First off… start small. I guarantee you that the FREE tube of tooth paste… will be back FREE again in another month or two. For the first month I recommend that you start SMALL when coupons. Try using 5 or so coupons at once before you try 105!!!!

There is some good common sense that goes along with your shopping experience. Generally you MUST be nicer than the other 90% of customers because you are “complicated” when you check out with coupons. I know … the manufacturers put out coupons for you to use them and there SHOULD NOT be a stigma attached to them… but lets face it. There is.

1. Get a TRAVEL coupon caddy. When I get my “runs” ready on Saturday night, I go through the ads, pull the Q’s I need and my TRAVEL caddy is separated by STORE. Each deal that I am going to use is WRITTEN down on a scrap piece of paper and wrapped AROUND the Q’s in my caddy pockets. When I go to a store I take out only the Q’s I need for that store. This also helps to curb IMPULSE buys. That is the GOAL of the marketers. Go in with a plan, stick to the plan and get out with your deals!
2. Get Organized. It can take me up to a few hours the night before a run to get my deal organized and coupons clipped and sorted. I work on a clipless coupon system so I do have to clip the night before a sale. If you are a working on a sorter system it will take you less time than me but I just cannot make the commitment to clip every coupon knowing that I am only going to use 30% of them! I have had cashier compliment me on how organized my coupons are and how EASY it is to check me out. I try my best to make it easy on the cashiers.
3. The Cashier is your FRIEND… NOT your enemy. Smile and be friendly. I know that people think I am trying to distract or suck up to the cashier but mostly I am just trying to be nice. They are helping me to save money by spending extra time ringing up my order… THAT is something to be HAPPY about. Generally I know that standing on your feet all day, dealing with gripey people at Walmart… is not the ideal job. I try to make their day a little better. I have even gone as far as sharing Q’s and hading a free candy bar to the cashier. I generally apply this to my life to though… if someone flips me off on Nicholasville Road… I usually say a prayer … unless its bad day… LOL
4. Be considerate. If you have not put items on the belt yet, or even if you HAVE, and there is someone in line behind you, ask them if they would like to go ahead of you. This usually wins you big points with all involved! Ask the cashier, if you are going to have a complicated transaction, if they would like you to split it into seperate transactions. That way, you come off as someone wanting to make their life easier and not as a “know it all”.
5. Shop at OFF times. During the day time mornings or EARLY on weekend mornings has been the best time for me to shop. Cashiers are fresh and are generally more friendly and willing to help you out if they have not been on their feet for 6 hours and slammed all day on Saturday. Also, you are less likely to end up with a piled up line behind you, thereby further stressing out the cashier.
6. Shop Smart. When I enter the store I pull my list and coupons and then my caddy goes BACK in the purse- closed. As I pick up each item I verify the number of items needed compared to Q’s and as I USE the Q I put them in a “discard” pile in the outside pocket of my purse. This also helps me to double check that I am getting what the Q specifys etc.
7. Prepare your buggy. I stand at the head of the checkout lines and sort. All of my like items, coupon items, sale items, etc. Then I STACK the coupons on top of each of the items. Price matches are done the same way. Paper laid on top with the big Price Match circled so they cannot miss it. COUNT your items and Q’s. This is where my list comes into play. My list at WAGS has all of the items, number of Q’s and RR’s used, and number of RR I should receive. Machines and humans do malfunction and if I miss a Q or RR its a LOT easier to get it back RIGHT THEN than in a week from now when I realize it!
8. Size up your cashier. Its bad to say but I do this. I like to go to younger cashiers, mostly guys. They seem to be more agreeable and less likely to balk over my stack of coupons! They are also less likely to call the manager and start to nit pick or act like they are the God of all coupons!
9. Get Educated! KNOW THE RULES of the various stores. Be kind but firm. Once managers and cashier realize that you KNOW what you are talking about they will usually leave you alone. I recommend getting a copy of each store’s policy and putting it in your travel coupon binder. Their statements are generally short and can be printed on half a page or index card. Be honest with your coupons and if an issue arises you have good ground to stand on! Do not be pushed around by managers who assume making their OWN rules are ok. If there is a big issue… copy down the names of everyone involved. Leave the buggy behind, TAKE YOUR COUPONS and leave. Go to the parking lot and call corporate and inform them that you are in the parking lot. Generally you can get the issue resolved immediately and your buggy will not have been re-sorted and put back yet.
10. Don’t be intimidated. Lots of time the cashiers don’t have the authority to override something but managers do. Kindly explain the problem and most of the time the managers will fix it. If the manager refuses… call corporate. They are generally nice and so are the HEAD store managers. Remember that SHIFT managers are not STORE managers…
11. Utilitize the self check out if you can. After 10 pm at Meijer the self check out is all that is left open. I LOVE THIS! I can scan away with my Q’s and never inconvenience anyone! I prefer it actually!
12. Exercise general safety. When you are in depth and looking at coupons you sometimes neglect your purse. I have a carbinder clip that I use to clip my keys and handle of my purse to the buggy. I have read too many stories where couponers had their purses nabbed! BE SAFE… a $1 coupon is NOT WORTH your wallet! When you are hauling your goodies to your car late at night and trying to check the receipt… do it INSIDE the store… not at your car. Stay on the phone with a friend or your hubby… makes everything safer!
13. Takes pics and post to your blog so we can link to it here! (ok… so that’s not a real rule but I would LOVE to see your runs!)

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