How To Use Coupons To Help Those In Need

We all want to be helping needy families in time. Especially this time of year when there is a chill in the air and it seems so sad that kids could be going to bed hungry or not receive anything for Christmas.

When you use coupons, you can not only save money on all the items you buy for yourself, but also get enough extras to be helping needy families!

There are a lot of government assistance programs for those in need, but many families don’t want to ask for the assistance. They feel like they got themselves into this mess, so they should struggle to get back out.

The sad news is that it can be a huge task just to put food on the table each night or stay warm during the winter months.

You may be thinking, well those in need can get food stamps to help them buy the things they need. While food stamps can be used at some restaurants and grocery stores, what most people don’t realize is that you cannot use food stamps for household items such as toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and even diapers. You can buy many of these items for just pennies when you use coupons, which you can then use to be helping needy families! 

If you’re looking for ways to help those in need this holiday season, I’m going to show you a step-by-step plan to follow in order to use your coupons to help those in need!

1. Identify Your Cause

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to donate to the animal shelter, homeless, or a local organization, there are a ton of great causes that can benefit from your couponing skills! 

The first step is to find a cause you’d like to help out with. For me, I use my couponing knowledge to be helping needy families during the holiday season. They’re always in need of nonperishable food during this time of year, so I put my coupons to work to help fill their pantries. An easy way to find a food bank near you is to check with Feeding America. Look for the food bank hours and what their greatest needs are.

I could just donate money to the food bank or some other organization, but those dollars donated will not be anywhere near the amount I can give them in food or other products from couponing. I figure that I can make the money I would donate go much farther than they would. So donating items (instead of money) to whatever cause I choose is going to be more helpful.

I also have a big advantage in that I live in a large city (I’m in Brandon, which is near Tampa, FL). There are many various grocery stores, drug stores, and discount stores for me to choose from, and even some stores that I can find freebies. The competition is a lot more fierce in big cities, which means multiple stores are going to do everything they can to get my grocery money.

2. Make A Strategy

On Sunday afternoon, I gather all of my coupon inserts, printable coupons, and mailbox coupons together.

I glance over the coupons to look for items that are typically not expensive and aren’t perishable. Then I cut them out and put them in a ziploc bag so they are all in one place.

This includes things such as:

• canned goods like soup and proteins like tuna or chicken
• cereals
• granola bars
• boxed items such as rice or pasta
• zipped plastic bags
• paper items such as paper towels and plates
• health & beauty items such as shampoo/conditioner, deodorant or soap
• Download a full list of needed donation items here.

I don’t look for specific manufacturers since it doesn’t matter. 

3. Wait For A Good Deal

Now comes the hardest part, the waiting game. 

I keep those coupons at the ready and wait until I find a great deal to use them on. 

Most grocery store sales cycles are about 3-6 weeks, so if I wait patiently, a good deal should pop up on an item I’m looking for every few weeks.

When I see a good deal, I hop into my car and head off to the store. If it’s a freebie or an insane deal, I may even drag my husband to the store with me to utilize multiple transactions.

4. Donate!

Perhaps the best part of the whole experience sees the look on the organization’s face when I show up with a car full of items to donate.

Enjoy every moment of this, and remember that this was the whole reason you did it in the first place! Especially make sure to bring your kids along so you can discuss why it’s so important to give to those who have less than we do. That’s a real-life lesson in generosity! 

You don’t need to have a lot of extra money around the holidays to find ways for helping needy families in your community. There are a ton of great ways you can use coupons to help out those in need, without emptying your wallet.

Helping the needy really doesn’t take a lot out of your day shopping or really even your budget. Just a couple of dollars and a couple of minutes is really all it takes. Some thought, some love, and a few coupons too!

It is a blessing to be a blessing!

Your Turn: How does your family help others during the year? Share your blessing stories below!