couponing 101 handbook
The Southern Savers System 1
Store Inserts
Save Inserts on Sunday No clipping necessary - just make sure you date them!
2 Go to SouthernSavers.com
We lcom e!
We post only the lowest prices matched with all the available coupons. Check the Stores and Schedules on SouthernSavers.com
3 Get The Coupons Together! Print from Southern Savers and clip from saved inserts.
S H O P P IN G
LI S T
M il k Eggs Bread
4 Print Your Shopping List Southern Savers makes it easy to print only the items you’ll buy. We even include all the coupon match-ups!
5 S AV IN
All content Š 2010 Southern Savers, unless otherwise noted.
GS!
Go Shopping Take your list and coupons and get stocked up on all the low price deals this week.
Table of Contents THE SOUTHERN SAVERS SYSTEM ............................................................. 2 THE BASICS............................................................................................................ 2 SAVING 50% OR MORE ON GROCERIES................................................................. 2 TYPES OF COUPONS AND HOW TO GET THEM..................................................... 3 ORGANIZING COUPONS........................................................................................... 4 GETTING STARTED............................................................................................. 5 EFFECTIVE COUPONING.......................................................................................... 5 WHERE AND WHEN TO USE YOUR COUPONS....................................................... 6 LOCAL STORE COUPON POLICIES.......................................................... 8 PUBLIX....................................................................................................................... 9 BI-LO.......................................................................................................................... 9 ALDI........................................................................................................................... 9 DOLLAR GENERAL................................................................................................... 9 FOOD LION............................................................................................................. 10 HARRIS TEETER...................................................................................................... 10 KROGER.................................................................................................................. 10 WINN DIXIE............................................................................................................. 10 LOWES FOODS........................................................................................................ 1 1 INGLES..................................................................................................................... 1 1 SWEETBAY............................................................................................................... 1 1 TARGET..................................................................................................................... 1 1 COMMISSARY..........................................................................................................12 FOOD CITY...............................................................................................................12 EARTH FARE............................................................................................................12 FRED’S......................................................................................................................12 H-E-B........................................................................................................................12 WALMART................................................................................................................13 WHOLE FOODS........................................................................................................13 COUPONING ETHICS......................................................................................13 HOW TO USE SOUTHERN SAVERS............................................................14 I FOUND THE LIST, NOW WHAT DOES IT MEAN?..................................................14 I CAN READ IT, NOW WHAT?..................................................................................15 THE DATABASE........................................................................................................15 DRUGSTORES.......................................................................................................16 CVS...........................................................................................................................16 WALGREENS............................................................................................................18 RITE AID...................................................................................................................19 COUPON LINGO...............................................................................................22 “BUY PRICE” SHOPPING LIST.....................................................................24 FOOD STORAGE GUIDELINES...................................................................25 SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 1
The Basics
saving 50% or more on groceries #1: Know Your Prices and Always Buy at the Lowest Price For most stores, product prices fluctuate on 6-8 week long cycles. Only once in that 6-8 week cycle will an item reach its lowest price. (See image below.) You always want to buy items at their rock bottom price! To remember which price you are willing to pay for which product, the easiest thing to do is to make a Price Book or a “Buy Price” List. This will save you the trouble of having to mentally retain hundreds of prices and potentially overpaying for certain products. Check out our example of a “Buy Price List” near the back of the workbook.
#2: Learn the “Stocking Up” Approach When an item is at its lowest price in the 6-8 week cycle, buy enough of that item to last until it comes back on sale. By taking this “stocking up” approach, you will save an average of 50-70% off your groceries. You can also eliminate those quick trips to pick up one or two items you “need”. “Needing” an item means that you have to go into the store and pay retail price as opposed to paying the lowest possible sale price. If you can cut down on buying items when you run out of them and buy items when they are at their lowest price, the amount you can save will be considerable. This workbook will help you understand the couponing world to an extent that truly allows you to maximize your groceries and minimize your spending. We will define and explain as we go, but if you ever run into a term or abbreviation that you don’t understand, there is also a “Coupon Lingo” list that can be found near the back of your workbook for extra help.
6-8 WEEK STORE CYCLE CHEERIOS CEREAL
(example)
(example)
$ PRICE
YOPLAIT YOGURT
TIME IN WEEKS SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 2
LOWEST PRICE Jenny only posts when an item is at its lowest price
types of coupons and how to get them Note for beginners on Store vs. Manufacturer’s coupons: A store coupon is only valid in the store(s) designated on the coupon, whereas a manufacturer’s coupon is valid for its specific product in a variety of stores.
Newspaper Inserts These include Smart Source, Red Plum, and Proctor & Gamble. Inserts can be found in the center section of the Sunday paper. Regional variations apply, meaning bigger cities will have more coupons than a smaller city on the same Sunday. Inserts contain mostly manufacturer’s coupons. Plan ahead - check the Wednesday preview on Southern Savers to see if on the coming Sunday you might want to get multiple papers.
Printables Printable coupons can be found on the Internet. They typically allow 2 prints per computer. Coupons in PDF format are the exception, and allow unlimited prints. There are many security features in printable coupons, so please don’t try to work around the 2 prints allowed or make copies.
In Store Dispensers Also known as “blinkies,” these can be found at random in your grocery aisle. Be considerate and just take two per visit, please.
Coupons on Products Sometimes companies place coupons on their shelf merchandise. These will be either stickers or tags, and are also known as “peelies” throughout the couponing world. Please buy the product that contains the coupon; don’t just take the coupon off!
Tearpads This is a post-it note like pad of coupons next to products on the shelf or attached to displays throughout the store. The same courtesy rule applies - just take two please!
Catalina Register Coupons These are generated by a coupon machine during check-out at select stores, and are handed to you with your receipt. Most of these are regular manufacturer’s coupons with a logo on them for that store.
From the Manufacturer You can subscribe to various newsletters (either via postal mail or email) sent out by manufacturers that include coupons. You can also call the manufacturer and request that coupons be sent to you. Be sure to let them know how much you like their products and provide your mailing address. Many companies provide free “customer relations” coupons based on requests.
