| You've probably stood in a checkout line behind | | | | original store is out of stock and your coupons expire |
| someone who has a coupon for every item they've | | | | before the rain checked items come in. It's also good |
| purchased, and it seems like eternity until they are | | | | to save on trekking all over town to get the sales |
| finished. But, they probably saved over 50% to 80% | | | | when you could get them all at Super-Walmart, for |
| off their grocery bill in that few minutes!How, you | | | | example.Ask if your favorite store offers a reward |
| ask?If you want to try your hand at snipping scissors | | | | program. Baker's offers a club card you swipe every |
| for savings, first you need the coupons! The best | | | | time you shop to get their discount prices. HyVee's |
| source for coupons is in the Sunday newspapers. The | | | | checkout spits out Catalina coupons to use on your |
| inserts are tucked in the middle with the | | | | next purchase when you purchase certain items. |
| advertisements.With the cost of a Sunday paper | | | | Register all of your grocery and drugstore cards at |
| usually ranging from $1.00 - $1.50, it is a good | | | | Upromise.com, and they deposit 1% - 5% of the |
| investment with sometimes hundreds of dollars worth | | | | purchase price of thousands of different brands into a |
| of coupons. And can you believe most people throw | | | | college fund for the person of your choice!Some lucky |
| them away? Ask your friends, relatives and neighbors | | | | shoppers get to take advantage of "Double Coupon |
| to save the inserts for you. Be on the lookout for | | | | Sales" or even "Triple Coupon Sales" where the store |
| businesses who subscribe and leave papers around | | | | actually doubles the value of the coupon, up to a |
| for customers to read (ie Gas Stations, Laundry Mats). | | | | certain amount. For example, the store may advertise |
| Check recycling bins. "Dumpster dive" if you have | | | | "Double Coupons up to 99¢!" Any coupon value |
| to.On Monday, ask your newspaper carrier and stores | | | | 99¢ or lower, will be doubled, but $1.00 and up will |
| if they have any leftover Sunday papers that didn't sell. | | | | be normal value. The store themselves eat the |
| Vendors usually only have to send in certain parts of | | | | doubled value as an incentive to pull in shoppers.Be |
| the newspaper (ie the heading) of those that didn't sell | | | | sure to browse the Clearance Sections of your store. |
| to get credit for unsold papers. But they still have the | | | | Target is known for having deep discounts on their |
| coupons inside!Unfortunately around Holidays, coupon | | | | end shelves hidden in the store. Also, if your coupon |
| inserts aren't as plentiful. So, you may want to check | | | | boasts "Valid on ANY size", buy the trial size! Be sure |
| the Newspaper in the Newsstand on Mother's Day | | | | to calculate if you are getting a deal. Sometimes, it |
| before searching the couch cushions for pocket | | | | may still be cheaper to buy a generic brand of |
| change. And not all Sunday newspaper carry the | | | | something, than to use a coupon on a name-brand |
| same inserts. Some may have one, and another three. | | | | something.If the price of a product is more than the |
| And even if they carry the same inserts, the amounts | | | | value of your coupon (ie Shampoo is 99¢ and |
| of the coupons may be different! It is common that | | | | you have a $1 off coupon), it is up to the store |
| coupons have a higher dollar value in an urban area | | | | whether they will give you whole value of the coupon |
| over a rural area.More ways to obtain coupons is | | | | (where you make a profit) or just deduct the cost of |
| directly from the manufacturers. Call the toll-free | | | | the product. Either way, the store will be reimbursed |
| number on your favorite brands asking for coupons. | | | | for the full amount of the coupon plus the standard |
| Telling them first how much you like their product is a | | | | 8¢ redemption fee they receive. So, even though |
| good introduction to your plea. Most will be happy to | | | | cashiers act like they hate coupons, it's in the store's |
| mail you coupons. Also check out to see if the product | | | | best interest to accept them.Rebate and Refund |
| has a website. Email them or use their contact form to | | | | forms are another way to "cash" in on savings. These |
| inquire. Don't forget to include your mailing address.Look | | | | are obtained the same way coupons are, only they |
| over your empty canned goods labels and boxed food | | | | are not as plentiful. The best ones offer "Try Us Free!" |
| items before throwing them in the trash. Usually you | | | | Read the fine print, as most require you buy the |
| can find a toll-free number to call (see above) on the | | | | product within a specific time period, and mail in the |
| package. Some packages also adorn their own | | | | cash register receipt (with the purchase price circled) |
| coupons good on their next purchase. And many | | | | along with the UPC barcode from the product. Mail in |
| companies are now participating in Boxtops for | | | | as soon as possible, so it doesn't get forgotten about |
| Education and Campbell's Labels for Education, so | | | | before the deadline. Many, many people forget to mail |
| take a second to cut out the little symbol for the | | | | in their forms or don't read the fine print and miss |
| school of your choice. Those 10¢ add up fast | | | | out.Stores, like Ace Hardware and Office Max, offer |
| when many people save, and all schools, public and | | | | their own rebate booklets where you can take |
| private alike, appreciate them.Also look for "hang-tags" | | | | advantage of multiple offers with one form to get |
| on items in the store. Some will say "Save $$$ now" | | | | cash back. Some stores, like Walgreens, Shopko and |
| and if you read the print, it does not have to be used | | | | Menards, offer their "cash back" in the form of store |
| on only that certain item. Look for hang-tags on wine, | | | | credit. You can turn around and use your store credit |
| as some offer $$$ off soda, meat or produce, with | | | | next month to buy new products that are FAR (Free |
