I read about The Grocery Game in the December 2005 Issue of Money Magazine … I’ve never been a coupon clipper, but this sounded like fun, in addition to saving money, so I signed up for “Teri’s List” … my first week I saved 45% on my grocery bill! Before you click, note that this service is not free (except for the Walgreens List – that one is free). The grocery store lists cost about $1.00 a week – but they’re so confident you will love The Grocery Game that they are giving away 4 weeks for $1.00 so you can try it out! AND if you refer friends to them, you can get free weeks! So if you do sign up, please list bolwebster@aol.com as the email address who refered you. Read on to find out more.

What is The Grocery Game?

The Grocery Game is a fun, easy way to save hundreds of dollars on groceries each month. TERI’S LIST reveals the “rock bottom” prices on hundreds of products each week and matches them up with manufacturers’ coupons for the best possible savings at your local supermarket. The Grocery Game has exclusive databases that track manufacturers’ coupons along with weekly sales and specials, both advertised and UN-advertised. With TERI’S LIST, the days of time consuming work required for effective coupon-ing are over. The Grocery Game does all the hard work and research, presented in a quick reference format on the internet each week, as TERI’S LIST. Members log in, spend a few minutes with a pair of scissors, and they’re off to win The Grocery Game!

Start Your $1.00 Trial Today
And be sure to say that bolwebster@aol.com referred you!

Why can’t I just do this on my own?

People who are great at coupon-ing typically spend hours each week preparing for their shopping trip. These “coupon pros” research sales in the ads, matching up their coupons to those sales. Once at the supermarket they soon discover there may be twice as many more un-advertised sales. So, after spending many hours at home with the sales ad, they spend even more hours standing in the supermarket aisles sifting through their coupon files once again, searching for even more coupons to match those sales. This is what we call making a career out of coupon-ing. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the time for this type of shopping.

In contrast, members of The Grocery Game eliminate all of those time consuming hours and usually save even more time and money than most “coupon pros”. Even “coupon pros” can make costly mistakes. Just because an item is on sale doesn’t mean its time to play your coupon. The Grocery Game databases differentiate between “phantom sales” and “rock bottom” sales, saving members even more money. Now, the best possible savings are quickly accessible to “coupon pros”, busy professionals, overworked moms, single adults and anyone who wants to cut their grocery bill by as much as half or even more.

How Do We Play The Grocery Game?

If you have your Sunday newspaper and TERI’S LIST, you will have everything you need to play The Grocery Game. Each week, TERI’S LIST matches sales to coupons from weeks or months past, along with new coupons from this week’s Sunday paper.

You can get started with our $1 TRIAL. This will give you 4 weeks of playing The Grocery Game. You will log in to TERI’S LIST each week, check off the items you want to buy, print your customized list, pull the corresponding coupons and you’re off to win like a pro!

You will want to read TERI’S GAME RULES, for all of the best savings strategies and how to get the most out of TERI’S LIST.

What does Teri’s Receipt Look Like?
My Original Total was $42.86.
I paid $1.82
That’s a 97% savings !

I didn’t NEED much because I’ve been stockpiling for several weeks. So I bought only a few choice GREEN items ( FREE ) and BLUE items ( best deals for stockpiling ).

Most members save an average of 67% each week.

What does TERI’S LIST Cost?

If you’re a first time member, you can try out TERI’S LIST for 4 weeks for only $1! After that, TERI’S LIST is just $10 every 8 weeks for one store. Most areas offer only one store LIST. But if you happen to be in an area where more than one LIST is available, for each additional store list you choose, you’ll be billed an additional $5 every 8 weeks. For example, if you subscribe to TERI’S LIST for only one store, you’re billed $10 every 8 weeks. If you subscribe to two store lists, you’re billed $15 every 8 weeks. Three stores, $20 every 8 weeks, and so on.

Start Your $1.00 Trial Today
And be sure to say that bolwebster@aol.com referred you!

If you think that the financial crunch for new parents doesn’t begin until after the baby is born, think again. Many expectant parents are surprised by the expenses related to pregnancy even beyond the medical costs and costs of pulling a nursery together. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself digging deep into your pockets to cover one of these five surprising pregnancy expenses.

1. Loss of employment. Even the healthiest women can wind up on bed rest at some point during their pregnancy, and if you were planning on working right up to the point of labor then this can have a huge effect on your budget especially if you were counting on that income. Most parents brace themselves for one parent to consider staying home after the baby is born, but when that time comes sooner than expected it can be a huge financial issue.

