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Community Corner

Springfield Index: Couponing For The 21st Century

A new look at an old way to save $$$. What's going on around the corner and on the web

Recently I needed a new filtered-water pitcher. Since I'm  a cheapskate I decided to look around for a great deal. The best price I found was through a web-based coupon site that connected the dots between a local sale and a downloadable coupon. My final cost was about 75 percent off. 

Funny thing -- had I just walked in off the street I would have been happy with the straight sale price, which was about 50 percent off. So it seemed to me that with a little preparation there may be many more savings to be had.

I grabbed that pitcher for $4.00 and began searching for Springfield-based online deals. I came across plenty. Many sites request registration. If you go ahead and register,  you might want to set up a  dedicated 'coupon-only' email mailbox first. 

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Bed Bath & Beyond (Morris Ave):  I always carry around those big, blue 20 percent off discount coupons from Bed, Bath & Beyond. It seems a shame to shop without using one.  (BB&B coupons are also good at all Harmon Discount stores.) If somehow you've managed avoid the coupons altogether, register online and you'll receive a savings certificate in your email box.  And watch for snail mail coupons carefully – most of the certificates offer 20 percent off one item, but occasionally the offer is good on the entire purchase.

Bob's Stores (Route 22 westbound):  Look for weekly coupons in the Red Plum inserts or online.  Bob's also has a savings club, 'best of bob's' that allows you to earn points for purchases

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Christmas Tree Shops (Route 22 westbound):   You can register online for special offers, but the store doesn't seem to have online coupons or a savings club. It does accept Harmon coupons (not Bed Bath & Beyond) for health and beauty aid products.

CVS (Morris Ave): One of the grand Kahunas of bargain hunting. CVS has an Extra Care card that offers sales and discount when swiped.  The pharmacy accepts coupons on sale items, which in turn may trigger 'extra bucks' savings that are good on diverse items.  CVS is a place where it's possible to find 'moneymakers' or items being sold at a discount, which when combined with manufacturers coupons may result in cash back after a purchase.

Dunkin Donuts (Morris Ave, Mountain Ave): Has a 'perks' program that offers free coffee and other specials.

Food King (Morris Ave):  Offers email registration (the web site says Foodtown, but it's definitely FoodKing).  They will send you weekly circulars, coupons and alerts about specials.

Redbox (outside 7-11 and Shop Rite on Morris Ave.) These vending machines are great for an impulse movie rental. Register online and you can reserve in advance. And when you register, they'll treat you to a  first time free movie credit.

Rite Aid (Route 22 westbound): Register for "Wellness+ Online" and you'll receive specials and savings via email, including a $5.00 off a $25.00 purchase voucher and $50.00 worth of coupons on useful Rite Aid brand items such as batteries, aspirin, ibuprofen, baby wipes, allergy pills, etc.  You'll also receive a Rite Aid club card (similar to supermarket cards) that will allow you to accrue points toward benefits such as 20 percent off all purchases everyday.

Shop Rite (Morris Ave): Shop Rite is firmly planted in the 21st century.  Shoppers can log on, view the weekly circular, create a shopping list, download and print coupons or load them right onto a Price Plus Club Card  (the coupon amount will then be deducted from a shopping order automatically once the card is swiped). Shop Rite is curently giving $2.00 in Your Bucks when registering online.

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