Winners chosen (post46)-tysvm for playing! RAOK for HCW tips...

[trvaliant]

I'm still a bit of a newbie and sometimes I feel like I'm missing out on some cool HCW features since I'm a self-taught HCW user.

I literally just stepped foot in the auction arena a couple weeks ago...too scary.

I was only using HCW in the beginning for the database and then there is way more here than what I'm using so here I am learning new stuff each day...

To win this RAOK of a ginormous potluck envie (will try to match WL, print IP's, etc) which will include 2 oz of coupons and stickers and maybe some other fun bonus items...you simply must post a tip about how you use HCW...it can be anything from how you log on, bookmark the page, use a certain feature, forum etc.

Be thorough-like HCW tips for dummies here ("I'm the self-proclaimed dummy')-so none of that fancy talk IMO LMK NLT TYSVM WL craizies...

M'kay, are we all clear? I will pick an end date after I see how the responses are coming---I hope you can help me (and others) learn more cool HCW features and such so that we aren't missing out;-)

It's like HCW school via the net...uh er-or something like that

Tip away...and you can give more than one tip-just separate them in different posts so each can be an entry. If you give all your tips in one post, that's only one entry.

If you blow me away with info-I may just add an addt'l RAOK;-)

Edited to add: these tips rock! For each 10 posted tips I am choosing one addt'l winner and will post who won and what on or after the deadline...keep those tips coming;-)

Ready, set, GO!

[pasharain]

Hey TRVALIANT, PashaRain here!

HOW TO CREATE A WISHLIST (that includes your typed out items and database items!)

Click on my Wishlist below to see how it looks! :-)


First, use the COUPON DATABASE to create your list. Just use search box to find coupons you want for the items you want. To add items to your WL, select "Wish List" from the dropdown box on the left of the search box in the action column. Next rank it by high, medium and low need. There is also a "notes" box to the far right where you can note things like "this value only please," etc.

To get your list into the Wishlist forum click "update post." A text box will appear where you can add in anything you want to appear on your Wishlist above the database items. This info will be saved and will post at the top of your list each time you update. Finally, click submit.

Updating your list:

Once your list is created in the database and put into the forum, the infomation is stored in the database. You can go in at any time to add more items the same way as you did when you first created your list.

You can update existing items on your list by clicking the wishlist tab in the database.

Each time that you change your list, up to once daily, you will need to click the wishlist tab and the update post tab so your old list in the forum is replaced by the newly updated list.

Note: I copied most of this from the original post re: Wishlists.

[cpaige]

When I go into a forum, I always open up a second window so that I can have the coupon database open and ready to go. Makes things much easier rather than writing the items down that I want to find, and then going into it. Do my search, find the coupon and move on to the next item. I also have a cute little embroiderd (?) box that I use to put random coupons in that I have found throughout the week. I come home, put them in there and at the end of the week, or when I have time, I file them in my binder. Saves me from washing the coupons, as I have done......numerous times!

[SFShopper]

A feature I didn't really utilize til recently "new posts" I use it now - as there might be some interesting things mentioned in parts of the forum that I'd never thought to check out...

[Gardencook]

As soon as I log onto HCW, I try to hit the User CP tab on the left-hand side of the page. If you have pms waiting to be read, you will get dialog boxes asking if you want to read them, but the User CP area will have them listed anyway. There you can also quickly see any new posts that have been made to threads you have been following and also check on reps and other items pertaining to you. Before I started going there, I seemed to miss a LOT!

[amylynne01]

A feature I didn't really utilize til recently "new posts" I use it now - as there might be some interesting things mentioned in parts of the forum that I'd never thought to check out...

Evelyn! I just found that too, and how long have I been here??

Did you know that we have social groups? For example, there is one for shoppers from Massachusetts so we can have shop talk or off-topic talk about stuff in our area, local papers, fun stuff for kids, politics, gas prices, etc. Click on User CP on the top left, and in the left column, there is a link to Social Groups. There are tons out there!

[slw1127]

I shop all the drugstores for good deals. I love that ads are posted a week or two early so I can gather coupons if needed. I keep a list either in excel or on my calendar listing items that will be on sale each week (usually free). Then I can check to see how far in advance I have checked.

[trvaliant]

As soon as I log onto HCW, I try to hit the User CP tab on the left-hand side of the page. If you have pms waiting to be read, you will get dialog boxes asking if you want to read them, but the User CP area will have them listed anyway. There you can also quickly see any new posts that have been made to threads you have been following and also check on reps and other items pertaining to you. Before I started going there, I seemed to miss a LOT!

Love this one...didn't know about it and I see all the reps that I didn't know I'd rec'vd....funny!

[stephpinktree]

Whenever I am looking for coupons a person wants (like looking at their post or wishlist), I open a new window with a private message to them so once I find a certain coupon they want I can quickly type it in and how many I have. Then go back to the other screen which has their list to keep looking for more matches.

[SariniLynn]

When looking through someone's database wishlist, I find it helpful to click the 'Source' header at the top to sort by coupon type. That way, I can make sure I check all of the insert and printable coupons, and then skim product names for the other types to see if I have any matches.