Tomorrow we’ll see another episode of TLC’s “Extreme Couponers.”  After the episode last week, there have been numerous allegations that one of the couponers that was featured on the episode has used thousands of coupons incorrectly.  As I’ve read comments on various Facebook pages, message boards, and blogs this week, there are two main “themes” that stood out the most to me.

If a coupon doesn’t “beep” or a cashier pushes it through, who CARES – it’s the stores fault or the manufacturer’s fault

Have you ever been on a coupon trip where your cashiers stood there and read through to fine print on every single coupon you’re using?  Have you ever been faced with having to dig through your bags to match up coupons with the products you’re buying?  This is both embarrassing and time consuming and this is the direction that we’re headed in if people continue to function under the mentality that the store or cashiers have the responsibility to make sure that coupons match up.  As a consumer, you have a responsibility to use your coupons correctly.  Just because it “can” go through doesn’t mean you should use it incorrectly and if you do use it correctly, this is coupon fraud.

Who cares if someone else does this?  Just leave them alone – it doesn’t affect you.

If you truly believe that other people using coupons incorrectly doesn’t affect you, you are sadly mistaken.  I’ve been using coupons for several years now, so I’ve seen the cycle of what happens when there is a wave of fraudulent coupons or when coupons are used incorrectly.  Several of my grocery stores stopped taking internet printables for awhile a few years ago when several fake, high dollar printable coupons were released.  When you use coupons incorrectly, stores will not be reimbursed, which means that they lose money.  Guess who foots the bill for this?  We do!  Prices will be higher, stores will tighten up their coupon policies, and manufacturer’s will stop putting out high dollar coupons.

If you think there aren’t legal consequences for improper coupon usage, you are also mistaken.   About a year ago, on a message board that I belong to, someone posted this video about a woman who had been arrested for using thousands of dollars in fraudulent coupons. As a “couponer” I know how exciting the “thrill of the bargain” can be, but improper coupon usage hurts us all in the end.  Through the years, I have also learned that just because you read about a deal online, that doesn’t mean that it is “legit.”

Here are some tips for proper coupon usage:

Read “the fine print” ~ Most coupons have specifications such as size limitations included on them.  If the coupon says “good on any” then it truly should be good on any product, including trial sizes.  If the coupon says “one per purchase” that means that you can use one coupon for each item that you are purchasing.  So, if you are purchasing 5 items and you have 5 coupons, you should be able to use all 5 items.  If the coupon says “one per transaction” that means that you can only use one of those coupons in your transaction.  So, if you have 5 coupons, you would have to do 5 separate transactions to use all of those coupons.  Also, pay attention to the terms of the coupon.  For example, if a coupon says $1 off 2, you would need to purchase two products to use that one coupon.

Do not copy coupons ~ One of the biggest “newbie” mistakes I hear about is people copying coupons and particularly printable coupons.  Many printable coupons have print limits, which can be frustrating and they all “look” the same, so what’s the harm, right?  What some people don’t realize is that the printable coupons have a unique code that prints in the upper right hand corner of each coupon.  In addition, some have a special background that will not show up if you copy them.  Many store employees have been trained to look for this, and if you have copied coupons, it will quickly become obvious.  A visit with your store’s loss prevention is not worth that extra bargain and will not even end up being a bargain in the long run.  Many manufacturer’s are now changing the code on printable coupons, which will make it more difficult to “decode” and more difficult to copy.

Beware of fake coupons ~ If it looks or sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Just because you found it online or got it in an e-mail doesn’t mean that it’s “real” and you don’t want to be caught using a fraudulent coupon.  Read more about How to Spot Fake Coupons.

Be courteous ~ Don’t clear the shelves in one store and don’t plan big trips during “prime” shopping hours.  Read more about The Rules of Coupon Etiquette.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information

Are you finding that your stockpile over over the counter medications is a bit out of control lately thanks to deals where you got them for free or close to free?  Do you find yourself handing them out like candy to friends, family members, and even strangers on the street?

If you’ve accumulated a stash of over the counter medicine that will take care of your family far beyond its shelf life and you’re looking for places to donate your unused items, here are some suggestions:

Your child’s school – The clinic or nurse’s office at your child’s school is not just for students!  You’d be surprised at the number of teachers who visit the nurses office in search of relief from headaches, indigestion, cold and flu symptoms, or allergies.  I work in a school, so I’m not just making this up! Your school nurse would likely greatly appreciate any items that you have!  The school may also be able to use unused blood glucose monitors.

Shelters – Homeless shelters and battered women’s shelters will usually be grateful for any over the counter medications you can provide for their residents.  You can find a list of homeless shelters in your area here.  You can find a list of battered women’s shelters in your area here.

Senior centers -Senior citizens are often on fixed incomes and do not have extra money to spend on over the counter medications and they aren’t always able to get out and take advantage of all of the great deals.  Consider donating some of your unused medications to a local senior center.  This may also be a great resource for donating some of those other freebies such as Depends, Poise pads, and TENA pads.

Food banks – Food banks will sometimes take health and beauty items in addition to non-perishable food items.  To find a local food bank in your area, check out this list here.

As you’re getting ready to donate some of your excess over the counter medications, you might also want to check out this post on I Heart Organizing about how to organize (and dispose of) your medications.  There are some great tips!

Don’t forget to get a receipt for your donation so that you can keep track of it for tax purposes!

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information.