From around the blogosphere

So today I took the day off. I stayed up late, late, late (okay 4 AM) Wednesday night and finished up the grocery stores for you guys so that I could spend all day with my kiddos. We had great fun in the sun, with sunblock (that I got for FREE) of course! This is my last summer before I have a child in school and I want to soak up every minute that I have left of the little boy that will sometimes still call me Mommy and not just plain old Mom. I know that once he is surrounded by his peers on a daily basis I will loose a little bit of influence each day so I want to make sure and reinforce all of our beliefs into this little man so that when he is challenged by a fellow classmate he will remember what I taught him and be able to take a stand for the good & true. I am willing to let go and let this child grow into the incredible man that I know he will be but for now he is my baby, my firstborn, my heart and I cherish this time with him. Enjoy your day!

Check out this super important post here from Your Coupon Buddy and help if you can!!!

Also go here for a FREE quart of paint! Be prepared the site is slow but I was eventually able to get through.

I am back, kinda....

So I am back after taking the last 2 days off, I got a lot done! I made a flagstone walk leading from my driveway to my sidewalk, well ok I got help from my Mom but I did get some dirt on me too! When we were done it was so great to jump in the pool and cool off! I was able to re-organize my coupons and clean up some junk drawers/cabinets around the house but most importantly I had some awesome quality time with my kids.

I got CVS posted but will have to do Walgreens later tonight (can you tell that I am not a Walgreen's fan since I always do it last! LOL!) since today is my hub's b-day and we are heading out to his parents (2-hour round trip) for a yummy dinner!

Happy, happy 32nd birthday to my lovin' hubby! I am so excited to celebrate this day with him! I can't believe that this is the 10th one that I have got to be a part of! Time flies when your having fun!

Taking some time off

I have fallen so far behind on my motherly & household duties the last few weeks so I am taking today and tomorrow off. If you have any questions or comments I will still be answering them but I won't have any new posts. I will be back on Sunday with CVS & Walgreens. See you then!

How to Search Happy Couponing

Have you ever wanted to find something on Happy Couponing but didn't even know where to begin??? I understand that it would be very frustrating if you KNEW that you saw a deal on here and then when you were ready to take part you couldn't find it. To alleviate your stress here is a quick reference guide on how to get around Happy Couponing.

The easiest way, in my opinion is to use the "SEARCH BLOG" feature at the very top of my blog, below is a pic of what you are looking for:

Once you have completed your search use the "FIND" feature by pressing "CTRL" & "F" on your keyboard at the same time. The below pictured box will appear at the bottom of your screen. Type in the same search topic as before and it will highlight each time that topic is typed, to view the next just use the "FIND NEXT" button to the side of the search box

If you are looking for a specific store match-up I have all the stores logo's in the right sidebar and when you click on the one you are looking for it will take you to every post that I have ever done on that store. You can combine this search and the above search option if you know that what you were looking for was in a specific store's post. For example if you are looking for a printable coupon for Tresemme and you know that it was somewhere in a CVS post then click on the CVS logo then use the CTRL F feature and type in Tresemme to locate the coupon.

There is the "SEARCH THIS BLOG" box as well in the right sidebar under the store logos

Your results will appear at the top of my blog and will look like the example below

The BLOG ARCHIVE is under option if you are looking for a recent post (current week) you will be able to quickly find it there, this is located under the SEARCH THIS BLOG box.

If you are looking for a specific topic you can pull up everything that I have written on the subject in the LABELS MENU also in the right side bar under the BLOG ARCHIVE

Hopefully this info will help you maneuver around better. Have you found an easy way to "troll" blogs? Did this info help you or confuse you? Let me know, I am here to help!

I got a button!!

I am so excited, I've got a button! Copy the code below to put my button on your site! Isn't it cute!?!?!?!

Grab My Button
<a href="http://happycouponing.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://s558.photobucket.com/albums/ss27/happycouponing/?newest=1" /></a>

Thanks so much to Lea Ann at Mommy's Wish List for referring me to Nathan at We Use Coupons who made my button - Thanks guys!

New Grocery Stores

I am so happy to announce that I have partnered with Lea Ann at Mommy's Wish List & Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living to bring you the weekly grocery deals for Fiesta, Kroger SE & Publix. I will be adding the deals as soon as they post them and will also create a logo in my right sidebar for each of the stores that they cover. Thanks so much to these ladies for sharing the deals and if you cover a grocery store that is not covered here at Happy Couponing and would like to contribute or exchange stores please send me an email.

