How much do you save using grocery coupons? Update! I saved 72% last week!

[mskayjay]

weusecoupons.com has all the stores with their weekly flyers and coupon match-ups done to those weekly flyers! This included the grocery and drug stores as well as having a running coupon data base.

There is an amazing pool of folks there who help each other put together the best possible deals for saving week in and week out. They also regularly have advanced previews of upcoming coupon inserts and store flyers so you can "plan ahead" not just for this week, but sometimes several weeks in advance. Why save $1 this week on an item if you can see that next week you could save $2!

There are also numerous swaps, chat sections and special interest groups if you're so inclined, and just a generally fun and supportive atmosphere. I have been a member on all of the sites mentioned and this one is by far the one I feel the most comfortable at and supportive of. Really good people!

 

[Graciesmom77]

I started the grocerygame too! I went to CVS last week, spent 120, only paid 41 out of pocket and got 21 bucks in extra care bucks! Love it!!!

Yesterday I went to Giant Eagle and spent 180 and paid 100! Plus I got 4bucks to spend on my next trip. I was pretty happy with that. I got a ton of food that we will use currently and stuff to stockpile.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

I didn't read the whole thread so I apologize if this has already been mentioned - my area no longer receives a major area's Sunday paper, so no couponing for me but before they stopped distribution I was an avid couponer. Two suggestions - along the fold/spine of the inserts there is a tiny date printed. I would just keep the whole insert together and cut only the coupons I needed that week from the inserts. Then I would set aside the stack until the next week. Before I started doing this, I just cut all the coupons out and put them in a coupon-size accordian file, but instead of filing by aisle or whatever, I filed them according to date. Then when I used the GG or later, Southern Savers, I would just pull them from whatever date was listed. I tried couponing several times over the years, and these are the ways that worked out best for me.

 

[vicki_c]

I didn't read the whole thread so I apologize if this has already been mentioned - my area no longer receives a major area's Sunday paper, so no couponing for me but before they stopped distribution I was an avid couponer. Two suggestions - along the fold/spine of the inserts there is a tiny date printed. I would just keep the whole insert together and cut only the coupons I needed that week from the inserts. Then I would set aside the stack until the next week. Before I started doing this, I just cut all the coupons out and put them in a coupon-size accordian file, but instead of filing by aisle or whatever, I filed them according to date. Then when I used the GG or later, Southern Savers, I would just pull them from whatever date was listed. I tried couponing several times over the years, and these are the ways that worked out best for me.

That's what I do now - I just write the date in a marker on the front of each insert (easier to see than the little tiny type) and keep them that way. Much less time invested than trying to cut out everything, which is what I was doing before! The only downside is - when we might need/want something that's not on one of the GG lists that week, I have no way of knowing if I have a coupon for it somewhere in that big pile of Sunday inserts. So here and there, we might miss out on a coupon for something that I could have used.

 

[Ka' eo]

Hey thanks gang! So weusecoupons does not have my grocery store, however couponmom does! Afullcup has both my grocery stores but does not do the analysis of the percentage saved. Hmmmm so many options!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd like to not spend the $30 on GG a month if I can avoid it. You all are the BEST! I love saving money.

 

[jgraney106]

I always use coupons! They help out alot. Generally I can save 1/2 off on my grocery bill. I highly recommend a site called www.hotcouponworld.com . It's a wealth of information about deals and coupons. You can trade with others there too. In my town they double coupons up to 99 cents . I trade coupons with others , buy extra coupons from coupon clipping sites, and have even bought coupons off Ebay. The most I have ever saved in coupons was around $104 at the holiday time when I was buying some extra stuff and also had run low on everyday itens too.

 

[chrismiss56]

Do any of your stores take expired coupons? Our grocery stores just stopped that policy and it really hurts the savings. So often the special sale will come along but the coupon has already expired........argh....

 

[ali2000]

I have been able to use expired ones before at various stores, but I think it really depends on the cashier you have. Those stores don't have a particular policy on expired coupons.

 

[3boymthr]

Do any of your stores take expired coupons? Our grocery stores just stopped that policy and it really hurts the savings. So often the special sale will come along but the coupon has already expired........argh....

As a policy, none of the stores around here take expired coupons. But sometimes if you get an inexperienced cashier you can still slip thru coupons with similar dates that expire in the same month, ie, coupon expires on 2/4 and shopping day is 2/24.

 

[disneyfan55]

I have used coupons for many years. We are lucky to have double coupons all the time. The double up to 99 cents. I actually started saving the actual coupon money (not the store card savings or just sale amout off) about 1 1/2 years ago. It averages about 100/month. My husband used to joke about the coupons and one day I said that he should give the money each month to me and I'll save it! Well, we have about 1800 in savings just from the paper coupons I have used (many doubled) I do stockpile and buy all our produce (mostly all) from a local farmers market and less than half the prices of the grocery store. We eat a lot of produce (it's a huge store and not just local items but the quality/price can't be beat) and that saves a lot!

