If I have an extra coupon that I am not going to use, I always ask another shopper if they would like to have it. So many people forget theirs. Everyone I have ever offered a coupon to has always been so appreciative.
By Susan B. from Columbia, SC
I've had a waiter tell me that my gift card had only $2 left, when I knew it was much more (my initials were on the card and the waiter managed to find it after much disgruntled effort), and one tell me that my coupon wasn't the big one, but a smaller dollar amount off, or that I never gave them the coupon in the first place.
By marking them, your misplaced property is more easily identified and the waiter is less accusatory. Since I've been marking them, there is less of a problem.
I once had a waitress make a scene, and that image has stayed with me a long time. She managed to 'find' my coupon (which she'd given to another party that had left. There it was, my coupon stapled to their bill), but we didn't need to go through this type of public disturbance.
Yes, she was probably overworked, underpaid and stressed out. She had my sympathies. But marking these items makes the meal out run much smoother.
By cookwie from Dallas, TX
Once when my local market doubled, I saved $98 on a $300 food order. With three teens in the house at the time, the free food fed the empty legs the boys seem to have.
If you get a large coupon for product that you don't usually use, keep it for food baskets that churches and schools usually gather near Thanksgiving or Christmas.
By Becky from Addison, AL
CVS, Walgreen and Dollar General will often have specials that are very cheap. When combined with a coupon, often they become free. I never pay for our shampoo, conditioner, deodorant or toothpaste this way. With CVS, you can register on line for a free card to take advantage of many special prices. However, often their non-special items will be overpriced, so stick to the freebies to come out ahead.
By Mom-from-missouri from NW Missouri
By pattywatty from CA
Have you ever not purchased an item you needed because you had left the coupon at home, necessitating a trip back to the store at a later date? OR worse yet, paid full price, grumbling all the while?
Well, STOP that and instead, purchase the product BUT retain your receipt. Retrieve the coupon and head for the customer service desk the next time you are in the store!
Our local Kroger's credits the coupon back to me when I present it (and the receipt) in a reasonable time frame at the customer service desk. I have even had coupons for which I no longer have the receipt credited back to me. This is great when your DH forgets the coupons (Or thinks it is beneath him! LOL)
I would bet that other stores have a similar policy.
In addition, always retain your receipts for a reasonable amount of time (3-4 weeks) and ask for a price refund on clothing or house ware items that come on sale. Our youngest recently purchased a Webkins and it came on sale the next day for $1 cheaper. You guessed it, our 10 year old DD was at the register requesting her price adjustment! Start them off young for a life time of frugal living!
By Diana from Prospect, KY
By April from Plattsburg, MO
By Christi-TX from Abilene, TX
By Stacie
By Connie from Ballwin, Missouri
If these 4 people exchange coupons, the 1 with the kitties gets all cat food coupons or cat litter coupons. The one with the newborn infant gets all diaper coupons; the 1 with 2 adult dogs gets all dog food coupons, and the woman who is past the "Change" splits the coupons for "female hygiene products" with the remaining 3 women.
It is amazing how much you can save using coupons -- especially at stores which double coupons redeemed at their store. In one year, we had saved between $130 and $150 JUST by using coupons!
In addition, all families have preferences when it comes to cereals. If you don't like shredded wheat, exchange it with someone who will eat it, or swap with lady 2 for Kellogg Rice Krispies coupons. Life is expensive enough, why NOT save a few $$ this way?
By Ross from Hendersonville, TN
By Sylvia from Pittsburgh, PA
By Georgetta R. from Waterloo, IA
I was just wondering which dollar store will take coupons. I'm pretty sure I read about one in thriftyfun a awhile back, but I've been searching the website and I can't find it. If anybody knows which store it is, please let me know. Thanks!
Allison
By anniems
04/26/2011
Dollar General and Family Dollar will take their coupons and manufacturing coupons together for one product. They take interent coupons. Go to their web-site their coupon policy is there. I would make a copy of each policy to take to the store when you shop with the coupons. You can print coupons from their web-site. Hope this helps. Anniems
I've been reading a lot about coupon clipping and stacking coupons. Does anyone in the Pittsburgh North (Cranberry Twp/Butler PA) know of a good place to start grocery shopping? I just can't seem to figure out how to get all the good deals I hear/read about. Thanks!