On a side note I will be a little late in posting the weekly deals for Albertson's, Central Market, Kroger & Tom Thumb due to the Swine Flu - no we don't have it but the local schools in my area are shutting down and I have been on the phone most of the day with my kid's school and other concerned Mommies out there. I should have all the deals posted by tomorrow. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Issues, kinks and total frustration

After working up my posts for Walgreens today some how my blog was selected to be reviewed by Blogger so I was unable to post it or even save it. By the time I realized it I was unable to copy and paste it into Word - there is the total frustration I was talking about. I was able to post CVS and my trip since I started those before the kink but for whatever reason they didn't show up in my Reading List for hours and hours after I posted it. It is now 2:30 AM and it looks like they reviewed my blog and have lifted the block - YEA!!! I will type Walgreens up again in the afternoon and post. Hang in there with me....

Happy Couponing!

How I Keep It All Organized - Part 3

COUPONS & MORE COUPONS

I have been asked by you my readers, by fellow shoppers, family, friends, & neighbors, "How do you organize all your coupons?" So here is the answer:

When I get my Sunday papers I separate the inserts & then group each like page. For example: When I flip through my 8 copies of RP, I flip each like page 8 times. Sometimes I staple the like pages so that I only turn the page once but now that I only have 1 week (04/05!!) of un-clipped coupons I really don't do this anymore since I find it more time consuming than flipping the extra pages. I write the date on the top of each insert in black sharpie then file it in pocket folders with brads, that I got FREE at Staples (August '08). Next I make up a label for the folder (see left) & place it at the top of the folder. My inserts stay in these folders until I have time to clip them.

Pictured here is after I have clipped the coupons & then filed them alphabetically in baseball card holders, I get these 3/$11 at Office Max. I use the front & back of the holders to save space & money! My MIL gave me a $10/$10 Office Max coupon that she FOUND, so that got me started with the holders, since then I have only gotten another 3 & haven't even opened 1 package. Clipping takes a lot of time but I clip while I watch TV & then I don't feel so guilty for just sitting in front of the boob-tube - "Hey! I am doing somethin', I am not just watching American Idol!!" I also don't clip as soon as I get the inserts I wait a week or 2 & that thins the inserts out as I use the coupons. I also cut 2 pages at a time, I am OCD so if I miss the line just a little it drives me nuts, if you are not a whack-o like me then be wild, cut more at time. At the beginning of each month I clean out my holders & if I took a lot of coupons out of 1 folder then I will move them around to free up a holder. When the folders start getting thin I will consolidate them as well.

Here is my Coupon Briefcase that I call Big Daddy, again you guessed it I got it at Office Max for around $17. I love it! It is very strong & should last at least a couple of years. The snap closure is REALLY strong so it's not a cheap little snap or Velcro. It is surprisingly not too heavy, I carry Big Daddy, Pinkie, my purse, a sippy cup, Grady Quinn & hold Lawson's hand with no more trouble than any other Mom you see at the grocery store! A lot of people prefer the big binder which is a way cheaper route but I had trouble with the coupons falling out the tops of the holders so this is what works for me, it might not be the route that you are looking for.

Here is a side & open view of Big Daddy.

In the top pic you can see that I labeled the folder once on the top and once on the side, I do the side label instead of making tabs for Big Daddy & the top label is just for me. In these pics I have all current inserts plus current All You coupons & miscellaneous (peelies, tear pads, etc) coupons filed in here.

For Part 1, click here, Part 2, click here

How do you like to keep your coupons organized? I would love to hear your tips.

Happy Couponing!

How I Keep It All Organized - Part 2

THE STORES - PART 2

Now that I have told you about my wonderful little Office Max Pocket Cabinet Files, here, I want to show you how I keep all of them together.


Again at Office Max, on the same aisle as the Pocket Cabinet Files, I found this neat little pink zippered "bag" that the files fit in perfectly. I don't remember exactly how much it was since Grady Quinn tore up the receipt but I am thinking $5.99 or so.

