I "adopted" Yokosuka NB through Overseas Coupon Program, which bills itself as a long-standing patriotic charity.  Since July, I have sent $26,861.43 worth of manufacturers' coupons to the Family Service Center for distribution.  Along with a few friends here in Richmond (VA), I collect, cut out, sort, and total a TON of coupons from the Sunday papers, etc. 

I never received -- nor do I expect -- an acknowledgment from FSC.  However, I'm now curious about how (or if) the coupons are distributed.  Has anyone there ever even heard about the program?

Yes! Thank you!

They have them in a bin in the FFSC building (fourth floor, turn left out of the elevator), they have lots of ziploc bags full of them, although they run low sometimes (just a sign that people are using them!).

I use them and I have heard of a lot of other families using them as well. The only problem with them is that sometimes the commissary doesn't have a particular brand of goods stocked (it's kind of hit or miss and seems to me that it's pretty random what they stock) I just hang on to them and hope that maybe someday those things will come in (the commissary accepts coupons 6 months after the expiration date). They also have a bunch of coupons in the commissary, right when you walk in the door, which are sorted by type of goods, which people are always picking up.

So, we definitely use and appreciate the coupons here. It's nice to know where they're coming from. Thanks for your hard work!!!

I am not the expert on this - maybe someone from FSC has a better answer. But I do know that there are usually a large number of individual bags with probably a hundred or so coupons in each bag available near the FSC desk in the new Community Center. There are also quite a large number of coupons available as you walk in to the Commissary. So that might be and probably is the result of you and your friends' hard work? Even if it isn't I really appreciate that you take the time out to send us coupons, that is a really kind thing for you to do for us who are overseas.

Edit: Same as LBWis above, guess we were replying at the same time :-)

YES!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU AND YOUR FRIEND DO

We use them all of the time! Thank you!

We use them all the time too! Thank you so much! The FFSC on Atsugi has a big bin full of them.

THank you so much we too pick up a bag here and there and they help out sooooooo much!

I use them too, thank you!!!

We use them too, THANK YOU!!!!

Our family uses them too! Thanks so much.

Wonderful!  Thanks for the great feedback.  I'll share it with all my buddies who participate (one of whom is my 88-year-old Navy vet father). 

The employees' association at my former place of employment may be joining the project, so we could have an avalanche of coupons headed your way in the near future.

we could have an avalanche of coupons headed your way in the near future.

Thank you BeenThere. I am sure Yokosuka will appreciate the support. Just another way this site is continuing to help the community and connect people from around the world share information. I love it! It really makes me happy to see this site taking form and becoming a true asset to the community. In years to come, people can read over these posts, and learn from them with all your great experiences you have all been sharing.. Thanks again BeenThere. Please tell your fellow clippers that Yokosuka Base appreciates all their support.

I just started clipping my own coupons while I'm still in the states to use while I'm in Japan, but I will definitely appreciate the coupons when I get there! I'll be on my own for three months while my husband is on tour, and I'll need coupons for things.

Keep up the good work!

I just sent another (10-pound) priority mail package of coupons to the Family Service Center.  It contains $16,967.50 worh of manufacturers' coupons.  Hope it helps out!

Did anyone save me some leftovers from the Girls Meet Up? 

We'll send you some Yakiniku and Shabu Shabu via parcel post soon. Lol.

Thank you for all you do. It really helps families here!

Wow, I didn't even think about not being able to get coupons while in Japan. I will make sure that I start saving and spreading the word that coupons are NEEDED of ALL types...

And to relay what the NEX manager told me at indoc - the Exchange system takes stateside coupons for up to 6 months past their expiration date.

What a great example of those helping people in the USA and an exact, first-person account of how their help is received. Yaaay!

Posted By AllanS on 02 Apr 2010 11:52 AM
And to relay what the NEX manager told me at indoc - the Exchange system takes stateside coupons for up to 6 months past their expiration date.

The NEX does NOT take coupons that are expired, the Commissary does however. I've tried over and over again with the NEX about this, they just say, we aren't the Commissary, and our prices are lower than there's anyway. The NEX's prices are not always lower, most of the time close to the same, or even higher than what the Commissary sells.

