Collecting Change: 7 Easy Side Hustles + How to Snag Free Stuff

I've been using the internet for my personal benefit since I was old enough to create accounts without my parents help.  The intention of this post is to share with you some websites and apps that I use to earn giftcards and money!

1. MyPoints

MyPoints is super easy to use.  Once you create an account, there are four major ways you can earn points that can later be redeemed for giftcards.

• Via Emails: MyPoints will send you a bunch of emails (roughly 5 per day, so use an old email address that you don't mind clogging up) and all you have to do is click through them to a website to earn 5 points.  You can earn more on some emails by signing up for things, but I never do this.
• Via Surveys: Sometimes MyPoints will send an email with a survey that you can take that generally earns you 50 points. (I don't ever actually do these. I think you can access surveys via the website now, but they may occasionally still come in emails).
• Via Coupons: You can also print coupons from MyPoints and earn 1 point per coupon printed and 10 points per coupon redeemed. I go on every week and "print" all the coupons.  But by print, I mean that I save them as a pdf to my computer so I have them if I want to use them, but I don't waste paper and ink on coupons that I won't use.
• Via Online Shopping: You can shop a variety of stores from the MyPoints website and earn points based on the amount you spend. (roughly 1-12 points per dollar depending on the store).  MyPoints also offers coupons for the sites that you shop through their website.  There is a huge variety of online shops that you can shop via MyPoints, including Target, Groupon, Sephora, and Etsy!

I joined MyPoints eight years ago and the only things that I did for the first 7.75 years was click through the emails.  In eight years, I have earned over 20,000 points, which is equivalent to approx. $125 in giftcards. Not a lot for the amount of time, but considering all of those points just came from clicking a button in an email its not so bad.

Since I have started to save all the coupons via PDF only a few months ago, I have already earned enough for a $25 gift card, so coupons is definitely the way to go! Join MyPoints through my link here and we can both earn extra points!

2. Poshmark

Poshmark is a re-sale website/app that you can use to re-sell clothing, bags and accessories, and unused beauty supplies. They take a percentage of your sale, but you can make way more for your no longer worn clothing than you can by taking them to a consignment shop or a garage sale.  This one takes a little work, but the payoff is definitely worth it.  You can cash out your earnings by having them send you a check or direct deposit to your bank.  You can also keep your earning stored in the app as credits to spend toward new clothes.  Enter my username "thegretch" as a referral when you join and you will get a $5 credit to shop with!

3. Honey

If you don't already have Honey installed into your web browser, you are missing out!  When you shop online, Honey finds coupon codes you can use, and also tells you if the item you are buying can be found for a cheaper price.  When you use Honey on Amazon, it can show you whether the price of what you are buying has increased or decreased at all in the last month.  One time I was buying something from Groupon (through MyPoints of course) and Honey got me an even deeper discount! Plus, when you purchase something using Honey you earn points which can be redeemed for cash later on!

4. Ibotta and Checkout 51

Ibotta is a cash back system, and all you need to do is scan your receipt and maybe a bar code or two after you're home from your shopping trip. (Use this link to sign up and receive a bonus $10 credit after your first receipt scan!) Search for the store that you will be shopping at, then find the products on your shopping list.  You can "search" for your products, but I recommend browsing all of the items as sometimes the search function pulls up products from other stores. There is always an "any item" option that will give you 25 cents just for uploading the receipt. If you connect with your friends who also have ibotta, it can help you build bonus rewards.  Ibotta is mainly for groceries, but has a vast amount of stores connected to it and may also have liquor, health or beauty items listed.

Another app you can use like ibotta is Checkout51.  It doesn't have as many offers as ibotta does, but only takes a couple minutes to check, upload a receipt, and scan your products so I think its worth it to check.

5. Receipt Hog

While you have your receipts out, scan them into Receipt Hog.  With Receipt Hog you earn coins for each receipt you upload that you can redeem for an Amazon gift card or money via PayPal. You also earn spins on a slot machine that get you more coins.  It takes time to build up the coins, but literally all you have to do is take a picture of your receipt which takes ten seconds.

6. RecycleBank

RecycleBank is a website/app that teaches about recycling.  Basically you can read articles (or just click on them) and take quizzes (or just click answers) to earn points.  You can redeem your points for rewards like magazine subscriptions, coupons for stores. There aren't a ton of rewards, I usually use it for magazine subscriptions, buts its super fast and easy to use.  You can go on and earn enough points for a magazine subscription in less than 15 minutes.

