Store Coupons vs. Manufacturer Coupons & other Helpful Hints

Do you get your Kroger Coupons, Meijer Coupons or other coupons in the mail from your local store?

If so, most people don't realize these coupons can be redeemed at ANY store that carries the product, IF the coupon says Manufacturer Coupon on it. Because it has a little Kroger logo, etc, on the side, buyers often times think they can only be used at that location.

You can tell the difference quite simply. For example, if you look at my picture above, you might recognize these coupons as ones you have received in the mail before. In fact, I just got mine a couple weeks ago. Now, go through the stack and you will see some say Store Coupon next to the expiration date and some say Manufacturer Coupon. This is how you discern between the two. Store coupons must be used at that store, Manufacturer do not need to be used there.

If you are uncomfortable handing a Manufacturer Coupon that says Kroger on it to a Meijer associate, just trim the Kroger logo off. But, even with the logo, it will scan in fine.

Another helpful hint? You can stack a Store coupon with a Manufacturer coupon, at most stores. My Kroger allows this. Here is an example of a purchase I made last night.

1. I bought 2 packs of Jumbo Huggies Diapers on sale for $9.49. Regularly $9.99
2. I bought 1 pack of Huggies Wipes on sale for $2.50. Regularly $2.59
3. I had 2 $1.50 Off One Coupons for Huggies Diapers ( mailed to me from Huggies )
4. I had a $.50 Off Huggies Wipes Coupon ( double to $1.00 )
5. I had a Short Cuts Electronic Coupon for $1.00 off Huggies that automatically came off
6. I had a $2.00 Off Any Diapers Kroger Store Coupon ( stacked w/ Manufacturer )
7. I had a $3.00 Off Any Health/Beauty of $15 or More ( stacked w/ Manufacturer )
8. Got $4.00 Off any $20 Huggies Purchase Promotion ( automatically came off )

My total for 2 Packs of Diapers and Wipes was $7.48.

Now, I will also be getting a rebate on this, thanks to Caregivers Marketplace Rebate. It is $1.00 per pack, so that is another $2 Off. That brings my total to $5.48!! Click here to read about this program.

Before I go, I will also include some other great finds from my weekly grocery expedition. These might not apply in your area of the US.

Kroger:

1. Bounty Paper Towel on sale for $1.00. Combine this with the $.25 Off Sunday Paper coupon and the $.50 Off P&G E Savers Electronic Coupon to get it FREE.

Meijer:

First scenerio-

1. Large Boxes of Rice Crispies Cereal on sale for 1.64 each.

2. Check your coupons. I had a Manufacturer Coupon that was mailed to me from Kroger for $1.00 off 2 boxes of Kellogg's Cereal. Brought the price per box down to $1.14.

3. Grab a box of Kellogg's Rice Crispies with Strawberries. On the front, there is a peelie coupon to get the box FREE w/ the purchase of 2 regular Rice Crispies. So, this box is, well, FREE!

2nd scenerio -

1. Vidalia Bagged Onions on sale for 2.69 ( reg $3.49 )

2. There is a peelie coupon on the front for a $1.00 off Bagged Salad.

3. Salad is buy one at $1.99 get one Free. With 2 peelies, you get both bags of salad FREE!

I did fairly well this week. At Meijer, I got over $100 worth of groceries for $28.77. Of course, I also had a $20 prescription coupon. Those always keep my bills down! Thanks to the transfer of my $4.00 Prenatal Vitamin Prescription!

Kroger was OK. I spent $43 for $98 worth of groceries. Still a savings of over 50%, so I can't complain!