Couponing Class

Friday, October 26, 2012

6:30PM

1252 Shepard Way

Shelbyville, KY 40065

If you are a couponer, new to couponing, or just interested in couponing, this seminar will teach you everything you need to know to get started. Class is $10/person.

We will cover the Basics including organizing and collecting coupons, stacking, doubling, blogs and getting the most for your money. This class will teach you how to effectively shop at Kroger, WalMart, Target, and more!

…Did I mention door prizes??!!

Please RSVP here…space is limited. (If you do not have a facebook account, you can RSVP by email to CouponingWithErin@hotmail.com.

Please share with your friends!

Check out SWAGBUCKS for FREE money!

If you are already online, you might as well be earning free stuff with Swagbucks! Swagbucks.com is a website that rewards you for the online activity you are already doing. You can earn “bucks” by searching the web, taking polls, playing games and lots more! The best part is that as you rack up the bucks, you can trade them in on gift cards and prizes. My personal favorite is the $5 PayPal gift card for 700SB and the $5 Amazon gift card for 450 SB! If you are already couponing at CVS, you can also get a gift card there. Prizes include everything from electronics to household items to magazine subscriptions to restaurant gift cards. They really do have a wide variety of rewards to choose from. Sign up for FREE here and check it out!

There are LOTS of ways to earn bucks:

Searching the Web– Not every search will win but often you will get bucks for doing searches you would normally be doing anyway. If you do win in a  search, you will see a “Congratulations” banner featuring your Swag Bucks award immediately above your search results (you will never ever be directed away from your search.) You can win any denominations ranging from 1-1,000 and you can win multiple times per day. Fridays are “Mega Swagbucks Day” so the winnings are usually higher amounts.

SwagBucks Tool Bar– Download the toolbar for easy searches and you will earn 1 SB per day for logging in on the tool bar.

Daily Polls– 1 Swagbuck per day for voting in the current daily poll.

Trusted Surveys– You can win various amounts of swagbucks for participating in featured surveys. Each survey results in a different payout amount. You will also win at least 1 Swagbuck every time you do not qualify for a survey.

Playing Games– There are 2 ways to earn by playing games. The first is by playing free games. Just for playing you will earn between 1-5 swagbucks. The second is to buy into a tournament for a small amount of swagbucks in exchange for the chance to win a much larger amount. You can find these under the “Earn” tab> “Games” after you log-in.

Watching Videos– You can earn randomly by watching Swag TV. Not every video will win. Bucks are awarded randomly. Occasionally, a Featured video that appears under the ad banner in the middle of the page will advertise “Bonus Bucks” by watching a particular video.

Special Offers– The majority of these will credit your account automatically within about half an hour. Some do take longer. Please follow all instructions provided specific to each offer. A popular example of this is that you can sign up for a free one month trial of NetFlix through Swagbucks Special Offers and NetFlix will credit  your account 1000 SB.

Finding SwagCodes– Swag Codes are strings of text and numbers that you can apply for instant Swag Bucks. Swag Codes can appear anywhere, and at any time, throughout the Swag Bucks network including the Swagbucks newsletter, any Swag Bucks powered Search&Win Site, the Official Swag Bucks blog, Facebook Fan Page, Twitter page, Flickr page; and affiliated partner sites. Swag Codes can be redeemed by entering the codes into the Swag Codes box on your My Account page.

On your Birthday– Make sure when you sign up you add your birthday (Month and Day) into your profile. Swagbucks will give you a bonus of 50 SB on your special day!

Printing Coupons– These printable coupons are basically the same coupons offered on Coupons.com. Swagbucks will credit your account 10 SB for every coupon printed AND redeemed at the store! Keep in mind, it will take 8-12 weeks from the time the coupon is redeemed to show up in your account.

Inviting Friends– You can earn SB when friends sign up for Swagbucks through your referral link. Also you will earn 1 SB per day when you invite 1 friend through the “Invite and Earn” under the “Earn” tab.

Tasks– Complete these tasks and follow the instructions precisely to earn Swagbucks. Amounts awarded will vary per task according to how much time it takes to complete them and the difficulty level.

