How to Read a Coupon!!

1. Manufacturer’s coupon (if it doesn’t state “manufacturer’s coupon) then its a Store coupon (for example Target coupons say “Target Web Coupon” and they are NOT manufacturer’s coupons
2. Date of expiration (last day you can ethically use this coupon at any store
3. Value of the coupon (for instance the coupon above has a value of $1.00
4. What the coupon is for; This coupon is for ANY Caldesene product and you’ll note that there are full sized examples in the image however there are no size restrictions on this coupon (which means you may like to check for travel and trial size to snag a freebie to try out this product before you purchase a full size if possible)
5. Product image (A coupon is “read” by the words NOT the picture. The image you see may be the item you purchase however the coupon states ANY Caldesene product so not just the one in the picture.  Many people thing you have to buy whats in the picture and that is just not the case)
6. Instructions for redemption. Did you know that stores submit coupons and get 8¢ above and beyond the face value of the coupon? Think about it for a minute….. If a Walmart store accepts 1,000 coupons for per day and they have 1,000 stores in the United states (this is just an example not actual numbers) then Walmart is taking in $80,000.00 per day in coupons! WOW!!!!!
7. Bar code. This is how the scanner “reads” your coupon.  A bar code that starts with a 5 will generally double (most of the time, unless otherwise stated) if your grocery store offers “doubles.  A bar code number that starts with a 9 will generally NOT double (most of the time).

Febuary Grocery Trends 2013

If you are looking for a source that constantly updates, check out the National Fruit & Vegetable Retail Report issued by the government every couple of weeks. This report gives the top 10 fruits and vegetables and the national percentage of which fruits and vegetables are in store ads.

Fruit

Avocados
Clementines
Grapefruit
Kiwi
Lemons
Limes
Mandarins
Oranges
Tangerines

Vegetables

Arugula
Asparagus
Beets
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Carrots
Celery
Cilantro
Kale
Leeks
Lettuce
Parsnips
Shallots
Turnips
Sweet Potatoes

Other Items

Air Conditioners
Audio Equipment
Bicycles
Candy
Clothing
GPS Units
Televisions
Video Games
Wedding Supplies

What's your Grocery Budget for 2013?

Over here at Passionate Penny Pincher she goes into details about how to plan and set your grocery budget....

My grocery budget for a family of 5, three whom eat three meals at day at home and one extremely picky allergic to foods preteen....

$125.00 a week

 

 

 

Some of my favorite Points she made are:

 

• Don’t go to the store for one more deal if you’ll be tempted to buy more than you really need.
• Track your spending. I have posted about this more HERE!

 

 

What did you save last year? I am still working on my total.. can't wait to share ;)

 

 

 



 



Best Deals to Look for In December

I try to buy what is in season.. for produce.. and stock up on things when they are cheaper!! 

While we are seeing many good deals on items for Christmas now, keep in mind that prices will get better the closer we get to Christmas. For example toys tend to be at their best prices two weeks before Christmas. You can also get Christmas decorations for a fraction of the price if you can wait until right after Christmas and stock up for next year!

Fruits

Apples
Cranberries
Grapefruit
Lemons
Oranges
Pears
Persimmons
Pomegranates
Tangerines

Vegetables

Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Collard Greens
Kale
Mushrooms
Mustard Greens
Onions
Potatoes
Radish
Rutabaga
Spinach
Sweet Potatoes
Swiss Chard
Turnips
Winter Squash

Other Items

Toys
GIFT CARD DEALS
Cookware and Kitchen Deals
Bikes
Tools and Hardware Deals
Blu-Ray Movies
Candy
Christmas Trees

Tips for A Great Black Friday

I rarely go out early on Black Friday. I am going out for Small Business Saturday thanks to my Gift card I won... If I go out this year it will be To CVS & Walgreens :)

(1) Be prepared. Before you head out to the store, research the Black Friday ads (which I will be posting as the become available) and outline exactly what you would like to purchase. And to be extra prepared, you can even research the layout of your store, so you’ll know exactly where to head to grab the items on your list.

(2) Be ready to stand in line for quite a long time. Wear comfy shoes and appropriate outerwear and consider leaving the kiddos at home (if this is not possible, bring toys or other items to keep them entertained while shopping).

(3) Know your store’s hours (some stores are opening on Thanksgiving night while others are waiting until the wee hours of Friday morning). Again, I will be posting store-specific information in the coming days.