So now I've got my Pocket Cabinet Files for each store stuffed with the current ads, coupons, lists & such. I store them all in the pink zippered "bag", that I call Pinky, with a notebook, pen, scissors & a calculator. When I am ready to shop I grab Pinky and my coupon briefcase (I will tell you about that next) & I am ready to hit the stores. I do take Pinky & my briefcase into each store since #1 the catalina's can be used anywhere & #2 you never know what you are going to find on an un-advertised sale or on clearance.

As for the notebook, pen, scissors & calculator - I got those during Back to School sales this past year. That time will be here before we know it so just keep it in mind to look at the office store ads this August. I got the notebooks at Wal-Mart for 5¢ each, the scissors & calculator were FREE after MIR from Staples & I did get lots of pen's FREE after coupons & MIR but this one my hub picked up from a client.

Happy Couponing!

How I Keep It All Organized - Part 1

THE STORES

I shop at several stores (ok so I shop at 8 - no judgement) and when you have CVS ECB, Walgreen's RR, Albertson's Monopoly Coupons, Kroger's Home Mailer's, Target IP, just to name a few, here and there - your house/car can get cluttered in a hurry with papers and coupons. I was drowning, I was having such trouble keeping all my store "coupon stuff" organized that is until my wonderful Mom gave me a gift card to Office Max for my (early) birthday. I got several different items to help keep me and my coupons organized, here is Part 1 on the Office Max Pocket Cabinet File:

There is a handle at the top & the pockets are a durable thick vinyl. The back pocket is letter size & has an expandable 1-in bottom, the back is a sturdy black plastic that I use as a hard place to write on as I shop & I have even used it to stick peelies on until I get to the register. The front 2 pockets have snaps to hold everything in place. I labeled each file with the stores name that it belongs to, as you can see in the pic.

I keep ads, lists, home mailers & such in the large back pocket. In the left snap-pocket I keep receipts, coupons for that week & anything else that I need to take care of at that store. In the right snap-pocket I keep my catalina's & as I shop I take the coupons from the left pocket & switch them to the right pocket for more ease at the register.



As you can see in this pic it is small, skinny & light plus it's only $2.99! You would think that Office Max is paying me to say all this but unfortunately for me they are not I just really, really think that these folders make couponing easier. Also when you are the one that is at the register scrambling to gather your coupons you sure don't make any friends with the people in line behind you!

Click here to find an Office Max near you and here to learn how to earn $10 in Max Rewards, this week only.

PS - Thanks, Mom! I love ya!

Happy Couponing!

Buying the Newspaper

Want to start couponing? First thing you have to start buying the Sunday paper. I always get the Double Coupon Sunday Paper because it has (2) sets of inserts for a little less than buying (2) regular papers. The DSP can be found at CVS, Walgreens, grocery stores, gas stations & mass merchants, it will be right below the regular Sunday paper. I always get mine at CVS so that I can use ECB or my Rx Gift Cards to pay for it.

In this Sunday's parade magazine (inside the newspaper) there is a coupon for $1.50 off any Aveeno on page 9, don't forget to clip it out and store it with your other inserts for 03/08.

Happy Couponing!

Pharmacy Coupons

Several times a year CVS, Walgreen's, Target and Tom Thumb put out coupons in their ads for a FREE gift card when you transfer your prescription, read on to find out how these can be a huge money-maker.

When I first started couponing my Rx's were at Walgreen's but when CVS put out a coupon for a $30 GC when you transfer your Rx or with a new Rx, I was a willing participant. I transferred my Rx's one at a time to CVS so that I could get multiple GC since you can only get one per day. So now they were all at CVS, a month passed and it was time to start refilling them, what to do, what to do? Is it really "honest" to transfer them again to another pharmacy that is offering a GC? I am torn on that but then CVS swooped in and took care of that, they now accept competitors coupons on refills! Essentially you can get a GC every month at CVS as long as you hang on to these coupons! Now that can't be beat!

PS - I have Rx insurance so checking the cost of the Rx at the competing Pharmacy was never an issue for me but if it is for you make sure and do your homework before you transfer by calling the Pharmacy and getting a price check or checking online.

Happy Couponing!

Coupon Talk

If you are wondering, "So what does '<$1.00> 02/08 P&G' mean?", below you will find your answers.

