October - December Seasonal Shopping...What to Buy

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Historically many items that we purchase are consistently at their lowest price throughout the months of October through December. It's important to know when specific items are at a deep discount so you can stock up, by doing this you keep yourself from making purchases because you need an item which leads to spending more money then you have to. It also helps you determine whether or not you should wait to make a larger purchase.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Toys

October - December: If you can find toys on clearance purchase them now and save them for Christmas. Right now many items are on clearance to make room for new items that will be available Black Friday. We have already begun finding many coupons for toys. This week we have seen up to $80 in Toy coupons on Coupons.com.

Holiday Baking Items

November - December: Sales will skyrocket on your holiday baking items: Flour, Sugar, Yeast, Chocolate Chips, Baker’s chocolate, Sweetened condensed milk, Cooking oil, Pie crusts Ready-made dough Dinner rolls Frozen Pies, Cake mix, Cake frosting, Pie filling Refrigerated Cookie Dough and Spices. The best time to buy if you have stocked up on these items will be after the holiday but with coupons combined with sales you will save a ton on these items throughout November and December.

Appliances

November - December: You also may want to take advantage of the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program: Also known as Cash for Appliance Clunkers. Consumers will be eligible for a rebate only if they buy products that meet federal Energy Star qualifications for appliance efficiency. Rebates under the program could range from $50 to $250, depending on the type of appliance but this will be based by state. It's something to watch for if you are wanting to buy new appliances.

Cars

October - December: First, shop online. You can find out the price of cars online and even locate what and where to buy what you want. Next, the new year's models come out in early fall and to make room for new inventory and the old inventory has to go. Go at the end of the month - it's all about quotas. If the dealership has yet to make their monthly quotas, they are likely to make a deal. The end of the year again is another great time as they are trying to get rid of their old inventory.

Here is a quick list of items to look for in the next few months.

OCTOBER: FOOD

--Canned fruits and vegetables
--Dried fruits (raisins, apricots, cranberries)
--Soups, broth

OCTOBER: NON-FOOD

--Furniture
--Large appliances
--Lawn mowers, grills
--Toys

NOVEMBER: FOOD

--Turkey, cheese
--Soup, broth
--Ready-made dinner rolls
--Baking staples and supplies (spices, foil, etc.) also frozen pies

NOVEMBER: NON-FOOD

--Cookware
--Electronics
--Large appliances: State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program**

DECEMBER: FOOD

--Ham, cheese
--Baking staples and supplies (spices, foil, etc.) also frozen pies
--Refrigerated cookie dough
--Soda

DECEMBER: NON-FOOD

--Electronics
--Carpeting and Flooring
--Tools
--Toys
--Cars

Is there something that you wait to purchase each year? If so let us know what it is and when you buy!

Thanks to MyCityMommy for this great guide!

What do I do with expired coupons?

DON'T THROW THEM AWAY!

If you've come to a workshop you already have one reason to keep your expired coupons! But, what about those products you just know you'll never buy no matter HOW low the prices go?

Save them to send to military families overseas. Families stationed at bases outside the US can use expired coupons in the Commissary for up to six months past their expiration date. It requires considerable resources to move your family to another country and as you can imagine, there are only so many things you can ship (especially when you are restricted to a certain capacity limit). Many families have to restock their kitchens completely.

If you are interested in reading more information about this please check the website for "The Overseas Coupon Project" http://www.ocpnet.org/.

101: Walgreen's

I started saving with Walgreen's for two reasons. First there is one every five miles in our town and secondly it's so convenient it's silly not too. Walgreen's can be confusing though so I will try to keep this as simple as possible!

The first way to save is with the Weekly Advertisement. They change every week so you can click here to view your advertisement, pick it up in the front of the store, subscribe to your local paper, or check your email once you have registered with Walgreen's and they will send the ads for the week. The weekly advertisement has great deals each week with coupons. Check the limits on the coupons because you can always purchase more than one of the item at the unbelievable price. These coupons also can be used with manufacturer coupons that you find online or in your paper each week. *I will post the Walgreen's coupon match up weekly so you know before you go what you want to clip if you already haven't received the catalog.*

The second way is Register Rewards. Register Rewards are coupons that print at the end of your transaction. When you are browsing the store they tell you exactly what you need to purchase to receive the Register Reward under the product you are interested in. These rewards are coupons good on your next transaction, they have an expiration date and are not valid after the date.

Register Rewards are the same as manufacturer coupons. You are receiving a coupon from a company only good for cash off of your next transaction. You have to have the same amount of products as coupons or your Register Rewards will not print. For example if you are purchasing 2 toothpastes, have two coupons, and will receive a Register Reward you have to have another item to scan or it will not print. Many people just add on a low priced item so they can still use their coupons and receive their Reward.

