Guest Post - Expired Coupons & Oversees Military Bases

Just when I think that I cannot possibly cram another coupon insert into my large file box, a new round of those precious coupons expire and must be harvested from the collection. What do you do with your expired coupons? Throw them out? Recycle them? Make pretty mosaic collages with them? Did you know that you can send your expired coupons to U.S. military bases around the world? The coupons are placed in various common areas throughout each base and families can use them for up to 6 months after they expire! We have family friends currently stationed in England who have confirmed to us that the coupons really do make it into the hands of the military families and are valued and appreciated.

I have adopted a U.S. Naval Base in Sicily! The other night I spent about 20 minutes cutting the expired coupons from my 3/29/09 and 4/5/09 inserts. (Try including your older children in the "coupon hunt-" what a great math lesson you could create by having them search for dates that have already passed!) After I stuffed my coupons (valued at more than $155 in savings!) in an envelope, they were ready to ship. `As these packages ship to APO/AFO addresses, the cost to mail the coupons is the same as sending a card to Grandma in Texas.

To select a military base, visit the Overseas Coupon Program website. For over 17 years this program has facilitated the transfer of coupons to U.S. military bases. On the left sidebar, click on Base Adoptions to browse the list of bases that you can mail your coupons to. You will notice that some bases are requesting to be adopted! After you choose a base, send an email to adoptions@ocpnet.org to let them know you will be participating.

Drop your coupons in the mail for the cost of a stamp or two. You will have room for new coupons come Sunday, and help our wonderful service men and women (and their families) at the same time!


Devon posts regularly on her blog, http://www.mamacheaps.com/. When she is not blogging or designing personalized candy wrappers for her store, Winterwood Press, she is spending time with her husband and her 12 month old daughter.