Quick Tutorial for Confused Couponers — Expiration Dates

 

It’s come to my attention that some new couponers could use a little info to help them get started in the right direction.  

I’ve received emails and Facebook posts with frustrations that the inserts dropped at the Stratford Library have expired. The inserts there don’t last long because the program is extremely popular with patrons, so it’s pretty impossible to find expired coupons at that particular location. But, I think what’s happening is that some people are getting confused with the date the insert was published and the expiration dates of actual coupons. These are two different dates.

To make things easier, here is a pictorial tutorial I put together to help coupon newbies.

And…to add…couponing has changed in the past year or so. Not necessarily for the better, but we have to make the best of it. (We have that TLC show to thank for this…) Expiration dates of coupons from inserts have become shorter with the exception of some manufacturers that actually do have 3 to 6 month expiration dates. Numerous coupons now have shorter 6 week expiration dates. The printable coupons from the internet seem to have the short expiration dates. But in the end, there are plenty of great deals and freebies out there and it doesn’t take that long to coordinate your shopping list/sales/coupons every week.

On to the tutorial…

I took a recent Smart Source coupon insert that came from my Sunday paper…

Following are some examples of coupons that came from this particular insert…

and finally another example, but there are plenty more in the actual insert….

Hoping this helped, but please drop a line in comments or on the Facebook page. Thanks!

~TFF