* <$1.00> means a coupon for $1.00 off

* 02/08 means February 8th, each packet or booklet (inserts) of coupons that you get in the Sunday paper is printed on the spine with the date of the newspaper it was included in

* P&G means Proctor & Gamble, written on the top of each insert of coupons is either Proctor & Gamble (P&G), Smart Source (SS), General Mills (GM), Kellogg's (K) or Red Plum/Vlassis (RP)

Here are some more abbreviations, lingo & terms that you will see:

* exp means expiration date, this is when the coupon expires and is no longer valid

* Stacking coupons means when you use a store coupon along with a Manufacturers coupon

* Peelie means a coupon that you find stuck to a product and you have to peel it off in order to use it

* Blinkie means those little machines clipped to the shelf's in stores and when you pull a coupon out it spits out another, most of the time there is a little blinking red light on top

* Mailer means coupons that you received in the mail

* MFGC means Manufacturers General Coupon

* IP means Internet Printable coupon

* Q means coupon

* Catalina means those receipt like paper coupons that print out from a seperate machine at the register

* MIR means Mail in Rebate

* psa means Prices Starting At

* wyb means When You Buy

* GC means Gift Card

* OOP means Out of Pocket or the actual amount of cash you pay/paid for an item

* BOGO means Buy One Get One FREE, also you will see B2G3 and such which means Buy 2 Get 3 FREE but sometimes if it says BOGO 50% off then it means Buy One Get One 50% off and so on

* 2/$5.00 means 2 items for $5.00, of course there are numerous other combination's

* $1.00/2 means a coupon that is $1.00 off of 2 items, so you have to buy 2 items to use this coupon, of course there are numerous other combination's for this as well

* WAGS means Walgreen's

* ESR means Walgreen's Easy Saver Rebate booklet

* RR means Register Rewards at Walgreen's, which are printed from the Catalina machine and are coupons that can be spent just like cash on anything at Walgreens except prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, gift cards or lottery tickets

* CVS'ing means going coupon shopping at CVS

* ECB means Extra Care Bucks at CVS, which are coupons printed at the bottom of your receipt and can be spent just like cash on anything at CVS except prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, gift cards or lottery tickets

* CRT means Cash Register Ticket at CVS, these print off after your ECB and are either coupons for an item that can be stacked with a MFGC or are coupons for a dollar amount off of a particular amount spent, like <$4>/$20, <$5>/$25, <$10>/$50, etc.

* Rx means prescriptions


Hope I answered all your questions on coupon lingo or did I leave something off, leave me a comment and I will be more than happy to explain or update.

Happy Couponing!

How did I get started

I have been getting asked quite a bit,
"So how in the world did you get started doing this?"

It all began on a chilly day back in late 2004.... (LOL!)
My husband, Larry Don, was changing positions in his company and for the first 3 months of his new job it would be about a $30k/year pay cut then it would pick up. When he told me that I was freaked! I am a stay-at-home Mom so we are a single income family and come on $30K is a lot of money! I was telling my Mom about this new position and she suggested that I use her Sunday inserts and start clipping coupons to save money until his salary stabilized. I reluctantly agreed. After flipping through the pages of coupons I started looking at the CVS ad for whatever reason and at that time I had never even been inside a CVS!!! The horror!! I noticed in the ad that there was a Venus Razor on sale for $1.99 and I thought that's a good deal and then I remembered that in one of those inserts was a coupon for $2.00 off any Venus Razor! Holy Smokes, Batman! Am I going to be able to turn in this little piece of paper and get a Venus razor?? Well the answer to that is YES! I look back and laugh now at how nervous I was but the checker of course acted like it was no big deal and just said, "Miss, here is your change" Change??? What?? Yup I got the penny back, I was hooked! I jumped right in full force and only stopped for a brief time while I was miserably sick with our second child and then nursing and you know what I didn't have to buy toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine products, shampoo, conditioner, stylers etc. the entire time! I started up again in July of 2008 and it just keeps getting better and better. My friend, Chasity, was wanting to learn my "secrets" so I had her over one day, gave her the 411 and then took her to Walgreen's and CVS for a little shoppin' and she was hooked too. She discovered this entire online world of couponing that has really changed my life and how I shop. So in February of 2009 after lots of encouragement from my family and friends I started Happy Couponing as a way to help want-to-be couponers make the most of their dollars spent at the grocery, drug and mass merchant stores. I hope you enjoy my blog and leave me a comment anytime to let me know what you think!

Happy Couponing!