As I mentioned in an earlier post today, my wonderful, spunky, adorable grandmother, also known as “Ma”, is turning 90 years old on June 22nd. In honor of her upcoming birthday, I thought it would be fun to put together a short video with my favorite clips and memories of her. Hope that you enjoy it!

(If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.)

And to make her birthday extra special, I need your help! If Ma has touched your heart in any way and you would like to send her some happy birthday wishes, please send letters, drawings from your kiddos etc to the following address…

Geraldine Berube
PO Box 1621
North Falmouth, MA 02556-1621

Thanks for helping me make Ma’s birthday extra special!

So what are you waiting for?! Click the play button above or head over here to watch the video!

If this video has motivated you to head out to your local Goodwill store, you may want to take some time to clean out your drawers, closets etc. and take any unwanted items with you to donate. Consider the fact that a donation of a bag of clothes provides someone with an hour of job training AND you’ll score a coupon valid for 20% off your entire purchase every single time you bring a donation into Goodwill (note that the coupon offer may vary by region).

If you don’t happen to live near a Goodwill Store, you can also snag some great deals online at Goodwill’s online auction site, ShopGoodwill.com. Find everything from clothing, toys, tools, musical instruments and much more!

Come back to let us know what sort of great finds you have snagged at your local Goodwill Store or local thrift store.

* A BIG thank you to the staff at the Goodwill here in Idaho… especially Jason Asher, the Donor and Community Relations Officer for Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain! He rocks!

If you haven’t done so already, grab your video camera, grab your buddies, and grab your best money-saving tips & secrets for the Hip2Save Video Contest (you only have 3 days left to enter!).

. Videos should be no longer than 10 minutes and focused on money-saving tips & secrets, living a frugal lifestyle, or simply anything that demonstrates that it is in fact HIP2SAVE! Note that videos will be judged on the following categories:

* Creativity
* Mass Appeal to Hip2Save Readers
* Originality
* Entertainment Value

So put down whatever you’re doing, go film an awesome video, and then send it over! All videos must be completed by 11:59:59 EST pm on May 5, 2012 to be eligible for this contest. Once you have completed filming/editing your video, please email bryn@hip2save.com for further instructions on how to submit the video.

OK, now on to the fun part….the prizes, of course!

The top 3 videos (chosen by the Hip2Save Team) will each win a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card… AND will be featured on Hip2Save.com! Even better, once all 3 videos have been chosen and published on Hip2Save.com, Hip2Save readers will then vote on their favorite video. The grand prize winner will score… drum-roll…

Apple MacBook Air 11 Inch Laptop (in addition to the $100 Amazon Card)! Wow!

If you haven’t done so already, grab your video camera, grab your buddies, and grab your best money-saving tips & secrets for the Hip2Save Video Contest (you only have 13 days left to enter!).

. Videos should be no longer than 10 minutes and focused on money-saving tips & secrets, living a frugal lifestyle, or simply anything that demonstrates that it is in fact HIP2SAVE! Note that videos will be judged on the following categories:

* Creativity
* Mass Appeal to Hip2Save Readers
* Originality
* Entertainment Value

So put down whatever you’re doing, go film an awesome video, and then send it over! All videos must be completed by 11:59:59 EST pm on May 5, 2012 to be eligible for this contest. Once you have completed filming/editing your video, please email bryn@hip2save.com for further instructions on how to submit the video.

OK, now on to the fun part….the prizes, of course!

The top 3 videos (chosen by the Hip2Save Team) will each win a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card… AND will be featured on Hip2Save.com! Even better, once all 3 videos have been chosen and published on Hip2Save.com, Hip2Save readers will then vote on their favorite video. The grand prize winner will score… drum-roll…

Apple MacBook Air 11 Inch Laptop (in addition to the $100 Amazon Card)! Wow!

Good luck and have fun!

If you need a little inspiration, check out the winning video from the 2010 Hip2Save Video Contest entitled The Rummage Sale Lady…

If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.

If you are a frequent JCPenney shopper, I am guessing you may be quite familiar with JCPenney’s Best Price Friday shopping event. On the first and third Friday of each month (which is tomorrow!), JCPenney offers up their lowest prices on select items storewide until they sell out; you simply look for the prices marked in blue.

When I first learned about Best Price Friday, I knew I wanted to go check it out. So I grabbed my video camera and headed to the local JCPenney store here in Boise, Idaho. Check out my video below to see how I snagged 5 cute shirts for $10 + tax–no joke! (Note that this was filmed last month.)…

(If you can’t see this video, go here to watch it.)

* Be sure to check out the Best Price Friday Event at your store tomorrow, April 20th, and then come back to let us know what items you snag!

It’s back!! Two years ago, we hosted a Hip2Save Video Contest and had a blast viewing all of the video submissions. So I am happy to report that we are once again hosting another contest!

Grab your video camera, grab your buddies, and get your creative juices flowing. Videos should be no longer than 10 minutes and focused on money-saving tips & secrets, living a frugal lifestyle, or simply anything that demonstrates that it is in fact HIP2SAVE!  Note that videos will be judged on the following categories:

* Creativity
* Mass Appeal to Hip2Save Readers
* Originality
* Entertainment Value

So put down whatever you’re doing, go film an awesome video, and then send it over! All videos must be completed by 11:59:59 EST pm on May 5, 2012 to be eligible for this contest. Once you have completed filming/editing your video, please email bryn@hip2save.com for further instructions on how to submit the video.

OK, now on to the fun part….the prizes, of course!

The top 3 videos (chosen by the Hip2Save Team) will each win a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card… AND will be featured on Hip2Save.com! Even better, once all 3 videos have been chosen and published on Hip2Save.com, Hip2Save readers will then vote on their favorite video. The grand prize winner will score… drum-roll…

Apple MacBook Air 11 Inch Laptop (in addition to the $100 Amazon Card)! Wow!

Good luck and have fun!

After moving all the way across the country from North Carolina to Idaho, I can finally say that I feel completely settled in my new home, my kiddos are adjusting to their new schools and making friends, and I am loving being surrounded by family and even some good friends from high school. Life is good!

With that being said, I felt that it was only appropriate to start off the 2012 Coffee with Collin video series with a film about my new life in Idaho. This video will give you a sneak peek into my new home where I will share some tips for maximizing small spaces, as my new home is definitely on the tinier side.

So you know the drill… grab a cup of coffee (or tea or water!), get comfy on your couch and come check out my new life in Idaho! Enjoy!

* If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

* If you’re having trouble viewing the video, click here.

If you missed the other Coupon Newbie Videos that were posted earlier this week, you can check them out here: Coupon Newbie Video #1 and Coupon Newbie Video #2.

