New couponers-- what are your questions?

[Kulis]

How do couponers with young children go about their shopping? I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 3 month old and I end up getting so flustered trying to keep them both calm while I'm trying to find my items, then inevitably the items aren't in stock or I left a coupon in the car. . .what is the least stressful way to go about doing the deals?

I have a 4yo and have been coupon shopping since he was about 2. It is definitely easier if I can go shopping alone. When I must take him with me, I have to prepare a list and pull my coupons in advance. I have a lollipop or two in my purse for emergencies. We visit only the aisles needed to satisfy the list.
After I think I have everything in the cart, we head to the bakery section where kids can get a free cookie. He munches the cookie while I make sure my coupons are in order to hand to the cashier. If I need a little more time, we go visit the lobster tank before we get the cookie.

[Kana16]

Some of the manufacture coupons say one coupon per item purchased... does this mean I can't stack with a store coupon?

I just got a few copies of the Dollar General coupons, and they say "Limit one offer per customer, per day," What does this mean? Can I only buy one item of a certain brand (no duplicates)?

I cut out two BOGO coupons for BIC disposable razors. "Coupon may not be combined with any other offer." - That means I can't use it with BOGO sales at drugstores like CVS, doesn't it? :(

Sorry for the n00b questions... I've read so many threads on here my eyes are about to fall out. I'm just starting out and I haven't even made an official "couponing trip" yet so I'd like to know about this before I get in over my head

[tmsmalley]

Some of the manufacture coupons say one coupon per item purchased... does this mean I can't stack with a store coupon?

I just got a few copies of the Dollar General coupons, and they say "Limit one offer per customer, per day," What does this mean? Can I only buy one item of a certain brand (no duplicates)?

I cut out two BOGO coupons for BIC disposable razors. "Coupon may not be combined with any other offer." - That means I can't use it with BOGO sales at drugstores like CVS, doesn't it? :(

Sorry for the n00b questions... I've read so many threads on here my eyes are about to fall out. I'm just starting out and I haven't even made an official "couponing trip" yet so I'd like to know about this before I get in over my head

When a manf coupon says one coupon per item purchased, they mean that you use one coupon on this can of corn and one coupon for the next can of corn. They don't care if you stack a store coupon on it too because they don't pay the store for store coupons (the store takes those out of their sale budget). So, if there's a store coupon too, then you'd use a store coupon and a manf coupon for each can of corn (oftentimes the store coupons apply to any cans of corn you purchase that day and you don't need one for each can).

Usually, if there are limits on quantity, these are on the store coupons. For example, I had one today that said "limit 4". That means you can only get 4 of that thing in one trip. Some stores don't mind if you ring up separately 5 orders back to back, others do so you'll have to see how things like that go if you really want to do it. At some stores you'll have to go to different stores or come back different days.

If it says "limit one per customer per day" then I take that to mean what it says. You can get the eggs for .99 on Saturday and then you can't get another unless you come back on Sunday with another coupon. Since these things usually work in conjunction with a store club card, I assume that they can track/prevent it if you've done this 5 times today. Maybe not, but that's how I approach it. That's certainly how they mean it.

As to the BOGO thing, that's hard to say. There's a big long BOGO thread here and there are as many combinations as couponers! You could certainly try using it with a BOGO sale and see what happens. It may depend on the specific chain and even the particular store manager as to how it applies.

Hope this helps some!
Tess

[Kana16]

thank you!

[Kana16]

question about rebates and RRs... how long do the check rebates take to get back? And for the rebates at CVS like the ECB (these go on a reloadable GC right?), are they put on their automatically as soon as you fill the form online?

[Shadowchasy]

question about rebates and RRs... how long do the check rebates take to get back? And for the rebates at CVS like the ECB (these go on a reloadable GC right?), are they put on their automatically as soon as you fill the form online?

Check rebates that you get in the mail usually take any where from 4 to 8 weeks. It should tell you on the form you send in how long to allow.

As far as I know CVS does not have reloadable GC for rebates. Walgreen's used to have the reloadable GC for the rebates, and yes those were loaded as soon as they were processed, usually a couple of weeks, sometimes sooner.

[Kana16]

oh, I guess I got them mixed up. Dang that's a long time for Check rebates... kinda makes me not want to go that route, lol.

Is it OK to go through recycling bins at the PO? I've seen posts saying it was illegal because it's PO property, but I just saw another one saying "check your local PO recycling bins!" ?

[Shadowchasy]

oh, I guess I got them mixed up. Dang that's a long time for Check rebates... kinda makes me not want to go that route, lol.

Is it OK to go through recycling bins at the PO? I've seen posts saying it was illegal because it's PO property, but I just saw another one saying "check your local PO recycling bins!" ?

I too have heard that it is a Fedral Offense to go through the PO bins. I would suggest that you ask at your local PO to be sure.

[McQueenMommy]

I went to my first coupon class in November and have been doing pretty good with saving money. Last night I hit the Lowe's Food triples. I was in the isle with the McCormick's seasonings. I was searching for the .75 cent off Perfect Pinch seasonings. A Lady (who knew what she was looking for) commented that you could use that coupon on ANY McCormick seasonings. She said it went by the UPC code. She said that if the first 5 (big) numbers of the UPC code were the same it would take it. Is this true???? I tried it last nite but I had soooo many .75 cents coupons it didn't triple on two (but I think that was possibly the Del Monte Mixed Fruit due to the 9 at the beginning). If this is true...it will greatly change the way I shop. Thanks

[gctattoo]

I went to my first coupon class in November and have been doing pretty good with saving money. Last night I hit the Lowe's Food triples. I was in the isle with the McCormick's seasonings. I was searching for the .75 cent off Perfect Pinch seasonings. A Lady (who knew what she was looking for) commented that you could use that coupon on ANY McCormick seasonings. She said it went by the UPC code. She said that if the first 5 (big) numbers of the UPC code were the same it would take it. Is this true???? I tried it last nite but I had soooo many .75 cents coupons it didn't triple on two (but I think that was possibly the Del Monte Mixed Fruit due to the 9 at the beginning). If this is true...it will greatly change the way I shop. Thanks

That's coupon fraud. You have to use the coupon for exactly what the coupon says. If it's for Perfect Pinch seasonings, you must get one of those. Just because it may work on other varieties, that doesn't make it right.