Register Rewards from the same company will not print in the same transaction. If Johnson's is offering two Register Reward deals in the same week you have to split your transaction because you will only receive one even though you are purchasing both Johnson's products.

You can not use a Register Reward that you received on a specific item on the same deal. For instance Huggies was offering a $10.00 Register Reward if you purchase $20.00 in Huggies products. Many people were trying to use their $10.00 Register Reward on the same deal but the Reward wouldn't print since the register knew they had already received it.

The third way is when Walgreen's issues coupons for 2 specific days that you can purchase $20.00 in products and receive $5.00 off of that purchase. *I will post these for you.*

So that's Walgreen's in a nutshell. Almost everyone I know goes there so why not save.

101: CVS

Just like with Walgreen's, I rarely shopped at CVS until I discovered the great deals there. There are many ways to save and even earn money while shopping at CVS.

We will start with the Weekly Ads. You can get the Weekly Ad online, in front of the store or in your local Sunday paper. The Ad lists all sale items and items that will produce Extra Care Bucks and the quantity needed to earn them.

What are Extra Care Bucks (ECB)? These are dollars that you earn when making a certain purchase and can be used on any future CVS purchase. You do not have to get all the items at the same time but will not earn the ECB until you fulfill the entire purchase. Your ECB will print out on your receipt so make sure to always check before throwing away your receipt. There are weekly and monthly ECB. *You will also earn 2% back in ECB quarterly on your purchases which will print automatically at the end of the sales period.

In order to start earning ECB, you need to have an Extra Care Card. You can get a card simply by asking a cashier for a form or by signing up online. If you fill out the form in-store, you will get your card to start saving imediately. However if you sign up online, it will take about a week to get your card in the mail. Remember to register your account online to receive special offers by email or in your mail box.

In addition to ECB, there are also CRT (cash register tape) coupons that print automatically on your receipt. These are not listed in the Weekly Ad and just print randomly. These are pretty general , for instance, $2.00 off of Huggies Pull-ups. You can also get X off of XX CRTs. It will look like this~ $4.00 off of $20.00. Both are considered stores coupons and can be combined with manufacter's coupons (MFC). You can stack a basic CRT, a X off of XX CRT and a MFC all together for maximum savings. Just make sure to hand the cashier the X off of XX first while the total is the highest.

Here's what it looks like:

Buy (2) Huggies Pull-ups @ $10 each = $20.00
Use $4 off $20 first
Use (2) $2.00 CRT's =$4 off
Use (2) $3.00 MFC= $6 off
Total $6.00 for both packs of Pull-ups

Even better if you would earn $5.00 wyb $20 worth of Huggies
Total would be = $1.00!!

Making money at CVS can be very simple! Almost every week there is a promotion where you will earn the same amount of ECB that you spend.

For instance:

Colgate Toothpaste $2.99
Earn $2.99 ECB wyb 1
Use $1.00 off MFC
Total = $1.00 overage after coupon and ECB

CVS also has other great ways to save:

Clip-Free coupons that will automatically be taken off at the register. You can find these in a flyer by the front door.

Email or "snail mail" coupons - remember to sign up online to get these.

BOGOF sales - you can use two MFC coupons on a buy-one-get-one-free sale.

For example:
Max Factor Mascara $7.99 BOGOF
Use (2) $3.00 off MFC
Total = $1.99 for both

As with anything, "practice makes perfect" so don't be discouraged if you make a few mistakes. You'll be shopping like a pro soon enough.

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Coupons 101

I used to think that coupons were just plain silly. You were wasting your time cutting them on Sundays, and printing, and looking for that special item in the store. You were really ridiculous when you went to check out and handed the cashier 10 coupons while I was waiting with my two little ones behind you. Then I realized that I was the silly one for not using them. Manufacturers spend billions of dollars yearly to supply us with coupons and most of the time not even half of those are used. I am the one sitting at home with the empty pantry with my $1 generic noodles and some .99 cent cheese to top them with while that coupon lady or man still has their pantry full with name brand foods that are actually good! Don't get me wrong the cashier does look at me funny when I hand her 30 coupons but, I look at her with a smile when the bill decreases by $50.00.

Couponing is somewhat of a game. You start slow and as you move on you become knowledgeable of all of the In's and Outs and before you know it YOU win. I will start with the basics of couponing and as we move ahead and you will learn more with the homework I have done already for you on my site. I guarantee that you will be saving at least $100 a month on your grocery bill. Oh, I forgot you aren't paying for this. :)

The first key is getting your local paper on Sunday, checking out the coupon printable web sites, and knowing what magazines are best for coupons.

