As you all know I live in New York. We have a number of major chains. They include A&P, Pathmark, Waldbaums, Shop Rite and Stop & Shop. Some smaller and specialty chains include Trader Joe, Whole Foods, Stu Leonards, Food Emporium, and DeCicco.

All of our major chains accept and double coupons with different limits. Some of them accept internet and competitors coupons as well. Most of these variations are highlighted on the store’s web site or weekly circulars. But I always verify this information before I shop.

For example, if the store is offering a BOGOF sale, I can only use 1 coupon since my stores consider that a single purchase. If the same item is on sale for 2/$6.00 I can use 2 coupons on this particular purchase.

After speaking with lots of good coupon shoppers here in Florida, I found the policies are different. On a BOGOF sale, shoppers here can use 2 coupons.

My point, check the options for your store carefully so you can maximize your savings fully.

Visit us at: Select Coupon Program

The store flyer is really a wealth of information, savings, and tips. I prefer the hard copy, but lately I have used the online versions as well. The flyer helps me determine my weekly purchases. So I use it before I ever enter the store.

First and most important is the organization of the flyer. It’s divided into the same categories as the supermarket so planning is made easier. Next special coupons and promotions are printed throughout.

The front page usually has all the best sales, sometimes called loss leaders. That means that items are sometimes sold at cost to attract shoppers. On the front page of the Tom Thumb flyer in Dallas, TX, a gallon of milk was selling for $1.49, baby carrots $1 for a pack, a head of lettuce $.77, and $.99 for Quaker granola bars. All fantastic deals.

The inside pages include frozen, beverage, snack, dairy, meat, deli, health and beauty aid specials among others. These are all legitimate sales. But as always some sales are better than others. Take the Quaker granola bars. The regular price is $2.99 each. Some sales are 2 for $4. At $.99 the savings is 66%. Now that’s a great sale and the time to buy.

So knowing the prices for the items you generally buy will help you decide the value of the sale and the reason to make a purchases.

It’s certainly a fact that the checkout is time-consuming. But there are definite ways to speed up the process. Here are some suggestions that have worked for me.

1. Have your loyalty card ready (if unavailable your phone number usually does the trick.)
2. Make sure all you coupons are readily available. I like to put each coupon in the front of my file as I pick up the product. That way I never miss a deduction.
3. Check your coupons-they must match the item exactly. Scanners automatically verify this.
4. Try and stack similar items on the conveyor belt so the packer can keep all like and perishable items together. This is especially helpful in the summer.
5. Check your register receipt before leaving the store to make sure you received all the store’s specials. If not, a quick trip to the courtesy desk can resolve these issues.

That’s it. Each trick to save time and money is always worthwhile.

Slash your grocery bill in half

Today I was featured in the New York Times. It is a great article by Stephanie Rosenbloom called “A Clip-and-Save Renaissance“.

I recently found I needed some printing paper, and new security software. I had some Staples coupons, so I scoured their weekly flyer to check for good deals. Here’s what I spotted.

Norton Anti-virus software was on sale for $39.99 with a $20 rebate and Hammermill Paper had a Buy One Get One Free on 2-10 ream boxes up to $38.99. I never did the Easy Rebate via the internet because I’m so used to the mail-in type. But I decided to take the plunge. I made my purchases and returned home with my product and cash register receipts.

I sat down at the computer and fulfilled the sign-in procedure. Next I followed the directions to submit my online rebates. About 2 minutes later I was done, and then received an email confirmation. I couldn’t believe how easy and fast the whole procedure was.

I hope this is the wave of the future. It eliminates so much time because my information was pre-filled, no envelope, no postage and even with my limited internet skills I was successful. I have already received a $20 Visa card for my Norton purchase.

Getting coupons for the products you need is not any easy task. As a matter of fact, while shopping in Pittsburgh today for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, that was the comment I heard not only from the shoppers but from the checkers. That was the exact reason we began the Select Coupon Program in 1982.

