For anyone interested in the Chicago tribune you can get it at the dollar store for $1 saving you 79 cents!!!

40 hours a week is not a displaced anything. It is self-employment with no insurance, no time off and no retirement benefits. Thank heavens there is no pesky job or job training to distract her.
I've been in a checkout line behind the coupon obsessed and all I can say is, I have a job and I'd like to get home to my family sometime before I have to go to bed. Your savings cost me time. Now you know why people get upset.

KMart just had double coupons doubling up to & $2 coupons! We went & saved over $36. Check out: http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_savi...
http://www.dealseekingmom.com/
http://mommysnacks.net/

for great tips on saving with coupons. There's coupons everywhere if you start looking.

Rummage- stop being hard on yourself..I am sure there are lots of folks reading and taking in this info.. Pennies count these days for some. As long as people are asking for your expertise, then it is nice of you to take the time to answer!

http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-230765-1036...

Here is a link to find discounted newspapers. You type in your zipcode and it will generate a list of papers that are deliverable in your area at a discounted rate. The Chicago Tribune is one of the BEST papers for coupons, but I am not certain as to where they actually deliver to residentualy.

LOCH282...also, if I remember correctly, Pick and Save doubles on Wednesdays. Logli's doubles daily up to a 55 cent amount. I am not sure if there is a limit as to how many you can use, being I am in rural Brodhead, so I don't get to Janesville too often. Kmart runs periodical double coupon promotions up to a 2.00 value. Watch the fliers of check their website for upcoming events. You can really do very well at the Kmart doubles. Also, I suggest getting on email mailing lists to restaurant chains and they will email you free food coupons periodically as well. Old Country Buffet, Texas RoadHouse, Taco Loco, and Quiznos Subs are just to name a few that are generous with coupons. Also, if you have a TGIF accessible to you, they give a lot of free food/entree coupons as well.

To all that may think I am a "blog hog", I am so sorry. I just love this stuff. :)

LOC282...look further down, I posted stores that accept internet coupons. Good Luck! As I stated before though, I am not entirely certain about Woodmans, being I haven't personally tried it. I did contact Piggly Wiggly, and they are or should be accepting them now. Also, Dollar General take coupons as well as internet coupons. If you watch the ads, you can get some really great deals.

ZUL8TR...There are a few ways to obtain sunday coupons without buying the papers. This first one is not for "everyone" haha. You can go to the recycling center on Mondays and ask them if you can go through the papers, and pull out coupons. I have never tried this, but have heard of people being very successful. Next, you can go to local fast food and other restuarants on Sunday's and people often leave behind their papers AND coupons, as well as Laundry mats. Next, you can make friends with your local gas station attendants and ask them if they will save them for you. Or your "small town" grocer. You can go to www.redplum.com and get on their home delivery as well. This is an insert of coupons in the Sunday paper, and they will send it to your home. Also, the coupon websites I mentions before do have all the SUnday coupons on them to print as well. Good LUCK~ I do know that the Gazette was just running an amazing deal for SUNDAY delivery only for like 49 cents a week or something like that. You also might want to check to see if that is still going on. If you use ONE 50 cent coupon a week you paper pays for itself. :)

Does anyone know if there is a way to get the Sunday Coupons without getting the paper? Unfortunately that is one of the cutbacks we recently did so we no longer get the paper.

Could anyone tell me where in the Janesville/Milton/Edgerton area, accepts internet coupons?? Also is there anywhere that has double coupon days or any other special deals? It sounds like there are a lot deals to be made out there, I would appreciate if someone could fill me in on the basics, thanks!

Thank you MICKIE. :o)

Go ahead Rummage- blog away! You are one of the few informational bloggers- this is interesting.

EBAI..check the stores company website, there should be coupon policies available for you. Walmart DOES except internet coupons, but they have to scan, so sometimes if your use quick print they won't scan.

where I live I tried to use self-printed at wal mart and pick n save, they wouldnt take them

Here is a freebie you might want to try if you are interested...
At Walgreens, look for the new style of Skintimate, 6 oz, Moisturizing Cream Shave Extra Gentle Infused with Vitamin E & Soy.
←The container looks upside down. It costs $2.99 and gives a $2.99 RR. FREE. The one that is white with pink and blue also works, same wording except it's Cashmere Rain. Ok, I will stop blogging, I can't help it, this is soooo fun to me, and I love seeing others get great deals too!!