By Lisa from Cranberry Twp, PA
By yoder178
08/18/2010
Great uses of coupons is best done with great planning. You get wonderful coupons from the sunday papers, you might want to get two or three sunday papers each week, this will allow even more savings and is worth it.
I don't limit my shopping to grocery stores for food, I get great deals from walgreens and cvs also. Plan your week and try to visit each store you want without going out of your way. Walmart usually matches items on sale from other groceries so this is a great way to do it if you live close by and the items are not store brand items.
You can stack a store coupon on top of a manufacturer's coupon and get more discounts. Some stores allow coupons after expiration dates, know the store rules. Good luck.
How many grocery stores accept coupons printed from the Internet? I'm seeing more and more tempting coupons on-line.
By Liz
By MrsRose
03/27/2010
I've not had any trouble with them around here (Ohio) in the big chain grocery stores, though I haven't tried them at other places. Walmart actually states in their coupon policy that internet coupons are allowed and exactly what they need: "Internet coupons should be legible and say "Manufacturer Coupon." There should be a valid remit address for the manufacturer and a scannable bar code." http://walmartstores.com/7655.aspx
I actually carry a print-out of that page in my coupon holder just in case a clerk doesn't want to accept a coupon, but have never had to use it, which is kind of disappointing when you're all prepared, LOL.
If the coupons have a bar code and are printed through a "coupon printer" program so they have a customized expiration date and you're limited to only printing one or two, they seem to be as accepted as the clipped kind.
This is a tip for shopping with Target coupons. Some people do not realize that you can pair their in-store coupons with manufacturers' coupons. Example: I bought Glad trash bags. I had a $1 off coupon from Target and $1 off coupon from the manufacturer. $2 off right away - making them even cheaper than the generic brand. I did this with a few items yesterday and got more than $10 off my total bill. I also know that CVS and Walgreens, just to name a few, let you do this.
Source: General Knowledge that is often forgotten.
By Savings Assistant from Georgia
By Michele
By eviesav
By bailegirl
I use coupons every week at the grocery store, but often times I feel like a complete failure when I walk out with a $70 or $80 bill for what I purchased and only saving about $4 - $8 in coupons.
I've been trying to find the answer to this one: I've been learning how to power coupon shop. There are groups that tell how to stack coupons at such places as Walgreen's.
Well Walgreen's has a sales circular that will have a coupon in it (this is a store coupon) then you can stack a manufacturer coupon. Does anyone know if there happens to be a store logo on these manufacturers' coupons, can I still use these as a regular coupon or does this logo make it store specific?
By notwrong
By auniee
You can use a store coupon and a manufacturer's coupon at most places to "stack" coupons. Most but not all stores do this but as far as coupons go it can be hit or miss on a store by store basic. It is a good idea to either ask your store manager ahead of time or many of the stores have official written coupon policies available online that you can print in case you have a new cashier unfamiliar with coupon policies.
A manufacturer's coupon barcode will start with a 5 or a 9*. (The Wag's store coupons start with a 0.)
A manufacturer's coupon will have fine print at the bottom with retailer instructions on where to remit for reimbursement. A store coupon does not have this.
To further complicate this there are coupons that have a store logo but also say "manufacturer's coupon" on them. (coupons at Target.com for instance). They say manufacturer's coupon but have a Target logo. You supposedly can use these at other stores since it is a manufacturer's coupon but it is up to the non-Target store whether they take them or not. I have read online that some places will and some won't. I don't do it.
There are coupons in this week's RiteAid ad that have a Rite Aid logo on them but say "manufacturer's coupon" on them. The barcode does not start with a 5 or 9 and they say "good only at Rite Aid". So these are not good at other stores, unless you have a store that will price match another stores offers.
With the popularity of printable online coupons and the mayhem that seems to ensue with them the various store policies on the use of coupons seems to change frequently so keep that in mind. :-)
* = 5 means it can be doubled if your store allows doubles and 9 means the coupon does not allow it to be doubled. (05/27/2010)
By Kaelle
By yoder178
Don't be afraid to "stack" coupons by combining manufacturer coupons with store coupons. Most stores (Target, CVS, and Walgreens, for example) will allow you to do so. I've been able to purchase $25 worth of items for approximately $5 using this method.
Source: couponmom.com
By linex_4 from San Antonio, TX
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Using Coupons Before They Expire