#8...Bargain hunters find that Walgreens is one of the most popular stores for finding big savings on everyday products such as toothpaste, razors, shampoo, and other similar products. Many of these items are the very ones requested by Catholic Charities for our Joy of Giving Tree Program.

In addition to their Sunday ads, Walgreens offers the EasySaver Catalog rebate booklet which is published at the beginning of every month. You can locate these in the store near the front entrance or you can view the EasySaver catalog online. Click on "view current offers" next to the red rebate oval.

Inside the EasySaver you will find monthly rebates on select products listed along with several FARs (free after rebate) items. Also listed are monthly store coupons and other promotional items. Oftentimes, you'll be able to get a really great savings by stacking both a store coupon and manufacturer's coupon along with a store sale or rebate. Please know scenarios are coming soon at the start of the New Year!

The Register Rewards program at Walgreens is another type of rebate program. Unlike the EasySaver plan, which is for mail-in rebates, Register Rewards are "instant rebates. Specifically, they are Catalina coupons which print up separately from your register receipt after you purchase qualifying items at Walgreens.

The Register Rewards can be used like cash on your next purchase. Note: they do tend to have a short expiration date so plan accordingly.

Be sure to check here for more information on Walgreens exciting savings programs.

#7...Did you notice Janet Valente Pape's picture on the front page of the Wichita Eagle this morning?

Ms. Pape is the executive director of Catholic Charities in Wichita. She comments, " This past year was challenging and the forecast for 2009 may challenge her even more. For non profits, we have a huge challenge. There are so many unknowns about when we can expect recovery and how dramatic the impact is going to be. I find Wichitans pretty generous."

I know Ms. Pape would be proud of our efforts to aide the vulnerable in our community. Tommorow's blog will detail how shopping at Walgreen's store can become an invaluable tool for couponers.

#6...Double coupons at Dillons are a great way to increase your spending power.

EVERY day is double coupon day at Dillons! When used in conjunction with your Dillons shopper's card coupons will double up to and including 50¢ in value. All coupons over 50¢ in value up to $1.00 are also redeemed at $1.00.

Please remember to have the checker scan your shopper's card before taking coupons off your order. There is no limit to the number of coupons you can use during one shopping trip as long as you follow the rule: one coupon per item purchased. Dillons stores currently accept coupons up to and including 14 days after expiration.

All coupons with the number "5" out to the left of their barcode are programmed to double even if the coupon reads "do not double". You may find a checker who will refuse to double, however, it would be rare.

#5...Dillons partners with four companies which allow you to load coupons from your computer directly onto your Dillon's Preferred Customer Shopper's Card.

-Shortcuts.com
-P&GeSAVER
-Cellfire (ordering service with them is not required)
-Dillons Coupon Carrier

You can find information here

+Coupons on your shopper's card will not double.
+All coupons are for one time use only.
+Not good on more than one purchase of the same item..savings is on one item only.
+Occasionally, you will have more than one coupon attach to an item.
+A clipped manufacturer's paper coupon may be used with a coupon loaded on your shopper's card.
+You may redeem several or all coupons per shopping trip.
+Allow several hours for coupons to load onto your Dillon's card before attempting to checkout.

#4...The Internet has changed everything and as more and more couponers are learning, you don't have to rely exclusively on the Sunday paper anymore.

Many manufacturers offer coupons online that can be printed at home and used in stores. A printed coupon should have a barcode that can be scanned at checkout just like any other coupon. Printable coupons are available on coupon websites and directly from product manufacturers. Here are three great money saving sites for you to peruse.

www.coolsavings.com
www.wow-coupons.com/grocery.php
www.coupons.com

Aside from internet printables and the Sunday SmartSource, Redplum and P&G inserts another place to obtain coupons is through in-store offers. These would include:

Blinkie machines (on shelf blinking coupon dispensers)
In-store circulars
Tear pads
Peelies on product packages
Preferred customer card

Tomorrow, learn which four companies partner with a very popular Wichita grocery store to allow you to load coupons directly onto your preferred customer card.

#3...Although many people like the idea of using coupons, the task of clipping and sorting them can be intimidating.

A favorite approach of mine is to sort coupons into categories that mirror the order of the aisles. I purchase the divided paper coupon files at the Dollar Store...one for grocery stores, one for drug stores. This makes shopping easier, as the coupons will already be in the correct order as I comb through the aisles.

The categories shown below are based on the order of the aisles in a typical grocery store.

Personal Care / Medicine
Cleaning / Other Household Supplies
Meat / Dairy
Sauces / Dressings / Condiments / Jellies
Canned Goods / Soups
Pasta / Rice / Seasonings / Crackers
Beverages
Flour / Baking / Oil
Cereal / Breakfast Foods
Paper Goods / Containers
Baby
Frozen Food / Bread
Dessert / Snacks

A simple and well planned organizational method will cut down on the time required to maintain your current stash of coupons. I will return after Christmas to share with you where to find coupons other than your Sunday newspaper.

#2...Coupon users seem to have a language all their own. Below you will find the most commonly used abbreviations, acronyms, and terms.

MQ or Cpn - Manufacturer's Coupon
AD Q - A weekly instore ad coupon
CRT - Cash register tape/receipt
UPC - Universal Product Code...a bar code placed on a product to be read by a scanner.
IP or IPC - Internet printable coupon
PEELIE - A coupon attached to a product at the store
SS - SmartSource coupon insert in the Sunday paper
RP - RedPlum coupon insert in the Sunday paper
PG - Proctor & Gamble coupon insert in the Sunday paper
WYB - When You Buy
CATALINA or CAT - Coupon dispensed at your register after purchase. It typically has a red border and redeemable only at the store it is printed at.
BLINKIE - In-store SmartSource coupon near product dispensed from a blinking box
MIR - Mail in Rebate
WAGS - Walgreens
ESC - EasySaver Catalog (monthly wags catalog/booklet with coupons and rebates)
ESR - A rebate from the EasySaver Catalog
WAGS ESQ or IVC - An instant coupon from the EasySaver Catalog
WAGS AD COUPON - Wags specific coupons found in their advertisement in the Sunday Eagle
RR - Register Rewards (money savings coupons which print out after your receipt)
B1G1 or BOGO - Buy One Get One Free
OYNO - On Your Next Order (coupon to use on your next purchase)
FAR - Free After Rebate
STOCKPILE - multiples of the same purchased item
GD - Good Deal
MFR - Manufacturer
YMMV - Your mileage (or store manager) may vary
OOP - Out of Pocket (actual cash spent on a purchase)
RAIN CHECK - if a store sells out of a sale item ask your cashier for a rain check to take advantage of the sale price at a later date
HOT Q - A coupon which allows you to purchase an item for free or pennies on the dollar.
SCEN - Scenario (an outline of a purchase)

#1...Armed with manufacturer's coupons and rebates my posts in Blogger will teach you how to shop frugally at the grocery and drug store for Catholic Charities. Beginning in 2009 I will post scenarios detailing specific information on which items you can purchase and where to find the coupons to match with these items to maximize your savings.

The choice of when you shop and how much you buy is left entirely up to you. There are no quotas to reach and absolutely no strings attached. In fact, do not hesitate to use this information to learn how to become a better steward of your own resources. Here are a few items I recently purchased with coupons at no cost (other than tax). These were all donated to the SFA Joy of Giving Tree Program yesterday.

Buying for charity can be done for just pennies on the dollar. I hope you're as eager as me to get started! Tomorrow's blog will help you recognize coupon lingo.