1) The name of the insert (Valassis or Smart Source).
2) the date of the insert,
3) the order they appear in the inserts,
4) product name of coupon,
5) face value of coupon, and
6) date coupon expires.
Many times, an item will go on sale many weeks after the coupon was distributed in the Sunday newspaper coupon inserts. By saving the coupon inserts, each coupons can be used when the item is "on sale" in order to achieve maximum savings.
I have listed these coupons in order to make it easier to find the ones that are needed when the couponed items are offered on sale at your grocery store. Just check your weekly grocery store ads, then search the coupon list and cut out only the coupons you use. It will save you time cutting and sorting through coupons.
When I first started using coupons, I would cut out only the ones I thought I would use. Then I discovered that I was throwing away coupons that would have given me some great deals or even free items. So I started listing the coupons on my computer. But one day my computer crashed, and I lost my long and extensive list. Over the next few days I put them on a web page. That way I would still have my list regardless of the condition of my computer.
Most weeks there are two packets of coupons from the two main distributors of Sunday coupon inserts. Those companies are
SMART SOURCE and
VALASSIS.
Smart Source usually identifies itself boldly on the front page of the insert. Smart Source also allows you to print coupons at home on your computer printer.
Valassis puts its name in small print on the front cover spine and does not offer printing of coupons at home.
The date of the insert is on the spine of both Smart Source and Valassis. Be advised that this date will be in very "fine print". I recommend that you write the date somewhere on the front cover in large print. Be sure not to put the date on the backside of a coupon or coupons that may be located directly behind the date you write. If you perfer not to keep the whole insert, then cut out the coupons and then put them in an envelope with the date of the insert on the outside.
These inserts vary slightly by region or location. But for the most part 75% are the same across the United States. My coupons come from the Phoenix, Arizona ARIZONA REPUBLIC newspaper.
To get the most bang for your coupon buck, I suggest you try to use your coupons at stores that double or triple their face value and only when that couponed item is on sale (when possible). Then, when you find a great deal with a coupon, try to get additional coupons to purchase as many more of the item as possible. Example: Store "X" has a loaf of bread on sale for 99 cents. You have a coupon for 50 cents off that loaf of bread. If the store doubles the coupon, that makes the cost of the bread "free". Two more coupons earn you a total of three free loaves of bread. But it would be unwise to purchase more bread than you would use before it goes bad. I have done this though, by donating my "free" food to the local food bank. Canned goods and non food items are good ones buy "as many as possible"
How can you get more than one coupon from the Sunday coupon inserts?
Well you could buy several copies of the Sunday newspaper. Or find someone that buys the Sunday paper but doesn't collect or use coupons. Or, share with someone that does but doesn't have the same needs as you. Example: A family with teenagers won't need the same coupons as a family with small children, babies, pets etc., or someone who is retired or single. Coupons can be purchased at places like:
Ebay
Cents off
Dina's Coupon Service
Another excellent place to trade or buy coupons is at a coupon trading posts. There are several out there, and most of the people trading and selling coupon list here are experts at using and collecting coupons. Just spend a few hours reading the posts and before long, you too will be an expert. Even if you do not buy, sell, or trade, the information you will learn from others in a trading post can be invaluable.
There is an additional way to save using coupons. If any of your local grocery stores offer Web Bucks, then sign up and save even more. It is an excellent way to make a good deal an even better deal. Web Bucks are coupons that are printed up at the cash register and are in various value amounts. These coupons can then be used same as cash at the store on your next purchase.
When an item is on sale, and you have a coupon for that item, you score what is known in the couponing world as a double play. If you get an item on sale and get double or triple coupon value, then you score a triple play. Getting the item for "free" is called a grand slam. Rarely can you score a grand slam without scoring at least a double play. Since all stores will only double the value of a coupon to its "free" price, then that is the greatest savings (100%) you can achieve, .... with one exception. Web bucks offer the opportunity to score a grand slam, or something even better. Every once in a while, you will come across an item that is on sale, you have a high value coupon, and WebBucks are issued for that item. Yes, I have actually purchased items for free or near free, and was issued Web bucks on top of that. That means I saved OVER 100% on the items..... THATS RIGHT, THE STORE ACTUALLY PAID ME TO BUY FROM THEM! That is because you can use your coupon(s) and receive Web Bucks
One more important thing about WebBucks. The deals change every Monday. If you find a great deals with WebBucks before Monday, don't wait until Monday or later to take advantage of it. Chances are good that it will be gone by then. Check again every Monday morning, because there may be something different to take advantage of with your current coupons.
In the area where I live, grocery sales start on Wednesdays and end on Tuesdays. I wait until Sunday, Monday or Tuesday to shop. There are a couple of good reasons why:
That way you have the most current Sunday coupons with you,
and the store is more likely to have sold out of the items you are looking for. Then you can ask for a "rain check". A rain check is desirable, because it will give you a chance to gather additional coupons for the items which you can then purchase 2 weeks, a month, or even further in the future at sale price. Always get the rain check for the maximum number of the item that the store will allow. (You are not obligated to buy the amount requested)
I try to always shop on Tuesdays, even if I had shopped there earlier that week. Then you can use any additional coupons you may have on sale items you might need, and of course, be sure to get rain checks for any out of stock, sale priced, couponed items the store may or
MAY NOT HAVE, if you know what I mean.
The stores may also let you look at the ads that will start the next day too. Then you won't buy something that you NEED today if you know it will be on sale tomorrow.
If your local newspaper doesn't include the ads that begin on the preceeding day in their edition, ask a store employee if you can get one from them.
When an item is purchased on a "buy one, get one free" promotion, you may be able to use two coupons; one for the one you buy, and one for the "free" one. (unless the coupon is buy 2 or more). This "two for the price of one" promotion is a great way to score a grand slam, or better. Some stores are catching on to this method and they may not allow a coupon to be used on a free item. It doesn't hurt to try it and see. I have noticed that this method DOES work on raincheck items. That is because the stores computer is not programmed to prevent this during the time the item is not "buy one, get one free.