Using credit cards for purchases has caused ruin to countless individuals and families, especially over the past few years. Easy availability of credit, minimum payments that ensured the card balance would last ten years or more, and seductive advertising combined to force hundreds of thousands of consumers into bankruptcy or into an abyss of endless bills, missed payments, and harassing phone calls.

Those of us who have made it to retirement have usually learned how to use credit cards wisely and we actually benefit from them. Recent moves by credit card companies may soon make that more difficult, but with continued vigilance, we can continue to enjoy the best of both worlds. Here are some of the tips we have learned over the years. One caution: most of these are based on the premise that you pay the balance in full each month.

First, don’t use so many different credit cards. I used to carry cards from all the major department stores, but one day I realized they all accepted major credit cards anyhow, and I didn’t need all those individual cards. I cancelled many, saving a few that offered discounts if you used their store card. I don’t carry those cards, but keep them at home until I plan a trip to that store. Now I use just one card for nearly all my purchases: groceries, drug and department stores, electronics, and most everything else. I have a special card for gasoline that offers better rewards than my everyday card.

Take a survey of your cards, especially if you have accumulated many over the years, and determine which offer you the best deals. Reconsider cards that have an annual fee (although more may be heading that way). Check not only for lowest interest rates, but also for grace period: that is, how long you have to pay your statement after it’s billed before you are charged a penalty or interest. Some grace periods have been reduced to as little as ten days, which is an issue if you occasionally travel for longer than a week at a time. Now that we’re retired, that applies to most of us. Also check their penalty fees for late payments, missed payments, and over-limit fees. These have been increasing recently.

Now that you’re retired, you might decide to cancel some of the cards you have. It’s likely that you will purchase fewer things and have less need for all the cards. It is probably wise to keep one of each of the three major carriers: Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. Many people are loyal users of American Express—that’s fine too. Some merchants accept only one type of card, and if you have cancelled that card, you will have to use another payment method.

Reward points are a big incentive to many credit card holders. For years, I have used my reward points to purchase holiday gift cards, a welcome relief to the budget at that time of year. I have also used points to help with smaller items during home renovation. I purchased light and plumbing fixtures at the local building supply store with gift cards from reward points.

Some people still believe credit cards pave the road to ruin, and these people pay cash for everything. That may be false economy. If you pay cash for goods or services that turn into a problem, you often have little chance to get your money back. Credit card companies serve as an intermediary that will usually refund your purchase and pursue the seller for reimbursement. If you insist on paying cash, carrying a checkbook is bulky. At least use a debit card for your checking account. And if you mean really cash, as in greenbacks only, consider how often it’s necessary to make trips to the bank and how vulnerable you are through accidental loss or even criminals, such as pickpockets, purse-snatchers, or muggers.

Credit cards, when used prudently, are a convenience that can save you time, worry, and money.

As we retire, many of us need fewer “things” to live our lives. We have already accumulated clothing, furniture, appliances, household goods, and certainly all the clutter we’ll ever need. We buy less food because our families are smaller. We consume less than we used to, and we become “tossers” instead of “gatherers.” But major expenses are still bound to come up. A cheap way to solve some of these is to share. What if your hedge trimmer dies and you need a new one? How often will you use it? Maybe you can share a trimmer with a relative or a neighbor. You can go halves and buy one together, or maybe you can work out a rental or barter agreement. The same is true for any large piece of equipment you will need only occasionally: a chainsaw, an extension ladder, a carpet-cleaning machine, maybe even a lawn mower.

Sharing rides and carpooling have long been common ways to save on gas. Sharing bulk food purchases is a way to save on groceries. Family packs are usually less expensive than smaller portions of meat, for example, but it would take one or two people months to use one up. How about splitting that with a good friend or relative? You both save. The same is true of local produce contracts. A local farmer agrees to supply you with fresh produce every week for several months of the growing season, charging the same flat price each week. If it’s more than you can eat, consider sharing the subscription with someone else.

Do you have a fireplace? I hope you don’t buy those little bundled armloads of wood at the local convenience store! A cord of wood requires a lot of storage space and strong dedication to burning, but you could split a cord or a pickup load with a fireplace-owning friend and save big bucks.

Think about services. How about painting, guttering, or roofing for your home? Houses in your neighborhood are probably around the same age. You might be able to get a discount from the company if you can guarantee two or three jobs in the same neighborhood. The same might even be possible with a plumber or electrician, who could fix all those little problems in two or three neighborhood homes with just one trip. At the very least, save up two or three jobs in your own home before calling a service professional. Save the slow-running drain until you have a dripping faucet or a clogged toilet to fix, as well.