(4) Familiarize yourself with each store’s price matching and/or coupon policy. Keep in mind that many stores have created special price matching policies specific for Black Friday.

(5) Make a list! This will keep you focused and will definitely help to prevent you from being tempted to purchase additional items that are not on the list.

(6) Remember to ask yourself whether the great deal you see is actually a great deal for you.  You may also want to research online prices versus in-store prices, as you can often snag better deals online even when you factor in shipping costs. Plus, think about the time and gas saved when shopping online! Love that!

(7) Keep those receipts! After the adrenaline rush is over, you may realize that you got caught up in the Black Friday craziness and purchased items that you really do not want. As long as you have the receipt, you should be able to return them and get a full refund.

(8) Go with your mom, sister, or a friend. Plan ahead and plan to split up so you can snag items for each other. It’s the only way I’ve figured out to help you be in two places at once! If you don’t want to go to separate stores, you can each start out on separate ends of the same store and meet in the middle after you’ve snatched up as many of the things on your (and each other’s) lists as you could along the way.

(9) Gas up the night before so you don’t waste precious sleep OR shopping time at the pump.  Also, map out your route based on store opening times to minimize backtracking and missing out on doorbuster items you’re planning to purchase.

(10) Don’t give up! If the item you are looking for is not on the shelf or display, check the front of the store where other shoppers may have left items they weren’t sure about before checking out. Or, check with your cashier to see if someone happened to change their mind at the register and leave the item you were looking for there.

(11) Be friendly.  You will be amazed at how people will help each other, even in the craziness, if they are approached with kindness.

(12 ) And my favorite tip of all… skip Black Friday and wait for Cyber Monday instead! There is nothing better than snagging *HOT* deals from the comfort of your own home in your favorite PJ’s! 

Sales Cycles: Holiday Months

November:

Baking goods: nuts, chocolate chips, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, cake & brownie mixes, Chex cereal (for homemade Chex mix)
Canned foods: soup, broth, vegetables & fruits, spaghetti sauce
Holiday staples: turkey, canned pureed pumpkin, stuffing mix, boxed potatoes, gravy mixes, ready-to-bake rolls, frozen pies, cranberry sauce, gelatin, marshmallows
Seasonal Produce: apples, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery, cranberries, kiwis, lemons, oranges, pears (Anjou & Comice), potatoes, pumpkin, squash, yams
Halloween Clearance: The best time to stock up on things for the next year: door decorations, spider webs, candy bowls, yard & outdoor props, plates, cups, napkins & tablecloths, window clings, pumpkin carving kits, streamers, confetti, string lights, Halloween candy-alternatives to stretch next year’s candy bowl supply. Also party favors like: spider rings, erasers, plastic fangs, pencils, bookmarks, stickers, and bouncy balls.
Costumes: Generic items like witch hats, gloves, tiaras/ crowns, play swords, pet costumes, capes & cloaks, fangs, and fairy wings are best, especially when you have children whose preferences change year to year.
Black Friday/ Cyber Monday: Deep savings on doorbusters and advertised items ranging from clothing and toys to electronics and appliances. Research sales, make a list, and stick to it for the best results.
Seasonal clearance: rakes, outdoor furniture, bikes

December:

Holiday Dinner: egg nog, deli platters, instant potatoes, gravy mixes, Rhodes rolls, frozen pies, cranberry sauce, Jello, marshmallows
Baking: flour, sugar, butter, cream, cake mixes, brownie mixes, muffin mixes, breads, pie crusts, marshmallows, whipped cream
Canned foods: soup, broth, condensed milk, vegetables, fruits, spaghetti sauce
Clearance: Buy all your Thanksgiving decorations, extra table settings, and turkey carving products now once they’re at least 50% off.

QOTW: 9/3/2012

So this week I have a question for you... 

Why do you Coupon?

I coupon for many reasons:

 to make our limited income go further,

to be prepared for emergency situations, 

to be able to help others,

and I just could not coupon!

Here are some reasons, fans have shared.. 

Make sure you share yours in a comment below.

•  To help save $$$. Everything is so expensive anymore that you need to do something to cut corners today! Every little bit helps!!
•  It's fun, and saves me
  Money. Sometimes I feel like I just robbed a store when I leave lol
• To get things we need for cheaper :-)

 

All About Ingles: Some facts to know!