Magazines Various stores issue magazines (such as Publix’s Grape, Greenwise, and Family Style). These contain a mixture of manufacturer’s and store coupons. Stores also issue free SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 3
MORE WAYS TO
GET COUPONS Work papers into your drugstore deals to get them for free. Set up Coupon Swap boxes. Trade coupons with friends, co-workers, or online on the Southern Savers traders board. Obtain coupons online at ebay or at www. thecouponclippers.com. Walk through your neighborhood on recycling day. Look for brochures at the pharmacy of doctor’s office. Ask people!
mass-produced home mailers to customers who provide their mailing address or sign up for a loyalty card. You can also receive subscription magazines, such as All You. These contain mostly manufacturer’s coupons.
eCoupons Electronic coupons are generally store-specific and can be uploaded to a loyalty card through the Internet. An example is Kroger’s Cellfire eCoupons which, when you sign in online, can upload straight to your Kroger card. They differ from printables because they are not printed; they can only be used once, and only in the store that issued your card. Also, an eCoupon will never double.
Instore eCoupons ·· ·· ·· ··
Can be uploaded directly to your store loyalty card from various websites. Can only be used at the store that issues them. Does not double and can only be used one time. Cannot be used with paper coupons during checkout (except at Harris Teeter).
Upromise and SavingStar eCoupons Any savings that you earn through these eCoupons are put into an online savings account. The discount does not come off in stores. Here is how it works: ·· Sign up online at upromise.com or savingstar.com ·· Enter all of your store loyalty card numbers. ·· Load all the coupons you want (have them saved for any purchases during the month!) ·· When you load the coupons, they are available on every store card you have entered. ·· For SavingStar, when your account has earned $5 or more, you can request the money back in gift cards. These are a little different than the other eCoupons: You can use them at almost any store! The money does not come off at the register but is put in your online account. Can I use a coupon too? Yes! These are not tied to coupons or discounts in the store. What if I don’t have a kid? Not a problem. We had a Upromise account for almost 2 years before our kids were born. Once we had kids we went in and changed it from our names to our kids names. Grandparents can also sign up and have it go to their grandchildren. You can change the beneficiary at any time.
organizing coupons Accordion File Folder You will need a larger accordion file folder, which can be found at most office supply stores. Each week take inserts from the Sunday paper and write the date bigger on the front, keeping the insert whole. Find the oldest insert in your folder and replace it with the newest insert. Most folder have 13 pockets, so the oldest insert is about 3 months SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 4
old and most of its coupons will be expired. Cut out any coupons that are still good and keep them in a canceled check file. Use the dates on Southern Savers to know where to look in your accordion file for the coupon: SS 8/01 – Smart Source insert from August 1st RP 7/25 – Red Plum insert from July 25th
Canceled Check File Organize by location in the store. Here are a few category ideas to get you started: ·· ·· ·· ··
Snack Foods/Drinks Breakfast Foods Boxed Dinners/Canned Condiments/Baking
·· ·· ·· ··
Refrigerated Frozen Paper Goods Household Items
·· Pharmacy items ·· Personal Care Items ·· Baby
You will have large groups of coupons to look through if you use this for all of your coupons. This works great with the accordion file to keep any coupons that haven’t expired after a long time, coupons you find in the store, and any that you print in advance.
To coupon effectively you need to keep all of the coupons from each Sunday. There are many items you might never plan to obtain but they may make you money or become free. If you don’t need them, grab them and donate them to someone who does!
Make Your Own Box This is the same concept as the category system of the canceled check file but now you are adding in lots of other categories. Some folks go with a recipe card size box, lunch box, shoe box... this is your creation so make it what you want! Using this makes it easier to find coupons since they are broken down into smaller groups.
Binder with Sleeves This is the most time consuming and complex system to organize in. You’ll need a zippered three ring binder, 10-20 pages of baseball card protector sheets, and a set of 6-8 tab dividers. Make categories for areas of the store (like the canceled check file) with your tabbed dividers and then start to insert coupons into the baseball card pockets. You will be able to see everything quickly but are also looking at a good hour and half to get the coupons in those pockets each week!
Getting Started
effective couponing Keep in mind as you plan out which coupons to use that you can use (1) Manufacturer’s Coupon and (1) Store coupon per item. The Internet and Newspaper Inserts are the most common sources of manufacturer’s coupons. Remember that you can not make copies of printable coupons. They have individualized distinguishing marks that can identify specific users, as well as unique Security Barcodes and Watermarks. Also, it will develop a negative relationship with your grocery store because they lose money on photocopied printables.
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 5
Remember: the items advertised in the weekly ad are not necessarily on sale.
Understanding Barcodes Manufacturer’s vs. Store Coupon Look at the bar code: A manufacturer’s coupon will start with a 5 or a 9. These are the only two options. Any other number starting the bar code means it’s a store coupon. Also, look in the small print for a mailing address for redemption. All true manufacturer’s coupons that can be used at any store will have an address. If the coupon starts with a 5 or a 9 and has the address then you will be able to use the coupon at any store without problems. If you have a store coupon, then you can find a manufacturer’s coupon to use with it. This is called stacking. At most stores you can use a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon on each item. Stacking them together can really increase your savings! All stores covered by Southern Savers allow stacking. Doubling Many grocery stores double coupons that are a certain value or less every day. This is not based on the words on the coupon, but is based on the bar code. The computer systems will double any coupon that is the right value and whose bar code starts with a 5 (even if the coupon says DO NOT DOUBLE). While the store can override the double manually, this is not done in many stores.
Don’t cut coupons on Sunday and then head to the store to use them the following Monday. Rather, wait until those items are on sale. If you go in and use a 50¢ coupon on a $4 item you aren’t going to be thrilled with 50¢ savings. But using a 50¢ coupon on that item when it is 50% off means that you will save $2.50 at the least and possibly even $3.00 if the store doubles the coupon.
save by knowing where and when to use your coupons: ·· ·· ·· ·· ··
Know double coupon store policies. Know whether the store allows stacking coupons. Know “Buy one, get one free” (B1G1) store policies. Use price matching. Take advantage of competitor coupon policies.
Doubling Some grocery stores literally double the value of the coupon. Bi-Lo, Ingles, Publix, Kroger, and Winn-Dixie are examples of stores that double coupons of a 50¢ or 60¢ value or less, depending on the store. Harveys is the only grocery store in Florida that doubles.
Stacking Stacking means that you may use one store coupon and one manufacturer’s coupon per SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 6
item. If the coupon is for multiple items, such as $1/3, you can only use one coupon for those three items. Stacking is allowed at all drug and grocery stores.
