How do I Get Started in Refunding & Coupons?

You can reap large savings on groceries through refunds and saving coupons.

Savings await you if you are willing to spend less than an hour each week collecting, organizing and using coupons and rebate offers. It can be fun to get a bargain price by surprise, or peel off a coupon from a store package that says "$1 off," but it can be time consuming to collect coupons or spend time sending off refund offers. With a little organization, you can reap large savings on your grocery budget.

Things You'll Need

• Coupon holder
• Scissors
• Sale ads and magazines

Instructions

Using Coupons

1. Organize your coupons in a coupon file, recipe box or even a zipper-style plastic bag---anything that is small enough to take with you to the grocery store. Arrange the coupons in alphabetical order, categories or the aisles in your grocery store.

2. Collect coupons by cutting them from newspapers, magazines, mailer inserts and manufacturer's websites. You can also exchange them with coupon-clipping friends.

3. Enroll in your area grocery stores' mailing lists if you do not receive weekly sales ads. This will allow you to browse which store has the most sales that correlate with your coupons. Alternately, you can go to two or more stores if you have the time and the locations are not far apart.

4. Combine your coupon with a store sale; this is a quick way to save money on many items.

5. Write in a small spiral notebook the regular prices of items you frequently buy. This will help you notice if the item is just a few cents off or a real bargain.

6. Sign up for supermarket loyalty cards and note which days they do double coupons to get the best buy for your money.

7. Stock up on nonperishable items for your pantry when they are on sale. Stores usually repeat the sale price on different categories on a 12-week cycle, so buy enough staples to last until it is on sale again, according to the Clemson Cooperative Extension website.

8. Use a calculator if the unit price is not posted to see which brand is truly the best buy.

Refunding

1. Check store bulletin boards and item packaging for rebate offers. Watch for a sale on the item before purchasing it for the best buy, but make sure to purchase it before the rebate's expiration date.

2. Visit online rebate websites such as RefundleBundle.com or RefundSweepers.com to print out rebate offers and know where to get the item.

3. Save your receipt when you buy the item. If you are making use of different rebate offers during one store visit, make sure to pay for the items separately as some places do not accept photocopies.

4. Fill out the refund form and make sure you follow the directions carefully. Mail it to the company and wait for your refund.

References

• North Carolina State University: Stretch Your Food Dollars Using Coupons
• Clemson Cooperative Extension: Stretch Your Food Dollars Part 1: Before Going to the Store

Resources

• University of Illinois Extension: Save Money With Manufacturers' Coupons
• Susan Samtur's Coupon Queen: Expert Tips