** If you are having trouble viewing this video, click here.

In addition to the Sunday Newspaper, here are some other great ways to snag additional coupons:

* Coupons.com
* Smartsource.com
* RedPlum.com
* All You Magazine
* FREE Gather Together P&G coupon booklet
* FREE P&G Coupon Booklet for Commissary Shoppers
* FREE Laundry Care Coupon Booklet
* FREE $70+ Publix Store Coupon Booklet
* Click here for all the latest coupons posted on Hip2Save

If you missed the Coupon Newbie Video #1 that was posted yesterday, you can check it out here. Stay tuned for Coupon Newbie Video #3 which will be posted tomorrow here on Hip2Save!

If you are having trouble viewing this video, click here.

* For even more detailed information for all you coupon newbies, click here.

You may also want to check out these Helpful posts and videos:

* Buy 1 Get 1 Free Coupon Issues
* Proper Coupon Usage
* The Coupon “Rush”
* Couponing for Newbies
* My Top 10 Couponing Tips
* Where Do You Find Those Coupons?

Stay tuned for Coupon Newbie Video #2 which will be posted tomorrow here on Hip2Save!

* Go here if you’re having trouble viewing the video.

I am so excited about being part of the friendly and fun TODAY.com community. Just like you, TODAY.com readers are frugally-minded, supportive and most importantly, hip! This partnership is an untraveled path for me, for you loyal Hip2Save readers, and for TODAY.com, but I look forward to this journey and hope that you will join me on this path!

Finally, I can’t stress enough that if there is ever one thing on Hip2Save.com that will never change, it is the “hip” content I’ve always posted and ME (cold sores and all! ). I put my heart and soul into writing posts, searching for and testing deals, and most importantly, connecting with all of you…and that will never change.

So, go grab a cup of coffee, find a comfy chair, and take a moment to digest this exciting news! While you’re at it, how about entering to win 1 of 20 TODAY.com coffee mugs or 1 of 200 $5 Starbucks eGift cards? Yep, a total of 220 prizes will be given away to all of you! Good Luck!

If you are interested in entering this giveaway, please click on the giveaway button below…

If you are reading this giveaway post via RSS feed or via email, please click here to enter. Please do NOT email me to enter this giveaway; an email is not an acceptable entry. Also note that comments left on this post will NOT be counted as giveaway entries.

This giveaway will end, Monday, September 5th, at 11:59PM EST, and the randomly selected winners will be announced later in the week. You must be a US Resident to enter this giveaway.

* If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Did you miss the other Hip2Help Tour Videos?! If so, click below to watch them all…

Video #1: Griffin, GA
Video #2: Alex City & Birmingham, AL
Video #3: Alex City, AL & Memphis, TN
Video #4: Calhoun County, AL

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

* Did you see the first three Hip2Help Tour videos? check them out here, here and here!

So, our Hip2Help Tour came to an end on Sunday. It was bittersweet. I definitely felt sad stepping out of that bus… the bus I had called home for the past 8 days. At the same time, I was excited to be able to head to my real home and sleep in my much missed bed.

This tour was an incredible eye opener for me. Life is such a blessing. A blessing we all too often forget is a blessing at all. I am going to make sure to stop and smell the roses… take time each day to really take everything in. Take time to smile, laugh with my kiddos, and spend quality time with my hubby. I have a wonderful life.

Alright, so before posting the 3rd video, I thought you all may be interested in hearing a little bit about how it was traveling in a bus with 9 kiddos and coping with a nasty bug that we all seemed to catch… yes, a total of 21 of us caught this very contagious virus.

I started to feel sick on the night of the 7th and when I woke up on the 8th (at 3:30am due to us having to be in the next town by 9:30am) I knew I was the next victim. I tried to sleep during the long drive and constantly awoke to that horrible nauseous feeling. Once we arrived at the hotel, I could barely walk to our hotel room as the little black dots started to form and dizziness ensued. I literally crawled on the elevator and when I tried to crawl off (according to my husband who was carrying all the luggage) I fainted, hit my head on the elevator door and then threw up all over the carpet in the hotel hallway. Even worse, I threw up right next to a trash can. Yes, it was not fun and pretty embarrassing as all the hotel employees assumed it was a child, but no… just Collin.

And on another note, traveling with nine kiddos. Well, it definitely made things very interesting. Yes, we dealt with rambunctious and wild kiddos. We dealt with tears and fits… kicking and screaming. But I don’t regret, for even a second, the decision to bring them.  They saw and they learned so much in each stop we made. They cried and laughed… and loved! They all know, even more so now, that life should never be taken for granted.

Ok, so here’ the 3rd video… and stay tuned for the 4th video soon (and possibly a 5th bloopers video! )!

** If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Written, Directed, Edited and Filmed by Isaac Deitz (http://www.tubopopcorn.com/)

* Did you see the first two Hip2Help Tour videos? check them out here and here!

*If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Written, Directed, Edited and Filmed by Isaac Deitz (http://www.tubopopcorn.com/)

If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

WARNING: This video has a lot of background noise due to the fact that filming took place inside Petco. Be prepared for barking and other loud animal noises.

If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

* Closed Captioning is now available on select videos! To use this feature, click the play button above and then click on the CC button. (A big thanks to reader, Courtney, for transcribing this video!)

“Hip” Tips for Pet Shopping

* Email your favorite companies, let them know how much love their pet food/items, and ask them for coupons. You may be surprised by what you find in your mailbox several weeks later!

* Check out RecycleBank. For example, back in April, I posted about the fact that you could snag coupons for 2 FREE cans of Fancy Feast cat food using your RecycleBank points.

* Print those coupons! In a recent coupon round-up post, I mentioned that you can head over here, register for the Halo newsletter and snag $1/1 Spot’s Stew coupons which made this item only 19¢ at Petco!

* Always be on the lookout for peelie and tear pad coupons… they can often make for some super sweet deals!

* Look for clearance items! I was able to snag some amazing deals by simply going through the clearance bin.

If you live in the Wilmington, North Carolina area, I highly encourage you to check out Petco. The staff is amazing, very coupon-friendly, and provides excellent customer service! You can find Petco at the following location:

324 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 799-2472

A very BIG thank you to Tina Allen (a Petco department manager), Michael, and all the awesome readers who came out to the donation drive this past weekend. I am also so appreciative to all of you who mailed me your free pet product coupons to use for the Hip2Help Tour… thank you, thank you, thank you!

* Closed Captioning is now available on select videos! To use this feature, click the play button above and then click on the CC button. (A big thanks to reader, Courtney, for transcribing this video!)

** If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupons (also known as BOGO coupons or B1G1 coupons) allow you to purchase one item and Get a second item of equal or lesser value for free! You’ll want to pay special attention to the fine print on the coupon as there is usually a maximum value stated on the coupon (this maximum value is the most that the manufacturer is willing to reimburse the store for the “free” item). For example, in the coupon pictured above, P&G will only reimburse the store up to $3.99 for the CrossAction toothbrush. If the toothbrush is priced at $4.50, you will be required to pay $0.51 out of pocket ($4.50-$3.99) for this “free” item.

