Big ticket items...

[ShutterMom]

So because I'm new I have to ask. How you get big ticket items (laundry detergent, diapers, cleaners, etc) for dirt cheap or even free? For some reason I can't wrap my head around how this is possible. The items I tend to get are ones that are roughly a dollar then my store doubles the coupon I have to get whatever it is for free or cents. Can someone please help me with this =)

(Sorry if this has been asked before. Like I stated I'm new and I'm still trying to get use to the site and ofcorse, couponing)

Thank you in anvance to anyone that can help this clueless young mom/starter couponer

[booklover]

I have never gotten these items for free, but I do get them cheap. I wait till there is a sale at Target, and they have giftcard deals all the time: buy two Tide, get a $5 giftcard back. Or Charmin, or Bounty. The giftcard deals change all the time. I trade for high value coupons, so I usually have some $1/1 Tide, $1/1 Bounty, etc. So it brings the cost down but not free.

Another store I shop at is CVS, and they have deals all the time for various items, where you buy certain products and get ECBs (Extra Care Bucks) back. I often use my ECBs for other items I need, if there isn't any other deals I want to roll my ECBs on. I wait for sales on the baby wipes and diapers, they have sales on those every couple of weeks, it seems. Then I use any store coupons and ECBs, and any manufacturer coupons to bring the total down.

[auntrae378]

If you buy the smallest size, check the coupon for size specifications. I haven't found much of that stuff free yet either. I did get small (28 loads) Xtra detergent for .48 cents a few weeks back. only had 2 coupons but took it and ran. lol

you just have to watch all the ads and coupons.

I have found in my area at least, after a coupon comes out, about 3-4 weeks later, there is a really good sale on the items. They always hope you will use the coupon right away and won't have it for the sale price.

good luck with it. Make sure you get organized so you can track the sales and coupons.. it helps..

[$Saving!]

Some expensive items never can be received for free unless you use customer bonus $ (CVS, RiteAid, Wags 'money') or $ off your next purchase from CAT deals at grocery stores combined with coupons etc.

But if I'm getting something 50-95% off, I don't worry about free, I am happy to get the deep discount

And back *in the day* when such programs did not exist, the way to get things free was a coupon that would double and used against the smallest package of that item made it free. I still remember the poor man that had to pack up all the dish detergent, laundry detergent and 4 lb dog food bags when we got transferred to another state. He asked me if I did laundry for others, how many dogs I had etc. When I told him I got them free, of course I had to explain how I did it.

But back then, many coupons did not specify a size you had to buy so most coupons could be used on any size of the product. Ahhhh, those were the days But there are many more ways to save today that make more items across the board much better deals overall so the savings percentage over all purchases is much higher now than it was back then.

[ShutterMom]

Thanks =) I guess I need to do my homework on drugstore rewards. I don't know much about them. I do know I have a card for each of them though. Do any of you recommend anything I should be using or reading in order to really get the hang of saving? I do have a great stash of coupons,, just haven't done much with them yet except get a deal on cake mix for 25 cents a box =). I do really have to get a hang of this. being a young mom of three and just living on one income right now (I got hurt at work), its very much needed for me to save, especially living in New York.

[booklover]

If you have a CVS store, read Seedlady's Wagon Train thread. I found it to be very helpful in learning how to shop at CVS, earn ECBs, roll ECBs, etc. And lots of other people in that forum will gladly answer any questions you have. HTH!

[motherofmolly]

walgreens rr. from time to time you will see wags have a buy an item and get the same amount in rrs. you combine it with a coupon to get it for free or next to free and get your rr for a total mm.

you then take these rr's and get your high priced items.

another way, is your stores do "resets" once a year. they clearance out the items that are not selling or are getting a new look. combine these with a coupon and you get great deals. i got lots of Tide for under $1 2 years back that i am still using.