Each week, our resident Couponista, Amy Leneker, shares her personal shopping experiences and extreme couponing tips so that you too can be a Coupon Expert!
Many sources suggest that less than one percent of all coupons are actually used. Well, let me just say that that is not the case at my house! It certainly isn’t the case in my “Coupon Village” either. Let me explain: My “Coupon Village” refers to a few close friends and family members of mine, in regards to how we help each other get deals by finding and passing along coupons we know particular “Villagers” will use.
It All Starts at Home
My mother-in-law and I have a great coupon exchange agreement. I give her all of my Bed, Bath and Beyond coupons (she uses them for her coffee K-Cups) and she gives me all of her Limeberry coupons (I use them for my family’s frozen yogurt fixes). It works perfectly!
Who Doesn’t Want to Help a Baby?
Another great example of putting the coupon village to work occurred after childbirth. I was nursing and once the baby stopped gaining enough weight, the pediatrician recommended we supplement with formula. Of course my husband and I would do (and will do) whatever is needed for our children, but come on—formula is ridiculously expensive (And not the fun kind of expensive, like spending the night in a hotel in the city with your husband kind of expensive)!
So I did what any cost-conscious (yet totally overwhelmed and sleep deprived) mother would do—I called on the coupon village! I immediately registered for the Enfamil Beginnings program (my pediatrician had recommended Enfamil), and Enfamil sent me a large canister of baby formula and, more importantly, coupons! The coupons were worth $5 and $7 dollars off baby formula. The best part was that the coupons were actually checks that you gave to the store. This meant I could combine a store coupon, a manufacturer’s coupon AND the check from Enfamil—all at the same time. The large canisters of Enfamil were priced at $34.99, but I paid less than $7.
That was by myself. With my entire coupon village registered with Enfamil as well? Basically, I had dozens of free canisters of baby formula and enough coupons to last me until my daughter was finished with formula.
Helping Others Is a Philosophy that Extends Beyond the Village
In fact, the coupons kept coming long after my daughter had entered toddlerhood. I continued to use each one (combining it with multiple coupons to get the best deal), and I donated all the formula to our local food bank.
It’s important to think outside your village, meaning think beyond just your circle. The grocery store where I do my weekly shopping (why do I call it weekly shopping when I am their daily?) has a coupon exchange basket near the door. Without fail, I always check the basket each time I enter and each time I leave. Needless to say, this is much easier when I am without the kids! But even a few minutes pays off. Just yesterday, I scored two coupons that were good for $5 off my next purchase. Sweet!
Strength in Numbers Beats the “Limit One” Nemesis
The coupon village can also help you get around the “Limit One” nemesis. If you coupon you have, at one time or another, faced this antagonist, limiting you to only one crack at a major deal. With a coupon village surrounding you, the limit one nemesis doesn’t stand a chance. As they say, there is strength in numbers.
So What Are You Waiting for? Build Your Own Village!
I owe a special thanks to the ladies in my coupon village (you know who you are!). And if you don’t already have one, I suggest you round up a village right away. There are simply too many deals out deal out there to catch by yourself; a coupon village allows you to cast a bigger net.