NOSO– No obligation special offers. 2 SB awarded per day to viewing the offers (even if you press “skip” through all of them. 😉

You can find all of these options under the “Earn” tab or on the left side of the page after you log in. We started using Swagbucks in August of last year and by November we had already earned $45 in gift cards to Amazon.com! After Christmas, we started using them to pay for our Netflix subscription with PayPal gift cards every month! So what are you waiting for?! Go here to sign up and start winning!

Join now through June 30th and enter Swag Code  JUNETASTIC at registration to start off with a whopping 100 FREE Swag Bucks! Please sign up by clicking my referral link here!

FREE Couponing Seminar?!

Nothing is better than FREE! Ever notice how the food you get free with coupons tastes better than when you pay for it? And the free shampoo always smells better, right? Well, maybe not…but if you are interested in taking one of my couponing seminars and would like to get it for free, listen up!

Right now, if you hold a class for 8 of your friends, as the host/hostess, you get the seminar completely FREE! (Usually, I have an on-going promotion to do this if you have 10 friends there.) Now, through April & May, you only have to have 8 people! Not only will you get the classes free but you will also get a free beginner’s coupon binder!

How many of you can think of 8 friends/family members that would love to attend a Couponing Class? I mean really, who doesn’t want to learn how to save money?! Even better, I might be able to help you get at least 8 guests to your event! I have had LOTS of people interested in coming to upcoming Coupon Classes!

Some ideas of who to invite to get a group together….

• Family
• Friends at Work
• Church Group
• PTO at your child’s school
• MOPS organization/ Mother’s Day Out Programs

I do lots of different venues. Here is a little more about what we would do in a Couponing Class…

Classes are $10/person and cover Couponing 101: The Basics and Couponing 201: DrugStores (Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS, etc.) The charge is to cover the cost of supplies, etc for the class. It’s a great way to have fun with friends! Classes include games and door prizes, too! And who doesn’t want to learn how to save money in this struggling economy!?

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please contact me here. If you know someone that might like more infomation, please share this by clicking the social networking/email buttons below! Thanks and Happy Saving! 😉

Top 5 Couponing Myths Busted!

Several thoughts about couponing have been running through my mind recently,  prompted mostly by cashiers/managers and other consumers that have the wrong idea about coupons (and maybe my husband watching so much MythBusters lately.) This has led me to the the Top 5 Couponing Myths that I think need to be busted! After all, most of us who are already couponers can’t imagine why everyone doesn’t do it! I mean, who doesn’t like to save money, right?! Well, maybe some people out there just aren’t as educated on this process as we are. So here ya go…

1. Using Coupons is stealing from Stores.

You might think that stores are shorting their profits by taking your coupons but this is completely FALSE!! Stores are reimbursed by the manufacturer for all manufacturer’s coupons (and most of the coupons we use are manufacturer coupons.) Not only do the stores receive the face value of the coupon but they also get shipping and handling cost for the stores to send the coupons in to them. Look at it this way: if the stores weren’t getting paid for coupons they wouldn’t accept them and coupons wouldn’t be one of the top profitable revenues for them! If the manufacturer wasn’t making a profit, they would stop sending out the coupons. Remember, there are lots of consumers who happily pay full price for the same items we get free or cheap with coupons!

2. You can ONLY get JUNK FOOD with coupons.

Sure you can usually get candy and junk cheap with coupons but you can just as easily get healthy and organic products with coupons too! Basically, this is a personal preference. We eat our share of junk food but one of my favorite sections in our local Kroger is the Organic sections. One of my favorite recent steals: Mom’s Best Organic cereal for $.49/box after sale and coupons!

I know produce coupons and/or organics coupons are more rare but they are out there! Here are a couple of tips when buying organic products/produce. First, if there is a brand you like, contact the company’s website or call center directly to ask for coupons. Lots of times, they will send coupons directly to you if you ask! Second, find a blog specifically for good deals on organic products. A good one to check out is Organic Deals & Coupons or do a Swagbucks search for Organic Couponing Blogs.

