7.11.09
Coupon Classes: Materials For Doing Your Own
Here is the information that I promised you all on how to do your own coupon class. Now keep in mind, I’ve only done the one myself. I’m definitely not an expert by any means. But at least this will give you a starting point. Yes, please feel free to use the materials. But if you do, I ask that you credit them at some point in your packets/presentation as having come from Coupon Geek. I only ask that as it took me soo many hours to put these together. 
Here is the order of how I set up my couponing packet:
1) Cover Sheet – Just a nice little welcome and an explanation of who you are, ex. listing your name/website, for future reference. I put a picture of my blog button so they might be familiar with my blog when they went there.
2) Coupon Lingo – I wrote up an extensive list HERE and shared it with them. I did not go over it in the class but did explain it was in there in case they needed to refer to it while I was talking. I made sure to explain what a catalina, Register Reward and ECB was right away, though.
3) Where To Find Coupons – This is so important for new couponers. They usually have no idea where to start. This will give them a few ideas of where to look for coupons. I have a list HERE you can use.
4) How To Organize Coupons – Now they’ve found their coupons, help them organize them. I wrote the top 3 ways HERE. Visual aids are so useful in this part. You can use an inexpensive shoe box w/ lid from say Target for $1.99 for the coupon box. I happened to have a zippered binder from when I tried that method so I could show them. And the coupon insert method is just an expanding file you can get for $3-5. I got a cute designer one at Target for $5. And the little ones are around $3 at Target. I actually bought an extra for a giveaway. If you wanted to have fun, you could fill an organizer with inserts for a giveaway!
5) Walgreens 101, CVS 101 & Stacking Coupons – Now that their coupons are all organized, teach them how to use them with deals and sales to make the most of those coupons. I wrote this info up HERE. I also did a quick walk-through on Jewel, since that’s where most of our area shops. I talked about how you can use coupons with the “Spend 25, Get $10″ to make great deals and how sometimes the $25 you need to spend is pre-sale prices and not on the sale prices. This segment is by far the most important one to have visual aids for. In my write-up I gave examples of toothpaste, soap, etc. and I actually brought some with to hold up with a coupon while I explained the steps. I’d highly recommend bringing a Register Reward, CVS Extra Care Buck, Catalinas and Store Coupons to show examples of. Find an example of a Store and Manufacturer’s coupon that they could stack. It really does make it easier. If you really want to help, bring the latest sales ad and show them a few deals they could get that week.
6) 31 Ways To Save On Your Grocery Budget (without coupons!) – I put this in my packet in case they decided that couponing just wasn’t for them. That way, they can still work on reducing their grocery budgets. I have these written up at this link. (Note: I only gave the header of each and referred them to my site for the details of each one. It would have taken up way too much paper to write it all out. Also, please note, these are my own work and not something I simply found online and copied into a posting.)
7) Resources – This was the last page in my packet. It listed several websites/blogs that I recommended in helping them find deals & coupons. This is a personal preference of your own favorites.
Overall, the best advice I can give you is to just be yourself. While speaking in public can be a very nervous experience, you will find partway through just how easy it is to speak about couponing, if it’s already something you are pretty good at now. I had so much fun at mine that I completely forgot I was talking in front of people. When mine was over, I handed out a bunch of freebies I collected. These were just things I picked up for free or cheap with my coupons.
In the end, your class shouldn’t break your wallet. So if you wanted to do one for FREE, keep that in mind. I was lucky enough that since I did mine for free, the library made the photocopies for me. They also picked up cookies, water and $1 coupon organizers for everyone from Michael’s. (You could make your own cookies and watch for a good deal on water/coffee.) I picked up pens for FREE at Staples. I already had my visual aids. I did do two giveaways, along with the freebies. Overall, I really didn’t spend a lot. I just gave of my time and knowledge. My class ran about 1.5 hours and then we chatted for awhile afterwards, so I’d figure about two hours.
