With every household budget being squeezed by the sour economy...saving a buck has become a paramount priority. Using coupons to save a few dollars is hardly a new concept..but many are taking it to a new level. Supermarkets like Geissler's are seeing a spike in coupon redemptions...and doubling manufacturers coupons up to a dollar. But clipping and saving goes well beyond your garden variety trip to the supermarket.

"Net Gold"

A growing number of consumers are rushing to internet sites chock full of printable coupons...at Couponpages.com...the available offers are listed alphabetically by town!. Deals in virtually every city and town in Connecticut. Looking for a free fried chicken dinner from Popeyes?...Simply click on "Hartford" and naviagte to "Fast Food". Another popular site is Couponcabin.com. This site has an alphabetical list of manufacturers offers..everything from Advil to Chex Mix!

Free Means Free!

So is it possible to actually walk out of a store with free stuff?...Yes. Most of the major drugstore chains like CVS and Walgreens have lucrative rewards programs with coupon books that basically rebate the entire cost of item back to the buyer...and if shoppers are smart they can match that same item with a manufacturers coupon..in some case, the net result is that the store actually can OWE you money to take the product off the shelf. Those reward programs often pay another 10% on top of that..and the more rewards bucks you use...the more you get back. So the smart shopper can see an endless cycle of freebies if they stay alert and organized!

DOLLARS FOR DIPLOMAS

Anyone who has paid their way through college or picked up the tuition bill for a child knows the pain. The average bill for in-state students is $7,662 per year...for out-of-state students the tally is $18.529. It's no wonder why parents and students are searching out any avenue that can cut deeply into that cost. And there is a way that can cost as little as $87.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES

The Advance Placement Program is becoming more and more popular. It lets high school students take college quality classes and if they pass the final exam...they are awarded a full college credit. Over 3,200 colleges and universities across the country participate. Here in Connecticut alone, the savings can be astronomical. A high school student who amasses 15 AP credits can expect the following savings:

Tunxis Community College- $1,492
Central Connecticut State University- $7,042
University of Connecticut- $7,200

SHINING EXAMPLE

Emmitt Gilles is a high school senior at Conard High School in West Hartford. Because he has taken and passed over a dozen AP classes..he was offered a full scholarship at the University of North Carolina. And he has other major schools lining up to offer him a free education. He says part of the draw is that colleges put a strong emphasis on students who have the smarts and take the time to participate in the Advanced Placement program. Even without a scholarship offer, students with AP credits could actually start their college life as a sophomore..instead of a freshman. And beyond the cost savings, Gilles says the program saves time. Because he is so far ahead in his college credits, he will have a jump start in particpating in post-graduate work and life beyond the campus.

RESOURCES

collegeboard.com

suite101.com

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Sandra Lee has published 16 cookbooks. But it's her highly visible success as one of the stars on The Food Network that has given her an international audience. Best known for her show "Semi-Homemade"..Lee was in Wilton,CT today to tape an episode of a brand new show called "Money Saving Meals" set to air on May 10th at noon. And with a succesfull TV career in full swing, Lee is now publishing a new magazine appropriately called "Semi-Homemade". She was personable and unpretentious as she talked with me about eating good and saving big.

SIMPLE SAVINGS

Sandra Lee says its super simple. And maybe it is. She says re-think the ingredients on your shopping list and you could notice a much lighter bill when you finish at the check out line. Some examples:

Use milk instead of light cream. Lee says you can save 70% by making the switch

Always use the per serving price as a guage. Unit prices can be decieving so always make sure you can calculate just how much the cost per serving will be.

Basic potatos are fine. Yukon golds can fetch $1.99 a pound..but your basic russett potatos can be found for .99 a pound.

Sometime "No-Homemade" is best. She says premade pie crusts are .70 cents cheaper than if you bought all the ingredients and made them from scratch

RESOURCES

foodnetwrok.com

semihomemademag.com

A NICKEL HERE..A NICKEL THERE....

We could all use a few extra bucks. But is it really worth it to scour for cans and bottles and drag them to a recycling center? In a word...yes. Aside from "going green"...you can pocket some serious green as well. More and more people are hanging onto, and collecting, cans and bottles to take advantage of the "nickleback". As more outlets spring up, the rate of redemption is rising too. And the "stigma" of being one of "those" people diving in dumpsters to make a can grab is fading.

A REDEEMING PLACE TO CASH IN

Jeff and Laurie Lacombe opened their "Redeem-it" center in Bristol two and a half years ago. Back then, the economy seemed ok. Budget's weren't stretched to the max like they are today.
Now, their recycling machines are cranking non stop as customers pull up with truckloads of every kind of can or bottle imaginable. The Lacombe's pay out the full amount to each customer..they make money when the can and bottle distributors arrive to collect by the tractor trailer full. The key advantage to going to a center like Redeem-It: They accept all brands. Some centers at major retailers like Stop and Shop or Shaws won't take some brands or sizes. Redeem-It is fast and clean and friendly. Easy in..easy out. And customers get paid in cash..the full amount.

TRUCKLOADS OF MONEY

Linda Johnston pulled up in her pick up truck with garbage bags filled with beer bottles,beer cans and soda cans. One by one, she unloaded her take into the machines just a few feet away from her parking spot. She walked out with nearly a hundred bucks. She gathers them during her daily walks. Scooping them up..saving them from heading to a landfill and adding a nice little extra income for herself and her family.

Ted Elocharsky says the big haul comes in the summer. He advises going to Fourth of July fireworks shows. It's a motherload and he also drove off with a healthy fistfull of dollars. For Marcie Campbell...she isn't hurting for money and she isnt dumpster diving..she simply cleared out some stored up bottles and cans leftover from a relatives house and made a couple quick trips to Redeem-It and drove away with enough money for a nice dinner.

WHERE TO GO

Jeff and Laurie have two Redeem-it locations. Both easy to get to..both easy to use. And they are friendly and helpful. Stop in and cash out!

Redeem-It
288 Murphy Road
Hartford,CT 06114
860-560-CANS

Redeem-It
45 Mellen St.
Bristol,CT 06010
860-585-1615