Where Do You Find Those Critters? Tips to Locating Coupons
CBN.com As a mom of several children, married to a military man, I've had to manage lots of events on my own. The birth of our fourth child is one example. Bob was the aide-de-camp to a three-star general at the time I was about ready to pop. What does such a prestigious aide do? He serves coffee and works fifteen-to-eighteen-hour days. When I called Bob to announce junior's imminent arrival, he was at the general's house working a reception for the secretary of the Air Force. Later, Bob told me he dropped his coffee and spilled his cellular phone. Or was it the other way around? Anyway, he panicked-in the same way he's reacted to our other children's births. I told my husband, "You don't need to leave your important reception until the last minute. After all, if the secretary's coffee isn't hot it might mean the beginning of another cold war."
My Beloved told the general about the BIG event; and since the home was only five minutes away from ours, the two of them called me every ten minutes for updates. I know, you civilians might be appalled that Bob didn't come home immediately. If you are, you don't understand the military. I was a real trooper-for a while, but as the contractions got harder, I quickly morphed from marital trooper to party pooper.
When they were two minutes apart, I called Bob for the final update of my progress. "I've decided NOW would be a good time for you to get your coffee-serving self home and take me to the hospital." The labor was fast and furious and lasted only an hour and a half. In the labor and delivery room, Bob turned on the TV "to keep you distracted during the rough labor." Yeah, right. As any woman knows, it takes more than television to distract her from what feels like a vise grip tightening around her midsection.
There were two problems with this: (l) Bob goes into the twilight zone when he turns on a television, and (2) I felt he needed to coach me rather than distract himself with what was supposed to be distracting me!
Thankfully, my friend Patti arrived just in time to rub my back. Despite her best efforts, I still needed my Be-lov-ed (syllable emphasis indicates level of frustration) in my face to help me breathe.
Despite my TV-impaired coach, and despite the fact that I was doing the all-natural-no-drugs-what-in-the-world-was-I-thinking childbirth method, I still managed to scream, "WHERE IS JESUS? WHERE IS HE?" That got almost everyone's attention in the room.
"He's right here, Ellie," soothed Patti.
Bob absently and fondly patted the lampshade. "Mega dittos."
I looked wildly into Patti's eyes. "WELL, I KNOW HE SAYS HE'S ALWAYS WITH US, BUT I DON'T SEE HIM ANYWHERE! I THINK I NEED SOME DRUGS AFTER ALL!"
At this point, Patti called upon her experience as a nurse and sprang into action. She took my face firmly between her hands and said, "Now, Ellie, settle down. You know you can do this -- you've done it before. It's almost over."
Bob agreed, "That's right, Beloved, soon we'll see our newest little Kay. But if you could just hold off ten more minutes, I'd appreciate it. There's a segment coming up on the balanced budget."
Even though I couldn't talk, my mind was working well enough to know that a certain fighter pilot was going to meet Jesus sooner than he expected if he didn't turn off that blasted show!
Jonathan David entered the world ten minutes later, just as the show ended-and just in time to get Bob's attention.
* * *
Challenges in life become more difficult when we feel that we are all alone. That applies to anything-from childbirth to clipping coupons.
The good news is that just as most of us don't have to give birth alone, we don't have to clip and organize coupons alone, either! My system is so organized there's nothing left to speculation, even though some of the steps may be different from what you're used to. The end result will be a beautifully organized, bouncing bundle of coupon joy that you can take to the bank. (Or at least to the store.)
Tips to Locating Coupons
The Sunday Newspaper
Freestanding inserts (FSIs) are found in the center section of the newspaper. They're printed on glossy paper and regularly distributed by manufacturers. A good paper will have two to three packets of FSIs.
If you live in a small town, the local paper may not carry coupons. Call the newspaper office of the nearest city and ask about home delivery. If they mail the paper, make sure they'll include coupons. Most newspapers allow a Sunday-only subscription. I have three Sunday-only newspaper subscriptions. This small investment yields a great return.
Some cities have newsstands or convenience stores that sell newspapers. It is better to get papers at a store than at a self-service newspaper machine. Many newspaper distributors don't bother to include coupons in papers placed in machines. (Unfortunately, people tend to steal coupons out of machine papers.) Whereas, in a store, you can check each paper for coupons before you buy it.
