What to do with expired coupons?

We all have them. We use as many of the coupons that we clip as possible, but sometimes they just expire before we can get to them. So... what should we do with them? I can think of a couple of options.
1-Recycle them. Not the best option, but probably the easiest. Doesn't take much time to throw them in a recycle bin with the rest of your paper (especially since we're getting multiple copies of the newspapers, so we're have lots of paper to recycle).
2-Arts and crafts. You can use the coupons to modge-podge frames or scrapbook album covers, or chairs or tables. With all the colors, it could end up being really cute. A better option, because you aren't just adding waste to our planet, and you aren't having to find time to take the paper out to the recycle bin, and hey, you can get cute kid's chairs and cute frames and such from it. It would take a lot of time though.

3- MY FAVORITE OPTION -Send them overseas to our military families on bases in foreign countries. There is a fairly extensive list of military bases overseas that are accepting expired coupons, and the families can use them on base for 6 months after they expire. The list of bases who are accepting coupons will change periodically, so the best thing would be to just go to Grocery Saving Tips and scroll down when you are going to send those coupons out.
A few tips to follow:

• Cut all of your coupons you will be sending.  It will cut down on shipping costs.
• Divide coupons into "Non- Food" and "Food" Categories.  Put them in two separate plastic baggies.  Pet food is considered a non-food item.
• They can only use regular Manufacturer coupons.  So don't send store coupons or printed coupons of any sort.
• Send your coupons out quickly after they expire.  If your coupons are expired longer than 2 months, don't send them.

Now, yes, this will take a little more of your time, but if you've already been clipping every coupon as I have, the only real time it will take is pulling the expired coupons out (which you'd already be doing) separating them into food/non-food, (which they may already be if you are using a binder) and putting them in an envelope to mail (and addressing and sending) Definitely the best option as far as I'm concerned.

Just thought I'd let you know that there are options out there for what to do with those coupons you just couldn't quite get to.

New favorite

I have to say, I found a new favorite thing about couponing. Today was the BSA food drive in my area, and having extra food on hand that I could give them was great. Even better was that I didn't have to worry about being able to put that back into my food storage because a good portion of what I gave them, I got for free! Here is a picture of everything I was able to give them. We don't have a very big food storage yet, or I would have given multiple bags, but I have to say I am proud that I had to double bag, and that it didn't fit into the bag they gave us. Anyway... The picture.

Family Fresh Foods run

Okay so I made my trek up to Ogden to Family Fresh Foods yesterday. After the change in the coupon policy I wanted to see if it was still worth it to travel up there once a month. Yes! absolutely! I saved $20 MORE than I would have down here in Utah Valley. Even with the gas that my car takes, that is a $13 savings! Very exciting. So... are you ready for what I got!

I don't think I can go through and list what I got. I'm feeling far too lazy right now. But I got all of this for only $39 and change! I saved $40 in coupons as well. That is over a 50% savings! And, I didn't have coupons for the produce, and some of the items were not on sale, but are staples that I like to have on hand. So I think I did pretty dang good. It did take a lot of time. I did walk up and down the aisles looking for things that I either had a coupon for, or the price was low enough that if I had a coupon I'd take it, so I stopped to look through my binder fairly frequently, but I think it was well worth it.

Campbell's soup coupon

Okay, I just saw this and you should thank me because I am telling you about it before I get the coupons myself. Normally you can find Campbell's coupons for $1/4. Well, go here and get one for $1/2!! You will need to register, so you will only be able to get 2, even if you have multiple computers (dang) ;) Thanks 'Thrifty Ideas' for the info! Just sign up, and then click on coupons and savings, and then select the coupons you want!

Free Wienerschnitzel Chili Dog

Yup, free food from  restaurants, another favorite of mine. You should never pay full price for anything, and that includes eating out at restaurants. Just go here and fill out your information to get your free chili dog. They will send it to you in an email in a few days.

Free Pampers Cruisers Sample

Yay! for free diapers! (Even if it is just one or 2) I seriously think that diapers are the biggest expense my family has. So... Go here and either log in or sign up. There are actually a few higher-value coupons on the site you go to as well as the sample, so have fun with that. Just mark which offers you want, and submit to then fill out your information and get your freebies!

