If you’re like me, you are throwing out a lot of coupons now. June is over, and many manufacturers coupons expire June 30, or in the days before.
Of course, you don’t have to throw them out. You can send them to an overseas commissary, where they can be used up to six months beyond expiration.
Military families overseas can use expired coupons, and often benefit from donations. They spend the coupons at the local commissary or PX. This can lead to some fabulous savings for them.
Don’t just go willy nilly donating your precious used coupons. (OK, dumping them) Not all bases are accepting them, as they have been deluged and cannot spare the volunteer help. Instead, find out where they are needed.
The Overseas Coupon Program is one group of volunteers that will help military families. For many years, they have been distributing overseas coupons to families of active duty military. They’ll even publish your name with
the tally next to it, hoping that you just have to win! Organizations and individuals can donate, and you do not have to adopt a base to do it.
Expired coupons are only good in commissaries that are overseas. No commissary in the USA will accept expired coupons.
Sometimes there are scams, but more often people just want to donate and help out others in need. Find out more here about sending expired coupons.
Overseas military do not often have the availability of American manufacturers coupons, and depend on the PX or Commissary to distribute them. So sending donations of coupons through a sponsor can be a real boost to them.
Occasionally, you will find stores here that will accept expired coupons. This is rare, but legal since it is the store that is offering the promotion.
When sending expired coupons to a sponsor, be sure not to send things that are almost six months out of date. It takes time for the coupons to travel, and to be sorted and distributed. You really should not send anything more than two months out of date, but if there is a really exceptional deal, you might want to send it along anyway.