7. Paribus

Paribus is an app that you install in your email account that checks out your purchases and gets you money back if possible.  For example, if your purchase was suppose to be delivered on Monday, but doesn't show up until Wednesday, they will email the company via your email to tell them about it which typically results in a reimbursement of some sort.  If the place you purchase something from offers price protection, Paribus will email them if the price drops within 30 days of your purchase to get you a refund of the difference.

++++++++++FREEBIES++++++++++

I've had a lot of people ask me how I get so many free things (prior to my "influencer" days), so I wanted to share the following:

I keep these web pages bookmarked at the top of my Google Chrome browser so I remember to browse them when I am on my laptop.

The Balance Everyday  
Free Samples Without Surveys
Budget Savy Diva

The biggest freebie giver that I have been using for nearly four years now is Influenster.

This one needs some explaining. You create an account on this website and link your social media accounts to it (facebook, twitter, instagram, blogs, youtube, etc.) NOTE: It doesn't share or post anything on your accounts unless you choose to. Anyway, the more friends/followers you have the more likely you are to be chosen to their boxes (supposedly). 

On the website you can review different products or read reviews from others- I never do this, I don't think it matters if you do or do not. You might have to fill out a lengthy questionaire thing when you create your account, I can't remember, but this is what others have told me who have joined via my recommendation. They use your demographics and what not when they make these sample boxes to send you products that they think you would like so you can test them out. 

Prior to sending out a box, they will send out surveys to the email of people who they think would like the box to make sure you are a logical choice. Once you get the box in the mail, they give you different tasks to do for each product (for example: review the product on the brand's website, share a photo of it on instagram, tweet about it, follow the brand's facebook page, etc.) You earn badges and that get help put you in the running for larger boxes or prizes from the brand(s) that sponsored the box. Sometimes I have completed all the tasks, sometimes I have only done some of them. 

Lastly, they will send you another survey via email once the campaign is done so you can fill out one last quick review about the products you received. Sometimes they want you to buy a product and review it (I never do these ones), but usually they send you the products! There is no fee or anything for this and when you post about the products it is required that you say you received the products for free to test and review.

Some of the voxboxes I have received:

I'm so into the side hustle that I've been doing it since before "side hustle" was a thing. Do you have any easy side hustles that you take part in? Let me know in the comments!

22 Birthday Freebies

I love my birthday. I think it should be celebrated all year long! Sometimes, it can be! (Well, all month long anyway). Over the years I have subscribed to a number of offers that all come pouring in once December rolls around, helping me to celebrate another completed trip around the sun.

The following are offers I have gotten by signing up for emails.  Often times, if you go to a restaurant ON your birthday they will give you the same offer, but if you get the coupon you can usually use it anytime during your birthday month (or week, depending on the expiration date).

Applebees - free dessert coupon via email
Arby's - free small shake with any sandwich purchase via coupon in email, free classic roast beef sandwich with purchase of drink via coupon in email
Baskin Robbins - $3 off ice cream cake via coupon in email, one FREE ice cream scoop coupon via email
Blake Shelton - 15% off + free shipping from online store code via email
Brueggers Bagel's - free bagel with cream cheese coupon via email
Buffalo Wild Wings - $5 off a $25 purchase coupon via email
Cinnabon - free iced coffee coupon via email
Coca-Cola - $1 off a personalized bottle of Coca Cola coupon code via email
Dairy Queen- B1G1 Blizzard coupon via email, $3 off a DQ ice cream cake coupon via email
Dave & Buster's - free $10 game play coupon via email
Dunkin' Donuts - free drink coupon via email
Godiva - free $10 of a $10 or more puchase coupon via email
iHop - free pancakes via coupon in email
Jack in the Box - 2 free tacos coupon via email
Maurice's - $10 off a $10 purchase via coupon in email
Noodles & Company- free Rice Crispy treat coupon via email
Sephora - free make up email (with purchase, varies)
Sonic - free small classic shake (coupon in app)
Sprinkles - free cupcake (must tell the Sprinkles employee that you are a perks member)
Starbucks - free drink (if you have a registered Starbucks gift card)
Victoria's Secret - $10 rewards card (if you have an Angel Rewards Credit Card)
Walgreens - 5x points everyday in your birthday month

