Check Your Rain Check Expiration Dates
Rain checks:*A written slip that you can request from a store when a sale item is out of stock. When the store restocks the item after the sale period is over, a rain check entitles you to purchase for the previous sale price.
*Store may include an expiration date as well as a quantity limit on your rain check. Rain checks are usually issued at the register or customer service desk.
*Rain checks can really come in handy, especially in areas that have low stock of sale items. However, you’ll want to make sure to check and double check the expiration dates to use them in time! Some stores (such as CVS) don’t have rain check expiration dates, while others vary from 30, 60, to 90 days from the date the rain check is written.
*Put rain checks, especially ones with short expiration times, in a prominent place to help you remember to use them before they expire.
*If you are frequently getting rain checks and have a collection of then, consider writing out a list of the rain checks you have and the dates they will expire. If there is a corresponding coupon to be used with the rain check, keep the two together and also note the coupon expiration date on your list.
*Additionally, if the store is still out of the product at the rain check’s end date, have them write you an additional one to extend the time to get the product.
**If you are new to this coupon saving these are some ideas that must be taken into account and we will make a lot of help.**
Coupons Tips
- DON'T FALL IN LOVE WITH A PARTICULAR BRAND - Try products for which you have coupons. You will be surprised to find new things you like.
- BUY TWO SUNDAY PAPERS - If you buy the paper at a store, you can guarantee the weekly circular coupons will be inside. The most common circular coupons are Red Plum, P&G and Smartsource.
- DON'T IMMEDIATELY CLIP OUT THE SUNDAY COUPONS - Stores tend not to put items on sale that are in a particular week's circular. But a few weeks later a store frequently will put the item on sale, which adds to the savings when you use the coupon
Shopping Smart Tips
- Match your coupons with sales and clearance to get the best prices.
- Stack manufacturer and store coupons when possible.
- Use a coupon book, folder, or binder. This helps you keep your coupons organized and quickly access them in the store.
- Read the weekly store ads that come in the paper to see who has the best prices.
Where to find coupons?
Printable Coupon Sources- Almost always can print 2 coupons per computer!- Target - mostly store coupons, but also mfg. coupons as well
- Bricks - a coupon software company that contracts with product manufacturers to supply (links to) internet coupons. Can hit back button and print 2 coupons per computer. Here is an example of an expired Bricks coupon for Old Orchard juice.
**I'll go now talk about coupons!**
There are all types of coupons. There are blinkies, tearpads, hangtags, insert coupons, booklet coupons, printables and more (Need a definition of each coupon?? Just click the basics tab at the top of the site) The majority of coupons you find are manufacturer’s coupons. It is very easy to identify a manufacturer’s coupon –when you look at the barcode these coupons will ALWAYS begin with the number “5″ or the number “9″. Often the coupon will state “manufacturer’s coupon” on it…but not always. If you are in an area where Publix doubles coupons, coupon 50¢ and under that begin with the number “5″ will automatically double at the register. Those that begin with the number “9″ will not automatically double and will need to be manually doubled by the cashier.
Some manufacturer’s coupons may have a store name or logo printed on them. Unless the coupon specifies that the coupon MUST be used at a specific store, you should be able to use the manufacturer’s coupon at any store that accepts coupons. So, if you happen to print a coupon from the Target website where the barcode begins with the number “5″ and has a Target logo–that is still a manufacturer’s coupon.
The biggest things to remember about manufacturer’s coupons is that you can only use one per item purchased AND to use it you must abide by the wording. So if you have a coupon that is for $1 off when you buy 2 boxes of crackers, in order to use that coupon you must have TWO boxes of the specified cracker. Since you have used a coupon to discount those two boxes, you will not be able to use another manufacturer’s coupon on either of those crackers. If you happen to pick up a box of crackers that has a peelie attached to the box, you must make a choice – use the peelie or use the coupon you had intended to use.
The wording on coupons is very important. The wording can be tricky especially when you are using coupons that require another purchase or apply to multiple products. Your best bet is to look at what item is being “discounted” . Here are a couple of examples:
-$1 off when you buy Nabisco Cookies and Milk — In this case you must buy both cookies AND milk in order to get the $1 discount. No other coupons may be used on either the cookies or the milk!If you stick to the wording and make sure you are using the correct coupons on the correct items you will be good to go
-$1 off milk when you buy Nabisco Cookies –Here you are getting a $1 discount on milk when you buy a qualifying product. The coupon does not discount the cookies so you may use an addtional coupon to “discount” the cookies.
One of the great things about Publix is that they allow you to use a Publix (or competitor) store coupon with a manufacturer’s coupon!! Just like manufacturer’s coupons you must abide by the wording. Store coupons are pretty easy to spot. Most Publix coupons have a LU number. You might spot a few with a barcode…but remember the barcode will NEVER begin with a “5″ or “9″ and Publix coupons are usually identified as a store coupon.
Now let’s talk about printable coupons. Most internet printables have a limit of two prints per computer. They limit the prints for a reason. The company that issues the coupon only want to allow so many to be redeemed as they are the ones that will have to pay the store when it is time for the coupon to be reimbursed!
You never want to copy internet printable coupons!! By using copied coupons you are creating coupons that should not exist! Manufacturers are not obligated to reimburse these coupons as they are copies! I know many of you are asking how will anyone know it is a copy…well, each coupon has a unique code that appears on the coupon. I have circled the number in red to show you where you will find the number.
Would you make a copy of a coupon from the newspaper? Making a copy of a printable coupon is no different! Print limits exist for a reason. If you read the fine print on the coupon it says that the coupon is VOID IF COPIED! If we want stores to continue to accept printable coupons we have to make sure that we use them appropriately. Remember…a few can spoil it for many!
Here is an example of the location of the pin number on SmartSource coupons:
