Thursday 11/19/09: Watch coupon rules-expiration dates

I don't know if all stores are like this, but the grocery store where I shop will catch via computer when a coupon is expired and won't allow you to use it (which makes sense). So make sure all your coupons are valid, if the store cares. Otherwise you'll be tempted to say, "oh, just put it in anyway," in which case another marketing aspect of coupons has worked on you--you've bought the product without a discount. I go through all of my coupons shortly after the 1st of the month to throw out all the ones I haven't used that have expired. And I look at them and think, "all those coupons represent money I didn't spend." So throwing them out is not a bad thing!