Guilt over couponing...??? Am I the only one...

[hffmnheidi]

Since I've been out of work on medical leave, coupons are my new best friend. I don't walk into Hobby Lobby or Michaels without one.

 

[shalom]

I salute everyone on this board that can make a fresh meal every night-I'm jealous! Especially if you can get your spouse to clean up afterwards!!!

Hubby doesn't clean much, but he does cook. So do my sons. However, you don't want to see the kitchen after. Eldest daughter cleans really well - I think because she hopes that if she does a good job of that, then I won't ask her to cook!

Also it seems that I very rarely can find coupons for what I use.

Some of it depends on where you live. When we lived in the Denver area we could get some things so cheaply with coupons it made no sense to make them from scratch, because they'd double coupons, combine coupons, allowed coupons with sales, etc. etc. I don't think I made brownies or a cake from scratch the whole time we lived there. Coupons were also easy to get hold of - both papers had major coupon inserts and the local stores offered coupons on their products as well. You could often combine a coupon with a local sale on the same item. Where we're at now coupons are harder to get and not nearly so useful once you get them, at least in terms of what we buy.

When it comes to stuff like cooking oil or laundry detergent or most other staples, even with coupons it's hard here to find a better deal than the store brand or a sale peculiar to that store. Aside from new products, the only coupons we use very often are for a couple of things where we prefer the brand name, for whatever reason. Cat food, mostly. But also hubby shops at four different stores regularly and somehow manages to remember the best prices on dozens of things at every one of them, and a couple of them have big sales on their store brand products every year. And prices in general are lower here, so it balances out.

 

[DisneyMama409]

Im not going to lie I get annoyed when I have a woman in front of me spending 10 minutes nickel and diming with her coupons saving 20 cents here and 50 cents there. Im like hurry up lady we got places to go ! That being said to each their own . If it makes you happy go for it just have your stuff in order so you're not wasting even more time.

 

[shalom]

If it makes you happy go for it just have your stuff in order so you're not wasting even more time.

I admit I groan when I see someone at the check out pull out a 2"thick wad of coupons while saying, "Wait, I know I have a coupon for that somewhere!" right when the cashier's about to ring something out. Especially back in the days when said someone was my then-fiance. But most people who use coupons have them ready to go when they get to the cashier and that never bothers me.

 

[mhsjax]

Hubby doesn't clean much, but he does cook. So do my sons. However, you don't want to see the kitchen after. Eldest daughter cleans really well - I think because she hopes that if she does a good job of that, then I won't ask her to cook!



Some of it depends on where you live. When we lived in the Denver area we could get some things so cheaply with coupons it made no sense to make them from scratch, because they'd double coupons, combine coupons, allowed coupons with sales, etc. etc. I don't think I made brownies or a cake from scratch the whole time we lived there. Coupons were also easy to get hold of - both papers had major coupon inserts and the local stores offered coupons on their products as well. You could often combine a coupon with a local sale on the same item. Where we're at now coupons are harder to get and not nearly so useful once you get them, at least in terms of what we buy.

When it comes to stuff like cooking oil or laundry detergent or most other staples, even with coupons it's hard here to find a better deal than the store brand or a sale peculiar to that store. Aside from new products, the only coupons we use very often are for a couple of things where we prefer the brand name, for whatever reason. Cat food, mostly. But also hubby shops at four different stores regularly and somehow manages to remember the best prices on dozens of things at every one of them, and a couple of them have big sales on their store brand products every year. And prices in general are lower here, so it balances out.

Oh man , I remember those wonderful double coupons. Again in my area they don't do that. I do have to correct one thing that I said, I will use brownie mixes, I have tried but mine just aren't as good, so I buy those when they are bogo, which is quite often. my kids do like my home made cake better than a box. I agree with you on all the other stuff, I always try and buy things on sale.

 

[mhsjax]

Since I've been out of work on medical leave, coupons are my new best friend. I don't walk into Hobby Lobby or Michaels without one.

I am SOOOOOO creatively challenged that those stores don't apply to me. lol

 

[poohbear158]

I'm not offended. I was just pointing out that there are other things to use coupons for ... not just food. I do not buy my dog food in a grocery store either, but there are others that do. I was just using those items as examples. I buy my dog food (Nature's Recipe) at Petco or Petsmart and they have coupons for being a members (get $5 off $25, or $10 off $50 etc. usually sent via email) and they take manufacturer coupons. Just about every stores accepts coupons in one way or another.

I wasn't insulting you, I don't care how people cook, I am just saying that I don't find any food coupons that I can use. Also it seems that I very rarely can find coupons for what I use. Sorry if that offends you. Also the dog food I use never has coupons, I get it from a pet store. However I do get a free one after I buy 10 bags. But at the same time I won't use a coupon for a product that I don't use, been there and done that, I have wasted more money than I have saved probably because I am so brand specific.

Now if you can tell me where I can get coupons for meat and fruit and veggies. I will use them.

 

[mhsjax]

I'm not offended. I was just pointing out that there are other things to use coupons for ... not just food. I do not buy my dog food in a grocery store either, but there are others that do. I was just using those items as examples. I buy my dog food (Nature's Recipe) at Petco or Petsmart and they have coupons for being a members (get $5 off $25, or $10 off $50 etc. usually sent via email) and they take manufacturer coupons. Just about every stores accepts coupons in one way or another.

I shop at Petco too, my dog eats Royal canin, I would love coupons for it, that stuff is expensive, but other brands seem to upset his tummy. (nothing like giving a dog a bath at 11:30pm cause his runny poop just caught caught in his fur) TMI isn't it. lol

 

[flamingglobessigmund]

Now if you can tell me where I can get coupons for meat and fruit and veggies. I will use them.