Here are some deals you all may find interesting...
http://www.giveabowl.com/home.aspx?LI=1 - take a survey and print 3.50 coupons for purina cat/dog food as well as by printing the coupon a dollar will go to the local humane society.
http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/ - go to this website and you can sign your kids up 18 and under for two free games of bowling per day all summer long. The closest one for Janesville is in South Beloit, so you will need to look in Illinois. Have Fun!

Also, a lot of companies websites have printable coupons on them too. So, if there is something you buy a lot, for example, ziploc, glade etc, you can go to their website and print coupons if they have them. Also, try PGEverydaySolutions.com this is the proctor and gamble website (tide, gain, hefty, etc...products you use everyday) and you can print coupons as well as sign up to be on their mailing list, and they will send you a huge book of coupons.

IHAVEALIFE... www.coupons.com www.smartsource.com www.redplum.com are just a few that are free. Sometimes they have you take a survey to get a feel for what your household uses, but those are mostly 'fishing' sites. It has been some time since I signed up for the sites, so I don't remember if they have you fill out a survey, but they are legit...and you NEVER need to pay for ANYTHING to print coupons. If they want you to, it is a scam.

Isn't couponing fun? I just love hearing all these stories from my neighbors. Most people I interact with aren't coupon diva's...so it was so fun to see this article in the gazette, and have a fun and learning experience. Thank you!

I used to be SOOO good at this, when my daughters were little! Its been 15 years since I really organized with coupons, but I'm beginning to realize I'm throwing money away, by NOT using coupons again!!!

Awesome article Gazette!!!

I do almost all the shopping for our family. My wife cuts and sorts the coupons, we make the shopping lists together, and off I go. We've been doing it this way for almost 10 years now. Not once have I ever been hassled in any way, shape, or form by a cashier. I'm not sure where y'all are doing your shopping that you're having to deal with that issue.

But, we're not out there buying 95 boxes of cereal like The End of Times is upon us either.

Sadly, we don't have any local stores that have double coupon days. But, we'll stack coupons when we can. We'll also stock up on some things when we can get a great price.

Another angle I found out about accidentally: Items that are normally priced low anyway, if you use a coupon during a double coupon day or stack it, can actually take additional money off your total in addition to receiving the item free. I had several French's mustard coupons and because it tastes better from the glass jar instead of the plastic bottle, and the coupons weren't size specific, I chose to buy the small glass jars. They were something like $.39 each. However, the coupons were $.50 each so not only did I get the jar of brand name mustard free, I got an additional $.61 off my bill for each jar I bought. So whether you use an item or not, it could become a savings leverage if it is low priced to begin with and you have a coupon that can be doubled. Give the item away if you don't have a use for it.

Hannah, you are right, they get the face value of the coupon along with 8 cents per coupon back. The clerks most of the time don't know this, and think you are "stealing" from them. Some stores get paid on a "per pound" scale from a coupon clearinghouse, but none the less, they all get paid. THat is why the expiration date on coupons is also at the sole discretion of the store. Stores can take expired coupons if they want to. ALL MILITARY families on bases are able to use expired coupons up to a certain amount of time. Many send their expired coupons to a military base.

As far as the eyeglass comment... I get all my glasses from www.zennioptical.com Glasses start at $8 a complete pair (lens and frames) and they are great frames. You just need your RX from the Dr (make sure you get your pupil distance- not normally on the rx)
Great site, great prices

Another great website is gottadeal.com. Mostly known for Black Friday deals, however they have great forums where members exchange information on freebies, coupons and sales.

ROUBINI - I agree with the 'making the most' philosophy. When my husband was laid off, and we were forced to cut back dramatically, I chose to look it as a "game" I could win. I just had to learn the rules. Whatever life throws at you, there is always a way to make the most of it, if you put forth a little effort to help yourself. Have fun, if you decide to start couponing...you will never go back once you start!

Thank you for the websites MICHELLE...these are two I have never heard of. And yes...isn't is nice to have certain items you just know you don't have to pay for!!!!!!

