| Over the past 12 years or so I have saved | | | | To make sure I got a good return on my time |
| thousands of dollars with grocery coupons. I | | | | investment, I decided not to do any rebates that |
| make no secret of the fact that if you know | | | | offered less than $10 for each completed rebate |
| when and how to use grocery coupons, they are | | | | offer. You may want to decide what your |
| like free money. When you consider the fact that | | | | personal rebate minimum is to make the most of |
| 99% of them are thrown away, it is pretty easy | | | | your time. When you find a qualifying rebate, |
| for grocery coupon users to get a lot of free | | | | follow these simple steps to eliminate wasted |
| money with very little effort. Friends and family | | | | time and paperwork frustration: |
| members who do not share my love of | | | | |
| couponing are more than happy to give me their | | | | 1. Begin by addressing the envelope to the rebate |
| unused grocery coupon circulars, and I save even | | | | center immediately. |
| more! | | | | 2. Tear out the rebate form and put it in the |
| But I will admit that I have not been an avid user | | | | envelope. |
| of rebates. I know there are shoppers who know | | | | 3. Write your shopping list and find any grocery |
| how to work the rebates to save as much or | | | | coupons that are available for the rebate items, |
| even more than I do with grocery coupons. When | | | | and put them in the envelope. |
| you combine the two strategies, you can really | | | | 4. Fold the envelope and put it in your coupon |
| save big bucks. So I have tried rebates in the | | | | organizer, wallet or purse. |
| past and found that I managed to misplace | | | | 5. As soon as you shop and receive the receipt, |
| receipts and rebate forms, missed deadlines or | | | | put it in the addressed envelope (instead of |
| overlooked required details. In spite of making an | | | | putting it in your wallet or shopping bag, which |
| effort, I would get a card in the mail that simply | | | | you would have to spend time searching for |
| explained I had not met the requirements of the | | | | later). |
| rebate offer. Until recently, I hadn't tried any | | | | 6. When you get home, fill out the rebate form |
| rebates for about five years. | | | | and cut off any required UPC codes from the |
| But the rebating world has changed. Stores seem | | | | packages (which only one out of five rebates |
| to recognize that many of us are | | | | required). |
| "rebate-impaired" and they are working harder to | | | | 7. Stamp the envelope and mail it. You can find |
| get our attention by offering very easy, | | | | generous grocery rebate offers in the Sunday |
| streamline rebate programs. Not only are they | | | | newspaper coupon circulars, from tear pads |
| easier than in the past, but they are extremely | | | | posted on store shelves, at the customer service |
| generous, offering many items that are free with | | | | counter at your grocery store, and on the |
| a rebate. Rather than waiting for shoppers to | | | | websites of food manufacturers. Look for the |
| discover the free rebate offers, some stores | | | | word "promotion" or "special offers" on |
| even take the time to tell shoppers which items | | | | manufacturers' websites to see if they have |
| are free after a rebate! It doesn't get much | | | | printable rebate forms available. Combining rebate |
| easier than that to save money. The key is to | | | | offers with sale items and coupons can really |
| know where these programs are and how to | | | | stretch your savings. I received a $10 cash |
| maximize their savings. | | | | rebate for buying 20 cans of vegetables, broth |
| So a few months ago I decided to give rebates | | | | and tomatoes. Because the items were on sale |
| another try. I know that my mental block | | | | and I had coupons, I ended up making a couple of |
| regarding rebates probably had more to do with | | | | dollars after receiving the $10 rebate! |
| my disorganization than the rebate itself, so I set | | | | In addition to cash rebates, you may also want to |
| out to find an easy rebate system that would | | | | take advantage of free merchandise rebates if |
| work for me. | | | | they did not require much effort. I found a couple |
| I am happy to report that my simple system has | | | | of easy rebates for merchandise my sons |
| worked for me, and I have saved over $160 in | | | | wanted. One son liked a free Curious George |
| four months by completing a few simple forms | | | | computer game that he saw on the back of his |
| (and I'm not stopping, so the savings continue | | | | cereal box. The offer only required cutting out the |
| every month). True to their word, the retailers | | | | UPC codes from two boxes of cereal (purchased |
| promptly sent me my rebate money. I did not fail | | | | on sale with coupons) and mailing them with the |
| any rebate tests by receiving "rejected rebate" | | | | rebate form (no receipt required, which was |
| cards. Best of all, the rebate process has not | | | | fortunate because I hadn't saved it). My other son |
| taken me very much time at all. So if you | | | | wanted a Campbells cookbook that featured |
| consider yourself to be "rebate-impaired," keep | | | | stories of NFL football players he saw advertised. |
| reading so you can start saving more money, | | | | By cutting out three UPC codes from Campbell's |
| easily. I thought I would share my rebate secrets | | | | products (again, purchased on sale with coupons) |
| with those of you who consider yourselves to be | | | | and sending in $1, I got the cookbook that had |
| "rebate-impaired." | | | | easy recipes I liked, too! |
| I tested two types of rebates. One type is | | | | You can find grocery rebates in many places, |
| rebates offered directly by the manufacturer for | | | | including the grocery coupon circulars, store |
| various grocery items (purchased at any store). | | | | displays, and the customer service counter at |
| The other type is drugstore rebates, which are | | | | your grocery store. You can also go to the |
| offered by individual drugstore chains like Eckerd, | | | | websites of your favorite manufacturers and look |
| Rite Aid and Walgreens. This column will discuss | | | | for their Promotions section. They will frequently |
| how to find good grocery rebates and my next | | | | have rebate offers with printable forms right on |
| column will explain how to use the drugstore | | | | their sites. |
| rebate programs. | | | | |