Couponing---more trouble than it's worth?

[spima3]

Just curious about how others feel. One of our largest expenses is for groceries/household products. I read here and usually follow links that others give for coupon sites, grocery game, etc.

Maybe it's us or our area, but I've found the grocery stores mentioned can not be found around here, or the coupons available are not for anything we buy, at least seldomly. I have no need to bulk up on the coupons in the paper, because I seldom use the ones that are even available.

Now the CVS thread seems like a lot of work and I don't fully understand it, but as we have one right up the street, it would probably work for me. THAT I will look into further, but for the others, it just seems like a lot of time spent for very little return. What am I missing?

lori

 

[MagiKitty]

I am a full-on coupon freak. I enjoy the chase of matching weekly ads with coupons. I frequently get 30-50% my weekly grocery bill. Most things that I don't coupon are fresh produce, meats, seafood, and bakery items. Otherwise, I coupon for everything possible.

For me, couponing is a lot of pantry building. I purchase things that I will eventually use, such as toiletries, paper goods, pet food and personal items. For canned goods, pasta, etc. I try to plan my meals around my couponed items. For example, if pasta sauce is on sale that week, I match it with a coupon, and plan to have pasta sometime that week. Its difficult for me to plan a meal schedule, so I actually have my coupon deals dictate what will be on the table.

Couponing is not for everyone. You're not alone in finding it difficult. There are websites that match local stores to weekly coupons (I use couponmom). It just develops as a habit and can be quite fun. I like to think of all the money saved that can be directed somewhere else.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I am not what you would consider a "hardcore" couponer but I do use coupons I would say 90% of the time as well as shop sale prices. Now it doesn't work around here on fresh meats or vegetables but it works on nearly everything else. Personal hygiene products we are not that picky on. We will use nearly any brand of toothpaste, several varieties of bar soap, shampoo, etc. so when 1 brand is on a good sale or clearanced I will stock up. Coupon further helps those sales but I won't buy 10 papers to get the coupons. I would rather go on ebay and buy 10 of the same coupons for the cost of 1 extra paper. Some items I have purchased with coupons and gotten great deals:

French's Potato Sticks - single snack size containers $0.55 each - used a $0.25 coupon which my stores (Shaws/Price Chopper) double so each can was $0.05 each. These we use in kids lunchs periodically

Dole Fruit (big containers not the snack cups) - peaches, asst fruit, pineapple, mandarin oranges - went on sale for $1.88 each. I had gotten at my childrens school about 100 coupons (they were going to be thrown away ) for $0.75 each. Again doubled at my stores. I majorly stocked up and gave friends/family coupons and got each container at $0.38 each!!! My 2 kids can eat a whole container (split) in a sitting but $0.40 for a snack is great!

I am a serious CVS'er and visit there regularly. When toothpaste is on sale for $2.99 and it has a $2 return (extra care bucks), when I use a $1.00 off coupon the item has then been made free for me. Sometimes it gets better when CVS is giving you a return of the total item. When it is on sale for $2.99 and I am getting back $2.99 in an ECB then by using a coupon for $1.00 off I have just profitted a $1 in that transaction. Granted I have to spend the ECB in CVS but I just roll those towards another deal.

I do NOT however purchased products just because I have a coupon UNLESS I am getting it free (and would like to try the products) or I am making money by buying it.

 

[BrerMom]

Sometimes I feel the same way. We don't get the same deals here as people post on the DIS because coupons are only doubled up to 50 cents, you can't use duplicate coupons on the same shopping trip, and so on. The grocery stores in this area seem to be on the same page on this one. I do stick to the sales and stock the pantry, but if I don't have a coupon, I don't worry about it anymore.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Other then an few personal items most coupons are on processed foods. We don't eat them. I make my own pasta sauce. The jars are too sodium filled and that is not good. Since we eat mostly from the outside rows of the grocery store, we use very little coupons.

 

[spima3]

<snip>
Couponing is not for everyone. You're not alone in finding it difficult. There are websites that match local stores to weekly coupons (I use couponmom). It just develops as a habit and can be quite fun. I like to think of all the money saved that can be directed somewhere else.

