FAQs about Printable Coupons

Here is a conglomeration (I've really been wanting to use that word lately) of frequent questions I receive about printable coupons.

1.) Can I print them in black and white?


I have never had a problem using a black and white printable. It keeps my cost down to print in grayscales. Unless your retailer specifically states coupons must be printed in color, then you should be just fine with black and white.



2.) How many can I print?


Most Internet printable coupons have limits which are linked to your IP address. For instance, Coupons.com has a limit of 2 prints per IP address for most of their coupons. These limits will vary depending on the coupon provider. If you own multiple computers, I do not see it as an ethical issue to print coupons from multiple sources that you own. Also, get in touch with your friends and participate in coupon trades. This does not mean I condone or support going to the library and printing coupons off of every computer available. (Yes.... I have actually seen people doing this.) Coupon abuse gives us money conscious Mamas a really bad wrap.



3.) Can I photocopy them?


Quick answer to this one: No. Internet printable coupons are each equipped with a unique bar code and/or ID number. Making photocopies is strictly prohibited and discouraged. Even if you get away with it, you are taking away from others as retailers do not appreciate coupon fraud.



4.) Once I print my maximum, will I be able to print them again?


This one has a fairly mixed answer. In many cases, you will be able to print the coupons again once the provider has "reset" the coupon campaign. This means they will open the coupon up again for more printing. Many providers reset these monthly; however, there is never a sure-fire way to know when or if they do it. You just have to keep checking back!



5.) Where can I find Printable Coupons?

Get ready... this list can get lengthy quick! The primary ones I recommend are in the list below. Others are similar to "e-clubs" where you sign up for their website and gain exclusive access to their product coupons. If you can't find a coupon on one of the main coupon sites, ALWAYS go directly to the manufacturer website and take a peek.



Coupons.com

RedPlum

SmartSource

Target

Eat Better America

Betty Crocker

Pillsbury

Didn't find the answer to your question?

Email me at mrsmamadrama@yahoo.com or comment below!

Box Tops for Education

We are all aware of how federal and state funding and budget cuts have left many schools scraping the bottom of the barrel for funds to provide our children with the necessary tools for learning. Many local school systems are depending on the community to relieve some of the financial stress, so here is a quick and easy way we can help!

Box Tops for Education is a wonderful program which turns box top labels into cash for the school of your choice.

Each box top you clip is equivalent to $0.10. What difference can $0.10 make? By itself, not very much, but if we all take a few extra seconds to clip the Box Tops for Education tabs before we throw away the product wrappers, then we have the opportunity to provide our schools (and kids) with great new classroom materials!

There is a long list of participating products that many of use frequently and purchase weekly.

You can also earn up to 15% cash back for the school of your choice by shopping online with over 100 different retailers!

Expired Coupons for Military Families

Do you have piles of expired coupons that you toss out every month?

What if I told you about an expired coupon program which benefits military families overseas?

That's right! There is a way to help the families who sacrifice for our freedom daily while eliminating your stacks of expired coupons. For the past year, I have been an active participant with Overseas Coupon Program (OCP). This is a wonderful program dedicated to passing on our expired savings opportunities in the form of coupons to military families living on overseas bases.

Did you know...

• Military families can use coupons up to 6 months past their printed expiration dates?



• Overseas Military Commissaries (Grocery stores) and PX (Department Stores) offer many of the same products we purchase in the states?
  
  
• Our simple gift of what would normally be trash is crucial to the livelihood of many military families?

OCP's website gives detailed instructions on where to begin and how you can help. You are given the opportunity to adopt a base from their list of available bases. Then, you or a group of friends, family, church members, etc. compile all of your expired coupons, divide and total them up, and mail them.

I encourage everyone to take this extra step while couponing.

The best part of saving is realizing your ability to give back.

Financial Drama Part: II- Coupon Organization

Being an Organized Coupon Junkie

Now that we've discussed the general basics of couponing, I want to take it a little further and throw you all the awesome details on how to be an effective coupon junkie! My first order of business....

Get organized!: The Sunday paper in the driveway is always a great way to start the day, but the thought of cutting out all of those little rectangles along the dotted lines can be a true test of patience. My solution: Don't take out the scissors until you're preparing to go to the store or it's expired.

I use a filing system which, at this point, has been incredibly effective. It even prevents my precious little munchkin from terrorizing my coupons to the point they would make an awesome confetti! I separate all the pages of each insert, get rid of the "junk" pages, staple all the like pages together (if I bought multiple papers), and then number the pages so that I can keep everything in order.

Afterwards, I place them in a folder labeled with the date, and file them in a file box. This is also a great way to store those awesome coupon booklets you find while shopping!