Ingles has tons of awesome programs, and you can find out lots of information on those or Ingles in general on the web. Below are listings of some of these sites and programs!

Ingles participates in some great programs, including Upromise, and Tools for Schools, you can find information on those here:
Ingles Markets - 2012 - 2013Tools For Schools
Ingles Markets - Grocery Stores, Supermarkets, Pharmacies

They also have an earning opportunity for Box Tops for educations, you can check it out here, you get 5 just for signing up: Ingles Advantage Bonus Box Tops Program

Ingles also has a general Facebook page, and one for their Tools for Schools program, you can find links to both here: Ingles Markets - Grocery Stores, Supermarkets, Pharmacies

They also have an awesome Advantage Prescription Program, and $3 generic drugs, you can find out everything you need to know here: Ingles Markets - Grocery Stores, Supermarkets, Pharmacies

Coupon policy, including doubling information: 
Ingles Markets - Grocery Stores, Supermarkets, Pharmacies


Also, I will include the link for the homepage for Ingles, from there you can find links to everything mentioned above, as well as other information....everything from weekly ads, career opporutunities, press releases, departments, their Twitter and Facebook links, history, store locations and services, surveys, and more!!! 
Check it out: Ingles Markets - Grocery Stores, Supermarkets, Pharmacies

Sales Cycles: Fall Months

September:

Back to School Sales through Labor Day: pens, pencils, paper (filler & printing), backpacks, erasers, folders, binders, dividers
Labor Day Sales: restaurants deals, movie theater perks (free popcorn, soda, concession candy), shoe & apparel store weekend passes
Diabetes awareness: glucose meters, Glucerna cereal, diabetic care– socks, test strips, sugar free products, vitamins, weight scales
Seasonal Produce: apples, artichokes, beans, cucumbers, eggplant, grapes, onions, pears (Asian & Bartlett), peppers (bell and chili), squash, tomatillo, tomatoes
Clearance: camping gear, gardening supplies, bug spray, fans & air conditioners, BBQ supplies– grills, charcoal, lighters

October:

Halloween: candy, costumes & accessories
Baking sales (mid-October to late December): canned pumpkin, evaporated milk, baking chips, pie crust (mix and ready-made frozen)
National Seafood Month: fish, shrimp, lobster, crab
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: promotions & deals featuring participating “pink” products
Adopt a Shelter-Dog Month: wet & dry dog food, dog toys & chews
Seasonal Produce: apples, artichokes, arugula, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, chard, cranberries, parsnip, pears, pomegranates, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, winter squash, turnips, yams

QOTW: What are some TIPS for Target?

 Here are a few great tips, I don't think I have shared yet!

• Use the scanner. Sometimes the clearance team misses an item that should have been re-stickered with a lower price.  If it is something you want, always check the price with a scanner.  Also, scan things that are one of a kind. These things may be returns from previous seasons that have been clearanced out. You may be surprised!

• Look for repackaged items. These items could be something that was purchased online and returned to the store, or simply a return without a box. While they may not the prettiest item in the store, you may snag a great deal.

• Learn to read the red stickers. Red stickers appear on all clearance deals at Target.  The original price appears on the top right corner along with a number such as, “15, 30, 50″ etc.  This is the percentage it has been marked down.

• “As Is” According to a Target associate, the items that are clearance labeled “AS IS” is just a fancy way of saying Target doesn’t carry this product anymore and they need to get it out of the store.

• Keep your receipts. Target has a strict return policy which limits the returns you can make without a receipt ($75 per year).  However, there is a way around this. The store tracks every credit card purchase. If you can remember which credit card you purchased the item with, the store can look up the transaction by simply swiping your card and scanning the item. If they find the transaction, they will let you return the item without the physical receipt.  If you do have your receipt, Target will adjust the prices on items that go on sale (not clearanced) within 14 days of the purchase.

QOTW: 8/13/12

Question: 

Do you have any tips on saving with printables?

I have complied many tips from various sites, and frugal friends.. 

Here are some to read over:

Inkjet Versus Laser Printer:

It was VERY clear that the longest lasting, most reliable, and most affordable (in the long run) printers are laser printers! Although laser printers may cost more initially, they tend to be faster, use less ink, and are much cheaper on a month to month basis (i.e. cost of inkjet cartridges versus laser toner cartridges).