If you have the space and the mindset, you might want to share living space. This could mean renting out a room in your home, sharing a home 50-50 with someone else, or even entering into a communal living arrangement with a group of people. Perhaps you and your best friends all moved to the same geographic location to retire, or even to the same retirement community. Or perhaps you would like to. This is the perfect opportunity to consider sharing living quarters with someone you already know and like. Economies of scale apply to many aspects of life and living, and sharing is a unique way to save money and live more economically.

Clothing can rank among the most expensive items we purchase. As we retire, we can look at clothes in a new light. If you had a professional wardrobe at your job, you probably will switch to a more casual look for retirement. This is a good time to consider downsizing your wardrobe. It’s likely you won’t do major closet reductions until a couple years after you have retired, when you have a better idea of how much and what kind of clothing you will now wear.

You can sell your unneeded clothes at a garage or yard sale, send them to a consignment shop where they will sell them and give you a portion of the price, or donate them to any of many charities. Once you have decided to part with some of your favorite professional outfits, your closets will breathe easier, others will be able to get use from what you no longer need, and if you are like me, you will feel tremendous relief at having less clutter (OK, clothes) in your drawers and closet.

We all want to continue to have new clothes, and many people consider shopping to be a relaxing pastime. Everybody shops sales. Most of us, at some time, have stood in line somewhere, trying to be the first to have a chance to shop the Gargantuan Sale of All Sales. Thrifty retirement doesn’t mean you have to give that up. Continue to shop at your favorite department store sales, if you want, but be more aware, more choosy, and more frugal. Then look for alternative places to shop.

Alternative places to buy clothing include consignment shops, factory outlet malls, garage and yard sales, and thrift stores. My favorite is thrift stores. Before you cringe, if you have never been to a thrift store, you are passing up wonderful savings. Thrift stores are not the places they were a generation ago. Most are not dirty, smelly, grungy holes filled with junk. (OK, some still are, but you don’t have to shop at those.) National chains such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, Disabled American Veterans, Catholic Charities, Savers, and others feature clean, well-lit stores that have merchandise sorted into departments and tagged clearly. They don’t accept clothing that is torn, stained, or otherwise icky, and many now accept major credit cards.

To get the best deals on thrift store clothing, you must be willing to devote some time to the process. Learn the tag system: whether they are sorted by colors, sizes, or another method. Check the signs when you go in to see what the daily specials are. Many stores feature different half-price items every day or every week. Find out when their senior discount days are. Learn how to sort through the racks: where the new items are introduced, where the items that are marked down are placed, and whether the store has a special rack for designer labels or “new” clothing that still has original tags attached. Many thrift stores have fitting rooms where you can try on items. They’re not luxurious, but they can help prevent a wrong purchase—you can’t bring back items here.

If you are a novice thrift shopper, start with something easy. Find a sweater or sweatshirt, or a pair of comfy jeans to wear around the yard or garden. As your confidence increases, try more mainstream purchases: a jacket, a coat, nice slacks, a dress. Thrift stores have purses, belts, shoes, hats, slippers, gloves, swimming suits, lingerie, robes, pajamas, sox—nearly everything you can find in a regular store. We have found wonderful buys: two like-new winter coats for $5 each; my favorite walking shoes for $10; brand name sneakers for $3-$4; shirts from Tommy Bahama, Polo, Brooks Brothers, and others; and surprising numbers of women’s designer fashions. My granddaughter bought her prom dress at a thrift store. It’s amazing how many evening fashions can be found on their racks!

Thrift store shopping for clothes can be a fun and rewarding adventure. The “thrill of the chase” can be even greater here, because you never know what you will find. Take your spouse or a friend along and get a second opinion on whether the skirt or jacket looks just right on you. You just might open up a whole new world while saving money.

Nobody likes to be sick, and it’s even worse if you have a chronic illness that’s expensive. If you’re sick and not working, you have no cash coming in, but the bills keep arriving and the cash keeps going out. Taking a fresh look at your expenses and considering different ways to manage them could help reduce costs and relieve worries.