P.S. for those who go to Detweiller's Bent and Dent in Albany, have you noticed the increase in their prices?? I used to go there once a week, now I barely go there once a month. The last time I checked, they wanted 75cents for a can of tomato soup~ if I remember correctly, it isn't even that much at the grocery store. What a shame. A good thing gone bad. :(

MICHELLE...you are so right. Cashiers definatly seem to make up their own rules, right along with management. The best thing you can do, (don't get huffy) is smile and say, please show me that in writing so we both can follow the same pocedure (this is of course in the event if you don't have the policy on hand). You can email ALL companies and request copies of their coupon policies. They all have one, and you are entitled to it. This isn't to give you the power to be a jerk about it, it is to help you understand what the rules are, and follow them, and if you know you are following them, then you can prove it. One thing I suggest is NEVER be a jerk if someone doesn't take your coupon, the stores catch on to who is "the coupon jerk" very fast, and you will always have problems. Rather, if your can't get them to follow their procedures, politely say, then I don't want any of this if I can't use my coupons, retrieve your coupons, and go home and call their corporate office to let them know what is going on at their stores, and they will be sure to contact the store to retrain them. BUT please don't ever be a jerk, and always try to fly under the radar. I disagree with the 95 boxes of cereal being bought, if it was all at one store. That just brings attention to yourself and gives coupon use a bad name. If you are able to work the same deal at numerous stores, then that is different. I always make sure I leave enough for others to enjoy! :)

Ahhh yes, a story I can relate to!
I want to throw out two other websites that have saved me hundrends of dollars over the last few months.
www.thethriftymama.com
and www.diaperswappers.com/forum, the thrifty familes board.

I will never pay for shampoo/conditioner, tin foil, toilet paper, or razors ever again.

If you use internet coupons at Wal-mart, print out their coupon policy! It seems every cahsier has their own policy. Some will say "Wal-mart doesnt take internet coupons." to "Only one ineternet coupon per transaction." LIES.

congratulations to Tania and others like her who are showing the rest of us that we can make our lives better in spite of all the problems we face.
Thanks to the gazette for such a positve story and please keep them coming!!!!

OH! Just thought of another website for glasses. I use 39glasses.com and yes! The glasses are 39.00 for a COMPLETE set. I just ordered some, and they are fantastic. There is another website out there too for 9.99 and up glasses. All you need is your RX from your eye doc and he has to give it to you. This definatly comes in handy with no work in our home.

BrewersRock,
The website I am a member of is refundcents.com. I found out about it on the Today Show a few years ago. Optimism, good to meet you fellow refunder! :)
Another website that is very good is www.startsampling.com. You can get tons of free samples and magazine subscriptions and coupons. I could list many ways to save money, but it would require too much space here! LOL. If anyone is interested, feel free to contact me via email. I have thought about teaching a class for some time, especially now when we need it more than ever. A GREAT book to read is "The Tightwad Gazette". Check it out at your local library. There are so many tips on saving money in there, and there is a second edition as well. Also, I just recently purchased the book, "The Mom's Guide to Earning and Saving Thousands on the Internet".

I also use a lot of those coupon websites that were in the article. Rummage is right, you can get a lot of stuff for free if you take the time to clip.

These are the ones I use...pretty good!!

www.couponmom.com - free
www.weusecoupons.com - free
www.refundcents.com - 12.00/year

Rummage--what's the website you are a member of?

CLEARANCE ITEMS are another way to score free items. Check clearance isles, and pair the clearance price with a coupon and many times you get the items for free or almost free, especially high dollar items that have been drastically cut, because the manufac. coupons are usually a high dollar amount off. Ok, I will stop posting now, this is my thing..... ;o)

STORES THAT EXCEPT INTERNET COUPONS (IP's)
Walmart
Woodmans (this is second hand to me, I haven't been there for sometime, but recently I had a friend tell me they have now started excepting them)
Pick -n- Save
Walgreens
CVS
Target
Piggly Wiggly is going to start excepting up to a 2.00 amount, and no free item IP's. I just called corporate to find that out for myself.
Cub Foods also. Good luck, and I warn you, your first "free" shopping trip will fly you over the moon!! hehe

COUPON STACKING EXAMPLE.....
store has bottle of shampoo on sale for 99 cents with in-store coupon, sunday paper has a 1.00 off coupon for the same shampoo. You can use store coupon with manufac. coupon, end result 1 penny overage. Although, many stores adjust coupons so your item will be free, and they will not give you the overage...and you always have to pay tax on a free item if it is taxable. No matter your amount of coupons. But if you do get overage, which sometimes you do, consider yourself lucky!! Also, here is a tip....KMART has been running double coupon events for up to 2.00 doubled. Which means...you can use a coupon for 2.00 and it will turn into 4.00 off that item. Therefore, if you spend your time researching, you most definately can make a HUGE haul of free or penny items. Watch the fliers.

