"Stack" your coupons when shopping.

...only for the checkout person behind the counter to hand it right back to you. Sorry, Charlie..that just doesn't work anymore. The stores (and technology), have gotten a heck of a lot smarter! Oh..and I should mention..in some states, it's actually even considered blatent fraud. Ouch!

YOU can be smarter than the machines, though. It just takes a little "know how". I've gathered information on the latest technology, and put together a quick and easy way to use coupons so these tasks aren't cumbersome anymore. Below are a few of my recent examples of how I make coupons work for me. I use coupons, but I "clip and make the trip super quick!"

Here's a recent example of stacking your coupons. Soy Joy Nutrition Bars were on sale last week at CVS for $1.00 each. When you bought 4, you received $4.00 back in CVS ExtraBucks to use on your next visit, making them FREE. In addition, there was a coupon for "Buy One Get One" in Week V (Week 22) of the SmartSource Insert the of Sunday paper coupons, taking $1.00 off your total to get you started. I bought 4 SoyJoys for $3.00 and received an ExtraBucks Certificate for $4.00! I then took this $4.00 ExtraBuck Certificate and grabbed 4 more SoyJoys. I used it to pay for the 4 new ones! The register spit out another $4.00 in ExtraBucks. Do it again. And again. You can do this 5 times, total with your CVS Card, obtaining 20 SoyJoys for FREE!! (Actually you got paid $1.00 from your first transaction). And if you happen to have two CVS cards---look out world. You'll have SoyJoy's on hand for a year! This is a perfect example of saving money, stacking your deals, and making our coupon system here in the U.S. work for you!

A grocery store here in Phoenix recently offered 15 oz. cans of Hunt's Tomato Sauce for $0.29 cents each in a promotion. (Yes..this was a great sale!) If I purchased at least 10 cans, they offered a $3.00 Register Reward (also called a "Catalina") on my next purchase/visit. My total for the transaction was $2.90. Oh--I had 4 manufacturer's coupons for this item too, each at $0.30 cents, bringing my total down to $1.70. I paid my $1.70--took my receipt, my $3.00 Catalina and my sauce to the car...

...and walked right back in and bought 10 MORE cans of sauce with my $3.00 Catalina Reward at $0.29 cents/can. I paid NOTHING, took my receipt, my NEW $3.00 Reward (for the 10 NEW cans) and my sauce to the car again....

....and I could have done it over and over...but I was now sauced (pun intended).... I also wanted to leave some for you.

What would I do with 20 cans of sauce, you might ask? Well....I kept 10, and donated the other 10 to the Phoenix Food Shelter/Rescue Mission. I also donated some of the Quaker products, as I got some of them for free. I do it all the time...and it feels good giving back to the community....especially when it costs me NOTHING but my time.

Fry's Grocery (aka Krogers), had Quaker Products on sale that week, 4 for $4. When you puchase $4, they give you a $1 kickback at the register, but this time it's on your CURRENT total. Now you're getting 4 for $3. There were coupons available at the Quakeroats website, as well as in the Sunday papers. Fry's/Kroger happens to DOUBLE coupons. I had three $.50 coupons--which they doubled--equalling $3. All of my Quaker products were free.

They also had a promo happening for Pillsbury Grands Biscuits and/or the Pillsbury Italian bread/pizza dough. They are on 4 for $4 as well, with the $1 kickback...I used my coupons, doubling them, and ended up paying less than $1 for all four.

Stack the deal and SHOP SENSIBLY...what are you waiting for?

Obviously, these freebie deals happen more often than you think. I've only posted a few of the REALLY good ones here. After spending the last year researching, I discovered that there really is a food war out there, and it's all about brand loyalty. I was amazed at what's out there. I feel as if I've stumbled upon a "secret society of saving", and enjoy sharing some of these fun tactics. The promos, coupons, (and sometimes the computer glitches) are out there, just waiting for you to find them. In addition to hitting the links above, you can also follow me on Twitter.

Happy Shopping! ~CouponCathy