You can save money on healthcare and prescription drugs during retirement even if you already have a chronic illness. If you are on a regular medication, or must begin a new one, ask your doctor or pharmacist if there is a less expensive alternative or a generic. Or you might be able to “split pills” using an inexpensive pill splitting tool that’s made especially for that purpose. Most of the cost of many medicines is in the tablet, rather than the strength, and your physician might be able to prescribe a double strength tablet that you can split into two doses for little more than the cost of your current dosage. That could mean monthly savings of nearly half.

Doctors regularly hand out free samples of drugs, especially for a new prescription. If you start a new medication, as many of us in retirement do as we age, ask for a sample if it’s not offered at the outset. In addition, pharmaceutical companies sometimes have programs to provide critical medications free or at reduced cost to some patients. If you need help with prescription costs, phone the manufacturer of your medication to find out if you qualify.

Another place to look for healthcare savings is to negotiate with your doctor. If you are a long-time patient and you have lost your 401k or other retirement savings, discuss it with your caregiver. He/she is likely to be willing to continue to provide care at a reduced rate. Chances are good that you will find cooperation: the doctor doesn’t want to lose your business any more than you want to leave. Alternatively, you might be able to visit less often for your condition, such as every six months instead of every three months, or once a year instead of twice.

Because most of us are now on Medicare, you should be familiar with the “doughnut hole.” You can postpone or prevent this extra cash outlay by not including generic prescriptions in your Medicare Part D purchases. Thousands of pharmacies now offer 30-day supplies of generics for $4, or 90-day supplies for $10. Most Part D plans claim the much higher retail price. If you pay for these cheap generics out-of-pocket rather than turning them in for payment, you can save your coverage for your more expensive drugs, and you might be able to avoid the doughnut hole altogether.

If you need a major medical or dental procedure, you might consider going outside the U.S. to have it done. Many other countries offer excellent quality care at much lower prices than are available in the U.S. The Web is the best source for locating such care, and many facilities are highly reputable, rivaling any in the U.S. You will find referrals as well as testimonials on the Web.

With careful planning, diligent tracking, and attention to details, you can reduce the high cost of caring for your illness.

Medical bills can destroy a lifetime of savings in only months. As retirees, many of us are covered by Medicare, of course, but others who retired early still have private insurance. Can you afford your current health insurance? Can you afford to be without it? A recent survey from the American Heart Association revealed that over half of Americans say that the current economy has hampered their healthcare habits. How can you take care of your health and still save money?

The best strategy, of course, is to stay healthy. If you are already healthy, consider yourself among the lucky. Some people seem to be naturally healthy, but that requires effort as well as genetics. Chances are these folks have been eating right and exercising for most of their lives. Bit it’s not too late for you, as a retiree, to get healthy. We’ve all heard the warnings and we all know the rules, but you must do more than just know the rules to enjoy good health—you must follow them. If you really want to stay healthy, resolve to do the right things.

Prevention should be your #1 priority. Don’t smoke. Lose weight. “Just say no” to fast food of any kind. Say “no” more often to eating out at all. When you do dine out, eat half your portion and take the rest home. Eat mostly fruits and vegetables. Avoid fried foods, other high-fat foods, too much red meat: you know the drill.

Walk or get other exercise for at least 30 minutes at least four days a week. Do weight resistance training twice a week. Exercise is a great way to spend that extra time you have in retirement. Avoid crowds, where germs are more likely to be spread easily. Wash your hands often—several times a day and any time you have been out in public, whether shopping, visiting friends, walking in the park, or at the library. All these tips cost nothing and promote good health more than you realize. There are ways to save money when you need care, as well.

A cold, sore throat, skin rash, or other minor problem can be treated at a clinic instead of by your regular physician. Several drug store chains have onsite clinics that handle routine illnesses and minor emergencies at lower costs than a visit to your doctor. Such clinics are open longer hours than your doctor’s office, they don’t require an appointment, and they accept most insurance plans. Some offer routine tests, such as blood pressure, at no cost. Keep an eye out for other free tests, such as at the pharmacy departments of grocery stores. Many fully accredited hospitals hold annual clinics that offer a variety of tests, from vision and hearing to cholesterol and blood glucose to mammograms and osteoporosis screening.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sponsors over 7000 community health care centers. These clinics offer a wider range of services than the drugstore clinics and they charge on a sliding scale, based on income. They even treat people who don’t have insurance. Additionally, many university teaching hospitals have clinics that offer reduced rates for those who can’t afford other care. The same is true of dental schools. If you don’t already have a primary care physician, one of these clinics could serve as your home base for health care.

