Couponing Craze Charitable to Community

It's become an epidemic craze and has hit many households in the United States; "couponing" is what is getting families to save money for extra food items, not only for themselves but also for other families in need.

These couponers share their tricks and tips to mostly women, but even men, through TV shows, such as "Extreme Couponing," countless Web sites, including “Smart Couponing,” and blogs like, “Money Saving Mom.”

One of those enlighteners is Mary Edwards, who runs the Web site, "Couponers United." She teaches 40 classes a month on how to be a couponer in order to "give back to the community" and taught a local one Saturday, July 9, 2011 at the Epiphany Lutheran Church in Oviedo. "Just because you don't need it, you can help or bless another family," Edwards says.

Couponing 101

Edwards educated the students in the seminar that they can find coupons in stores, newspapers and print them off the Internet and then organize them in what she calls a "Coupon Binder" or in hanging folders. The clips are to be filed in categories and a litany of items must be created in advance to ensure preparation for shopping.

Deals and Steals

There is terminology behind the activity, including the word "stacking," which is used to describe the use of combining manufacturer coupons and store coupons, which is allowed at supermarkets and drug stores.

Edwards says she primary encourages her students to shop and coupon at Publix. "They are more coupon-friendly and customer-friendly," she said, and explained that each of these stores actually receives a reimbursement of their money by the company the coupon is for, therefore they don't actually mind customers using coupons.

Edwards says by stacking coupons, you may just end up walking out of the store with extra items at no cost.

Giving Back

Edwards says her initial purpose in conducting the meetings is to encourage people to donate to the needy by just providing those additional items purchased to local food banks, women shelters and religious institutions.

"I teach the classes to help you lower your grocery bill, but also to learn how to give back to the community ... We hope you give back to the food pantry or shelters in your area," Edwards asserted.

40 students of various demographics listened attentively, nodding their heads while taking notes and continuously saying, "Wow," and "I need to do that."

Church board member and two-year couponer, Cara Roesner, says she loves the benefits of couponing. "Of course with the way the economy is, any way to save money seems welcomed," she said. "I have a small budget for charity. I figured with coupons I could give more to the community. Seminole county has a really strong need for food, especially for children. Using coupons, I am able to donate double to triple what I was doing as far as food product."

Her 7-year-old son, Thomas Roesner, was by her side and added: "It helps you save money. You buy it with coupons or if it's on sale. Always."

Sisters Tara and Meera Harry say they are avid fans of the TV show, "Extreme Couponing." Tara Harry become an active couponer recently due to the influence of her younger sister. "She would make me cut through the Sunday paper and match it up to sales and we try to work together as a team," she said, adding that she noticed a drastic change of up to 50% in her savings since she started. "I won't go shopping unless there's a coupon or it's on sale and I try not to pay normal price."

One-year couponer Meera Harry concurred. "I told her, 'You're not going there unless we cut these coupons,' and in the end, you do save money, so why not? Why pay full price if you know you don't have to?"

Once they learned that expired coupons were beneficial up to six months for troops overseas, the Harry sisters donated an envelope filled with clippings to Fran Tivald or "Fran the Coupon Man," executive vice president of the Simple Truth Foundation, who accompanies Edwards to collect overage items.

"It's one of the best feelings that you can have as a human being," Tivald said. "That's what the essence of our organization is; in helping others you help yourself."

For more information, visit couponersunited.com