Coupon organization is key to saving. If you can’t find a coupon, if you leave them at home, no matter how many coupons you have, you won’t save a cent. With a little bit of time, preplanning, and organization you can begin your savings journey.

Start with an organizer and divide it into categories just like the supermarket aisles. The categories should be in alphabetical order. Keep all varieties of the same category so you’re ready when then brand goes on sale. For example, in my detergent category I have coupons for All, Biz, Cheer, Dynamo, Era, Fab, Gain, and Xtra among others. When I recently found Dynamo on sale for $2.99 I could easily locate the coupon. With 3 Dynamo coupons, I snagged 3 bottles for $1.99 each, a great buy.

My cereal category looks the same. I’ll try and so will my sons try almost any brand if the savings are substantial. One of our favorite brands is Honey Nut Cheerios, so of course when it goes on sale, I’ll not only use coupons, but I’ll stock up. Trying new brands can be exciting too. Just recently Corn Flakes came out with a ‘Simply Cinnamon’ selection with a full purchase price refund. The new variety was delicious.

If you’re just getting started with coupons, try a few categories to ‘get your feet wet’ so to speak. Since household items such a detergent, cleaners, fabric softeners are among the most expensive start with that category. Then use the ‘sale plus coupon’ method and see how much fun saving money can be.

In the October 2010 issue of Consumer Reports a study was conducted on the quality, value and taste differences between store brands and national brands. The results were quite interesting and surprising.

I have always touted using National Brands when they are sale-priced combined with a coupon savings. This has given me a 50-60% savings each and every time I shop. So here’s what Consumer’s found. They used 21 test items for taste and quality. Of the 21, 7 National Brands came in first, 3 Private Labels were the favorites and the other 11 items were a tossup. On the value scale, Consumer’s concluded that Private labels could save up to 30% or $1500 over the year.

To put this in perspective, if you never use a coupon, Private Labels might be for you. However, the best way to save is to combine many methods: Store Sale, coupons, double coupons, private labels, store coupons and any other tool that saves. All of this should take a common sense approach and you’ll achieve the best methods for you.

One of the first refund offers I sent away for was Lipton Cup of Soup. I found the certificate or the write up in a local store. Today, I still find some of these on tear-off pads usually near the product itself or as a write up on the package.

These write-ups are most commonly found on cereal boxes, cookie wrappers, household cleaners and pet food. In refunders’ jargon we call them Specially Marked Packages. Kelloggs, Keebler, Hersheys and General Mills are among the most popular for these unique boxes.

A very big portion of rebates are now found on the internet. These range from rebates submitted directly online or more often where you can print out the necessary form.
I love the internet submissions because it’s easy and nothing to send off. Staples is popular for these easy-rebates as is Rite Aid.

But many other great offers are found on the company web sites under promotions or special offers. I always check that link to see what’s new. As a matter of fact, I daily postings are made to our www.couponqueen.com website so you can see all the new and current offers.

For anyone who sends me an email at: susan@refundlebundle.com I’ll send you a list of 100 plus refund offers to get you started.

Supermarket shopping can be such fun and present a great challenge too. Strategies either learned or self-taught aid in tackling that ever wily beast. But coming out a winner is what we all aim to do.

One strategy that’s often discussed is stocking up. How much of a discounted product should we buy?

First we have to ask ourselves if the item’s integrity is comprised by long-term storage or not. Most items today have an expiration date including boxed and canned goods. And storage should depend not only on how long we keep the product, but how much we are likely to use before its’ expiration date.

Let me give you a few examples. Cereal can last up to a year, but the product is often on sale and always heavily couponed. So now it depends on how good the sale is, we ask, is a sale always a sale?

The best price I’ve seen lately for Cereal is Kelloggs, 4 boxes for $6 or $1.50 each. With my $1 coupon that’s $.50 a box. Yes, I’ll take at least 4 and maybe 8. $4 for 8 boxes is about the price for 1.

Onto detergent. Fab was touted as Buy 1 get 2 Free (BOG2F). The question, how much is the first jug? The price was $3.99 for the Buy 1, with my $1 coupon my cost is $3.or $1 a jug. I bought 9 and I know that will last a long time in my house.

Space is one other consideration when bulk buying. Do you have room? You can be very inventive finding unused space. 3 of my 4 sons live in apartments in Manhattan, and they still manage to have extras on paper goods, detergents and bathroom essentials.

My advice, stock up when it’s practical and when the savings is substantial.

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

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.

Everyone has jumped on the savings bandwagon. The Sunday newspaper today is chocked full of sales brochures, coupons and refund opportunities. Pet items, stationery, hardware shops have all found the benefit of offering coupons, rebates and loyalty programs. Here’s how it works.

I needed a few office supplies so I checked out the Staples flyer, also found online.
Not only were many of the products on sale, but there were rebates offering 100% of the cost or substantial discounts. I just got back a full refund on a new electric pencil sharpener on sale for only $10. I returned 3 used ink cartridges and got a $9 credit toward future purchases, and in a couple of weeks, when I need a new security program from Norton, I’ll look for the $20 rebate.

Next stop, Petco, where they were offering a $5 coupon on a $25 purchase. I picked up the Iams dog food, and with a purchase of 10 bags over the year, I’ll get one free.

It’s easy to rack up the savings. Think of your favorite stores, check the Sunday papers, and of course the internet. You’ll find a wealth of deals.

In 1973 when I discovered the world of coupons and refunds, nothing was automated. Coupons were added up by the cashier, and I was handed the cash. I was amazed, when stores could deduct the coupons via the register. What a time saver.

Today, Single Check Rebates have become such time savers. Stores that we are all familiar with: Rite Aid, Walgreen and Eckerds have initiated these programs. For example for the month of May, Rite has $910 in various refunds and rebates. These range from toothpaste, tissues, and cleaning products to small appliances and other assorted merchandise sold in the store.

The concept is simple, sign up online (even I can and have done so), enter all register receipts for the month and at the end of May hit the submit button and believe it or no, your refund check is in the mail. I have gotten upwards of $40 on an occasion. No computer access, no problem, you can submit all your receipts by mail and receive the same benefits.

All the rebates are listed online or in a booklet distributed as you enter the store. Get those cash savings started, and let me know how well you’re doing.

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.

Over the years I have heard this request many times: Eliminate Coupons—Reduce Prices. It will never happen.

Manufacturers have an advertising budget that is used in many different ways. Television and radio commercials, newspaper advertisements and other promotions that include coupon distribution are all part of getting their product out there.

Television gives the product instant recognition as do radio and newspapers. But commercials are expensive, and that adds to the cost of the product. But, a coupon, although part of the advertising budget provides the shopper with a savings, the only money-saving form of media out there. Match that coupon to a store sale and you have a double savings.

For the manufacturer a coupon is a way to get you to try a product, and to keep you using that product. Savvy consumers take advantage of these discounts. After all you can’t take TV commercial to the supermarket and ask for a 20% discount. You can take coupons and get a 20-50% reduction each and every time you shop.

The idea might be to eliminate all forms of advertising; that would surely reduce prices. But with 50,000 to 75,000 products in the average market manufacturers use whatever tools available to get you to buy their product. It’s all part of our competitive system which is not likely to change.