Use creative thinking to save on healthcare in retirement. Take advantage of these and other resources and save money.

Now that you’re retired, you might have more time than money. You would like to feel useful, and you wouldn’t mind earning a few extra dollars. Many of us would like to earn a little pocket money, but without the stress of deadlines and tight schedules. Side jobs, part-time work, working hobbies: you can define these sources of extra income in a variety of ways. The best kind of extra income is earned by doing something you love. Be resourceful as you think about how you might like to spend your extra time–and earn those extra dollars.

If you love animals, consider becoming a dog walker on a daily basis or a pet sitter for travelers on a less frequent schedule. Remember that pets include birds, fish, and reptiles as well as cats and dogs. You might check with a local vet for leads, or tack up a card on your grocery store bulletin board.

What’s your hobby? Amateur photographers might consider matting and framing photos and selling them at festivals and craft fairs. Artists could do quick sketches, caricatures, or silhouettes at the same places. Those good with needles could offer classes in knitting or crocheting, or you could make custom garments for clients. Musicians could give lessons, especially to adults or other seniors who want to learn to play or brush up on an instrument. If you’re talented at a sport, offering golf or tennis lessons to individuals could provide extra income.

Are you good with a sewing machine? Although you might not want to be a tailor, consider taking on small jobs like repairing torn seams or hemming skirts or slacks. Many people no longer have those skills and they would be delighted to have someone who could take care of such things.

Babysitting is a skill much in demand, and your experience as a grandparent is a tremendous asset. If you’d like to spend a few hours with children, especially on weekend evenings, you might find yourself busier than you imagined! If you want more hours, consider caring for the children of someone who works nights. Childcare for those hours is often difficult to find. You might prefer to offer adult care for a few hours a week. Many retirees act as caregivers for spouses or other relatives who need assistance. Having someone dependable to provide a break for them is a valuable treat.

If you are a handyman of any sort–plumber, electrician, carpenter, mechanic–the possibilities for small jobs are nearly endless. Some people wait months to replace a light fixture or faucet because big box stores have expensive installation charges. If they had a senior neighbor who could do that, you bet they would offer you the job.

Maybe you were a geek in your last occupation—a techie who is skilled at the Internet and its quirks. You might consider teaching classes in e-mail or E-Bay to individuals or small groups, or you might consider being a trouble-shooter for pc’s on the fritz.

A retired attorney might want to offer simple wills, medical powers of attorney, and other uncomplicated documents on a part-time basis. Accountants might want to keep the books of a small business or offer assistance with 1040s at tax time.

Whatever you decide to do, choose a job you love to fill your pockets and your spare time.

Many of you will consider downsizing when you retire. You’re now empty nesters and you no longer need the large home you raised your family in, so you’re thinking about buying a smaller home, a condo, or another option. If the real estate market is right, this can be a money-saving option. If the market hasn’t recovered yet, think about downsizing right where you are.

Downsizing doesn’t have to mean moving. It can mean living in fewer rooms in your current home, or it can mean cleaning out some of the clutter that has accumulated over the years. In fact, cleaning out the clutter can help you live in fewer rooms. Look, really look, around your basement, attic, and closets with a fresh eye. How much sporting equipment is still taking up space when the last time you used it was 10 years ago? A kayak, a canoe, water skis, snow skis and poles? Bowling balls and shoes? You probably loved those sports at one time, but if you no longer use those items, consider them a source of income. You can list sporting goods and exercise equipment on Craig’s List or in classified ads and get good money for them. What a deal–clean out your closets and make money too!

It doesn’t have to be just big items that help you downsize. Do you still have some of your professional wardrobe? How often do you wear those clothes now? If they are still stylish, consider sending them to a consignment shop. They must be clean and in good condition, but when the item sells, you get a percentage of the profits. There are also stores that take jewelry on consignment, or if you have jewelry of gold or sterling silver, you can sell that for the precious metal content. Of course, you won’t get nearly as much as selling it intact, but it’s better than gathering dust in your drawers, especially if it’s broken or mismatched.

Speaking of drawers, how many old pairs of eyeglasses do you have? You might be surprised, once you start looking. Although I don’t know of any way to make money from them, you can donate them to Lions Club International or to Sunglass Hut, who both distribute them internationally to people in need. And they’ll be out of your drawers!

