Boot Camp

Upromise College Savings & Reward Cards

by Karen on July 14, 2011

Upromise is a great way to save for your child’s College Education. You can link Store reward cards to your Upromise account and earn a % back on what you spend. If you do not have a Upromise account yet, click here to sign up. It’s Free and you can start earning money for college today. You DO NOT need to have the Upromise Credit Card to have an account.

Once you’ve created your account, go to the profile page to add your grocery reward cards.

Then you can enter the reward cards to your account.

This is an example of a Upromise eCoupon. They offer several every month and all you have to do is active them with a simple click of your mouse. Then, if you purchase these baby wipes and your reward card (that is attached to your Upromise account) is scanned at check out, then you’ll get this $1.00 credited to your Upromise account. Now you’re $1.00 closer to paying for your child’s college! You can add more than one type of card. My mother in law has a Publix reward card and we’ve added it to our account, so we can earn rewards from her card. Get the whole family involved!

When our first child was born almost 9 years ago, we made the decision to get the Upromise Credit Card. There are many credit cards out there where you can earn special rewards or points but we decided this was the best option for us. We earn 1% on EVERY purchase. So even if we have the cash for an item, we put it on the Credit Card, earn 1% then send the credit card company the payment. This is our account total as of 7/7/11:

It may not sound like a lot over the course of 10 years, but it’s better than nothing and we didn’t have to work too hard to get it.

We’ve opened a Vanguard 529 college savings account in both of our kids names, and linked it to our Upromise account. Every quarter, the money we’ve earned is split 50/50 between them and it’s transfered to their 529 accounts. Now that money is earning interest.

There are many other ways to earn money through Upromise, including shopping online through their website and eating at restaurants in the dining program. Please let me know if you have any questions. Do you use Upromise? What tips do you have.

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Getting Started Saving The Family Money

by Karen on April 12, 2010

Are you a new reader to Saving The Family Money.com? If so, you may want to start reading the Boot Camp Series we did at the beginning of the year. It’s an excellent way to get started and there is some Juicy info!

Boot Camp Introduction

Creating a Budget – Episode #1

After Holiday Sale Shopping – Episode #2

Getting Organized to Save Money – Episode #3

Savings Worksheet – Episode #4

Get a Spare Email Address – Episode #5

How to Obtain Coupons – Episode #6

Rebate Survival – Episode #7

Grocery Reward Cards & Upromise – Episode #8

Grocery Coupon Match Up – Masterlist - Episode #9

Stockpiling – Episode #10

Store Coupon Policies - Episode #11

Walgreens 411 – Episode #12

CVS 411 – Episode #13

Publix 411 – Episode #14

How To Save Your Family Money

Tips for printing internet coupons

Is there a topic that you’d like to see, that we didn’t discuss? Leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to Get Er Done! (Yes I used a quote from Mater in Cars!)

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CVS 411 – Boot Camp Episode #13

by Karen on February 3, 2010

I love shopping at CVS because I can often get free or really cheap stuff. Toothpaste, shampoo and razors are all items I’ve gotten for free. I never would have believed this before I learned how to shop the CVS deals. Here are some tips to get you started.

If you don’t have a CVS card, get one immediately and make sure your email address is registered with it. They often email valuable coupons like $5 off a $30 purchase. I find it’s easier to get your email attached to your card if you request a card online. I have a card and my husband has one (although it’s in my wallet ) If you need a card ASAP, you can get them in the store.
Understand ECB’s (Extra Care Bucks) – These are rewards that print at the register after your receipt, for certain purchases. They are like cash (some exclusions apply) and can be used to pay for future purchases at CVS. They do have expiration dates but you usually have 4 weeks to redeem. Notice the below item is advertised at $2.99 with your CVS card and you will get $2.00 back in ECB’s. If you use a $1.00 off coupon when you make your purchase, you’ll pay $1.99 OOP but get back $2.00 in ECB’s. It’s like getting it for free. Try to roll over your ECB’s. Meaning if you get $5 in ECB’s this week, use it on another purchase where you will get more ECB’s. You will have to invest money in the beginning to acquire the ECB’s but if you roll them over it will benefit you in the end.

