Grocery Coupons 101: Ethics
November 28th, 2010 by admin
With the deluge of grocery coupons, it is but necessary to have some guidelines on how to use them fairly. You shouldn’t let your integrity go down the drain in the name of making the biggest savings. There are little things that we do because we think they won’t hurt but sum up everyone who does the same and the result is damaging not only to the industry but to the moral core as well. So beware and always choose to do what is right.
- Follow what is stated in the terms or instructions of usage. Print once and do not even dare to reproduce copies. If you want more, you can get more by tapping all legitimate sources such as the manufacturers themselves through mail, inserts in the newspapers, offers from grocery stores and other grocery coupon websites.
- Respect expiration dates and zip codes. Do not be swayed by the fact that others are doing it – trying to circumvent the rules by using expired grocery coupons and using those with a particular zip code in another region with a different zip code.
- Say no to bar code decoding with the motive of finding glitches you can use to fool the cashier. Use a coupon on the particular product it was intended for and not any other item.
- Do not be selfish and greedy. Coupons and coupon booklets abound and they are supposed to benefit everyone in need not just you. Get what you need and leave the rest to others.
- Share. Most probably, you will stumble upon grocery coupons which do not matter that much to you. You can still take hold of them and share them with your family and friends who might be able to match up their needs with such coupons. Join coupon clubs and you can trade these coupons too.
- Do not make money out of the coupons. Manufacturers, grocery stores, and legitimate websites are only the ones authorized to offer them. Whatever is given to you is for your own use and not for your profiteering.
- Do not get into the habit of scanning valid grocery coupons but actually putting invalid ones on the slot in order to make use of the valid ones again.
- Grocery coupons are not to be emailed. If you want to help your friends, tell them where and how to get coupons. Do not email them copies. Never entertain the idea of making counterfeits through Photoshop. Yes you already know but it is worth emphasizing that this is punishable by law.
- Others will appreciate it if you’ll share what you know and warn them against coupon scams. The Coupon Information Corporation (CIC) is one reliable site you can share with them to check bogus coupons.
- Be bold enough to report fraud. You can get in touch with CIC.
Grocery coupons are of great help especially in these times of crisis. Use the wisely and with utmost ethical responsibility.
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Be On Top Of Your Grocery Coupons
November 28th, 2010 by admin
Huge savings is what grocery coupons promise. But you have to be on guard and let not these pieces of paper command your shopping act altogether otherwise you might end up spending more. You have to be on top of everything. You are to use coupons to your advantage and not merely be taken advantaged of by manufacturers or grocery stores. Yes, they may be giving back to the consuming public in a sense but they also benefit greatly from those discount certificates.
Grocery coupons can be used by companies simply to get you to buy and try their product or products. Since everyone’s ecstatic about savings, they can easily breach through your criteria or convince you to choose a new brand over the brand you’ve been loyal to for years. Well, doing it the first time won’t hurt. It might even prove to be rewarding if the product turns out to be better. From their end, they were able to snatch your loyalty and confidently sell you the product at regular price knowing you are now willing to pay for it. If the product turns out to be of lesser quality than what you used to buy, at the very least, still they were able to earn cents to a dollar from you. It’s a risky trial and error for you but it’s always a win-win for them.
Grocery stores can also predict your buying preferences and patterns by hooking you into their grocery coupons bait. They will see what products are selling like hotcakes and will invest on that. They will establish that advantage of making their store your top of mind choice for such product. They will get you into the endlessly cycling buying wheel and be rewarded by manufacturers for successfully doing so. Be especially cautious when you’re asked personal information face to face or online as they might share your personal data and buying behavior to their other partners.
To be on top of these marketing tactics, carefully plan and jot down your grocery list. Do not make the list based on the grocery coupons you see but based on what are truly necessary. If you fail to do the latter, you might spend a huge sum on things that are not of primary use or more than what you actually need. Once you are done listing then you can begin your search for particular discount cards or coupons. Again, the ads can be really tempting but you have to stick to your list. If you are to sign up for such promos, it would be wise to use a separate email address. That way, you are not bombarded everyday by those hard-to-say-no-to deals. Based on your grocery list, you just have to open the emails which would most likely have coupons for those necessities.