14 Companies That Will Send You Coupons

If you saw my Tips & Tricks for Beginning Couponers post, you know I love to get a good deal on things.  As I was perusing the posts on one of my couponing groups on facebook one day, I came across a lady who said she had emailed a bunch of companies and they had sent her coupons.  Not long after I came across a blog post that listed a bunch of companies that sent coupons. I thought to myself, "why have I not done this yet? Companies usually send way better coupons than you get in the Sunday paper inserts!"  I spent my nightly Netflix time being productive and I found that I was half right. Not all of the companies on the list sent me coupons, and some of the coupons were comparable to newspaper insert coupons. As I have continued to email companies, I decided to put together a comprehensive list of companies that will send you coupons if you reach out to them and also list the coupons they sent me.  (Note: if their website stated that they didn't send coupons, or if they had them directly on their website, I didn't send them a request).

Aveeno- (2) $1 off any Aveeno, RoC, Le Petit Marseillais, or Lubriderm product

Blistex- (3) 25 cents off any Blistex lip care product

Blue Bunny- (6) 55 cents off one Blue Bunny Ice Cream 46-48 oz (may contact every 6 mo. For coupons)

Chobani- (4) 50 cents off Chobani Greek Yogurt, (3) FREE Chobani drinks

Flipz-(1) 50 cents off any Flipz item

Frito Lay- (1) $1 off any Frito-Lay product, (1) 55 cents off any Frito- Lay product

Hostess- (1) FREE individual Hostess cake (They responded by email saying they didn’t send coupons but sent one anyway)

Jif- (2) 35 cents off any Jif product

King’sHawaiian- (2) $1 off any King’s Hawaiian bread product (They responded by email saying they didn’t send coupons but sent them anyway)

Malt O Meal – (2) 75 cents off any one Malt O Meal product
Nestle Toll House - (1) $1 off any one bag of Nestle Toll House morsels

Neutrogena- (1) $3 off any one Neutrogena product, (1) $1 off any Neutrogena product

Schick HydroSilk – (1) $14.29 off any one Schick Hydro Silk raxor or refill
Snack Factory - (3) $1 off One Snack Factory Item

Find Coupons on Webpage

Arm &Hammer

Axe (sample)

Aleve

Bertolli

Campbells

Colgate

NatureValley

Do Not Send Coupons by Request

7UP – per email

Angel Soft- per email

Aunt Jemima- per email

Bird’s Eye- per email

Burts Bees – per email

Chi-Chi’s – per email

Dole - per email

General Mills – per email

Halo Top – per email

Hormel – per email

Little Debbie - per email

Nabisco – per email

Post- per email

Propel- per email

Red Baron – per email

Revlon- per website

Simply Orange – per email

Sunbelt Bakery - per email

Thomas Breads – per email

Tropicana - per email

Do you know of any other companies that will send you coupons by request? If so, please let me know in the comments below! I plan to continue this mini project and follow up with another post in a couple of months!

Style with a Purpose Meet Up

I am not, nor will I ever be, a fashion blogger. The only question I ask myself when "styling" an outfit in the morning is "which dress matches my Adidas sandals?" (The answer of course is all of them). That being said, when I heard about the Style with a Purpose event at the Goodwill in Nashville from Betsy, I thought I would give it a go. I loved going to thrift stores with my aunt when I was a kid, and haven't browsed one in a while.

After an afternoon in Nashville, Caitlin and I met up at the Goodwill in Bellevue to check out the event.  There were giftcard givaways, a photo booth, and an assortment of people with overflowing carts milling about the store.  Nearly a dozen bloggers had racks set up down the middle of the store housing their own finds from Goodwill that they wanted to share with the event's participants.

The racks held some super cute, and some super interesting items.  (But actually. Everything was either really cute, or really I-would-never-wear-this-in-a-million-years).  But, to each their own. As a girl whose typical outfit is running shorts and a t-shirt, I have ZERO room to talk about style! That being said, it was fun to see the stylish and name brand things 

While the event was a neat idea, I felt there was some room for improvement. There were only a few dressing rooms and a fairly decent line with carts literally FULL of clothing that people wanted to try on. I know that its not possible to create more dressing rooms out of thin air, but even having more full length mirrors set up around the store would have been helpful.

Another addition I would make to the event would be to have the bloggers actually style the garments that they picked out.  Caitlin and I would often see a piece that was super cute but both say, "I have no idea what I would wear that with!" or "This is fun but I have no idea WHEN I would wear it!" Perhaps this event was more directed at people that already know how to style cute or unique items, but since I am not one of those people I was a little disappointed.