I was just at that website and for my state there were only 3 or 4 grocery stores listed and none of them are in my area. No value to me at all there. Same thing with the grocery game. No grocery stores in our area. So it isn't so much "difficult" as it is worthless in that regard.
Most of the items I buy are the store brand, and usually on sale. I have yet to find coupons for name brands that ever beat this. For example, I bought the 12 pack, double rolls, of store brand toilette tissue for $4.50. I have never seen the name brands ever go that cheaply even w/ coupons.

lori

 

[mrsklamc]

I think it depends on the area you live in and what products you use. My MIL lives in a town where none of the grocery stores double coupons. If I lived there I'm not sure I would buy the paper.
For me it's worth it, and would be even if we didn't eat processed foods b/c I get great deals on toiletries as well.

 

[ZPT1022]

Other then an few personal items most coupons are on processed foods. We don't eat them. I make my own pasta sauce. The jars are too sodium filled and that is not good. Since we eat mostly from the outside rows of the grocery store, we use very little coupons.

That's how we are too. We've been really re-evaluating how we eat and find that a lot of the products that have coupons are not really the kinds of things that we buy I'd be all over it otherwise, and if we get the paper I do check, but overall it doesn't really work for us

 

[tar heel]

When people say coupons are for things they don't use, I always wonder what they do in place of toothpaste, deoderant and wash powder.

I do use coupons, and they save me money. What saves me even more money, however, is spending a half hour with the grocery ads each week planning my menus around what's on sale. I have mine emailed to me by the two stores I shopt at most. I'm fortunate to live near two grocery stores, two drug stores and a SuperTarget and Walmart, Kmart and Aldi are only about a mile out of my way if I change my commute route slightly. I don't go from place to place -- I plan where I'm going based on sales, menu and what we need. It's very important to know what regular prices are and plan your shopping accordingly. My favorite grocery store has wonderful sales and high regular prices, but I still go there almost every week. There are many things I would never buy at my grocery store or CVS unless they were deeply discounted.

It takes a little bit of effort to do coupons and plan around specials. I've never looked at the grocery game website in my life, so it's not a factor in my planning.

 

[solferino]

Other then an few personal items most coupons are on processed foods. We don't eat them. I make my own pasta sauce. The jars are too sodium filled and that is not good. Since we eat mostly from the outside rows of the grocery store, we use very little coupons.

Ditto. I leaf through the coupon flyers in the sunday paper, but most of the time I don't clip anything aside from laundry and dishwasher detergents.

 

[problemchild718]

I have a set food budget...but what ever I save with coupons is my vacation/play $$$. I coupon and use coupon mom/grocery game. I cut coupons while watching TV once a week (we watch a show together so I'd be sitting anyway) and compare my grocery game list to the store add and my need list (15 min or so). I write my list and pull my coupons in the order of the aisles of the store so I don't spend more time there. I save $50.00 to $105 a trip in coupons-thats the only way we save for trips. So for me its worth 30 min to save $200-$400 a month. Tossing coupons are like tossing money out the window.

 

[Cindy B]

I don't consider saving almost $1000 a year trouble.


One year, I "banked" all my coupon savings--and it was enough for an inexpensive trip to WDW!

Just today I saved over $30. Thats a whole gas trip for a week in my car.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I don't see the savings that alot of other couponers do, especially since there are no stores that double coupons in my area, but I save about $50 a month in coupons so consistently that I lowered my budget to account for it. I spend about a half hour clipping and sorting coupons before my grocery trips, which are two times a month. I only shop at one store that has the lowest prices on most of their products, I just don't have the energy to drag 5 kids around to different stores.

I use coupons for:
toiletries
paper products, diapers, wipes
pet food
Holiday candy (such as halloween right now)
bisquick
100% fruit juice and applesauce
cereal (I admit, we eat the sugary kinds)
Kraft cheese
microwave popcorn
rice cakes
oatmeal
pre-sliced apples (my kids like to pack these when we go places)
organic milk (printed these off the internet)
whole grain pasta

I just don't buy into the "coupons are only for processed foods" idea. Yes, there are more coupons for processed foods, but I still think there are considerable savings to be had on other items. JMO.

 

[Ashley Kees]

I understand. In my area, most of the stores do double and triple, but only up to $.50/$.39. I use some coupons in the grocery stores, but since we don't buy processed foods or name brands, we use very few. Where I coupon successfully is for cleaning/paper/plastic supplies, hygiene and beauty, and pet supplies. Target seems to have clearance items ALL THE TIME, which when coupled with the coupons, I get almost free most of the time, even without the double or tripling. Also, I play the CVS game, and let me tell you, I have hauled literally HUNDREDS of dollars of stuff out of there for FREE using coupons/Extra Bucks. You just have to spend some time learning the game.