Once you hit the grocery store with your list and respective grocery coupons, take time to view the other brands you don’t have a coupon for and compare. This way, you can make sure that what you’re getting indeed costs less. You can also hop from one store to another so that you’ll know which really offers bigger savings. The most important thing is this: never compromise quality. Poor quality products might cause nuances in terms of use or service or worse, put your health at risk. If that will happen then you haven’t really saved.
Don’t act on impulse. Be on top of your grocery coupons!
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You Have Loads Of Grocery Coupons: Now What?
November 28th, 2010 by admin
Are you up to stretching every dollar you earn? Grocery coupons will help you out in the most fulfilling way. How does saving as much as $100 on a monthly basis sound? Definitely it’s a significant amount piling up to $1,200 in a year. Not bad isn’t it? Given that, you can now begin to gather those valuable coupons from every possible legitimate source. Yes, you read it right – legitimate. There are a lot of bogus coupons circulating everywhere so make every effort to pick just the authentic ones.
If you want to make the most of grocery coupons, you can’t just gather loads of them. You have to learn how to organize them. Even if all the vouchers you have are genuine and valid, you may not be able to use them to your advantage if they aren’t organized. Remember, every coupon is only valid for a specific product. Much more, if you buy three products of the same kind, you also need three coupons of the same kind. You can’t just bring all your coupon collection in a store and panic which to pick and hand to the cashier.
So start out by sorting out all your coupons. Those that were mailed, those that you got online, those that you cut out from newspapers and magazines – gather them all up on a table, sit down on a comfortable chair and sort them out. There are many ways in which you can do that. But before everything else, you have to divide them into two categories: those you need or can use and those you don’t need and can’t use. You can then group them per item. For example, cereals, milk, sauces, laundry powder, shampoos, and so on. You can search online for a more or less complete list. You can also group them per grocery store or per department in a store. You can group them per letter of the alphabet – coupons for products starting with “A”, “B”, “C” and so forth. You can also group them according to expiration date. This is a clever idea for you to avoid missing out on crucial dates. Throwing grocery coupons because you failed to use them before expiry is like throwing money too. Whatever grouping works for you best, do it.
The next thing you have to do is label them by group. You can buy file dividers from bookstores or you can make your own. Just make sure the labels are big and clear enough and held securely in place. This will allow you to easily pick up what you need at a particular time. You can also opt to have an envelope for each group so they won’t mix up. Aside from individual envelopes, you can have a storage box or basket or file folder for your grocery coupons. You might want to have it handy whenever you go to a store. If that’s the case, buy a clutch bag with the necessary compartments.
The task may be burdensome initially but once you get into the habit of organizing your coupons, it will become an easy undertaking. Start developing the habit now and build up your savings on groceries.
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Save As Much As You Can By Getting As Many Grocery Coupons As You Can
November 6th, 2010 by admin
Grocery is a regular in everyone’s to do list and it is one of the biggest expenses in a household. Almost every basic need is bought in a grocery so it is expectedly costly. Thanks to grocery coupons and the burden is eased significantly. Huge amounts can now be slashed from your purchases! You can even get some products at no cost. So why not save as much as you can by getting as many coupons as you can? Here are the basic ways of availing those super savers.
Manufacturers and grocery stores value customer opinion above all. If you will just take time to let them know what you think, you might be rewarded with grocery coupons. Don’t take this wrongly. Be honest and well-meaning in giving them suggestions or comments so they can better their products or be affirmed that their products are indeed of excellent quality. You can see their contact details printed on the packaging of their products. Those with websites also have a “contact us” tab. This means you can write them a letter or email them. You can also answer their online polls or surveys or drop suggestion slips in the suggestion boxes they put in stores. Never mention grocery coupons nor adamantly ask coupons in exchange for your opinion. That would turn them off. If you are sincere enough, you will be surprised how generous they can be in appreciating your time off to give them feedback. They will either contact you or mail you back with valuable coupons even valuable products.