How does a Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupon work with a Buy 1 Get 1 Free store sale?

With a B1G1 store sale, you are purchasing 2 like items and then automatically getting one item for free when you checkout. Since you are still essentially purchasing 2 items, you can use a B1G1 coupon in conjunction with the B1G1 store sale to get the both items for free (one is free after the store sale and one is free after the coupon). See the picture below as an example. *Important Note: Read your store’s coupon policy very carefully as some stores (most recently Rite Aid ) may prohibit the use of a B1G1 coupon in conjunction with a B1G1 store sale.

Since you are purchasing 2 like items with a B1G1 store sale, you can use two $ off coupons (one that is applied to each purchased item). For example, the Walgreens coupon policy specifically states “When items are featured in a Buy One, Get One Free promotion, up to two coupons can be used against the items being purchased, as long as the net price does not go below zero for the items being purchased.” * Important Note: Read your store’s coupon policy very carefully as some stores may prohibit the use of two $ off coupons in conjunction with a B1G1 store sale.

Can you purchase 2 like items and combine both a B1G1 coupon AND a $ off coupon?

Hmmm…. check out the video above for my opinion and please feel free to share what you think in the comments.

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Here are some of the Hip Tips that I mention in the video:

* Be a coupon fairy
* Just because an item is not marked does not mean that it isn’t on sale
* You may need to buy something you don’t need in order to get something you do need
* Clearance isn’t always a good deal
* Have fun and don’t get coupon road rage!

* Please note that this video was filmed with my Flip Video Camera (instead of the camera I normally use) so I apologize in advance if the audio/visual quality is not so great.

Because we are still in the early planning stages, I thought that it would be more appropriate to share this project with you in a post instead of the typical “Coffee with Collin” video. As you may recall, I posted a survey about 10 days ago to be completed by those of you who live in a community that was recently affected by the tornadoes and floods. I was so moved by all the responses that I received regarding the amount of devastation that your communities were experiencing, which inspired me in a huge way to want to personally help make a difference. With this desire to give back, the Hip2Help Tour was born.

The Hip2Help Tour will involve the Hip2Save team (including 9 kiddos, ages 3-10!) traveling by bus from North Carolina through Georgia and Alabama within an 8 day period from July 3rd-10th. Our goal is to personally provide community service, host donation drives, host community events with music and entertainment + much more! We are also going to be capturing this special trip on video so that all of you readers can be part of the experience.

How Can YOU Help?

* Send FREE (and unexpired) product coupons as well as gift cards to the following address (please remember that we will not be traveling until July 2011, so please only send coupons that will be valid at that time):

Hip2Help Tour
PO Box 8716
Camp Lejeune NC 28547

* Consider mailing personal care/household/toys from your stockpile to the following address (the most needed items are sunscreen, bug spray, diapers, wipes, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, baby wash, first aid supplies, tampons, baby formula, shaving cream, nonperishable food items that do not need to be cooked, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, trash bags, pet food, can openers, batteries):

Hip2Help Tour
PO Box 8716
Camp Lejeune NC 28547

* If you do not want to spend a bunch on postage, consider packing up all of your samples and trial size items and unopened hotel hair care products etc. and mailing them to the address above.

* Stay tuned for a Hip2Help Tour t-shirt; all of the profits from this shirt will be donated to this tour

* If you own/work for a company that may be interested in sponsoring this tour (with free product coupons, donation items etc.), please send an email to Bryn, and she will email you with further information.

If you live in one of the communities mentioned above, I hope to have a chance to personally meet you in July. Stay tuned for additional posts and videos in the coming weeks with further information on the planned events…

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Enjoy!

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

“Hip” Tips for Checking Out With Coupons

(1) Know your store’s coupon policy!! For more information, check out the Hip2Save Store Guides found here. If you are not able to locate a coupon policy online for your local store, I highly recommend that you email customer service asking for a copy of the policy/guidelines and/or you can contact the store manager.

(2) Consider dabbling in cashier profiling. Personally, I look for happy and laid back looking cashiers.

(3) Make use of your time waiting in line and organize those coupons! Consider grouping together all of your free and Buy 1 Get 1 free product coupons as these typically require the cashier to manually enter the price of the item.

(4) Stack your coupons in the criss cross method demonstrated in the video as this should prevent coupons from sticking together… especially printable coupons. You may also want to consider handing over your coupons one at a time.

(5) Be respectful and patient! Kill em’ with kindness!

So how about you? What are your tips for having a successful checkout experience?

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

*If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Hip’s Basic Tips for Walmart Shopping:

(1) Park far away…it’s great exercise and you’re less likely to have to fight over a parking spot.

(2) Subscribe to All You Magazine or purchase a copy at your local Walmart. In this month’s All You Magazine, you’ll find over $75 worth of coupons.

(3) Keep your eyes peeled for those Roll-Back prices.

(4) Read through and print a copy of Walmart’s coupon policy to have with you while you shop. One of my favorite additions to Walmart’s coupon policy is the following: “If coupon value exceeds the price of an item, the excess may be given to the customer as cash or applied towards the basket purchase.”

(5) Be sure to stop by the travel section to make use of coupons that have no size exclusions.

(6) Know your price points. You may also want to check out this post for some helpful information.

(7) Pick an off time to shop to avoid the crowds.

(8) Read through and print out a copy of Walmart’s Price Matching Policy. Try to keep all your price matching items together in your cart to make for a more efficient check out experience. Be sure to point out the items that you are price matching before they are scanned by the cashier.

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Proper Coupon Usage

(1) You can only use one manufacturer coupon per item purchased. For example, if you have 3 $1/1 Colgate toothpaste manufacturer coupons, you can purchase 3 Colgate toothpastes in the same transaction and use all 3 $1/1 Colgate toothpaste manufacturer coupons (i.e. one coupon per toothpaste purchased). This “rule” may seem obvious but many coupon newbies (and even some cashiers/managers) do not always understand the difference between a purchase and a transaction. Since you are purchasing each item, each item is itself a purchase. A transaction is the total of all the items purchased. In this case, the 3 Colgate toothpastes make up your transaction. Still confused? Check out this article.

(2) In some cases, you can use both a manufacturer coupon AND a store coupon for the purchase of one item (this is called stacking). For example, Target allows you to use both a Target store coupon AND a manufacturer coupon for the purchase of one item. This same sort of policy holds true for Rite Aid and Walgreens as well. If you are not familiar with a store’s coupon policy (and whether they allow stacking), I strongly encourage you to read the coupon policy and/or check out my store guides prior to your first shopping trip.

