Couponing 101: Grab Those Blinkie Coupons!

You know all those Blinkie coupon dispensers on the grocery store shelves that spit out coupons (you know--the ones the kids like to walk around and collect!)?  Well--grab those coupons!  Obviously, if there is a coupon for Soy milk or something and you don't drink soy milk, then skip over that one, but if there is a coupon for an item you DO or even MIGHT use, then take a couple of coupons and add them to your coupon file. 

Here is a little known fact--those Blinky coupons can differ from store to store.

For example--I was shopping at Kroger a few weeks ago and saw blinkie coupons for Sea Pak breaded shrimp.  My middle daughter LOVES shrimp, so I took a couple of the $.75 coupons to file away in case there was ever a sale. Last night, I was shopping at Giant Eagle (with my shrimp-loving daughter) and as we passed the frozen foods, she saw and begged me to buy those same Sea Pak breaded shrimp.  They were on sale for $4.99, down from $7.99 (WAY overpriced at full price!)  AND--there were Blinkie coupons for $.75 right there, too.  I pulled one out and turned it over to look at the bar code on the back.  The bar code started with a 9, which means the coupon won't double.  I pulled out the one from Kroger I had in my coupon file to compare, and saw the bar code from the coupon I got from Kroger started with a 5, so it WOULD double (my local stores double coupons up to $.99).  Even though the Sea Pak coupons LOOKED identical on the front, they were in fact different coupons. Sale priced shrimp for $4.99  - $.75 is a good deal, but $4.99 - $1.50 ($.75 doubled) brought the total down to only $3.50 making it an even better deal.

So, LET your kids collect all those blinkie coupons, then file them away in your coupon organizer.  They are manufacturer coupons that can be used at ANY store (unless they state otherwise) that takes coupons.  Check the bar code if you have what appears to be duplicate coupons.  Sometimes they differ just a little bit.  If the code begins with a 5, the coupon can be doubled (if your store does that).  If it begins with a 9--no doubling.   Paying attention to little details like this can save you lots of money!

Happy shopping and saving!