Upcoming Community Classes

For those of you who may be looking to attend a class, and are unsure about hosting your own for your family and friends, here is a list of open classes you can attend...

These classes are held through the City of Henderson.  Please go to their website to register.  Use the activity number for easy access.  Walk-ins also welcome, but you will need to check in at the desk.  Seats are limited as well.

September 12th @ 7pm (374012-00)
Black Mountain Rec Center
599 Greenway Rd.  
Henderson, NV  89015
(702)267-4070

September 13th @ 7pm (374012-12)
Silver Springs Rec Center
1951 Silver Springs Parkway  
Henderson, NV  89074
(702)267-5720

September 14th @ 10am (374012-78)
Heritage Park Senior Facility (55yrs+)
300 S. Racetrack Rd  
Henderson, NV  89015
(702)267-2950

This next one will be a doozie!!  

The Review-Journal is sponsoring a day of workshops!  Get your friends, and register to save your seats!  You will get to meet Jennifer Freeman from TLC's Extreme Couponing and learn a few tips and tricks from her and I.  It is loads of fun (if I do say so myself).  Seats are limited for each of these so sign up soon! 

September 28th! One at 11 and one at 5pm

Sahara West Library
9600 West Sahara
Las Vegas, NV 89117

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

 

Free Class

Have you been wanting to come to a class and just a little to nervous about hosting one for yourself?  I will be teaching a class at the Silver Springs Rec Center tomorrow (3/15) at 7pm.  Get a few friends together for a girls night out and come away with invaluable life skills.  

The class is totally free! I will be able to offer you a tremendous deal on the newspaper so you can even get your coupons at a discounted rate! 

To register for this class, simply go to City of Henderson online and register for activity number 371012-13.  The more the merrier!!  Hope to see you there!

Coupon Tidbits

Last minute shopping at Smiths? There's great deals this week to be had at Smith's if the frozen promo works for you and you need some household items (detergent, toothpaste, fabric softner, etc.). Are you a baker? Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming sales for all the stuff you need for those yummy holiday recipes!

What I learned...Last cold season my DH got sick and I found myself at Walgreen's at 10 pm buying OTC medicine! I was sick to my stomach! I didn't have any on hand and ended up paying close to full price! So lesson learned. Cold season is upon us. When you spot good deals on any OTC medicines (even Kleenex!) you might use, stock up. That way you'll have it IF you need it and if you don't need it, you didn't pay FULL price for it anyway!

One list tidbit about coupons. I challenged myself to keep track of my coupon savings. I was sent this cool savings tracker (let me know if you want it I can send it to you!) and I've been tracking my savings since January. Well....drum roll please...I spend $208 on my papers annually and I've saved SO far this calendar year $5400!!! Can you believe it! So simple math says it's WELL worth the paper investment. Give us a call to book your free coupon class and you too can be well on your way to HUGE savings!

Back to School, Back to Savings!

As you can probably see, I haven't been posting for a while. For that I apologize to my loyal readers, but don't apologize for my reason. We had a fun-filled last few weeks of summer & I took advantage of that precious time with my hubby and kiddos.

Well, school's back in, and things are settling down to "normal" (if that is at all possible). So, it's back to the grindstone and back to saving BIG TIME at the grocery store!!

If you would like to book a class, or need a re-fresher course, leave me a comment or email me your information and I can put you on my calendar. There is a great promotion going on at Smith's right now and there is no fancy couponing involved. If you are a first-timer or just need a little confidence boost using this system, you can't miss these deals!! Let me know how you do! Good luck!!

Get MORE Coupons

I love teaching these fantastic coupon classes!! Probably one of my favorite parts is when I show everyone how easy it is to organize your coupons. I love it when I see all your faces drop at how InSAneLy simple it is!!

A very inquisitive party-goer at one of my classes last week noticed that I had multiple RedPlums and Proctor & Gamble coupons in my little coupon binder. She then of course, asked how I got those lovely little treats. I debated on whether or not to share this tidbit of info since it is one of my tricks I teach at my Advanced Class. Well, that debate is now over... and I am spilling a little Advanced secret... are you ready??

Coupons by Dede.com

This is my favorite little coupon spot to scoop up extra inserts. There is a link on the left sidebar (if you click through my blog I get a little extra $ so help a girl out would ya). You will notice that it is still cheaper to get your SmartSource coupons from the Review Journal through your GrocerySmarts DEEP discounted price. So, defiantly call me to get your papers, but if you are looking to boost you saving potential, get your multiple RPs and P&Gs from Dede.

Advanced Class FAQ

I have had lots of people ask me about my Advanced Class and how they get an invite. So, here's the dish...