Helping You Find the BEST Printer:

* Top 5 Printers
* Best Printers under $100 if you’re on a Budget

Continuous Flow System:

Already have an inkjet printer? Then you may want to consider a Continuous Flow System. This system will help you save big bucks on printer ink as it eliminates the need for replacement ink cartridges. For more information on this economical system, click here.

Best Places to Purchase Ink (according to Hip2Save readers):

* 123InkJets.com
* 4inkjets.com
* Amazon.com
* CarrotInk.com
* Clickinks.com
* Databazaar.com
* Ebay.com
* Inkgrabber.com
* itrimming.com
* OCinkjet.com
* Megatoners.com
* Meritline.com
* TonerBoss.com

* One tip that I have is that I enable a Print Preview for each document. It makes the printing process longer, but I can tell if a coupon is printing at the top, middle, or bottom of the page. That way I can use half sheets if a coupon is printing from the top.

* For the one-page ads with a single coupon on the page, I cut my paper into 4’ sections. That way the coupon prints at the top and then stops. Of course, sometimes you get a coupon that prints at the bottom. I try to only use the cut paper on coupons that I know will print at the top. If I am printing a coupon and I see that there is an ad below it, once the coupon prints, I hit STOP on my printer.

* The trick to making your ink last longer is to set your printer to print in grayscale, black ink only, and to print in Fast Draft mode. I have my cartridges refilled at Walgreens. Before I take a cartridge to the store, however, I use a little rubbing alcohol on the ports of the cartridge to prevent dry ink from clogging the ports (where the ink is inserted). Works like a charm.

* Use Garamond font in a small size…it takes less ink than other fonts.

* If you decide to refill your cartridges, get the refill done ASAP. If you wait too long, the remaining ink dries out.

* I refill my own cartridges, which saves a LOT of money. Check out hobbicolors.com. Not that hard once you get the hang of using the syringe.

* There is a trick (found on YouTube) to make your OEM toner stretch longer (usually runs out after 300 sheets or so): Buy the toner on Meritline.com when a multi-pack special is offered (less than $14.99/toner with free shipping). This special is offered regularly along with free shipping. We’ve NEVER EVER had any problems using their non-brand toner. The trick is to order when it is on sale and before you need it as the toner comes from overseas and takes a few weeks to get here.

* For anyone out there who has toner cartridges, when the printer states that the toner is low, take the cartridge out and look for a little “window” on the side. Cover it with a piece of black electrical tape, and you’ll get MANY more pages of ink out of it. The window lets light in and tells the owner to buy a new cartridge but, in reality, there is still plenty of toner in the cartridge.

QOTW: Do you have a "gift closet" and how do you stock it?

QOTW: Do you have a gift closet and how do you stock it?

Growing up my mom had a gift room.. so I picked up on this from her. I actually store my goodies in totes under my bed and in my closet.  Right now is a GREAT time to stock up on birthday presents and baby gifts!

Here are some ideas on starting your own..  

Consider your Season

In my season of life, I have kids’ birthday parties, baby showers and weddings to attend.  These (in addition to Christmas) are my main gift giving occasions.  You might be in a different season full of graduations and retirement parties.  It is helpful to start off making a list of what you are consistently purchasing gifts for.

What to Put in the Closet

Here are some ideas of what I have gathered over the years.

Baby showers – I almost always give a package of diapers and wipes.  What Mom doesn’t love free diapers!?  At times, I’ll add something homemade, a favorite board book or even a regifted item from one of my own babies.

Birthday parties – Board games make great gifts (and they are on sale once a year at least in a big way!)  I try to think through what age and stage my three kids are in, and when there are good sales, I will buy not more stuff for them, but gifts for their friends.  If you have older kids, iTunes gift cards might make a great deal.  It never hurts to talk to your kids about what kind of gifts they want to give, and then keep that on your radar when looking through the sales.

Weddings – I must admit that I do not stockpile for wedding gifts.  I know how much thought I put into registering for what I needed; therefore, when I purchase wedding gifts, I try to get something off of the person’s wish list (but I’ll go to Bed, Bath and Beyond and use a 20% off coupon if I can!)  :)

Graduations – You could create a lovely snack box of prepackaged goodies for their dorm room from your grocery stockpile.  If they are moving into an apartment, a caddie of cleaning supplies would be a great idea.  Any graduate would love some of those movie tickets you purchased off of a daily deal site or a restaurant gift card that was purchased when they had a special running.

