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Got Expired Coupons?

by Submitted Allison White<br> Klippin Krazy
| June 8, 2011 6:00 AM

I get asked ALL the time… What do you do with the small mountain of your unused and expired coupons every month?  The answer is simple… I donate them!  You would typically think that if a coupon has passed its expiration date, that they would be worthless and bound for the trash can.  That’s not true with a very generous overseas military coupon program.  Coupons can continue to be used by families for up to six months after their expiration date at overseas military bases.  What a fantastic tool for our brave men and women to utilize while stationed away from our deep American discounts and familiar grocery stores right?  This is a program I believe in full-heartedly and hope that maybe I can inspire you to believe and participate in as well.  Please read on to see what options you have to extend the life of your coupons while doing a great charitable service for our armed forces!

Adopt a Military Base:  Check out the Overseas Coupon Program at www.ocp.net , Coups For Troops at www.coupsfortroups.com, or Support Our Troops at www.supportourtroops.org  to find a base or program that is need of your expired coupons.  There is no minimum amount of coupons needed to participate in these programs and they only ask that a few little steps be taken to help smooth the process along.  The first being, that coupons be expired no more than two months at a time to ensure an adequate processing, delivery, and use time for the recipients.  Also, coupons should be sorted into food and non-food categories and packages accordingly for delivery.  Please see their site for more details about their requirements and to see how you can be of assistance. 

Adopt a Military Family:  You can opt to send your coupons directly to a military family instead of taking the extra steps to adopt a base.  The Happy Housewife will pair you up with an already waiting coupon family.  Simply email your involvement interest to couponsfortroops@gmail.com or visit the website at www.thehappyhousewife.com for more information on military family matchups.  They can also assist a military family that wants to be a part of the program as well.  This setup might event nurture and grow a relationship with a military family that creates a lasting lifelong friendship!   

Adopt Your Military Relatives or Friends:  Another great option is to send them directly to your own military family member or friend.  This is what I personally do with all of mine!  What a great gift to share with your own loved ones while they are away from the comforts of home.  Perhaps they aren’t even aware that these kinds of programs exist and are missing out on this fantastic way to cut down on overseas expenses.  Please consider sharing your coupon know-how or my website with them along with this information, I’m sure it will be greatly appreciated.

This is such a easy and much appreciated way for you to help support our service men, women, and children.  These programs help loosen the tight purse strings of our military families and ensure they can care for and support their loved ones.  It is the least we can do to show our gratitude for all they do to protect and serve our own families… I’m sure you agree!  Please join me again next week as I delve into some great ways to give back to our own local community in a BIG way through couponing. 

If you have a favorite charity or know of a way that coupons could aid in our area, please contact me at the locations below.  I would love to hear what you are currently doing to serve your community through the wonderful world of couponing!