I ended up buying a pink skirt to use for my Halloween costume, and a black and white polka dotted blouse from Betsy's stash (because I'm all about the fun patterns). Caitlin found this awesome dress that she rationalized buying because she's a teacher and surely she'll "need this ridiculous dress for some ridiculous school event, right?"  

For 99 cents, how could you pass this up?

I rarely have the patience to dig through racks of things, and I'm pretty particular about the thrift stores I shop in. If they're in an unclean area of town I usually steer clear.  My thrift shopping usually consists of leaving with a pile of books and maybe a random thing that I can use for a craft project, but browsing through the blogs of the ladies featured in the event may have inspired me to browse the clothing racks the next time I pass by a (clean-ish) thrift store like Goodwill!

Tips & Tricks for Beginning Couponers

I wouldn't call myself an extreme couponer (yet), but I do what I can to save a buck or ten. After explaining my strategies to a fellow couponer, she told me that in all her years of couponing, they were the best strategies she had heard.  Because of this, and since I have had many friends ask me to teach them, I wanted to share my routine with y'all.

Before beginning, I want to give a piece of advice.  START SMALL.  Pick a store or two to begin rather than starting with five or six.

STEP ONE / / Browse the ads of the store(s) of your choice and write down every item that you use and see in the ad(s), even if you already have it. I always write down the items from the ads in black ink, I'll explain why in a second. For example, I grocery shop at Publix and Kroger, so I take two pieces of paper, write "Kroger" at the top of one and "Publix" at the top of the other. Then, I browse through the ad and write the products that I will use and their price under the appropriate store name.

STEP ONE

STEP TWO / / Browse through your coupons and see which coupons match up with the items you have written down from the ad.  If you don't get the Sunday paper, (or even if you do), you can print coupons here or look on brand websites.  Write down the coupons you have next to the items from the ad, but use a different color ink. (It helps to make a color coded key at the top of your list).

STEP TWO

Additional info on coupons: Different coupons appear in the Sunday paper each week, unless it is a holiday weekend. You can find the list of inserts here.  If you don't get the Sunday paper, you can use the list of inserts to determine if you want to buy the paper each Sunday.  I find that the P&G inserts have the coupons with the best discounts.  You can also buy inserts from "Coupon Fairies," but I'm not extreme enough for that yet so you'll have to do your own research on that!  As far as printable coupons are concerned, I like to go through the website once a week and print off anything I MAY use in the future.  Often times sales for products come out, but the coupon is no longer available.  If you've already printed it then you don't have to worry about that!


STEP THREE / / Download the apps for the stores you shop at and browse the digital coupons.  As you go through the app coupons, write the discount down in yet a separate color next to the product that you wrote down from the ad. Remember to add the color to your key at the top of your paper!  I have explained some of the apps that I use below:


KROGER: First and foremost, you need to have the Kroger card to get the majority of the sales and special prices.  (It's free, you can get it from the store and then register it to the app downloaded onto your phone). The app offers digital coupons that you can save to your card. There are a ton of benefits that you can use the Kroger rewards program for.  Often times they have sales like $5 off 5, where if you buy 5 of the advertised items you save $5.  Within these sales, you can pair paper coupons OR digital coupons.  You cannot, however, use BOTH a digital AND a paper coupon on the same item.  Another great thing about the app is that you can search products and it will tell you what aisle the product is in at the store you are at. It also tells you the price which is awesome because sometimes the price on the shelf isn't updated.  For example, we were buying gnocchi the other day, and the original price was $3.49, but since we searched the product on the app, we found that the whole wheat gnocchi was only $0.90, so we bought them all!  Kroger also allows you to build fuel points with their program so you can save money on gas at the Kroger station or some Shell stations. Kroger offers a free item every Friday.  It is listed at the bottom of their ad each week, but you can also find it by searching "free" in the digital coupon section of the app. I've heard from someone in a couponing group that there are sometimes other "free" coupons hiding in the app for some customers, but I've haven't been the recipient of any of those yet!

