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Uncategorized

Join The Coupon Challenge Coupon Train

by Dana Zeliff on March 29, 20112011-03-29
in Uncategorized

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

I had a request to help organize a coupon train for all my wonderful readers to trade coupons.  I’ve been doing a lot of research and have set up a Questionnaire to help sort members into a Basic Coupon Train. 

If you’re interested in joining the Coupon Train, please read the Coupon Train Guidelines (or see below), then complete the Coupon train Questionnaire.  I will divide members into trains based on oppssing coupon needs, ie. a person needing diaper coupons with a person needing pet coupons.  The number of members in a train and the number of trains will depend on interest.

I am requesting a Train Conductor for each train. This person will start off the train and help keep it moving.

I am working on adding a coupon forum or chat area for you all to communicate.  I hope to have it up and running soon.

The Coupon Challenge – Coupon Train Guidelines

*Please read the following guidelines before completing the Coupon Train Questionnaire.  

Coupon trains are simply a way of exchanging coupons by postal mail. It is a way of exchanging coupons for products you don’t use for coupons that your family needs.  

1.  This train is based on “Opposing Needs.” Pairing individuals with different coupon needs together.

2.  Each train will consist of 6 members, not to exceed 10 members.

3.  Train routes will be determined by region.  The Coupon Challenge will attempt to pair train members within the same region while taking advantage of regional differences in coupon inserts.

4. Each coupon envelope (or “envie”) will consist of no more than 50 coupons due to postal fees.

5.  Each train member will be expected to replace the same number of coupons to the envelope as he/she removed.  Adding additional coupons up to the maximum is allowed & encouraged.

6.  Each train member is expected to remove expired coupons from the envelope before mailing to the next member in the train route.

7.  Each person should keep the envelope for no more than 3 days.  Ideal turnaround is 1-2 days.  This insures the train will keep moving.  Please be conscious of holiday’s and three-day weekends.

8. Members may make a wish list of 5 coupons.  Wish lists do not guarantee coupon availability.

9.  Each train member must verify the information on the routing slip for changes.  Additionally, all changes should be made on the routing slip included in the envelope and on the master routing slip available in a google document.  Changes include: address change, typos, vacation leave or removal from train.

10.  The date the envelope leaves each train member should be recorded on the routing slip.  

11.  Most importantly, if you want to receive great coupons from other members, you need to send out great coupons to the group. Don’t remove ALL the great coupons from the envelope.

12.  Each Train needs a Train Conductor:  This is the first person in the train.  They are responsible for adding a new routing slip to the envelope at the start of each train cycle.  Assistance in train mediation is also required.

13.  Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in removal of member from the coupon train.  Members may vote out someone not adhering to these guidelines.

14.  Coupon train membership is voluntary.  You may leave the train at anytime with notice to the train conductor.

15. Communication via email is allowed by train members.  Only members of your train & The Coupon Challenge will have access to your email and mailing address.

Allowed:  
Newspaper inserts
Hangtags
Tearpads
Magazine coupons
Legitimate printable coupons (no photocopies)
Mail-in-rebate forms

Not allowed:
Store specific coupons
Rainchecks
Catalina’s
Expired coupons
Coupons of a questionable nature

Please send questions to: [email protected]

*Complete the Coupon Train Questionnaire to be divided into your train.

This train will be provided with the help of A Frugal Chick & Mom on Dealz

16 comments

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Tuesday’s Trip (03/29) GFC FINAL WEEK

by Dana Zeliff on March 28, 20112011-03-28
in Uncategorized

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

The Coupon Challenge and Mom on Dealz

Welcome to the FINAL Tuesday’s Trips Blog Hop hosted by The Coupon Challenge and Mom on Dealz!

Thanks so much for joining us each week!  We have visited some amazing new blogs!  Make sure to join us in our other weekly hops:

  • Thursday join Mom on Dealz for Traveling Through Thursdays
  • Friday join The Coupon Challenge & Mom on Dealz for Follow Me Friday
  • Saturday join The Coupon Challenge for Surfin’ Saturdays!

Each week we will be visiting a new social network. Make sure you check back each week to see where we’ll be!

The Rules are simple:
  • Follow your hostesses in the #1 and #2 spots
  • Leave a comment, so we can follow you back
  • Only link up to the network we are visiting for the week
  • It’s always appreciated that if someone follows you, you follow them back (we all love to find new friends!)
This week is GFC



1 Comment

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Hampton Roads Area Blogger Meet

by Dana Zeliff on March 26, 20112011-03-26
in Hampton Roads Locals, Uncategorized

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

From left to right:
Me (The Coupon Challenge), Laura (A Frugal Chick), Lori (The Coupon Consultant), Karen (Lori’s assistant and Coupon Queens of Hampton Roads), Sharon (Mom on Dealz) & Valerie (Dolly Domestic)

I had the pleasure of meeting most of the Hampton Roads area bloggers last week.  It was great to finally meet the ladies I talk to online!  Let me tell you, these women are amazing!  They have amazing blogs and are truly inspirational!

