Two years ago, I started reading blogs and googling “coupon advice”. I wish I had Renita R. Perrone’s book, Wow! You Saved How Much? back then! I love, love, love this book. It’s small, simple and jam-packed with the most important couponing advice you need to save lots of money. Written in a style that is easy-to-read and easy-to-understand, Renita doesn’t waste your time with unnecessary narrative.
Here’s my three favorite tips from the book, Wow! You Saved How Much? by Renita R. Perrone.
1. “How to Get Started. First of all, subscribe to, or pick up, your Sunday paper for the coupons.”
The coupons in newspaper inserts are called “Manufacturer Coupons” versus “Store Coupons”. The best bargains are often found when you have a triple play – a. a product on sale; b. use manufacturer coupon AND c. use store coupon. This is called “stacking” your coupons. I’ve found Walgreen’s and Target to have the triple play deals.
2. “Be nice to the cashiers. Make their job as easy as possible.” No matter how much money you save, if couponing isn’t enjoyable, you won’t do it. And if dealing with grumpy, difficult people is not on your list of things you like to do (it’s certainly awful for me!), this is important advice.
Try to shop at off-peak times when it’s not crowded. Cashiers are much more patient when there isn’t a line. Also, as people come in line behind you, let them know that you will be taking a while and they may want to go to another line. Some will want to stay and watch but they’ll be happy to wait and will chat while you check out.
Chat with the cashier and apologize for being a complicated customer. Yes, it is their job, but that doesn’t mean you can’t apologize. It goes a long way to making their job more pleasant and your experience more pleasant. I used to blame my husband to get a smile, or the economy. I let them know that I was doing this to help my family, definitely not for fun or to cheat stores or companies.
3. “Price Comparisons. Familiarize yourself with the prices charged by the stores in your area.”
Just because an item is on sale, or you have a coupon, doesn’t mean it’s a bargain. You have to know the standard price to know if you are getting a good deal. If you can’t remember the prices in your head, keep a spreadsheet or a “price book” of common items you buy. You can check it to know if a “sale” is truly a “deal”.
Renita is generously giving two KLY readers copies of her e-book and one reader your own copy of Wow, You Saved How Much?.
Main entry
1. Go to the author’s website and tell me something you learned about her.
Wow! You Saved How Much? http://wowyousavedhowmuch.com
Additional entries
2. Leave a comment on any of my Nutrisystem Weight Loss Journey posts. (There is a tab on the blog header called “Nutrisystem”.) Make sure to leave a comment here, telling me you did for your entry to be counted!
2. Subscribe to Kelly’s Lucky You by email or rss feed.
3. Follow Kelly’s Lucky You with Google Friend Connect.
4. Put the Kelly’s Lucky You button on your sidebar or blogroll page.
5. Blog about this giveaway and leave the link to your post in the comments.
6. Follow Kelly’s Lucky You on twitter.
7. Tweet this giveaway (RT 1x per day). Feel free to use this sample:
Win “Wow! You Saved How Much?” by Renita R. Perrone @KellysLuckyYou! http://tinyurl.com/2fhzxgv #giveaway
8. Become a Fan of Kelly’s Lucky You on Facebook.
9. Add this giveaway to any giveaway linky (unlimited entries). You can use this list!
Leave one comment for each entry. Contest ends December 11th at midnight CST. A winner will be chosen by random.org and notified by email to the email address provided in the winning comments. The winner must respond within 48 hours of the notification email, or another winner will be chosen. See my Giveaway Rules page for further information. Sorry, this contest is open to US residents only.
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of Wow! You Saved How Much? to review.
I learned that she has been saving money with this concept for 4yrs
Left comment on Nutrisystem topic Weekly weigh in and tips for eating out (Lori Thomas)
Email & rss feed subscriber
Follow by GFC (Lori Thomas)
Follow on Twitter (@crftyldy)
Tweeted giveaway (http://twitter.com/crftyldy)
Fan of kly on Facebook (Lori Thomas)
Since 2001 she has been a stay-at-home mom.
I follow on gfc.
I learned that although it used to take her longer, Renita now spends about 1 hour a week cutting coupons and getting organized.
It sounds like this book is a must have!! I am fortunate that 2 of the 3 grocery store chains in my area have double coupons all of the time.
Thanks,
Jen
jryder416 at yahoo dot com
I’m an email subscriber.
jryder416 at yahoo dot com
I’m a GFC follower(Jennifer).
jryder416 at yahoo dot com
she has been a stay-at-home mom since 2001 after the birth of her first child.
i get ur emails
follow on GFC as amber01sw
button is on my blog
http://dragonflysweetnest.blogspot.com/
follow u on twitter as Amber01sw
shared on twitter as Amber01sw
http://twitter.com/#!/amber01sw/status/8350664430198784
like u on Fb as Amber Lusk MacDonald
I learned that the author is a stay-at-home mom since 2001
Thank you for hosting this giveaway
Louis
schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com
I subscribed to your feed via google reader
schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com
Google Friends Connect – following your blog publicly as Louis
schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com
I like your blog on facebook (Louis Here)
schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com
following you on twitter @left_the_stars
schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com
I tweeted your giveaway
schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com
The author has been a stay at home mom since 2001! tracietrump@yahoo.com
I am a gfc follower! tracietrump@yahoo.com
I learned she has been a stay at home mom since 2001
email subscriber ducks.are.people.too at gmail dot com
rss subscriber
gfc follower Leah
have button havensinformer.blogspot.com
like you on fb as Tee Jay
follow on twitter @HavensTwit
As a SAHM, when her children are “playing store†for school work, no shopping spree is complete without their coupons. So she’s teaching them early the value of coupon shopping. How totally cool is that???
I left a comment on your Nutrisystem post topic for “Tips for Eating Out”. That was the one that hit home for me – because I am single, don’t like to cook, and I eat out LOTS!
I’m a follower and I also get your e-mail updates (didn’t see that one listed, but thought I’d just add it in here even though it doesn’t count as another entry for me).
She has been shopping this way for 4 years. Looks like she has it down to a science!
email subscriber maynekitty[at]live[dot]com
GFC Follower Kitty
Shs is a stay at home mom
email subscriber
gfc follower
I learned that she is a SAHM
I learned she has been a stay-at-home mom since 2001 and she homeschools her children.She also loves helping others!
dmraca at gmail dot com
Follower GFC
Dana R
dmraca at gmail dot com
I follow you on twitter(@DayLeeDana)
dmraca at gmail dot com
Im a Facebook FAN!
FB name AlbertDana Arsenault
dmraca at gmail dot com
Subscriber by email
dmraca at gmail dot com
tweeted(@DayLeeDana)
http://twitter.com/#!/DayLeeDana/status/13278901035868161
dmraca at gmail dot com
She has been a stay at home Mom since 2001 and wanted to home school. It’s her tips on how to save. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway
I am a GFC follower. Thanks
I am also an email subscriber. Thanks
I learned that although it sounds like a lengthy process, it only takes her one hour weekly!!!
I follow via GFC.
Hi this is an excellent article. Can I use some of it at my health and dieting blog site? I would obviously link to your webblog so surfers can see the entire article if he or she wished to. Thanks a lot in any event .. Ava Chen