I was recently asked to appear on The Nate Berkus Show to share my tips on "couponing it forward." Since public speaking is NOT my thing, I was very nervous, but the staff at The Nate Show were so helpful and it was such a pleasure to work with them!
Please click on the link below to visit The Nate Show's web site to view 10 coupon tips I shared with them. And don't forget to "coupon it forward" when you shop this week!
http://www.thenateshow.com/tipsandtools/detail/coupon-tips
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Well, here goes...
For several years now, friends (and friends of friends, co-workers, and random acquaintances!) have asked me to start a web site or a blog to explain my couponing tips and tricks. I have always resisted, feeling that there are enough such blogs in the "blogosphere," and believing the last thing the world needs is another blog explaining how to save money with coupons.
However, for the past couple of years I have been doing something different with my coupons, and feel that perhaps if I share my coupon tips and - more important - what I do with the products purchased using those coupons, it might inspire others to do the same, therefore starting a movement to "coupon it forward" to help those in need.
Strategic use of manufacturer coupons (those found, for example, in your local Sunday newspaper), combined with store coupons and sales (particularly buy-one-get-one, or BOGO, sales) can lead to savings of 90% or more at the cash register. While this may sound too good to be true, I have the receipts to prove it!
However, many people complain that they use only a fraction of the coupons that are available since they often do not need the majority of the featured products. That's where the idea to "coupon it forward" comes in. Use the coupons for items that you need, then buy items using the other coupons - which you might normally have thrown away - and donate them to local food pantries, churches, or to neighbors or friends who may have fallen on hard times. Anonymously leaving a box of groceries on someone's doorstep is a great way to surprise a family in need without causing them to feel uncomfortable, and the feeling it will give you is priceless.
By strategically using coupons for sale items, often you can get the products for FREE. For example, say a product costs $1.79 at the grocery store. You have a coupon for $0.50 off, which most grocery stores will double. (Shop only at those stores that double coupons!) Hold the coupon until the item goes on sale, for example BOGO (buy one get one free). What most people don't realize is that most grocery stores do not actually require you to buy TWO of the items to get the deal; in this case, if you buy one of the featured product it would be half off, or $0.90. With your $0.50 coupon, doubled to $1.00, the item is free - or, in a lot of cases, the grocery store will actually PAY you $0.10 to TAKE the item. If it's an item you don't use, donate it! Congratulations - you've just "couponed it forward."
However, for the past couple of years I have been doing something different with my coupons, and feel that perhaps if I share my coupon tips and - more important - what I do with the products purchased using those coupons, it might inspire others to do the same, therefore starting a movement to "coupon it forward" to help those in need.
Strategic use of manufacturer coupons (those found, for example, in your local Sunday newspaper), combined with store coupons and sales (particularly buy-one-get-one, or BOGO, sales) can lead to savings of 90% or more at the cash register. While this may sound too good to be true, I have the receipts to prove it!
However, many people complain that they use only a fraction of the coupons that are available since they often do not need the majority of the featured products. That's where the idea to "coupon it forward" comes in. Use the coupons for items that you need, then buy items using the other coupons - which you might normally have thrown away - and donate them to local food pantries, churches, or to neighbors or friends who may have fallen on hard times. Anonymously leaving a box of groceries on someone's doorstep is a great way to surprise a family in need without causing them to feel uncomfortable, and the feeling it will give you is priceless.
By strategically using coupons for sale items, often you can get the products for FREE. For example, say a product costs $1.79 at the grocery store. You have a coupon for $0.50 off, which most grocery stores will double. (Shop only at those stores that double coupons!) Hold the coupon until the item goes on sale, for example BOGO (buy one get one free). What most people don't realize is that most grocery stores do not actually require you to buy TWO of the items to get the deal; in this case, if you buy one of the featured product it would be half off, or $0.90. With your $0.50 coupon, doubled to $1.00, the item is free - or, in a lot of cases, the grocery store will actually PAY you $0.10 to TAKE the item. If it's an item you don't use, donate it! Congratulations - you've just "couponed it forward."
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