*If you are a sassy couponer then you will be purchasing more than one of your paper. You can actually preview what coupons will be in the paper by clicking here, then you can buy more papers when you are out. Also check out the 2009 Coupon Insert Schedule so you know when there will be multiple inserts and you want to purchase more.

If you are ready for printable coupons my favorite sites are Coupons.com, RedPlum.com and SmartSource.com.

All You is the best magazine for coupons, you can get a subscription here. We also recommend a list of the best online coupons on STL Mommy.

Be on the watch for: peelies on the product, hangtags under the product, and blinkies machines that blink throughout the store.

Now, do not think that because there is a coupon for $1 off of 2 frozen meals that it is a good deal. Most of the time those meals are $7-$9 and buying two well then you have really wasted some money on something you don't even know if you will like.

Be organized with your coupons. It is hard enough if you are a mom shopping with your kids in the first place. If your not a mom then keeping your coupons organized and keeping a list of what you want to purchase will work. (Keep a list and keep to your list, unless you forgot to add bread).

My method is keeping a file folder for the weekly inserts by date, also known as the Coupon Mom system. . When the advertisements are posted I then pull out the date of the specific insert and clip the matching coupons. I use the Couponizer to keep my coupons separated and organized.

I use SS for Smart Source, GM for General Mills, PG for Proctor and Gamble, K for Kelloggs, UN for Unilever and detail any printable match ups in the advertisements. I will list the matching coupons to the sales advertisements by writing, (1/25, RP) this means the coupon is in the Red Plum insert on January 25th.

Now that you have a stockpile of coupons it's time to match them up to the sales ad's. Each week it seems as if the same coupons come around so you should have at least 3 coupons for dish washing liquid when it finally goes on sale for .99. Being aware of the sales is really the key to making all of this work. If you just go to the store with your coupons and there isn't a sale price on the item then the Palmolive you just bought for 2.85 with the .25 coupon didn't really save you money. You have to watch for the sales, every 2-3 months they will come around on the same items.

Last but not least is creating a stockpile of items so you don't have to purchase out of necessity. This means your non-perishables, toiletries, etc. Pick them up when they are on sale and don't just purchase one purchase as many as you have coupons for. If you just get one then the previous purchase that cost $1 may cost you $4 next time even with your coupon.

101: Printable Coupons

Whether this is your first time to venture into Internet printable ('IP') coupons or you are an old pro, the information that follows will be helpful!

IP coupons are a great way to get started saving money while you are working on building a coupon stockpile or just becoming a frugal shopper!

First, the printing tips

:: You will likely be prompted to download a small program from the site you are printing from

• This is true of the "database" type sites (SmartSource, Redplum, Coupons.com)
• The program is not harmful (we've never had issues with them) and does not contain viruses or spyware (assuming you are using the sites we discuss here!)

:: There are some browsers that work better to print IP's than others, generally though any browser is fine

:: You are typically limited to 2 prints of a single coupon at any given time. Companies have different ways of tracking this: most are by IP address (different from 'IP' coupons), some by e-mail address.

• A coupon in .pdf format is an exception, these can be printed as many times as you like (we LOVE these types of coupons)
• Another exception to this is a coupon distributed directly in an e-mail (these are often store specific coupons like CVS, Bath and Body Works etc., often you get these as a result of 'membership')
• Remember to use your 'back' button and 'refresh' the page if necessary to print your second copy (this will save time going through a search or signing in again!)

:: Save your scrap/recycle computer paper for IP's....most coupons only take up 1/3 or half of a sheet of paper!

:: You do NOT EVER need to print the coupons in color!! And most of them state that on the coupon!

Second, where to find printable coupons! (because they won't find you!)

:: There are several links on our website near the bottom on the right sidebar labeled "Coupon Sites"

:: Our number one resource is Coupons.com (click the link to see a current list of available coupons).

• There are three places on our site where you can print these coupons without ever leaving BeCentsAble! (a.k.a. a "quick print")
  (1) Top of the page just under our search box
  (2) on either side of the page about midway down
• The offers are updated each week!
  You are limited to a certain number of prints (this varies based on the coupon and the mfg specifications).

:: We also have a link to a master list of coupons offered on a variety of manufacturer websites.

• These are called "bricks".
• Bricks are single coupons available only at a mfg's website

:: The two most prominent Sunday coupon insert distributors also offer printable coupons on their websites (listed below).

• Smartsource.com
• Redplum.com

:: ALWAYS, ALWAYS check the manufacturer's site for coupons and special offers. We try to keep up on all of them but it's hard!

