More and more manufacturers are offering e-newsletters for a simple sign up procedure.

These newsletters can be a boon for the consumer because they contain coupon savings, great tips, recipes and more.

A couple of my favorites because of their constant coupon savings are Betty Crocker.com, Kraft.com, Eat Better America.com and Arm & Hammer.com. The coupons are often valued at $15 or $20.

Some retail outlets send coupons too. I get them most often from Borders.com, Kohl’s.com and TruValue.com. The sign up is very easy, and the information requested is generally along the lines of name, address and zip code. A few go into a little more detail, but not at all invasive.

Beside the coupons, I’ve gotten some great recipes. The best recipes of 2009 listed simple but great ideas. Even for me, the non-cook, I found a few I could incorporate into my specialties.

So chose some of your favorite products, and check online for the e-newsletters.

Have you noticed the new and improved Supermarket Sites now available online? I have, and I thought I’d share some of the better parts of the sites.

Since I mostly shop at the local A&P, I’ll use that store as my guide. But most stores have equally user friendly and helpful sections. Remember in this case “Forewarned is forearmed.”

First, the entire weekly sales flyer is offered online. You can turn each page to view all the specials. So with the speed of your computer you can manage it all. Now the fun begins. With the specific sale item I want, I click and add it to a shopping list. As I turn each page my savings and my list grow. But the time I’m done, I’ve planned the bulk of my weekly shopping list. And with a click of the print button my list is ready.

Still there’s more. I click on the coupon link on the supermarket site, and I can download coupons for the same items right onto my frequent shopper card. The deductions are taken at the register. And last, I can print off other coupons that will further reduce my shopping bill.

Naturally I fill in my coupon needs with those from the www.selectcouponprogram.com so that weekly I save between 40-60%. The reason I know about my exact savings is that each and every week, at the bottom of my receipt is a little blurb ‘you saved 63% on you groceries’.

I love getting free items in the mail. In any particular issue of Refundle Bundle magazine I have about 50-100 different freebie offers.

I’m able to accumulate this amount of freebies for a few reasons. First, some of my most loyal readers such as Virginia Ann Senyk, Lilly Petronka, Ben Salkin and Maureen Slovaki send them along to me.

I also check a group of my favorite sites from time to time to see what’s available. Kraft has been giving away lots of goodies, but it’s important to have the correct url address to access the freebie.

E-newsletters will sometimes have a freebie listed along with coupons.

Recently I’ve received Granola bars, a sample of Kashi, a Debbie coupon, and a free wonder cloth.

If you come across any free things, please post them on the discussion board for all to share.

Have you noticed how many coupons are issued outside the supermarket from books to clothes and everything in-between.

Competition and the economy are creating new and innovative marketing tools that can save us money on almost all of our purchases. That doesn’t mean that we have to run out and buy it all, it just means that if we need it, we can effect great deals.

For example, I received 3-$10 Old Navy coupons with a minimum purchase of $10. Each coupon was to be used one a week over a 3-week time frame. The first week I purchased 3 pairs of boxers for $12, my cost $2. Week 2 the handkerchief bags were on sale for a little over $5 each. I bought 2 for about $1. The last week I needed jeans, not on sale, still a good deal at $19.

Next onto TruValue hardware for the $5 coupon off a $25 purchase. I bought compact fluorescent bulbs in size R30 and R40 for our high hats. Both sizes were on sale, and I got enough to cover the $25.

The ever popular Bed, Bath & Beyond 20% coupon came in handy during a recent cold snap. I got the Lasko heater, priced at $50 for $40.

Before making purchases check for the likely places and coupon deals and add to your savings.