| NO alcohol purchase required.Another plan to acquire | | | | After Rebate)! And you can combine coupons with |
| coupons is to beg, borrow or steal from other | | | | rebates!"Triple Plays" are music to Couponer's ears. |
| couponers. Ok, maybe not steal. Barter. If you don't | | | | This can mean that 1) the product is on sale, 2) you |
| know any coupon locales, you can meet them through | | | | have a coupon and 3) the store offers a monthly |
| Refund/Coupons Magazines and Internet Chat Boards. | | | | rebate program. Or 1) there is a store coupon, 2) you |
| It is prohibited to actually sell coupons, but you can | | | | have a manufacturer coupon and 3) you have a |
| "purchase" coupons from Coupon Services who | | | | mail-in rebate for that product. The possibilities are |
| charge a "handling fee" per coupon (for their time to | | | | endless. And most possibilities turn out with totally free |
| cut, sort and mail). You can even bid on coupons on | | | | products.Unfortunately most perishable items do not |
| eBay!The newest way to add coupons to your | | | | have coupons for them. But you can still save! Watch |
| collection is to print them directly from the internet to | | | | when meat is marked down. Markets must sell their |
| your printer (ie FreePrintables.net)! Some stores have | | | | cut meat after so many days, so you can get meat |
| yet to accept these thinking they are counterfeit. But | | | | 50% off or more on the cut off day. If you don't need |
| printable coupons are definitely the wave the of future. | | | | any meat for the next few days to use it, freeze it to |
| Many sites make you register first, and your name | | | | use later! Also watch for big ten pound tubes of |
| may even appear on the coupon or are barcoded | | | | hamburger to go on sale, as it is a lot cheaper per |
| with your information. Others may only let you print | | | | pound. Buy some freezer bags and divide it up into |
| one or two of the same coupon before you get a | | | | smaller portions and freeze.Long timer couponers have |
| "Sorry you've already printed your quota for that | | | | year long supplies of certain stockpiled items, like |
| coupon" message.Once you have your coupons, it is | | | | toothpaste, razors, shampoo and cleaning supplies. |
| best to have some rhyme or reason to them, so it is | | | | When they are out of an item, they simply "shop" their |
| easier to find the coupon you want when you need it. | | | | stockpile closet. Not only did they save money buying |
| You can use a simple recipe box with dividers, a three | | | | the item, they saved time not having to run to the |
| ring binder with divided pages (like for baseball cards), | | | | store to buy it again.And There's More |
| or you can even buy a "real" coupon organizer.Then | | | | Coupons!Watch for coupons to save when dining out |
| you need to categorize your coupons within your | | | | at your favorite restaurant, to get a free membership |
| organizer. There are several ways people sort theirs. | | | | to the gym, or even to save 25% off new clothes at |
| The most simple way is to organize by generic | | | | the mall boutiques. These are also found in |
| classifications (ie Baby, Pet, Frozen Foods, Dairy, Paper | | | | Entertainment booklets, newspaper ads and printable |
| Products, Health & Beauty, etc). Another way to sort is | | | | online.Now, that you know how to save on most |
| by expiration date. Couponers with thousands of | | | | everything you need or want, there are also virtual |
| coupons file the full inserts by the name of the insert | | | | coupons! Most online merchants offer promotional |
| (SmartSource, Valassis, Proctor & Gamble) and the | | | | codes to be used during the checkout process for |
| date that it came out.Make a date once a month with | | | | percentages off your purchase or even free shipping. |
| your coupon organizer to weed out expired coupons. | | | | categorizes thousands of coupon codes for hundreds |
| This can be done easily while watching your favorite | | | | of merchants. No need to go out now. Sit in front of |
| show on the television. Your kids can even help. If you | | | | your computer and have your good delivered to your |
| have an extra stamp to spare, mail those expired | | | | door for less!Kim Rowley lives in Pierce, Nebraska, |
| coupons overseas for the the deployed military to use | | | | with her four children. She has always had a knack for |
| at the commissaries. Some commissaries accept | | | | being frugal, but after marrying young, she has had to |
| coupons up to six months after the expiration | | | | cut corners in order to survive. She credits her |
| date.Never throw out any coupons thinking you won't | | | | Ex-husband's grandmother, Marlene Warneke (now |
| use them! Even if you have coupons for products you | | | | deceased) for teaching her the couponing and |
| know you won't use, you may find those products on | | | | refunding "ropes".Kim has saved thousands of dollars |
| sale or clearance and after using a coupon may be | | | | due to her thriftiness. Although money is no longer as |
| only a few cents or even free! Save health and | | | | much of an issue as it used to be, Kim still continues to |
| beauty items for gift baskets. Donate canned goods to | | | | coupon and refund as it is distressing for her to have |
| food pantries. Sell Cleaning Supplies at a rummage | | | | to pay full price! Many view couponing as a hobby.Kim |
| sale. You get the idea.Watch the weekly ads and | | | | has a Bachelor's Degree in Business, which taught her |
| stock up when something you use is on sale, and | | | | the basic business skills of accounting, marketing, |
| especially when you have a coupon for those sale | | | | finance, etc., but it is Kim's knack for saving time and |
| items. Some stores will let you combine a store | | | | money that has made her professional. Kim owns |
| coupon with a manufacturer coupon (ie Target and | | | | ShoppingBookmarks.com, an online coupon portal, and |
| Walgreens). Other stores price match if you bring in | | | | is a consultant / contributor for Proctor & Gamble's |
| their competitor's ad. Pricematching is good if the | | | | Brandsaver Division. |