 

[DawnM]

I do heavy couponing through AFullCup.com and SouthernSavers.com. I used to do the Grocery Game, but I get the same thing for free through SoutherSavers.

I also frequent HotCouponWorld.com

When there are triples or Super Doubles I stock up!

I can save between 75%-90% during triples or super doubles and go all 7 days if I can.

This last super doubles I was sick and only went twice.

We do have a deep freeze and I would like a 2nd fridge. We also got pantry shelves from Costco. We don't have a pantry in our kitchen so we have an area in our basement that we use.

I still spend about $100/wk for 5 of us, but that is partly because I am not willing to sacrifice some things that others do. For example, DH still wants his cashews and Lay's and I still buy some things that I don't often get coupons for. I am happy with that though.

Dawn

 

[summersalt]

I'm shouting and jumping up and down!!!

I'm so glad I found this thread. I just created a budget (for March) and wanted to try my hand at couponing this week. You guys are the bomb!!!
I think because of this thread I can really make this work. I may actually be able to get some debt paid off....

 

[Ka' eo]

I'm shouting and jumping up and down!!!

I'm so glad I found this thread. I just created a budget (for March) and wanted to try my hand at couponing this week. You guys are the bomb!!!
I think because of this thread I can really make this work. I may actually be able to get some debt paid off....

Hey, that's great! I am not really the homemaker type, so I have never spent the time to do much in the kitchen. What a fool I've been all these years. Lots of wasted money on groceries! Not anymore.

Thanks to all of you again! I was able to do my shopping today without the GG. I have spent $408 in the past 2 weeks (which is my budgeted amount) and gotten $785 worth of groceries which is a savings of almost 50%. I could have spent half that, but am stocking up. I know this is no big deal to a lot of you really smart, seasoned shoppers, but this is really amazing for me!

So I won't need to subscribe to the GG, and you all have saved me another $30 a month for that. Thank you all again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh I wanted to say that I had $25 in coupons this week just at the grocery store. I have another $23.50 that I earned today toward my next shopping trip, plus $4 off our gas fill up. So I can see how each week it gets better as you learn, accumulate the coupons and use earned rewards etc.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I use coupons all the time. There have been weeks when I've saved over 90% of my bill. 60 - 70% is more usual for me though.

 

[saverj]

Another great site that has links to many other coupon sites is becentsable.net

 

[deerhart]

As a policy, none of the stores around here take expired coupons. But sometimes if you get an inexperienced cashier you can still slip thru coupons with similar dates that expire in the same month, ie, coupon expires on 2/4 and shopping day is 2/24.

Please be VERY careful about doing this. We have at least one chain store in our area that docks the cashier for every expired or improper coupon (didn't purchase the right item, the right number etc) that they allow to be passed for the amount of the coupon. I found out about it because I was using internet coupons and one cashier was having problems with them. She had to call over a manager to confirm the coupons and initial them so if someone later determined she shouldn't have passed them she wouldn't be docked. If she hadn't, she would have lost about 2.5 hours worth of pay easily with the amount of my coupons.

 

[java]

adventures in couponing and sale watching- so today I spent $233 pre sales and coupons-
Post both of those

$165!! to me that was a great first attempt at serious couponing and I stocked up on necessities.

 

[summersalt]

that I saved $48 yesterday using coupons and information from this board!!! I can't believe how wasteful I've been. I spent $209 dollars for groceries that should last us two weeks (will probably need more milk). Before reading this thread, I would have spent over $200 for just one week. Believe it or not, I never even knew how much a gallon of milk or loaf of bread costs. I'm deeply ashamed.

 

[Ka' eo]

adventures in couponing and sale watching- so today I spent $233 pre sales and coupons-
Post both of those

$165!! to me that was a great first attempt at serious couponing and I stocked up on necessities.

Great job Java!

Deerhart, thanks for posting your post!

saverj, I'll put that site on the front page.

Disneyfav4ever, 90% is awesome!!!!!!!! How long have you been doing the coupony thingy?

Summersalt, EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!! I am ashamed too. I have been a horrific waster.

 

[iluveeyore]

I haven't had time to read the whole thread yet, but I had a question for all of you coupon pros - will a store take a black and white coupon??? I ask because sometimes while I'm at work for my lunch hour I would like to browse and print some off, and we don't have coloured ink at work. If not, I'll just make time at home, but I was just curious if anyone had done that!