When the weekly flyer says “Spend $25 on the products shown, get $10 back in ECB’s”. This means you have to spend $25 worth of the products listed BEFORE coupons are applied. Use coupons on these products and you can get a great deal!
Scan your card at the CVS kiosk (price scanner) as soon as you walk in. Valuable coupons may print that you can use on your purchase.

CVS accepts 1 MFR and 1 CVS store coupon per item. You can also use a competitor coupon for pharmacy purchases
Each time you use your ExtraCare card, 2% of your total out-of-pocket expenses is credited to your ExtraCare account. You also earn 1 Extra Buck (ECB) for every 2 prescriptions purchased. This “money” is printed at the end of your receipt once every quarter.
CVS will issue rainchecks for items they are out of. If it is an ECB item, make sure to ask the cashier to write down the ECB code so it’s easier when you come back to redeem it.
There are 4 main ways to get CVS coupons:

Email - As mentioned above, make sure your email address is linked with your CVS Card.
CVS Kiosk or price scanner – Scan your card each visit to see if any coupons print.
CVS Reinventing Beauty Magazine – This is a CVS magazine and can usually be found in the magazine racks or near the cash registers. It costs $.99 and contains multiple CVS and manufacturer coupons inside.
Clip-Free Monthly Coupon Booklet – These booklets are usually found near the weekly fliers in-store and sometimes spread around endcaps. You do not need to actually cut them out, just use your CVS card at checkout to receive the discounts.

You can now purchase CVS tag for your reusable bags ($.99). Each time you make a purchase and use your bag have the card scanned along with your CVS card. After 4 scans, you’ll earn $1.00 in ECB’s!
It’s better to use your coupons in this order: CVS $ off $ Coupons, MFG coupons, ECB’s.
You can split up transactions to be able to roll over your ECB’s and have less OOP. For instance you can make a purchase and get back ECB’s, then do another transaction for your other products and use the ECB’s in the first transaction to pay for it. Here is one of my previous CVS trips that may help you understand.

All of this can be quite confusing in the beginning but you’ll get the hang of it. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Happy Savings!

Be sure to check out the rest The Boot Camp Series for more tips on Saving the family money.

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Walgreens 411 – Boot Camp Episode #12

by Karen on February 1, 2010

When I first started deal shopping, I heard you could get some cheap and even free stuff from shopping the drug stores. Previously the only time I shopped there was when I needed medicine or a lipstick. I always felt they were overpriced. I have since learned how to maximize my savings and work the deals they have. Here are some things that may help you.

1. Monthly Coupon Book (IVC- Instant Value Coupons) – Most people are only aware of the weekly flier. You can pick up monthly coupon books in the store, usually on the same rack where the weekly fliers are. There is a new one every month. They are filled with over $10o worth of Walgreens coupons. Stack a manufacturer coupon and Walgreens coupon together for a better deal. You can also print these coupon online at Walgreens.

2. Register Rewards – In the weekly flier there will often be items that, when purchased, a Register Reward will print after your receipt. This is just like cash and can be used on your next purchase.

You can receive unlimited amounts of RR’s for any single item as long as you split up your transactions.
Only 1 RR will print per item per transaction.
If you receive a RR for an item, then use the RR to pay for another one of the same item, it will not print another RR. (They cannot be rolled over)
RR’s have expiration dates so take note and do not let them expire. I have done this and it’s heartbreaking! I recommend using them in the same trip.

3. Coupons- Walgreens will take RR’s, Walgreens In-ad coupons, other Walgreens coupons, and MFR coupons in one transaction.

My advice it to hand over your coupons in this order:

$ off $xx Walgreens purchase coupon (ex: $5 off $25 purchase)
MFR coupons
RR’s (These are considered MFR coupons)
Walgreens coupons
In -ad Walgreens coupons (These are coupons that reduce the items to a sale price)
I usually remember the order by thinking alphabetically.

Walgreens registers will not let you use more coupons than items in your transaction. If you have 6 coupons (in-ad coupons do not count), and only 5 items, you will need a filler item to equal out the number of coupons with the number of items. I always try to find a clearance item or a small piece of candy.