Buy One Get One Sales At a grocery store B1G1 sale items ring up half price, except in the state of Florida. This means that you do not have to buy two to get a good deal. You can get them for half off no matter how many you buy! Since all items are half price and neither is free, you can use a coupon for each item to get the best deal. In Florida the items are truly buy one get one free. You have to actually buy two to get the items on sale. However, you may still use 2 manufacturer’s coupons since in the manufacturer’s eyes you are still buying two products. The store will be reimbursed for both coupons.
If you have a B1G1 coupon and the item is on sale B1G1 you will get 2 FREE products at drugstores. One is free from the sale and the other is free from the coupon.
Similar to Florida’s grocery stores, all drug stores nationwide ring up one item full price and the other free. Again, you are still allowed two coupons.
Price Matching Target and Walmart are the only stores that price match. Currently it isn’t a great deal; they will not price match B1G1 items, or items that require a store loyalty card to get the sale. Price matching non grocery items such as DVD’s, electronics, school supplies, etc., can be a big time saver however, and can save you from running all over town. Grab it all in one place by bringing in the ads from the other stores.
Competitor Coupons Some stores accept store coupons from a competitor store. For details on who does, see the next section in the workbook, which covers Local Store Coupon Policies.
Mail In Rebates Take advantage of rebates for groceries. They are almost always reimbursed at the retail value not the final purchase price. So if you use coupons, you may make money! All current rebates are listed in the coupon database on SouthernSavers.com.
Rain Checks During a sale period a store may run out of an item. Thankfully stores offer rain checks. If a store is out of an item, or even the flavor you want, just go to customer service desk and ask for a rain check. The rain check will allow you to get that item after the sale period ends for the sale period price. Every store has slightly different rain check policies with product limits, and expiration dates.
Catching Pricing Errors When you check out it is important to watch for price errors. Stores do make mistakes and items ring up for the wrong price at times. After you check out, look over your receipt before you leave and make sure everything rang up for the correct price. If there is an incorrect price take your receipt to customer service and they will reimburse you the extra money you paid. They may also give you the item for free or some other discount to make up for the inconvenience. If you are already home when you notice the error you can still take your receipt back to store. SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 7
RAIN CHECKS To get a rain check the store does not need to be out of every variety, just one type. Your rain check will be written for the entire brand, not the specific type you asked for.
Overage If there is an item on the weekly list that is free “plus overage” BUY IT. This is equivalent to money off the rest of your bill and should be treated like extra coupons. If you do not need these items then donate them to homeless shelters, medical missionaries, food banks etc.
More Tips ·· Coupons are interpreted by the wording on the coupon, not by the picture shown. Manufacturers put the most expensive item in the picture. ·· Read price tags carefully—the smallest size is not necessarily the lowest-priced variety. Sometimes the larger size will be on sale, making the smaller size at regular price more expensive than the larger size. ·· Cut or save all coupons. You might not think that you need to cut out a coupon for a particular item but you can never be sure. If you go to the store and realize that a coupon you left behind would have made the product free or given you overage on the item, you will be upset with yourself for not cutting it out. You can never be too prepared to save money! ·· Join Store Loyalty programs. Not only is this the only way to get the sale prices in most stores, it is also a great way to get coupons mailed to your home. Make sure your address is correct in the store’s system. Most grocery store websites now have a way to update your information with them online. Set up a My Bi-Lo, My Kroger, etc. account so that they have current information. You can also use your loyalty card for electronic coupons (ECoupons) at Kroger. Product
Sale Price
GOOD CEREAL
STACKING COUPONS
$2.75
Coupons
$1 OFF
ANY BOX OF GOOD CEREAL
+
Manufacturer’s
$1 OFF
ANY BOX OF GOOD CEREAL Store
$2.75 original price – manufacturer coupon for $1 off – store coupons for $1 off FINAL PRICE
=
Product
USING COUPONS WITH A BUY-ONEGET-ONE SALE
75¢ FOR ONE BOX OF CEREAL Sale Price
2 BOXES $4 EACH
GOOD CEREAL GOOD CEREAL
BUY-ONE-GETONE-FREE
(If you are buying 2 items on a B1G1 sale make sure to use 2 coupons!)
Coupons
$1 $1OFF OFF
ANY BOX OF ANY BOX OF GOOD CEREAL GOOD CEREAL 2 Manufacturer’s coupons for $1 off 1 box
$4.00 (Sale price is for $2 each box) – 2 manufacturer coupons for $1 off – 2 store coupons for 50¢ off FINAL PRICE SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 8
=
$1 FOR TWO BOXES OF CEREAL
+
50¢ OFF $1 OFF ANY BOX OF ANYCEREAL BOX OF GOOD GOOD CEREAL 2 Store coupons 50¢ off for 1 box
Local Store Coupon Policies publix
1. Does accept competitors’ coupons. 2. You do not have to buy 2 of the B1G1 sale items to get the sale price. 3. If you do a B1G1 deal, use 2 coupons. 4. You can stack store or competitor coupons with manufacturer’s coupons. 5. Most locations double manufacturer’s coupons that are 50¢ or less. 6. Rain checks expire in 30 days, however most stores consider them as never expiring. 7. On Wednesdays, shoppers over 60 years old get 5% off their total before coupons. 8. The first day of a new ad is the “Penny Item” day. Publix chooses an item that is worth a penny if you bring the Penny Item Coupon and spend $10 (before coupons). * Items 2, 5, 7, and 8 do not apply in Florida * Store coupons are found in the Grape, Greenwise, and Family Style magazines. The weekly ad comes out every Wednesday or Thursday, depending on your area, and Advantage Buy Flyers (both Yellow and Green) come out every 3-4 weeks. Also, join the Baby Club (grandparents can join, too).
bi-lo 1. Does accept competitors’ coupons but sometimes requires a manager override. 2. You do not have to buy two of the B1G1 sale items to get the sale price. 3. If you do a B1G1 deal, use two coupons. 4. You can stack store coupons, manufacturer’s coupons and eCoupons. 5. Most locations double coupons that are 60¢ or less. 6. They will give you 5¢ off for every reusable shopping bag you use. 7. Register your card online to load eCoupons. Their weekly ad comes out on Wednesdays. Earn FuelPerks gas savings with every purchase, 5¢ for every $50 in groceries before coupons.
aldi 1. Does not accept coupons. 2. You can price match name brand products, meat and produce at Walmart. Their weekly ad comes out on Sundays or Wednesdays, depending on your area.