Regifting

Now I know that some of you are vehemently opposed to regifting, and that this can be a touchy subject.  In all honesty though, I wouldn’t be surprised if 90% of folks haven’t been on the receiving or giving end at least once.  A time comes that you get a baby outfit from Great Aunt Beth that just isn’t your style, and while you can be incredibly grateful for the kindness of Great Aunt Beth to remember you, it is a bit wasteful to use something once out of duty and then let it just sit there.  So here are some tips to regift:

– If you think you might forget who gave you the gift, put a sticky note on the bottom of it with the name of who gave it to you.

– Don’t re-gift it in the same circle of friends.  You are less likely to hurt someone’s feelings that way.

– If you are going to be embarrassed if your regifting is discovered, just don’t do it.  Save yourself the stress.

Gift Bags and Tissue Paper

One other massive money saving tip is to save your gift bags and tissue paper!!  I got married nearly 10 years ago, and we are still using up wedding gift bags.  I cannot imagine how much money this has saved me over the years.  You can also get creative with your wrapping paper and tags.  My artistic husband and I make snowflake gift tags each year for our Christmas presents, and my children have been known to decorate a brown paper bag with markers to wrap a friend’s gift.

One last thing, thoughtfulness is key.  You want to make sure that your gift communicates love and care.  If you are just shoving an old gift into a bag, it will look that way.  We really try to sort through our things with the person we are “shopping” for in mind.  The purpose of giving gifts is to show love, and your heart will come through regardless of how much you spent.

QOTW: How Do I use rainchecks to extend deals?

I do this all the time for CVS and Walgreens! ( And target does it too!) 

1. When you Find a Product is Out of Stock Ask for a Raincheck! This is a good idea regardless of what the deal is, because you may find a high value coupon at a later date or a Reward like ECBs or Register Rewards that you can stack with the raincheck.
2. Save Your Coupons and wait for the Product to come back in stock
3. When purchasing the item present the Raincheck at the beginning of the transaction, some stores need to price modify as they ring up the items to match your raincheck price
4. At the end of the transaction use your coupons like normal!

Using rain-checks is very simple at most stores but it’s something a lot of people do not think to use!

submit your question of the week to me at sillymom2three@gmail.com

Sales Cycles: August

August:

Back to school supplies: erasers, pens, crayons, paper, binders, backpacks, notebooks, markers, note cards

School lunch items: pudding cups, lunch meat, single serve juices, lunchables, PB&J

Disinfectants: Clorox and Lysol wipes & sprays

Tissues, Kellogg's cearl

Seasonal Produce: Avocados, beans, berries, cherries, corn on the cob, cucumbers, eggplants, figs, seedless grapes, melons, onions, peaches, pears (Bartlett), peppers (sweet bell), plums, summer squash, tomatillos, and tomatoes

Clearance: insect repellent, sunscreen, charcoal, swim suits, gardening supplies and seeds, fans, camping gear

QOTW: 7/16/12 How do you keep a price notebook?

http://www.theqhunter.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Price-Book-02

QOTW: 7/9/2012

Well I don't have any more questions to answer for the question week!

So send me some questions please!!!!

 Email: sillymom2three@gmail.com

or go send me a message on the facebook page!



Sales Cycles:July

July:

National Ice Cream Month
More 4th of July BBQ Sales: hot dogs, hamburgers, BBQ sauce, ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips
End of July, Back to School Sales begin: crayons, pencils, folders, binders
Seasonal Produce: Asian pears, Bartlett pears, green beans, blueberries, corn, cucumbers, eggplants, figs, garlic, grapes, nectarines, red onions, Valencia oranges, peaches, sweet bell peppers, plums, potatoes, summer squash, tomatoes, watermelon

QOTW: 6/18/2012

Question of the Week is where I answer one of your questions about frugal life, or coupons.
Do you have a question? Email it to me at sillymom2three@gmail.com


This week's question comes From L in Johnson City TN:

How do you coupon at Kroger's?

Kroger doubles manufacturer coupons up to $.50.