 

[mamalle]

Im not a big coupon person either. Plus the fact I dont have any of the stores you all mention. I buy things when they go on sale or BOGO. I do not buy the newspaper and look at the weekly sales flyer online to see what BOGO I will get for that week. Besides that I buy in bulk at costco. I do save my coupons from supertarget and will use them on occasion but thats about it. I dont really go to CVS that much so my bucks are few and far between. If I buy anything there its our prescriptions.

 

[the Fidge]

Just curious about how others feel. One of our largest expenses is for groceries/household products. I read here and usually follow links that others give for coupon sites, grocery game, etc.

Maybe it's us or our area, but I've found the grocery stores mentioned can not be found around here, or the coupons available are not for anything we buy, at least seldomly. I have no need to bulk up on the coupons in the paper, because I seldom use the ones that are even available.

Now the CVS thread seems like a lot of work and I don't fully understand it, but as we have one right up the street, it would probably work for me. THAT I will look into further, but for the others, it just seems like a lot of time spent for very little return. What am I missing?

lori

Sunday's paper! I get the Sunday paper delivered as there are tons of coupons when the paper is delivered. The Scranton Times usually have 3 inserts with coupons. If I check my circulars and match up my coupons I usually can save $20.00 a week in groceries. IF the items are not on sale and I don't have a coupon then I usually don't buy it. Outside of dairy and meats. My son is trained now when he asks .....ok Mom I think you have a coupon for this and its on sale!

I hope my future daughter in law appreciates this!

Anyway at the bottom of my receipt it will say how much I saved in coupons and when I go to the bank it goes into my vacation savings account. 10 dollars even a week is 500 at the end of a year!

Keep clipping its worth it!
t

 

[grlpwrd]

Other then an few personal items most coupons are on processed foods. We don't eat them. I make my own pasta sauce. The jars are too sodium filled and that is not good. Since we eat mostly from the outside rows of the grocery store, we use very little coupons.

Ditto.

I used to be a diehard stockpiler and couponer, but I have cut back drastically. Sure, using coupons can save money yet it could cost in the long run, but I would rather invest in my health. I choose not to use coupons because I try to stay away from processed items, I try to eat certified organic items, and we eat mostly ethnic and natural foods.

When people say coupons are for things they don't use, I always wonder what they do in place of toothpaste, deoderant and wash powder.

I use Tom's toothpaste, deodorant made without aluminum, and detergent without dyes.

I also use natural cleansers or at least less toxic one's. I use vinegar and alcohol more than I use bleach. I also make my own solutions with baking soda for cleaning bathrooms, over cleaner, and also my own Febreeze type solution. I also make my own toiletries, like skin cleansers and some makeup. I have a book collection on making natural products which are better health and financial-wise. They are safer, cheaper alternatives than store bought.

If you want to learn more about couponing, be sure to visit mycoupons.com and couponmom.com.

 

[solferino]

Ditto.

I used to be a diehard stockpiler and couponer, but I have cut back drastically. Sure, using coupons can save money yet it could cost in the long run, but I would rather invest in my health. I choose not to use coupons because I try to stay away from processed items, I try to eat certified organic items, and we eat mostly ethnic and natural foods.



I use Tom's toothpaste, deodorant made without aluminum, and detergent without dyes.

I also use natural cleansers or at least less toxic one's. I use vinegar and alcohol more than I use bleach. I also make my own solutions with baking soda for cleaning bathrooms, over cleaner, and also my own Febreeze type solution. I also make my own toiletries, like skin cleansers and some makeup. I have a book collection on making natural products which are better health and financial-wise. They are safer, cheaper alternatives than store bought.

If you want to learn more about couponing, be sure to visit mycoupons.com and couponmom.com.

I'm surprised now that Tom's is owned by Colgate that there aren't more coupons. It's one of the only toothpastes I can use without it damaging the inside of my mouth. I prefer the trader joes because it doesn't have SLS in it, but the texture is really weird.

 

[LadyBears]

When people say coupons are for things they don't use, I always wonder what they do in place of toothpaste, deoderant and wash powder.