:: Freebies4Mom does a great printable coupon roundup each Thursday (just after the grocery deals come out!). We recommend you check her site as well!

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You will find many other resources as you begin printing coupons online...this is only meant as a starting point.

Be sure to visit this site to find links to all the printable coupons we've discovered!

If you want to learn more, read this information and sign up for a Becentsable workshop!

101: Coupon Filing

In the interest of full disclosure...this is NOT our idea. The coupon filing system we use and reference on our site is the Coupon Mom system.

Why use a "system" vs just clipping and filing the coupons I think I will use?

We are all about saving time. As moms of two young children we need all the help we can get in the "making life simpler" area! This system will help you save time AND maximize savings.

Why would I want to save ALL the coupons and what should I do with the ones I won't or don't use?

Glad you asked! First, being frugal is sometimes about being flexible as well. There are some things we wouldn't normally buy but are willing to substitute when the price is right! For any economists out there this would be a "substitute good." Having the stash of miscellaneous coupons helps us get the most for our money. In addition, you can help military families stationed overseas by saving and sending your unused or expired coupons. We can help them and thank them by offering a small substitution for the great deals they could get here in the states!

So what to do?

When you get your Sunday paper you will file each insert by date in a folder or notebook for later reference.

It may be helpful to you if you glance through the coupons and the sales fliers each week but you DO NOT need to clip the coupons yet.

So, how do you know which coupons are in which ads in each part of the country??
This is the really great part of Coupon Mom's system! She keeps a database of all the coupons distributed in each insert each week and has them listed by state. Each Saturday afternoon Coupon Mom's database is updated with all the new coupons that will be out in Sunday's paper.

We also use Hot Coupon World's coupon database which includes printables, and there are numerous others you may come across surfing for deals.

Yes, it's a time saver. Put your feet up for a minute :)

For more in depth details you can take our workshop! Click here for more information on our workshops.

101: Coupon Filing and Retrieval

Coupon Filing Information

Read this article for detailed information on how we file our coupons to save time and money!

2009 Newspaper Insert Schedule

Insert Abbreviations

GM: General Mills
K: Kellogg's
PG: Proctor & Gamble
RP (V): Red Plum (Valassis)
SS: Smart Source

Other Acronyms

ECB: Extra Care Bucks
RR: Register Rewards
SC: Store Coupon
TC (or TWC): Target Web Coupon
Wags: Walgreen's
IVC: Instant Value Coupon (usually Walgreen's)

Read all about Printable Coupons

View more coupon resources by clicking here.

101: Coupon Clipping Services

Were you frantically looking for your coupon inserts over the Holiday weekend thinking certainly someone took them before you got to your paper?

No, no...hopefully you've found out by now that the Holiday weekend meant there were no coupon inserts.

We had a lot of questions and e-mails about them and it occurred to me that we might need to mention this!

To stay up to date on the coupon insert schedule print or save this schedule for the year!

If you DO happen to miss a week (happens to me more than I'd like to admit), you can always get what you need by purchasing the services of one of the wonderful coupon clipping websites we have linked on our site (and listed below).

Here's a little bit about how they work and why this might be a good answer for you!

Coupon Clipping Services keep in inventory a limited (but pretty large) supply of coupons and, in some cases, entire coupon inserts!

They charge a % of the coupon value for handling fees. They do not sell coupons, but rather, they sell their time to clip, sort and store them until you need them. Then they ship them out to you.

A little cash goes a long way when you are purchasing the services of coupon clippers! You can expect to pay about 10% of the coupon's face value in handling fees. Most services have a minimum order of $3-$5 and charge shipping on top of that (very low since you are getting small, lightweight paper)!

We recommend the three linked at the bottom of this post as reputable services and have never had issues ordering or receiving our orders from them.

You might wonder why you would want to order from a clipping service...

Here's an example of one of many instances when I've been able to benefit from these services:

My parents were in town a couple of weeks ago (over a weekend) and I forgot to go out on Sunday to buy extra newspapers...(besides which, the insert selection in my local paper purchased at the store pales in comparison to those in the subscribers papers each week!). On Monday, I logged into my account at one of the clipping services and ordered all of the inserts I missed. It was efficient (I never had to leave the house!) and I got 13 complete inserts for $16 (that included shipping). I would have spent $14 + taxes at the store and had to drive there to get them!

You can learn more advanced savings strategies including reasons and ways to use coupons clipping services, in the Advanced Workshop offered by Becentsable. You can earn admission to the Advanced Workshop ONLY by hosting a workshop in your home or referring individuals to the Online Workshop! Read more about Becentsable workshops.

Coupon Clipping Services We Recommend:

• The Coupon Master


• The Coupon Clippers


• Coupons and Things by Dede