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Be an “Extreme Couponing” pro: free body wash, dental floss
The show “Extreme Couponing” on TLC has everyone interested in how to save more with coupons. This latest deal at Walmart is a great way to start saving yourself.
Walmart sells Nivea body wash for $3 a bottle every day. In last Sunday’s Red Plum coupon insert (April 17) you will find $3 off coupons for both Nivea For Men and Nivea for Women body washes. Head to your local Walmart armed with these coupons, and you’ll garner at least two free bottles of body wash.
Now, the secret to much of the savings on “Extreme Couponing” is “overage.” This is when you have a coupon that is worth more than the price of the item. For instance, if you have a coupon for $1.50 off a toothbrush and the toothbrushes are priced $1 each, for each one you buy you will receive a 50 cent “overage.”
Most people on the show will buy extreme amounts of items with an overage so the excess balance can be applied to other items they will not be getting for free. On one of the latest episodes, a woman used a $51 overage from buying 150 bottles of Excedrin to pay for meat.
Getting an “overage” doesn’t work at all stores. Some will only discount the cost of the item. This can also vary by cashier. However, Walmart is a store that honors the value of the coupon (they don’t double coupons in this area). This means you can enjoy the savings of “overage” shopping.
Which leads me to to the dental floss deal at Walmart. The 55-yard roll of Reach Dental Floss is sold at Walmart regularly at 88 cents. A new coupon in last Sunday’s Smart Source insert (April 17) inlcuded a $1 off coupon for Reach floss. Also, online you can print 2 coupons per computer for Reach dental floss here. While you’re there, print the coupons for Reach toothbrushes and Listerine— those are free at CVS this week with coupon as well!
For each floss you buy with coupon, you will receive a 22-cent overage. Walmart won’t pay you the difference, but you can apply the overage to other items and end up with a zero balance. I went to Walmart last night and this is what I bought:
- Walmart scenario
- Two bottles of Nivea for Men body wash: $6 total
- Two bottles of Nivea for Women body wash: $6 total
- Two packages of Parkay margarine sticks: $2 total ($1 each; coupon for 50 cents off here)
- Six packages of Reach Dental Floss: $5.28 total
- Total before coupons: $19.28
- Total value of coupons: $19 (4 Nivea $3 coupons, 2 Parkay 50 cent coupons, 6 Reach $1 coupons)
- Total cost after coupons: 28 cents (before taxes)
This is a great savings and does not require the “extreme” quantities of items purchased on “Extreme Couponing.” Yes, those people are saving hundreds of dollars per transaction, but what are they getting for their money? Who needs 150 bottles of Excedrin? Who will use that many? You can still save big buying in bulk without buying things you will never use.
Obviously, you can add more body wash or floss— or any other product— to your list if you will use more of it. I already have body wash and floss from previous sales. The quantities listed above are fine for me.
Want to know how you can score these kinds of deals? Check out “Here’s the Deal” here daily for the “Daily Deal” of items you can get for cheap or free at stores near you.
Need coupons? Make sure you get the Sunday paper each week for $1.50. It’s even cheaper with a subscription (just $10 a month for Thursday-Sunday. Call (513) 422-2795 to sign up). Find copies for just $1 at your local Dollar Tree every Sunday. Ask friends and family for their inserts for extra copies. If you still need more coupons, I suggest using a clipping service such as The Q Hunter. For a small fee, receive multiple copies of coupons or entire inserts.
So go out there and start saving— the smart way!
Comments
By Lauren D.
April 21, 2011 12:50 PM | Link to this
Great!! Thanks for the information! I am ALWAYS looking for ways to save!
By Anne
April 21, 2011 4:20 PM | Link to this
Great article! Now that’s what I’m talking about!
By Andrea
April 21, 2011 4:47 PM | Link to this
You show a responsible way to coupon and save. Thank you for that. True extreme couponers are compulsive. They clear out whole store’s inventory and don’t leave anything for smart couponers like you and me.
By nullchris
April 21, 2011 5:38 PM | Link to this
walmart just started paying overage, so yes they will pay you the differance.
By chris
April 21, 2011 5:45 PM | Link to this
you can also get free or moneymaker on similac for your baby at walmart.there is a $5.00 & a $3.00 coupon.use it at walmart and get it free. walmart has just started paying you for overage.They paid me back .75 cents
By Jessica
April 21, 2011 5:52 PM | Link to this
@Chris and @nullchris: In many cases, if the store will pay you the difference depends on the manager. I had an excess recently and had to throw in a pack of gum. That’s why I would advise readers to plan to use your overage on other items. Thanks for reading!
By rm miamisburg
April 21, 2011 7:57 PM | Link to this
Can any one tell me how you can save money by buying 150 of one items like bottles of shampoo, Shopping 3 times a week and having enough food in your home to last one or two years? OR MORE! Why don’t you stop buying that food- BUT I HAVE A COUPON FOR IT- and put the money you would have paid for the food- AGAIN you have a years worth store in your home- in a CD or some savings plan. How about putting that money in a IRA or some thing that would bring you more money then in buying food. Is that not also called Hoarding, OH YES TLC has that show on also.. My wife and I do use coupons, we buy what we use,yes we do save $100 a trip, but we don’t care to buy 100 toothbrushes- we get them free when we get a dental check up-we rather not have a store inside our home, we can’t see having 100 cans of beans or peas or corn stored in the hallway. We don’t take one MAN CAVE, to store more crap. So please tell me why I should use/buy more then we use? IMHO that is a sickness. I watched one of the shows, The woman said she will leave her family reunions, left her husband at the movies, got up at 1/2/3 am to shop as that is when the sales start. Tell me is that not a sickness. Shop for 4 hours and taking 2 hours to check out. DUH!. OH Wait I already said that. WHY cause it is true. Do you need a yrs supply of diapers? How about the 500 cans of tuna? Buy what you need and use that up first. That and seek help for this.
By janjsikes
April 22, 2011 1:44 AM | Link to this
WOW as a coupon mom I loved the Extreme Couponing series it is awesome my five cent for extreme couponing is the place called “Printapons” you will love it
By Sherry
April 22, 2011 11:44 AM | Link to this
I like coupon blogs to commercial coupon sites that send you to other sites for stuff that you are not interested in. I like to be able to select what I want and trade coupons. I like: “real savings for you” and several others.
By wendy
April 26, 2011 6:25 AM | Link to this
I tried using coupons I printed off the computer at the Walmarts in Hamilton. They told me they do not except them. So check your stores before making that list.
By melissa
April 26, 2011 9:44 AM | Link to this
jessica, love reading your article..great useful information..could not get enough of it..can’t wait to see what you write next..
By Jessica
April 26, 2011 11:26 AM | Link to this
@wendy Your store should have taken the printed coupons. Walmart does accept printable coupons, here is a link to their store policy: http://walmartstores.com/7655.aspx I suggest taking a copy of this policy with you next time and making a call to corporate about your store if that doesn’t work.
By Really.
April 26, 2011 12:04 PM | Link to this
I’m all for saving money when I can, but, really, extreme couponing is is nothing more than glorified hoarding and should not be allowed.