?) lol

Take Care on the Journey,
Your friend in life,
~Linda