How do I get coupons for free products?

I often get asked by friends or cashiers where I get SO many coupons for free products.

One source is becoming a fan on Facebook for my favorite products.  I have recieved about 5 coupons this way.

The most effective way I learned about on Couponing to Disney.  You simply send an email complimenting the company about their product.  I have a standard e-mail that I cut and paste and then personalize it towards whatever product I am writing about.  You may think that is time intensive but it really is not!  I would say on average it takes me about 1 to possibly 2 minutes to send out the e-mail to the company.

Here are some of the companies I have complimented and what I've recieved....

Amy's Organic  They sent 2 coupons for free products plus 2 booklets full of coupons
Kashi  I got a coupon for free TLC bars and 5 other coupons for their products
Michelinas 2 coupons for free products
Sally Hansen 3 $4 off coupons (good on NYC or Sally Hansen), 3 $2 off coupons
Simply Asia/Thai Kitchen Coupons for 2 different free products and 4 other coupons for their products

As I remember or make more progress, I will keep you updated!

To see Couponing to Disney's progress and the companies she has contacted go here

Deciphering Coupon Blog lingo

I've recently gotten a few new readers (YAY!  Thank you!).

If you're new to couponing or reading couponing blogs the lingo may seem a bit foreign to you.

The main plan behind all these frugal blogs is that we find coupons to match store sales to help all you out there save money.  In short, we are maximizing our dollars.

I post my deals by what I personally feel are the best deals at that given store.  So first I will list the item and it's price (if I know it) and which coupons go with that deal. 
If the coupon is a printable (meaning you can print it from the internet), it will be highlighted and likely say printable.  Occassionally, printable coupons are programmed for your browser.  If you have Internet Explorer then click the one highlighted IE.  If you have Firefox (I think that is for MACs) then click the one highlighted FF.
If the coupon is from a newspaper insert, I will first list the date of the insert and which insert it is from. 
Here are the abbreviations for those inserts;

SS SmartSource
RP Red Plum
GM General Mills
PG Proctor and Gamble

If an item is free, I try to highlight that and post it in red.

Here are some other abbreviations;

BOGO/B1G1 Buy One Get One
$/# this $ amount off/this many items
CAT Catalina are the coupons that print at the register
OOP Out of Pocket Expense

If you have any questions, click comment below and leave a comment!

For other tips go here

New couponers READ THIS!

So, I've been thinking about writing some more tips for everyone new to couponing.  Kind of a what I've learned since I started doing this just last fall.  It's as if this other blogger was reading my mind...So just go over here to MyFrugalAdventures and read the Lessons Learned from Couponing!

Give me your suggestions.....

So my blog is now a couple weeks old...I'm fairly sure that I'm not just talking to myself!

Give me your suggestions-
What have you learned from this blog?
What would you like to learn?
Is anything not clear/understandable?
What would you like to see more of/less of?

Be honest, I can take it! Thanks so much ahead of time!!!!

I also have an idea that I could video teaching someone how to coupon...are you interested?  I'd like to do several (one every other week) and I think showing someone new to couponing would teach others who are also new to it.

My trip to Target

One HUGE thing that I have learned since beginning to coupon is that buying the smaller product with the bigger coupon is better than buying the big product.  I had always shopped at Costco buying the hugest item and always comparing cost by ounce.  But think about it, if you're getting 2 or 3 little things for free...clearly much better than spending $10 bucks on the huge thing!

So this brings me to shopping the trial size aisle.  When you get a coupon, check if it says excludes trial size.  If it does not, I put it towards the front (more on coupon organizing later-or checkout one of the blogs I follow) of my stash.  I do this because I know I will be using that coupon VERY soon.


