Door Prize Brag!

[luckbealady]

Today I held a free 1 hour coupon class in my hometown, for anyone interesting in learning and more, and maybe creating a coupon group.

Only 5 people showed up (I was hoping for around 10), but they seemed really interested.

As part of my class, I decided to make up a gift basket to give away. The only 2 criteria was that everything had to be bought with coupons, and it had to be $25 (I spent $25.05 after taxes). I created it over a period of 2 months.

For the spread sheet, the totals are based on the number of items I bought (ie., the retail of 2 Crispers is $5). Some of the retail prices are actually a little low, because I forgot to check the shelf price.

ITEM	RETAIL	SALE	COUPON
Dempsters Garden Veggie Bread	$2.77	$2.77	$0.00
Crispers x2	$5.00	$2.00	$1.00
Playtex 360	$5.97	$3.79	$1.79
Finish Powerball (8 pk)	$2.00	$2.00	$0.50
Sunlight Detergent (32 loads)	$6.97	$3.97	$0.97
Tic Tacs	$1.44	$1.44	$0.00
Natrel Baboo Milk	$3.79	$3.79	$0.00
Royale Facial Tissues (6 pk)	$3.99	$3.99	$2.99
Vidal Sassoon 2 in 1	$5.26	$3.99	$1.99
Air Wick Oil Kit	$5.98	$5.98	$0.00
Air Wick Oil Refill	$4.52	$4.52	$0.00
French's Mustard	$1.79	$0.99	$0.49
Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce	$2.97	$1.97	$0.00
Bick's Relish	$1.77	$0.99	$0.49
French's Flavour Infuser	$2.00	$2.00	$1.25
Covergirl Nail Enamel	$2.97	$1.99	$0.00
Nestle Water	$0.98	$0.98	$0.00
Nestle Sparkling Water	$1.00	$1.00	$0.00
Catelli Spaghetti (500g)	$2.79	$1.79	$0.79
Dr. Oetker Pudding Supreme	$1.49	$1.49	$0.00
Fantastik Spray	$3.27	$2.99	$1.99
Pedigree Jumbone	$4.37	$2.24	$1.24
Lady Speed Stick Deodorant x2	$5.94	$3.94	$1.94
Special K Cracker Chips	$2.97	$1.98	$0.98
Schick Quattro Trimmer	$10.92	$7.00	$3.00
Crest Toothpaste	$1.67	$1.67	$0.00
Oral B Toothbrush	$2.17	$1.00	$0.00
Olay Bar Soap x3	$3.00	$3.00	$0.00
Friskie's Cat Food – Pate Toppers	$0.66	$0.66	$0.00
Glade Car Décor Scents	$2.99	$2.99	$0.00
TOTAL	$103.41	$78.91	$21.41
			$25.05

[sassypants]

Love it - great idea!

[Aggie]

Holy! This is so impressive that you decided to create a couponing group that you facilitated! The gift basket is very impressive as well! Hope there will be more groups to come with a higher turn out!

[Tommycoupons]

Nice one! Great way to help people stick it to the man!

[Coupon_Crazy]

A couponing class is such a good idea!! What a great way to get people to together to trade coupons/ discuss deals etc. I want to start one where I live

[ColleenMGorecki]

very great idea. lf you are in a small community maybe you can get your local paper to do a small acticle about it in it.

[Shirnette]

Great idea=great brag; can u imagine if this was done widespread nationwide, it would probably be a retailers nightmare & everyone looking to keep money in their pockets, dream.Go you!

[oscarandme]

That is wonderful of you!! Sharing the knowledge and I love the door pize idea.. I love Colleens' idea too to get people interested and get a better turnout. Good for you luckbealady and we are proud of youso much. Inspiring. Thank you for sharing and I know your group will grow. Keep us updated. Good job!

[avoncallingu]

Great idea and well done! Where did you hold the meeting and where did you advertise?

[luckbealady]

Great idea and well done! Where did you hold the meeting and where did you advertise?

Just around town (post office, grocery store, etc.) and at our local foodbank (where I do donations and they know about my couponing). I didn't go crazy with it, as I've never done it before, and it's been quite a while since I've had to do any public speaking.

It was "Dresden Days" - Dresden being our town, and it involved free events held at my church (where I held the class) and the Czech Hall next door.
I also advertised at our town wide yard sale earlier in June.
I got great feedback though, and the big prize went a woman who is expecting in December (and is coincidentally living with the son of our neighbours across the street!).
I had a second place prize of a glade automatic room spray and $5 Chapman's coupon, and a third place prize of a glade plugin kit and $4 Chapman's coupon.

My minister was happy with it, and wants me to do it again in the fall. One of the attendees suggested I do it next year again too at Dresden Days. It's not church affiliated per se, but the church is willing to lend their facilities if we're able to create a group that wants to get together, as it could be considered a community outreach program.