Joining rewards programs are just as important as couponing. They cost you nothing, but give you lots! One of the programs that are out there is for Shoppers Drug Mart.
Its called Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum. For the most part you get 10 points for every dollar spent. There are exceptions though, once in a while they hold events such as twenty times the points when you spend $50, or 1000 bonus points when you buy this item. I don't usually redeem the points on "normal" days but wait for redemption days when my points are worth more. (i.e. $170 instead of $150).
Here are some tips and tricks to get more points:
ALWAYS pay with SDM giftcards.
You get points for buying this giftcard, so you end up either getting double the points! or points on items such as lottery tickets and bus passes that you wouldn't regularly get.
Buy giftcards with your SDM giftcard.
You don't lose any money from doing this. You get points PLUS now you're closer to "Plus" status. Cards that I frequently buy are: Starbucks, Milestones, Subway, Homesense, and Chapters. They also have stores like Gap, Banana Republic, East Side Marios, Toys R Us, and the source.
Use Coupons!
This rule always applies in life so of course it would apply here too. You get points on the coupon value. (etc: ten dollar item, minus five dollar coupons...you get ten dollars worth of points: 100). For events such as spend $50, get 20x the points, make sure that you give the coupons AFTER the machine hits the subtotal of @ least $50.
Happy Couponing !
Monday, March 21, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Free Haul
This is the biggest haul I did ,
(44) Crest Pro-Health 5.00 - FPC = free !
(2) Tide with Febreze 4.50 - BOGO = 2.25 each
(6) Cesar Bistro 1.30 - BOGO = .65 each
Would have spent 236.80 but I spent 6.15
Savings of 98%
Big Haul
Here's the first big haul I did ,
(20) Shave Cream - 2.00 - 4.00 WUB 2 = free
(8) Deodorant - 2.00 - 4.00 WUB 2 = free
(2) Glade Candles - 4.50 - BOGO = 2.25 each
(5) Cambells soup - .50 - Buy 3 Save 1.00, and Buy 2 save 1.00 = .10 each
Would have paid 67.50, but I payed 6.00
Savings of 88%
Some hauls..
I've done quite a bit of coupon shopping in the last while, so i'm going to show you all what I bought, where I got the coupons, and how much I payed.
First Haul.
Beggin Strips - 2.50 - 1.00 = 1.50 each. (Emailed the company, and they sent these coupons)
Michelinas - 3.00? - FPC - Free (Emailed the company, and they sent this coupon)
Campbells soup - .99 - 1.00 WUB 2 - .50 each
Would have been $14.98 , I payed 7.00$
Savings of 46%
Happy Couponing !
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Once you have a substantial amount of coupons
Once you have a substantial amount of coupons, you may be wondering what to do with the ones you wont use. There are a few places where you can trade your coupons, with some you can use.
Take for instance, SmartCanucks, they have a whole forum dedicated to peoples wish lists, and their trade lists. A trade list is a list of things people are willing to trade, and wishlists of course is what people wish to have. This is a great strategy of receiving coupons you can use, which is a bonus, but also getting rid of the ones you wont, to make room for new ones.
You can also check out your local Kijiji, or post an add looking for local couponers to meet up (public place, people) to swap coupons.
Biggest Piece Of Advice For Someone New To Couponing
The biggest piece of advice I can give a new couponer is to stay organized. The wost thing is to miss out on a deal because you couldn't find the coupon, you lost it, or your dog ate it. There are a few ways avid couponers stay organized, let me explain ;
The Coupon Folder
One of the most basic, cheapest, and time friendly ways to organize. They're usually small little accordion style folders, so it's easy to fit into a purse, or just carry into the store (and pop your bank card/cash into a file) It's easy to just pop the coupons in their desired spot and go. Although, when you're going to use a coupon, you have to pull the entire stack from that file out, which can be a pain in the butt, not to mention messy.
The Coupon Book
A lot of people have regular binders bought, with baseball card inserts. The little pocketed style holders, that are great to fit coupons in. This method takes a while to start up, and can get confusing, with all the coupons going out and coming in. The binder can also get really big, and pretty heavy fast. This is used by more avid couponers
The Envelope Couponer
A lot of new people to coupons start like this. Getting a few envelopes and putting their coupons in. This can get really bulky in a purse, and since you can't just hold it out like a binder (without occasionally dropping a few envelopes) it's not very convenient. Theres really no pros about this, I suggest to stay away.
The Wallet Coupon
This is for the planned shopper. You know, the people who make lists, and stick to them. That way, they know exactly what coupons they'll need. So they store their coupons at home, using one of the above methods and bring the coupons they'll need. This is good in a sense they don't need to haul around a few hundred coupons, that may get lost or *gasp* stolen. But also this is a bad method in the sense if one were to see a surprise sale that could get them free products or next-to-nothing, and they don't have the coupon on them.. thats no good.
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