Store Coupons and Loyalty Cards

As you, all know tis the season to be shopping, but I want to spend as little as possible to that end; I use the store coupons and loyalty cards. You have to use them with some finesse, though. My daughter who is a hard-core Target shopper received a coupon for $15 off $150 purchase. This was not a good deal because she only received 10% off and she had to spend $150 to get it. So when is a store coupon a good deal?

You really want a coupon that allows you to use it on anything in the store including clearance. I’ve had plenty of department store coupons that prohibited me from purchasing almost every item in the store; the only reason for the coupon was to get me in the store. How good the coupon is dependent on the store and what you are buying. I used a 20% coupon at Bed, Bath, and Beyond to buy a wedding gift and saved $30. I used another BBB coupon that was $5 off any $10 or more purchase. Even though I saved 50% off my cooking sheet, the $5 coupon wouldn’t have been the best bet for the comforter I bought for the wedding.

I get coupons by signing up for loyalty cards and mailing lists for my favorite stores. I also scour papers, magazines, and the Internet for coupons. My relatives will give me their coupons for stores I favor. I do use multiple email addresses to get several coupons from the same store. The most important thing to do is only spend the bare minimum to use your coupon. I use my Ulta coupons all the time. I get one each month that usually ranges from 35-50% off a ten dollar purchase. With two females in the family, we can always use cosmetics or toiletries.

Store coupons to overpriced stores don’t save you money. It sounds like a great chance to visit a store you could never normally afford. You’ll find even when you show up that the discounted prices don’t even come close to normal prices, forget sales prices. Then horror of all horrors, they won’t accept the coupons for some trumped up reason. The store believes you’ll push through with the purchase at the regular inflated price. Studies have shown once a customer picks up an item or tries it on that they are highly likely to buy it. Ever wonder why the salesperson tries to get you to pick up something or at least try it on.

A coupon to a store you’ve never been to before isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, it can be a good thing if you go with the intention not to impulse buy. When you go into the store, ask for specifics about the coupon how you can use it. This helps the store employee know you are a bargain shopper and it keeps you from any surprises. Who hasn’t shown up at a restaurant with a coupon only to find out it wasn’t good on weekends, holidays, or lunch?

When do loyalty cards come into play? Loyalty cards are best for sales. Any item that is on sale in your grocery can only be bought at sale price using the card. Most cashiers will run the item through on their cards if you forgot yours. The prices are much better with the loyalty card and you get additional rewards such as reduced gas prices, coupons, and free groceries—this is only applicable to the Kroger card.Loyalty cards track what you use and give you store coupons for the items you use. I develop my photos at CVS and I get very good coupons for photo precessing by using my loyalty card.


Pharmacy transfer rebate is another money saving game between Meijers and Kroger if you transfer your prescription you can get twenty dollars or more off your groceries with the coupon. Do ask about this before transferring because one store pulled the coupon because too many people transferred. Of course, you can transfer it back and forth a couple times, but keep in mind that your insurance company will only pay once a month for your refill. Another way to make a few dollars is point cards.

Points cards can be debit or credit cards. My bankcard gives me so many points for using it. I can use the points as cash back or to purchase gift certificates. Chase offers a Disney card that actually earns you money toward a Disney vacation. Some airlines issue a charge card that allows you to accumulate travel points. The only thing you need to remember about the points cards is to pay them off every month or they could become unwieldy.

Some people don’t like to use coupons, discount cards, or even loyalty cards because it embarrasses them. I went out last night to a newly opened restaurant and it was hopping. There were several well-dressed couples in the place and almost every one of them had the same half off coupon I had. Other people have no problems using the coupons why should you? The companies did put them in the paper, online, or even mailed them to you to get you into their business. My philosophy is always save money where you can.

Saving on Christmas Shopping

Most people are starting to think about Christmas shopping now and that’s their first mistake. It is no wonder they pay too much, get caught in traffic lot chaos, and often don’t get what they want. I try to keep my eyes and ears open all year long. Sure, I do go out on Black Friday, but there is an art to that too.

