21 Things to be an Epic Couponer (full)

[Giving-Small]

So first things first - Happy Valentine's Day everyone.



Just for fun: This cool collage is created with a free online tool that will scan a web page from Amazon or google images ... and create a collage of all the images. And you can choose a shape. Link: http://www.shapecollage.com/

[scbpooh]

Sounds like you really have the ball rolling Darlene. Just let me know where and when you need help!

[Giving-Small]

There's so many topics to cover. Which ones first?

I decided finding coupons and using Smart Canucks to do that (where/what threads) is a fundamental couponer skill. If you just know how to do that, you're 90% of the way there.

It's amazing what this community of volunteers creates and maintains to help us all find and use coupons.

So a big thank you to all the folks who maintain the threads mentioned in this new slidecast.

Your Activities:

1. Share one thing that was new (or not - don't be shy to say you had this section covered) from this slideshow
2. Find a thread where people are discussing Okay or not Okay to print lots, take 1/2 a pad of coupons from the store, etc. Post the link here to the thread.
3. Tell us what your favourite coupon is so far.

Link to the show:
http://www.slideshare.net/GivingSmal...s-part-1/1/yes

[new2savings]

1. The new thing I learned about was the coupon database! Thanks!

2. Here is a thread on an okay/not okay issue on multiple accounts

3. I would have to say my favorite coupon so far is the milk2go b1g1 free!

[barbs]

[$power]

Happy Valentine's to you too Darlene

1) What I learned : there is a sticky on printables

2) Here's a link on coupon ethics: coupon code of ethics > hope I did that right, it was my first!

3) Favourite coupon: Greenworks save $5wub3. It was straightforward and that gave me confidence

Not included in our assignment: this is exactly the info I would want as a newcomer to couponing. I wouldn't be surprised if this series didn't end up as a sticky.

[susan.h]

Great video!
1. Did not realize that there are hidden save.ca/websaver.ca/brandsaver.ca coupons.
2. Here is a thread about taking coupons from stores (how many to take?).
3. My fave coupon so far is the FPC from Johnson & Johnson. Just used that coupon yesterday-on a $9.97 J & J baby gift pack (shampoo, wash, lotion, diaper cream-I'll use everything but the diaper cream-I can give that to my sister who still has a kiddo in diapers! )

[Giving-Small]

Wow -- you found some things I didn't see -- the coupon code of ethics!!! I`ll have to refer to that next time I work on this talk.

$power you were 99% on your link -- there's just two http:// s at the beginning
http://http//forum.smartcanucks.ca/1...anyone-canada/

-You want it to be this http//forum.smartcanucks.ca/171052-coupon-code-ethics-anyone-anyone-canada/

Oops - I did the same thing. LOL. So Code of Ethics one more time.

[Giving-Small]

new2savings and susan.h -- great coupons to pick. I`ve never seen that milk one. That would be handy for lunches. Susan.h - the any product including gift sets from J&J is a super wonderful coupon for moms and dads!

Looking forward to the other answers. Thanks for dropping in barbs and TVwatcher.

[Insane]

Giving Small I just wanted to pop my head in and say what a wonderful idea and a fantastic way to reach out to newbies! Kudos to you!

[eltada]

It's late here in the east so I need to hit the hay but not without doing my assignment!!!

1. I did not think about saving printable pdfs to my computer. I really like this idea as it doesn't waste.
2. Here is a thread discussing whether it's ok to combine a BOGO store deal and a BOGO coupon...I found that sale so confusing... lol! Not really an big ethics discussion but hopefully it counts. : BOGO store deal + BOGO manufacturer's coupon - can you combine them?
3. Favourite coupon? Hmmm....there are some good ones...my first exciting purchase was using the $7WUB3 Secret coupon. I was able to get a bunch in different trades and I am slowing building a supply of free (well, nearly free!) antiperspirant for the food bank. Personally, I like the cereal coupons because jeepers we eat A LOT of cereal! lol!

[Giving-Small]

Eltada - good thread to link to -- I've been wondering about that thread and didn't have time to read it.

Ah Insane, thanks for the kind words. So many SCers do so much to help each other. Pretty amazing.

[theweave]

I really don't think I much to add then what has already been posted on here for this assignment! I use the coupon database a bit on here, though not all the time or anything! I never wipe stores out of coupons either. And I always know that I am using valid coupons before I use them. That way I can argue it properly with the cashiers who beg to differ!

Still great stuff to know!

Okay I must admit that the one that I have trouble with is the printables, how many to print?? I admit that I have printed off 110 of $1 Ocean Spray coupons when they were on sale for $1 each and did use them! Although I donated 96 to the local Food Bank.

The one faux pas I did was print multiples of some soup coupons and photocopied them when I could not print more then two. The store took them and I bragged about it, only to find out they were not good in Canada and each one had a unique code... I took the soup back to Zeller's the next day and the manager said they were fine and already sent away.

So I learned that day that some printables have unique codes on them to prevent the same thing that I did myself! Lesson learned and have not done since then!

Usually I only print about 4 or 5 of them to use. I have printed more sometimes and just left them on the shelf for others to use as well.

[$power]

Wow -- you found some things I didn't see -- the coupon code of ethics!!! I`ll have to refer to that next time I work on this talk.

$power you were 99% on your link -- there's just two http:// s at the beginning
http://http//forum.smartcanucks.ca/1...anyone-canada/

-You want it to be this http//forum.smartcanucks.ca/171052-coupon-code-ethics-anyone-anyone-canada/

Oops - I did the same thing. LOL. So Code of Ethics one more time.

Thanks Darlene. This is the kind of stuff I had no idea how to do. We learn by doing....

[Giving-Small]

theweave -- you've pointed out something really important. There are lots of printables that are for the USA and at first glance you can't tell.

IMPORTANT -- How to spot a printable for the USA (or mfc coupon)?

Check the redemption address -- if it's not in Canada, don't use it. The retailer will not get the money back.

Using an Invalid Coupon - It Happens

Chris I think at some point we've all used a invalid coupon in error. Thanks for sharing how it happened for you because that's probably a common occurrence -- some printables you can print lots and others are uniquely identified with a unique barcode and are meant to be just printed once.

I've done the same thing you did Chris with an invalid coupon and tried to go back and return and was told - don't worry, it's gone so the staff were really nice and I also think it helped establish some trust -- that I was trying to follow the coupon conditions correctly.

Coupon Fairy Godmother

Chris has also mentioned another practice some couponers do with their extras - they leave some on the shelves near the products. I've never thought of printing extras Chris -- that's a neat idea.

Printing Multiples for Donating

Chris I have printed multiples for donations (maybe not as many as you -- I donate a lot. But it's a judgment call that we make.