"Black Belts"

9 replies [Last post]

Sun, 06/14/2009 - 12:28pm

barbwayne

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Joined: 03/22/2009

I see the term "blackbelts" used a lot. Can you shed some light on what exactly makes you a "blackbelt" and others not. I just got back from Jewel and did pretty good. Rolled my catalinas each time. The only problem I had was with Snuggle. I bought 7 of these and didn't even get a $5.00 catalina, and yes I bought the correct size, etc. So when does a person reach "blackbelt" status on these deals?

Sat, 02/27/2010 - 8:18pm

icoupon2

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Joined: 12/15/2009

Black belts....

I like to compare it to what weight lifters and furniture movers use...except we use ours to help us haul home all our free/nearly free groceries! LOL :0)

Sun, 06/14/2009 - 1:51pm

Bargain Babe

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Joined: 11/10/2008

$ amount and actual black belt

Haven't you seen anyone wearing these in the stores? The number of wearers are qucikly growing (thanks Jill!)

When you fill out the spreadsheet posted by Prea and reach the $1,000 savings mark, you can send it to Jill and she will mail you an acutal couponing black belt. It differs from other black belts in that is has a "secret" compartment for storing coupons when you shop. It also makes you easily identifiable in stores so you and other "black belts" can recogonize one another and trade q's or just compare notes on deals and/or cashiers.

If a catalina deal goes sour, the "black belt" also serves as a sort of Jewel "Fastpass" at the customer service desk to help facilitate a speedy return of the items in question so that you may try again to earn that cat.

Hope that helps. :)

...and no, none of this is real though it could possibly be worked into the promos for Jill's DVD ("ACT NOW and receive this Super Couponing black belt...")

Sun, 06/14/2009 - 8:10pm

Coupon Maven

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Joined: 07/02/2008

SO funny

I laughed so hard when I read this! What a creative post. :)

The whole "black belt" in couponing thing started rather informally - someone found out I have a black belt in martial arts and joked that I must also have one in couponing. And it became the unofficial term to describe when you've reached that expert stage where you're confident in stacking, multistacking, rolling Catalinas, shelf and sale price distinctions, knowing how to "pad" totals with free items if you're counting up to a "$5 off $50" coupon, knowing the cheapest items to use as fillers to reach a benchmark in a certain deal, being able to handle confused cashiers with an informed response (and a smile!) and basically answering more questions on the blog than you're asking.

But I like the idea of some kind of not-so-secret emblem to identify fellow coupon experts in the store... that cracks me up!

Sun, 06/14/2009 - 8:27pm

Bargain Babe

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Joined: 11/10/2008

Pfffewww...

I wrote it off the cuff and figured that it'd either get a chuckle from you or I'd be "black listed" for by "black belt" suggestion once people actually started sending you their spreadsheets of savings when they thought it was a real thing.

I've got to say that I'm relieved that it got a laugh and I won't have to change my screen name :)

Thu, 03/04/2010 - 5:32pm

all4you24-7

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Joined: 02/23/2009

I was going to say...

Where's my black belt pin? I just hit my 1 year mark, and have saved over $10,000 this year. (I should get 10 black belts) Ha Ha. (No, I'm not going to send you my spreadsheet.) Over the past year I have received/used $2,500 just in Catalinas. Wow that's a lot of free food!! I went a little crazy at first, but the last 5 months, my monthly totals were much lower.
I just love this site, and Thank you Soooo much Jill!!

Sun, 06/14/2009 - 12:35pm

Pinkheart

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Joined: 09/17/2008

and is there a test?

You should have to go up against some of the most dreaded Coup Nazis known to SC'ers and win the battle to earn the title. See previous posts for names & locations. (I'm kidding :-))

Sun, 06/14/2009 - 1:16pm

barbwayne

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Joined: 03/22/2009

LOL...

I hear ya, there should be a test!! I honestly did pretty well today! My husband and 2 year old were with me and I got a LOT for $70.00! Ice cream, 32 Vitamin Water, lot of pop, veggies, iced tea (I knew to stay away from the "red" one from the previous posts) snuggle, suddenly salad, brownie mixes, oh gosh lots, plus extras like bananas, etc!!! We were there for about 2 hours!! Lots of trips out and back in! I can't complain one bit!! Can't wait for the popcorn, pudding, tomato, ketchup deal now!!

Thu, 03/04/2010 - 5:54pm

regis

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Joined: 10/20/2008

"RED" iced tea

I guess I missed other posts about this,.....what's up with the red iced tea....the snapple stuff right? Just curious as I was thinking of buying some, in yet another unsuccessful attempt to go off of soda.