Coupon Mania!

Hey, Y'all

It has been a while since I sat down and sent out my coupon preview updates and tips.  This is the busiest time of the year from Thanksgiving thru the New Year.  I probably will not get into a store this week unless the weather gets better.  When it snows, our emergency snow plan goes into effect.  We do not venture outside for any reason.  Old people can slip and fall in an unsuspecting second and at my age, a broken hip can end up being a very long stay in a nursing home.

The upside is that I will be able to clean up my office and organize my coupon stash.  I have just renewed/extended my four (4) ALL YOU magazine subscriptions for another year.  I received the annual gift subscription offer in my email today.  I am including the link for you just in case you want to get in on this deal.  The news stand price for ALL YOU is $2.50 a copy.  The regular subscription price is $19.92 ($1.66 per copy).  BUT, wait!!! The 2 for 1 gift special gets you two (2) one year subscriptions for $19.92 or 83¢ per copy. 

This year the magazines had between $25 and $50+ per issue.  Each month, I use much more than 83¢ worth of coupons from each copy. 

If you decide to order more than one subscription:

• order in multiples of two (2 for 1 gift special)
  
• use a different name for each subscription
• use a different email address for each subscription

Otherwise, you will just be extending the length of the one name you use to two years rather than two separate one year subscriptions.  So, I bought subscriptions for me, my husband, my granddaughter, and daughter, used a different email address for each of us, and used my home address for them all.  I will now receive four (4) ALL YOU subscriptions through June 2015!

ALL YOU Magazine: 2 for 1 - Gift Subscriptions

12.15.13 Weekly Coupon Previews (Source: CouponPreviews.info)

Smart Source 12.15.13

Red Plum 12.15.13

Printable Coupons & eCoupons 

Coupons.com (Use zipcode 77477)

• Sign in or set up an account and choose "Texas" as the state
  
• Enter "77477" for the zip code (more coupons and value)
  
• If you need help, give me a call 301.210.5091 and I will talk you through it.
  

Finally, we are entering the final two weeks of the double $1 coupons event at ShopRite.  My hope is that this will become a permanent sales fixture at ShopRite. 

Remember, to walk the aisles at your local supermarket.  They will have as many as 5,000+ unadvertised & manager's specials not shown in their weekly ad insert.  Most supermarkets will not give you a rain check on any "unadvertised or manager's" specials.

Bad weather + hot chocolate + organizing coupons + scanning ads + making shopping lists = Great Savings!!!  It is just that easy.

Happy Couponing!

ShaRon, The Bizzy Coupon Bee

Fwd: Fw: PineCone Research is Growing

Hey, Y'all!

I think I may have told you about this research company several months ago.  I have participated for about 18 months.  I complete online surveys when they are submitted to me about 2-3 times a month.  The frequency depends on the product and demographic for that product and whether or not you match the targeted demographic for it.  Anyway, there have been times when I got no surveys for a month and others when they came so quickly it seemed like I was completing them everyday or so. 

Anyway, you get 300 pts or $3 per completed survey.  I have gotten about $150 over the last 18 months.  I surely don't do it because of the pay and benefits.  However, it is just enough to pay for my newspaper subscription for the four papers I get every week.  It takes 5 to 10 minutes per survey.  Some are fun while others put me to sleep.  I have receive samples of new products before they go on the market.  I just completed a 3 week in home test on an automatic dishwasher detergent.  I have tested new foods, face creams, toilet paper (that was fun!), and a few other products I cannot remember.

Anyway, here's the survey invitation below.  They do not accept everyone who applies.  The month I applied, I guess they needed little old black women.  This month they are looking for Hispanic households and/or 18 to 24 year olds.  So, if you are Hispanic (I have a few Hispanic Coupon Buddies on my email list) or 18 to 24 years old (have a few cousins on my coupon list who are in this age range) ...or know someone who is... this survey might be your in road to great riches...just kidding.  But it will pay for your newspapers!

Take care, ShaRon

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ShaRon Lewis-Conway <redbeelips@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 3, 2013 at 9:46 PM
Subject: Fw: PineCone Research is Growing
To: "redbeelips@gmail.com" <redbeelips@gmail.com>

 

 

Feed the organic veggies to to pigs...life is too short not to eat dessert first!  

On Tuesday, December 3, 2013 1:14 AM, Karen Scott <scott@pineconeresearch.com> wrote:

Dear sharon:

**It's not too late to take advantage of this special opportunity to refer households to apply for membership on the PineCone Research panel.**  If you have already assisted with this effort - thank you and please feel free to disregard this email.

