How to Save on Groceries with a Coupon Train
Trade Coupons to Reduce Grocery Expenses for Food Savings
Sep 3, 2009
Before the internet, people wanting to save money with coupons would turn to joining or forming a coupon train. A train is maintained by one person who sends an envelope of coupons through postal mail. The package contains a mailing list, and as one person takes and adds coupons to the envelope, it is mailed to the next coupon train recipient on the mailing list.
Coupon trains allow individuals between cities, or even across states and provinces, to organize and share coupons. By establishing a group, the coupon train leverages each person's coupon clipping power to share coupons with a larger audience.
Steps to Starting a Coupon Train – Save Money on Groceries
Creating a coupon train is as easy as identifying a small circle of friends or family who would also like to reduce their grocery bill.
- An organizer should select a group on individuals to participate. The organizer is the 'train conductor' and will manage the coupon train rules. The more people who join the group will impact how quickly the train can move through the mailing list. Starting with a smaller group of 3 to 4 people is suggested. The number can be increased over time once the coupon train is up and running.
- Define the coupon swapping rules the participants should follow. The group members should be made aware postage costs will be incurred, as well as their responsibility for adding quality coupons to the envelope for each coupon which is taken from it. Set the maximum number of days each participant should take before mailing to next person on the list. If desired, the coupon train can be established for specific categories of coupons (i.e. breakfast foods or baby formula coupons only).
- The organizer begins the train by filling an envelope with a stack of coupons, 50-75 is a good starting point. Include in the envelope a chronological list of mailing addresses so each person knows who to send the envelope to next. The last address on the mailing list should be the conductor. The conductor mails the coupons to the first person on the mailing list.
- When receiving the coupon envelope, each participant should review the coupons and discard any which have expired or will expire before reaching the next person on the mailing list. For each coupon kept, the participant should add a coupon of equal or greater value. Consider it good coupon karma. The participant should mail the envelope to the next person within a few days of receiving it.
- Since the train eventually returns to the conductor, the loop will continue indefinitely.
Tips to Managing a Coupon Train – Reduce Expense on Grocery Bills by Leveraging Coupon Clippings
Keep in mind the following tips and suggestions when creating a coupon train. After the train completes its first trip through the mailing list, reassess if any changes are needed before starting the next mailing cycle.
- Select a geographically diverse set of participants to ensure broader coverage of coupons, as some offers are only made available in select regional markets.
- It is important to note specific brands or products of particular interest to each person. On the back of the enclosed mailing list, ask each participant to write a short wish list.
- Order the mailing list based on physical location to one another in order to save on mailing costs between train members.
- Remember that postage costs will vary based on envelope weight and distance to travel. Inform members to apply proper postage to prevent mailing delays or returned mail.
- Only include store-specific coupons if the store is available to other coupon train participants.
- Only include coupons which are useful to the participants. Low-value or undesirable coupons add to the package weight.
Trading retail coupons can be a great way to reduce expenses and save money. The cost of mailing the coupon train envelope is offset by the coupon savings it contains. Forming a group to leverage coupon clipping power can save time in finding coupons of interest.
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