How to Swap Coupons

Grocery coupons are a great way to save money if you can find them for products you were planning on buying anyway. This page can help you learn how to swap coupons to turn grocery coupons you don't need into coupons for products you buy regularly.

If your Sunday paper seems filled with dog food coupons, but you have a cat, or you're lactose intolerant and find yourself with coupons for chocolate milk, you may want to consider trading the coupons for others you can use. You can organize a coupon swap with a group of friends, set up swap boxes around town, or participate in online coupon swaps to get grocery coupons you can use in return for ones you'd ordinarily throw out.

Swap coupons to save money on groceries (Creative Commons photo by Tracy O)

• The easiest way to start is to organize a coupon swap with a few of your friends.

1. You can meet in person, and pass a box your around while you have coffee and chat.
   1. Each person puts coupons in the box, and takes out what she needs.
   2. Establish ground rules, such as the requirement that each person put in as least as many coupons as they take out.
   3. You may also want to exclude coupons for products that none of you use.
   4. As each person sorts through the coupons, they should discard any they see which have expired.
2. A coupon swap can also be conducted by mail, with coupons circulated in a manila envelope. This operates similarly to the in person swap, with a few additional considerations.
   1. Include a list of names and addresses in the envelope.
   2. Set a time limit for how long each person can hold onto the coupons before passing the envelope on to the next person.

• Supermarkets and libraries sometimes have boxes where you can deposit coupons that you're not using and help yourself to coupons that others don't want. If your local stores don't have these, why not volunteer to supply one for them?

1. Decorate the swap box simply, with large bold letters describing its purpose.
2. Add a short list of instructions about what the box is for.
3. Drop it off with an initial supply of current coupons that you can't use.

• The Internet can also be used to facilitate coupon swaps. Here are a few sites that you may want to check out:
  • ThriftyFun.com's Coupon Swap!
  • Coupon Forum: Coupon Trading Post
  • Coupon Mom: Coupon Trading

If you need coupons that you do not have, and are in possession of those you just don't want, why not set up a coupon swap? By following the tips from above, you will be well on your way to obtaining the discounts you want and need.