Forgot to say THANK YOU for the ones who take there time and cut these coupons out! I've saved so much money being out here on food and diapers. It really does add up over the year for saving with us. I'm so thankful for you all doing this!

Lived here 7 years and I offer the most strenuous advice:

WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD ITEMS:

The NEX is more expensive than the DECA Commissary 24/7/365. It is absolutely, positively more expensive at the NEX.

I blame MWR, as they take a percentage (vig, maybe?) of the profits from the NEX.

It really doesn't matter why they are more expensive, THEY ARE MORE EXPENSIVE. Game set match. The end.

If you are hungry and looking for food, avoid the NEX like a hearty batch of cancer. It's crummy food at higher the cost. Walk 21 meters outside the NEX doors and go with DECA Commissary.

Good point Lego! Commissary is better.

www.japanbases.com

Hey Commander ADAMa (haha! Sorry, I was watching first season of BSG just now),

Anyone on here have pictures from that fancypants super-chef who was here yesterday cooking food? I forgot his name, but I wikipedia and google'd the guy and he is HARD CORE the REAL DEAL.

I didn't even know they were putting on a show at the NEX yesterday. But he was there and I heard it was AWESOME!

Sorry to hijack this thread. Started with coupons, then folks being happy with the coupon help from USA, then why NEX is not good for buying food, and now a Top Chef kinda guy who was here cooking for US!

Tyler Florence. I forgot he was going to be here.

ok..well im curious about coupons..what is the commissarys policy on them? The bags of coupons available for us have mostly expired coupons. do they really accept coupons up to 6 months expired?

o0oh .. and does the nex take coupons? i keep forgetting to ask when im there since my husband is always rushing me out!! hahaha..thanks for the help in advance =)

oops..didnt know there was a first page to this..guess they do!! OOPS..thanks

If they say no to the coupons simply leave and come back when someone else is on duty. This is the DoD. Remember this above all else: if you don't like the answer you're given, just wait until the replacement arrives and try again.

All you NEX-haters, take a deep breath. NEX and DECA are vastly different organizations, established for vastly different purposes. Commissary is specifically a military benefit, financed and subsidized with appropriated funds to give us reduced prices on necessities in recognition that military pay ain't that great. It's there specifically to help your paycheck go further.

The Exchange used to also be like this, but early in my career (mid-80s) they had the rug pulled out from under them. They were told (1) They had to become self-supporting (this is the meaning of NAF or non-appropriated funds, a term you see used for NEX & MWR activities) (2) They had to make a "profit" which would be used to support local recreational and community activities.

These two requirements, combined, nearly killed the Exchange when it first hit in the 80s but they regrouped, restructured, and now do make a "profit" which is returned to the community. Generally, you see this in reduced cost of Tours & Ticketing which would cost far more if you didn't have the Exchange, plus all kinds of community events which are sponsored by MWR (aka MCCS here in Iwakuni). This money does not come from the government; it comes from within your community.

This is why a given item will cost more at the Exchange than at the Commissary. The NEX managers are not evil, but neither are they subsidized through appropriated funds. Generally, there is no reason to buy groceries at the Exchange unless it's after hours & you need something quick, so think of it like buying milk at a stateside 7/11 which costs way more than buying it at Safeway. You pay for convenience.

If you don't like the system, don't blame anyone local. Write to your Congressman. They're the ones who set it up like this. I'm sure they'll get right on it.

I find the NEX to be quite a bit more expensive than the commissary.  Like Thaiguy said, it's like shopping at 7/11 - you pay for the convenience.  The NEX does not except expired coupons.   Most of the coupons that you find at the FFSC are expired, so you can only use them at the commissary.  They are good at the commissary for 6 months after the expiration date.  

These coupons can really save you a lot of money, so don't take them lightly!  So many times, I get free products at the commissary because I get such a great discount by using the coupons.  For example, last week, I had a coupon for $3.00 off Snuggle's Fabric Softner.  Well, the fabric softner at Commissary was only $2.59.  So, I got it for free!  I've gotten free shaving gel, free razor blade........all kinds of stuff free by using these coupons!  Call me cheap, but over time, these kind of things add up!  A little savings here, a little saving there - and, by the end of the year, you saved yourself a bundle! 

Just a heads up...

