Coupon Conference Notes

Cristina and I went to the Freebies 2 Deals coupon conference this week, and let me just tell you, we LOVED IT! We had so much fun, met some other super coupon-ers (Shout out to LISA, you’re so cute!) and learned some great things! Here are a couple of notes that I took, and I will let Cristina add to them too. For more in depth information check out our Coupon page and head over to see Melea at Freebies 2 Deals! She ROCKS!!!

-Melea posts a lot of freebies, most of them are samples, but who doesn’t love free stuff!! The bummer is that every time you sign up for one you have to fill out a form with all of your information. It’s time consuming and boring! But, she found this amazing thing: RoboForm! You can download it for free it will add a toolbar to the top of your web browser, you fill out all of you information once, and then the next time you need to fill out a form for a freebie it just one click and done! I love it! I have been using it for 5 days now and I am in love!

- When it comes to printable coupons her advice is to print it when you see it! The print limits are set by the manufacturers so if you want you better get it when you see it! If it runs out of prints before you get to it, there is no way for the website you found it from to help you. SO… if you want it… get it when it’s HOT!

- For the coupon-ers with a binder that you use the baseball cards in, when you are slipping your coupons in fold them so that you can see the picture on the front and the expiration date on the back. It will make cleaning out your binder at the end of the month a lot faster!

- It is always good to have a copy store coupon policies and price matching policies in your binder. (That is if the store has one!)

- Pay VERY CLOSE attention when you are checking out! As much as we just love some of our cashiers, others are very lazy, and will not make sure that your coupon scanned and went onto your order properly! And it’s a big fat bummer to find the mistake later when you looking over your receipt.

- If the coupons that you load onto your Smith’s card (or any other loadable shopper card) don’t come off when you scan your card at the register, call or email the company when you get home. They want you to use their coupons and to continue shopping at their store, so they will make it right!

- Associated Food stores (Macey’s, Allens, Ridley’s—those are the ones around us, I know there are more, they are also referred to as the “Cart in the A” stores) will not take coupons for “Free” items. If the amount on the coupon will make the item free then its fine, but if the coupon says “get a free (whatever)” then you can’t use it there… take it someplace else, in my opinion Target is the best!

- Do your best to use your highest coupon values on the smallest size product possible, this is how you will same the most money! And it how you get your free stuff at the store 90% of the time!

- If you are going to receive gift cards or Catalina’s for something you are purchasing, ring up your order in 2 purchases so that you can use the gift card on your second purchase! Save your money right then! Not the next time you come in! The exception to this is Walgreens, but I am going to do a whole post on Walgreens so check back for that!