There are so many resources to find coupons besides the Sunday inserts and most people don’t even realize it. One of my favorite ways to get coupons is directly from the Manufacturers. Just about every company has a website and a lot of them have printable coupons right on their site. What I like to do is email (or fill out their contact page) and request to be put on a mailing list for coupons or money saving offers. Most of them are very happy to do so and will even write back. Some will write and tell you that you just have to look in the Sunday inserts, but most of them I have found will mail me other coupons.
The best part of getting coupons directly from the Manufacturer is that they are usually much better than what you’d get in the inserts and the expiration date is usually longer too. When I say they are much better I mean they are for more money off or even better than that, for FREE. A lot of them will send you a coupon for a free item. I love those!! I like to keep those for special sales where it helps to boost up my total, like for Extra Bucks or Rebates.
I make a list of all the products I use by Manufacturer. I keep my list in a spreadsheet, but you can make it in a word file or even on paper. If you do it on paper I recommend you keep a note book just for your deals so it’s all together.
When I have some free time, even if it’s just 10 minutes, I grab my list and start emailing them. If you can’t find an email address they may have a contact page where you just fill out a form. I will usually write first what the product is (or are if they have many you use) and why we like it, how we use it etc. I then thank them for their great products and ask to be put on a mailing list for coupons. If there isn’t a place to put my address, I will include it under my name. It’s that simple.
Sometimes I receive a confirmation email right away, other times within a few days I get an email from someone (usually thanking me for writing) and they will tell me if they are sending me something or not. Most of the time it arrives within a week. The best part is when I open the envelope and it’s a coupons for something FREE!
When I contact them, I will note that in my spreadsheet with the date. I will also note if I received a response from them and what it was. This way if they tell me that I can only get the coupons in the paper, I won’t bother to email them again. Then when I receive something, I will note when I got it and what it was. Most of these companies will let you request coupons every 6 months. This is why it’s great to put down the date so you know when you can request them again.
This is something that really doesn’t take much time and it pays because there are coupons for things you really will use. Of course if you have a complaint by all means let them know. They prefer to receive complements but if there is something wrong with their product they also want to know that. They won’t know if no one tells them. But don’t make up something just to get a Free item. That’s just not right.
So next time you are sitting in the waiting room of your doctors office, sitting in traffic or enjoying your morning coffee, start to make a list of the products you use. Keep it on the refrigerator so when you think of something you can add it. Then start emailing away. Try to get 5 done a week, that’s less than 1 a day. I’m sure you have time for that! Or do them all on Sunday morning and then your all set for another week. You won’t be sorry you took the time. It does pay off when your grocery bill is lower.
I actually started doing this last week. I like the spreadsheet idea, that’s a great way to keep track. So far I’ve received coupons from Tyson and a package of sesame chicken mix.
Thanks for all the helpful ideas.
I have been doing this for about a year. You do get some pretty cool coupons from most companies this way. Worth the 20 seconds to shoot off an email.
I have gotten many awesome coupons by doing this! I really should start a spreadsheet!
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