Share the benefits of being a PineCone Research member with your friends or relatives who are age 18-24!

PineCone research is growing and we invite you to help!   We are offering select members the opportunity to recommend membership to a friend or relative who is NOT a member of their household.  We are specifically looking for 18 to 24 year olds OR Hispanic households. 

Please FORWARD A COPY of this email to each household you would like to refer so that they may click on the registration link shown below.  That household should complete the registration form themselves and submit it. REMEMBER THAT ONLY ONE PERSON PER HOUSEHOLD MAY REGISTER. Multiple registrations of the same Household will void all registrations.

Here is the link to the registration:

http://www.pineconeresearch.com/signup/ds714.aspx

As a member in good standing, you've already seen the benefits of being part of PineCone Research. So please, share the benefits of membership with a friend. Don't forget, please don't tell them about any of the products that you have seen in our questionnaires or tried in your home. Remember, it's important that your PineCone Research survey and product testing experiences remain confidential.

If your referral has any questions, they can email us at scott@pineconeresearch.com or click on the link to learn more about PineCone Research.

http://www.pineconeresearch.com//policy.htm

 

While this is not a paid referral program, we genuinely appreciate your help in spreading the word that PINECONE IS GROWING!

Thank you,

Karen Scott

Web site: http://www.pineconeresearch.com

 

If you wish to opt out from receiving future emails from PineCone Research, please click the link below:

http://www.pineconeresearch.com/OptOut/OptOut.asp

 

 

Free Deals and more...!

Hey, Y'all!

There are some great deals at your local CVS this coming week. Two pages of the CVS insert are devoted to all of those great deals.  Here is a great chance to load up on those great CVS ExtraBucks Rewards.  If you can find coupons to match the deals, you can make your actual out of pocket (oop) much less than if you did the FREE deals without them.

I met a couponer tonight (check out my latest CVS YouTube Video) who took advantage of a little known CVS secret.  If you go shopping at any CVS pharmacy after a certain hour (usually after 6 PM), you can take advantage of the following week's deals.  In other words, you can shop both the current week's insert and the following week's insert if you wait until early or late evening at your local CVS.  Be sure to take the current week's ad insert because the current week's prices are usually pulled and replaced with all new prices for the following week.

The advantages of this is that you can avoid the crowds (especially during the holiday season) and the sale items are in stock.  It is always best to do your shopping no later than a Monday to avoid being frustrated by empty shelves.

Something else I have noticed lately.  For the last couple of weeks, I have not been able to scan my CVS card more than once.  Often, I was able to scan my card multiple times (as many as four one time) and received many CVS coupons.  However, last week and this week, I was only able to scan my card once.

Finally, we usually have no inserts the weekend following Thanksgiving.  However, the P&G insert for December will be published Thanksgiving weekend. 

I will have to wait a few days to get my free turkeys and hams at ShopRite.  I wanted the largest turkey they had but all of the turkeys were more than 21 pounds (the limit for a free turkey) and I did not want to pay the extra money for a larger turkey.  Now, that I think about it, $2.98 was really not going to be a lot for a 23 pound turkey.  Oh, well...I'll go back tomorrow and get it.

That's it for now.

Happy Couponing!

ShaRon, The Bizzy Coupon Bee

TheBizzyCouponBee.Blogspot.com

WalMart Deals & Other Things, too!

Hey, Y'all

I decided to check out the list of "unadvertised" WalMart sales and deals.  There's a bunch of them.  Just click this link: WalMart Deals you will find the sale and the matching coupon for each deal.  Walmart also has a printable coupon webpage:  WalMart printables  WalMart Coupon Policy

Also note:  WalMart does not double coupons

Next week's inserts:

• 11/11/13 Red Plum
• Printables: www.RedPlum.com
  11/11/13 Smart Source
• Printables: www.SmartSource.com

As usual, don't overlook these great printable coupon sources:

Master List of Bricks Coupons (Coupon.com coupons)

Printable Coupons for November

Okay, go get out those scissors and start clipping and match them to your shopping list.

Happy Couponing!

ShaRon, The Bizzy Coupon Bee

My Coupon Blog Link

Couponing Tips for Wherever You Shop!

Hey, Y'all!
I often hesitate to mention the name of the grocery store or pharmacy where I am getting my great deals.  This is because I have Bizzy Coupon Bee Buddies from all over the US reading these emails and not just from my neighborhood. 

