Coupons an Embarassment?

[Ava]

Regarding the Tar-Jay coupon clipping shopper (Target!)... You can print coupons for Target online OR at their kiosks where the registrations can be printed!

Just go to the kiosk, choose Target.com, go to the bottom of that page, and in one of the colums on the bottom, under "Target Stores", click "Grocery Coupons"... Print them in seconds on their paper and ink!

Many on the Target savings thread use them, and get FREE or NEXT TO FREE ITEMS! I'm thinking that you can even stack manufacturer's coupons in addition to these store coupons! Have fun, and relish the moment when the onlookers stand in awe of how LITTLE you are paying!

Wow, thanks for this tip! Our Target is just a regular one, not a Super Target, but I'm going to try this next time I go there. Oh, and you can in fact combine manufacturer coupons with Target's coupons. We got a bunch of Target coupons for diapers & such when we did a baby registry there, and were able to combine them with manufacturer coupons.

P.S. - Someone mentioned way up the thread about returning bottles & cans. I've thought about starting to do this, but don't know where to take them. Does the supermarket take them back? Or do you have to take them to a recycling center or something. (I'm in NY & I think this poster was too.)

 

[Lewisc]

I wouldn't make that comment, but I would think it, if the person using the coupons:

1. Was trying to use expired coupons.
2. Was trying to use coupons for items they didn't purchase.
3. Was trying to use coupons for the wrong size item.
4. Was trying to use multiple coupons when the terms prohibit it.
5. Was trying to use coupons that were obviously not valid. Coupons that were photocopied or obviously photoshopped.

I didn't read this entire thread. I don't think my comments apply to anyone in this thread. Customers that abuse coupons reduce the number of offers that are made availble to honest customers.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

i wouldn't make that comment, but i would think it, if the person using the coupons:

1. was trying to use expired coupons.
2. was trying to use coupons for items they didn't purchase.
3. was trying to use coupons for the wrong size item.
4. was trying to use multiple coupons when the terms prohibit it.
5. was trying to use coupons that were obviously not valid. Coupons that were photocopied or obviously photoshopped.

i didn't read this entire thread. I don't think my comments apply to anyone in this thread. Customers that abuse coupons reduce the number of offers that are made availble to honest customers.

ita.

 

[acename]

My mom is sort of like this. Not so much about the embarassed part, but about it being a waste of time. We just agree to disagee. I think her problem is she doesn't want to take the hour or so it takes to match up the coupons with sales.

As far as there not being coupons for non-processed food, I find that to be a problem in my area too. But I find that all of the money I save on my toiletries and cleaning items with coupons provides more money for good whole foods. I mean, if I only used coupons for diapers it would be worth my time. A great example from this week, cvs had gillette fusion razors for 7.99 and you get 4 ecbs. There was a 4 dollar coupon in the paper this week for that item. My husband got a new razor for free. They also had Dawn dishwashing liquid on sale 2/2 and you get 1 ecb when you buy two. I had two 50 cent Dawn coupons so I got those free too. It literatly took me about 2 minutes to read the ad and get out the coupons.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

My mom is sort of like this. Not so much about the embarassed part, but about it being a waste of time. We just agree to disagee. I think her problem is she doesn't want to take the hour or so it takes to match up the coupons with sales.

As far as there not being coupons for non-processed food, I find that to be a problem in my area too. But I find that all of the money I save on my toiletries and cleaning items with coupons provides more money for good whole foods. I mean, if I only used coupons for diapers it would be worth my time. A great example from this week, cvs had gillette fusion razors for 7.99 and you get 4 ecbs. There was a 4 dollar coupon in the paper this week for that item. My husband got a new razor for free. They also had Dawn dishwashing liquid on sale 2/2 and you get 1 ecb when you buy two. I had two 50 cent Dawn coupons so I got those free too. It literatly took me about 2 minutes to read the ad and get out the coupons.

I think coupons for toiletries are some of the best savings. I was looking in my bathroom closet, figuring out what the whole cost for stuff was, and besides the Bath and Body Works stuff, I think I spent less then $10 on everything else. I know all the toothpaste I got for free.

 

[LizinSTL]

I think coupons for toiletries are some of the best savings. I was looking in my bathroom closet, figuring out what the whole cost for stuff was, and besides the Bath and Body Works stuff, I think I spent less then $10 on everything else. I know all the toothpaste I got for free.

I agree. I don't think I've paid for toothpaste, cough medicine, pain relievers, toothbrushes, shampoo or deoderant for a looooong time

 

[C.Ann]

Ever wonder how the "Millionaire Next-Door" got to be a millionaire? There is a millionaire (possibly worth even more) who has a place right across the road from me here at the lake.. I have known him (and his late wife) for over 20 years and you would never, ever know how wealthy they are if you didn't have the "inside info".. (Small, plain looking, summer place - nothing fancy about it at all..) And you know what? Coupons play a BIG part in every shopping expedition..

The "rude" woman will likely run out of money long before the savvy coupon person will..

 

[aliceindisneyland]

Sorry everything running slow so can't read all pages--sorry if this is a repeat, but
I think of coupons as vouchers for cash--it's like my newspaper rolls $10-$30 into my Sunday paper! And who would throw out cash?

Bet the coupon snob is over her head in debt--most truly wealthy people I know DO clip coupons and are quite frugal.

 

[chris1gill]

I would be embarassed that I was so stupid to spend full price on something when there were money saving options out there.

You are nicer than I am - I would have put her in her place.