Not all cashiers know this, so as an informed Walgreens shopper, you can just hand them over in this order. I learned this the hard way. I even have a cheat sheet in my coupon binder.

Here is an example of a sale I took advantage of. You can start simple like this and work your way up.

Transaction #1:
1 Gillette Fusion Razor: Sale $8.99 – $4 MFR Q = $5.62 OOP
Received $6 RR

Transaction #2:
3 Bags Chocolate Covered Raisins: Sale $1.99 each = $5.97
1 Hershey Bar = $.50
Used $6.00 RR from 1st transaction
OOP =$.51

I highly recommend the Walgreens brand chocolate covered raisins. I stock up when they are on sale.

It can be overwhelming at first but there are many resources to help. Let me know if you have any questions along the way.

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Store Coupon Policies – Boot Camp Episode #11

by Karen on January 28, 2010

These coupon policies will be kept on the FAQ page.

There are several stores that have official coupon policies and I have linked to these. I suggest printing them and keeping it in your coupon binder. Sometimes we are more knowledgeable about coupon polices than cashiers are. It’s helpful to have it with you if you need to support your coupon usage. Unfortunately, many companies leave their coupon policies up to Store Managers, who are not always consistent. You may have to drive out of your way to find a store that has the policies that work for you (YMMV – Your mileage may vary). Even though Walmart’s coupon policy states that they take internet printable coupons, my local Walmart stopped taking them for a few months because they had several fraudulent situations that cost them over $200. If you use coupons ethically, then you should have no problem standing your ground and requesting a manager if it’s needed. As always I recommend being friendly and smile. It will get you further than stomping your foot and causing a scene.

Target Coupon Policy

Accepts 1 Target coupon & 1 MFR coupon for each item
Will not take competitor coupons
Will take internet printable coupons
Target is now starting to price match if you bring in the competitor ad. I’ve had to go to Customer Service to handle these.

Walmart Coupon Policy

Will not double coupons
Accepts only 1 MFR coupon per item
Will take internet printable coupons – Your mileage may vary (YMMV) on this one
Does not accept competitor coupons
Will price match competitor prices

Winn Dixie

No official coupon policy – When I emailed the company, this is the response I received:

Dear Karen,

Please accept my apology but I am unable to send copies of policies.
As far as the use of coupons is concerned, Winn-Dixie will honor its store coupons and
manufacture coupons, these type coupons are useable in any chain where the item is sold.
Winn-Dixie does not honor other store coupons; these type coupons are issued for the
purpose of generating sales in a particular food chain and therefore are only useable in
that chains store, Winn-Dixie would be unable to receive credit for those coupons. There
are also times when Winn-Dixie will double or triple coupons, this is done randomly and
will always be noted in the flyer as well as the store where the promotion is going on.
Other than that coupons are handled per the instructions stated. Of course no outdated or
coupons missing date info are accept.
I hope this information is helpful. Winn-Dixie does appreciate you shopping with us.

BJ’s Wholesale Club

Accepts 1 BJ’s coupon & 1 MFR coupon for each item
They will accept multiple MFR coupons for items that can be separated from the packaging. For example if they sell a 6 pack of soup and those 6 cans can be sold separately at a regular grocery store, then you can use a coupon for each can. You can read my previous post on BJ’s shopping for more details.

Food Lion

No official coupon policy
Will not double coupons
Accepts 1 Food Lion & 1 MFR coupon per item
Will Not accept more than 1 of the same printable Food Lion coupon. (Coupons specify one 1 print per coupon)
You can use 2 coupons on BOGO items because they actually ring up half price (You need only buy 1 for the sale price)
Does not accept competitor coupons

Walgreens

Accepts 1 Walgreens coupon & 1 MFR coupon for each item
Will accept internet printable coupons
Does not match competitor ads or prices
Does not accept other stores coupons

CVS

Accepts 1 CVS coupon & 1 MFR coupon for each item
Will accept internet printable coupons
Does not match competitor ads or prices
Does not accept other stores coupons

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