COUPONING STRATEGIES

Dumpster Diving for Catalinas


Today, I found $57 in the trash at Giant Food in Laurel, Maryland.  I was walking to the front entrance when my eyes got a glimpse of the blue bar code of a catalina coupon.  You know catalinas.  They are the coupons that print at the end of your transaction and are often triggered when you buy certain products to encourage you to try something else.  Or they can be a reward for your brand loyalty.

Anyway, like I said, I got a glimpse of the blue bar code on a crumpled catalina.  I reached into the trash can...yes, I did.  Once I removed the catalina, I saw another and removed that one and then realized that little trash can was full of discarded catalinas.

Just a few of the $57 worth of catalinas I rescued from the trash.

There were catalinas for diapers, baby food, shampoo, k-cups coffee, toilet paper, yogurt, children's cough syrup, over the counter meds, bread, children's vitamins, sausage, soup, cascade, and two blinkies for cookie dough!  Now, I will not use many of the catalinas but was taken aback on just how many were thrown away by other shoppers.  It gave me good bumps just thinking about how many have been tossed the entire month or this year and last year. 

This was my first venture into the trash can/dumpster diving coupon underground and I am not sure that is will by my last.  I do not believe that I can resist the lure of the  blue bar code of the catalina in the trash can.  

Happy Couponing!
ShaRon, The Bizzy Coupon Bee