Finding very few grocery coupons that actually save you money. Anyone else?

[Disneyliscious]

I've been clipping and printing coupons lately to try to save on the groceries I buy and I'm finding that more and more of them COST me money if I use them due to the difference in brand names. For example, while at Wal-Mart yesterday I had a coupon for $1.00 off 2 bags of Kraft shredded cheese. The Kraft bags were $4.79 each and the Wal-Mart brand was $2.68 each - same sizes, same cheese. I have used both brands before and there is no difference in their texture or how they melt.

I had a coupon for $1.50 off if I bought a gallon of Purity milk and half gallon of Purity ice cream. I never buy Purity milk but was checking the price comparison to the shocking dismay that it was $6.75 a gallon and the Wal-Mart milk is $2.49 a gallon. Needless to say, I never even looked at the ice cream because it was a moot point.

While I do find a few coupons here and there to use, I'm finding that I save more by buying off brands than buying name brands and using coupons. Anyone else noticed that lately?

 

[AntePrincess]

Yes, Disneyliscious, I see this all the time. I only pay attention to a coupon if it's for something I'm brand loyal on now. I also keep a price book now, since we shop one of two stores, and it's funny how things are priced from place to place.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

I rarely use coupons anymore. Not due to not wanting to, but due to the chang in our diet. We eat mostly fresh, non-processed foods and it is rare to find coupons for those items! Even some stuff I do buy for the kids such as cereal and cookies I have a hard time finding good coupons. And many of the coupons these days seem to be for weird food items!

 

[Princesca]

Us too - we've switched to eating primarily whole, fresh foods and it's been the best thing we've ever done. Aside from that, the things I do use coupons for, it's usually still cheaper to buy the store brand, and I get more credit card points for doing that anyway.

I have noticed that what coupons there are seem to be getting more restrictive... lower discounts, shorter expiration dates.

I think the extreme coupon trend has something to do with this, but also the length of this recession. I think there are just limits to how much companies can give these days, with skyrocketing food and transportation costs.

 

[DawnM]

The ONLY way coupons work is if you match sales to coupons.

So, I would have used that Kraft coupon when the Kraft was buy one get one and it was super doubles.....so that $4.79 would have purchased 2 bags and the $1 off would have doubled, making those bags roughly .90 each.

SouthernSavers.com is a great resource.

I usually save about 66%-75% when I use SouthernSavers and match coupons to sales. And the savings I am talking about is on coupon items, not all items I buy.

If you really want to learn how to coupon, go to HotCouponWorld.com and read up.....they are a wealth of information.

Dawn

PS: After typing this I got an email from my local store with the announcement that Kraft shredded cheese is indeed BOGO this week! I don't know if I have a coupon or not, I will look. It isn't super doubles, but even a $1 coupon would mean that the bags are $1.50 each, which still isn't bad.

 

[AmandaRG]

ITA, coupons work best when using them with a sale. I'm no extreme couponer, but I usually save 40-50% off (and I do compare prices with other brands to make sure I am getting the best deal) of my grocery bill. Wal-Mart doesn't double coupons like my grocery store does.

There are tons of websites that do the work for you, if you are interested. Our grocery bill has gone down a great amount. I do have a loyalty card for the chain I frequent, and they do send me coupons for produce and their meat dept. Love when those come in!!!

 

[Pigeon]

I can usually save a couple of dollars (maybe $5) per shopping trip, but that's about it. I live in an area where stores don't routinely double coupons, and generally speaking, the house brands are cheaper than the name brand less coupon. One store has started doubling, but only up to $.99, which eliminates a great deal. This store gives weekly coupons based on your rewards card, which I find most useful. As a pp mentioned, if you can use the coupons in conjunction with sales, you get the most benefit.

Mostly what I end up saving on are non-food items. We also don't eat much of the highly processed food that tends to have a lot of coupons.

 

[QVCshopper]

I mostly use .75 cent coupons at Wegmans. They double them there and that makes the deal better. But, I always check prices first to make sure it's a good deal. Otherwise, I keep my coupon and walk away.

 

[ellone]

I rarely use grocery coupons. We buy a lot of fresh foods - try to get organic, non-GMO. And when it comes to shampoos and stuff I now try to get stuff without SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) so I've got to go to Whole Foods for most of that stuff (amazon does have some so I use subscribe & save for those).

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

You most definitely have to pair the coupons up with a sale. Otherwise, no you won't see a huge savings between store brand and name brand. But, when you watch the sales and save your coupons until the items are on sale then you will see a savings even cheaper than the store brand.

