How to Coupon Effectively

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 11:28:08 -0400

If you’re interested in couponing, but aren’t sure how to get started, this guide’s for you:

Where to Look for Coupons

There are lots of coupons up for grabs, if you know where to find them. By far, the best places to look are:

Newspapers- the Smart Source and Valassis coupon inserts appear on a near-weekly basis. The Procter and Gamble insert appears at the start of each month

Magazines- women’s publications such as Woman’s Day, Red Book, Family Circle and Good Housekeeping frequently carry manufacturer coupons

In store- look for coupons on store shelves, on products and on the back of your receipts. Also look for coupons to print out at the register

Additional places to look:

Online- look to free grocery coupon sites for loads of printable coupons. Not all stores take them; but if yours does, you’re in luck

Junk mail- high-value manufacturer coupons have started to appear in junk mailers, so be sure to look before you toss

Direct from the manufacturer- check manufacturer websites for printable coupons or contact companies (by mail, e-mail or phone) to request coupons

Store mailings- get a frequent shopper card for the grocery stores that you shop, and you may be rewarded with special coupon mailings

On products- look in and on the packaging of the products that you buy for special loyalty coupons

How to Keep Coupons Organized

There are lots of ways to organize coupons; the key is to find the approach that works best for you. Three options to consider:

Clipping out all coupons
Clipping out just the coupons that you intend to use
Leaving the coupon inserts intact, and clipping coupons on an “as-needed” basis

Whichever approach you choose, there are several things that you can do to ensure that your coupons remain neat and accessible:

Develop a filing system. Many couponers organize their coupons by grocery category—dairy, frozen foods, deli, etc. – but it’s not the only way to go. Find a filing system that works for you—by aisle, by expiration, etc. – and put it into action.

Find a container to hold your coupons. Use a shoebox, a storage container, a coupon binder, a coupon wallet or a recipe box – it doesn’t matter what you choose – but it’s important to have a landing spot for all of those coupons.

File coupons the same day you get them. Okay, so you may not always have time to file your coupons right away, but try to file them as soon as you can. This will prevent them from getting lost, and save you the hassle of having to sort through a big mess of coupons all at once.

Purge regularly. Expired coupons won’t save you money, so don’t let them hog space in your coupon file. Set a schedule for purging expired coupons, and stick to it.

How to Maximize Your Savings:

Shop at stores that double coupons
Keep your coupons with you at all times – you never know when a deal might pop up
Match coupons to sales – use a site like isaving.net to help you do this
Learn each store’s coupon policy
Get creative: Clever Couponing Strategies

Kindle Fire HD Review: All Need to Know Before Buying

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 10:53:19 -0400

Android-based gaming service Green Throttle has now officially launched and is capable of turning your Amazon Kindle Fire HD tablet into a games console.

One of many Android gaming platforms to launch this year, Green Throttle, unlike Ouya or GameStick, doesn’t have any dedicated console hardware. Instead, it works by combining a games portal in an app format, Green Throttle Atlas controller and an Amazon Kindle Fire HD.

Players must download the free Green Throttle Arena app from the Amazon Appstore, which gives players access to the Green Throttle games catalogue. The app will recommend compatible titles, but also check back through previously purchased games on the Amazon Kindle Fire HD to find any that will work with the system.

All Green Throttle users then have to do is plug their Kindle Fire into the TV using an HDMI cable to play Android games on the biggest screen in the house. The Green Throttle Atlas controllers, look very similar to an Xbox 360 gamepad and use Bluetooth to connect wirelessly to the tablet.

Up to four controllers can be connected at once, enabling users to play multiplayer games on a single screen.

“I really do think, even more so than phones, that the tablet is going to be the entertainment platform of choice going forward,” says Green Throttle CEO Charles Huang, who also co-created the Activision Guitar Hero franchise. “The console’s monopoly on gaming is going to end.”

“The biggest segment of revenue in the game industry comes from gaming on TVs, but the most common devices that play games are actually phones and tablets.”

The Green Throttle Arena app is available now on the Amazon Appstore, and the Green Throttle Atlas controllers can be purchased from Amazon, albeit only currently from the US store. The controllers can be shipped internationally and one will set you back $39.95 (£26.35). Green Throttle also offers a “2 Player Bundle” that ships with two Atlas controllers, a micro USB charger and a micro HDMI to HDMI cable for $89.99 (£59.36).

Green Throttle has confirmed that the Android-based gaming service will soon be supported on other Android tablets and smartphones, starting with the Samsung Galaxy S3. The Google Nexus 4 and upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 could also get a look in too.

What do you think of the Android-based gaming platforms? Would you prefer mobile gaming to stay mobile and let traditional console rule your living room? Drop us a line via the TrustedReviews Twitter and Facebook pages or the comment boxes below.

Best gadgets Reviews

How to Coupon Effectively

Where to Look for Coupons

How to Keep Coupons Organized

How to Maximize Your Savings:

Kindle Fire HD Review: All Need to Know Before Buying