Coupons!

We're all about stretching our dollar, as I'm sure most of you are too! I've always tried to be thrifty, looking for sales, buying on clearance, using coupons, but I've recently been learning from some friends that I'm not nearly as good at this as I could be! I'm still working on it, and I haven't visited all these websites yet, but I thought I would share with you what they have shared with me to see if it can save you some money, too!

• Print off coupons at home from websites like http://www.coupons.com/, http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/, http://www.coolsavings.com/, http://www.bettycrocker.com/, and find out if your grocery store will double coupons


• Email companies to ask if they have any coupons they can send you. On their website, click on "contact us" and type a short email saying something like "my family likes your product, can you send us some coupons?" They will all say to check the Sunday paper, but most of them will send you additional coupons. I have received coupons from the following companies so far: Quaker, Hunt's, General Mills (they also included coupons for Totinos, Progresso, Old El Paso, Green Giant, Jeno's, and Pillsbury), Malt-O-Meal (print off coupons on their website), Old Orchard, Sunsweet, Frito Lay, Campbell's, Brownberry, Pepperidge Farm, and Dannon. Other suggestions: Sobe, Butter Kernel, Apple & Eve Juice, Farmland. Please pass on if you get coupons from other companies this way!


• Make the most of free after rebate offers, like at Walgreens. If you don't think you will use the product, consider buying it and donating it to a shelter.


• Cut out coupons, save them, and keep them in a file in your car, just in case something goes on sale or has a rebate offer, then you can maximize your savings!


• Check out these websites for money saving ideas and to help you match up your coupons to sales at Walgreens, CVS, and others: Money Saving Mom, Deal Seeking Mom, Freebies 4 Mom, and Coupon Mom.


• When shopping online, do a search for the store name along with "coupon code".


• I again have to make a plug for MyPoints. You earn points for printing off coupons from coupons.com through their site and redeeming them. You also earn points by shopping online (click through the MyPoints site first, then the store site, THEN use a coupon code as above). You also earn points by taking surveys and reading your emails. The points add up fast and you redeem for gift cards. Ask me for a referral!!

If you have other tips and ideas on how you make your shopping dollar stretch, please leave a comment or email me!