There are many super savers out there just like you who are getting as many coupons as they can too. You can join existing coupon clubs or gather your family, friends or neighbors to establish one. You will be able to help each other out because you can trade coupons. A friend may need the coupon which you don’t need and vice versa. You can also share with each other where and how to get the most grocery coupons.
Aside from coupon clubs, some grocery stores have savers’ clubs. They may require you to register and issue you a saver’s card. There are promos only savers’ club members can avail. Also, for every purchase you make, you may gain points and once you reach a certain number you will be rewarded with discount coupons.
Many grocery coupons can be obtained from dailies. Sunday newspapers in particular usually have loads of coupon inserts. So if you have a subscription better browse through the pages carefully. If you don’t have a subscription, you don’t have to subscribe right away. You can check families and friends who have and ask if you can have their past reads. You can also scan old newspapers sold by other households or some stores. If you find coupon inserts of value, you can buy them.
Then you can check grocery coupon websites and grocery websites. Don’t be confused. The former is in the business of offering grocery coupons of all kinds. The latter are websites of groceries basically marketing their products and thus, offering coupons specific to their products. You will most likely be required to sign up for an online account so they can send you emails whenever there are deals for your taking. Once you sign up, you get access to the coupons. Some, you will be asked to pay for a meager amount. Some, you will be given for free. You can print the grocery coupons after downloading an application they will make available to you.
There you have it. You can now save much through grocery coupons!
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Watch Out! Your Grocery Coupons Might Be Fake!
November 6th, 2010 by admin
Recession or not, cutting on expenses and saving more is wise. The money you have is hard-earned so it is just right for you to be smart in spending every single cent. You wouldn’t know what will take place; today all is well and tomorrow an emergency might crop up and you might need a sum. And if you have kids, it will be of great value to them if as early as now, you’ll teach them hard work, frugality and resourcefulness. These are reasons enough for you to take advantage of grocery coupons. But you have to be extra cautious because a lot of people are out there giving fraudulent coupons. You wouldn’t want paying for something thinking it is worth it only to discover you were actually short-changed. You wouldn’t want ending up embarrassed or humiliated when the cashier won’t accept your coupons or the grocery manager calls you to his or her office for police questioning, would you? You worked hard in order to keep your reputation untainted and just because you wanted to save on groceries, you got yourself into trouble. That would be a sad and infuriating experience! So wisdom says learn how to differentiate the genuine grocery coupons from the fake.
It is helpful to be doubtful. Many times in life you are always told to simply believe but in this particular case, it does help to entertain doubts. Not all websites and people beneath such websites are well-meaning; this is reality. So never be swayed right away to buy or print and make use of those coupons. This doesn’t mean your doubt should lead you to dismiss ever opportunity. Instead, your doubt should lead you to the next crucial step – verification.
Genuine grocery coupons have identifying marks. They should bear the logo of the manufacturer, coupon store and/or legitimate coupon website as well as the product image. The product watermark should be found underneath the coupon value. They should have unique serial numbers and barcodes. The time and date when the coupon was made or released should be indicated including the expiration date which is not supposed to be way far set. Also look out for the terms and conditions of usage printed on the coupon. If any of these is lacking, the coupon is most likely a bogus.
Take note that genuine grocery coupons should not be overvalued and should not offer a product for free. Common sense tells you it’s too good to be true and in this world, there’s not such thing as free lunch. If the coupon value is a $100 and you can get it for only $10, it doesn’t hold water at all. Also, coupons offering free products are not accessed online; they are usually directly given out by manufacturers. In the business, you rarely get free deals. Usually, they’ll require you to reach a certain accumulated amount of purchases before they give you a bonus product or a discount on another product. Grocery coupons that are received by personal email from a friend, in PDF form and say that they can be printed many times over are downright counterfeit.
