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Learning To Coupon
THE BASICS
A novice couponer might be intimidated when jumpung into the world of couponing and seeing that others have huge stacks of coupons.  First, You don’t need at ton of coupons to get started.  Second, once you do start, your stack grows amazingly fast.

There is a bit to learn about couponing and we'll start you off on a better foot than we had: One of us, we won't say who, though 'stacking' meant handing a stack of the same coupon to the cashier to get your product for free! She even tried this at London Drugs- no dice!

Read below to learn the basics about couponing and then go to one of our other modules to learn more specifics
FOLLOW OUR BLOG TO HEAR ABOUT THE LATEST COUPON DELS AND ADVENTURES
Who are we and how do we know this stuff??
We are two sisters who happen to be really good at finding deals on things.  Whether it be groceries, travel or furniture, we have always found great deals on quality items.  We will even admit to being a wee bit elitist in the products we like.  We  like brand names and good quality so we have tested it out, and we know this couponing thing can be done without getting the bottom of the barrel products, and without over-paying for brandnames. Oh, Ps…in all of our research we have found that some of the store brands can be just as good, if not better than some of the Brand Name Products

Like most of you, we watched Extreme Couponing and were amazed at the deals the couponers got.  We heard “you can’t do that in Canada” so many times that we took it as a challenge.  There are a few differences like: we don’t have double and triple coupon days but I can tell you that our storage rooms are significantly more full than they ever have been and we pay an average of 10% of the cost of goods we buy.

Stacking
There is some general couponing terminology that we need to cover.  You may have heard people talking about stacking coupons.  This means that they are using more than one coupon for one item.  The wording on the coupon is really important.  If it says “only one coupon per item” or “per purchase”, this really means “only one of this specific coupon for each of this specific item you are buying.  If you have the exact same coupon with a different bar code, it is fair game for stacking.  If the coupon says “use of more than one manufacturer's coupon per product is stricly prohibited” then you can’t use any other manufacturer coupon on that product.  Remember: you can use a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon if the store policy allows it.

DID YOU KNOW?
You can get a tax receipt for donating product you got for free?? Click Here
Once you start couponing there are household products that you will feel like you will never pay for again?
Most couponers aren't 'cheap', they simply want to create more expendable income to use on other things
Couponing Lingo
Getting To Know Us
Scanning Code of Practice
This is a voluntary program that most of the stores belong to (you will know because they will have a copy of the SCOP somewhere near the checkout).  If an item scans for more than it should (ie was marked on sale on the shelf or in the flyer) then you get $10 off the price of the item. If the item was less than $10 to begin with... it's FREE!  The scanning code of practice is meant to prevent stores from advertising a price and then selling it for more when customers gt to the register.  Getting items for free (or $10 off) with the SCOP happens more than you would expect- watch your scanned items carefully.

Abbreviations
SCOP- Scanning Code of Practice

WM- Walmart

SOF- Saveon Foods

SOM- Saveon More (rewards card)

SDM- Shopper's Drug Mart

LD- London Drugs

WUB- When You Buy

B1G1- Buy One, Get One Free
General Rules
Starting Takes Time
Our suggestion when you get started is not to bite off too much at once.  Once you have collected some coupons and organized your book, let others do the work for you.  You can find coupon matchups on our website so you don’t have to take the flyers, matchup your coupons and figure out the sales on your own.  We also hope that people can help each other in the forums on our site. The more you put in, the more you get out.   Let us know if we missed something or let others know about a sale.  Check often to get helpful info and ask questions of other couponers

Don't Let  Others Discourage You
Couponing doesn’t have to be a ‘dirty little secret’ and you don’t have to be ashamed to do it.  There are different people doing this for different reasons…. Maybe you are struggling and have no money to spend, maybe you want to take your family on a vacation and couponing opens your budget to do so, maybe you just like the thrill of a deal!!

Avoid Rush Hour
When you go to checkout, there are a few things to remember.  First, don’t coupon during rush times at the store lunchtime and 5-6:30 are terrible times to go through the checkout, couponing does take a bit more time as they have to check your coupons before they scan them.  This next point might be hard at times: remember to be patient and nice to cashiers.  Sometimes coupons can get confusing  We have also found that occasionally we get a cashier who TRIES to find problems when you’re getting products for free, like you are taking money out of their pocket or they are jealous of your ventures… we don’t get it, but….at the end of your transaction, they will be more helpful if you’re nice.


Coupon Policies
Where Can You Stack Coupons?
London Drugs
Saveon Foods

Which Stores Rollover The Excess?
Walmart
Sobeys

Which Stores Price Match?
London Drugs
Walmart
Superstore
Zellers

Which Stores Honor The SCOP?
London Drugs
Walmart
Saveon
Sobeys
Superstore
Rexall
Shoppers Drug Mart

To Find Copies of the Store Policies, Click Here
Rollover
When your coupon is for more than the value of the product and the store gives you that extra amount, it's called a rollover.
Couponing Sins
REMEMBER, THESE ARE COUPONING SINS IN OUR EYES- EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN RELIGION!

Don't Clear the shelf- leave some for others

Don't Take the Whole Tearpad- Again, leave some for others!  Feel free to take a few from different stores.

Don't Buy Coupons Online- It only promotes dishonesty (like taking a whole tearpad so others can't get them).  There are lots of coupon swaps and nice people out there who are willing to pick some up for you or trade with you  Because we make up the rules on our site, we will not promote or allow others to promote these couponing sins anywhere on our site.