Good luck to all of you! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at coupongeek at live dot com. I should have some free time tomorrow to answer them and I am also going to email the Word Document I used to those of you that requested it. Thanks for being so patient with me while I put this posting together! I had to get a few postings up for the references.
UPDATE: Yes, by all means, if any of you just reading this would like the Word Document I used, I would be more than glad to email it to you, too! Just send me an email to coupongeek at live dot com.
Hi,
Any help would be much appreciated!!!
I was trying to open up the 31 ways to save page and it came up empty
please send me the word document. thanks
I would love to have your word documents emailed. Thanks
Thanks for sharing this info. As a couponer, we know the lingo and how to work the deals, but it is hard to put in words.
I would love for you to email me your word document info on starting a coupon class. Thanks for all your help..this website is great!!!
Sending them via email to you now, Stephanie.
Jaycie
Please send me the word document.
Thanks,
Denise
Hello, Could I have the word document??
Thanks.
You really put in a lot of time to organize all this information. I really appreciate it. I spent an hour just looking over things and hopefully I can put it to use. I’m new to couponing and I just keep looking for new ideas all the time. You certainly have listed alot here! Thank you!
Thank you, Jennifer! That’s really sweet of you to say. So glad to help!
Blessings,
Jaycie
Sent via email. Thanks!
Jaycie
This is wonderful. I spent weeks putting together information to share with my family at a reunion this next weekend. I wish I would of found your site sooner. I would also love to see the word documents.
Wow! You really know your stuff! I am in the process of creating an outline and would love to see the word document you are speaking of. Is it still available? Also, how long have you been doing this?! I’ve been couponing for almost a year and still get amazed at all there is to learn and all the deals to be had out there!
Danielle
I’ve been couponing for a long time but blogging for only about 2 years. There definitely is a lot to learn and I’ve been learning a lot myself even still.
Sent info. via email.
Jaycie
kyjones,
How cool to be able to share such a fun thing with your family! I’ve sent the info to you via email. Yes, it does take a long time to put this together. Mine took several weeks, as well. That’s why I wanted to be able to share with others so they wouldn’t have to do it, too.
Blessings,
Jaycie
What a lifesaver you are!! Everyone been asking me to hold a coupon class, but its so over welling that I would just go blank and knot know where to start.:O When I first started couponing, I would research for hours and hours to learn everything.
Thank you FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK!!
If you wouldn’t mind sending me the word document and do you have a list of sister sites that you would recommend, I want to get the list out when I hold a class. THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK YOU DO EVERYDAY. coupon power
I tried to send this to you, Emily but the email address that you left me bounced back.
Jaycie
I ‘ve been asked by several family and friends to show them how to save with coupons like I do but wasn’t sure how to organize a class. I would greatly appreciate any help that you have to offer. In this day in age , we need to help everyone do better with shopping and I’m trying my best to do that .
Please send me the word document if it is still available.
Thanks for all your hard work and for sharing with others.
What a marvelous idea, and how gracious of you to be willing to share your hard work! Please send me the Word document, also. Thanks bunches. Sylvia
Hi Sylvia,
Thank you for your interest. I’ve emailed you a copy of the document. Hope it helps with your class!
Jaycie
I would like to receive a copy of the Word document too, if you wouldn’t mind? Thanks so much!! : )
Hi Aimee,
My hard drive crashed. So I need to recover it and then I’ll send it. It should be a few weeks. If I forget to send it then, please remind me again.
Jaycie
Hello,
I would very much appreciate the “31 Ways to Save” document. I’m new to couponing and would love any help I can get.
Thanks,
Tonya
Hi Tonya,
I’m waiting on my crashed hard drive to come back so I can get my copy of it. I’ll send it you real soon!
Blessings,
Jaycie
Hi Jaycie! I’d love a copy of your word document. I started an association to aid Parents of Teen Parents and I think a couponing class will come just handy! I’ve been doing couponing for the past year, but i’m sure you have a better way to put it in order to be better understood!
Thanks!