How to save $$$$ using Coupons!

I just posted some info on Facebook with a friend of mine and realized it would make a nice post. 

Here is how the post started:  "Saving money is a lot of work!"

Remember this pertains to the stores located in my area of Huntsville, Alabama.  Your stores coupon policies may be different.  Most stores now have posted this information on their website or you can call their corporate headquarters and request a written copy of their coupon policy.

Here is what the post said, "YEP!! And sometimes people have no clue . . . . I have been at this almost 16 years now and even though I save at least 40% on my average grocery bill, it still takes me a good hour or two to prep for a grocery store trip. Now some deals are spur of the moment and all it takes is printing the coupons and visiting the store with the deal or stores if I want more than one deal. But then again even that takes time and gas driving to the various stores. Even when I buy on-line I know the bottom line I can pay for something with a sale price + coupon. I must admit Amazon's Subscribe and Save program saves me at least 40-50% and I don't have to drive and waste my gas - just my time to select items and check prices. Every on-line purchase I make is with a promotion or coupon code too. I look for codes with at least 50% off + free shipping.

Publix doubles up to .50 everyday, Wed or Thu is Senior Day you get an extra 10% off (check the Publix website for details). Publix also has Store coupons which are different from Manufacturer coupons. You can use one of each on a product. For example if I have a Store coupon for Clorox Bleach at .25/1 and a Manufacture coupon for Clorox Bleach at .50/1; I would receive $1.25 off that product (Store coupons do not double). In this scenario making it Free, less taxes. Now you always have to pay tax on the full purchase price of an item regardless of your coupon values. Each Publix store is different but accepts competitor STORE coupons. There is a list at the front of each store near the door stating which competitor coupons they accept. For example Whitesburg Drive one takes them from Star Market ($5/50) (see coupon booklet Enjoy the City), Target (on-line), Fresh Market (sometimes on-line), Kroger (by mail), only Hwy 72 Publix accepts all these plus they accept EarthFare (on-line via e-mail notice) and when Whole Foods arrive they will be included too. I believe Whole Foods put out a mini booklet each month with coupons. Kroger now only takes face value coupons and does not accept any competitor coupons - boo, hiss I don't like them and rarely shop their unless it is for an item Publix does not carry. As the story goes - did you want to talk about saving money with coupons?????

Want to learn more and become your own Coupon Queen - visit www.refundcents.com and tell them Lori McAulliffe is your referral.  This is the very first place I learned about using coupons and saving money over 15 years ago.  Long before the internet was hot - Michele Easter's picture was on a Woman's Day Magazine as I sat in a Tire Store pondering how I was going to save money on my monthly grocery bill.  As a new bride my husband was already yanking the purse strings tighter. 

Blessings to you all - Lori <><