Family Circle
Q: With five hungry kids to feed, every penny counts. I could use some help saving at the supermarket. --- Kathy DiDonato Springfield, Pennsylvania
A: Web sites that offer recipes and coupons are a big help. There's even a Web site that utilizes what you already have in your fridge and pantry to create delicious recipes. Go to www.cookingbynumbers.com/frames.html.
Here are my picks for some of the top coupon, food and cooking sites: www.foodtv.com; www.allrecipes.com; www.cooks.com; www.cooking.com.
Q: What's the best way to keep track of mail-in refunds? --- Susan Ray McKinney, Texas
A: I suggest keeping a notebook with a list of all your refunds. A sim¬ple column system with the following headers should do nicely: COMPANY, NAME, REFUND ADDRESS, DATE SUBMITTED, REFUND OFFER and DATE RECEIVED. Check each refund off as it arrives. If after four months you still haven't received your refund, send the company an e-mail or call their toll-free number.
Q:0020Most of the stores I frequent accept coupons, but they all have different rules concerning double coupons, preferred shopper programs and Internet coupons. Can you help sort it all out? --- Karen Willard Elma, New York
A: Understanding each store’s policy will be to your advantage. For ex¬ample: One store I fre-quent doubles coupons up to 99¢, so I use my high-value coupons there and often get the items for free. Another store has great prices all the time, so they don’t need to double coupons. I alternate my shopping to take advantage of both retailers.
As of late, Internet coupons have presented a redemption problem for stores, but manufacturers are trying to correct this.
Q: I found a terrific re¬funding program by Eckerd Drug Stores called All-in-One Rebate. Every month the store prints a catalog. As you purchase the products featured, you fill out one form and receive one re¬bate check. Eckerd also publishes a coupon book that can be combined with the rebate offers. How common is this type of program? --- Stefame Harvey, Pilesgrove, New Jersey
A: You've hit on one of the best types of rebate: the single-check rebate. Most often found in health and beauty aid chains like Eckerd (www2.eckerd.com), Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) and Rite Aid (www.riteaid .com), the concept has spread to hardware stores such as True Value (www.truevalue.com) and office superstores like Office Max (www. officemax.com) and Office Depot (www.officedepot.com). You can easily access each store’s flyer online to view the specials.
Q: I have so many coupons that they literally go to waste. I want to make the most of them and think coupon swapping is the way to go. Any advice? --- Michele Camacho, Babylon, New York
A: Coupon swapping al¬lows you to utilize all of your coupons and get ones you need in ex-change. To start, get a group of friends togeth¬er for a coupon coffee klatch. Or set up a coupon bin at work where you can deposit unused coupons and take ones you need. Also check local libraries and supermarkets for coupon exchanges, and trade through the mail. E-mail me at coupons50@aol.com for a list of local and long¬-distance traders.
Q: With a husband, three boys and nu¬merous pets, every penny I save is well worth it. Last week I saved 60 percent on my weekly trip to the store. Any tips on how I can save even more? --- Sandra Gray, Kingsport, Tennessee
A: To increase your sav¬ings, consider pet items. Log on to www.purina one.com and click on 30-Day Performance Challenge. After answering a few questions, you'll get a coupon for a free four-pound bag of dog or cat food.
Q Whenever there is a big sale on canned goods, I buy a few extra and donate them to a local food bank or food pantry. Coupon deals have been wonderful in helping me do this. I just found a link on the Dannon Web site (www.dannon.com) for a donation to Second Har¬vest. (Click on Dannon Cares for more informa¬tion.) Do you know of any other companies that donate this way? --- Virginia Ann Senyk, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
A: Here are a few more: • Yoplait has the Save Lids to Save Lives pro¬motion. For each lid submitted. Yoplait will donate 10¢ to the Susan G. Komen Breast Can¬cer Foundation. Visit www.yoplait.com for in¬formation; • Keebler and Kellogg's have teamed up for an anti-breast-cancer promotion. Visit www.riobonsforlife.com for details; • Turns helps America's firefighters by donating 10¢ for each bottle of antacid purchased to the First Responder Institute. Visit www.tums.com for complete details.
For more great savings, check out Samtur's newsletter “Refundle Bundle” (12 issues/2 years/$23.87); Refundle Bundle. PO- Box 140 FC. Yonkers. NY 10710. FC readers who subscribe will receive a free coupon book with $300 worth of coupons.
Q: I love double coupons but find it difficult to keep track of stores that offer these great savings. Any suggestions? --- Heidi Sheffey, Lebanon. Tennessee
A: The process of doubling coupons goes in cycles and is often driven by competition. Example: A manufacturer offers a coupon worth 50¢, and your supermarket doubles the value to $1. The store picks up the cost of doubling the coupon as a promotion. For a list of stores that double coupons, go to the Web site http://groups.msn.com. Type the words double coupons in the Web search box, then click on the GO button.
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