dollar general 1. Does not accept competitors’ coupons. 2. You can print coupons from their web site. Their weekly ad tends to come out on Sundays, but can be random. SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 9
HOW MANY
STORES DO I SHOP? Don’t stress yourself out by trying to hit up every store on the list. You’ll end up spending all your grocery savings on gas! Rather, pick one or two stores and follow their sales. This will increase your chances of finding a good sale. When it comes to drugstores, just pick one. This will increase the rate at which you build up drug store currency (like Extra Care Bucks at CVS). We will talk more about drugstores later.
food lion 1. Does not accept competitors’ coupons. 2. You do not have to buy 2 of the B1G1 sale items to get the sale price. 3. You cannot stack store and manufacturer’s coupons. 4. Currently testing double coupons in various markets. Check with your store. 5. Has eCoupons available on their website. These cannot be used with paper coupons. 6. Look for new coupon printing machines when you enter the store. Coupons are available by email if you sign up on Food Lion’s web site for the Shopping Companion or online on Southern Savers. Their weekly ad comes out on Wednesday.
harris teeter 1. Does accept competitors’ coupons off general purchase only,not for specific items. 2. You do not have to buy two B1G1 items to get the sale price. 3. If you do a B1G1 deal, use 2 coupons. 4. You can stack store and manufacturer’s coupons. 5. Stores double up to 20 coupons that are 99¢ or less with VIC Card. 6. Has eCoupons available on their website. These can be used with paper coupons. Harris Teeter has regular Triple and Super Double events. Sign up with the e-Vic email newsletter for more savings each week. Their weekly ad comes out on Wednesdays.
kroger 1. Does not accept competitors’ coupons. 2. You do not have to buy two of the B1G1 sale items to get the sale price. 3. If you do a B1G1 deal, use two coupons. 4. You can stack store and manufacturer’s coupons. 5. Has eCoupons available on their website. These cannot be used with paper coupons. 6. Most locations double manufacturer’s coupons that are 50¢ or less. Their weekly ad comes out on Sundays. Kroger also does frequent home mailers. Make sure they have a current address for you, by creating a My Kroger account on their website.
winn dixie 1. Does not accept competitors’ coupons. 2. You do have to buy two of the B1G1 sale items to get the sale price. 3. If you do a B1G1 deal, use two coupons. You may need to scan your store loyalty card last. 4. You can stack store and manufacturer’s coupons. 5. Some locations double coupons in GA and AL, other states do not double. SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 10
Their weekly ad comes out on Wednesdays. Get Winn Dixie’s loyalty card for additional savings. They have a great baby club that gives additional coupons and discounts.
lowes foods 1. Does accept competitors’ coupons off general purchase but not for individual products. 2. You do not have to buy 2 of the B1G1 sale items to get the sale price. 3. If you do a B1G1 deal, use 2 coupons. 4. You can stack store and manufacturer’s coupons. 5. Doubles coupons that are 99¢ or less, up to 20 coupons. 6. Has eCoupons available on their website. These cannot be used with paper coupons. Sign up for a fresh rewards card to save on weekly specials, earn rewards cash (to be spent at Lowes Foods) and receive personalized offers.
ingles 1. Does not accept competitors’ coupons. 2. You do not have to buy two of the B1G1 sale items to get the sale price. 3. If you do a B1G1 deal, use two coupons. 4. You can stack store and manufacturer’s coupons. 5. Stores Double (3) coupons that are 50¢ or less for every $10 you spend. 6. Occasionally, they triple coupons. Ingles’ weekly ad comes out on Sundays.
sweetbay 1. Does accept competitors’ coupons (can vary by store). 2. You do not have to buy two of the B1G1 sale items to get the sale price. 3. If you do a B1G1 deal, use two coupons. 4. You can stack store and manufacturer’s coupons. 6. Does not double coupons. Sweetbay’s weekly ad comes out on Wednesdays.
target 1. Does not accept competitors’ coupons. 2. You can stack store and manufacturer’s coupons. 3. Does not double coupons. 4. They will give you 5¢ off per reusable shopping bag you use. Target’s weekly ad comes out on Sundays. They have lots of printable coupons on their website at target.com/coupons. SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 11
commissary 1. Accepts Walgreens Register Rewards on top of other coupons. 2. You can stack true military and manufacturer’s coupons. 3. Does not double coupons. Weekly ads run for two weeks and start every other Thursday. It is best to focus only on items 40% off or more.
food city 1. Does not accept competitors’ coupons. 2. You do not have to buy two of the B1G1 sale items to get the sale price. 3. If you do a B1G1 deal, use two coupons. 4. You can stack store and manufacturer’s coupons. 5. Does not double coupons. Food City’s weekly ad comes out on Sundays.
earth fare 1. Does not accept competitors’ coupons. 2. Does not accept Smart Source coupons 3. You can print coupons from their web site. Earth Fare releases a monthly ad on Wednesday. They will often have unadvertised deals change week-to-week.
fred’s 1. Does not accept competitors’ coupons. 2. Doubles coupons that are 70¢ or less ONLY on Saturdays. Fred’s weekly ad usually comes out on Mondays or Tuesdays, but are not always regular. Only 1 coupon per identical item is doubled on Saturdays.
h-e-b 1. Does not accept competitors’ coupons. 2. You do not have to buy 2 of the B1G1 sale items to get the sale price. 3. If you do a B1G1 deal, use 2 coupons. 4. You can not stack store and manufacturer’s coupons. H-E-B’s weekly ad comes out on Wednesdays. Look for yellow coupons throughout the store and stack these with manufacturer coupons.
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 12
walmart 1. Does accept competitors’ coupons if they have a final price listed on them. 2. Price matches other stores advertised deals if you have the ad. Walmart’s weekly ad comes out on Sundays.
whole foods 1. Does not accept competitors’ coupons. 2. You must buy two of the B1G1 sale items to get the sale price. 3. Coupons can be applied to full-price item. Whole Foods’ weekly ad comes out on Wednesdays. Additional store policies can apply at the store level.
Couponing Ethics ·· Only take two of any coupon from an in store dispenser, tearpad, or booklet - leave some for others. ·· Coupons that are stuck to products are meant only for the person who purchases the product. ·· Stock up by getting what your family needs for 6 weeks. Remember that items will come on sale again. ·· If you are shopping for charity, please don’t deplete a store’s stock even for a good cause. There are many families that need to be able to save money on their groceries, too. ·· Over-stocking to be able to resell items is bordering on illegal in many ways. It’s also very unfair to the folks in your area that would like at least one. ·· Use only one manufacturer’s coupon per item that you purchase. Remember that an on product coupon is usually a manufacturer’s coupon, so pick either the one you came in with or the one on the product but not both (unless you buy two). ·· Coupons should be used as they were intended, for the products intended, including competitor coupons. If they say limit one per person then plan to use just one. ·· Make sure you buy the size specified on the coupon; even if it works for other sizes please have integrity and be responsible in your usage. ·· Do not photocopy coupons.
