Finding Coupons. Coupons are a way of life for 89% of Americans. They are available in many sources. Some of the most common places to locate already printed coupons are: Sunday inserts that are part of most newspapers. Home mailers that not only contain coupons but also local specials at various retailers. Magazine are another source of coupons. Printable Web coupons are a newer phenomenon. Many manufacturers offer coupons on their web sites, and there are sites devoted to printable coupons. Check sites often and bookmark your favorites. Some of my favorites are: coupons.com, and selectcouponprogram.com.

Printable coupons require a computer and printer. If you don’t own a computer, most libraries have them for public use. My father learned all about computers from our local library, and you can print your coupons at the library’s facility. Happy coupon hunting.

Place your earliest expiration dates to the front of each category and alphabetize the coupons in each category to insure the most efficient coupon use. Match up coupons to store sales to insure your best savings. However, never buy a product just because you have a coupon. I often let a coupon expire if the item is not on sale. I place all my coupons in a 3” x 8” coupon file (with my name, address and phone number in case of lose). Included in my file is a small scissors and all my store loyalty cards. Store Loyalty Cards allow us to take advantage of store sales and in some cases reward the shopper with other benefits.

Store Loyalty Cards are a great bonus. In some cases combined purchases around the holidays get us a free turkey. But these loyalty cards have expanded well beyond the supermarket. At office supply stores (i.e. Staples), hardware (Ace and TruValue) and major drug chains (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid) we can earn store credit toward future purchases. These loyalty cards also track our purchases and help the participating chains keep inventory. So these cards have multiple benefits for all concerned. Many cards also come with a key chain counterpart for ease of use.