Psst...wine tags (where you can find coupons for meat, fruit, and a veggies-Many times, you don't even have to purchase the wine.)

Also, many of the companies you buy from will send out coupons when you sign up for their websites, like Earthbound Farms.

 

[rumrunnergirl]

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[MagiKitty]

Wow, thanks for the wine tags tip! My store doesn't have a wine section but once in a while I'm in another area that does. I'll have to check. How exciting!

 

[rumrunnergirl]

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[mhsjax]

Psst...wine tags (where you can find coupons for meat, fruit, and a veggies-Many times, you don't even have to purchase the wine.)

Also, many of the companies you buy from will send out coupons when you sign up for their websites, like Earthbound Farms.

Wee I guess if I have to go to the wine section and possibly buy some and then I obviously have to consume wine, just to get the coupons I will try that. lol. Seriously, thanks, I never looked there.

 

[mhsjax]

Since you are in Jax, check out the Publix organic magazine - there are coupons in there if you eat organic. You can also get on mailing lists of companies who have products you like. You can write/email them and have them send you coupons. I have seen many posts by people who eat organic/uber healthy and they use coupons.

If you want coupons for milk, produce, meat, etc. then check the wine section. Sometimes they have coupons that are NWPN (no wine purchase necessary) hanging on the bottles. They are the top of the line coupons in the coupon world.

The best thing to keep you motivated when you start using coupons - write down your savings! And not the store savings because everyone gets those - just the coupon savings. There are no double coupons here, but I do my best to save. Last month I saved $163.31, in Feb. I saved $128.59, in Jan. I saved $162.82. That money can get your vacation fund going strong.

thanks for all your info. And I don't want to give the wrong impression, I am by no means uber healthy eater. I just like to make my own. For one reason, hubby is borderline diabetic and I have high blood pressure, so I feel like I a=can get a better handle on things if I make them myself. I do eat organic sometimes, but that is because frankly I think it tastes better, jury is still out on how much healthier it is in my book.

And for the record, I have no problem waiting behid someone with a lot of coupons, good for them. I hope that in the future I will be able to find more that fit my needs. I am a cheapskate by nature and I dont consider that an insult.

 

[rumrunnergirl]

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[Colleen27]

That is me, I like to cook from scratch. The only thing I ever see coupons for is junk food and I won't do it, even to save money. I wish I could find coupons for meat and fresh fruit and veggies. I hate frozen pizzas, I won't buy cookies, (make only home made stuff). I don't use frozen meals either. I guess I am out of luck. Oh well, guess I just have to scrimp in other areas.

That's my problem too. I see these threads about 50+% savings on grocery trips using coupons, and I wonder if I'm just getting the wrong paper or something. Once in a while I'll catch one for something we like, but for the most part they seem to be for processed/convenience foods that I don't buy. I save enough on TP, soap and shampoo to justify my Sunday-only subscription to the newspaper, but that's about it.

 

[DaniB]

Where do you all get the coupons from? That's a huge savings but I never seem to get that much.

 

[MagiKitty]

I'm lucky that I have access to both New York and New Jersey papers...sometimes they have vastly different coupons in there. I also get coupons from my local grocery in the mail, just have to have a shop card for there. A lot of manufacturer's websites will have coupons also or will send them to your email. Also red plum's website has a lot of the same coupons as in the Sunday mailer, so I can get two of the same coupons there.

My grocery doubles coupons everyday and another grocery has the random triple coupons. Always look in the aisles, they have those automatic coupon dispensers, or the tear-offs. Also look on the products themselves--they may have a sticky coupon on them.

Lately my Star magazine has been having coupons in it, and I subscibe to All You, which regularly has coupons in it. All You is exclusive to Walmart, so if you want to check it out first, you can look there. I also get coupons out of the women's magazines and the Sunday Parade magazine, but that's not an every week thing.

Target sends me a text to go to their website and on there I can find printable coupons...they're usually the same as in the Sunday paper.

 

[~Kathie]

Do you also sometimes find that the clerks will try and rush through, and then you go ahead and pay (after feeling guilty for holding the line up) to only look at your receipt and noticed that either 3 stuck together or she/he didn't scan 2 of your coupons? I noticed that happened at Target today. Fortunately I look at the receipt before leaving the counter, she counted the receipts before throwing them in the drawer, and then told me to go to customer service to get a refund for the coupons not taken off...? Guess I really need to pay attention at the register, too.

I have had that happen a LOT! so much so that I add up my coupons before I get to the register so I know what the discount should be. Takes a few minutes if you have a lot of coupons but worth the aggravation. I don't hand them the coupons until they stop ringing and I don't bag....but watch them put every coupon in. Then I need to make sure they deduct for each of my reusable shopping bags. PITA....but that's what works for me.

 

[waynesgirl]

Where do you all get the coupons from? That's a huge savings but I never seem to get that much.

I use couponmom.com, redplum.com, smartsource.com, and lots of other onlines, on top of the newpaper (we can buy 2 papers for $1.50 on Sundays here in ATL so it is double the coupons) and I share with some other people in my neighborhood who buy different brands than I do.

I even mail some to friends of mine in different cities. I only shop at double coupon stores (Kroger and Publix here) or places like CVS that give me cashback points...

I am fortunate enough that I have been doing "coups" for over 8 years now that I have quite a nice store of things. I make sure that I always have lots of coupons for the necessities like cereal (when Publix does B1G1's, then I always make sure to use a coupon for each box-if you use 2 $1.00 off coupons, then you get 2 boxes of cereal for less than $3.00), toliet paper, detergent for laundry and dishes, and other stuff. It is easy to "stockpile" these things, then only stock up when I run low..

It takes some work, a little planning, and a lot of clipping....