*When you host a Coupon Class for your family and friends, and have at least 12 "new" (meaning they haven't been to a class before) moms there, you are awarded an invite for you AND a friend.

*At the class, I teach how to shop and SAVE TONS at stores like Walgreens, CVS, and Target

*I will also show you how to get your hands on MORE coupons

*You will receive a list of my favorite money-saving blogs/websites

*After the class, I will send you a priceless worksheet to help you "work out" those tricky CVS & Walgreens transactions

SUMMER "SALE": If you host a class before the end of August, and have only 8 new moms attend, you will receive your invite! I must be crazy!!

But wait....there's more.... (this is where my cheezy salesman pitch comes in)

Leave me a comment about how badly you want to learn my Advanced Techniques, and I will choose 2, yes 2, winners to receive this invite! WHOO HOO - I am telling you this heat must be messing with my head.

Health Warning: It is possible to suffer from coupon-overload if you attend this clas without coming to my Coupon Class first. So, send me an email and I will tell you when and where my next classes will be and you can pop on by and take that first step...

OK - Let the games begin!

Filing your Inserts

You know you're a Grocery Geek when: you color coordinate your coupons!

Have you been a Grocery Smarts shopper for a while now? Is your coupon binder bulging to the point of near catastrophe? If you are just starting out, this is what you have to look forward to in the future.

After about 4 months of collecting my inserts, I was desperate to ge out of my binder. So, I did some dejunking of my file cabinet and made room for my "money". You all know I am a big dork, so not only did I group the inserts together, I color coordinated each one! SmartSources are blue, RedPlums - yep red, and P&G is yellow in the back. You probably don't need to get that nuts about it, but I wanted to show how easy it is to transition from your first binder into some serious coupon filing.

Have fun!!

(sorry for the fuzzy pictures, our real camera took a turn for the worse at 2nd grade graduation when it met the floor a little too hard. I love boys - waiting for a replacement - the camera not the boy)

Booking a Class

The SINGLE BEST WAY to learn how to SHOP SMART and SAVE BIG is at one of my coupon classes! Below are all the details you'll need to know...

Basically, at a class I teach the basic concept of couponing, how to stay organized in less than 5 minutes a week (really, I promise), how to use the Grocery Smarts website and how by following a few super simple rules you'll be able to cut your grocery bill in half and start SAVING HUNDREDS immediately!

I teach the class in your home with your family and friends, but also teach church or women's groups as well.*  Then, so you can start getting the coupons you'll need, I also offer supreme discounts and incentives on the Sunday Only paper (as little as $0.75 per Sunday paper... Crazy, I know)!

CLASS INCENTIVES FOR IN-HOME CLASSES

• Have 6 friends who have not been to a class and earn a 'deluxe filing tote'
• Have 8 friends over and get the tote, and a $10 gift card to our favorite grocery store
• Have more than 10 people over who have not been to a class and earn the tote, a $20 gift card, and after your class, you will get our advanced tips and tricks to take your savings to a whole new level! 

*I'm happy to teach classes for church groups at a church, but the above incentives do not apply.
 

To get on my schedule, call or email me today!

thegrocerygeeks@gmail.com

702-882-0172

NEW Gift Card Options!

It's no secret that I teach coupon classes... and at those classes I show you how to use Grocery Smarts, a free website that matches weekly sales at local stores with coupons. I love this website and have found that it is the most comprehesive and accurate website out there for our area... and it's free! As you get started, you learn that there are lots of places to get coupons, but if you've been collecting coupons at all, you've probably learned that the single best, most consistent source (not to mention the easiest and most effortless way to collect them) is to get a Sunday Only subscription to the newspaper.

If you've been to one of my classes, you know that through me you can get an exclusive discount on a Sunday Only subscription AND can can get a $20 gift card to Albertsons for ordering 4 or more Sunday papers. The gift card helps ease the cost of your subscriptions, plus gives you something to use the first time you use Grocery Smarts to go shopping!Why on earth would someone want more than one paper? Since part of the couponing concept I teach is to have one set of coupons for each person in your home, getting the right number of papers for your family is important and for the average family of 4, this option has worked out great.But starting this week, I can now offer...

$5 Gift Card for ordering 2
$10 Gift Card for ordering 3
$20 Gift Card for ordering 4 or more!

As you know I only offer gift cards at classes... However, since this is a NEW option, I'm opening it up to everyone who has been using the website and just hasn't gotten around to ordering their papers yet! So, whether you've been to a class or not, this is a perfect opportunity to get your papers started AND still take advantage of the new gift card incentives! So... how do you order? Call me by this Saturday (5/30) at noon and I will honor my gift card incentives for all phone orders! I have a couple of classes that day, so don't worry if you can't get through, leave a message and I'll get back to you before my offer is up. When we connect, you can also peg me down to answer any questions you have, we can go over subscription rates, or you can even book a class!