2. Maternity clothes. You may tell yourself that you’ll get away with sweats and huge t-shirts for your pregnancy, or that you’ll buy a few things and that’s it, but then your sister announces she’s getting married and you’re the matron of honor or you just can’t stand wearing the same clothes over and over again. Whatever the cause, you can expect to pay more for maternity clothes than you initially budget for. Just be sure to try to get them on sale.

3. Last chance for fun. It’s a realization that most expectant parents have at some point during the pregnancy: This is your last chance to be together alone for quite some time. Even if you hadn’t planned on (or budgeted for) a quick vacation or getaway, don’t be surprised if you get the sudden urge to pack your bags and have one last trip before the baby comes. Most new parents will agree that this is one pregnancy expense that is definitely worth it.

4. Relentless cravings. Not all pregnant women get cravings, but some women get them so relentlessly that they must indulge in whatever they crave every day. This may not seem like much of a financial drain, but if you crave a $5 blended coffee drink (decaffeinated, of course) twice a day for seven or eight months that’s more than $2000. Really. You’ll either need to budget for this expense or find something a little less expensive as a craving substitute.

5. Fun extras. Even the most frugal expectant parents can get taken aback by all the really fun things available during this time. Expectant moms can get casts of their bellies. Parents can pay out of pocket for a high resolution ultrasound and send copies of the session to family members. Pregnancy portraits are popular as are spa times for expectant parents. You’ll probably talk yourself into one or two fun extras during the pregnancy, but if you indulge in every little thing available then you’re heading for financial trouble.

Pregnancy is an ideal time to save up some money because once the baby arrives it becomes much harder to balance a budget. Try to avoid frivolous spending, but if circumstances beyond your control force you to spend more money than you anticipated then just try to get back on track as quickly as possible. Having a new baby can be stressful enough; don’t add to the stress by piling up debt.

If you have recently had a baby then you probably already know that you’re spending more than you thought you would. You can take solace in the fact that you’re not alone; most new parents find themselves stretching their budget further than they ever had before. No matter how much misery loves company, however, nobody likes to watch their credit card balances steadily increase over time.

If at all possible, new parents should try to avoid using credit cards. Why? Here are ten reasons:

1. You spend more with credit cards. Most people find that when they shop with credit cards they’re more likely to spend more money than if they use cash, checks, or a debit card.

2. You buy things you don’t need. It’s so much easier to make impulse purchases when you have a credit card in your hand. Every new parent knows how easy it is to buy every cute baby item you come across.

3. You obligate future income. When you use your credit card you’re basically saying, “I know I can pay this in the future,” but nobody really knows that for sure. Take care when obligating yourself to pay something down the road.

4. You pay interest. Unless you pay your credit card balance each and every month you’ll wind up paying interest charges. Even if you have a relatively low interest rate you may still wind up paying close to $100 a month in interest if you have a high balance.

5. You might pay fees. Send a payment in late or exceed your spending limit and you’ll wind up paying costly fees. You have better things to spend your money on, like diapers or teething rings.

6. You start to rely on credit cards. If the costs associated with a new baby have you using your credit cards more than usual, beware. It is all too easy to fall into the pattern of using credit cards for every day expenses, and this is a dangerous situation.

7. You don’t budget. Turning to credit cards to make purchases means that you don’t have the cash to buy the things you need, and that means you probably aren’t budgeting. If you don’t have a budget in place then now is the time to write one.

8. High balances can hurt your credit score. If you are piling up your debt then your credit score may suffer, even if you make payments diligently every month. You’ll want a great credit score for when you finally give in and finance that minivan.

9. Spending habits as a new parent endure. The way you spend money right now will have a lasting effect on your future spending habits as a parent. Set the precedent now to only use credit cards when you really need to.

10. Before you know it, your baby will start to pay attention. Do you really want your child to grow up thinking that every time you want to buy something that you can’t afford you simply reach into your wallet and pull out a credit card?

Credit cards can be useful if they are used responsibly, but when a new baby comes along you may find yourself much more tempted to spend with reckless abandon. Use your credit cards as sparingly as possible and you have a much better chance of keeping tabs on your finances.

Most expectant parents have already read the statistics with great alarm: The cost of raising a baby from birth through college is into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and that’s only if your child is willing to attend a public college instead of a private university.

The problem with these statistics is that they are designed to scare new parents and make the entire process of raising a child seem financially daunting. Yes, it costs a lot of money to raise a child. Yes, it will at times feel as though you don’t have enough money for everything you want to give your child. The best way to approach expectant and new parenthood with regards to finances is to not look at it as one huge cumulative financial obligation. It isn’t as though your baby will be born and the next day you’ll be handed a bill for the next eighteen years.