Some of my coupon buddies who receive my emails live in the following states:

Mississippi     New Jersey     Florida     Pennsylvania           New York      

Maryland        Wisconsin        Virginia    South Carolina        Louisiana

I know I have forgotten a few states cause I did this from memory :-) at least from what memory I have remaining. 

Anyway, the stores where I shop are not really that important because it is the "technique" that makes a great couponer.  The skills and tips you learn from me will work regardless of where you shop. 

Last night, I did a late night shopping run to ShopRite grocery store here in Maryland with my husband.  Here's what I learned:

• NEVER go shopping with anyone who is not an avid couponer...they quickly get frustrated with the attention to detail of reading each coupon, checking the product size, flavor, expiration dates, etc. 
• NEVER shop without a list...I did not make a list.  I shopped from the stack of coupons I had organized in my coupon wallet.  I should have pulled the coupons of the items I wanted to buy and then made a list and matched the coupons to the list. I did not do that and missed some items I wanted.
• Organize your items into transactions BEFORE you get in line and not in the check out lane...this will quickly bring the wrath of the shoppers lined up behind you and the ire of the checkout person, too. 
• Choose your checkout associate carefully.  Look for the ones with a pleasant demeanor, teenager or young adult, doesn't look like their feet hurt, etc.  Because I was so unorganized, my check out experience was a hot mess! But because I chose my checker carefully, she remained calm and so did I.
• If you discover that a coupon or a fist full of your coupons were not scanned go to customer service before leaving the store...take your syrupy sweet attitude with you and the customer service associate will bend over backwards to help you.
• Do the happy dance when you get a boatload of catalinas after checkout and don't forget to take them with you.

Despite breaking nearly all my own rules, I did quite well.  My total before any deductions, scanning my shopping card, coupons, etc. was $223.05. (This was done in two transactions.) After all deductions, sales, card scanned, coupons, etc. my oop (out of pocket) was $59.81!  

But, wait!  I received the following catalinas:  two $2 coupons to save on my next shopping order

The catalinas that printed after my order last night!

(triggered by buying 8+ Clorox); one coupon for one (1) free dozen eggs; $2 coupon good on my next fresh meat purchase of $19.99 or more; $1.50 coupon off my next cereal purchase of $8.99 or more; three (3) manufacturers coupons ($1.50, $1.50, $1) off coffeemate creamer (triggered by the 5 or 6 bottles of International Delight coffee creamer).  I do not know what triggered the meat, eggs, or cereal catalinas.  I did not purchase any of those products.

Even without deducting the $9.50 in "money off" coupons off my next order, I still saved 77%!!! If I had followed all of the rules I listed above, I could have saved at least another $30!!!  

The bottom line is this: I should have left my sweetie pie at home!!!  He went with me because he really hates it when I shop late at night alone.  So, starting with my next shopping trip, I will shop early in the morning so that the sun will be high in the sky when I leave the store.  As an elderly person, I have to realize that I make a great target for someone who is out to do no good.  

Use my shopping and couponing tips at any store, pharmacy, department store, etc. and you will save, too.  Oh, I have already started my list and gathered coupons for my next shopping trip and my sweetie pie will not be coming with me :-)

Happy Couponing!
ShaRon, The Bizzy Coupon Bee

--
Posted By ShaRon, The Bizzy Coupon Bee to Couponing Strategies at 11/10/2013 09:59:00 PM

Discounts and Printable Coupons

Hey, Y'all

Walgreens is having a great sale for us ol' folks today only (Mon. Nov. 5th).  If you don't have a Walgreens customer loyalty card, you can get one for free at the counter.  Don't forget to register your card online if you already have one. 

Click the link: Walgreens Sale for Seniors & AARP Members

You can make the best deals by pairing your coupons with their sales and the percent discounts.

If you have Federal Blue Cross/Blue Shield (FEP Blue) insurance coverage, you can earn up to $125 per person on a pre-paid debit card.  Take the Blue Health Assessment and complete three coaching sessions by December 22, 2013 to earn your 2013 incentive reward. Blue Health Connection, which includes the Blue Health Assessment and coaching sessions, are not available after midnight Eastern time.  Here's the link: FEP Blue Wellness Program Incentives

Scan your CVS card at the CVS Red Box Coupon Machine on Monday's. That's when the coupon machine resets with great coupons. 