As a safeguard, you can search and download a software program that verifies the authenticity of barcodes. If ever you aren’t completely sold out but would want to give it a try, never spend a considerable amount; $5 won’t hurt just in case it is a fake. You can also check out the Coupon Information Corporation (CIC) website for posted scam coupons. Better yet, just phone the retailer and verify if such a coupon does exist.
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Three Awesome Ways To Find Grocery Coupons To Print
October 27th, 2010 by admin
Every day, in nearly every household, people are finding ways to save money every month by using coupons to purchase the necessities of life, like food. Sadly, many of them are limiting themselves to only those that come in the mail, or come in the Sunday newspaper, because they may not be aware that there are even more grocery coupons to print, thanks to literally hundreds of dedicated websites.
Clipping coupons from the local newspapers and store circulars have always been the traditional way to save money when shopping, and has been practiced by generations before us. The technology savvy among us, however, have carried that tradition to all new heights through the use of dedicated websites that offer grocery coupons to print every single day. These online coupons look the same as those found in circulars and newspapers, right down to the bar code. And, until recently, have been accepted pretty much everywhere the print coupons are.
In recent times, however, some stores have stopped accepting some online coupons because of counterfeiting but thankfully this has not become a widely accepted practice. It does pay to check with your favorite store’s management before using any that you find, so that you can be assured of their acceptance. Combining grocery coupons to print with those found in circulars and newspapers can double, triple or even quadruple weekly savings on your most commonly purchased items.
There are currently three main sources on the Internet for these valuable offers. The websites dedicated to providing online coupons, are very easy to find. Simply key in phrases like “coupon” or “grocery coupon” into your favorite search engine, and pages of listings for the most popular sites should pop up. Some sites charge a membership fee but many of them do not; they will allow users to create accounts for free, along with wish lists of manufacturers that you want to receive alerts about. These alerts, delivered in the form of newsletters, will provide you with more special offers as they are released from the manufacturers but are often not made public on the website. There, you have just doubled your savings with a single mouse click.
The next group of dedicated websites is run by the manufacturers themselves. Every manufacturer of food products has their own websites, listed either by brand or by parent company. Signing up for newsletters from these sites will net you even more online computers every month, because when they begin a new advertising campaign, special savings offers will be released through the website newsletters first, before they become public.
The last source for grocery coupons to print is the stores themselves. The national chains will often offer special coupons to their dedicated customers, especially those that also offer discount card memberships. These offers will most likely be on their store brands, as well as additional discounts on manufacturers’ brands. Used strategically, combinations of all these with those from other sources can net you huge savings with every visit.
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Tapping The Source For Grocery Coupons
October 17th, 2010 by admin
Everyone knows that using grocery coupons is the best way to save money on purchasing food for your family every week. But did you know that there are more sources to tap than just the weekly newspaper or store circular? Some of us have become savvy enough to realize that there are also dedicated websites out there for the printing of coupons, but there is another source that still remains ignored for the most part: the manufacturer.
Even the websites for online grocery coupons offer newsletters that may contain manufacturer coupons for their visitors to use. The majority of these offers, however, are only available to these sites on a monthly basis, as the manufacturers begin new advertising campaigns. By visiting the websites owned by the brands, manufacturers and parent companies, you can net special offers and discount coupons easily, and be able to combine them with any other coupon you can find to generate even more savings on your purchases.
By looking for grocery coupons on brand, manufacturer and parent company websites, you can uncover opportunities for more savings that many people may not know about. The majority of them offer free newsletters that you can sign up to receive in your email, on a weekly or monthly basis. More often than not, these newsletters will contain product news, press releases about upcoming products, recipes, and newsletter-only coupons that you can print at home.
Another thing that you can do while visiting their sites is participate in surveys. Consumer surveys help the manufacturers understand how often their products are being purchased, how well they are being received, and whether there is any improvement to be made in the product itself, its packaging, or even the price. These companies offer rewards for visitors spending five to ten minutes in completing these surveys, and that reward is two-fold: a free sample of their favorites, and more discount coupons for taking the survey.