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 13
How to Use Southern Savers
You can learn more about this topic at www.southernsavers.com/ learn
To get started, go to SouthernSavers.com. Our friendly “clipmunk,” Martin, will be there to greet you and help you get started. To find deals for a specific store, click on a store tab at the header of the page. This will take you straight to a list of all recent posts specific to that store. Some stores, such as Publix, have further drop down options where you can go to the Penny Item post or to the Advantage Buy Lists. The two blue buttons on the far right under the header will take you to the weekly coupon previews (“Sunday Ad Inserts” button) and the “$1 or Less” and “Need it Now” lists (“Best Deal This Week” button). These are meant to help you sort through all the stores faster if there is only one or two staple items that you need.
i found the list, now what does it mean? Every list ideally contains all the deals in the store that are considered to be at their lowest possible price. Entire weekly ads are not listed because many items are not on sale or are not at their lowest possible price.
Here is an example from a recent Publix list: Kellogg’s Cereal B1G1 at $4.39 Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Corn Pops, or Apple Jacks M
-$1 off Kellogg’s Cereal RP 6/07 (exp 7/19) (makes it $1.19 ea)
M
-$1/2 Kellogg’s Cereals in store dispenser
S
-$2/2 Dannon Danimals wyb (2) Kellogg’s Cereals “Fuel for School” booklet
·· The item on sale and any details are at the top. ·· The coupons available for the item are listed below it, marked with either a red box containing an M or a blue box with an S. These stand for “Manufacturer’s Coupon” and “Store Coupon,” respectively. I try to list all the coupons that are out for each particular item so you can use more than one when stocking up. Ideally we want a coupon for each item. Remember that you can only use one manufacturer’s coupon per item. Below is a breakdown of the terminology used in the above example: RP 6/07 – this coupon was in the Red Plum Sunday newspaper insert on June 7th. exp 7/19 – the coupon will expire on 7/19 -- I only list the dates if it expires during the sale. in store dispenser – the little red boxes that are all over the store. booklet – usually found in the store around the front entrance or on displays; you may have to ask customer service if they have it as well. The insert dates are provided for you, meaning that regardless of how you choose to organize your coupons, whether by issue date or product, they should be easy to locate.
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 14
i can read it, now what? Your goal is now to stick to your list as much as possible when in the store. To make this easier, you can print a list straight from Southern Savers that incorporates store sales AND coupons.
But I Need It Now! ·· If you really need a specific item try using the “Need It Now” list found under the “Best Deal this Week” button at the top of Southern Savers. ·· To find a coupon for an item not on sale this week, use the coupon database on Southern Savers. It will list any and every coupon that is out! ·· While 200 comments may seem daunting, always try to skim the comments when getting your list together. There are great ideas that you guys have to share!
The Weekly Ad Schedule: Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Kroger
Food City
Harris Teeter
Winn Dixie
CVS
Ingles
Walmart
Publix
HEB
Walgreens
Food Lion
Earth Fare
Rite Aid
Bi-Lo
Whole
Harveys
Foods
Target
Friday
ALDI Sweetbay Lowes Food
Other Weekly Posts that might help: Wednesday: Preview for next Sunday’s insert coupons Thursday: Best Prices list of key items across all stores, $1 or less items at all stores
the database A useful feature at Southern Savers is the Coupon Database, the button for which is located at the top right of the site header. If you are looking for coupons for a specific product, simply type into the search box on the database page and your results will appear below. You can also help us out by submitting any coupons you find that may not be in the database by using the form on the database page.
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 15
WEBSITE TIP If you use Internet Explorer your list will appear very tiny, but it is easy to make it larger. After clicking the “Create List”, go to the file menu and choose “Print Preview”. Change the size from “shrink to fit” to “100%”.
Drugstores
If you’re thinking “Drugstores? But they’re so overpriced!” then you’re right. But not if you know how to shop them! The following three stores all have valuable rewards systems.
cvs Your goal when shopping at CVS is to never pay more than $1 out of your pocket for all of your personal care needs. This can be done every time you shop at CVS by purchasing the items that are free after Extra Care Bucks. For a detailed explanation check online at SouthernSavers.com and click “Getting Started Guides”. Make sure to scan your CVS card at the in store coupon center/price scanner. You can scan it twice per day and each time 2-3 coupons will print.
You May Ask... Isn’t CVS really over-priced? How can shopping there ever be a deal? Yes, CVS is over-priced on a lot of items. The key to making “CVSing” a deal is to combine coupons and ECBs. If you do this successfully then after some initial out of pocket (OOP) expense you will be able to start buying some things you want and more toothpaste than you’ll ever need for very little money. What are ECBs? ECBs = Extra Care Bucks. These are earned by purchasing certain products during a promotional period. Some promotions last a week and others last for the entire month. They will print on your receipt immediately after the necessary purchase is made. These can be used “like cash” on most items at CVS. If you lose an ECB you can print a replacement at CVS.com or you can send the reward back to your card to print the next time you are in the store. Can I use my ECBs on cvs.com? You can only use your quarterly ECB online. Can I use my ECBs on someone else’s card? No. Can I have more than one card? Technically no, you cannot have more than one card to your name with the same address. However, you can have a card for adult children also living in your household according to customer service. What can I use my ECBs on? ECB’s can be used on anything in the store except prescriptions, gift cards, tobacco products, alcohol, stamps, or milk.