Instead, concentrate on the costs associated with raising a baby right now. There are a few expenses you may not be expecting, so keep these in mind and budget accordingly:

1. There may be medical complications. Even if your medical insurance covers all the extra expenses associated with any complications you or the baby experiences, there will be additional costs caused by the situation. Your spouse may not be able to return to work as quickly as originally anticipated, or you may have to pay for extra childcare for other children because of an extended hospital stay.

2. You may not want to return to work. Don’t underestimate your maternal instincts to stay right beside your baby even after your maternity leave has expired. Not every new mom experiences this, but for some women the thought of dropping her baby off at daycare is enough to throw her into hysterics. This isn’t only a female phenomenon either, as there are plenty of dads who experience the undeniable urge to quit work and stay home with the baby. This situation causes obvious financial strain, so if you feel as though there is any chance that you won’t want to return to work you should start adjusting your budget right away.

3. Babies grow quickly. Unless you’re blessed with bags upon bags of hand-me-downs from family and friends you will probably be quick to discover that babies can grow out of clothes really quickly. When you’re budgeting for diapers you should be sure to also budget for clothes for your baby. The first several months of a baby’s life will be a blur of different sizes, but take solace in the fact that growth does slow down eventually.

4. You will have the desire to buy a lot of stuff for your baby. Even if you are notoriously frugal you may be surprised by your amazingly strong desire to buy every cute toy, developmental tool, and adorable outfit you stumble upon at stores and online. You will probably have to stifle this desire as best as you can, but don’t be shocked if you look back on the first year of your baby’s life and realize that you spent an awful lot of money on things your baby didn’t actually need.

The best thing you can do is to compose a budget and stick to it. This is especially important during the first year of your baby’s life when parenthood is new and you aren’t versed in the actual costs associated with having children. Don’t allow yourself to get too terrified about the prospects of your financial obligation as a parent, though. Chances are you’ll muddle through quite nicely.

If you are pregnant now or your baby is still in diapers, congratulations. This is the very best time to realize that you should start saving for your baby’s eventual college education. You have many years before your Little Genius starts comparing different options for college and you also have one magical component on your side: compound interest.

When you put money in an interest-bearing savings account you earn interest at a certain percentage depending on how much money you have in the account and what the rate of return is on the interest. In simple terms, compound interest is what happens when you earn interest on the interest you have already earned. You’re earning money on money you’ve already earned. This is how even the most modest savings account can grow exponentially over the years.

Suppose you only put $30 a month away in your baby’s college savings account, but you do it from the month your child is born. $30 is an amount that most people can manage easily and without really missing the money at all. That $30 per month over a period of eighteen years will grow to an impressive amount, even at a modest rate of return. For example, at an interest rate of 4%, the $30 a month will grow to nearly $9500 in eighteen years. That’s an impressive amount of money for a monthly deposit that you probably won’t even notice being gone from your expendable income.

Of course, your child will probably need more than $9500 to complete a college education, but this is certainly a respectable amount of money to help your child along. Don’t forget that there are school loans, scholarships, financial aid programs, and part-time jobs to help your child pay for the rest of her education. You can always bump up your monthly contribution to your child’s college fund as your income allows. Increase the $30 to $100 a month and you’re child’s college fund will be close to $32,000 by the time he graduates from high school.

Be sure that you put the money into an account that is specifically designed for college savings because there are tax advantages to these accounts. You have plenty of options available to you – such as educational IRAs and state-sponsored prepaid tuition programs – so be sure to do some research and speak to a representative at your financial institution to find out which option is best for your situation.

If the thought of eventually paying for your child’s college education seems daunting, don’t worry. Start putting a modest amount into an account monthly now, and add more as your finances allow. Remember that you have time (and compound interest) on your side right now, so take advantage of it.

Although most new parents are completely shocked by the massive amounts of money they need to shell out upon the arrival of a new baby, there are some steps you can take to lessen the financial burden. The very best thing you can do is to take some steps in order to save money now before your baby makes a grand appearance.

In most instances it is usually much easier to save money before the baby comes as opposed to after the baby comes. Take the time before your baby is born to do some saving, even if you can’t manage to save a small fortune.