Free Sample Playtex sport

More necessities that I can get free? (and a coupon included) COUNT ME IN!!! I love freebies! So, just go here and fill out your information, and they'll send it to you. (4-6 week delivery time)

5 react experience

Go here to see if you will be chosen to have a 5 react experience. You will need to connect with facebook, It will play a video, and then if you are 'chosen' you will need to enter your address so that you can receive your black envelope in the mail. (I believe it will be something to do with free gum)

Free Power Bar Gel Blasts sample

These are little bite-sized energy boosts for those of you who are athletic, or if you just need a little bit of extra energy during your work day, or running after your kids. Go here and register for your free sample. Or, if you already have an account, just log in, and you can still get the freebie. You will need to either fill out your information, or check to make sure it's correct and resubmit and it will take 3 to 5 weeks to get to you.

FREEBIES!!! (this one is bottled water)

Woohoo! more freebies! I love these, and it doesn't really take me any more time to share them with all of you, so have fun! This will be the first of 9 freebie posts (if they all work) but they will have separate posts, so here it goes...

Now, this is actually a coupon, and it isn't completely free, but if you are one who regularly buys bottled water, its a great coupon for you. go here and print your 2 coupons for buy 2 get 1 free! You may have to search for the coupon, I don't know how to get it to you individually.

Coupons for La Choy Creations and Eagle Mills flour

Woohoo! I love getting flour coupons, and since these are on the same page, may as well get them both right? You never know when your going to see a really good sale, or find something on clearance and wish you had printed that coupon.

Free Sample Playtex Gentle Glide

Well, I know this is an expense a lot of us deal with, and I know I haven't seen very many deals where this becomes free, so any time I can get a freebie of it, I'm there. So, all you do is go here, fill out your information, and a few questions, hit submit, and they will send you your sample (which includes 3 tampons) in 4-6 weeks.

And here come more freebies!!

But again, if all of these tabs still work, there are too many for a separate post, so have at them all in this post!

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Ritz Munchables-Here's another one of the facebook fan freebies. Just go to facebook, become a fan here, and  then click on the green square (where it says to) fill out your information, and they will send you your free sample. (4-6 weeks).

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Physicians Formula- okay, not exactly a freebie, but almost. It's a b1g1 free coupon that they're giving you. So again, go to facebook and become a fan here. Then you need to register (click on "Register now") fill out your info in the pop-up and they will email you your coupon. Now, most of these I would fill out with your junk email address, but this one, you may not want to, just in case it gets lost in there. It also actually looks like you can print the coupon twice!

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10th Anniversary freebies- This is great. Vistaprint is having a 10th anniversary sale here, and they have 10 products that they are willing to give you for absolutely free! But the offer ends in 2 days, so you have to act fast! There are return address labels, business cards, calendars, tote bags and more! I haven't done it yet, because I want to get this done first, (and with the uploading of photos and such... I'll do that next), so I don't know, but I'll be willing to bet you need to pay shipping at least on the order, if not on the individual items. edit: you do have to pay shipping, but slow shipping (21 days) is $5.97. Still a fantastic deal!

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Free Puffs Plus to-go pack- Yay for these! I love keeping them in my purse or diaper bag, so that I actually have tissues with me when I need them. So, go here and enter your vocalpoint email address and password. If you are not a member yet, go here to sign up. Once you are registered, and have logged in through the first link (puffs) fill out your information and hit submit. You will be sent a package, and it should be there within 3-5 weeks.

Free Stride Gum-Here's another facebook one. Go become a fan of Stride gum, and then go to the MegaMystery tab. You will need to use Firefox for this one, because it seems the others have a bug. But once you're on the MegaMystery tab, click on the Stride gum picture, and then fill out your information and they will send you a package of the mystery flavor.

So there you are. 5 new freebies for you all to check out. Have fun!

And the results are in...

Well, the results of my work doing couponing anyway. I've been doing various freebies, and rebates, and they have started to make their way into my mailbox. These have come over the past 2-2 1/2 weeks.