So my trip (and again, I got these ideas from other blogs that I follow-too many to list each one for each item but Couponingtodisney always has a great under $1 section)
1st 2 are Trial Size-
Johnson and Johnson first aid kit, $.97 each, bought 2 and used 2 $1 off any J & J bandaid product from 1/3 RP-both free
Hello Kitty bandaids, $.97 each, bought 2 and used 2 $1 off J & J bandaids from 1/3 RP-both free
Johnson and Johnson Soap Buddies $.97 each, I bought two and used 2 of the $1 off Any J & J product (this excluded trial size-but the bars are not trial) coupon from the 1/3 RP-both free
Juicy Juice for Brain Development, reg $2.89, used 2 $1 off Juicy Juice target coupon found here then used $1 off two printable (Target allows you to 'stack' a Target coupon with a manufacturer coupon- $1.39 each
Rice a roni (found whole grain one) on sale $.93 each, I bought 6.  Used 2 $1 off 3 from 1/3 RP -$.60 each
Minute Rice $2.04,  bought 2.  Used 2 $.50 off from 12/13 RP- $1.54 each
Starkist Tuna Pouch $1.79, bought 2.  Used 2 $1 off printable coupon (sorry can't remember where it was from!)-$.79 each
Weight Watcher Smart Ones meal on sale for $1.50 each, bought 4.  Used 2 buy one get one free printables-$.75 each
going back today because I also have this $1 off 5 printable coupon. (my older kids have a microwave at their school and this is a great lunch for them!) so those will be $.85 each
Lean Cuisine on sale $1.88, bought 2 used Target coupons here  -$.88 each
Reach Dental Floss $.97, bought 2 used 2 $1.00 off 1 from 1/3 RP-Both free
Ziploc bags on sale 3 for $7, bought 4 sandwich size and 2 gallon, used 3 $1/2 from 12/6 SS (also in 1/10 SS)-$1.83 per box but will submit for SC Johnson rebate  (2) and will be $.17 per box

Did you know?

Did you know that you can print 2 of most printable coupons!  If it's coupons.com or redplum.com you do have to go back and request those coupons again but for other printables (I'm speaking of the ones that the link say bricks.coupons.com), click on the arrow near your back button and go to the first listing of 'print your coupons'.  That way your doubling your savings!
For other tips go here.

Where to get coupons?

Besides the printable that I supply, were you wondering where to get coupons?

The Sunday paper is a GREAT resource!  Some couponers recommend getting multiple subscriptions.  I have one subscription and my mom gives me her ads and I do fine.

Another lesser known source is magazines.  The queen of couponing magazines is All You, they also have great articles about saving money, fashion, and all things girlie.  Go here to begin a subscription (40% off this sale will support a school).

Saving the green can also be green!

With three kids, I try to be very conscience about living a greener life.  So their kids will still have this beautiful planet!
Tips-
*Many stores will give a $.05 credit if you bring your own bags. 
Tips to remember to bring those bags.  Store them in your car, when you empty them take just an extra second to put them back in your car (or if it's cold or rainy-place them next to your keys or purse so you'll remember the next time you are running out).
*When printing your coupons try to get as many on a page as possible.  If only one comes out use that blank paper for your next grocery list.  Recycle any scraps.
*Which leads to my next.  Recycle more than you throw away.  We're fortunate that we have non-sort recycling.  We have a tini-tiny garbage can and a huge recycle can.  As a result, we pay less for our garbage!

Free Samples!

Go here and request a free sample of both Prilosec and Benefiber.  These will be the first of many free samples. 
My tip?  Have a 'couponing' email address.  You can get a free e-mail from yahoo, gmail, hotmail, and many more.  Set up one so your everyday email address isn't overflowing with offers and you miss an important email from a friend.

Online savings

Do you know about Ebates and Shopathome? They are great websites that give rebates for your online purchases.  Before shopping at your favorite store (I'm sure right after you see the deal from here!)  Click on one of the links above.  If your store (and most are) is on their site, it will list any coupon codes or free shipping special PLUS you'll earn a rebate on that purchase.  Both have sign-up bonuses and each will mail you a check about once a quarter.  Just for 6 different Christmas purchases, I will get $30 back in February!  Whoo-hoo!

Tips-Although most are the same, I like to check which has a better percentage back between the two.

Free can be good and bad

One thing that some bargain hunting divas may forget, is that your time is just as valuable as your money.
My example?
I printed this free coupon for an Aveda shampoo set.  I was already at the mall and stopped by my local Aveda.  I received the tiniest shampoo, conditioner, hair product set I have EVER seen!  Luckily, I was batching my trips together.  AND that is the key, don't just run around for one thing.  Lumping your trips together saves time, gas, and any dissappointment.  This supplied a little chuckle for me and now it's tucked away for the next time I travel (you better believe it is under 3 oz!!!).

Tips for the deal finding diva.....

I want to save money but I don't have time to clip coupons

Lots of people say this and I completely understand!  I have 3 kids, a husband who travels (alot!), pets, part-time job, blog, yada-yada-yada-you know, you have a similar story.
So you know, I will try to convert you but for now this is what you should do....