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Shopping at the commissary is a great way to save money and having military coupons make it even better. Are you a savvy shopper that clips military coupons before heading to the commissary? Even the best couponers make mistakes.
Here are 15 military coupon mistakes that smart military spouses make and how to avoid them.
Not Having a Commissary Rewards Card
The Commissary Rewards Card should be your first stop when looking for military coupons. You can digitally clip military coupons and add them to your Commissary Rewards Card. If you don’t have one, you can pick one up at any commissary.
Forgetting to Register at MilitaryShoppers.com
MilitaryShoppers has printable military coupons and the commissary flyer. Sign up for emails and get commissary deals, product highlights and more.
Not Scheduling Adequate Time to Shop
When you’re in a hurry, you don’t pay attention to detail. Make sure you plan your trip to the commissary with enough time to shop. Eat before you go so you aren’t tempted to put things in your shopping cart that you don’t have military coupons for.
Not Picking Up the Military Coupon Flyers at Your Commissary
There are military coupon flyers at the commissary. Don’t skip those thinking you have all the military coupons you need. There might be a better military coupon inside the flyer.
Ignoring Military Coupons on the Shelves
Often there are military coupons on the shelf. Compare them to the ones you have and see which one is the better deal.
Not Knowing When New Military Coupons Are Available
If you only look for coupons in the Sunday paper, you are missing out on great savings. The Commissary Rewards Card site has new coupons almost daily. As soon as manufacturers provided them, they are live on the site. Many other sites like coupon.com post new coupons daily.
Couponing on Your Own
Learning from others will help you expand your savings. Contact your local Fleet and Family Center to see if there is a coupon exchange program. It’s also a great way to get to know other military spouses.
Buying the Item Even if It Doesn’t Scan at the Discounted Price
Sometimes coupons don’t scan. Don’t settle and buy a product if you aren’t able to get the discount. Ask the clerk to scan the military coupon again or to type in the discount. If that doesn’t work, ask to speak to a manager.
Buying Something You Don’t Need Just Because You Have a Coupon
Just because there is a military coupon for an item does not mean that you should buy it if you aren’t going to use the product. Pay attention to what you are buying and don’t stray from your grocery list just because there is a coupon.
Failing to Stock Up on Items Your Family Uses
If there is a product, such as toilet paper, that your family uses often consider stocking up when there are good military coupons for it. You will save money over time if you purchase bigger quantities.
Having a Disorganized Coupon Folder
Everyone has their own way of sorting military coupons. Organize your folder the way that works best for you. Is it grouping coupons in the order that you will find items in the commissary or putting all the soon-to-expire coupons up front?
Not Taking All Your Coupons in the Store with You
Don’t just take the coupons that you are going to use into the commissary. Perhaps you will find an item that your family uses on sale. Add a coupon to that and it’s a great day to stock up.
Not Knowing the Commissary’s Coupon Policies
It’s important to know store coupon policies. The commissary, for example, does not double coupons. If you print a coupon and have a digital one for the same item on your Commissary Rewards Card, you cannot use both. The commissary also does not take expired coupons stateside, but will take them up to 6 months expired overseas.
Not Reading the Fine Print on Coupons
Always read the fine print on coupons. Some have a specific size the coupon is good for while others are for multiple items. Make sure you buy all items required and place them together on the conveyor belt.
Failing to Watch the Monitor as Items and Coupons Are Scanned
Our final tip is to make sure you pay attention as your items are scanned. You’ve done all the work to find coupons; make sure you get the discount. If the coupon scans incorrectly, point it out to the cashier. If you have a problem, ask to speak to a manager. It’s your money; make sure you get the most from it.
One thing I wish would happen is that when coupons are applied from my Rewards Card at the end of the scanning, it would summarize the deducted coupons with the name/brand of the item that it was deducted for. Currently, the summary only lists a number series and the $$ amount and doesn’t say what the deductions were for. So this makes it difficult to discern if an expected coupon was deducted. Sometimes the Rewards Card coupons don’t automatically deduct either.
And why is the title of this article focused on Military Spouses? How about all Commissary patrons? I’m retired military, not a military spouse.