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