Advanced Coupon Strategies

Here's the scoop on finding the real deals using coupons. These simple advanced coupon strategies can really help you save money.

Combine Coupons. Increase your savings by combining a manufacturer coupon with a store coupon for the same item. Hint: Take your savings to the next level, by combining these coupons during a store sale and/or coupling it with an in-store rebate.

Buy Multiple Papers. If the Sunday paper contains a good set of coupons, it may make sense buy another copy of it. Sometimes, you need to spend $3 on the extra paper to get an extra $15 saved in coupons - not a bad trade off. Hint: Some stores will discount their Sunday paper on Monday, so you can save even more money.)

Buy Out of Town Papers. Sunday coupon inserts vary region to region. Buying an out of town paper can score you coupons on products that you would otherwise not get.

Make A Coupon File. Carry your coupons with you wherever you go, so you can use your coupons on the fly. Talked with my nephews the other day, and within 5 minutes of the conversation, I forked over $35 in discounts and free passes to the movies and a museum. Hint: Organize them in a pocket file organizer with the 12 folders. Leave the organize in your car or carry it in your purse.

Double Your Savings. Find out which stores double coupons and up to what amount. At these stores, prices may run higher in generally, but a double coupon will still net you a great deal.

Buy an Entertainment Book. By July, the price for this book has dropped to $5 (from $30 in Nov). My edition offers 4 separate $5 coupons at my local supermarket. So, the $5 purchase nets me $15. In addition, the book is loaded with great coupons for the movies, the driving range, and a large variety of stores that I purchase at frequently. Chia-ching!

Sign up for Email Alerts. Register online at your favorite stores for email alerts and advance notice of sales. Hint: To manage the large volume of email, I have these alerts to a seperate email account that I use strictly for coupon tracking only.

Go to Coupon Sites. While there are hundreds of online coupon sites, here's my short list of the best of breed of e-coupons . I like these sites because: (1) the discounts are fresh, (2) the deals are reliable, and (3) the interfaces are easy to use. Coupons.com, CouponMom, Smartsource, Retailmenot, and Couponcabin.

Lowell Folk Festival - A Great $10 Date

Nothing like a good cheap date or a bargain to give this girl a thrill. Here's this week's perfect summer weekend pick for a great date for $10 or less.

Lowell Folk Festival. Doesn't matter how your musical tastes run, there is something for everyone at this festival - the largest of its kind in the country. Polka, Bluegrass, Jazz, Gospel, Zydeco. Quebecois, Western Swing, honky-tonk, brass bands, and many more. Definitely, a fun time and the potential for dancin' in the streets. Music is free at one of 6 outdoor venues across the City. Ethnic foods and arts/crafts also available. It must be good - New York Times just identified it as one its top picks for a summer getaway!

And while you're in Lowell, check out these other great things to do...

Visit the Lowell National Historic Park. Take a canal boat tour and explore the Merrimack River. $10

Boott Cotton Mill Museum. Visit the weaving room. Learn about the Industrial Revolution, the labor movement, and the rise, fall, and rebirth of Lowell. $6

American Textile History Museum. Learn all about the history of textile manufacturing revolution in America. Current exhibits are quite good. $8 -but save yourself some money and use a $2 off coupon available.

Cheaper Hotel Rooms

Just coached a friend through how to stretch her vacation dollars by saving money on hotel rooms. Reserving a hotel room is often the most expensive part of your travel plans. Try some of these great tips on saving money when booking your hotel room.

Bypass the 800# and call the hotel directly. Call the on-site reservation desk and get the deals and rewards associated with the particular hotel. Ask for package deals. and always end with "Is this the best offer you can provide?"

Ask at Check-In. When you arrive at the hotel, ask if any value-added options or room rates reductions have become available since you booked the room.

Celebrating a special occasion. Let the hotel know if you're celebrating a special occasion. It's one of the easiest ways to get a free upgrade.

Know how important the view is. If you're not interested in the ocean view or the size of the room doesn't matter, try negotiating for an alternative view, smaller room, or room in the hotel's annex at a lower price. If you're not going to enjoy the view, why pay for it?

Select off-season locations or of-peak times. It's no secret that room rates are cheaper in the off season and off-peak times. Travel right before or after the peak season for a favorite vacation hotspot. Traveling for a weekend? Select a hotel that caters to business travelers. On the weekends, these hotels are likely to have more rooms available and at cheaper rates.

Choose a University. University often rent their dorm rooms in the summer for a fraction of the price of a hotel. I have a niece who snagged a great room at Cornell Med School Dorms in downtown NYC for $30 a night. Might be no thrills rooming, but it's a bargain hard to beat.

Beware of hidden fees. Make sure you understand what services are available as part of your room rate. It's not uncommon for hotels to charge extra for services as newspaper delivery, wireless access, or parking. It's often less expensive to go off property for these things (e.g., buy the paper at local newsstand, surf for free at a local bake shop or park a few blocks away from the hotel property). If these services are part of a packaged deal and you have no plans to use them, negotiate these services out for a lower rate.

Call the local Chamber of Commerce. You can often get lower hotel rates through special offers at local Chamber of Commerce.

Use your memberships. If you're a AAA member or AARP member, have an Entertainment Book, membership can often save you 10-20% off a room rate.

Free Pastry @ Starbucks on 7/21

I'm beginning to think that I'll never pay for another cup of coffee or a sweet treat anymore. It seems like almost everyone is offering an incentive to get buyers into their storefronts. Anyhow, here's the latest way to save some money with little or no effort...

On Tuesday, July 21, stop by your local Starbucks and get a free pastry to go with your morning brew. Promotion runs from store's opening until 10:30 or whenever pastry runs out. Promotion celebrates Starbuck's new line of breakfast goods baked without artificial preservatives, colors or trans fats. Just show your coupon to your barista.

Saving Money by Winning at Rebates

Filing this week's rebates for Staples purchases - $26 of back to school supplies (e.g., pencils, pens, and highlighters) for free. Thus far, in July, I'm getting $80+ cash back in rebates. Thought I would share my tips for winning at the rebate game. It takes some effort and time, but you can save alot of money redeeming rebates.

Know your threshold for following through. According to a recent Aberdeen Group survey involving 175 companies, redemption rates on rebates is 58%. So, if you don't submit the paperwork and can't handle the wait time, rebates aren't for you. You're likely to pay more for the item than if you waited for the item to go on sale.

Be disciplined. Most folks think they'll process the paperwork, but never get around to it. Give yourself a deadline (e.g., 48 hrs post purchase) to complete the paperwork.

Avoid losing the rebate on a technicality. Follow directions. Most rebates are rejected because the consumer failed to follow the directions correctly (e.g., used the wrong bar code, incomplete information, wrong UPC code or rebate receipt code, using a PO box when physical street address is required, missing box top etc.)

Know what's required. Understand the deadlines for submission, rebates available per customer, rebates per physical address, special instructions, proof of purchase requirements, etc. Sometimes the cost and effort of processing the rebate outweigh the value of the rebate.

Make copies. Make copies of all documents before you mail them. If you need to contest a rebate rejection, you'll need your backup.

Track the time. Mark the process time on a calender so you can follow up if you're in non-receipt of your rebate check within a reasonable time.

Watch the mail. Some rebate checks can look like junk mail,so watch the mail carefully to avoid accidentally tossing them out. Once you receive it, cash it. Most checks have an expiration date.