What is a Money Maker Deal?

In the world of couponing you will often hear the terms “money maker” and “profit” but you may not understand the logistics of making a profit at the store.  A money maker is any transaction in which you have more money/rewards than when you began the transaction OR a money maker is when the coupon is worth more than the product and the store allows you to use it. Combining the right coupons with the right sales is essential to turn good deals in to amazing deals.

The following are different ways to make money while at the store:

Use the Right Coupon on a Lower Priced Item: Some stores that double coupons may actually give you overage on an item.  It is always up to the store to decide whether or not overage is allowed and it is a good rule of thumb to never expect overage (but to always secretly hope for it).  Here in Atlanta the Publix Buy One Get One Free sales combined with coupons that double sometimes mean a little bit of overage.  For example, pasta that is priced at $1.90 often goes on BOGO sale making the price be $0.95.  A $1.00 coupon or a $0.50 coupon doubled yields a profit of $0.05.

Combine Store Coupons with Manufacturer Coupons: There are times when combing store coupons with manufacturer coupons yields a money maker item.   As mentioned above, it is a good rule of thumb to never expect overage when stacking store and manufacturer coupons.  Stores with store coupons include  Target, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Publix.

Find a Try Me Free Rebate: These are often found in Sunday newspaper inserts, on company’s websites, or on handtags hanging from/on items.  Turn a Try Me Free Rebate in to a money maker by using a coupon on that product!

Work a Gift Card deal: Stores like Target often have sales where if you purchase A and B you will receive a gift card ($5 or more).  By using high value coupons you can sometimes make a profit on these deals.

Here is an old example of a money maker Gift Card deal at Target:
Buy two Olay Facial Toners priced at  $2.99 each
Use two $2/1 Olay Facial Product (5/2/2010 P&G Insert)
Pay $1.98 plus tax out of pocket and  receive one $5 Target gift card.

Understand the Logistics of Drug Store Deals: Extra Care Bucks, Register Rewards, +Up Rewards, Single Check Rebates – OH MY!  Don’t be overwhelmed by drug stores.  Choose one, learn how to use coupons in that store, and then learn the next drug store.  It is possible to make money at drug stores on a regular basis when you combine manufacturer coupons, store coupons, rebates, ECB’s, RR, and +Up rewards.  If you ever have questions be sure to email your favorite blog authors and chances are that they will always help you!

Today at Walgreens I did the following money maker deal:

Spend $20 on participating items (Prevacid 24 hour, Gas-x, Maalox, Ex-Lax, Benefiber)and receive $5 Register Reward or Spend $30 and receive $10 Register Reward

My receipt looks like this:
$5.24 Maalox Cherry
$5.24 Maalox Cherry
$5.24 Maalox Cherry
$5.24 Maalox Cherry
$5.24 Maalox Cherry
$5.24 Maalox Cherry
– 5.00 MFGC (Manufacturer’s Coupon)
– 5.00 MFGC (Manufacturer’s Coupon)
– 5.00 MFGC (Manufacturer’s Coupon)
– 5.00 MFGC (Manufacturer’s Coupon)
– 5.00 MFGC (Manufacturer’s Coupon)
– 5.00 MFGC (Manufacturer’s Coupon)
Subtotal: $1.44
Sales Tax: $2.20
Total: $3.64

Received $10 Register Reward
Total Profit/Money Made: $6.36!!!

Free is possible on a very regular basis.  Money makers are too, you just have to work the deals!