Here are some tips for saving money before your baby arrives:

1. Don’t get too frivolous with your spending. You will have the urge to spend a lot of money on items for your baby, but the truth is that newborns don’t need a lot of the things parents rush out to buy. You can save yourself a ton of money if you concentrate on age-appropriate items in the beginning. Do you really need a safety gate for a baby that won’t even sit up for a few months?

2. Save money on interest. By paying off as many bills as you can you’re not only freeing up some extra money for after the baby comes, but you’re also saving some money in interest charges. You may be paying more in interest every month than you even realize, especially if you carry a large balance on your credit cards. Make a concerted effort to pay your bills down before your baby arrives and you might even manage to get some bills paid off completely.

3. Earn money with the money you save. If you have a substantial amount of money already sitting in a bank account in case of emergencies then you should do a little comparison shopping to see if there is a different account that might earn you a higher interest rate, and therefore give you more money. This is one of the less painful ways to save some money before the baby arrives, and it is relatively effortless.

4. Consider a temporary second job. You probably don’t want to work a second job after the baby arrives unless it absolutely necessary, but now is the time to take on a temporary job in order to pad up your savings account or pay down some of your bills. After the baby comes there is a good chance that you won’t have the energy to work two jobs.

5. Analyze your budget. When was the last time you actually sat down and scrutinized where your money goes? You may be surprised to find out how much of your money goes to unnecessary expenses. By actually taking the time to look at your budget – and maybe doing a little adjusting – you can probably save yourself quite a bit of money before the baby comes.

6. Downgrade. If you are going to lose an income after the baby comes then you may want to consider that now is the time to move to a less expensive home or get a less expensive car. Do what you can now in order to make the transition to parenthood as easy as possible. You’ll have enough on your plate after the baby is born.

7. Lose some extras. Do you pay for premium cable channels? Do you have a gym membership that you never use? Examine what you might be able to do without and start dropping all the extra services you don’t really need. You might lose a little bit of convenience when you do this – for example, dropping your cable modem and going back to dial-up in an effort to save money – but this is one surefire way to save before baby comes.

8. Compare services. You might be able to save a great deal of money by comparing the offerings of other companies that sell the same services you purchase through another source. When was the last time you did a comparison on your auto insurance policy or your cell phone provider? In some instances, switching from one provider to another can be a very wise financial decision and save you quite a bit of money.

Trying to save some money before your baby arrives is a wise decision because in most instances it’s much harder to save money after the baby comes. If you manage to save up some money before your baby arrives you will be glad you made the effort.

My daughter is now eight-years-old. Over the years I have spent thousands of dollars on baby clothes, educational toys, baby furniture, books … all the best that I could afford to buy. I shopped online, I shopped in-store, I shopped I shopped I shopped. But then I discovered Ebay. Now don’t roll your eyes and click off this article like I did for years – read on! There is nothing that you can find in a store that you can’t find on Ebay – sometimes gently used, sometimes very used, often times brand new – but almost always at an unbelievable price. I mean pennies on the dollar – literally. See for yourself if you don’t believe me!

If it’s too good to be true it probably is
Yes and no. As a seasoned Ebay shopper, I have gotten some deals that seemed too good to be true (those are the ones I especially love). But I’ve also learned some lessons, and I’d like to pass them on to you. Here are some tips that I suggest you pay attention to before jumping into the Ebay World.

1. Pay Attention To Feedback
   Every item you see on Ebay is offered by a person, a “seller.” When viewing an item, you will see the seller’s handle, followed by a number in parenthesis. This is the seller’s feedback rating.

   When someone purchases an item from a seller (a buyer) they leave “feedback” about how their transaction went. Each feedback left consists of a rating (positive, negative, or neutral), and a short comment. The number is how many buyers have purchased an item from that seller, so right off the bat, you now how long a seller has been doing business. Someone with 1 feedback rating obviously hasn’t been around as long as someone with a 5,648 rating (and yes, you’ll see that often!)

   But just as important as how many people have left feedback, is the percentage of Positive Feedback … 100% is the best! But of course, you can’t please people all of the time, so even a positive feedback of 95% can be good. You can read the comments left by buyers by clicking on the feedback rating. They will tell you if the product was received, in what condition, how promptly, etc., which will allow you to make a decision on whether or not to trust the Ebay seller.

