Olympic Savings
“It’s true. I can’t run a mile in under
4 minutes. I can’t perform an award winning long jump or gymnastics routine. But when
it comes to saving money, I’m a gold medal winner! As you can see in my picture, I
have accumulated quite a supply of Curad Olympic Band Aids. These came out just in time
for the summer Olympics in Atlanta. They originally sold for $2.89 a package. When the
Olympics ended, they were no longer a hot item. I noticed a few months ago that our local
Meijer had marked them down to 79¢. I bought a few packages here and there when I would
get a high value Curad coupon and could get them free. Then in March I was in a competing
grocery store and saw one of the red blinky machines with 75¢ off any Curad product. I
started gathering up as many coupons as I could get. I have 43 packages in the picture.
That is what was left after I gave several to friends and family members. In all, I
purchased 58 packages of bandaids for 4¢ each, which came to a total of $2.32. That is
less than the original price for 1 package!
The story doesn’t
end there though. Unfortunately, I ran out of coupons before the store ran out of stock.
About a month later a new blinky machine appeared bearing 40¢ off any Curad product
coupons. Since Meijer doubles coupons to 50¢ the next band-aids I purchased would be
completely free! The bad news is that Meijer will only double on the first coupon.
Identical coupons are scanned at face value. So... I’m still collecting band-aids,
just at a slower rate. To date, I have accumulated about 70 packages and counting. Just
before my current coupons expire, I’ll have to do an Olympic “dash” and
redeem them all.
Coupons and refunding make me a gold medal winner every time!” Debbie
Dickson, Kalamazoo, MI
Sweet Rewards and Pudding, Too!
“It all started one Saturday morning on the way to
buy 3 packages of hot dogs for church. I stopped at our local Hornbachers, only to find a
couponer’s dream.... Sweet Rewards cake mixes for 69¢. I knew I had 50¢ coupons
to double, plus B1G1F coupons. Sweat rolls, the fingers go numb! I went to look for the
Hunts Pudding packs. Yes! They are on sale, too, and I can double the 40¢ Toys R Us
coupons. I hit one store before our church activity and two stores later that day. My
total even shocked me! 94% of this was all FREE! How is that for a home run?! I got 74
Snack Packs and 66 cake mixes. My total was a whopping $11.42. Yes, $11.42. I donated the
single puddings to our Super Saturday kids’ activity at church. I am going to teach
couponing to single parents soon. How about a free cake mix to get them going in this
great sport? Don’t forget the 74 Geoffrey dollars. What a payback!” -- Cindee
Stulz, MN
100 Bottles of Free Dressing!
“It was just your average Memorial Day weekend,
and I was doing my regular Sunday morning thing. Every Sunday morning I am up early with a
nice cup of coffee and my two Sunday papers. I clip coupons, post a wish list on the Prodigy
Couponing and Refunding Bulletin Board, and go through the store circulars. No coupons
to clip on a holiday weekend, but I went through all of the circulars to make a list of
loss leaders to pick up during the week. I noticed that Grand Union was having a sale on
Kraft Salad Dressing 2/$1, and I knew I had 8 coupons stashed away for $1/2 -- in other
words, FREE! But wait, the story gets better....
Thinking that the stock might run
low, I drove right out to Grand Union on Sunday afternoon. I happily selected 16 bottles
of my favorite flavors, and trooped on down to check out. Much to my amazement, the
checkout coupon machine spit out three $1 off groceries checkout coupons! They were
PAYING me to take the dressing out of the store!
I was so excited that I rushed home
and immediately posted a note to all my friends on the Prodigy Couponing and Refunding
Bulletin Board.... We often post notes when we are in need of coupons in a hurry. The
traders on Prodigy are great people -- fun, honest, and generous! They came through in
style.
I ended up making several different
trips and the cashier reactions ranged from “Wow!” to “This can’t be
right!”. One poor young man sat there with the last coupon in his hand looking
alternately from the register to the pile of salad dressing until he finally said to me,
“But then the total will be zero!” I told him, “Yes, that’s
correct!” So he just shook his head, scanned the last coupon, and handed me the
receipt and checkout coupons.
I ended up with a total of 100 free bottles, PLUS $25 in checkout coupons good on
anything!
My family does love salad, and we
marinate chicken and other meats in salad dressing so we will use a lot of it. I also plan
to give away some to friends and family, and to drop a bunch into the food pantry box at
church.
The girl in the picture holding the
$25 in checkout coupons is my youngest daughter, Bridget, 3 ½, who helps Mommy a lot with
shopping. I think that now I can safely claim that I am a professional shopper -- because
they paid me to do it!” Nancy K. Rudgers, Burnt Hills, NY
Off, Off, Off!
