Pet Coupons: Making the Most of Them

by Paris Permenter, guest blogger

 Coupons are a great way to save money on pet needs but any coupon search will yield coupons for pet products you don’t use. Whether it’s a dog food or treat brand you don’t serve or a product, such as cat litter, that you don’t need, your search will turn up coupons that would fetch other pet lovers some real savings.

Before you toss those coupons, we’ve got five ways you can use those unused coupons to help out other pet lovers who are looking for ways to save money on their pet supplies.

Donate Expired Coupons to Military Families.  While expired coupons can’t be used at grocery stores, they can be accepted at military base commissaries. Several clearinghouses collect expired coupons to be distributed to US military bases overseas. For just the cost of postage, you can help military pet lovers with your coupons through the Coups for Troops or Overseas Coupon Program clearinghouses.

Use Coupons to Purchase Shelter Donations. Use those unwanted coupons to purchase donations to your local shelter! From litter to cleaning supplies, shelters can always use donations.

Use Coupons to Purchase Pet Food, Supplies for Local Food Banks. Many local (human) food banks also accept pet food and supplies to give to clients, and there are a growing number of pet food banks specifically for pet needs. The HSUS maintains a state-by-state list of organizations seeking pet food and supplies to distribute.

Join a Coupon Swap Group. Whether you swap coupons with neighbors and friends or join a special group for swapping coupons (just search for “coupon swap group”), a coupon swap can be a great way to share unneeded coupons with fellow pet lovers and even get some coupons that you need in return!

Pay It Forward. The next time you’re at the store, stick that coupon beside the sack of cat litter or box of dog treats.  Your random act of kindness can help another pet lover get a little more wiggle room in the budget.

In these tough economic times, we pet lovers have to stick together!

Paris Permenter is a problogger & pet parent to Tiki & Irie plus 4 kitties. She and husband John share tips, reviews, news, giveaways & more on DogTipper.com and Cattipper.com.