I have been doing this for years. My house looks like a local drug and dry goods store. You can most definately get many items for free, and as one of you said on here that she whipes the shelves clean...yes, unfortunately, some couponers are greedy that way, but most aren't. I am a member of a website that I pay 12.00/year and it is updated hourly with the latest deals and coupons out there etc. It has taught me tons, and on average, I save 75-90% when I go shopping. My friends and family now recruit me to find them good deals...or come to my house to shop for health and beauty supplies. LOL. But, YES it takes a ton of time, and I am a stay at home mom, who has that time, and has become my job. And honestly by saving so much money and getting more things than ever, it is equivelent to me working outside of the home.

yeah...I just googled it, and that is correct...using a manufacturer's coupon & a store coupon together is coupon stacking. If the item is also on sale, it is possible to get it for almost nothing. BUT...how often are there store coupons with someone on sale? And, whoever commented earlier about working families having time to do all this was correct--no way! If I see something that we buy, I'll clip the coupon, but we don't have time to do all the research online--but I commend someone that does have the time to do it.

I'm not 100% certain, but I think coupon stacking is using a store coupon AND a vendor's coupon. Store's will not advertise that they allow it, but they do.

'Holding a $4.99 bottle of shampoo, Tania Cantwell explains how through using sale pricing and coupon stacking, she is able to get the product, and many others, for free.'
What is "coupon stacking?"

I use coupons - I have never had a clerk treat me rudely. I read the coupons to be sure that what I'm purchasing is what the coupon is for. Simple. While shopping last week I didn't read the coupon completely - not realizing I had to buy shampoo AND conditioner to get a free hairspray. The clerk was very polite about it. I didn't use the coupon. I ended up giving her the coupons to use because it was her brand of shampoo. We pass around un-used or un-wanted coupons where I work. It helps everyone save.

good luck couponing when she is around , at a local drug store she had all the sale items available in her cart within 5 minutes of the store opening and nothing left on the shelf for anyone else (using multiple loyalty cards)

What is so wrong with saving money if you have the time?

Does anyone know what stores accept online coupons??

You know the economy is really bad when "homemakers" join the ranks of the unemployed.

Thank you!!

A displaced homemaker is one who was not employed outside the home but due to death/divorce/disability is back in the workforce.

ICSPS - Displaced Homemaker is an adult that has been out of the workforce, working to care for the home and children and often has diminished marketable skills

Way to go!!!! I too use coupons when possible and especially when the stores have double coupon days. The double coupons are real sweet when the item is also on sale :-)

I'm skeptical of claims like buying 95 boxes of cereal. It doesn't last forever, even unopened. This is the same sort of false savings as buying a 1-gallon mayo at a warehouse store but throwing out half of it when it goes bad.
.
That said savvy couponing can definitely save money. You don't have to go to this extent.
.
thediplomat: As she says, she has more time than money. It's obviously better to be making money with your time rather than simply saving on your expenses.

This is good if you have the time, but households with two full-time working spouses do not have this kind of free time on their hands.

What is a "displaced homemaker"?

While I am not as focused as Tania, I do use coupons regularily. One of my strategies is to use coupons on things I buy anyway. Using coupons for things I don't normally buy is not saving anything.
Every now and then you can combine a coupon with a sale and the amount is a plus to you. In a sense the store 'pays you to take it off their hands'. (example: store sale price is $1.79, your coupon is for $2.00, You gain 21 cents.)

You go, girl!!!! Who cares what clerks think! You have a family to support and I give you huge credit for turning a tough situation into a positive one. I hope others who read this will take advantage of what's out there to do what they have to do to survive.

And YOU, Tanya, are a survivor!!!