My thought exactly.....

 

[nancijin]

She is the rude one, and probaly in debt and close to losing her house and just poor money management. We couponers are the SMART ones and every little bit counts, I am putting my second thur college now, and I have used coupons and bargins my whole life. I hold my head up high!!!!!!!! lol

 

[NYCDiane]

Here's how I do it..... Before going to the supermarket, I look at the flyer and see what's on sale, if I use it, and if I have coupons for it. I make my list and put a * next to the items I have coupons for. I know that milk, bread, etc rarely have coupons but sometimes they do! I recently had a $1 off coupon for milk and a 75 cents off for bread (which doubled to $1.50).

On one of my recent shopping trips, I saved about $27 using coupons. One of my very best times was when I had a $160 total and, after coupons, brought it down to about $40-something. The people behind me were in SHOCK. (most of the stuff was free (doubling of $1 coupons) and I also had a $10 off your shopping order coupon --- still great, though!)

 

[Octoberbabiesrus]

And, unfortunately, the only was to be sure that we will be able to continue to use coupons in the future is if the manufacturers keep putting them out there for us. And they won't do that if we abuse coupon use.

Buying coupons is illegal.

Excuse me while I put on my indignent hat.... I am not *buying* coupons. THEY bought them. I am paying for the time to cut them and send them to me.

 

[alyssa810]

I would NEVER be embarrassed to use coupons! They've saved me $1000s over the years! When I shop, I take the store circular and go through my coupons like other PPs because taking the few minutes to do this to save $$$ is totally worth the time IMO (and it doesn't take that long, really). I'm also a coupon train rider so I'm getting coupons sent to me from another coupon cutter, again, totally worth it.
We also return our bottles and cans and use the money for our Dis fund, again totally worth it. If we go for a walk in the neighborhood, we take a bag to pick up cans & bottles so we're getting money for the fund AND we're doing our part cleaning up our neighborhood! Luckily we have redemption places in our local markets and around town so it's never a hassle.

 

[MaryKLady]

Don't mind her, people are crazy. She's probably broke and wants everyone to think she's not.

I am always in awe of people who "coupon" well....

We were on vacation in CO. I stopped in Walmart for something small. I picked it up and got in line..of course I pick the line with the lady who has two filled carts to check out OK, I'm on vacation, whatever...this woman had a fist full of coupons and a stack of Sunday fliers. As the cashier went through her loot, the lady would have her price match the item from another store's flier and then she pulled out the matching coupon. I stood there in awe, completely forgetting DH was outside waiting in the car, and watched. By the time she was done she had two FILLED, and I mean FILLED, carts of stuff, from trash cans to printer paper to salad dressing to Coke...her total....$78!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The funniest part was she kept looking at me and apologizing for taking so long. I told her I was staying for the show because I wanted to see how low her bill would be. All hail the coupon queen

 

[figaromeetsmarie]

I just wanted to say that I eat a lot of organic/natural food, and sometimes I can use coupons!
Take for instance this shopping trip I did today to Walmart.

3 Kashi Pizzas
4 Kashi Granola Bars
2 Organic Chai
Organic Yogurt
2 Purina Cat Food
Before coupons $48.93 with tax
But...after coupons $24.18
That is a savings of $24.75 just for clipping and printing coupons and matching them up with sales! This is stuff I would normally buy anyway

 

[peyjax]

Well the rude snob in the OP's post would have fainted at our local store this week. They were tripiling coupons up to $2! It was packed with nothing but coupon people. I spent a few hours printing off coupons online and went and saved 85% of my bill! It was like a huge rush nothing embarrasing at all, perhaps being surrounded by coupon lovers didn't hurt.

 

[HGD24]

Dh was stopping at the grocery store on the way home from work last week. He went out to lunch with 2 co-workers. They saw the coupon book in the car and asked what it was. When DH told them, one guy commented that he would "never use coupons" and the other said, "We probably should, but we don't because you end up buying things you don't need." DH proudly told them that we save at least $15 per grocery or Target trip using coupons and even more when we really take the time to shop sales and that we only clip coupons for products that we use. Both of these guys are married and constantly complain about being in debt. DH and I look at coupons as free money - why wouldn't you want to save a few bucks each week? When you total it for the year, it's a substantial savings.

 

[minnie1928]

Well the rude snob in the OP's post would have fainted at our local store this week. They were tripiling coupons up to $2! It was packed with nothing but coupon people. I spent a few hours printing off coupons online and went and saved 85% of my bill! It was like a huge rush nothing embarrasing at all, perhaps being surrounded by coupon lovers didn't hurt.

Wow! I'd go nuts at that sale!!

 

[Chuck S]

I use coupons if there is one for a product I normally purchase. None of the stores nearby double or tripple them, they are face value only.

However, there was a lady in front of me at Walmart using the self check line a few months ago, and they have a sensor that detects if you drop the coupon in the slot. The sensor was broken. She had a handful of coupons, and the register would shut down every time she'd ring a coupon, and take a full minute to reset and come back online. In that instance, I would have NOT used the coupons and simply saved them for next time. The store was absolutely packed and didn't have enough cashiers (not unusual, unfortunately) and I had to go wait in another long line to check-out. She was still fiddling with the coupons 40 minutes later as I was leaving.

 

[christa112]

I love using coupons!!! It is just a high for me to see how much I can save. Yesterday, I saved $25.00 at BJ's in coupons There could be a 100 people behind me in line and I wouldn't care what any of them said about me.