Won't You Be My Neighbor
Oftentimes manufacturers will test a specified market in a certain part of the country. Before these coupons or products are released nationwide, they are distributed in the market area and sales are evaluated. Consequently, friends in another state may have access to coupons that aren't available to you. Also, different parts of the country may release different values on the same coupon. For example, in New York (where we used to live) stores double coupons up to $1.00. Most of the Kellogg's coupons are worth $1.00 off two boxes of cereal. My friend in New Mexico, Farrell Morton, would send me the same Kellogg's coupons for 75¢ off one box. They only double up to 50¢ in that part of the world. But in New York, instead of getting 50¢ off a box of cereal (with my local coupon), I got $1.50 off at the double coupon store with Farrell's coupon.
Ask friends and family to save coupons they do not use and mail them to you. Even if you have to reimburse them for postage, it's still worth it. So tell your co-workers, neighbors, and church friends you are collecting coupons. Most people are happy to give away coupons so they can be used rather than thrown away. I cringe at the thought of people throwing away coupons.
Mailing Lists/Clipless Store Coupons
Ask the local grocers if they have a store mailing list or special store card. Sometimes these cards are for check-cashing privileges, and other times they are for the store's clipless coupon card. A clipless coupon gives the customer the advantage of store sales and cents off hundreds of products on a weekly basis. Once you're on a store's mailing list, you are eligible to receive store promotions by mail-including sale advertisements and coupons. These should not be confused with national coupon clubs.
Some researchers state that as many as 85 percent of all coupon clubs are illegal. Usually, the customer picks the coupons he wants and pays a fee. The "club" sends manufacturer's coupons without the manufacturer's consent. Even if you found a legal club, the same $30 could be spent on a couple of dozen Sunday newspapers (with FSIs) for a better value.
Product Packages/Instant Rebates
As coupon use increases, you may develop a "coupon radar" to detect unclaimed coupons. A coupon radar hones in on product packages with coupons on them. Coupon offers are sometimes advertised on the product, e.g., "$3 in coupons inside!" These may be located on the package itself and could be a challenge to find. Check the box or carton carefully before you throw it away. There may also be loose coupons inside the package. These are usually located between the plastic paper and the product box. These coupons tend to be lower in value than FSI coupons, but they usually have longer expiration dates.
Other products have instant rebates or coupons attached to the outside of the product that should be removed and redeemed immediately at the check-out. These are usually on top of the product and readily visible. Remember to check each item as you put it in your cart for manufacturer's coupons attached to the product. Most of the time, these coupons are good only at the time of purchase-so use it or lose it!
Magazines
Your radar should beep loudly around magazines that have coupons in them. In terms of investment, it's not wise to buy a magazine subscription exclusively for the purpose of acquiring coupons. Magazine manufacturer's coupons tend to be lower in value with longer expiration dates. However, it is wise to examine your existing subscriptions and make good use of any valuable coupons hiding inside.
Manufacturer Direct
In the competitive product merchandising market, companies are realizing the value of customer service and satisfaction. Many of today's products have toll-free numbers listed directly on their labels. Sometimes these numbers are to report product defects, but you don't know until you call. If you do have a defective product, call the number and you should receive a coupon for another like item. You may have to send in the defective product; the company will let you know.
Even if you don't have a problem, call these phone numbers and let them know what you think of their product-especially if you like it! Ask them if they have any coupons they can mail to you. Almost all of the companies will send you free recipes. Not every phone call will be profitable, but those that are will make your time investment prove valuable. While you have them on the phone, ask for their Web site or e-mail address-which brings us to our next resource.
Cyberspace -- The Unexplored Frontier
Most manufacturers have their own Web sites on the super information highway. With their address, as obtained in our last tip, you can surf the Net to download coupons or have them mail the coupons, recipes, and other offers to your home. If you do not have access to the Web, try your local library. You can use their computer with your Web site addresses in hand, and the librarian will help you find these companies. Many manufacturers are located by typing www., their name in lowercase letters, followed by .com. For example, www.colgate.com.
There is also a growing number of Web sites containing coupons that you can print out and use at your local store. There are several sites linked from my Web site (www.elliekay.com ) such as www.smartsource.com and www.valupage.com that will mail coupons to you based on your zip code. The value of the coupons averages about $35 per week. Check out all the other valuable sites on my Web site links that focus on general products as well as introductory offers and monthly deals.