2. Shipping and Handling
   Almost all items have an associated Shipping and Handling charge. Most sellers assign a reasonable fee to cover their cost of packaging, and of course, the delivery fee. But sometimes they jack that price up in order to make the low cost of their item appear to be a better deal than it is. Most of the time the S&H fee is prominently posted on the item page, so be sure to look for it! If it is not listed, contact the buyer and ask them what shipping fees will be incurred before you make a bid! Be sure to calculate the cost of S&H with the cost of the item to be sure you are indeed getting a great deal.
3. Don’t bid immediately!
   Ok, so you’ve found an item that you want. It’s a great price, and the S&H fee is reasonable. You want to bid on it, now. DON’T! All items listed on Ebay are there for a specified amount of time. You can see how much time you have to purchase the item by looking at how much time is left on the auction (see Time Left: under the current bid cost). If there are four days left until the auction ends, wait. Bidding now is going to cause someone else who is interested in the item to bid too, which in turn raises the price of the item. What you need to do is Watch the item, and come back the day the auction ends (preferably within a few minute of the end time) and bid then. This doesn’t give other buyers as much time to out bid you and make the cost go up!

   How do you “watch the item?” There is a link that says “Watch This Item” for every product offered on Ebay. All you need to do is click it, and that product will be saved in a list for you to come back to later. You must be a registered Ebay Member to take advantage of this, but registering is FREE and easy. So I suggest you register right away, that way when you find a great buy you’re ready for it.

4. View seller’s other items
   Once you find an item that you like at the right price, see what else the seller is offering. Odds are, they have many other items that are closely related to exactly what you’re looking for that didn’t come up in your product search. Check it out! And if you like the buyer and their products, save the buyer as a favorite!
5. Pay attention to the item description
   Some items will be listed with words or phrases that you don’t understand. For instance, “NIB” means new in box. If there is something that is in the description that you don’t understand – ASK THE SELLER! Once you win the auction it is too late to clear up unanswered questions, so rather than be disappointed, be safe.
6. Don’t get stuck in a competitive mindset
   This was the biggest lesson that I needed to learn in the early days of my Ebay-hood. I’d find an item that I’d like, bid on it, then be outbid. So then I’d bid again. It was a viciuos cycle and I ended up paying more for the item than I should have, simply because I wanted to win. You must keep in mind that you are trying to get a deal. If the price is no longer a deal in your mind, wait. The item will be listed again eventually at a price you want to pay.
7. Don’t limit yourself
   You can literally find *anything* on Ebay: Books, furniture, household products, clothes, shoes, collectibles… it is rare that I search for something and don’t find it.
8. Don’t just buy – SELL!
   As your baby grows, you’re going to find yourself with boxes full of clothes, toys, and other items that you no longer need. Use them to finance your new shopping sprees! Become an Ebay Seller and have a garage sale from the comfort of your living room! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is, and how much money you can make doing it! Many of my friends go to weekend garage sales and pick up antiques, collectibles, etc. and then sell them on Ebay for a tremendous profit. If you’re looking for some extra money, this is one easy way to do it!

Ready to check out Ebay now that you know the ins and outs a little bit? Type anything into the search box below and see what kind of deals you can get, or view our Discount Baby Products section for baby product categories to browse through. Happy Saving!

Do you have tips that you’d like to share with our Members? Let Us Know!

]]> http://www.babiesonline.com/articles/money/savewithebay.asp/feed 0 http://www.babiesonline.com/articles/money/babypicturessavemoney.asp http://www.babiesonline.com/articles/money/babypicturessavemoney.asp#comments Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:26:37 +0000 admin http://208.79.203.56/articles/money/babypicturessavemoney.asp

As parents, we all know how easy we spend money with our children. In a blink of an eye, a diaper here, a formula bottle there adds up until at the end of the month we realize how much we have spent.

We all try to get the best to our children but more and more I realize that sometimes spending more does not necessarily means getting the best for our money.

This article aims to share a lesson we learned that cost us some money. We hope it may help you to save some.

As a Mom I just love to take pictures of my children. They are gorgeous to me. I am sure yours are gorgeous too. The memories are priceless. I was buying some disposable cameras and taking several pictures of my children. Then I would develop and keep the ones I really liked. My husband kept insisting in buying a digital camera, which initially I was reluctant to make a big investment. After he took the time to explain that despite the almost $ 500 dollars for a good digital camera (today our camera is less that $ 300) at the long run we would save a lot of money. Usually I would run from 3 to 5 disposable cameras a month. It is actually not a lot, only 120 pictures you can take. With the development all together would cost from $ 15 to $ 25 dollars each. This was around $ 45 to $ 125 a month. Since I have my digital camera, I take as much pictures as I want. No worries about expending money. I just delete the ones I do not like and keep the ones I like. When I have a picture I really love I just print it in our high resolution printer and frame it. I have then saved and organized by year and events. It is easy and cool to show to relatives and friends in our 17” monitor. Every year we save a back up on a CD or external hard drive to be on the safe side.