Know who you are buying for their wants and dislikes, plus how much you are willing to spend. Put money into envelopes to keep you from spending more. Knowing you have only thirty dollars to spend on someone including tax will keep you from plunking down the credit card and charging 49.95. To keep that from happening, try lay-away. I know K-mart offers it, and I've heard Marshalls does too. Ask your favorite retailer. Lay-away allows you to pick out items and pay a little bit on them weekly. It allows you to stay in your budget and hides items up to a week before Christmas.

Adults are sometimes easier to shop for because they have likes that don’t change. My sister collects Gone with The Wind ornaments. The best time to buy these is AFTER Christmas when Hallmark stores halve their original price. It also depends on the store, some will go as lowest as 75% off. I always keep my eyes open at flea markets and yard sales where collectibles often come up for sale.

Christmas can be a time of restocking items like socks, mufflers, gloves, and underwear. Underwear and sock are usually on sale in August for the start of school. Many stores will highlight gloves and hats, but amazingly the best buys I’ve gotten on gloves and wool socks is Menards, especially on Black Friday.

Looking for candles, check out your local Krogers. Those big glass bottle candles that run as much as thirty dollars at department stores can retail as cheaply as $3.50 at Krogers. This is a seasonal deal so make sure to stock up. Another good place for candles is Kohls, which often has several scents discounted.

Did you get coupons in the mail? Check them out carefully. I usually get a Bath & Body coupon for $10 off $30 purchase THAT can be used on Black Friday. Often many retailers will you send you a coupon where you get $10 off something, but when you get in the store nothing you pick out is applicable. I go through plenty of J.C.Penney’s coupons that advertise get $10 off any $25 purchase. I get these off the Internet. They are always good for clothes. If you want a particular coupon or coupon code, google it.

Read the coupons carefully because you have to spend so much money and use it before it expires. Newsflash: DSW and Bed, Bath, and Beyond allow me to use expired coupons all the time. Bed, Bath and Beyond puts out some amazing coupons and I solicit them from my relatives. I may have five coupons that allow me to get $5 off any item if I spend $15. I have used two coupons at once. I think two is pushing it before the people behind me riot.

Don’t buy it if you were not planning on buying someone a present. Most people don’t like feeling obligated to give you a gift because you bought them a gift. People you might avoid gifting is co-workers, casual acquaintances, someone you went out with a few times. If you feel you must give them something. Make it small. You can bake them cookies too.

Assemble your own gift baskets. You don’t really want the prepackaged fruit baskets because often the bruises on fruit is hidden. I buy baskets at yard sales all year long. Places like the Dollar Tree and Goodwill is another source. Often you can make the basket portion out of a useful item like a mixing bowl, dog dish, or an oversized coffee mug depending on the theme. You can buy several nice gourmet teas, nuts, candies, even imported jams at Big Lots. By making your own basket, you can include what your recipient would really like.

Shopping with Ebay. Beware of falling into a bidding war. First price what you want off Ebay to get a feel for the actual price. Look for 100% rating, then free shipping. I often watch items and do not bid on them until the last minute only bidding exactly what I am willing to pay. Be careful to bid on only one copy of the item at a time.

Catalog shopping-every company that ships delicious edibles has sent me a catalog already. Most promise a free item, sometimes two, one even three, if I order anything. Because I’ve used the companies before I know their items. I will order the free known item for relatives knowing they’ll like it. I will often buy one item only and have it shipped to me. The purpose of this item can be as a gift for someone who gave me a surprise gift that I didn’t plan for or it is my contribution to a pitch-in that I didn’t plan for either.

Groupon-this year I’ve been using Groupon for Christmas shopping. So far, I’ve purchased headphones, tea, items from the Body Shop, and photo shoot for less than 50% of original prices. You have to signup for daily reminders at Groupon.com

A last great gift, especially for grandparents, is photos. I have made a number of photo gifts using my local Walgreens. I wait until they have a 40% off sale. I have made some items FREE because I am on the mailing list which alerts you to free items. I also use Shutterfly, an online service because it seems to be the easiest to use with the best results. They are always having some type of sale, never pay full price. You can always scrapbook an album of a special event too.

As for Black Friday, that’s another blog.