 So, I've got a coupon, 2 things of shampoo and conditioner, a bar of soap, a packages of prunes and an $8 check! I love this. All except the check were freebies, and the check made it so that I got 2 packages of paper for $1 each. My favorite use for the shampoo/conditioner samples... TRAVELING!! I don't have to pack full sized anything, and these are very unlikely to burst in transit, and they take up very very little space. I'm hoping to have enough of these by July when we go on our family vacation. I'm also hoping to have saved enough from couponing, and my survey sites that we don't really have to pay anything from my husband's paycheck.

Ad match-ups for the week of March 15-20

Okay everyone, I figured that since I match things up anyway, I'd let you all take a peek at my list. Most of these are from the Sunday papers, but I didn't write which week (sorry, maybe next time) However, I found this great website, that you can go to, and enter in the brand name, and it will tell you what coupons are available from the Sunday papers, and then tell you what insert they're from! Great isn't it! If the coupon isn't on the list, then I probably printed it from online, from either Coupons.com, smartsource.com, or target's coupons. So yeah, here ya go. Next time I'll try to be better about getting you the specific coupons.

Coupon Deals March 15-20

Rite Aid

-Candy $1.99

            $2/3 RA cpn

            $2/3 mfr cpn (3/14 ss)

            $0.66 ea OOP wyb3

-Puffs facial tissue(60 or 108ct) $0.79

            b2g1 free mfr cpn (must be Vicks)

            $0.53 ea OOP wyb 3

-Dawn or Joy Dishwashing liquid (10oz) $0.79

            $0.25 Dawn cpn

            $0.30 Joy cpn

            $0.54 or $0.49 OOP

-Viva paper towels 8 rolls $5.99

            $0.40 mfr cpn

            $5.59 OOP

-Cottonelle toilet paper 12pk $5.99

            $0.50 mfr cpn

            $5.49 OOP

-Johnson’s Baby shampoo 20oz $5.49

            $1 RA cpn

            $1 mfr cpn

            $3.49 OOP

-Maybelline eye cosmetics $4.99 and up b1g1 50%

            $3.75 ea OOP wyb2

-Revlon color cosmetics/tools $2.49 and up b1g1 50%

            $1 mfr cpn

            $0.87 ea OOP wyb2

-Almay foundation/powder, concealer/blush $7.29 and up b1g1 50%

            $5 SCR wyb2

            $5.45 ea OOP wyb2

-Gillette Disposable Razors $5.99

            $1 RA cpn

            $4.99 OOP

Walgreens

-Haagen Daz Ice cream 14 oz 2/$6

            $1/2 mfr cpn

            $2.50 ea OOP wyb2

-Gold Medal Flour 2/$3

            $0.75 mfr cpn

            $0.75 OOP

-Old Spice or Secret Deodorant $2.29

            $1 OS cpn

            $0.50 S cpn

            $1.29 or $1.79 OOP

-Colgate Toothpaste $3.99

            $3.99 RR

            $1 mfr cpn

            $2.99 OOP

-Kleenex $0.89 (limit 3)

            $0.50/3 mfr cpn

            $0.72 ea OOP wyb3

Target

-Vitamin Water $1

- Gillette Venus/Fusion Razors $7

            $5 gift card wyb2 (includes cartridges)

            $4 Fusion cpn

            $3 OOP

-Windex 2/$5

            $0.55 mfr cpn

            $1.95 OOP

-Hamburger Helper $1

            $0.75/3 mfr cpn

            $0.75 ea OOP wyb3

-Colgate cavity protection toothpaste (4.2oz) $1

-Softsoap hand soap $1

-Green Giant frozen veggies (7-12oz) $1

            $0.50/2

            $0.75 ea OOP wyb 2

-Huggies Snug & Dry 2/$17

            $1.50 Target cpn

            $1 Target cpn

            $7.25 ea OOP

Price match Maceys

-Kelloggs pop tarts $1.48

            $5 gift card wyb4

            $1/2 mfr cpn

            2 $1/3 mfr cpn

            $1.11 ea OOP

-Downy fabric Softener 40oz $3.98

            $1 mfr cpn

            $2.98 OOP

Maceys

-Kelloggs cereal $1.88 w/in-ad cpn

            $1/2 mfr cpn (3/7 RP)

            $1.38 ea OOP

Family Fresh Foods

-Pilsbury dough (pizza, French bread) 3/$5

            $0.35 pizza cpn (doubles)

