Rebate and Refund forms are another way to “cash” in on savings. These are obtained the same way coupons are, only they are not as plentiful. The best ones offer “Try Us Free!” Read the fine print, as most require you buy the product within a specific time period, and mail in the cash register receipt (with the purchase price circled) along with the UPC barcode from the product. Mail in as soon as possible, so it doesn’t get forgotten about before the deadline. Many, many people forget to mail in their forms or don’t read the fine print and miss out.
Stores, like Ace Hardware and Office Max, offer their own rebate booklets where you can take advantage of multiple offers with one form to get cash back. Some stores, like Walgreens, Shopko and Menards, offer their “cash back” in the form of store credit. You can turn around and use your store credit next month to buy new products that are FAR (Free After Rebate)! And you can combine coupons with rebates!
“Triple Plays” are music to Couponer’s ears. This can mean that 1) the product is on sale, 2) you have a coupon and 3) the store offers a monthly rebate program. Or 1) there is a store coupon, 2) you have a manufacturer coupon and 3) you have a mail-in rebate for that product. The possibilities are endless. And most possibilities turn out with totally free products.
Unfortunately most perishable items do not have coupons for them. But you can still save! Watch when meat is marked down. Markets must sell their cut meat after so many days, so you can get meat 50% off or more on the cut off day. If you don’t need any meat for the next few days to use it, freeze it to use later! Also watch for big ten pound tubes of hamburger to go on sale, as it is a lot cheaper per pound. Buy some freezer bags and divide it up into smaller portions and freeze.
Long timer couponers have year long supplies of certain stockpiled items, like toothpaste, razors, shampoo and cleaning supplies. When they are out of an item, they simply “shop” their stockpile closet. Not only did they save money buying the item, they saved time not having to run to the store to buy it again.
