Extreme Couponing Tip: Sharing the Couponing Love

Donating: When you start being able to stockpile an abundance of products for cheap or free, it’s a great chance to work toward donating a few items. Whether it’s extended family, a neighbor in need, your local church, shelter, or food bank, recipients are always grateful for your generous help. Remember that if you have children, take them along so that they can know the joy that comes from selfless service.

Sharing is caring: One of my daughter’s favorite things to do at the store is to help me play “coupon fairy”. If we have coupons for products we aren’t going to use, we play “I spy” and try and spot someone with those products in their cart, then give them our extra coupons. I have never had someone refuse a coupon, and it always puts a smile on their face. You can also leave coupons nearby the applicable product (or tape them on so they don’t get thrown away), hand a coupon to someone in line behind you, or drop off extras at a coupon swap box. Also consider mailing your unused and expired manufacturer coupons to military families overseas who can use them up to 6 months past their expiration date.

Teaching others: Everyone knows a person or family that could use help saving money or being a savvy shopper. Why not extend the hand of couponing fellowship and instruct them on how to use coupons and save big? Have an informal how-to class at your home or with a church group; talk with interested fellow customers or cashiers as you stand in the checkout line, or chat with neighbors about couponing benefits. Help others help themselves by teaching them the principles of couponing.
Some Krazy Couponers are worried that sharing the “secrets of couponing” will overrun the stores and result in stolen inserts, cleared shelves, and stores ultimately putting a stop to coupon use. However, most people are likely to try couponing and cash in on deals they hear about, with or without your help. Without your help, they will make mistakes. With your guidance, they’ll learn about couponing etiquette– special ordering, rain checks, and not using fraudulent coupons. We all learned about couponing from someone, whether it was parents, friends, a TV show, or a book; so spread the good word of savings!