PUBLIX: The Publix app is similar to the Kroger app. You do not get a card with the Publix program, you just register your phone number and type it in at the register.  You also do not have to be registered in order to get the special pricing/sales. Like Kroger, you clip the digital coupons to your invisible card.  Also like Kroger, you cannot pair the digital coupons with paper coupons.  One great thing I love about Publix is that they frequently offer B1G1 FREE on a lot of their products.  This works great for products like cereal, where coupons frequently offer $1 off 2 or $1 off 3.  The $1 off 2 can be applied to two boxes of cereal, one of which is free, so it's really like getting the full dollar off of one box. The $1/3 can be applied to four boxes of cereal, you get two free and the $1 comes off of the two you are paying for. Like Kroger, Publix also offers free items, but they aren't advertised (as far as I know).  I find them by searching "free" in the digital coupons section of the app. I just discovered this a couple weeks ago and have so far been able to snag two free yogurts, a free strawberry cream cheese, and free banana chocolate chip pancake mix!


TARGET: Target used to be my go to shopping store, but I've found I get better deals at other stores.  That being said, Targets are everywhere, so its good to know how to navigate the bulls-eye couponing world.  Beauty products and household products typically offer the best deals at Target since they often have gift card rewards.  The best time to buy products here is when they offer, for example, a $5 when you buy 3 of a certain type of shampoo.  Target no longer offers Target coupons like they used to, but you can print manufacturers coupons from their website.  The Cartwheel app, which I believe is now integrated straight into the Target app, offers discounts that you can clip to your account.  You just have to show the QR code on your phone at the register, which they will scan and you will get the discount.  Typically Cartwheel discounts are % off,  which you CAN pair with printed coupons.  Just be aware that occasionally Cartwheel offers manufacturers coupons which cannot be pair with paper coupons.  Sometimes your out of pocket may be a little higher when you're buying items that result in a giftcard, but if you frequently shop at Target, you can get some pretty good deals.

WALGREENS:  I used to never shop at Walgreens because their every day prices are so expensive, but now it is one of my favorite stores. First and foremost, sign up for a rewards card and download the app.  You don't have to have a physical card, I just use my phone number and type it in at the register.  The reason I love shopping at Walgreens is because every purchase you make builds points. You can also become a "beauty enthusiast" (for free) to earn extra points on beauty items. Anyway, to the couponing.  The Walgreens app offers coupons that you can clip to your card.  The beauty of Walgreens is that you can typically pair the digital coupons WITH paper/printed coupons.  (If the digital coupon says "with card" then you can pair it with a paper/printed coupon, if it does not then it is a manufacturer's coupon and you cannot pair it).  They often have bonus points days.  For example, the other weekend was beauty weekend, and if you spend $20 on beauty products, you earn back 7,000 points, which is seven dollars worth of points.  Walgreens also has really great clearance.  You never know when its going to be, but if you're there, its really easy to wander all the aisles and check out the orange price tags.  Its not uncommon to see $30 products for less than $5.

Walgreens often offers Register Rewards (RR) with products (they are advertised in the weekly ad).  Register Rewards are a dollar amount that you can use on your next purchase.  TYPICALLY, you cannot pay with register rewards and receive more register rewards on a product, even if it is advertised.  Additionally, TYPICALLY you cannot pay with points and receive points, even if there is a point bonus advertised. (There are times that you can, but since this is a Beginning Couponers post, I'm not going to get into that). However, you can pay with points and receive RR, and you can pay with RR and receive points.  Walgreens also has a monthly coupon booklet at their stores that contain store coupons.

STEP THREE

STEP FOUR / /  Your next step is to download ibotta. Ibotta is a cash back system, and all you need to do is scan your receipt and maybe a bar code or two after you're home from your shopping trip. (Bonus points if you use that link to sign up- it will give me extra credit!) Search for the store that you will be shopping at, then find the products on your shopping list.  You can "search" for your products, but I recommend browsing all of the items as sometimes the search function pulls up products from other stores.  Write down the cash back in a fourth color next to the items that you wrote down from the ad.  If you connect with your friends who also have ibotta, it can help you build bonus rewards.  Ibotta is mainly for groceries, but has a vast amount of stores connected to it and may also have health or beauty items listed.

Another app you can use like ibotta is Checkout51.  It doesn't have as many offers as ibotta does, but only takes a couple minutes to check, upload a receipt, and scan your products so I think its worth it to check.

STEP FOUR

STEP FIVE / /  Browse through your list and see where the good deals are.  Best case scenario you can buy something on sale with both a digital and paper coupon, then get cash back on ibotta. (For example, the other week Crest toothpaste was part of the Buy 5, Save $5 at Kroger.  After the sale and using a coupon it was 24 cents, then there was a 25 cents back on ibotta, making me a penny!)