In the case of those ever so valuable Internet printable coupons, tearpads, peelies, blinkies, MIRs, etc, the process is slightly different.

Note: (Tearpads are the post-it note like pads found in grocery stores. Peelies are the coupons stuck to products. Blinkies are the coupons in those little black boxes with the red blinking light that your kids love to pull, and MIRs are Mail In Rebates.

Unlike the weekly ads, there is some clipping involved, but not to worry... It won't be too bad. I like to separate all of my individual coupons into categories similar to those you find in your grocery store: Deli/Bakery, Canned/Boxed Goods, Cereals, Desserts/Baking, Snacks/Drinks, Refrigerated/Dairy, Frozen foods, Misc. Food, Beauty/Hygiene, Pharmacy/Drugs, Paper goods, Cleaning products/Household, Baby, and Pet.

To begin with, I was using a canceled check file. While I have outgrown it, it is a great starting point and fits great in your purse for a quick run to the store. Now, I have moved on to a zippered binder with repurposed inserts, nifty pockets, and space for everything! This makes is very portable and great for shopping!

I use dividers to separate my categories, then fill each section with Baseball Card and Photo pages. Then, like coupons are placed in individual slots making it easy to browse/find what I'm looking for. To maximize space, I like to put one coupon facing the front and a different coupon facing the back. If you have multiple coupons for the same item, place the coupons which will expire first at the top of your stack before you put it in.

Using your Fabulously Organized Coupons

So, you've got your coupons all in order... now how on earth do you know what coupon is in each of those file folders?!?

You find an active coupon database! Personally, I am a firm believer and devoted follower of my go-to-girl Jenny over at Southern Savers. She is geared towards the stores in the southeast US, and she provides information for over 10 stores including the Commissary. A good coupon database will give you the weekly play by play of sale ads in your area and provide a comprehensive coupon match-up for each item on the list.

And there you have it!

Tell me how you organize your coupons!

Financial Drama Part: I

As many of you know, I am a coupon fanatic. Saving money is not only a GREAT way to relieve some of the financial drama, but in my opinion, it's a lot of fun! Call me crazy... and that's ok... but the idea of getting something for way below its retail price is definitely an emotional high! This is the beginning of my Financial Drama Relief series.

Part I: Retailers
This category mainly refers to your Big Box chain stores such as Wal-Mart or Target and most popular retail department stores. The savings strategies at this stores are usually pretty simple and straightforward, so will start there.

• Always do your research before you shop! Keep tabs on which stores are offering sales, and do your best to purchase the items you desire or need when they are at their lowest price.
• In addition to sales, most retailers offer e-Clubs where you can sign up through their website to receive newsletters which are often accompanied with special coupons. Take advantage of these, and sign up! My best piece of advice is to register for a free email account where you can send all of your special savings to avoid crazy amounts of traffic in your primary inbox.
• Check your local Sunday paper for additional coupons included in the sale ads.
• After most holidays, retailers place their remaining holiday inventory on clearance. Use this opportunity to stock up for next year!
• PRICE MATCH! Some retailers, such as Target, will price match an item if it is currently on sale at another store. They do require that you bring in the ad (no online or internet prices), but it's a great way to consolidate shopping trips and watch the savings tally go up on your receipt!

Resources for Retail Savings: Before you head to the mall or surf the web for clothing, electronics, toys, or gifts, take a few moments to check out these websites which over unique opportunities to save money!

• http://www.retailmenot.com/ This website offers a searchable database of online coupon codes and printable coupons for a ton of major retailers. In addition, other users often give reviews about the codes and/or coupons with their own success rates or comments.
• http://www.ebates.com/ Based off the name, you may instantly think... REBATE! And you would be correct. Ebates is a site dedicated to offering cash back on purchases made online through various retailers. How does it work? You create a FREE account and simply shop through the ebates sight. Each retailer offers different percentages for their cash back programs, and every 3 months, you will receive your choice of a mailed check, Paypal transaction, or even a donation to your favorite charity.

Resources

Resources and Guides

This page is designed to be your go-to destination for resources and guides to relieve some of your Mama Drama! No need to search the web for the best places to save money or to find tips!

Mrs. Mama Drama's Financial Drama Series:

Coupons

Where do I start?

Using Coupons

Organizing Coupons

Expired Coupons for Military Families

Retail Stores/Sales

Saving Money at Drugstores: Walgreens

Saving Money at Drugstores: CVS

FAQ's About Printable Coupons

Coupon Websites:

Printable Coupons:
http://www.coupons.com/
http://www.smartsource.com/
http://www.redplum.com/

Shopper Card Coupons:
http://www.cellfire.com/
http://www.shortcuts.com/

Cash Back/Rebate Websites:

http://www.ebates.com/

http://www.upromise.com/