(3) Do not use expired coupons even if they scan! If you have a stash of expired coupons, consider sending them to military families overseas. Check out this post for more information.

(4) If you have a coupon that requires the purchase of multiple items, then you must purchase the stated number of items on the coupon. For example, if you have a $1/2 Ken’s Dressing coupon, you must purchase 2 Ken’s Dressings to use the coupon. Also, keep in mind that this $1/2 coupon is applied/attached to both dressings so you cannot apply an additional manufacturer coupon to either of these 2 dressings.

(5) Read the text on Free product coupons and Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupons and pay special attention to the maximum value allowed. For example, let’s say you have a free product coupon for Axe Shower Gel with a maximum value of $5.99 specified on the coupon. Your store has the Axe Shower Gel priced at $6.99; if you use the free product coupon, you will actually pay $1 for the shower gel since the coupon only allows a maximum of $5.99.

(6) Look Beyond the Picture (i.e. focus on the text and NOT the picture). For example, I have a manufacturer coupon that specifically states “Save $3 off any K-Y Brand product (excludes trial sizes)”; the manufacturer has intentionally placed a picture of K-Y Intense (a rather expensive K-Y product) on the coupon. At first glance, one may assume that you can only save $3 off the purchase of K-Y Intense; however, once you read the text, you realize that the coupon can be used to save $3 off any K-Y product except for trial sizes. That means you could use this coupon to snag K-Y lubricant for FREE or almost FREE!

(7) Have I mentioned that you need to read the text?! Another reason to read that text is because occasionally a coupon may state one per customer. In this case, you can only use one coupon no matter how many items you purchase.

(8) If a printable coupon seems too good to be true, it probably is. Beware of e-mails (even if they are from your friends and family) that attach coupons for free products or other offers that seem “too good to be true.” They are almost certainly counterfeits. To check out a suspicious coupon, head over to the Coupon Information Corporation (CIC) and you can view a list of current counterfeit coupons. You can also report a suspicious or counterfeit coupon that you discover.

Photo courtesy of FritoLay.com

If you come across a coupon with one or more of the following items, keep in mind that this may indicate that the coupon is fraudulent: coupons with NO expiration date; misspellings on coupon; no purchase required to get free product; coupon does not refer to specific size or weight limits for free product; extremely high maximum value for free product (ex. – $5 maximum value for a single bag of Doritos is extremely high considering these rarely sell for over $4/bag at ANY store)

(9) If you want to confirm that a Coupons, Inc. coupon is legit, head over to the Coupon Resource Center and enter the Veri-Fi code found on your coupon (i.e. the unique code that prints on your coupon). Keep in mind that when you go to print a coupon, you should never see the actual coupon on your screen, only an offer to print it. Real coupons require special software to print proper barcodes and limits the number of prints of each coupon. For this reason, you CANNOT photocopy a coupon! Keep in mind that photocopying a coupon, intentionally using a coupon for a product that you have not purchased and/or intentionally using a counterfeit coupon can result in serious legal consequences (to date, the longest prison sentence has been 17 years of jail time and the highest financial penalty has been $5 million in fines!).

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OK, now that you know how to use coupons properly, how about learning about the coupon redemption process. Do you really know how the process of coupon redemption works for stores?! What do stores do with those stacks of coupons that they collect from all of us savvy shoppers? Knowing this information outlined below will allow you to be that much more confident when you are at the register and the cashier mumbles something like “Using coupons rips off the stores.”

Coupon Redemption Process

-Manufacturers design coupon promotions with their sales/marketing teams

-Coupons are distributed via newspaper inserts, direct mail campaigns, via the internet etc.

-A very “hip” shopper excitedly enters the store and proudly uses all of his/her coupons at checkout

-The cashier scans the coupons and puts them into the cash drawer. Typically, at the end of the day the coupons in each cash drawer are added up as if they were cash, and that amount is added to the cash sum to be sure the overall total for the drawer is accurate.

-Once per week, all of the manufacturers’ coupons (and any coupons issued by the grocer) are sent in plastic bags or pouches to the store’s corporate headquarters.

-There is a very lucky person at headquarters in charge of processing the coupons. That person boxes all of the bags of coupons and ships them to a third-party clearinghouse.

-The clearinghouse is then responsible for doing the most important part of the coupon redemption process– separating the coupons by manufacturer or by scannable coupons versus damaged/torn coupons. Most of this process is done by hand. Sometimes coupons are put face up on a conveyor belt and move under a scanner that reads the UPC codes and tallies the amounts. However, damaged and torn coupons have to be tallied by hand. The clearinghouse then sends all the sorted coupons with an invoice to the manufacturer.

-The manufacturer will reimburse stores the face value of coupons or if the coupon calls for free merchandise, for the retail-selling price up to the stated maximum value printed on the coupon PLUS 8¢ for handling each coupon properly redeemed (this 8¢ value may vary slightly). Many times manufacturers, such as ConAgra Foods, will also reimburse retailers that are using a clearinghouse or billing agent at a rate equal to $5.50 per thousand of coupons redeemed.

-The manufacturer either reimburses the clearinghouse for the amount of the invoice, and the clearinghouse mails a check to the store for the amount of the coupons OR the manufacturer sends a check directly to the store and the store then pays the clearinghouse. (The clearinghouse is paid a certain amount per coupon by the store, plus shipping and handling).

(Thanks to HowStuffWorks for some of the info on explaining the coupon redemption process!)

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If you’re ever in need of a specific product and are wondering if there is a coupon available, what better place to search for it than the Hip2Save Coupon Database!? Here at Hip2Save, we’ve created a Hip2Save Coupon Database where you can search for any and all coupons, including home mailers, printable, store-only, in-store, Facebook, and many other types of coupons!

Today, I’m looking to you for input and inspiration on upcoming videos. If you can take a few minutes to fill out this survey, I would be most appreciative. In addition, 5 survey participants will win one of my 5 most favorite things highlighted below:

* Vitamix Blender
* Apple iPad 2
* Designer Jeans (you give me your size/style preference and I’ll do the rest!)
* Keurig Home Brewing System
* Smooth Move Tea 6 pack

What are you waiting for?! Head on over to complete the survey. Thanks for your help!

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

So how about you? Where do you stockpile all your goodies? Do you have any creative ways to store items? Please share with us in the comments below.

Enjoy!

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

How to Save on Jewelry
* Hit the clearance section (my favorite stores to find discounted jewelry are Target and Walmart)
* Ten Thousand Villages (click on shop, then click on clearance and sort low to high)
* Forever 21
* Wait until items are marked 75% off or more

How to Save on Clothing
* Skip the mall and head to the clearance racks at Target or Kmart (or T.J. Maxx, Ross and Marshalls)
* Tulle (wait for their “Tullesday” Sales)
* HauteLook.com
* Swirl.com
* Rue La La

How to Save on Shoes
* 6pm.com
* Amazon.com
* Browse the clearance section at Target

So…now it’s your turn! What are your tips for snagging shoes, clothing and jewelry at a “hip” price? Please share your secrets in the comment section below.