Our goal was to get coupons into the hands of the shoppers. And not any coupons, but coupons of your choice. When I found the Kelloggs Frosted Flakes and a couple of other varieties on sale 4 for $6, I was able to go right to my coupons and choose 4 coupons for the same sale items. This is our ultimate purpose. Get you the coupons you need so you can save too.

Right now we are offering FREE $25 in coupons of choice at (http://selectcouponprogram.com). At a double store, that would be worth $50. A great deal, so give it a shot, and start those savings.

Coupon shopping is a big money saver especially in today’s economy. I remember once shopping in Rochester, NY where the store actually had a ‘no coupon line’. That’s how much coupon shopping meant to those upstate New Yorkers. So, it’s not unusual to find a fist full of coupons at the checkout.

But for some, coupons can be embarrassing. Somehow saving 50% or more on my groceries, and the thought of not using coupons would never enter my mind. But for some coupon use can be embarrassing. I do a couple of things that may aid the shy shopping. I hope these work for you. They are desired to hasten checkout, to aid the cashier, and customers waiting in line.

First, I have all the coupons ready, and make sure they exactly match my purchase. Next, I take a quick look at the person in back of me on line, if I have coupons for some of their products, I share. That always makes a happy shopper, and eases the annoyance my batch of coupons might present. And last, I help pack my groceries to reduce the wait for those in back of me. A little courtesy goes a long way.

So put on a big smile, stack up those coupons and head for the supermarket and savings.

I always have more coupons than I can use. Sharing and helping others is a great way to maximize coupon use. Here’s my system.

Discount drug chains generally offer trail sizes. As a matter of fact my local CVS has ½ an aisle devoted to these small packages. It’s a real bonus. Many coupons do not list a specific size of the product. I use my coupons against these $.99 brands. In the case of the $1 coupons, the items are free. My supermarket that doubles coupon value displays trial sizes too, particularly in the health and beauty aid section. With a $.50 or $.75 coupon doubled, I can walk away with quite a lot of free or nearly free stuff. I stock up as much as possible and save them for future use

When my sons participate in the Midnight Run, the distribution of blankets, sandwiches and toiletries to the needy, I can supply most of the toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, razors, shaving crème, shampoo and bandages for the event.

I also donate my extra deals to the local Senior center. I not only supply the products, but I drop off extra coupons to share. You can start an exchange at your local center and encourage the group to bring in their unused coupons too. It’s a engaging activity and money-saving for those on a limited budget.

Helping others this way is a benefit of being a coupon person. I feel I’m sharing a bit of my savings with others and their appreciation is heartfelt. If you have an opportunity to help, give it a shot.

Refund Offers will net you the best savings but require you to mail away your proofs of purchase to receive your refund. And you can save in 3 different ways.

• A return of a free product coupon
• Cash back on the purchase
• Great premiums or gifts

In a typical year, I get back about $2500 in cash, in addition to the free product coupons and gifts. I place all my refunds into an interest bearing back account, and any expenses associated with my refund offers come out of this account. So my hobby is certainly money-saving and fun.

Some of the premiums include: T-Shirts, free movie tickets, stuffed toys, great kitchen-related items, insulated lunch bags, a Crockpot, the Energizer Bunny about 2’ tall, matchbox cars, lovely tote bags, wonderful child’s books, cookbooks, children’s items that served as a diversion when my kids came to me with bumps; more unique gadgets than I can list here.

The free product coupons are just about on every item. Most packaged goods, pet foods, cereals, paper goods all offer refunds in the form of a coupon. Among those that I like the best are the tie-in promotions offering a coupon on another product. For example, Wishbone’s refund on its salad dressing nets $2 back on the purchase of produce, Dole Pineapple wants you to make Hawaiian Chicken, that refund is $2 on your meat order. But the packaged goods are great too. I got a coupon for a free Cheer, the cost of the product around $15.

Refunding is worth the time, postage money, and effort. For more information, great offers, go to www.refundlebundle.com and start saving too.