The Kroger new sale starts each Sunday. Many weeks Kroger will have special incentives – i.e. Buy ten Proctor and Gamble items and get $5 off. It is VERY important that you watch to get exactly the correct number of items or you will lose the $5 (for example) off – a huge loss! Most of these offers will allow three offers per transaction, so you can actually purchase 30 items and get $15 off, and your goal is to match those items all with coupons for an even greater savings!

Be on the lookout for Kroger coupons. Kroger DOES NOT take competitor coupons or do price matching, however they do offer their own coupons. Be sure to register your card online to receive monthly mailers from Kroger. The more you shop Kroger, the more frequently you’ll be sent coupons.
Kroger offers CellFire and Shortcuts coupons. Go to shortcuts.com and cellfire.com to register your Kroger card. Once you register you will be offered coupons that you can load directly to your card. You can “stack” these coupons with manufacturer coupons, to get even better deals. However each coupon only loads ONE to your account, so if you buy 5 packs of Cottonelle, you will only save on one of those packages.
Kroger frequently offers “Buy . . . Save . . . ” deals. This is one you really have to plan for. Usually at least a few times a month, Kroger offers deals on specific products such as “Buy 8 items, Save $4″. These can make for some amazing savings, but it’s very important that you plan your trip wisely so that you get exactly eight of each deal (otherwise the price on the deal is usually too high!) One tip I’ve heard is to take your reusable grocery sacks and place eight items in each one so that you’re not constantly counting (or you can be like me and keep counting 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 as you run through Kroger!)

Kroger offers loads of Catalina deals

Catalina: They are coupons that print out at the register after your sale is complete. It is a separate machine that is just for printing out coupons or dollars off. Sometimes abbreviated as “CAT”, Catalina coupon machines located at register dispense long receipt-like coupons that may be used on a future purchase. Catalina’s, refer to the coupons themselves which may be manufacturer or store coupons. Some Catalina coupons are advertised and some are generated based on consumer behavior.

To find out what Catalina's or sometimes called "Your Bucks" are in your stores/area, go here:

Catalina's

My  favorite "times" are at Kroger's 10 for 10 sales when you find a 50 cent coupon that doubles, manager specials that I have coupon's for!!! Be on the LOOK out for that awesome sticker!!

Sale Cycles: June

June:

National Dairy Month: eggs, milk (free milk Catalina, wyb cereal), ice cream, cheese, butter, yogurt, Cool Whip, in-store dairy coupons or booklets
End of June is Fourth of July Sales: hot dogs, hamburgers, BBQ sauce, ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips
Seasonal Produce: apricots, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cherries, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, grapes, honeydews, nectarines, peaches, potatoes, raspberries, red onions, summer squash, strawberries, sweet Vidalia onions, tomatoes, watermelons

QOTW: 5/21/2012

How do you know if a coupon is a fraud?

There are lots of coupons out on the internet that aren’t “good” coupons. There are also lots of ways to misuse a coupon.

To put this into lay person terms:

1. The unique 2-D barcode on the upper left is a different number for every coupon you print, even for a second print of the same coupon.
2. The dotted line around the entire coupon is really text. It has your user id, the date and time and coupon offer information printed – repeating at least 35 times around the coupon. This is also printed at the bottom of the expiration date box.
3. The long barcode at the bottom also has a portion of the unique 2-D barcode number in it. These barcodes are much more specific and very soon will be the barcode that is scanned in all stores!
4. To see the typical life cycle of a coupon and learn more coupon facts go here.

Coupons sent via email

There are many coupons that are passed around in emails that are for FREE products. These all fall into the “too good to be true category”. Most of these have been scanned from a coupon that someone received from a manufacturer directly. Don’t get mad at the person that sent it to you, they have been passed around for years. Manufacturers rarely if ever release printable coupons for free products. If they do it is not often through a .pdf coupon.

To see a full list of coupons that are fraudulent go here. You’ll also notice many of these have rewards offered for catching the original person that created the coupon!

What are the consquences of Coupon Fraud?

• The cost of coupon “misredemption” to manufacturers annually is estimated to be over 300 million dollars. It does get passed on to you in the end.

• Coupon Fraud is prosecuted. Meet the CIC, they prosecute coupon fraud and boast about having never lost a case since 1986.
  The penalties they have seen:
  Longest prison sentence: 17 years
  Highest financial penalty: $5 million
  Prison sentences of three to five years are not uncommon.
  Financial penalties generally vary, but have often been in excess of $200,000