We hope to bring our readers more corroboration from our sites, so stay tuned for great things.  Hopefully we can even organize a blogger/reader meet sometime this summer.  I think that would be fun!

5 comments

Filed Under: Hampton Roads Locals, Uncategorized

Surfin’ Saturday’s (03/25) Twitter

by Dana Zeliff on March 25, 20112011-03-25
in Uncategorized

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Welcome to Surfin’ Saturdays hosted by Chubby Cheeks Thinks, Two Monkeys & a Washtub, And Then There Were Four and  The Coupon Challenge and Dandy Giveaway! 




Each week we will be surfin’ a different social network. You will have to check back every Saturday to see where we will be! One week it may be a facebook hop and then the next an email hop! It will be lots of fun and you will get to meet new people and see old friends as well!

We kindly ask that you follow these simple requests

  1. Follow the hostesses in the first five spots (We will follow you back! Just please leave a comment letting us know that you are following us!)
  2. Please only link up the network that is being hopped that specific week.
  3. No spam please. These will be removed. 
  4. It would be wonderful if you are linking up this week if you could add our button to your sidebar or in a post to help spread the word! 🙂 The more people that join, the more fun it will be! 
  5. If someone follows you please feel free to follow them back! If you follow me and leave a comment you are guaranteed a follow back!
This is a new list every Saturday, so please remember to come back and link up!
This week is Twitter!
Please link up only your Twitter Account!

7 comments

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Follow Me Friday (03/25) Twitter

by Dana Zeliff on March 25, 20112011-03-25
in Uncategorized

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Welcome to the NEW Follow Me Friday hosted by Living on Love and Cents, Madame Deals, Mom on Dealz, The Coupon Challenge, Luxury Living Frugal Style and Budget Savvy Diva.

Follow Friday

[Read more…]

1 Comment

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Thrifty Thursday: 100 Ways to Save Without Coupons (Guest Post)

by Dana Zeliff on March 24, 20112011-03-24
in Uncategorized

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

I know we all like to save money but there are some who for whichever reason they choose do not use coupons here are 100 ways that you can save money with out using coupons. Although I still highly recommend using coupons 🙂

In General
1-Budget- having a budget and sticking to it will save you money because you know where your money is going
2-Pay with cash-it is easy to just swipe a card but if you have cash then all you can spend is what you have
3-Shop around-check out different places before buying to see where has the best price
4-track your spending-You will realize that sometimes you are spending more then you realized.
5-Put money into savings first, always put money into your savings first before you budget for bills and expenses
6-Drive your car until its dead, instead of always having a car payment once you have paid it off use it as long as you can and get your money out of it
7-Go through bills like cable and internet and see what fees are on the bill, sometimes there can be hidden fees that are over looked. If you find them call the company and ask what they are if it is not something you put on the bill have them take it off.
8-Use a bank that rewards you for baking with them and has a rewards program with your debit card. You earn points when you pay your bills which you can cash in for gift cards.

[Read more…]

5 comments

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Tuesday’s Trips (03/22) Facebook

by Dana Zeliff on March 21, 20112011-03-21
in Uncategorized

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

The Coupon Challenge and Mom on Dealz

Welcome to the NEW Tuesday’s Trips Blog Hop hosted by The Coupon Challenge and Mom on Dealz! Instead of a shopping trip linky we’ve decided to change over to a traditional blog hop.

Each week we will be visiting a new social network. Make sure you check back each week to see where we’ll be!

The Rules are simple:
  • Follow your hostesses in the #1 and #2 spots
  • Leave a comment, so we can follow you back
  • Only link up to the network we are visiting for the week
  • It’s always appreciated that if someone follows you, you follow them back (we all love to find new friends!)
This week is Facebook



3 comments

Filed Under: Uncategorized


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About The Coupon Challenge

Hi! I'm Dana, the writer behind the scenes of The Coupon Challenge, a Hampton Roads, VA based coupon blog. I'm a wife and mother of 2. After getting out of debt we started using our savings to travel together as a family and create memories.

Are you looking for ways to save your family money? I strive to help you save on the products you need, so you can spend more on the things you want. Read More about Dana & Family

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