Signing up for newsletters with these companies can also net you another bonus, in the form of free samples. When companies like Kraft, General Mills and Hormel Foods have visitors signing up for their email newsletters, they return the favor by sending out free samples of their products on a regular basis, to their visitors’ home address. This is their way of saying thanks for being a loyal customer, and will often include several discount coupons inside of every product. The products sent can be old favorites or new releases, and each one will net you coupons others might never see.
Once they have your email address on file, as well as your home address, you will often find yourself receiving mail from survey companies, on behalf of the parent corporation. These, too, can net you more grocery coupons, in return for taking another short survey, as well as even more free samples being sent to your home. All of these are a great way to save money, try new things, and augment your food inventory, all at the same time.
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The Top Six Ways to Find Free Grocery Coupons
September 28th, 2010 by admin
Everyone loves a bargain, especially today when every dime matters so much. Grocery coupons are a great way to save money and for those with large families, coupons can make a huge difference at the checkout counter. If you have been looking for free grocery coupons, you’ll be surprised at how easy they are to find. Below, you will find the top five ways to find free grocery coupons so you can start saving more money than you might have thought possible!
#1 Get the Newspaper
Every Sunday, local newspapers across the country insert pages and pages of free grocery coupons inside. It seems like these coupons correspond with a number of sales that will take place within a week or two but usually not the week the coupons are in the paper.
#2 Look on Products You Buy
Many manufacturers attach coupons to their products. It could be a few cents of your next purchase of that product, but it could also be for another one of the products. These usually have a long expiration date, which helps a lot. Sometimes, you may have to buy more than one product but if you have the room to store it and it’s a good coupon, it can be worth it. Sometimes, the coupon is inside the product and may not be advertised on the outside, so make sure you check inside the packaging, too.
#3 Look on the Manufacturer’s Website
Many manufacturers are putting great printable coupons on their websites. You might have to sign up for an email list, but the coupons are usually quite good. You can also get notifications for special promotions and deals this way, too. In some cases, you might receive coupons in the mail, as well.
#4 Sign Up for a Coupon Swapping Group
Everyone has coupons that they won’t use. Why not use them to trade for coupons you do use? There are several coupon swapping groups online. You simply sign up and list the coupons you use. Then you can list the ones you have that you don’t use. You can swap with other consumers and they don’t cost much to mail. Make sure you check the expiration dates before you mail them, so you don’t send someone a coupon they can’t use.
#5 Write a Letter
Most companies will send free grocery coupons to consumers who ask for them. Create a template for a letter asking for coupons. Simply change the name of the products you want to get coupons for and print it out. You’ll be surprised at how many companies will send several dollars’ worth of coupons out in the mail to you.
#6 Search Online Coupon Sites
This is probably the best way to find grocery coupons in printable form. If you are reading this post then chances are that you already know what to do to find grocery coupons online. For those who don’t know, all you have to do is to search over the internet to find grocery coupons – there are literally thousands of sites (including ours) that offer grocery coupons.
For those that love to save money, free grocery coupons can help cut the cost of your grocery bill. The above tips provide you with some great ways to get your hands on these coupons and other deals. While it may not seem like a quarter off your kid’s favorite cereal is a lot, it really can add up quickly!
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Organizing Your Grocery Coupons – Three Steps to Success
September 26th, 2010 by admin
Organizing your grocery coupons can be quite time consuming. There are simply so many to go through and it takes time to weed out the ones that are expired. In addition, many have specific purchase requirements that have to be met, like buying two different products to get one free. If you don’t need or want the products you have to buy, then it’s not really a deal on the free one, is it?
There are three steps to successfully organizing your coupons so you don’t end up losing out on savings because of an expiration date. It can save you more than just some cash, but a lot of time when sorting through the coupons to see what you have.
