What is a "money-making" deal?

Every now and then, I like to make a post to help out any couponing beginners in our midst.

When you see a deal on a blog that says it’s “money maker” or it results in a “profit” it sounds too good to be true, right???

Well, it is true.  Coupons CAN make you money!

Here’s an example I used to explain a “money maker” deal in my couponing class:

I once made $10 from buying a product at Wal-Green’s that I would not have normally bought.  It was a $10 product.  Wal-Green’s was offering $10 in RR if you bought that product.  That automatically made it FREE.  I had a $5 coupon and there was a $5 MIR that was available that I sent in for. 

Look at it like this: 

$10 product – $5 coupon = $5 OOP

$10 RR back to use on a future purchase ($5 more than I paid for the product so a $5 profit). 

Sent off for rebate – received $5 check.  Total of $10 profit.

Ways coupons make you money:

• Full rebates – When there is a rebate offer on an item and a coupon on that same item, this will result in a profit.  If the item is $5 and you have a $1 coupon, you will only pay $4 for the item.  But when you submit a rebate, you get the FULL cost back – you would get $5 back.  Resulting in a $1 profit.  Sometimes these profits can be higher.  I got an $8 rebate back on a razor that I got for FREE!

• ECBs/RR/SCR – These are CVS’, Walgreens’ and Rite Aid’s rewards programs.  We’ll use CVS Extra Care Bucks as our example.  If there is an item that is $7 and CVS is offering $7 in ECBs back when you buy the item then that essentially makes the item free.  (ECBs are as good as cash on your next purchase).  If there is a $2 coupon on the item then you would only pay $5 for it.  But you would receive $7 back to use on another purchase – making it a $2 profit!

• Gift Cards – Some stores (most of the time, Target) has a gift card deal where they will offer you a $5 or $10 gift card for buying a certain amount of a certain item or brand.  You can use coupons to get the amount you spend on these items down – sometimes to even less than the gift card offer!  If you have to buy 3 items to get a $5 gift care and you use coupons and only pay $4 for the items, you still get the $5 gift card – you just made $1!!

• Overages – Coupon overages is another (usually small) way coupons make you money.  You can read more about overages here.

Hope this helps to clear some things up for you!