Q&A with the Centsible Saver is an occasional feature on the blog. If you have a question for a future Q&A, leave it at the bottom of this post or email it to adunn@newsobserver.com.
Today I've got questions about mail-in rebates and Catalina deals so here goes:
Q: Have you ever run into a situation where you had two items that qualified for rebates on the same receipt, but the rebate required you to send the original receipt, not a copy? If so, how did you handle?
A: That's a tough one. And there's nothing really you can do about it after the fact. But if you want to be proactive, I would recommend splitting up your order at the cash register and paying separately to get multiple receipts: one for meats, one for produce, one for snack foods and one for everything else. I don't do this on a regular basis, but I have done it when I already have multiple rebates in hand and I'm buying items for each of them. Anybody else have ideas?
Q: How would you advise someone to organize their store receipts and/or barcodes for mail-in rebates? I have noticed that sometimes there are date restrictions when items must be purchased between certain dates, but I've also noticed that sometimes a rebate only asks for the product barcode and you don't have to mail a receipt. I have found that sometimes I had just thrown away a barcode that I could have used for a rebate. I am very interested in your advice on if you think it is worth the time to try and save barcodes and if so, how do you think would be the best way to organize them?
A: When I get a receipt, I immediately put it in my wallet, then transfer it later to a paper-clipped stash I keep in a kitchen drawer. Whenever I get a rebate, I'll sort through my receipts looking for one that will meet the requirements.
If I don't have the necessary receipts, I'll put the rebate form in the front of my coupon binder as a visual reminder to purchase those items the next time they go on sale.
As a general rule, I don't save barcodes. I'm somewhat of a minimalist and the thought of saving barcodes makes me a little crazy!
Q: How do you find out about Catalina deals that spit out coupons for money off your next grocery order?
A: CouponNetwork.com is a terrific resource for finding out about current Catalina deals that reward customers with coupons for money off their next grocery order. The site offers printable coupons and a list of current Catalina offers and the stores that are offering them.
Also check the coupons you receive when you check out at the grocery store. Some times one will spit out for an upcoming deal, giving you the dates and purchase requirements.
Do you have a question about coupons, freebies, saving money or living a frugal lifestyle? Leave your question at the end of this post or email it to adunn@newsobserver.com.