Coupon Buddies meets Tuesday, Nov. 5th from 6 PM to 9 PM to prepare for the supermarket shopping trip Saturday Night 8 PM-9 PM. 

Harris Teeter's Super Double Coupons Event ends at midnight tomorrow, Tuesday, November 5.  ShopRite's double coupon event ends the 30th of November.

Finally, here are the links to some great printable coupon sites- You can print two coupons per computer:

• Couponnetwork.com (This site will be shutting down and going offline Dec. 11th but the coupons will still be good until the expiration dates)
  
• Coupons.com
  
• Meal Inspirations
  
• P&G Brands
  
• RedPlum
  
• SmartSource
  
• Grocery Coupon Cart (Some of these coupons are also on Coupons.com and will not print a third time.)
  
• The Bizzy Coupon Bee Blog There are links on the Bizzy Coupon Bee Blog to nearly 1,000 Printable coupons.  (Click on the tabs: "Master List of Bricks-360 coupons", "Manufacturers' Coupons" and "Printable Coupons by the 100's)
  

Happy Couponing!

ShaRon, The Bizzy Coupon Bee

Coupon Buddies...

Hey, Y'all!

Great deals if you live in the shadow of a Harris Teeter or ShopRite.  Both are having super duper coupon events. ShopRite is doubling coupons with a face value up to and including $1.  The ShopRite event lasts until the end of November.  Harris Teeter is doubling coupons up to and including a face value of $2 until next Tuesday.  Harris Teeter limits you to 20 coupons per day per customer; only two like printable coupons per product; only three like coupons from inserts.  The prices at Harris Teeter are some of the highest in our area but with a little planning, you can get some great deals.

Tips for supermarket or pharmacy shopping:

• Get a shopping card or customer loyalty card ASAP!!!  They are free for the asking.  You will not be able to get the sale prices without a customer loyalty card.
  
• Register your shopping card on the online site for your favorite supermarket or pharmacy (CVS.com; RiteAid.com; Walgreens.com.
• Load eCoupons (from the store's online website) to your card (must register your card first).
• Scan your store circulars for sale items that you feel may be great deals.
• A day or two before shopping, take 30 minutes to walk the aisles of your favorite supermarket or pharmacy to check out unadvertised sales. Make notes... Most stores have thousands of items on sale each week that are not advertised in their circular.
• Make your shopping list.
  
• Use a coupon database to locate coupons (from inserts and printables) to match the items on your list.
• Arrange your list and/or coupons by shopping aisle to make your trip through the store faster. 
  
• Get your frozen and refrigerated foods last.
• Arrange your items into transactions, if you need to meet the coupon policy for your supermarket or pharmacy. 
  
• As a courtesy to shoppers behind you, do not do more than two transactions.  Get out of line to do any additional transactions.
  
• Watch each coupon to see if it scans and/or doubles.
  
• Look over your register receipt(s) before leaving the store.  If you find a mistake, go to customer service and take your "southern sweetie pie, sugar bunch" smile and attitude with you.

If you have found all of this a little confusing, then consider becoming one of my "Coupon Buddies".  I will take you through each of these steps and more.  Unfortunately, this is only available, if you live in the vicinity of Laurel, Maryland and/or don't mind making the trip to the area.

The dates for the preparation and shopping for my "Coupon Buddies":

• Prep Date @ QC Fellowship Hall - Tuesday, November 5th (6 PM-9 PM)
  
• Shopping Date @ ShopRite -  Saturday, November 9th (8 PM-11 PM) 
• Prep Date @ QC Fellowship Hall - Tuesday, December 3rd (6 PM - 9 PM)
• Shopping Date @ CVS - Rt. 1 North, Laurel, MD (8 PM-10 PM)

In the meantime, gather your coupon inserts and printables. You will need your coupons, coupon inserts, laptop, copy paper, and scissors. You can also print your coupons before you come to the prep sessions.  You can share a laptop with a friend. BUT, if that friend wants to print the same coupons as you, you must remember that only two of the same coupon per computer may be printed.

You can attend both the prep and shopping event or just one or the other.  You do not have to stay for the entire 2 to 3 hours for any event. 

The cost for each prep or shopping event is $5 or 5 cans of veggies.  All donations will be for the United Methodist Women's Holiday Basket Drive for Needy Families.  Forty or fifty needy families throughout the Laurel/Beltsville communities will benefit from your generosity.

For more information, please call 301.210.5091 or reply to this email.

Happy Couponing!

ShaRon