            $1.43 ea OOP

-Stouffer’s family sized $9.99

            $1/1 mfr cpn (doubles)

            $7.99 OOP

-Prego pasta sauce $1.39

            $0.50/2

            $0.89 ea OOP

-Kelloggs cereal 4/$10

            $1/2 mfr cpn (3/7 RP)

            $1.50/2 mfr cpn (mini wheats)

            $1.50 ea OOP

-Sara Lee Bread $1.79

            $0.55 mfr cpn (DND)

            $1.24 OOP

-Johnsonville sausage $2.79

            $0.55 mfr cpn (doubles)

            $1.79 OOP

-Hillshire farms deli select meats $3.19

            $0.35 mfr cpn (doubles)

            $2.49 OOP

-Downy fabric softener 40oz $4.79

            $1 mfr cpn (doubles)

            $2.79 OOP

So many freebies!!!

Wow, So, I have tons and tons of freebies that I've found (if they all work) and I don't have time to go through and give them all their own separate post. So this is going to be the major post of the day with all of these freebies in it. They all worked for me, hopefully they'll all work for you as well.

Here's the first one.  Olay Total Effects. I'm actually currently using it, and it's pretty good, though I don't know about it's claim to younger looking skin. So, go to the website, click on request your free sample, follow the directions, fill out the information, and you should have your freebie in about 4 weeks.

And for number 2: Get a $1/1 coupon for Kix here. I love those coupons, especially on cereal, because as long as they are not DNDs then if you have a store that will double, you can get cereal for really really cheap. You should be able to print it twice (yay for that) and it will expire 1 month after you print it. Edit, it is a DND, so no doubling, but it is still $1/1

For our third freebie, HURRY HURRY HURRY, there are only 10,000 of these spring cleaning kits from SC Johnson. This includes:
One box ziploc bags
One Scrubbing Bubbles toilet cleaning gel
One Pouch of Pledge Multi-Surface wipes
Go fill out your information, but then you'll have to wait, because they aren't being mailed out until June 15th. Hopefully a good number of us will get in the first 10,000.

Okay, okay, this one isn't a freebie, but we all need lots of printer ink, and here is a great code. eForCity.com has great prices on ink, and the ink works very well, even though they're not actually the name brands. They do have a 10% off code effective right now though. You can use the code EF10YEAR to get 10% off any order, including printer ink, through March 31st. (Thanks Melea for this one)

The next one is more coupons actually. We have an offer from Kraft foods and P&G to get $20 worth of coupons for Albertson's. Now, for any of us living here in Utah, that doesn't necessarily do a whole lot of good, seeing as we don't have any Albertson's anymore, but they may be Manufacturer coupons, in which case they would be great. Just go here and fill out your information and they'll send you your coupons in the mail, and you should have them in 2 to 3 weeks.

Okay, anyone for free children's books? Let me tell you I sure am. Go here to find books, and you can open them with Adobe Acrobat (which you can download for free here) Yay! for reading to our children!

Okay, so some of them actually were already expired, but that still felt like a lot. Go get 'em!

Rite Aid

Well, the CoverGirl freebie I told you about (double up the b1g1s) worked. Unfortunately though, I have to say that overall I am not very pleased with Rite Aid. They just didn't have very good stock. I tried to get some of the deals I had looked at, and they were out of the products, and for the CoverGirl, they were out of my color in all but 1 type. Now, I didn't complain too much on that one, because they did have my color, and it was free, but unless there are super good things like that again, I probably won't be shopping at Rite Aid very much.

Free Huggies Snug & Dry sample

Free diapers are my favorite! Yes, it is a sample, so only 2, but still, especially on this one, I'll take what I can get. Fill out your information here and answer the questions at the bottom of the page. Submit it and then wait 4-6 weeks. You do NOT have to be a Costco member to get this.

Free Nelson's Pure and Clear Face Wash

Yay! for free samples, but they only have 5,000, act fast. Go here and fill out your information. Unfortunately, it won't tell you whether or not you're one of the 5,000 when you register, but it may send an email to you about it.

$1 Wheat Thins coupon

Go here to get a $1 off coupon when you become a fan on facebook. This is great! Especially if you have access to a store that will double coupons, then you can get this for free or nearly free. Yay! I love this. Its so fun.