Enjoy!

**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.

More Ways to Save at the Mechanic…

* Check out your mechanic’s website for special savings. You may also want to consider signing up for the newsletter as you’re likely to receive special discounts and offers. For example, if you head over to the Firestone website, you’ll snag special coupons like $7 off a standard oil change and $10 off select maintenance service. In addition, sign up for Firestone’s email newsletter and you’ll receive exclusive coupons.

* Check out Valpak.com. Enter your zip code and you should discover local deals like discounted oil changes, auto services and more.

* Check out this article for even more tips

** A BIG thanks to Keith and Noreen, the owners of 30 Minute Muffler & Brake Center in Jacksonville, NC. If you live in or near Jacksonville and are in need of a trustworthy mechanic, I highly recommend that you check them out! They are located at 740 Bell Fork Road and can be reached at (910) 353-3160.

Do you have a mechanic in your local area that provides excellent customer service? If so, please feel free to share the name and location of the auto service center in the comments below.

Today’s Coffee with Collin is all about my coupon binder. That’s right… today, you will get an exclusive look at my gigantic coupon binder! Plus, you’ll get lots of tips to make your very own binder!

On a side note, I had a great opportunity to visit with reader, Tambry, from Tennessee. Unfortunately, when I went back to edit the video, I discovered that it was really difficult to hear Tambry speaking. For this reason, I’ve decided to not include my conversation with Tambry in the video below. I’ve also decided to not continue with the reader conservations at this point. I am trying to think about another way to get you all involved, so stay tuned for some possible ideas.

Enjoy!

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

As you saw in the video above, my favorite coupon organization method is the three-ring binder with baseball card sleeves and clear plastic dividers. I prefer a standard three-ring binder versus the more expensive zippered binder. Although, I initially started out with a zippered binder, I was unable to zip the binder as my coupon stash expanded (which defeats the purpose). In addition, the binder was so bulky and very difficult to put in my purse. I arrange my coupons by category… you can also arrange them alphabetically.

Coupon Binder Supply List

* Heavy-Duty 3 Ring Binder
(keep in mind that Staples has all Avery Heavy-Duty View Binders at 50% Off with in-ad coupon this week)

* 4 sets of Plastic Dividers 8 count
(I highly encourage you to spend the extra money to get plastic instead of paper …it will be well worth it!)

* Baseball Card Sleeves to hold your coupons
(If you are a newbie couponer, you may only want to purchase 18-20 sleeves initially and then add more as your coupon supply grows)

* Scissors – Every couponer needs these!
(Staples has the Westcott 8″ Recycled Scissors on sale for $2 with in-ad coupon this week)

Build Your Own Coupon Binder on Amazon.com:
(for those of you who would prefer to create a coupon binder from the comfort of your own home)

* Avery Durable View 3 Inch EZ-Turn Ring Binder $9.59 with FREE shipping with Amazon Prime
* Avery Style Edge Insertable Plastic Dividers 8-Tab Set $5.41 with FREE shipping with Amazon Prime
* 25 pack of baseball card sleeves $5.99 with FREE shipping with Amazon Prime
OR 100 pack of baseball card sleeves $13.75 with FREE shipping with Amazon Prime

Wondering what categories I use? Check out these FREE Hip2Save printables below to help you organize your own coupon binder…

* Hip2Save Coupon Binder Cover Sheet
* Avery Style Edge Plastic Dividers (item #11201): Page 1 and Page 2
* Avery Big Tab Insertable Plastic Dividers (item #11901 & 16282): Page 1 and Page 2

As I mentioned in this video, I highly encourage you to print off each store’s coupon policy and place it in your binder. Below are the direct links to the coupon policies of some of my favorite stores…

Rite Aid Coupon Policy
Target Coupon Policy
Walgreens Coupon Policy
Walmart Coupon Policy
* Please note that CVS does not have a coupon policy; however, check out my CVS Store Guide for lots of great tips!

If you are a newbie couponer,  start small. Instead of jumping into a binder (which can be very overwhelming), consider filling up an envelope with coupons. As you become more familiar with couponing and are determined to continue for the long term, then you may want to advance to the binder method or another organizational method of your choice.

Did you miss my past Coffee with Collin episodes?! If so, head on over here to check them all out.

A special thanks to GiftCardRescue.com for providing Tambry with a $50 Starbucks gift card! If you are in the market to buy, sell or exchange unwanted gift cards, be sure to check out GiftCardRescue.com.

Enjoy!

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

As you will see in the video above, my favorite coupon organization method is the three-ring binder with baseball card sleeves and clear plastic dividers. I prefer a standard three-ring binder versus the more expensive zippered binder. Although I initially started out with a zippered binder, I was unable to zip the binder as my coupon stash expanded (which defeats the purpose). In addition, the binder was so bulky and very difficult to put in my purse. Although you can arrange your coupons alphabetically, I choose to arrange them by category (stay tuned for next week’s episode as you’ll be able to print off a list of my favorite categories).

If you are a newbie couponer, keep in mind that you may want to start small. Instead of jumping into a binder (which can be very overwhelming), consider filling up an envelope with coupons. As you become more familiar with couponing and are determined to continue for the long term, then you may want to advance to the binder method.

You may also want to consider Jennie’s preferred coupon organization method. Jennie arranges her coupons alphabetically in a plastic box.  She writes each category on a 3×5 card/sticky note, staples the index card/sticky note inside a small envelope and organizes the envelopes within the box in alphabetical order by category (see Jennie’s pictures below)…

Did you miss my past Coffee with Collin episodes?! If so, head on over here to check them out.

Would you like to appear as a phone guest on an upcoming episode of Coffee with Collin?
Be sure to complete the form found here!

A special thanks to GiftCardRescue.com for providing Jennie with a $50 Starbucks gift card! If you are in the market to buy, sell or exchange unwanted gift cards, be sure to check out GiftCardRescue.com.

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Did you miss my first Coffee with Collin episode?! If so, head on over here to check it out.

Would you like to appear as a phone guest on an upcoming episode of Coffee with Collin?
Be sure to complete the form found here!

A special thanks to GiftCardRescue.com for providing Nicole with a $50 Starbucks gift card! If you are in the market to buy, sell or exchange unwanted gift cards, be sure to check out GiftCardRescue.com.

If you want a fun and lighthearted distraction on Monday mornings, then you’ll definitely want to check out this new Hip2Save “morning show.” AND with that being said, here’s the first video…

**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.

*If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

* If you have toys that you would like to donate to Toys for Tots, head over here to find a drop-off location.

