Reader Feedback: Coupon Tips and Comments

I love receiving email from my readers, and they often write in with great coupon tips of their own! Here’s a sampling: Dear Jill, You may have mentioned this already, but couponers can use the back of scrap paper instead of using a brand new sheet for coupon printing. They just have to make sure they’re not printing on paper with personal or confidential information on the other side. The printer should show how to place the paper correctly in order to print on the blank side. This way, you save money and trees! - P.D. Dear P.D., This is a great tip! I keep a box next to my printer that holds junk paper from around the house. If you have kids in school, you know that schools are a never-ending source of notes, newsletters and announcements. Flip them over and print on the back! Dear Jill, It’s so important to print and carry the coupon policies of your stores with you. Most major stores and pharmacies post guidelines on their websites. It only takes a minute to print, and then you have the policy on hand in case you need it at checkout. When my supermarket has a buy one, get one free sale, you don’t have to buy two items. If you buy one, it’s half the price on the sign. I do this sometimes when I only have one coupon for an item and don’t want to buy the second and spend more than I have to. Sometimes I will get a cashier who says I have to buy two to get the deal, and I just pull out the policy from my coupon wallet and show it to them. It is easy and fast to be prepared! - Bea D. Dear Bea, I agree. If you carry your coupons in a coupon wallet, it’s easy to print each policy, fold it up and keep it in the corresponding store’s pocket. Then, in the event that you need the policy, it’s right there. You should also periodically check the store’s website in case it makes a policy change so you always have the newest version on hand. Dear Jill, If you are new to couponing, it helps to ask a lot of questions. I spend a lot of time reading your coupon blog. You have the patience of Job with all of the questions new couponers ask! I have never seen a site as friendly for beginners as yours. I don’t think you talk about your blog enough! - Rosie L. Dear Rosie, I appreciate all the kind words about my blog, jillcataldo.com. When I started writing it in 2008, I wanted to create the kind of website I wished for when I first started couponing. These days, there are several sites for experienced couponers, but there aren’t so many for beginners. My blog is a trove of information for anyone learning to coupon. I answer questions from my readers, and I post each week’s best coupon deals in an easy-to-understand step-by-step format. I also link to spam-free sources for printable and electronic coupons, tools to match coupons to sales and articles related to couponing trends or topics in the news. It’s a great destination for anyone seeking more coupon knowledge! Jill Cataldo, a coupon workshop instructor, writer and mother of three, never passes up a good deal. Learn more about Super-Couponing at her website, www.jillcataldo.com. Email your own couponing victories and questions to jill@ctwfeatures.com.