I know we’ve all been following the Extreme Couponing craze (or at least seen commercials for it). I’m by no means an extreme couponer (since they devote 40+ hours a week to research, collection, and organization), but I do save a bit of money, so here are some of my tips.

1) If something is wrong with a product you bought (even if you just don’t like particular variety from a good company), let the manufacturer know, or if that doesn’t make sense (like with bad fruit), complain to the store (and bring the receipt, even if you can’t always have to bring the item). Often the manufacturer will respond with one or two free coupons to replace the item, or the store will just replace it. Examples: I’ve had companies send me free coupons for OTC medications (which had a few crushed tablets), specialty bread (which was sliced badly), specialty chips (which were stale when opened even though they were not expired). And, we received a coupon for a free box of cereal when complained that a major specialty cereal company’s product was just plain not to our liking (so we couldn’t eat it), although we like their other products (and told them so). Often the company already knows that they are having these issues and are working on it. I’ve gotten inedible watermelons at local supermarkets and some farmer’s market vendors (where one’s relationship to them as a customer really matter) occasionally in the summer, and when I told them and showed them the receipt (in the case of a supermarket), they replaced the items (even though I did not bring the offending fruit with me). I’ve been given free drinks or coupons for free appetizers at restaurants when something has been bad (such as a huge wait), without asking for anything, although I may have checked in a couple of times. Some prescription medication manufacturers give coupons or samples to doctor’s offices to give to patients or even give you an item for free one time only.

2) Get to know your vendors, whether it is the produce guy at the supermarket, cheese store employee, farmers market vendors, or even servers in restaurants. This way, they give you stuff to try, warn you when something is bad, or tell you when new stuff just got in or is on sale. At a farmer’s market last week, I was given two tubs of cheese for less than the price of one, and I’ve gotten products free (or even samples when none were already present) at farmer’s markets as well. Often the end of the day is the best time to get a deal on something at a festival or farmer’s market so they don’t have to carry it all home.

3) Ask manufacturers for coupons through their emails or websites. You can tell them you want to try their products more of their products, eat healthier, etc. Sometimes the coupons may be free, but $1 off something you like or want to try is good. Product reps who are in supermarkets will sometimes have coupons, and will also know which stores have their items on sale, and for how much. Often manufacturers periodically have coupons on their webpages or Facebook pages. Some companies send samples.

4) Use online coupon sites to print out coupons.

5) Know how store sales, coupon policies, and membership cards work.  Whole Foods email list will tell you their (extremely discounted)  Friday sale item is a day early, and last Friday, I had a coupon for that item as well that I could combine with the same.  If your supermarket has coupons you can load on your membership card (Giant, Harris Teeter), do that, and they may combine with other sales or coupons. Whole foods has a coupon book in the store that a lot of people don’t know about and the items are often on sale as well, so I’ve gotten (as examples) De Bolles pasta for 30 cents or Celestial Seasonings tea for $1.50. Harris Teeter and Giant double coupons up to 99c, meaning an $1 coupon stays as it is, but Harris Teeter runs a few sales a year where it doubles coupons up to $1.99 for a week (this happened two weeks ago). So, 2 weeks ago, I bought the Sunday Washington Post and went online to download coupons (including ones from the two companies that give coupons in the paper such as Red Plum), and saved about 40% on that bill (some items were on sale at buy one get one). I would have made money (towards other items) on some transactions but Harris Teeter’s policies do not work that way. Giant does not take internet coupons unless you are on the self serve line. The SavingStar app loads your membership cards for various stores (Giant, Safeway, Harris Teeter, CVS) with coupons. At Giant’s website, you can use your membership account to load their (p0rtable in-store) scanner with coupons which may work together with other coupons.

6) Get newspaper coupons from friends who don’t use them or the recycling or trade with friends. This is something I do not do but should.

-JAY

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