Rimm Associates Coupon Wave

Are you aware Coca Cola was the very first coupon offered in 1887? The offer was a free sample!

Couponing Wave 101

Well, I have been told several times that using coupons are a waste of time. To some of you, maybe this is true.

Do you know I've seen coupons sit on desks, tables, etc. to be shuffled through a couple times and put back there, never to be touched again until they're in the trash.

I have never seen coupons grow legs, read ads, drive to the store, and pick up the products—collect the savings!

It does take work and I will do my best to show you how!

Couponing is your own business.

Wow! Where do I start! Research!

Well... I've done the work for you!

1. You set goals!
2. What do I need to reach my goal?
3. How much do I need to save each week? (Start small—it will grow fast.)
4. How many hours do I have to spare?
5. Get family, friends, neighbors, work buddies on board.
6. I guarantee coupons grow fast.

I'm here to help you get started on your path of becoming a savvy couponer. I will show you how to find and organize your coupons, set up the couponing systems, and lead you in every way I can.

LET'S GO! Pick one or two stores; learn as much as you can about the store(s). Join the store’s savings card program, if available.

Find the store’s weekly ad circulation online or in-store. Find out about the store’s coupon policy (get a copy), rain-check policy, and senior or military discount program. Get a copy of the store layout from customer service or make your own aisle-by-aisle of the store. This is a huge time-saver when you are organizing your coupons and making your shopping list.

• A Coupon isusually a small piece of printed paper that lets you get a service or product for free or at a lower price. Most important is the EXPIRATION date. The manufacturers want you to use the coupon as soon as possible. Be a confident shopper by understanding your coupons.
• Read the fine print. Secondly, know what you're reading.
• EXAMPLE: Get .50 off when you purchase two of the item. or .50 offwhen you purchase one item of 20oz. or larger. Make sure you understand exactly which product sizes and variations are valid for purchase with each coupon. For example, if the coupon is for a 20-ounce bottle of pepsi, don’t plan to use it with a 12-ounce can of pepsi.
• Couponing is a good strategy to save money on food, clothing, and most items. Everyone eats, buys clothing, does activities, etc.—save money doing so. It is not a get rich scheme. You really need to work at it. In the end, you will find it worth it.
• Organization is the most important thing that thrifty shoppers need to know about couponing is to be very organized. Make sure your coupons are organized before you enter the store. Looking for coupons when you are in line can be stressful. The smoother the transactions goes, the easier your shopping trips become.​
• Peak Hours: If you're shopping during busy hours, it can make for a very bad trip: crowds, long lines, cashiers being frustrated. Don’t wait until the last day of the sale to shop. Your store is likely to be out of the items you need! Find out your store's ordering schedule. Then shop on the days you know they will be stocked. Most stores receive shipments three times a week and it is always the same three days. Keep in mind the time of day the shipments come in. Ask if they have items in the back. Many times, the store has not had time to re-stock.
• Call right before you leave to see if your top 3 items are in stock. That will help you decide if it is worth a trip to the store. Try your three closest stores and choose the one that is stocked the best.
• Transactions—The starting of a check out (including coupons), ending with a total on your grocery slip. You may have multiple transactions in one trip! Check your store policy to see how many you are allowed in one trip!
• Coupon Policy—For every store you shop, you need to get the store policy. Not every cashier is usually updated. KNOW the store’s policies so you don’t have an issue when you’re in the checkout line. No one wants to get to the register and everything fall apart when your planning on saving money! Grocery stores, retailers, and local merchants will all have different coupon policies. You may be allowed to use coupons for items that are on sale in some stores, but others won’t. There are times you may get cash back if you exceed the value of your purchase, while others may not. All stores will have different rules around rain checks, coupon, and product amounts.
• ​You can use one store coupon and one manufacturer’s coupon per item. If you try to use more, chances are you are violating store policy or the terms of one of the coupons you are already using.
• Finding coupons—Clipping coupons from different sources, will provide you with a lot of options for products and deals. Once you're ready to start getting coupons, you will find several different ways to do this. Make sure you get the store weekly advertisements so you can compare with the newspapers, magazines, internet, e-mails, e-coupons, store cards, tear pads, store ads, the ad machines in the store aisles, manufacturers, friends, family, coupon clubs, etc.
• When you PRINT coupons , you can only print two of each item, from each coupon site!
• Coupon sites change coupons about every 7 to 10 days. Don't use photocopied coupons. Unless the store is providing them, using photocopied coupons may be considered coupon fraud, which is against the law. Coupon.com
• ​E-Coupons or electronic coupons are a very convenient way to save money at the grocery store. Free coupons load directly to your participating grocery store savings card, so there is no paper to lose or forget. Below, you will find the address for e-coupons. Saving Star

Here are some basic rules you should follow when couponing​.

Coupon theft is on the rise. People are stealing coupon inserts from store newspapers or from newspapers other people have already paid for. This is not being honest, then in turn are selling these on the internet.

• Tear Pads: Vendors put tear pads and coupons out by their products. This is a favor to the consumer. Take a couple of these, but please do not take the whole pad or an excessive amount. That is just RUDE! These are not put out for people to sell. This is a promotional tool to see what response that product is getting.​
• Peelies: coupons found on products. These coupons are put on certain products in order to sell them faster. Do not remove them and save them for later. Buy the product and use the coupon at checkout. These are not also not to be removed for sale.​
• ​Blinkies arefound in the store aisle, spitting out of a black box. The box usually has a red blinking light on it. Take a few of these , saving them for a sale if you are going to buy the product. Otherwise, leave them for the next shopper. These also are not to be sold.​
• Stores ads can be combined with manufacturer's coupons for even more savings. Please do not take a stack of ads from a store in order to hold for yourself. You are not the only person trying to save money.

Many couponers love getting a large amount of items for nothing (or next to nothing). Only do this if you can actually use that amount. Don't be greedy and leave the shelves bare. Be considerate of your fellow shoppers and take only what you know you and your family will actually use.​

If you discover while at the store that you can't use a coupon and it is still valid, leave it for someone else who may be able to make use of it.

If the shopper behind you has one item and no coupons, you have several items and coupons, let them go ahead of you. This is common courtesy and will give couponers a better name.