We have a canon s40 which is good camera. There are several others with good features in the market. You are free to choose. Consider this a good advice from a Mom who realized how much I have paid for little service with regular cameras. Digital cameras are the way to go. I already saved on the money I paid for it. 2 years latter I can not live without my digital camera. By the way it also let me record great videos up to 3 minutes. They are just adorable.

About the Author:
Barbara De Oliveira
http://www.lulu-baby.com

Having a baby can be expensive, but there are ways to cut down on your expenses. When you become overwhelmed, remember this: if you waited until you had enough money, time and energy to have your baby, you would probably never have children. Here are a few ways to ease the strain on your budget, so that you can enjoy your new bundle of joy.

1. Health Insurance. This is one area which is a HUGE concern. Yes, insurance can be expensive, but you will need it. You simply can not afford to cut this cost from your budget. You can reduce insurance costs by checking into HMO policies which have lower premiums and out of pocket expenses. Many states have free shot clinics which can help lower your expenses. If you can’t afford to carry insurance, see if your state has insurance for people in your situation. Many states will cover insurance premium costs if your income is under a certain level.
2. Breastfeed your baby, if possible. If you can’t breastfeed, there are ways to save money on formula. Try to apply for WIC (Women , Infants, and Children), a program designed to help middle and low income families with educational resources and food. You can also save money by buying formula in bulk, clipping coupons, and accepting free samples whenever they are offered. Check with your doctor to see if you can feed your infant a generic formula.
3. Diapers. Store brand disposable diapers can be just as good as the name brand, for several dollars less than their name brand counterparts. Experiment until you find a store brand that works for you and your baby. Clipping coupons also can help to lower diaper expenses.
4. Baby food. You can save a lot of money buy making your own baby food. You can use a blender or a baby food grinder to grind table food for baby. Simply put the puree into an ice cube tray and freeze. Then place the cubes in a labeled freezer bag. When your baby is hungry, you can microwave the food cubes.
5. Clothing. There is no need to buy expensive designer clothing for you little one. You can get most of your baby clothing at yard sales or second-hand stores. If you have a neighbor or friend with slightly older children, ask if she would be willing to send some “hand me downs” your way. Remember that many discount stores also sell inexpensive clothing.
6. Toys. Don’t feel pressured to get the latest and most expensive models. I remember buying expensive toys for my first child one Christmas only to find that she spent the entire day playing with boxes and wrapping paper. Kids don’t need a lot of toys; quality is more important than quantity.

What other suggestions do you have for reducing baby expenses?

Author: Michelle Schaefer

by: Eddie Allen

In 1992, Becky Thane started an organization to assist at the military bases overseas. She knew there is nothing worse than finding a great coupon only to realize that it has already expired. She also knew that the bases were the answer to that problem. They accept coupons that have expired.

Military commissaries overseas accept manufacturer coupons for up to six months past their printed expiration dates. That means that coupons that are useless to you can still save overseas military families some money by your sending these coupons to them no more than 2 months expired.

Initially the OCP was run as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity under the name ‘Overseas Coupon Project’. Acts of Congress in 2001 and 2002 increased active duty military pay. Congress also commited to keep military pay higher. This has brought the vast majority of active duty service families above the Federal poverty level. Because of these changes, OCP was unable to maintain non-profit status.

We still felt, however, that many military families appreciate and need our help. So, we restructured our organization and changed the name to the Overseas Coupon Program. At that time I (Edward W. Allen III) took over the program. I had been with OCP for 5 years as an assistant running the Western USA distribution under the old program.

The program is now at www.ocpnet.org and is run fully on the internet. Most Americans have access to the internet or to someone that can access it for them. This site gives information on how to participate in the program:

To adopt a base and gives the base address.

To cut, sort and dollar total the coupons and how to ship them

To report the totals to the OCP to be posted at our web site

You can contribute as an individual or organization. A typical sunday news paper may have over $100 worth of coupons.

The base staff and the OCP staff are all voluntary. We do the best we can with our small staffs. The bases will not always be able to contact you and acknowledge receipt. They concentrate on getting the coupons out.

We at the OCP also get busy with real life at times and cannot always get back to you immediately. Remember that we do try to work on this every day but real life sometimes gets in the way.

About the Article:
Find out more about sending your expired coupons to military families overseas at www.ocpnet.org.