“I did it, I did it, I did it! I’m
talking about an almost FREE shopping spree. I have recently started a coupon club in my
area and at the last meeting I told them what I was going to do. The women were very
excited (and maybe a little doubtful), but insisted that I call the local paper. The week
I chose was perfect for my spree. Most of my coupons were going to expire at the end of
the month and the ads were fantastic for potentially free health and beauty aids.
My husband needed to watch our 17 month old, Matthew, but decided he wanted to watch me,
too. So the 3 of us went on a Saturday. Unfortunately, the local paper wasn’t open so
no one would be flashing that camera. Off we went with my stomach in knots and a hopeful
attitude for at least $100 in free groceries.
We got two shopping baskets and
began our two cart trip. I was armed with coupons from my regular sources, coupons
directly from the manufacturers and a rain check from Vons on previously out of stock sale
items. My first aisle was discouraging because they were out of some of the products I
needed. But it only took a few encouraging words from my hubby and I was back on track.
I finally found my first FREE
product, razors. I looked and had six coupons, but the limit on this item was 3 so we each
took 3 for our baskets. I was getting more and more excited as each aisle passed and my
cart began to fill up. I am lucky enough to have this store double up to $1 and you can
use 3 coupons on 3 like products. So, of course, my cart looked like an odd Noah’s
Ark with 3 of everything. Any extra coupons I gave for my husband to fill his cart. By the
time we got to the end of the store, our son had eaten all of his snacks plus the free
cookie from the bakery, and most of his water. So we were glad it was time for us to check
out.
What made my spree even better is that my favorite checker was there. She knows what a
couponer I am so she doesn’t inspect every coupon and if the scanner rejects it, she
just asks me if I bought it. She knows I’m honest because I do tell her if a coupon
got to her by mistake. As my husband unloaded I turned people away from the long wait by
showing them my coupon stack. One lady decided to stay and watch (Vons ended up giving her
a 4 pack of cupcakes for waiting). It took ½ hour to check me out, which I thought was
great. Of course, the checker, Connie, was quick. Most of my coupons were marked and the
coupons that exceeded the value to double I knew the prices so she didn’t have to
look them up.
My total came to $210 and I was
shocked and worried even though I knew I had a coupon for everything. The rain checks are
entered as if the sale is still running, so the regular higher price isn’t even added
to this total. Then off, off, off, came the coupons. I was so nervous and my husband kept
pointing to the melting ice cream in his cart. We almost got to the end of the coupon pile
and the register jammed. It wouldn’t allow her to deduct the last $4 in coupons, no
matter what she tried. I must have overloaded the
minus
key! She decided to just deduct it manually and was ready to give me my total. I had my
wallet out and was holding a $10 gift certificate from their store. She then announced my
total came to $3.48. I almost
screamed. My hands went up into the air and I did somewhat of a dance. Our son looked at
his crazy mom. I didn’t have the heart to give her the certificate, so I paid cash.
Oh, by the way, my honey’s cart
which we got things we needed, saved 67%. This picture doesn’t even include the 6
boxes of frozen Bagel Bites that I bought.
Thank you, RMC, for teaching me my
know hows, Vons for doubling coupons and Matthew for being a good boy on this long
spree.”
Laura
Lamberth, Ontario, CA
Toiletries Stockpile
“I’ve been refunding for almost
two years now, and this is the biggest my toiletries stockpile has ever been. I know to
some it may not look like much, but I’m definitely proud to say that nothing in the
pile cost more than 50¢, and most of it was totally free. Also, none of it was purchased
with free item coupons. My stockpile was built on the coupon savvy I learned reading RMC.
Watching the sales and clipping not only all manufacturers’ coupons, but also
clipping store coupons from their in-store fliers as well.
For anyone new to refunding, did you
know that you can use an in-store coupon along with a manufacturer’s coupon on a
product? I particularly like CVS, a local pharmacy. Most weeks they have an in-store
flier with many items for 99¢ with the coupon. Combine that with a manufacturer’s
coupon for $1 --- free item! I’ve gotten Almay mascara, Maybelline lipstick,
Excedrin, Arm & Hammer Laundry Soap, and Freeman Botanicals totally free that way.
I also check their clearance racks
weekly. I’ve learned the most basic rule of the Good Deal the hard way --- NEVER
leave home without your coupon box! Too many times I’ve rushed back to a store with
my coupons, only to find that “my” bargain ended up going home with someone
else!
I remember reading my first issue of
RMC and was literally blown away! Besides the fact that it was like trying to read a
foreign language, there were all of those pictures of people with hundreds of jars of baby
food, 30-40 packs of diapers, closets full of premiums. I remember thinking two things: I
could never do that and These people are nuts! So many people seemed obsessed
with refunding. They had files of Q’s, boxes of coupons, whole rooms devoted to the
hobby. Well, I must admit, it didn’t take long before the desk my husband and I
shared became MY desk, and our storage closet became my premium closet. It’s just
such a kick to get things for free!