3. To be effective at couponing, you have to spend lots of time on it each week.

I have said this before, and I will say it again…Couponing is not my life! It isn’t even my full-time or part-time job! I spend an average of 2-4 hours per week organizing, clipping, and sorting my coupons. Now, granted this does not include the actual shopping, only organizing. When I started couponing, it did take a little longer (maybe 4-6 hours.) As I refined my method and got to know what I was doing, I didn’t have to spend as much time on it. I use a binder-method for my coupons that is a little more complex and time consuming than other methods. But really, you don’t even have to spend this much time if you don’t have it. There are several methods like the “No-Clip Insert” Method or the “Envelope” System that may save even more time. The point is couponing should be fun and complement your life…not take it over! If you are using a complicated couponing method, chances are you won’t stick with it. And if you don’t stick with it, you won’t be saving any money!

4. All Couponers are HOARDERS!

We have all seen on tv where some couponers go insane and hoard 300 bottles of mustard or a 40 years supply of toilet paper or take over their garage with diapers they are hoarding (even when they do not have any children in diapers!) I will admit, sometimes people can go overboard with the stockpiling! But you have to realize that we are watching this on reality tv…and it is nothing close to reality! After all, reality tv is meant to shock and awe, it wouldn’t be so addicting with out the drama, right? I don’t know about you but I don’t have enough storage space in my home as it is…and no, I am not going to take over my children’s bedrooms to store 1000 tubes of toothpaste! Let’s be real here. Sales run on a 6-8 week cycle so really your stock pile should only be enough for 6-8 weeks. My “stockpile storage” is this: my pantry for food, 3 shelves in my garage for cleaners and things that aren’t affected by extreme temps, and 3 small totes under my bed for personal items/toiletries. Stuff isn’t taking over my house, and it shouldn’t take over yours either. The point is to save money on things that you need or can donate, not to just get stuff! If we are buying things, just because we have a coupon for it, we will be spending money on products we wouldn’t normally buy. This is never a good deal. Another great tip: Go through your stockpile every 3-4 months and donate some stuff to someone or an organization who will use it. It feels great to be able to bless others!

5.Couponers NEVER buy things without a coupon!

Of course this isn’t true! Everyone at some point or another buys something without a coupon. In fact, I do this on a regular basis. GASP! I know. But really, sometimes what you need just isn’t on sale and sometimes you just can’t get a coupon for it. If you are saving on everything else, one of two things in your cart without coupons aren’t going to matter that much. As I teach in my classes, if you need toilet paper…DO NOT use the napkin deal you got last week. Just go buy it. 😉 Your family will thank you!

Couponing Classes- JANUARY 2012

Happy New Year! I hope that this year has gotten off to a fabulous start for you! We have been very busy here at CoupoingWithErin and I am excited to announce the classes we have coming up for this month!

The first class will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2012. It will be at Simsonville Baptist Church from 9:30am-12:30pm. (Directions at www.simpsonvillebaptist.com.) We will be covering Couponing 101 and Couponing 201. Click here for specifics of what I will cover in each session. The class is $10/person to cover the cost of supplies, etc.

We are in the process of putting together another class for late January in Louisville. I will get the specifics up as soon as I can nail down the date and time. This class will also be $10/person and will be covering Couponing 101 and Couponing 201 as well.

So are you READY?! It’s all about saving money, having fun, and did I mention door prizes??  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about these classes! I can’t wait to talk coupons and help you save tons of moo-lah in 2012!

 

Bonus SwagBucks and Save the Date!

UPDATE: New Bonus Code! (through 12/31)

Hello! Just wanted to get out a quick update about what is happening behind the scenes here…

First, the next Couponing Seminar on the schedule is for Saturday, January 21, 2012! It will be Couponing 101: The Basics and Couponing 201: Walgreens/ Drug Stores. More info to come but be sure to save the date now!

I know January seems far away but really it will be here before we know it! If you just can’t wait until January for a coupon class, contact me and I will let you know how easy it is to host one! As the host, you get extra benefits too! 🙂 Find more details here.

Also, while you are waiting on a coupon class, get a head start by earning FREE cash and prizes at Swagbucks! Click here for more info. Join today, enter Swag Code HOLIDAYSWAG at registeration and you’ll start off with a whopping 130 FREE Swag Bucks by signing up here! Also, today is MEGA Swagbucks Friday, which means you may be able to score more Swagbucks than normal just by searching the web, something we all do on a regular basis!

 

“Savings Beyond Coupons” Class!

