One of the biggest reasons people tell me they think coupons are a waste of time is because they think coupons are available for mostly unhealthy snack foods. So, to educate these folks, I came up with a few tips on how to leverage coupons for healthy snacking and cash in on some savings too:

- Identify your families top 10 favorite snack foods that are healthy. For example, my family loves to snack on fresh fruit, cheese, yogurt, nuts, etc...

- Identify your families top 10 favorite snacks that are not so healthy but taste great and are fun to eat. For example, my family loves ice cream, brownies, fruit gummy snacks, cookies, cake, etc...

- Now look at this list of 20 items and next time you are scanning the coupons from the Sunday paper, match up items on both lists.

- Try to make your snack choices balanced according to your health goals. Obviously a steady diet of unhealthy snacks is not good for anyone!

I am certain you will find coupons for most everything on both lists. You may not find an exact match to a specific brand but you will find savings available if you are willing to try something new or different. If you are extremely brand loyal, try calling the manufacturer to request coupons. Their number is usually on the label. Remember, you can reach out to the companies that make the things you love to eat just as they reach out to you with coupon savings!

A loyal customer is of great value to retailers. Your repeat business makes a difference to them and shopper loyalty programs are generally designed to reward you more than anything. Many people are concerned about privacy risks since to join these programs you give up personal information. However most retailers just want to know how to maintain contact with you so they can provide more items that may be of interest to you in their store. How else would they contact you to send you information on special promotions, coupons, events, giveaways and other perks?

Think for a minute about your shopping routines, most people would agree that they visit the same stores frequently out of convenience and familiarity. There may be special occasions and/or holiday shopping that takes you out of your routine but for the most part you know where the milk section is at the grocery store closest to your home! So take advantage of rewards extended for being a loyal, regular customer; in the end, it is a win-win scenario! LOOK here is one right now...If you are a Kroger shopper, see below:

SAVE $5 off your total bill at Kroger when you buy 3 participating P&G Super Saver® products using your Shopper 's Card now through April 14th! Visit your store for more details. Super Saver® products include 6-ct. mega roll or 12- ct. big roll Charmin® bathroom tissue, 8-ct. roll Bounty® paper towels, 48-load to 64-load liquid Tide® or liquid Cheer® liquid laundry detergent, 52-load Downy® fabric softener, 105-ct. to 120-ct. Bounce® dryer sheets, Pampers® value packs or jumbo packs, 20-lb. Iams® dry dog food or 8-lb. Iams dry cat food, and 10-oz. to 12-oz. Millstone® bagged or bulk coffee.

What would you do with $5 in extra savings?

I love the Couponizer!!! So far a month we save over $100!!! This includes lunches after church, grocery shopping and most recently $50 getting our family portrait done!!! We went to get our family portrait done (we have a 3month old daughter and I?m a new stay at home Mom), and my husband was complaining about the cost of getting our pictures done when I could just take some at home (He just doesn?t understand how cool it is to have someone else take the picture so I can be in it!!). After the no sitting fee, two free portraits and the 20% off coupon I went from $80 to $23.92 total. My husband was impressed!!

Thank you Couponizer!!!!

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