Welcome to Week #4 (the final week) of the Hip2Save Holiday Challenge! Hopefully, you have a freezer full of delicious meals from Week #1 and Week #2. In addition, I hope you have been able to check several Christmas gifts off your list thanks to your home-made creations from Week #3. The final challenge for this week focuses on something a little different. This week’s challenge is all about paying it forward and the powerful impact that random acts of kindness can have on your own life and the lives of those around you.

So watch the video and join me in the challenge!

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Hope you enjoyed the video and are inspired to head out the door to pay it forward to a stranger and/or a friend/family member! Please keep in mind that to participate in this challenge (as detailed in this post), you are NOT required to spend any money. All I ask is that you pay it forward with 3 different random acts of kindness. If you are selected as a winner of this final challenge, then you WILL be required to email me the details about these 3 random acts (essentially, this is the honor system as taking pictures of your random and usually anonymous acts of kindness defeats the purpose of the challenge in my opinion).

As I stated, I do not expect you to go to Starbucks and hand over hundreds of dollars in cash. Instead, here are some ideas to Pay it Forward that can be done by just about anyone (young or old, rich or poor)…

* Walk someone’s dog
* Shovel someone’s walkway
* Babysit for free (gotta love that one )
* Clean someone’s house
* Rake someone’s leaves
* Give a lottery ticket to a stranger
* Treat a police officer to a cup of coffee
* Bring some goodies to the fire station
* Pay the highway toll for the person behind you
* Invite the less fortunate for Thanksgiving dinner
* Donate food, clothing, and money to the needy
* Buy presents and take them to a children’s hospital and/or read stories in a children’s hospital
* Smile at every person you meet today
* Raise money for a person who lost their home to natural disasters or fire
* Hold a garage sale and give the proceeds to an organization who helps others
* And the list is endless…

If you prefer to Pay it Forward through a donation program, check out this wonderful organization below…

Operation Christmas Child
Click here for all the details regarding packing a shoe box with special items for a child. Then enter your zip code here to find a drop-off location near you. You can even discover the destination of your shoe box…how cool is that?!

Are you planning to join me on the challenge this week? If so, click on the “enter this giveaway (i.e. challenge)” button below and state one act of kindness that you would personally like to receive. And then, go Pay it Forward! …AND stay tuned for some fun prizes!

I truly believe what goes around comes around. With that being said, may you experience lots of joy AND kindness in the next few days and always!

(Thanks to I am Thankful and The 365 Ways Blog for many of the Pay it Forward ideas above! Also, thanks to Jessica, Karin and Lauren for passing on info about Operation Christmas Child!)

We had a great shopping experience thanks in part to the wonderful customer service we received, so a BIG thank you to Wayne, the Albertsons manager who welcomed us into his store, answered all of our questions and even gave us more than a few coupons! And a BIG thank you to Angie who came equipped with her coupon binder, a great attitude, and lots of patience to deal with me, my sis, and my grandma. …So on to the video!

Enjoy!

*If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Albertsons Coupon Policy
It is always important to familiarize yourself with a store’s coupon policy. Here is a quick breakdown of Albertson’s Coupon policy. Albertsons will accept the following coupons…

(1) Manufacturer Coupons

(2) Store Coupons: These are discounts offered by Albertson’s directly for purchases within their store. Keep in mind that some store coupons will only be valid with your Preferred Card.

(3) Internet Coupons: Keep in mind that Albertsons will NOT accept internet coupons for any item offered free, any coupon redeemable for excess of $5, or any coupon where the UPC bar code is either absent or unreadable.

(4) Catalina Checkout Coupons/Rebates printed from an Albertsons store: Keep in mind that Albertsons does NOT accept Catalina coupons from competitors.

(5) “Twice the Value” Coupons (aka Doublers): Doublers can be used to “double” the value of any manufacturer coupon up to $1 in value. For instance, if you have a 99¢ manufacturer coupon, you can use the doubler coupon to save $1.98 (double the value of the 99¢ coupon). “Twice the Value” coupons are typically only available to be used during certain days and are not available every week (and sadly, they were not available during this filmed shopping trip ). They are usually found in the Sunday paper and/or in the store ad.

In addition to a wonderful shopping adventure, I also hosted an awesome reader dinner in Portland on October 22nd. Thanks so much to all the readers who attended… it was so great to meet all of you! Hope you enjoy the pictures below!

*Note: I will not being doing the Hip2Save Holiday Challenge this week due to my hubby having surgery on Thursday. The Final week of the Hip2Save Holiday Challenge will start on Monday, 11/15. Thanks for your understanding.

Welcome to Week #3 of the Hip2Save Holiday Challenge! Hopefully, you have finished baking and preparing the breakfast recipes from Week #1 and the lunch/dinner recipes from Week #2. The challenge for Week #3 focuses on something a little different. Rather than preparing more freezer dishes, this week focuses on making homemade gifts for Christmas that don’t break the bank.

So watch the video and join me in the challenge!

**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.

Please keep in mind that to participate in the challenge (as detailed in this post), you are NOT required to make the same homemade gifts that I have chosen to make in this video. All I ask is that you make 3 different homemade gifts and that you take photo(s) of your finished gifts. You do NOT need to email me the photos; however, if you are selected as a winner of an upcoming Holiday Challenge Giveaway (and there will be lots!), then you WILL be required to email a picture to confirm your participation, so be sure to save your pictures .

CRAFT #1: Mason Jar Cookie/Brownie Mixes
Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookie Mix
Butterscotch Chip Cookie Mix
Brownie Mix
(Thanks, All Recipes!)

CRAFT #2: Inexpensive Movie Lover’s Gift
I used paper popcorn holders that I purchased from Michael’s Craft Store. Sign up for the Michaels’ email newsletter and you’ll snag a welcome coupon for 40% off. Fill the popcorn holder with yummy movie treats like candy bars, Twizzlers etc. Then check out all the awesome movie ticket deals on Hip2Save… several weeks ago, Groupon offered 6 movie tickets for only $30 (these offers come available all the time, so you stay tuned). Consider adding a restaurant coupon (I chose a B1G1 entree coupon that I recently received in the mail from Ruby Tuesdays) and/or a Restaurant.com certificate.

CRAFT #3: Car Emergency Kit
Consider filling a Rubbermaid container with some or all of the following items: Snack bars, drink mixes, medicine like Rolaids, dental floss, gum, candy, cough drops, nuts, raisins, deodorant, and even a Bounce dryer sheet to help freshen up the car.

Are you planning to join me on the challenge this week? If so, click on the “enter this giveaway (i.e. challenge)” button below and share your most favorite holiday gift that you ever received. And then, get to crafting! …AND stay tuned for some fun prizes!