Electronics take up increasing amounts of space in our homes, and recycling those items not only cleans out your closets, but also salvages precious metals and prevents heavy metal pollution. You can try selling such items on Craig’s List, or some retailers will help find a charity, school, or public agency that needs your old computer, laptop, printer, peripherals, or software. Donations with receipts are good tax deductions. Dell will accept its own product back for recycling, and you can even go to the website to get free shipping. Each week, it seems that another major retailer begins advertising that it will accept electronics for recycle, so keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to recycle.

What else do you have that you no longer need and would like to get rid of? Do you have large furniture items that are filled with “stuff?” What fills the bureau or dresser in your guest room? Outdated clothing? Craft projects begun but never finished? Toys that grandchildren have outgrown? Office supplies for some business, now long abandoned? Clean them out! Sell the “stuff” or give it to charity. When the drawers or shelves are empty, you might even want to sell the furniture. Downsize your clutter and make some money!

Think about your personal strategy for grocery shopping now that you are retired. It will probably be different from the strategy you had while you shopped for a growing family. Consider how far you have to drive to where you want to shop, how often you shop, and whether you can combine errands with your shopping trips. For a lifelong bargain hunter like me, it took a while to realize that driving even an extra two or three miles to a second store to save 50 cents on one item is not worth the trip. Read the weekly ads, make your list, determine where the best buys are found, and either pay the few cents extra for items that are cheaper elsewhere or postpone their purchase until they go on sale again.

Think about where you buy groceries. A regular grocery store is most obvious, but you may be lucky enough to have a wholesale club or discount super-center near you that offers better prices. The wholesale clubs often carry only large quantities that might not be the best value for you. When you are retired and cooking for two, you probably don’t need 5 pounds of bananas or a 3-pound box of spinach, no matter how cheap per pound. Some of the packs of catsup would last you the rest of your life! Super-centers like Wal-Mart or Target also carry limited varieties and sizes, but they are usually more manageable than the volume packs of wholesale clubs. Such discount centers can offer serious savings to retirees.

Other options include no-frills stores such as Aldi, where you must bring your own bags (they charge you for theirs) and where they charge a quarter for cart use. By now, you surely must be using recyclable bags for groceries, so remember those each time. Stores such as these rarely carry brand names, but some of their items are as good as national brands. If you learn to know such a store near you, savings can be substantial. Many larger cities have salvage stores that purchase and resell damaged goods, but perfect items are offered as well. Other stores are difficult to categorize. In our city, we have Big Lots, a department store that seems to buy overstocks and other odd lots; some labels are printed in foreign languages, for example. Many grocery items at such places can be very good buys, but be aware of everything you put in your cart.

Store brands offer great savings at most grocery stores and they are available in many departments. As well as canned and frozen foods, good examples include bread and bakery items, dairy items, paper goods, cleaning products, and cereals. Store-brand cereal is often indistinguishable from national brands, and it is usually 10, 20, or even 30% cheaper. You can usually find store brands stocked either above or below eye level. Grocers place their most profitable items at eye level, because shoppers look there first when they scan the shelves, likely choosing the first brand they see. Searching above or below can net you some tidy savings.

Use some of your time in retirement to review and revise your grocery shopping strategy. Consider modifying your approach to where you shop, how often you shop, and what you buy. You can save money by rethinking your traditional food buying habits and developing new, more economical ways to shop.

Although most of us who are retirees clip coupons, many other money-saving tips combine to form a shopping strategy. Your personal strategy includes individual methods you use each time you shop, such as where you shop, what you look for, and what you stock as ongoing staples in your cupboards. Your overall attitude toward food shapes most of the rest of your strategy. If you are serious about saving money on food, you must be serious in examining what you eat. Fresh foods trump processed foods in nutrition every time. The less processing involved, the greater the health benefits, and the lower the cost.

Consider what you take in your body when you eat sugary, salty foods filled with preservatives, artificial flavors, and artificial colors. Toaster pastries? Instead, how about toast made from multi-grain, high-fiber bread? Boxed sauce-and-pasta products to which you add hamburger? How about whole-wheat pasta you cook yourself, with a can of Italian-style tomatoes for sauce and a bit of ground beef or turkey? And sugary breakfast cereals? Try a box of whole grain flakes or rings, or even oatmeal, and add your own fruit, sugar, or sweetener. A long time ago, someone figured out how much you pay for the sugar in presweetened cereals. It was pretty scary–something like $10 a pound!