My number is 702-882-0172

QUICK NOTE: Don't let your friends miss out! By clicking on the little white envelop below you can email this post to your fellow couponing friends or just give them a call to let them know! Newspapers ordered with this offer will be processed with my next batch and will start delivery on Sunday, June 7th.

Getting Started...

All aboard!!! Have you hopped on the Money Saving Train? Have you been to a Coupon Class and are WAY excited to start saving TONS of money??? Are you a bit dazed and confused about what you just learned & are a little hesitant to get started?? Take a deep breath and keep reading as I go over a few simple hints to help you get off to a smooth start....

#1 - Do you have enough papers for your family? This is the single most important thing you can do to maximize your savings. You will still save by using the list, but if you want to cut your bill in half or more, you must have your "secret number" of papers (ok - it's not secret - you need one set of coupons or one Sunday paper for each person in your home).

#2 - What do you do with all those papers? Find all your SmartSource inserts, write the Sunday date on the front, put them all in a sheet protector and in a binder, and do NOT look or cut anything out yet!

**I also will pull out all the JoAnns & Michaels ads out of all my papers, just in case I need some project materials, and at least one copy of the CVS and Walgreens ads - I like to see them as I am looking at my lists**

#3 - Set your alarm for Wednesday morning so you can get up early, and start printing off your grocery list. OK - you may not have to set your alarm, but I LOVE Wednesdays!! Check your Website Instructions sheet from the class or email, and simply print your list, clip your coupons you have filed in your binder, and you are on your way to HUGE savings.

#4 - CALL ME!!! If you have any questions about a list, coupon, need a little shove in the right direction I would love to hear from you!! I want to hear your success stories - heck, if you get really excited and decide to take a picture, send it to me too and it just may get added to my Grocery Gallery.

Once you have a few weeks under your belt, you will see just how easy it is and be a pro all on your own. Then you wil be so excited to share with your friends you will be dying to host a class!! All you need is 8 new moms to receive a $20 gift card to your favorite grocery store! So call me to set your date!

That's it... FULL STEAM AHEAD to Massive Savings!!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Grocery Smarts?
Many shoppers who want to save money at the grocery store spend hours scouring over the ads and digging through piles of coupons to find what matches up. Grocery Smarts puts an end to all of that craziness and simply matches local store ads to current coupons (found in the Sunday paper) in an easy to use list. The list is updated each week as new ads are released and even links you instantly to any online printable coupons that are out there. Using an easy "5 Star" rating system, the list even tells you which deals are the BEST deals! And, the greatest part about these lists is they are free! Free for anyone to use, anytime... and you don't even have to register or fork over your email address to use the service. Nice, huh?

How can I learn how to use the lists?
The best way to learn how to use the store lists is to attend a class. If you haven't ever been invited to one, consider hosting your own! In-home classes work the best, so grab your friends and family to attend and contact me to book one anytime!

What's a class like?
Classes generally last about an hour (depending on how chatty the ladies get). In that time, I teach you the benefits of shopping the sales, show you how to do it, and give you recommendations on how to stay organized. It's not complicated or difficult to learn because the list does all the hard work for you.

How much time will I have to spend clipping coupons?
Virtually none! Seriously, the Grocery Smarts big wigs came up with literally a "5 minute" method that'll keep you organized, yet not feeling overwhelmed. You only cut what you need, when you need it!

Is it really worth it?
It is for me (and lots of my friends and family)! I've been couponing for a while now and my budget has never looked so great and my pantry has never been so full. My favorite part about shopping this way is I actually get to buy nicer brands. No more generics for me... nothing beats a name brand item when it's on sale and has a coupon to boot! Plus, my hubby praises me for my trophy receipts (the ones where I save more than I spent)!

So... What's the catch?
Several other similar online shopping services charge users a monthly membership fee to access their coupon matching service. However, in an effort to be a head above the rest, the founders of Grocery Smarts didn’t think charging a monthly fee to families who are trying to save money made any sense at all. They started thinking outside the box and realized that regardless of what service you use, in order to shop smart and to do it right, you need multiple sets of coupons from the Sunday paper. They thought, "Why charge a fee to the user… when the newspaper sits right in the middle directly benefiting from the concept we teach?" So, the Grocery Smarts big wigs presented their concept to the Review Journal. They quickly realized that when we teach our classes, we naturally refer new subscribers to the paper. So, you can imagine how quickly they jumped on the opportunity to open their market up to moms like us who typically wouldn't be getting the paper at all.

