Coupon Tips!

For my friend Jenn.

A super quick list of coupon tips

1. MC= Manufacturer's coupons - most common is the coupons you get in Sunday's paper. However you can also find them attached to boxes, mailed to you with samples, given away at stores with free samples, or a million other ways.

2. Store coupons - those coupons specific to stores - i.e. Publix, Target or Winn-Dixie.

3. Always know the store's coupon policy. For instance, Publix accepts competitor's coupons, so you can use that $5 off a $30 purchase Winn Dixie keeps sending you in the mail at Publix.

4. Separating transactions at CVS - This works with Extra Care Bucks or ECB. When you purchase things that get ECB, they don't print out until AFTER you purchase them. Use those to pay for the next transaction. There's a bit of puzzle placing for this, trying to make it so it comes as close to $0.00 as possible.

5. You can use STORE coupons and MC for the same product. The store is paying for their coupon and the manufacturer of the product is paying for theirs.

6. If something is BOGO you can use TWO (assuming they are X amount off of one item) coupons unless it says somewhere in fine print that you can't.

7. ECB - Read all about them here.

8. Read those Sundays ad and make a list of the deals you want to buy and match up coupons ahead of time.

9. In order to save money, you have to make a pact with yourself to only buy things on sale. Stock up on things like cereal, condiments and such so they last you until the next sale.

10. NEVER throw away a coupon. Use it or give it to someone else to use. Besides, you never know when you may need it.

Want to know even more? Visit Hot Coupon World's Tutorial.

Yes, sometimes you have to buy things you don't need in order to get things for free (getting them both for free), but here are some ideas for the extra 20 things of deodorant you have, or the extra toothbrushes...

1. I like to send a lot of my stuff in care packages to troops in Iraq.
2. Give it to charity
3. Sell it at a garage sale
4. Use for gift boxes at Christmas time for the needy
5. Use as stocking stuffers.
6. Give to your friends.
7. If it is appropriate, use as favors for birthday parties. (Like candy, fun pencils and pens, toys, etc...)
8. Find new uses for the product.
9. If it is nice, give as a gift

Anybody else have any ideas out there?