It’s an even bigger kick to give from my stockpiles. There is never a time now when a
charity needs something that I cannot immediately go home and fill a bag. I give to my
mother-in-law and an elderly neighbor down the street. Last Christmas two needy children
received large boxes full of goodies from my stockpiles. This year I hope to make it four.
My husband works with children and they also receive goodies from my stockpile. My two
yearold daughter was a newborn when I started refunding. Money was tight, but we justified
buying the subscription to RMC by saying, “If we can get good at this, others will
benefit, too.” And that’s exactly how it’s been.
What good is it to gloat over 20
free tubes of toothpaste when you know your local children’s home could use some of
it? Every month I read another story in RMC of some refunder helping out a local charity,
an elderly family member or neighbor. It’s inspiring and heartwarming. Not only does
it challenge you (“She got 30 boxes of cereal for 30¢ --- Could I get 40?”),
but it makes you feel proud to be part of a group of people who really go the extra mile
for charity’s sake. People who take the time, do the work, and all of the running
around, not only for their own family, but also for others.
And yes, sometimes when I’m
swimming in a sea of untrimmed Q’s, unfiled forms and unanswered mail, while the
baby’s playing with a book of stamps the two year old gave her, and the two year old
is “helping” me by resorting my coupon file, I do think, “This is
nuts!” But at least now I know I CAN do this! Thanks to RMC and all of the readers
who’ve ever taken the time to write up an article and take a goofy picture with 300
free razors or 60 bags of free dog food (when you don’t even own a dog!). You’ve
taught me how to stockpile without hoarding and inspired me to do it in a big way.
You’re one of a kind!” Linda Muscoreil, Kenmore, NY
Lookin’ Good
“My 12 year old daughter, Ashley, was turning
13 in April and all she could think about was wearing make-up! I planned to surprise her
with make-up for her birthday. I have a wonderful coupon buddy and while we were having
one of our daily visits on the phone I mentioned to Janelle what I was planning for
Ashley. That’s when she told me that she had found a lot of $1.50 off any Maybelline
coupons! I quickly decided Ashley would get Maybelline for her birthday.
Later in the week, I was looking at
a K-Mart sale ad, when I saw that all Maybelline products were 50% off! I was so excited!
I knew it would be a great deal, combined with the $1.50 coupons. I quickly called Janelle
and we planned to go to K-Mart that very evening. When we reached K-Mart we were pretty
pumped up. We went straight to the cosmetics and as the ad stated, they had very well
stocked shelves of all kinds of Maybelline products.
Ashley shows the $1.50 coupon
that was the key to the spree, plus all the great makeup to launch her into teenagerhood.
We started loading up and people were staring at us. Maybe they were wondering what we
were going to do with so much make-up, or maybe they were trying to figure out what we
were getting that was such a great deal. Before coupons, I got every color of nail polish
for $1.14 a bottle. The eye shadow was $1.29, and lipstick was $1.79 a tube. We found
liquid make-up for $1.99! We made money on the nail polish and the eye shadow, so the
extra money covered most of the things that cost over $1.50. We basically paid the tax!
The clerk was so nice. She wanted to know where we got the coupons so she could get some
free make-up, too.
Ashley was very happy with all her makeup, and Mom was really, really happy with the
price!!”
Sheila Kimble,
Hydro, OK
Thank You, Hunts!
“It all began with a trip to Toys R Us after
hearing that Hunts had SMPs. That day we got 20 flyers with the 40¢ coupons and headed to
our commissary. They didn’t have any of the SMPs of Hunts, but we noticed that the
Hunts Puddings were on sale for 79¢ and the Gels were 59¢.
The next day I talked my husband
into going back and getting more flyers. Then we headed off to the Army commissary and we
were lucky enough to find 21 SMPs of vanilla pudding on sale for 79¢, so with the coupon,
they only cost me 39¢ each! As soon as I got home, I quickly started to remove the game
pieces. Before I finished, I was reminded that RMC readers might like to hear my story, so
I quickly gathered them up plus the Bic items that I thought you might like hearing about,
and had my husband snap this picture! Since taking the picture, I was able to find more
Hunts and use up the coupons. I ended up with 88 4-packs of pudding at 79¢ for a total of
$34.32 after coupons! My game pieces were all $1, so $88 - 34.32 = $53.68 profit.
