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Nov 12, 2008 11:15 pm US/Eastern
Self-Proclaimed Coupon Mom Shows You The Ropes
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
These days most of us are trying to save money, but how would you like to go shopping and get most things for free or for just pennies on the dollar?
Believe it or not, it can be done, and
CBS4's Shannon Hori shows you how with the help of the self-proclaimed coupon mom. If you want to walk into Walgreens and walk out with free products, it takes a little homework. For the past 15 years, coupon mom Stephanie Nelson has been combining coupons, rebate offers and store specials for consumers all over the country.
She posts the results for free on her website
www.couponmom.com but if you think she's talking a few pennies here and there, you're wrong.
Nelson said conservatively-speaking, she saves one hundred dollars a week.
"I've been doing this since my first son was born, and he's 15," said Nelson. "So if you do the math that's almost $72,000. That could pay for a kid to go to college. That's real money," said Nelson.
The goal on this shopping trip is to buy $90 worth of merchandise at Walgreens for $9.00.
We have a very specific plan. There will be no impulse purchases; I don't want to see that," joked Nelson.
That's rule number one. Make a plan and stick to it. We're looking for the rebate counter and some makeup.
Here's a great deal: The full price is $7.49. If we send in the mail in rebate it's free. But we also have a $1.00 coupon so we'll really pay $6.49 and get a $7.49 rebate. So we make a dollar on this and look beautiful in the process. That's how you make money by combining coupons and rebates.
"You can use store coupons with newspaper coupons. So here's $2.50 off Pert. You we have this catalogue with store coupons in it. There is a coupon in here for $2.50 off Pert. I'm going to use this on the least expensive item. It's on sale for $3.49. I have the store coupon for $2.50. So I'm down to $.90. I also have a newspaper coupon for $1.50. Now they are only going to give it up to the price. So I'm going to get it for free. I'm going to get another one too because I have two coupons. So I'll get two bottles of shampoo absolutely free," Nelson admitted.
Be sure to take advantage of register reward programs where stores give you "store cash" back for future purchases. That's money in your pocket. Combining a store sale, a coupon and a $3.00 register reward promise, Nelson picks up four bottles of Dove shampoo.
"So I end up paying $.50 for shampoo that's usually going to be $4.49," Nelson said while tossing the shampoo in the shopping cart.
Nelson said if you want to save big, you should stock up on non perishables.
"I do stock up because I don't want to get stuck paying full price and I'm also brand flexible," Nelson admitted.
Nelson picked up a $3.00 Oral-B Indicator tooth brush for $.24, 2 tubes of Crest toothpaste for just $.49 each, instead of $2.59, Skippy peanut butter and Ragu spaghetti sauce for $.55 a jar instead of $3.29.
Nelson went through aisle after aisle on her money saving mission. We rang up $83.76 worth of merchandise, but once the coupons were used, that's when the fun began as dollar after dollar came off the register.
After the coupons are tallied, the register reads $42.45.
But remember we've got $14 worth of mail-in rebates and then those cash back dollars with $18 in all.
The bottom line: we paid about $10 for $84 worth of merchandise - a savings of 87%.
"Not too bad," gushed Nelson.
To find out how this works visit
www.couponmom.com .
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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