Welcome to Week #2 of the Hip2Save Holiday Challenge! Hopefully, you have finished baking and preparing the breakfast recipes from last week’s challenge. Is your freezer starting to fill up? If so, be sure to leave some space in your freezer to accommodate the delicious recipes from this week’s challenge. The challenge for week #2 focuses on preparing meals for lunch/dinner.

So watch the video and join me in the challenge!

**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.

Please keep in mind that to participate in the challenge (as detailed in this post), you are NOT required to follow the recipes I have chosen to make in this video. All I ask is that you make 3 lunch/dinner related recipes that can be placed in the freezer and that you take photo(s) of your finished products. You do NOT need to email me the photos; however, if you are selected as a winner of an upcoming Holiday Challenge Giveaway (and there will be lots!), then you WILL be required to email a picture to confirm your participation, so be sure to save your pictures .

RECIPE #1:
Spaghetti Sauce

RECIPE #2:
Broccoli, Rice, Cheese and Chicken Casserole

RECIPE #3:
Burritos with Mexican Rice

Are you planning to join me on the challenge this week? If so, click on the “enter this giveaway (i.e. challenge)” button below and share your biggest challenge in the kitchen. And then, get to cooking! …AND stay tuned for some fun prizes!

(Thanks to AllRecipes.com for the wonderful recipes!)

Welcome to Week #1 of the Hip2Save Holiday Challenge! This week’s challenge focuses on preparing breakfast foods (i.e. breads, muffins, and pancakes) that can be placed in your freezer and used at a later time. This is definitely a challenge for me as I struggle with baking and cooking in general. So watch the video and join me in the challenge!

**If you can’t see this video, then go here to watch it.

Please keep in mind that to participate in the challenge (as detailed in this post), you are NOT required to follow the recipes I have chosen to make in this video. All I ask is that you make 3 breakfast related recipes that can be placed in the freezer and that you take photo(s) of your finished products. You do NOT need to email me the photos; however, if you are selected as a winner of an upcoming Holiday Challenge Giveaway (and there will be lots!), then you WILL be required to email a picture to confirm your participation, so be sure to save your pictures .

RECIPE #1: Pumpkin Zucchini Bread

RECIPE #2: Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins

RECIPE #3: Buttermilk Pancakes or Fluffy Pancakes

Are you planning to join me on the challenge this week? If so, click on the “enter this giveaway (i.e. challenge)” button below and share your favorite baking/freezing tip. And then, get to baking! …AND stay tuned for some fun prizes!

Need some tips on freezing bread, muffins and pancakes? Check out these tips and tricks below…

* Allow breads to cool completely before placing them in the freezer.

* Be sure to press out as much excess air from the bag.

* If you are planning to leave your bread in the freezer longer than a month or two, wrap the bread in heavy duty aluminum and then place it in a plastic bag (you can then leave the bread in the freezer for up to 4 months).

* When you are ready to use the bread, take it out of the freezer and allow it to thaw on the counter at room temperature (this usually takes about 3 hours).

* Stack pancakes between sheets of wax paper and slide them all into a plastic bag for freezing (consider using an old bread/bagel bag versus a new Ziploc bag). Store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you are ready to use them, take them directly from the freezer to a preheated oven and bake 2-3 minutes.

* Place trays of muffins in the freezer until firm and then transfer them to a Ziploc bag for freezing. Muffins can be stored in the freezer from 6 to 12 months. Muffin batter can be frozen right in the tins for up to 3 weeks for later baking.

* Consider flash freezing muffins (i.e. place individual muffins on a tray in the freezer, freeze them until they are firm and then store them in more space-efficient freezer bag).

* Always label bags with the date.

(Thanks to AllRecipes.com and FoodNetwork.com for the wonderful recipes!)

Note: I apologize in advance for the lighting on this video… it’s not the greatest.

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Now that you’ve watched my two-part video series, consider hosting a taste test with your family. Here are my tips to hosting a successful taste testing adventure of your very own…

* Start with an empty stomach (i.e. do not eat an entire hamburger right before the testing begins )
* Taste test products that you eat on a regular basis and/or products that you like
* Maintain an open mind

If you do decide to host your own taste testing adventure, please come back and leave a comment letting us know what you discovered.

Watch my the video below to see what I’ve discovered. Is buying name brand always better?! You may be surprised by my results! Also, consider creating your own taste testing experiment and include your kiddos in the process.  It is a great family activity that may change the way you look at grocery shopping!

Please keep in mind that this video was actually filmed while visiting my mom in July.

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Stay tuned for details tomorrow on a very exciting Hip2Save Taste Testing Contest/Giveaway….

**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.

Wanna plan your own girls’ day out on a $10 budget? Below are some tips to help you get started…

* Planning ahead is key! Decide what stores/restaurants you would like to visit and then sign up for their email newsletters/clubs. Most stores and restaurants will then email you coupons/special offers that will help you have an affordable girls’ day out. To quickly and easily sign up to receive special offers from your favorite stores and restaurants, check out Hip2Save’s extensive Birthday Freebies list. Not only will you receive special offers on your birthday, but you will also receive great coupons and freebies throughout the rest of the year! Below are direct links to some of the stores/restaurants that I visited in the video:

Justice: Sign up for Justice emails and you’ll receive special offers (and even a birthday gift) like the 40% off coupon I used in the video to snag Piper a purple flute for only $0.66! This flute is responsible for the wonderful background music that you will hear throughout the video .

Kmart: Sign up your kiddos for the Kmart Birthday Club and they’ll receive $5 Birthday bucks, a birthday crown, a Happy Birthday certificate AND a birthday fun pack. You can use the $5 Birthday bucks to save $5 off any toy purchase of $5 or more which could mean a FREE toy! I was able to score an adorable My Little Pony gift set on clearance for $6, so only $1 + tax after the coupon!

Sonic: Sign up to be a Sonic Cruisers member and you’ll snag a surprise on your birthday (choice of a FREE medium Tots, a regular CreamSlush Treat or a medium drink). I used my birthday coupon to snag a FREE Cream Slush for my daughter in the video!

Bath & Body Works: Go here to print a coupon valid for a FREE Signature Collection Travel Size Item with ANY purchase (up to a $5 value)! This coupon is valid thru September 22nd. Remember, this coupon states ANY item, so look for an inexpensive product. Think clearance, a small hand sanitizer, nail file or any other product priced around $1-$2! In the video, Piper picked out anti-bacterial hand gel for a $1 and then we snagged our free travel-size product for free with the coupon!

Auntie Anne’s: Sign up for Pretzel Perks and get a different coupon every month plus snag a Buy 1 Get 1 Free pretzel coupon when you first register. I used this coupon in the video to snag 2 delicious pretzels for $2.79!

