Making Cents of Coupons in Loganville

Twenty women gathered in Loganville as Elaine Hale, developer of the "Making Cents of Coupons" class, extolled the virtues of using coupons. During the course of the two and a half hour presentation, Hale explained the nuances of couponing, answered questions and offered sage insights based on her experiences.

Each participant received a detailed workbook and coupons to get them started. Upon completion of the session, one lucky participant won $200 in coupons and another won a one hour massage session from the evening’s sponsor,  Kathy Mackay, LMT owner of Escape Relaxation.

On a mission to share her knowledge, Hale spoke in depth on where to find valuable coupons, different ways to organize them and  strategies to make the information easily accessible while using coupons to their greatest advantage. She was quick to share tips and stories on successful outings where her coupons netted her money back. 

The concepts discussed are easy to put into practice and were helpful for those just starting out and for many who have already experienced savings through coupons. One of the more interesting ideas covered was how to use coupons to pay for items on the grocery list that historically do not have coupons, such meat and produce.

“Elaine also spent a bit of time explaining the legalities involved in couponing,” said Mackay.  “For instance, while you can print coupons from the computer - usually two per IP address - making a xerox copy of a coupon is a big no-no and can get you into big trouble.”

Removing coupons from items in the store without buying them or removing inserts from the newspapers in driveways or displays are also unacceptable practices. And although expired coupons may not be accepted locally, they can be used by our military families for up to six months past the expiration date.

In a powerful packet of information, Hale included the coupon policies for many of the local grocery and drug stores. She was careful to warn that stores are making frequent changes to their coupon policies due to the increased use of coupons.

“Each store has their own policy and it is wise check the current policy before you shop,” said Mackay. "It is suggested that consumers consult an official website or call the store directly for clarification of policy."

Unlike the TLC Reality TV series "Extreme Couponing," Hale leans more toward a discipline of buying what you need rather than creating a stockpile of items neither you nor your family will use. 

“Though if you have coupons you just can't pass up, but won't use the goods, you might consider donating them to deployed military, local shelters, senior citizens or church programs designed to help families in need,” Mackay said.

For those interested in taking her class or scheduling a group class, Hale can be reached at Makingcentsofcoupons@yahoo.com or join her on Facebook: Making-Cents-of-Coupons. There is a fee of $10 for the class which includes a detailed workbook plus an explanation of how the process works and how to make the most of it.