OK, so buying simple foods will save money, your retirement dollars. This knowledge helps as you develop your shopping strategy. It’s easy to avoid prepackaged meals to microwave, store-baked cakes and pastries, processed lunch meats filled with additives such as nitrates, and boxes of sugar and fats disguised as cookies or cupcakes. Instead, fresh fruits and vegetables should be high on your list.

Most grocery stores today have upgraded their produce sections from a few years ago. You can find a greater selection of fresh fruits and vegetables than at any previous time in history. If it’s out of season here, the Southern Hemisphere is growing it right now. Apples from New Zealand and fruits from Chile are in our markets every day. Basing your menu around a wide variety of produce is healthy and saves you money.

Sometimes what you want is truly out of season, so you must buy canned or frozen. This is a good place to consider generic or store brands. Usually, frozen beats canned for nutrition, eye appeal, and price. A can of vegetables is often nearly $1 these days, and a good deal of the content is water. Frozen vegetables are around the same price, and the package contains 100% vegetables, without water or salt. That’s a better bargain, in my book. Stay away from frozen vegetables packed in butter or sauces. Veggies are healthier without, but if you must have a sauce, it’s much less expensive to make your own. A couple teaspoons of butter and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice works wonders on almost any vegetable.

Redesign your shopping strategy around 6-8 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day, add whole-grain products, and reap the savings in your retirement!

How many ways can you think of to save money at the grocery store? As an experienced retiree and even more experienced shopper, immediately, you come up with several: Use coupons. Shop the weekly specials. Choose a store with less frills and lower prices. Buy generic or store brands. Buy simple and avoid over-processed foods. Not so hard, you say. You are already a thrifty shopper. Chances are that you can refine your skills even further and save a few pennies–or dollars–more.

Let’s start with coupons. How many places do you look for coupons? Is the Sunday paper the extent of your search? True, there are many coupons in those weekly flyers, and many papers print things such as Save $106.87 with today‘s coupons! But are you beginning to find fewer and fewer coupons you can use?

It seems about half the coupons are now for cosmetics, health and beauty aids, or cleaning supplies rather than for food. True, you need cleaning supplies, but you don’t need that new mop kit with disposable cleaning pads. What a disaster for the environment! What a disaster for your budget! A mop, a bucket, a general purpose cleaner, and some old t-shirts for cleaning rags are all you need. No matter that the kit is free to start with; you will end up paying dearly for all those disposable pads you buy in the future.

Where else can you find coupons? Now that you are retired, spending some of your time searching for new coupon sources is a worthwhile venture. Weekly ads for chain stores are one place. The coupons are good only at that specific chain, but some offer substantial savings. National drugstore chains now have small food sections with limited variety, but they offer coupons for those products on a regular basis, and some are good savings, indeed. If you get a credit card from some national chains, such as Target, you get monthly mailings with coupons and other unadvertised specials.

The Internet is a gold mine of coupons. Almost all grocery stores now have websites where you can access the weekly specials, as well as online specials you can find only on their site. Coupons also can be found on any number of websites devoted 100% to couponing. Many sites offer tips or links to places where coupons can be found. Some sites are dedicated primarily to free items, while others offer opportunities to trade coupons you don’t need for those you can use.

In addition to store and coupon sites, try manufacturer websites. Betty Crocker, for example, allows you to print coupons for General Mills products almost at will. Dozens of other major food producers offer similar services. Look for websites on labels of your favorite products and join their emailing list to learn of current money-saving offers.

Occasionally you find coupons or rebates that allow you to purchase any product you want from a specific brand name, such as Del Monte. In cases like this, think outside the box. Consider all the different products under the brand name. Even though they might picture canned vegetables in the ad, they might manufacture other items that rarely offer coupons, such as condiments, pickles, or jarred or bottled sauces or dressings. Use the offer to your advantage to save on staple items you usually purchase at full price.

Remember that once you begin collecting all these coupons, you should have a way to organize them. A 4 x 6 recipe box with indexed product tabs is a great help for this project. Also remember that a coupon is a saving only if you would have bought the item in the first place. Many coupons are for pre-packaged foods, unhealthy processed foods, convenience foods, and just plain junk food that you shouldn’t buy at all. Coupons can offer substantial savings on your weekly food bill, but use coupons carefully. Don’t clip just because it offers a big dollar figure. Genuine value, and genuine savings, happen only when the product is something you use regularly.