So here's the long and short of it... At the class, I teach you the concept of shopping smart and show you how you can use the website to save money at the store. And, because having the right amount of coupons (1 set for each person in your household) is such a key part of saving big, it makes sense for me to hook you up with the papers you need at the class. I offer the Review Journal at amazing prices to anyone not currently taking the paper, plus can get you up to 4 more additional Sunday papers delivered to your door for less than a buck each! And that's why the class is free... I make money based on how many new subscriptions I turn into the Review Journal. So, I guess we can all thank them for stepping up, getting involved and helping Grocery Smarts keep the classes and website FREE for everyone!

(thanks to Colette - my GS guru for this post info)

B1G1

I was peeking at this weeks grocery ads and saw several Buy One Get One Free items. These are potentially GREAT deals. Did you know one of the best tricks about couponing is you can use 2 coupons on those 2 items you are picking up - even though one is already FREE!!! Why? The B1G1 is a store promotion & you can stack a store promo or coupon with a manufacturers coupon on one item.

A good example is the several store coupons in the Albertson's ad this week. Double check the Alphabetical Coupon Index to find any additional coupons you can stack with those to get the biggest savings possible.

CVS Whoo hoo!!

So, here is my GREAT CVS run late last night (you have to hunt for them, but there are 24 hour CVS stores out there).

I got $94.65 worth of products

CVS Savings - $20.34

ECBs Earned - $24.97

Coupons - $17.75

Out of Pocket $31.59

I did 3 transactions and rolled the ECBs. Don't know what I'm talking about? Does that sound like a foreign language to you? Have a coupon class with at least 12 new moms and you will get an invite to an advanced coupon class where I can teach you these few tricks and much much more!

BIG Week!!

Remeber my post from last week about getting DOUBLE inserts this week!! Well, here they are!! 2 SmartSource that came in the paper, 1 RedPlum, 1 Unilever, and 1 P&G that came in my junk mail.

If you are still wondering if it's worth it to get the paper, I went through and added up all the coupons that I would use. Here's how it broke down:

SmartSource - $22.10 in each, times 5 is $110.50!

RedPlum - $13.40

Unilever - $9.25

P&G - $27.80

GRAND TOTAL - $160.95

Even if I only ended up using half of them that's still an extra $80.48 that I would have normally spent out of pocket for things I have to get anyway. Not bad at all considering I only pay $4.75 a week for my 5 papers!!

Call me if you are ready to book a class or order your discounted papers so you too can take advantage of these HUGE savings!!

Note to those of you already getting the paper: our cost for a double insert week? we will not be getting any insets this Easter Sunday - the coupon gurus take holidays off too. For a complete schedule of coupons, click HERE.

Have a SUPER WEEK!!!

RedPlum Inserts

I just received a GREAT question regarding RedPlum coupons from one of my readers... She noted that while she receives the "RedPlum" with the weekly grocery ads, she does not have any coupons...

My answer is not a good one I'm afraid. RedPlum seems to be selective on who receives their coupons. Some people get them, some don't....some did and not anymore... I am not sure what the rhyme or reasoning is, but I was one who never saw any coupons, just the "RedPlum" wrapper that my ads came in. However, I struck it lucky when I added my information to the mailing list (click HERE to add). I think a few of my fellow neighbors/couponers may have done the same and we now get the coupons, or maybe I'm just lucky. On the down side, I know of people who have signed up several months ago (and several times) and still do not get them in the mail.

If signing up doesn't help you, don't fret - I look at the RedPlum and Proctor & Gamble as 'gravy' savings since most of my bulk savings comes from the SmartSource that I receive in the Sunday paper.

Schedule Your Class

Have you been hearing some great buzz about these "coupon classses"? Want to know how you can get involved and start saving HUNDREDS on your groceries?

Email me at thegrocerygeek@cox.net to schedule a class for you and your friends! I will come to your house and show you how to cut your grocery bill in half or MORE just by following a few simple rules.

• 
  
  A hostess who has at least 6 new couponers will receive a $10 gift card to Albertson's
• PLUS, just for allowing me to come teach you, I have a very special gift for you that I KNOW you will love!!

I am now booking classes for March and April!!

What does That mean?

So, I have had a few questions regarding the Coupon Index on the Grocery Smarts shopping list. When you are getting ready to pull your coupons after you have made your list, the coupon index gives you all the information you need to know.... But what exactly does it mean??

Example: Crest Toothpaste, any size larger than 4.1oz $1/2 (1-31-09) SS2-8

Brand/Item name and any limitations

means $1 off of 2 or the coupon's value

is the expiration date

you will find that coupon in the SmartSource insert on Feb 8

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have, to order more papers at a reduced price, or to book a class. You can email me at thegrocerygeek@cox.net or call me at 702-882-0172. I REALLY look forward to helping you save a TON of money!!