We all accumulate coupons. Most for products we need and use often. But in a typical Sunday flyer, or the give-aways at doctor’s offices I find myself with many coupons I can’t use. Starting a trading group is a great way to maximize coupon use. In Refundle Bundle we actually have about 30-40 people who trade their un-wanted coupons or other refund-related items. But it’s easy to do locally too.

If you work, check with co-workers about swapping coupons. If you’re a stay-at-home mom, check with the other mothers and trade during play groups. Check with your local librarian to organize a swap-remember the coupons have to be sorted and expired coupons discarded to keep the system viable. You can develop pen pals with friends and relatives in other communities and expand your trading.

One subscriber to Refundle Bundle set up a round robin with relatives. They traded coupons, but sent along family photos and stories about the family. What a great way to combine savings and family news.

This is a great Segment with WOR Radio 710 HD

http://www.wor710.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=3596884

Coupons are very valuable commodities. They are almost as good as cash, because they can save cash at the supermarket. And the more coupon savvy we become, the more we can save.

Most coupons have expiration dates, from the time you cut them out, they have an average life of about 2 ½ months. Does that mean we should use every coupon we have? The answer is no. We use coupons to:

• Save money
• To maximize savings when used in conjunction with store sales
• To try new products when high valued-coupons are issued
• Trade with friends to get other coupons

If a coupon is do to expire, and we don’t really need the item, or if it hasn’t been on sale then the coupon loses its value. It’s important to discriminate between need, savings and losing the coupon to expiration. In almost every case, I’d let the coupon expire.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/channel?section=news/consumer/save_with_6abc&id=6272766

http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-phoenix-531-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=arizonamidday&maven_referralObject=1051066105

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/coupons_030409

Strange as it may seem, I don’t use a traditional type of coupon organizer. I actually use a mini-file folder that is designed to separate checks by month. It’s about 4” x 8” in size with an elastic band as a closer. Inside are dividers that I label and use to separate my coupons into categories.

I love the category method because it matches up with the store flyer and with the aisles in the supermarket. It’s a very efficient and time saving method. In each category I may have 5 or 6 of the same type of coupon. For example when it comes to tissues, I’m not fussy. I think all the brands are basically good. So in my paper good category I keep Scotties, Kleenex and Puffs. Depending on which tissue brand is on sale, I can use a corresponding coupon.

Other organizers may look prettier, but my mini-file folder is sturdy and large enough to hold my cache of coupons. I also put my name, address and phone number on the outside in case, as I have in the past, left my coupons at the store.