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 16
How many ECBs can I use per transaction? As many as you want. However, the register will usually stop accepting them if they will make your subtotal (pre-tax total) negative. If store coupons pay the tax associated with them in your state then be aware that a $1 ECB is actually worth $1 + tax if you have at least a dollar’s worth of taxable items. For example: My $1 ECB would actually take $1.07 off my total. What is rolling ECBs? Rolling ECBs means using the ECBs you have already earned to buy items that will give you more ECBs. The purpose of this is to make sure you always have ECBs to spend at CVS so you will spend less “real” money out of pocket. There’s a promotion that says I need to buy $20 of products to earn an ECB, is that before or after coupons? Before coupons. Do I have to finish a promotion in one transaction? Not usually. The ad should mention it if you have to complete the promotion in one transaction. Otherwise they can be bought at different times and in different stores, as long as you complete it. What are quarterly ECBs? These are earned based on the amount you actually spent (OOP) at CVS and from prescriptions you’ve had filled. You will get back 2% of what you actually spent and a $1 ECB for every 2 prescriptions you have filled online or in store. This does not include the ECBs and coupons you use. The quarters run from January to March, April to June, July to September, and October to December. Your quarterly ECB will print on or after the first day of the month following the end of the quarter. Here are some additional tips: Remember the stacking order mentioned in the Beginning to Coupon section. Always have a list of exactly what is free. Sometimes the items can be very specific on size and type, and you want to make sure you are getting the right things. If you are using a $4 off $20 or a similarly formatted coupon make sure you have a few backup plans to hit your $20 in case your CVS is out of something. Take in a calculator to help you add up your total to make sure you are going to have the right amount for your ECB’s to cover it. You always need to make sure that what you are buying is equal to your ECB’s or a little more (pennies). You can pay for $4 worth of items with $5 in ECB but you would be losing money and obviously should try to avoid it. So find some filler items that you like, $1 disposable razors, a pack of gum… lots of options.
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 17
How to Plan a Scenario Now that you’ve learned the basics, let’s get a game plan. Start with how many ECB’s you are bringing to the store. If you have $5, then look at the weekly CVS list and pick items that will equal $5 after coupons. Here is a pretend sale: $2 ECB wyb Colgate Toothpaste at $3 Buy: (1) Colgate Total $3 -$1 off Colgate Total SS 8/01 (1) Pantene $4 $4 ECB wyb Pantene Shampoo at $4 Use: -$1 off Colgate -$1 off Pantene PG 4/27 -$1 off Pantene Total Due: $5 Use your $5 ECB to pay for it! Get Back $6 ECB, $2 from the Colgate and $4 from the Pantene Now plan another transaction that equals $6 after coupons. By planning transactions that are small and equal the CVS “currency” you have, you are reducing the total amount of real US currency that you are paying!
walgreens Register Rewards Tip for non regular weekly Walgreens shoppers: When you know you are going to get a Register Reward from a certain transaction, have another transaction ready to use it on right then. This solves the problem of having to remember when they expire. Think of items you need weekly such as milk, the Sunday paper etc. to use it on.
These are coupons that are printed using the Catalina machines that some grocery stores use. Register rewards are actually coupons given by the Manufacturers of the products that are on special that week. For example: You buy Bounty paper towels and a $1 Register Reward print – this register reward is provided by Procter and Gamble. When you turn around and use your Register Reward, Walgreens will then submit that coupon to Procter and Gamble and get reimbursed. Remembering that Register Rewards are manufacturer’s coupons is the key to making Walgreens “work.” If you want to buy 1 product and use a coupon from a recent insert and pay with a Register Reward, you would be using 2 manufacturer’s coupons on one item and that’s against the basic coupon rules. The system won’t let you do it! So you’ll grab a “filler item”, grab one item that costs maybe 10 cents. It can be anything in the store. Now you have two products and two coupons. The Register Reward is happy again and will go through without any problems. What makes a Register Reward print? Register Rewards are linked to specific products each week. Sometimes you only need to buy one item, sometimes it is for buying a certain amount of products. Can I use a Register Reward to buy the same item again? NO! If you go in and buy an item or items that make a RR print and then you try to use that specific RR again to buy the same items the next RR will not print. This is how Walgreens tries to “limit” the number of deals per person.
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 18
Can I use a Register Reward to buy a different Register Reward item or items? YES! You can “roll” your RR by using them on a different Register Reward deal as long as you are not using them on the same products (see above). How long are Register Rewards good for? It varies. Most are good for 2-3 weeks but some that you get will be good for a shorter amount of time. Dealing with Expiring Register Rewards is the most difficult part of their system. Can I use a coupon on Register Reward Deals? Yes!
Some Nuts & Bolts... Walgreens computers are programmed to not accept coupons for an item if the coupon is over the price the of item. It will not allow you to buy a $1.99 product with a $2 coupon. Walgreens coupons are really price changing pieces of paper rather than money off coupons; you want to use these last. You want the computer to think the item is full price when you use your manufacturer’s coupon. Then use the store coupon to reduce the price to 59¢ or whatever the coupon is for. If a Register Reward does not print in the store, ask the clerk to void the transaction and try again differently. If it doesn’t work or the store isn’t helpful call the Catalina company directly and they will mail you your reward. 1-888-8COUPON.
rite aid Rite Aid has two reward systems currently.
Single Check Rebate This system is a true rebate system. Throughout the month Rite Aid will have select items that give a rebate back when you purchase it. The rebate could be the full value of the item or a partial value. On Southern Savers these are listed as: -$4 SCR #34 That means you will get a $4 rebate when you buy the item. The “SCR #34” is telling you the Single Check Rebate number. This is only there to help you if you wanted to go to Riteaid.com and look up the rebate for information. You will not need the rebate number or any other information about the rebate to file for it. The great part about Rite Aid’s program is that you are reimbursed for the full value of the rebate even if you used coupons in the store. An example would be: Complete Multipurpose Contact Solution $7.99 -$7.99 SCR #87 -$2 off Complete Solution SS 5/31
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 19
ORDER OF USE 1ST
$/$$ — $5 off $20 purchase 2ND
B1G1 and other high value coupons 3RD
Regular Manufacturers coupons LAST
Store Coupons *this order is most important at Walgreens
Total = $2 profit! You will pay $5.99 for the Contact Solution in the store. Your rebate check with be $7.99. So in the end you make $2. How do you file for reimbursement? Go to www.RiteAid.com and scroll down. You will see a link for Single Check Rebates. The first time you go here you will need to register, after that your information is stored and you will enter your username and password. Once you are logged in click to enter a receipt, the system will prompt you to enter a few numbers off the top of your store receipt. After you are done click to save it. You will come back every time you shop and enter another receipt throughout the month. At the end of the month, when you are done shopping, go to back to Rite Aid’s site. Log in and click to submit your rebates to get your check. After you submit for the check to process it will usually take about 3 to 4 weeks to arrive. It does look a little funny with “Use this at Rite Aid” across the bottom, but it is a real check and your bank will take it.