A great example is what DawnM presented:

I would have used that Kraft coupon when the Kraft was buy one get one and it was super doubles.....so that $4.79 would have purchased 2 bags and the $1 off would have doubled, making those bags roughly .90 each.

I don't even think the store brand would be as low as .90 each.

One of the things I had to learn is, just because it's in the paper this week doesn't mean I'll use it this week. I might have to hold onto the coupon and use it when the item goes on sale. Down here (in the South) the sale cycles usually run every 6 weeks so, that's the longest I'm holding that coupon.

Certainly check out southernsavers.com. Jenny is a wealth of information. I've gone to listen to her twice in person but all of her "training" is available for free on her site.

 

[powellrj]

I use to coupon many years ago. When I first stared back in 1978, it really wasn't very popular and coupons never expired. You could always get coupons in magazines like Good Housekeeping and Womans Day.

In the early 80's couponing became popular and I noticed the value dropped and they started having expiration dates. I stopped couponing as much and discovered Aldis.

I don't really use grocery coupons very much these days. I haven't been in an Aldis in years. I try to stay out of the center of the store and just shop the produce, meat and dairy. If I do venture into the center, I pretty much stick with store brands. I also shop farmers markets and roadside stands.

I use more coupons for clothes and eating out these days than I do for groceries! It seems the best coupons I find anymore are from clothing stores and restaurants!

 

[annsteere]

I'm saving less than I used to.

But, still saving.

Many things on my grocery list never did have coupons. Some always were cheaper at Aldi than I could buy with a coupon.

But, I had a big coupon hit this week: Rice Krispies, Kraft Miracle Whip Light, Nature Valley Granola bars, Kraft Mayo, 1 banana, 2 big golden delicious apples for a total of less than a dollar.

Those products don't make a meal. But, getting them so cheap helps.

Part of the frustration is that even though I'm saving with coupons, prices are rising so quickly that it is an accomplishment just to keep the grocery bill level with last year.

 

[Princesca]

We found this neat, free blog on the Web that provides you with vegetarian meals for a month, including the shopping lists and recipes. She also has a second month of meals. My husband and I are not vegetarians, but we've saved a lot of money eating a couple of meatless meals a week, and a lot of her vegetarian meals lend themselves well to adding meat to them, if that's something you want. For instance, it's easier than you'd think to make pizza at home. We used credit card points to get a lower-end bread machine, make our own whole-wheat crust that's SO much better than pizza chain crust. Throw that baby on a pizza sheet, bake it a few minutes, cover it with a small can of low-salt tomato sauce, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, fresh mushrooms, and turkey pepperoni... or regular pepperoni... or no pepperoni, LOL. Whatever you want. It's fast, easy, and so much better for you than the sugar/sodium/fat-laden ones you get out. And WAY cheaper too.

Since I've been out of work for a year, and we're working Dave Ramsey's plan, we've really cut back. We don't even buy canned beans anymore... it's just one extra step to soak them from dry, and we have come to prefer the fiber-y taste of dried beans. Because we've cut back on our meat buying, we now take that money and buy meat and eggs from local small farmers who pasture their livestock and use animal husbandry over antibiotics, growth hormones, etc. It's more expensive, but tastes better and is better for you, even down to the Omega 3/6 balance.

Now if I could only turn my black thumb into a green thumb, I could save even more!

 

[punkin]

I use to coupon many years ago. When I first stared back in 1978, it really wasn't very popular and coupons never expired. You could always get coupons in magazines like Good Housekeeping and Womans Day.

In the early 80's couponing became popular and I noticed the value dropped and they started having expiration dates. I stopped couponing as much and discovered Aldis.

I don't really use grocery coupons very much these days. I haven't been in an Aldis in years. I try to stay out of the center of the store and just shop the produce, meat and dairy. If I do venture into the center, I pretty much stick with store brands. I also shop farmers markets and roadside stands.

I use more coupons for clothes and eating out these days than I do for groceries! It seems the best coupons I find anymore are from clothing stores and restaurants!

This is so true. I also find coupons are pretty good for cleaning products and toiletries (if you are not brand conscious). However, even with that, it is often cheaper just to go with a store brand.

 

[DisGirl819]

I use to coupon many years ago. When I first stared back in 1978, it really wasn't very popular and coupons never expired. You could always get coupons in magazines like Good Housekeeping and Womans Day.

In the early 80's couponing became popular and I noticed the value dropped and they started having expiration dates. I stopped couponing as much and discovered Aldis.

I don't really use grocery coupons very much these days. I haven't been in an Aldis in years. I try to stay out of the center of the store and just shop the produce, meat and dairy. If I do venture into the center, I pretty much stick with store brands. I also shop farmers markets and roadside stands.