Times are tough and all of us are trying to save money. Couponing for groceries and toiletries goes a long way but if you are a couponer, you know saving is addictive! I’m excited to present a new class that will teach savings so you can splurge!

This class will talk about holiday shopping on a budget, Date nights and Ladies Night Out without breaking the bank, Mystery shopping, Surveys, Swagbucks, and much, much more!! There will be door prizes and lots of fun too!

Ballardsville Baptist Church

4300 S. Highway 53

Crestwood, Kentucky 40014

Sunday, October 9th

2pm-4pm

$5 at the door (to cover cost of supplies, etc.)

Please contact me here to let me know if you will be joining us for the class. Also, share this post on facebook to invite your friends! 🙂

So where do you need to save money? Leave a reply below and let me know where you need to save most!

Thursday Sept. 8th!!! Couponing Seminar

And…We’re BACK! Another Couponing Seminar coming to Ballardsville Baptist Church near Louisville, KY! The last class was so much fun, we decided to do it again! 🙂

I am so excited to be teaching Couponng 101: The Basics and Couponing 201: Walgreens at Ballardsville Baptist Church in Crestwood, Ky (AGAIN!) Here are all the details…

Ballardsville Baptist Church (see below for link to directions)

4300 S. Highway 53

Crestwood, Kentucky 40014

Thursday, September 8th

6pm-9pm

Cost: $10 for the Basics Class, Get the Walgreens class FREE

There will be tons of fun and door prizes. You will leave feeling confident that you can save 50-75% on your groceries and 60-90% on the toiletry items you buy! If you follow my tips, you will certainly make back the cost of the class on your first shopping trip!

If you want more info on exactly what these classes will cover, please go here to see a more detailed description of Couponing 101 and Couponing 201. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!

Directions from Louisville

Directions from Shelbyville

Directions from LaGrange

A huge THANK YOU to Gigi Wheeler for organizing this! You rock, girl! 🙂

Tuesday Aug. 9th!! Couponing Seminar

I am so excited to be teaching Couponng 101: The Basics and Couponing 201: Walgreens at Ballardsville Baptist Church in Crestwood, Ky! Here are all the details…

Ballardsville Baptist Church (see below for link to directions)

4300 S. Highway 53

Crestwood, Kentucky 40014

Tuesday, August 9th

6pm-9pm

Cost: $10 for the Basics Class, Get the Walgreens class FREE

There will be tons of fun and door prizes. You will leave feeling confident that you can save 50-75% on your groceries and 60-90% on the toiletry items you buy! If you follow my tips, you will certainly make back the cost of the class on your first shopping trip!

If you want more info on exactly what these classes will cover, please go here to see a more detailed description of Couponing 101 and Couponing 201. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!

Directions from Louisville

Directions from Shelbyville

Directions from LaGrange

A huge THANK YOU to Gigi Wheeler for organizing this! You rock, girl! 🙂

Spend Money to Save Money!

Whoa! Have you noticed the price of newspapers in the last couple of weeks?! Here in the Shelbyville/Louisville/Frankfort area, Wal-Mart and Kroger have raised the price from $1.25 per paper to $2.00 each. Now, I’m not complaining…I know this is still a very little cost for the amount I save by using the coupon inserts each week but… what happened to the $1 papers that I bought when I first started doing this??

If you are in this area you may not know about a great deal that The Courier Journal is running right now. If you are a new subscriber, you can get the Sunday paper delivered to your door for $4.30/month for a whole year!! That is only $.99+tax per paper!! The best part is that you can get more than one subscription for this price. So if you wanted to get 3 papers per week, it would be around $13/month delivered right to your door! Running to the store for the same amount of papers each week would cost you $24/month + tax + gas to get there + your valuable time! Go on over here to snag this deal before it expires on August 31st!  If you aren’t from around this area, you might find a great local deal by contacting your newspaper office too!

How much does a newspaper cost in your area? Will you be buying fewer papers because of the rising cost? Do you think the rising cost of papers is somehow related to “Extreme Couponing?” Please leave me a comment and let’s talk about it!

**I am in no way being compensated from The Courier Journal for sharing this deal with you. I just noticed a great deal and wanted to share with my fellow couponers! Happy Shopping! 😉