+UP Rewards The second reward system at Rite Aid is the new +UP Rewards system. You will need to get a Wellness+ card either from the cashier in the store or by registering on their website. This is a shoppers card that triggers the sale prices for advertised deals and also tracks your purchases and makes +UP rewards print. +UP rewards are Rite Aid currency not coupons. So you can still use manufacturer’s coupons and any other store coupons with them. What are +UP Rewards? +UP’s are “coupons” that print on your receipt after you purchase certain products in the weekly ad. They will print on your receipt immediately after the necessary purchase is made. These can be used “like cash” on most items at Rite Aid. Be careful with your +UP’s . If they are lost or destroyed Rite Aid may not be willing to reset them. What can I use +UP Rewards on? +UP’s can be used on anything in the store except prescriptions, gift cards, tobacco products, alcohol, stamps, or milk. How many +UP’s can be used per transaction? As many as you want. However, the register will stop accepting them if they will make your subtotal (pre-tax total) negative. What is rolling +UP’s? Rolling means using the +UP’s you have already earned to buy items that will give you more +UP’s. You can even use these rewards to pay for items that have Single Check Rebates.
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 20
There’s a promotion that says I need to buy $20 of products to earn a +UP Reward, is that before or after coupons? Before coupons. Do I have to finish a promotion in one transaction? Yes. The reward doesn’t continue to track your purchases past this transaction. Can I buy more than one of a +UP deal? All +UP deals are supposed to be a limit of one. During the launch of the program the computers were letting everyone get as many deals as they wanted but we will see more and more limits imposed as the system goes into full effect.
Things to remember: Most Single Check Rebates have a limit of one per household. It could be a rebate period that is a week long or that lasts the entire month. Unless stated differently on Southern Savers assume that it is a limit of one. If you want to buy a second one, you will need to purchase it in a second transaction and then you will need to set up a Rite Aid account with a different name and address. They will only mail one rebate to each household. This is a little tedious for most and helps to keep people from getting more than the limit. In ad coupons for Rite Aid will always say “Manufacturer’s Coupon”. They are not! They are store coupons and can still be used with a true manufacturer’s coupon. If your store attempts to tell you differently use the weekly ad to point out that in many places the ad will recommend that you do this! Rite Aid has lots of store printable coupons in the Video Values program online. These will be matched each week with the deals at Rite Aid on Southern Savers. You will need to watch a short video to be able to print the coupon.
you made it through the workshop!! I know this is a ton of information to process in 2 hours, so if your head is spinning or fuzzy don’t worry. There are a number of videos you can watch online covering everything from the basics to drugstores. I would also recommend that you check out our Learn to Coupon page to access the helpful tips from this workshop again.
Learn to Coupon
Tutorial Videos
Use a QRcode reader on your smartphone to scan these and visit websites with more information.
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 21
Coupon Lingo B1G1, BOGO,B1G1F
Buy 1, Get 1 Free
$/$$
Dollars off when you buy XX dollars
.50/1
Fifty cents off one item
.50/3
Fifty cents off 3 items
DND5
Coupon states Do Not Double, but the bar code starts with a 5, meaning most computers will automatically double it
NED
No Expiration Date
Blinkie
Coupon dispensed near product, in the store (usually from a “blinking” red box)
Catalina
Coupon dispensed at the register at the time of purchase (on separate paper)
Peelie
Coupon that you peel off the package
Tearpad
Pad of refund forms or coupons found hanging from a store shelf or display
FAR
Free After Rebate
IP
Internet Printable (a coupon you print off the Internet)
eCoupon
Found on the internet but different from a printable because it is uploaded to a card
MFR
Manufacturer
MQ
Manufacturer’s coupon
MIR
Mail in Rebate
OOP
Out Of Pocket
YMMV
Your Mileage May Vary (you may find the item priced differently or it may not work for you the same)
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 22
PG, P&G
Proctor & Gamble Sunday insert coupons
RP
Red Plum Sunday insert coupons
SS
Smartsource Sunday insert coupons
V
Valassis (former name of Red Plum inserts)
FLIP
Food Lion Internet Printable
Regional
Coupon value only distributed to a certain area
UPC
“Universal Product Code”. It is that box of black lines that the checker passes over the scanner at the checkout
WYB
When You Buy
WSL
While Supply Lasts
SASE
Self Addressed Stamped Envelope
CRT
Cash Register Tape (coupon that prints on your receipt)
ECB
Extra Care Buck (CVS)
IVC
Instant Value Coupon (Walgreens store coupon, found in Walgreens Easy Saver Catalog and on in store tearpads)
RR
Register Rewards (these are the Catalinas that print out at Walgreens)
+UP
Rite Aid Plus Up Reward
SCR
Single Check Rebate (rebate system at Rite Aid)
BTFE
Box Tops for Education
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 23
“Buy Price” Shopping List Bananas / lb Grapes /lb
PRODUCTS THAT ARE FREE Antacid Bandaids Cough Drops First Aid Cream Pain-Reliever Anti-Bacterial Soap Deodorant Lotion Petroleum Jelly Floss Mouthwash Razors Shampoo Shaving Cream Soap Toothbrush Toothpaste Air Freshener
$0.33
(all prices are after coupons)
Juice 64 oz
$1
.99-1.29
Orange Juice gal.
$2.49
Lemons ea.
$0.25
Soft Drinks 12 pk
$2.25
Peaches /lb
.79-.99
Iced Tea bags
$0.80
Plums /lb
$0.99
Butter 1lb
$1.20
Strawberries /lb
$2.00
Cheese 8 oz
$1.50
Watermelon ea.
$2.00
Eggs 1 doz.