I used to do coupons, but it is not worth it for me anymore.
Today, I received 1 coupon section in my Sunday paper. If the rest of you get better coupons - you're lucky!! Stores around here don't even take the computer print yourself ones anymore because too many people abused it. So for me to take the time to read the following garbage EVERY week - It just isn't worth the effort.

Here is this weeks:

Page 1 - $100.00 off any purchase of $1500 or more for some carpet cleaning place. I only have 2 rugs in my house - the largest is like 8x8. Not worth 1500 of cleaning.

Page 2 - Papa Ginos coupons - we rarely use these

Page 3 - $1.00 off Hood Creamer. We don't use cream - we use milk.

Page 4 - 2 - $1.00 coupons off of Margherita products. I only buy pepperoni around Christmas & the Superbowl for my party trays. So I won't be using these coupons

Page 5 - advertisment for Discover Card

Page 6 coupons for Tyson antizers (we never eat these) & save $1.00 on any one Tyson Family Pack Bag & save $1.00 on any 2 fronzen Boxed Breaded items. We will use the Family Pack bag for DD's chicken nuggets.

Page 7 - $1.00 off Curel moisturizer (we don't use this brand) & $1.00 off one box Quacker sweet & salty crunch bars (we don't eat these)

Page 8 - save $1.00 on one package of MidNite (sleep aid - we don't use sleepaids!).
Save $1.00 on 2 sofpac 12 roll or larger or 2 Marcal 12 roll 1,000 ct or larger. I guess this is toilet paper. The brand we use is cheaper without any coupons! Also, we don't need 24 rolls per week & where would we store these huge packages???
Save $1.00 on 2 6 roll Maxi Towel or larger or 2 Marcal 8 roll Towel or larger. We don't use these brands. This is where I will stick with my Viva paper towels. 1 or 2 rolls per week is plenty for our family. Also, Even if I was will to use this brand, where would we store 12 rolls of papertowels??

page 9 - ad for windows - we have plenty & don't need any replacements at this time.

page 10 - ad for Wonder Warm slacks. I don't know anyone who would wear these....

page 11 - ad for checks unlimited. I don't need any checks - I just got mine from Walmart.

page 12 - ad for something from Danbury Mint

page 13 - ad for something else from the Danbury Mint

page 14 - add for cigars & ad for address labels

page 15 - ad for a zip up security ID case

page 16 - ad for clearpoint direct.com bras & ad for limoges jewelry (selling a ring)

page 17 - ad for oreck vacuums

page 18 - ad for Blair

page 19 - ad for health knit booties

page 20 = ad for sheer cover makeup kits

page 21 - ad for clearpoint direct.com socks & an ad for the Danbury mint

page 22 - ad for a portable heater

page 23 - ad for nutrisystem

page 24 - ad for direct TV



I will gladly pay the extra $1.00 on the Tyson family package of chicken to NOT have to read these "coupon sections" every week for nothing.

Usually I get coupons like save $0.10 off 3 cans of supersized Lysol or save $0.55 off 6 boxes of any General Mills cereal. The savings they offer for what I need to buy from them is not worth it!!

 

[spima3]

Sunday's paper! I get the Sunday paper delivered as there are tons of coupons when the paper is delivered. The Scranton Times usually have 3 inserts with coupons. If I check my circulars and match up my coupons I usually can save $20.00 a week in groceries. IF the items are not on sale and I don't have a coupon then I usually don't buy it. Outside of dairy and meats. My son is trained now when he asks .....ok Mom I think you have a coupon for this and its on sale!
I hope my future daughter in law appreciates this!
Anyway at the bottom of my receipt it will say how much I saved in coupons and when I go to the bank it goes into my vacation savings account. 10 dollars even a week is 500 at the end of a year!
Keep clipping its worth it!
t

Yes, I know about the Sunday paper coupons. I get it from my MIL. She recently gave us a months worth of coupon circulars and I found maybe 10 coupons that I might possibly use. I ended up using a few before the others expired. So I am not adverse to using coupons, I'm just not finding the incredible savings that couponers proclaim.
I mainly buy store brands, and preferrably on sale. One week the savings was $52.00. The clerk had to get the manager to approve it, as the amount was so high.
I'm curious where you shop, as you are also from this area? What specific grocery stores?

lori