Donating unneeded items from around the house is always a win-win situation: your home gets decluttered and someone else reaps the benefits of your over-abundance. This same principle that works so well around your home can also help your coupon file remain manageable. Donating expired coupons to military families and un-needed coupons to shelters means fewer you have to carry around and sort through in-store, and the worthy causes and individuals who are on the receiving end of your generosity will thank you for it.
Instructions
1. Go through the file you currently keep on hand and pull out any expired coupons for pet food. As long as these are no more than three months past the expiration date, they can be sent to military families overseas to use in the commissaries there. Organizations such as "Coupons for Troops" specialize in coordinating donating families in the U.S. with military families overseas who can use the coupons. The cost to send them is no more than your usual postal fees.
2. Clip the pet food coupons from your Sunday paper, and donate them to local animal rescues. Most animal rescues welcome donations of pet food coupons. Make the donated coupons specific to the shelter--dog food coupons to dog rescues, etc--unless the rescue staff tells you differently. Some shelters can also use the UPC's from your own pet food packages to earn free items for the shelter.
3. Find an elderly or housebound neighbor who could use your leftover pet food coupons. People living on fixed incomes may welcome the chance to use coupons to save a few dollars. You may have to deliver the coupons in person, but the satisfaction of helping out a neighbor will make the extra effort worthwhile.
4. Ask if you can place a coupon swap box on the counter at your local thrift store. Patrons can add to or take from the box as needed while waiting to check out.
5. Tack extra coupons to community bulletin boards at local pet supply stores.
Tags: food coupons, military families, animal rescues, expired coupons, families overseas, from your