Today I sent a priority mail package containing $19,615.87 worth of manufacturers' coupons.  Greetings and best wishes from your usual band of contributors.  We added one donor this time around -- a clerk at the Chester VA post office, who was curious about why in the world I mail 10+ pounds of coupons every other month and decided to join us. 
 
Hope you all find some coupons you can use!

Thank you, Been There! I know I use them, and I have told a lot of friends where to pick up the coupons!! Thank you.

Heads up to JB friends: I sent a package of manufacturers' coupons ($14,818.88 total value) today. It's going via priority mail from Virginia, if that gives anyone a clue as to when it will arrive there.

Best wishes from our little group of coupon savers/clippers/sorters!

To our JB friends: We sent a priority mail package today with $16,236.11 worth of manufacturers' coupons. Best wishes from your coupon buddies in Virginia!

I will join in with the others and say a huge THANK YOU! What you and your friends do is greatly appreciated by the families that use them.  I use them almost every time I shop. Sometimes, I get a little note in my coupon bags with an address and I always reply to say thank you. Your hard work and dedication to the men and women over here is very much appreciated! I have a large family so it is necessary for me to save when and where I can to stay on budget. Thanks to your efforts and others like you, I am able to do  that.

I-Mom: You are so welcome; it is just a small thing we can do to thank you all for the sacrifices you make. We hope it frees up a bit of $$$ so you can enjoy all that Japan has to offer your family.

This will make me sound as old as I am: When we were first in Japan in the 1970s, the exchange rate hovered around 300. It was in the 200s when we returned in the '80s, and down to 100 when we visited in 2008. How you are dealing with the current (miserable) exchange rate, I cannot imagine.

I like the idea of the little notes with the coupons; will suggest it to some of the gang here...

Warmest regards to all!

Just to let y'all know...  I just sent a priority mail package with $19,221.34 worth of manufacturers' coupons.  For those of you who care, there are LOTS of good coupons for diapers.  (Adam?)

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all! 

Anna

Thanks BeenThere!
www.japanbases.com

BeenThere, thanks so much for your hard work. I believe people whoever uses coupon would appreciated it. We are pretty new here and have not used the coupon yet, definately will check this out. BTW the question to the ppl who use often, how much could you save for a month by using this?

I try to use some coupons every time I go to the commisary. There are times when I've saved $10 or more off my total bill.

Posted By gaijin on 07 Dec 2010 09:35 AM
I try to use some coupons every time I go to the commisary. There are times when I've saved $10 or more off my total bill.

That's big save, i would say. thanks for the info.

Posted By japanesespeaking on 07 Dec 2010 12:01 PM

Posted By gaijin on 07 Dec 2010 09:35 AM
I try to use some coupons every time I go to the commisary. There are times when I've saved $10 or more off my total bill.

That's big save, i would say. thanks for the info.

I usually go once per week.  Sometimes I save big other times I don't.  It all depends on my list and what coupons I have.

I have saved up to $75 before on my grocery bill. That's when I take the time to organize my list and sort my coupons according to my list. Lately, I haven't had that kind of time. I go once or twice a month

Sheesh! I've been here two years and I thought the only place to get coupons was at the commissary! So what do you guys do? Just grab a bag and go? Not sure how that one works...

Thank you very much BeenThere! I greatly appreciate being able to save money by using coupons especially since I'm not in the States.

Just a heads-up for those who partake... A priority package is on its way to Yokosuka today (2/5/11 here in Richmond, VA) with $19,480.40 worth of manufacturers' coupons.

Best wishes from our little crew of savers and clippers!

To our JB friends who are "sticking it out" in Yokosuka: We sent a priority package yesterday with $15,615.41 worth of manufacturers' coupons.

We are keeping you all in our thoughts at this difficult time.

A priority package with $21,900.95 worth of manufacturers' coupons is on its way to Yokosuka today.

Best regards to all from your coupon crew in Richmond, Hampton, and Charlottesville, VA.

You guys are the best!

Navy Marine Corp Relief Society has coupons sorted out and in drawers. You can come in any time and get the coupons you need without having to sort it out yourself

@ Donna: We send to the Family Service Center. Is Navy Relief part of the same program? Or, should we start sending some of our collection there, too?