I use more coupons for clothes and eating out these days than I do for groceries! It seems the best coupons I find anymore are from clothing stores and restaurants!

I do some of the same things. We don't buy processed or prepackaged food much of the time, so I rarely enter about 50% of the aisles at a grocery store. I also buy cheese in a chunk and shred it myself. It tastes better and is usually cheaper. I am learning to make things on my own instead of buying premade (like bread, yogurt (cost me about $3.50 for a gallon of yogurt), pizza dough, etc) and I'm learning how to stretch meats into multiple meals for savings and to use beans for added protein and to throw a vegetarian meal in here and there as well. Dried beans are cheap and easy to prepare and give you a LOT of meals from one bag of beans.

I also find that the most useful coupons are the ones for stores with things other than food. I use a lot of coupons at Bed, Bath and Beyond, clothing stores, etc; especially on clearance.

 

[sk!mom]

Coupons are generally offered to introduce a new product, push an unnecessary item, or encourage the purchase of a pricier brand. Therefore I don't find many coupons for the things that I actually need and use.

I do pretty well with coupons for cleaning products and personal hygiene products. We are not brand loyal in those areas and are normally willing to buy whatever is on sale and has a coupon. The exceptions also work out as I only use Tide and Always products and since they are higher priced, I can always stock up when there's a sale and coupons.

I do not use many other coupons since we eat very few processed foods.

 

[DawnM]

I use them a lot for toiletries too. I particularly use all of my L'Oreal haircolor coupons. Our local grocery store had the kind I like in the color i like for $5 (normally $15....it is the kind with the highlights) and I had coupons for $3 and some for $2 off.

I stocked up!

We also often get good coupons for cheese, salad dressing, condiments (we are big pickle eaters!), PB, Jelly, orange juice, LOTS of yogurt and a wide variety of things. I actually LIKE trying new items, so that is a bonus for me.

Last week I got 6 cans of almonds for about $1 each.....

They aren't all highly processed, but I do buy some processed when it is on a good near free sale because inevitably I am asked to bring something to a sports event or scouting event, etc....and I really don't have time to home make everything for these events.

Dawn

Coupons are generally offered to introduce a new product, push an unnecessary item, or encourage the purchase of a pricier brand. Therefore I don't find many coupons for the things that I actually need and use.

I do pretty well with coupons for cleaning products and personal hygiene products. We are not brand loyal in those areas and are normally willing to buy whatever is on sale and has a coupon. The exceptions also work out as I only use Tide and Always products and since they are higher priced, I can always stock up when there's a sale and coupons.

I do not use many other coupons since we eat very few processed foods.

 

[Princesca]

I so agree with the PP who talked about shredding her own cheese. The difference between prepackaged shredded parmesan and parmesan you grate yourself is, IMHO, night and day.

I realized I'm kinda getting off the subject, though, so I will redirect and say:

Coupon wise, I've saved MUCH more money by using Entertainment Books and sites like restaurant.com, Groupon, LivingSocial, retailmenot.com, and especially eBates. For instance, I wanted to get my niece a subscription to the preschool version of Highlights, and I went through eBates.com, priced the site with the lowest price and best rebate, used a code I found on retailmenot.com and got her 12 issues for about $18, which is a significant savings from the Highlights website, which listed a price at $34.

 

[AmandaRG]

It is true that the Groupons, etc. are great, but we don't eat out that much so it doesn't help. It is nice that we can use the Entertainment type books when we do eat out.

I did score two twin mattresses for our girls the other day with a $50 Groupon! They would have been about $250 without it, and there was no charge about my coupon! LOVE it!

 

[SunnieRN]

We live in a military town, off base. The comissary has great buys sometimes, but usually you find savings IF you buy name brands, which will be cheaper than at a grocery chain, but not usually cheaper than a store brand at another chain.

They occasionally have 'super sales', but our base is one of the largest in the US and they don't seem to stock anything extra for the sales days. We find that except for meat, we do better elsewhere. It is also FAR from our home and using so much gas right now negates any savings.

Not one store here doubles coupons and our local paper NEVER has coupon inserts. I can get a paper at work, no coupons, so tried having the paper delivered. Same result, no coupons. Sp, I think I know where all the coupon clipper sites get their coupons. Very frustrating!!

I am also disappointed that they don't seem to have a very good selection of toys, at Christmas time. They will have a very few of the big ticket items, but generally a lot of the toys are lower end and do not have very good durability. I have done much better at KMart sales and Black Friday sales.

Maybe I am missing something, but I don't think so? It also surprises me when people talk about great clearance deals at Target and Wal Mart. Ours just don't mark stuff down the same. Toys R Us either.

Really not trying to complain, just very surprised by it all.