julsandtrish
10-08-2001, 09:12 AM
SAVE: Clip every coupon you find for products that you use or would like to try. Forget brand loyalty. The best source is the shiny Sunday coupon supplements. If you don’t subscribe to the paper, you can always buy the Sunday paper off of a newsstand. Also, whether you subscribe to the paper or not, have friends, relatives and/or neighbors save their papers for you. Send your children around the neighborhood to collect papers on Monday. In other words, be creative. Don't be content with just your own Sunday paper. There are all kinds of ways to get extra papers. Set a goal to get the coupon inserts from at least 5 papers. If you can do it without buying extra papers, that's great. Recycling centers are gold mines for finding tons of discarded coupon inserts. Check with your newspaper carrier to find out what happens to surplus coupon inserts.
Also look for coupons in magazines and on specially marked packages. If two packages of the same item are priced the same, take the one with the coupons on it. Keep an Exacto knife handy in your kitchen to cut these coupons off packages. You can cut coupons without actually cutting through the package if you score (gentle pressure on the blade) the coupon, lift the corner of it with the Exacto knife and then peel it off.
As you shop also watch for "peel-off" or instant coupons. Some offer significant savings, and they are very easy to use. Peel off the coupon and use it at the checkout for an instant savings.
While shopping, watch for the blinky machines in the grocery store aisles. Many of these feature high value coupons, and have a “deposit” slot at the top for people to leave ones they have decided not to use. If it’s a great coupon, take the ones others have discarded.
Most supermarkets now feature coupons printed out right at checkout, called Catalina coupons. These are tied to your purchases. Many of these are high value, and worth keeping. Especially valuable are the coupons marked good on your next shopping trip, which are not tied to a specific product but can be used on anything. They are as good as cash.
Other sources include grocery stores and libraries which have provided coupon bins and boards.
If you know someone who recycles newspapers, see if you can buy their surplus coupon inserts.
The main point is this: Get ahold of as many coupons as possible. The best way to do this is to get extra coupon inserts from friends, neighbors, and/or a recycling center. You’ll see in a minute why it is so important to get multiples of coupons.
Also look for coupons in magazines and on specially marked packages. If two packages of the same item are priced the same, take the one with the coupons on it. Keep an Exacto knife handy in your kitchen to cut these coupons off packages. You can cut coupons without actually cutting through the package if you score (gentle pressure on the blade) the coupon, lift the corner of it with the Exacto knife and then peel it off.
As you shop also watch for "peel-off" or instant coupons. Some offer significant savings, and they are very easy to use. Peel off the coupon and use it at the checkout for an instant savings.
While shopping, watch for the blinky machines in the grocery store aisles. Many of these feature high value coupons, and have a “deposit” slot at the top for people to leave ones they have decided not to use. If it’s a great coupon, take the ones others have discarded.
Most supermarkets now feature coupons printed out right at checkout, called Catalina coupons. These are tied to your purchases. Many of these are high value, and worth keeping. Especially valuable are the coupons marked good on your next shopping trip, which are not tied to a specific product but can be used on anything. They are as good as cash.
Other sources include grocery stores and libraries which have provided coupon bins and boards.
If you know someone who recycles newspapers, see if you can buy their surplus coupon inserts.
The main point is this: Get ahold of as many coupons as possible. The best way to do this is to get extra coupon inserts from friends, neighbors, and/or a recycling center. You’ll see in a minute why it is so important to get multiples of coupons.