STEP FIVE

It doesn't always work out that way, but once you can build a small stockpile, you can be a little pickier about how much you're willing to pay for things.  Now that I have a couple extra toothpastes and a handful (or four) of shampoos and conditioners, I will only buy these items if I can get them for less than a dollar, ideally for less than 50 cents. It seems like a lot but once you've done it a time or two it becomes a pretty easy routine and can be done during your nightly Netflix time!

STEP SIX / / You're ready to go! There are two ways to shop:

If you are sticking to a very strict budget, it is best to make sure you're equally strict in sticking to only items on your list. Go in with your list, grab your items, and check out. In, out, and on with it.  This may end up costing you more in the long run, but if you're pinching pennies it may be the better option.

Option two, and my preferred method of shopping, is slow and steady.  I like to go in with my list and all of my coupons, pop in my headphones, put on a podcast, and start at aisle one.  Walking up and down every aisle gives me the opportunity to find sale items that may have not been advertised, as well as clearance items.  Since I always bring my whole set of coupons, I'm always prepared for unadvertised savings.

STEP SIX

ADDITIONALLY / / You can join couponing groups on facebook.  People often post their hauls, including sale prices and which coupons they used. I will list the groups that I am a part of, but if you shop at stores other than these all you have to do is search "STORE couponing" to find a group.

Walgreens Too
Walgreens Couponing
Couponing at CVS
Kroger Krazies
Couponing at Kroger
Couponing at Target
Target Couponing
You can also follow the Krazy Coupon Lady and The Couponing Couple on Facebook for deals


MORE TIPS AND TRICKS / /

• To truly save money, you can't be too picky on brands. That doesn't mean you have to go generic with everything.  Often times canned products like beans or tomatoes are cheaper if you buy the store brand (roughly 50 cents), but I find that I can get a better price on beauty and health products (shampoo, tampons, toothpaste) buying brand name when there are sales and I have coupons
• Stock up! The trick is to "stock up" before you need it.  Waiting until you're out is a great way to be forced to pay full price. 
• Be willing to go to multiple stores (if your location allows for it).  As I mentioned in step one, I shop at both Kroger and Publix, and since both these stores fall on the main road I drive I don't have to go out of my way to hit both in one shopping trip.
• Always bring all your coupons with you! You never know if you will find an unadvertised deal or an item on clearance that you can apply a coupon to.  
• If you're beginning your pantry stockpile, use the $5 strategy.  Bring along an extra 5 bucks on your grocery shopping trip for cheap items that you use often.  Examples of these items are: beans, condensed soups, canned tomatoes, etc.
• The most difficult things to get cheap are meats, fruits, and veggies.  I usually just watch the ads for sales on these products.  Every now and then ibotta has rebates for fruits and veggies.  If you have tricks for savings in this area, please share in the comments!
• DO NOT GO TO THE STORE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE SALE. It is always packed with people, and often times the sales aren't all marked yet.  There is nothing more frustrating than finally getting to the front of the checkout line and finding out after all your items have scanned that you grabbed the wrong item because the sale wasn't marked yet, only to have a line full of people waiting after you!
• Pay attention to the size of your product.  Make sure that the size of the item on sale matches the size of the item that your coupon is for.  Also make sure this matches the size of any rebates you may have.
• Did you know that Amazon has coupons?? I am an avid user of Amazon Prime, and I just found out that Amazon has coupons for some of their products! If a coupon exists, they let you know at or before checkout.
• Not a tip or trick, but keep donating in mind when you're couponing.  Some couponers, myself included, don't keep a spare room solely for the purpose of storing their stock piles, but that doesn't mean you have to pass up a GREAT deal when you see one.  You can always donate products to homeless shelters or food banks.  Another great place to donate that isn't often thought of is places like humane societies or other animal rescue places.  They are often in need of things like laundry detergent!

COUPONING LINGO

When I first joined couponing groups they were using all these abbreviations and I had no idea what they meant!  In case you decide to join one, I wanted to leave a brief guide here of the most commons terms I have come across so you aren't as lost as I am when others share their hauls!

• OOP: out of pocket
• MM: money maker
• MFC/MQ: manufacturer's coupon
• IVC: Walgreen's instant value coupon from monthly coupon catalog
• CAT: catalina coupon (prints from register after purchase of certain items at stores like Walgreens and Kroger.  Cannot be used on current purchase, but can be used on next purchase).
• PEELIE: coupon that you peel off of a product
• WYB: when you buy
• YMMV: your mileage may very (basically the deal depends on the store)

If this post interested you, I have another couponing post in the works! Stay tuned!