Ask the Readers: What to Do with Expired Coupons

Each week, I plan on featuring a reader question.  I'll try to answer it, and then I'll open it up to readers to answer in the comments.

Rita writes:

I am looking for suggestions. I had every intention of sending expired coupons to the military overseas. However, that was in January. I now have coupons that are very well past six months expired. Are there any suggestions on what to do with them (other than recycle or shred)?

I'm afraid that you are out of luck with your expired coupons.  If you were to try to use an expired coupon, the store would not get reimbursed for the coupon.  So your best best is to recycle those expired coupons.

However, if your coupon was only expired a couple of months ago, like you mentioned, you could send your expired coupon to a military family overseas.  Members of the Armed Forces overseas can use expired coupons for up to 6 months after expiration at their overseas commissary and BX/PX.

How do you get your coupon to overseas military personnel?

That's a good question.  There are many different organizations out there where you can adopt a specific military family or you can adopt a whole base and send the coupons to the base.  One specific organization is The Overseas Coupon Program.  You can see which bases are available and get more information about how to send your coupons.

If you know any members of the military, you could ask them if they know any families overseas who might be interested in being adopted.  Moms with small children may not have the time to sort through coupons in a central area on base.

I hope that helps!  If anyone else has any ideas of how to send coupons to the military, please leave a comment.

Do you have a question that you'd like to see answered in a future Ask the Reader post?  Please contact me!