$1.19
Canned Tomatoes
$0.40
Milk 1 gal
$3.19
Canned Vegetables
.45-.52
Canned Baked Beans
$0.44
Sour Cream 8-16 oz
Canned Kidney Beans
$0.44
Spaghetti Sauce
Canned Pinto Beans
$0.44
Tomato Paste
$0.07
Frozen Dinners
$1.50
Elbow Macaroni
$0.72
Frozen French Fries
$2.00
Spaghetti Pasta
$0.72
Frozen Ice Cream
$2.50
Tortillas - Flour
$1.20
Frozen Pizza Frozen Vegetables
$3.00 Free- .88
Brownie Mix Cake Mix
Free - .30 .50-1.00
$0.40 Free- .50
Ground Beef /lb
$2.99
Cereal
.70-1.25
Roast /lb
$3.49
Jello
$0.35
Beef Steaks /lb
$4.50
Pancake Mix
$0.75
Boneless Chicken Breast /lb
$1.99
Sugar 4 lb
$1.28
Split Chicken Breast /lb
$0.99
Baby Diapers (Pampers)
$5.00
Chicken Legs /lb
$0.59
Baby Food: Any
Whole Chicken /lb
$0.89
Bacon
$1.50
Pork Chops /lb
$1.99
Freezer Bags
$1.00
Pork Roast /lb
$1.99
Paper Towels (8 roll pack)
$3.50
Canned Chicken
$0.80
Sandwich Bags
$0.90
Canned Tuna
$0.50
Storage Bags
$1.00
Ketchup
$0.40
Toilet Paper (9-12 roll)
Mayonnaise
$1.00
Trash Bags
$4.00 $0.50
Mustard
Foil
Free - .35 $0.75
Free - $3.50
Free
Salad Dressing
$0.60
Bleach 96 oz
Cookies
$0.40
Dishwasher Detergent
Crackers
$1.00
Dishwashing Soap
$0.40
Nuts
$0.75
Dryer Sheets
$2.00
Popcorn
$0.60
Glass Cleaner
$0.50
Soups Biscuits
.40-.60 Free-.20
Hamburger Buns
$0.99
Hot Dog Buns
$0.99
Wheat Bread
.40-.99
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 24
Laundry Detergent (30-32 load) Toilet Bowl Cleaner
.60-Free
$2.50-$4 $0.50
Food Storage Guidelines from: Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech Food
Pantry
Refrigerator
Freezer
(RoomTemp)
(33째F to 40째F)
(0째F)
Baked quick breads
4-5 days
1-2 weeks
2-3 months
Bread
5-7 days
1-2 weeks
3 months
Bread crumbs and croutons
6 months 2-3 weeks
1 month
Bread and Cereal Products
Bread, rolls unbaked Cereals, ready-to-eat
1 year
Cereals, ready-to-cook
6 months
Flour, cake, all-purpose
1 year
Flour, whole wheat Pasta
1-2 years 6-8 months
1-2 years
3 days
4-6 months
2 years
Pies and pastries Pies and pastries, baked
1-2 months
Rice, brown
6 months
Rice, white
1 year
Rice, white, (cooked)
6-7 days
6 months
Packaged Foods and Mixes Biscuit, brownie, muffin mixes
9 months
Cake mixes
6-9 months
Chili powder
6 months
Cookies, packaged
2 months
Crackers
3 months
Frosting, canned
3 months
Frosting, mix
8 months
Pancake and piecrust mix
6 months
Sauce and gravy mixes
6 months
8-12 months
Spices, Herbs, Condiments, Extracts Catsup, chili and cocktail sauce
1 year
Herbs
6 months
Herb/spice blends
2 years
Mustard
2 years
Spices, ground
6 months
1-2 years
Spices, whole
1-2 years
2-3 years
Vanilla extract
2 years
Other Food Staples Bacon bits
4 months
Baking powder
18 months
Baking soda
2 years
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 25
1-2 years 1-2 years 6-8 months*
8-12 months
Food
Pantry
Refrigerator
Freezer
(RoomTemp)
(33째F to 40째F)
(0째F)
Other Food Staples (cont.) Chocolate, pre-melted
1 year
Chocolate syrup
2 years
Chocolate, semisweet
2 years
Coffee cans
2 years
Cornstarch
18 months
Honey, jams, jellies, syrup
1 year
6-8 months*
Mayonnaise
2 months
12 months
Molasses
2 years
Nuts, unshelled
6 months
Nuts, shelled
4 months
Parmesan Grated Cheese
10 months
Peanut butter
6 months
Popcorn
1-2 years
2 years
Salad dressings, bottled
1 year^
3 months*
Artificial sweetener
2 years
Sugar, brown
4 months
Sugar, granulated or confectioners
2 years
Tea bags
18 months
Tea, instant
2 years
Vegetable oils
1-3 months
Vegetable shortening
3 months
Vinegar
2 years
6 months*
2 years
6 months
2-3 years
6-9 months
Vegetables Pickles, canned
1 year
1 month*
Sweet potatoes
2-3 weeks
White potatoes
2-3 months
Commercial baby food, jars
1-2 years^
2-3 days
Canned vegetables
1 year^
1-4 days*
Dried vegetables
6 months
Frozen vegetables
8 months
Fruits Dried fruit
6 months
2-4 days+
Frozen fruit
1 year
Fruit juice concentrate
6 days
1 year
Fruit pies, baked
2-3 days
8 months
Butter
2 weeks
9 months
Cottage cheese
1 week
2 weeks
Dairy Products
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 26
Food
Pantry
Refrigerator
Freezer
(RoomTemp)
(33째F to 40째F)
(0째F)
Cream-light, heavy, half- and-half
1 week
1-2 months
Margarine
1 month
9 months
Condensed, evaporated and dry milk 12-23 months^
8-20 days*
Milk
8-20 days
Dairy Products (cont.)
Ice cream and sherbet
3 months 2 months
Hard natural cheese
3 months
6 months
Processed cheese
1 month
6 months
Fresh beef steaks and roasts
3-4 days
6-12 months
Fresh pork chops
2-3 days
4-6 months
Fresh lamb chops
3-5 days
6-8 months
Fresh veal
1-2 days
4-6 months
Fresh ground meat
1 day
3-4 months
Cooked meat
2-3 days
2-3 months
1 week*
3-4 months
Ham, whole
1 week
1-2 months
Bacon
2 weeks
3 months
Luncheon meat
2 weeks
1 month
Meats, Poultry, Eggs and Fish Meats
Canned meat
1 year
Fish Breaded fish
3 months
Canned fish
1 year
1-2 days*
Cooked fish
3-4 days
1 month
Fresh fish
1-2 days
3-6 months
Seafood-clams, crab, lobster in shell
1-2 days
3 months
Seafood-oysters & scallops
1 day
3-4 months
Seafood-shrimp
1 day
1 year
Poultry and Eggs Canned poultry
1 year
1 day*
Fresh poultry
1 day
1 year
Eggs, in shell
4-5 weeks
Eggs, hard-boiled
5 days
Eggs, pasteurized
12 days
1 year
Egg substitute
10 days
1 year
Game birds
2 days
9 months
Venison
3-5 days
9-12 months
Wild Game
* Opened
+ Cooked
^ Refrigerate after opening
SOUTHERN SAVERS HANDBOOK : PAGE 27
# After manufacture date
www.southernsavers.com