Electronic Coupons
Many grocery stores now have an electronic coupon system. These coupons are dispensed by machine, directly on aisle shelves, throughout the store. In addition, check-out coupons are issued at the check-out and are a good value on future purchases. We'll define and differentiate between these coupons in the next chapter.
Direct Marketing
Are you familiar with the surveys in newspapers and magazines that promise free samples and coupons if you fill out their survey? Well, they work! You may get some junk mail to throw in the recycling bin, but you'll also get on a direct mailing list for future coupons. Other direct marketing packets that come in the mail are the Carol Wright advertising envelopes. If you sift through the disposable "offers" you'll run across some good manufacturer's coupons.
Watch those packets of junk mail for some real treasures. I routinely get my film developed by a mail-in photo lab. The ?lm envelopes in the junk mail packets offer lower prices than the film envelopes mailed to me by the company itself. I save almost $2 a roll!
Bonus Tip: The Coupon Swapbox
A local coupon swapbox is very easy to use and organize. Furthermore, it is free. Any group can establish a swapbox. All you need is some people with the common goal of swapping coupons. I've seen swapboxes located in churches, outside grocery stores, in community service buildings, in play groups, homeschool groups, and in the workplace.
There are many methods of trading coupons, ranging from a big box of completely unorganized coupons for people to rummage through (highly ineffective), to coupons arranged in categories (which requires a tremendous amount of work to maintain). I came across a simple yet effective system developed in our church when we were stationed in Columbus, Mississippi. My friend Madeline introduced me to it.
This non-high-tech method is known as the "baggie system" because it uses ordinary sandwich bags-the zipping variety work best. When someone has fifty or more coupons they want to contribute, they put them in a plastic bag. Then they write their name on the top line of a plain index card, place it in the bag, and put the bag in the swapbox. The swap-box itself is just a shoebox-size plastic box with a lid. A central location is established for the organization's swapbox.
Next, a person picks a bag that someone else has contributed and looks through the coupons in that bag. They remove the coupons they need and put them aside. Then they sign their name under the previous name on the index card and replace the bag in the swapbox. DO NOT PUT NEW COUPONS IN EXISTING BAGS. Instead, start a new bag with coupons you are contributing. If your name is already on an index card, you don't need to look through that particular bag of coupons.
At the end of each month, a coupon coordinator reviews the bags and removes expired coupons. This keeps the system up-to-date. It is efficient because it takes only a few minutes to look through a bag, and it is effective because many people can participate to whatever extent they choose, and at the same time.
When I establish a new swapbox, I print out the instructions and place them on top of the coupon box with thick, clear, heavy-duty tape or clear contact paper. Feel free to copy the instructions provided below for your organization's swapbox.
Remember, you'll need a coupon coordinator to go through the bags each month and pull out expired coupons. Technique: When I've pulled the expired coupons from the previous month, I write that month followed by an "ED" for expiration date. That notation on the name card lets me know I've pulled all the expired coupons from that bag. For example, in the month of November, I'll pull all of October's expired coupons and write "October ED" on the name card.
The coordinator should contact a local military organization to donate the expired coupons, because expired coupons are good up to six months past the expiration date in overseas military commissaries. Oftentimes, coupons mailed from the States are the only coupons these families receive. There are blanks provided on the instructions for the coordinator's name and phone number. Happy swapping!
Coupon Swapbox Instructions
1. Coupons are placed in zippered plastic bags along with a name card in the front of each bag. A name card is an index card-size piece of paper with names signed on it.
2. Please take a bag and remove the coupons you want from that bag. Sign your name on the name card. DO NOT ADD NEW COUPONS TO AN EXISTING BAG.
3. Put the coupons you're donating in a new bag with your name signed on a new name card. Place the new bag in the swapbox.
4. In the future, pick only those bags without your name on the name card. (You've already gone through the coupons in the bags with your name on them.)
5. Place all your expired coupons in the bag marked "EXPIRED COUPONS." We will send these to military families overseas.
6. Have fun! If you have any questions, please call the coupon coordinator (________________________ at ________________________ ).
Excerpted from Shop, Save and Share by financial expert Ellie Kay. Visit www.EllieKay.com.
Used by permission of Bethany, a division of Baker Book House Company, copyright 2004. All rights to this material are reserved. Materials are not to be distributed to other web locations for retrieval, published in other media, or mirrored at other sites without written permission from Baker Book House Company. Visit www.bakerbooks.com.