I didn’t
hold on to mine very long. I took them right to Toys R Us and got my Geoffrey dollars and
started my Christmas shopping. I bought 2 games that just happened to be games of the
month. Toys R Us was giving free tote bags for September’s Games of the Month, so I
got two. Then in October, we returned and bought three more games (can you tell my kids
love to play games, so do Mom and Dad), one again being the Game of the Month, and for
October, there was a $3 off coupon for the Game of the Month. I still have a few Geoffrey
Dollars left and will use them when I finish up my Christmas shopping. The puddings....
well, we all enjoy them daily. When they had a student council sleep over at the school,
they asked for snack donations. I sent pudding! Then when it’s our turn for snacks
for the Brownies or Cub Scouts, they get whatelse--- pudding!
My other
stroke of luck came with the Bic Buy 2 Save $1 coupons that were in the Sunday
supplements. I ended up with 26 of these coupons, thanks to my sister-in-law who sends me
coupons, and my regular traders. I found the Bic Two Pen packages for 49¢ each at the
Army BX/PX and the 10 Pack on sale for 95¢. I bought 31 of the two packs @ 49¢ each and
one 10 pack at 95¢, for a total of $16.14 - $16 in coupons = 14¢ for 72 pens! We will never have the excuse we
couldn’t find a pen!
The other 10 coupons, I used to buy
20 packages of Bic Trial Size shavers. They were 39¢ each! So 20 @ 39¢ = $7.80 - $10 in
coupons = $2.20 profit for me. Their rule is not to give the customer the money back, so I
used the $2.20 to help pay for the movie Sleeping Beauty that I happened to be
buying also that day. In each package of shavers, there was a 25¢ coupon for any 5 pack
or larger shavers with NED! Of course, I sent in my Bic UPCs for the Soccer Ball and had
plenty to share with my traders! Plus Sleeping Beauty counts towards Disney’s
1997 Video Collections, where you buy 12 and get 2 movies free. Not a bad day of shopping!
So you can see why I have to say a big Thank You to Hunts, Toys R Us, and Bic!!”
Donna Fuller, Kapolei, HI
Super Sunday Savings
“Thought you might like to see my Super Sunday deal I got today.
I realize it’s not huge but
it’s all produce we will eat! My grocery had the 4 oz trial sizes of Parkay 2/79¢
but each had a 30¢ coupon on it PLUS $1 off produce with each purchase coupon. I grabbed
14 Parkays and received the following free:5 pks of new red potatoes
1 bag onions
6 ears of corn on the cob
1 bag of mini carrots
1 bunch of broccoli
6 sweet potatoes
1 bunch of celery
1 head of cabbage
1 bag of turnips
Not often do I get free food! My
husband was really pleased that we got all this, including the Parkay, for only
$1.33!” Kaye Hosenour Jasper, IN
A Bag A Day
“I know everyone has a ton of Glad
bags, and getting a lot is nothing new, but I live here in Alaska. There are no double coupon stores that I’m aware of, and
deals like this are hard to come by! A few months ago, there was a coupon in the paper for
$1 off any Glad Trash Bags. I only shop at our commissary on the base. The stores in town
are almost always higher. I only had about 4 with me in my coupon file. I checked the
bags, they were on sale for 99¢ for a 10 count box! I couldn’t believe it! So, I
picked up my 4. I raced home to get on my computer, and posted a message that I would
trade for stamps, I needed some more of those wonderful coupons! I knew the sale
wouldn’t be on long, but at least the coupons expired the end of October. So, that
day, someone traded with me, they were sending me another 20. I was still getting a few
here and there in my regular trades. I wanted to do this slowly, as to not take the whole
shelf’s supply. So, the next time I went in, there were only 5 on the shelf. I asked
a worker if they had any more in the back. She checked and came out with a case of 20. The
checker gave me a hard time with the coupons. They had to ask a manager. The manager said
they couldn’t give me the $1 value, they would give me the 99¢. Whatever, just give
me the bags, ha ha! So, I checked back in a few weeks, they had more on the shelf. By this
time, I had some more coupons, so I bought some more for free. I kept doing this for a few
weeks. I crammed them where I could. My husband kept laughing and saying we wouldn’t
need garbage bags for a few years. But I figured it out. We empty our trash at least once
a day, so that is a bag a day. So, 30 a month. I kept getting more coupons from generous
people willing to share! My husband would come home at night and ask, “What did you
do today?” and I would say, “Bought more bags for FREE!” One day, after
getting RMC, I said to myself, “Maybe I can write a little story about this and
Michele will publish it.” So, I dragged out my supply of boxes. My husband
reluctantly helped me put them on our stairs.
I have been refunding for about 5
years, and this was as close to a free spree as I have ever gotten. Granted, it took a few
weeks, but I did it! It’s just harder to come by where I live! Thanks to RMC, I now
have a year’s worth of trash bags, like everyone else!”
Keri Kenney,
Elmendorf AFB, AK |
A Golden Opportunity