Captain D’s Seafood Kitchen: Join the D’s club and you will snag a welcome email with a coupon good for a FREE Fish & Fries or a FREE Chicken & Fries, just for joining! Plus, you’ll receive a coupon for one of 3 select free dinners of $5 off any dinner or platter on your birthday. In the video, I used the welcome coupon to snag FREE Fish & Fries for lunch…and it literally was free. I did not even pay tax!

* Sign up for Swagbucks! You can earn Swagbucks by searching the web, shopping at your favorite retailers, and by engaging in other activities like phone recycling, submitting polls, and completing special offers. You can then trade in your Swagbucks for cash or gift cards like the Starbucks card I used to score FREE coffee in the video!

* Be on the lookout for spare change! We spotted 2 quarters on the ground by the shopping carts at Kmart which meant a FREE Merry Go Round ride for Piper.

Do you have any tips for having a budget friendly girls’ day (or night) out?! If so, please share them in the comments below!

Thanks to Rite Aid, I was able to get permission to film at my local Jacksonville, North Carolina Rite Aid. The video below highlights all the great deals that I was able to score (keep in mind that this video was filmed back in August, so the deals are not available anymore) and also shows how the +Up Rewards program works. In addition to the video, please read through the outline below which will help you to become a very “Hip” Rite Aid shopper (this outline will be especially helpful for new couponers or those of you who have not yet shopped at Rite Aid)!

(1) Head over to Hip2Save and check out the weekly Rite Aid store deals. These deals highlight all the current Single Check Rebates, +Up Reward items, and sale items paired up with manufacturer coupons, Rite Aid in-ad coupons, Video Values coupons, and total purchase coupons (if applicable). Click on the print icon (located to the right of the post title) for the Rite Aid weekly deals and you can print out your own personalized list to take with you into the store. Pay special notice to the deals that I have highlighted in red as these are my favorite deals for the week.

(2) Get to know the Rite Aid Video Values program. This program allows you to watch a quick video advertisement (usually 30 seconds-several minutes) and then be rewarded with a coupon for the advertised product. These Video Values coupons are actually Rite Aid store coupons and CAN be stacked with manufacturer’s coupons! Keep in mind that your coupons can only be printed once. To print coupons, go to the My Rewards tab, check the box of the coupon(s) you want to print, and then click the print coupons button. When you have watched 20 video credits, you will earn a bonus coupon of $4 off any purchase of $20 or more (this bonus coupon is limited to one per customer per month).One of the best perks about the Video Values coupons is that they typically do not expire until the end of the following month AND they do not have to be printed immediately. For this reason, I recommend that you watch all of the available Video Values programs each month… you will then have access to all the coupons in the My Rewards tab, so that you can print them at a later date if you need them to snag a great deal.

(3) Get to know the Single Check Rebate program. This program allows you to buy participating Single check Rebate products, then submit your receipts online and get a check in the mail. Each month, Rite Aid will release a new rebate booklet in-stores advertising all the current Single Check Rebate items; you can also go here and browse through the rebate offers online. Keep in mind that some Single Check Rebates are only valid for one week, while others may be offered for the whole month. Make sure to check the dates closely for each participating Single Check Rebate item.

As you make purchases throughout each month, you can save your receipts and enter them online all at once at the end of the rebate program period (typically this is the end of the month). If you prefer, you can enter your individual receipts each time you make a purchase throughout the month (there is no limit to the number of receipts you can enter); I prefer this option as there is less of a chance that I will lose the receipt(s) or forget to enter it.  At the end of the month, request your rebate by clicking the request rebate button. Do NOT click the “request rebate” button if you are planning on purchasing more Single Check Rebate items before the rebate program period has ended as Rite Aid ONLY allows one submission per household.

(4) Become a Wellness + Rewards member…it’s FREE and necessary to be a savvy Rite Aid shopper! You’ll earn points each time you shop that will enable you to snag special discount passes and more. Be sure that the cashier scans your Wellness + card prior to you checking out (if you forget your card, just give them your phone number).

(5) Get to know the +Up Rewards program exclusively available to Wellness + Rewards Members. Each week, you can browse the Rite Aid weekly ad for featured +Up Rewards products (or just check out the weekly deals at Hip2Save). Buy these products using your Wellness + card and you’ll receive a +UP Reward which consists of a coupon or a number of coupons that print at the bottom of your receipt and can be used on your NEXT purchase like cash. Each advertised +UP Reward is limited to 1 per wellness card (unless otherwise stated). And here’s the best part… there is no limit to the number of +Up Rewards redeemed in a single transaction as long as the pretax total is greater than the combined value of the +UP Rewards.

(6) Read through the Rite Aid corporate coupon policy. I always recommend that you print a copy of this policy and bring it with you while you shop. If any issues should arise, this coupon policy should definitely help clear things up!

Now check out this new “Follow Me Monday” Rite Aid shopping video… Enjoy!

**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.

I posted this awesome video back in April, but thought I’d re-post it for all you new readers and anyone that’s had one of those mornings and needs some cheering up like I did!

Enjoy!

**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.

**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.

*Please note that I contacted Walgreens managers in the following 4 states: Idaho, North Carolina, Missouri and Texas; and I called the Walgreens Corporate Customer Service Center in Alabama. Because these states only require one party consent to record a telephone conversation, I was able to record these phone calls legally!

**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.

*Please note that I contacted Walgreens managers in the following 4 states: Idaho, North Carolina, Missouri and Texas; and I called the Walgreens Corporate Customer Service Center in Alabama. Because these states only require one party consent to record a telephone conversation, I was able to record these phone calls legally!

Stay Tuned for Part 3….

*No, you cannot use a manufacturer coupon AND a Walgreens Instant Value coupon on the same item.
*No, you cannot use a Buy 1 Get 1 Free item with a Buy 1 Get 1 Free sale to get 2 items essentially free.
*No, you cannot use a coupon that is of higher value than the item you are purchasing.

You then drive to another Walgreens down the road, buy the same items, and are able to complete the SAME transactions that you were not able to do at the previous Walgreens. How frustrating is that?! I cannot stand the fact that we all receive different/conflicting information from Walgreens employees…this absolutely drives me crazy!

This craziness is what led to the video below. I was determined to find out what sort of response I would receive when the same 5 questions were asked to 4 different Walgreens store managers across the country AND the Walgreens Corporate office. So watch the video to see what I discovered…

**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.

*Please note that I contacted Walgreens managers in the following 4 states: Idaho, North Carolina, Missouri and Texas; and I called the Walgreens Corporate Customer Service Center in Alabama. Because these states only require one party consent to record a telephone conversation, I was able to record these phone calls legally!

I hope you enjoy the video!

**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.

As you may remember, I had you all email in questions that you were hoping I could answer. I received a total of 25 pages worth of questions, so just like the previous “Follow Me Monday” video I’m at it again trying to answer as many questions as I can– which is not very many due to my rambling.

Enjoy!

**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.