Step #1 Get a Coupon Organizer
This is one of the best ways to organize your grocery coupons. There are several different types available. Some are very basic, while others break up the different food types a little more thoroughly. It’s best to get a one that does the latter. It’s easier to use and will save you some time in the store. Try to find one that has a specific area for coupons that need to be used immediately. You won’t end up with a bunch of expired coupons that way.
Step #2 Separate Your Coupons by the Type of Food
It is easiest if you go through your grocery coupons and put them into stacks based upon the type of food. For example, put all your cake mix coupons together. As you are doing this, make sure you take out the coupons that are expired. It will save you time later and you won’t have to worry about the clerk finding one in the stack of coupons you’re tying to use.
Step #3 Arrange the Coupons from the Highest Amount to the Lowest
This is an easy way to make sure you don’t miss a great coupon. This will take a bit of time initially, but it’s really worth it in the end. If you have several coupons that are the same amount, put the ones that expire the soonest in front of the others. You might also want to paperclip the same coupons together, as this will keep you from having to thumb through them all to find a specific coupon.
Here are some other tips to help you keep your grocery coupons organized. Everyone has clipped a coupon and set it aside to use later. Take a second and put it in the organizer. It’s really easy to lose a great coupon or have it expire before you come across it again.
Also, put a small calculator in your coupon organizer. Some come with this already built in. There are times when you may want to see if the coupon is actually a good deal or if a similar product will save you more money. While you might be good at math, the calculator can be quite a time saver.
Finally, don’t keep coupons you know you will never use. If you have one for a product that you don’t like, then check online for a coupon swapping site. Someone else may want your coupon and you can trade for one you will use.
Tags: coupon swapping, grocery coupons, organize
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How to Find Printable Grocery Coupons?
September 12th, 2010 by admin
Do you like to use coupons to save money? You’re not alone. More and more people are trying just about anything to save money, including clipping coupons. However, the internet has even changed that! Now you can easily find printable grocery coupons for your favorite foods and it doesn’t take long at all.
For those that want to save some money, it’s time to start looking for printable grocery coupons online. But where do you start? The manufacturer’s website is a great place to begin. Most companies today offer some great deals on their website. You can print coupons, find amazing recipes, and even participate in some of the manufacturer’s contents and giveaways. Sign up for the latest news and you’ll likely receive even more coupons in your inbox. You’ll be surprised at some of these offers, too. Many times, these coupons are much better than anything you’ll find in the Sunday paper.
With the internet, it doesn’t take long for a single idea to grow. Just a few short years ago, there were only a few sitesthat helped people find the coupons they needed. Now there are hundreds of such sites. Some of the sites you’ll probably want to avoid, because they aren’t trying to do anything but get your email address. Other websites, though, provide a great deal of information on the latest coupons and where to find them. Consumers post up links to printable grocery coupons and you just click print to have yours. You can also tell people about a sale that’s coming up at local grocery store or let others know how you managed to only spend $12 on $72 worth of food! It’s an entire online community and you’ll find lots of people just like you who want to save money.
Other printable coupons can be delivered right into your inbox everyday. Simply sign up for daily deals at one of the many coupon sites and you’ll get a printable coupon each day in your inbox. This is a great way for the coupon site to get more visitors, but you also get some great savings.
Some online auction sites also sell groups of groups of coupons. While it’s a good way to get your hands on manufacturer’s coupons, you may want to avoid buy coupons that were printed out online. It’s rather easy to create a coupon and you don’t want to be embarrassed if you’re called out in the checkout line. Stick to the regular coupons if you’re going to bid online for coupons.
Finally, make sure you check on the packaging of the food you buy. Many times, there will be an offer or coupons available if you just go to a certain website. You might have overlooked this manufacturer and it’s good way to locate some extra grocery coupons to print for your next visit to the store.
Don’t be surprised if some grocery stores won’t take printable grocery coupons. In many cases, it’s simply that they have been taken too many times by people trying to pass off bogus coupons. As long as you stick with coupons coming off the manufacturer’s site, you should be just fine.
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