I am so tired of people who say all coupons are for junk!

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I dont care what they say, more for us right haha

 

[crisi]

A lot of this depends, too, on what you consider "junk."

I have a friend who is very "pure" in her food choicies. Her produce comes from a local organic CSA. Her meat comes from a local farmer. Her milk comes from a dairy 30 miles from home. Her bread is baked at the organic bakery. During a Minnesota Winter, she is forced to shop at the coop and get her organic veggies and fruits from a distance (what she didn't "put up" in season, but she cans a LOT). There are no coupons in her life - she eats no junk. And junk to her would include broccoli bought at Kroger or Food Lion.

I'm far less picky, but I find very few coupons for things I buy. When I find them, I use them. I'm not in a huge coupon region to start with - and couponing does seem to be regional. But I do about a third of my shopping at either a coop or the farmers market or direct from the farmer - none of these places take coupons. A third of my shopping is Costco. The final third is at traditional grocery stores.

 

[cm8]

Coupons can be a useful tool when used only when you need them and not because of them.

We use them for things like toilet tissue, paper towels, Ziploc bags and other paper/personal products. The items we consume are mostly organic and local and no coupons are usually required for those

 

[bettymae1121]

Hopefully we all know we are talking about manufacturer coupons. The store has to send these coupons back to the manufacturer to get the money back. I don't know what "brand" of beef my store sells. The only meat coupons that would not be specific to my store would be Farmland (do they sell that in the area you live). From their site I signed up for a newsletter and every 6 months they send me coupons off ham, sausage and porkchops. What about Tyson Chicken? Do they sell that in your store? They often offer coupons off their frozen diced chicken breasts, chicken strips, steak strips. Do you consider deli meat meat? Oscar Meyer and Hillshire Farms often offer lunch meat coupons. Two weeks ago I got Oscar Meyer deli fresh lunch meat for 28 cents a container. What about starkist tuna? They constantly have coupons.

As for as fresh vegtables, again Dole, Driscolls, cuties offer coupons. I like to buy my vegtables that are locally grown. I dont expect my local farmers to offer coupons.

Dairy products, do you have Roberts Diary in your area? They often offer coupons for their milk, cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream. Kraft often offers coupons for their cheese. As well as frigo.

Bread, I see all the time coupons for bread. Sara Lee, wonder bread. Do your stores sell those?

I don't feel the need to find specific coupons for your specific location. That would be YOUR job, not mine. They are out there if you want to find them, if you don't thats cool. Coupons do not work for everyone. As well as bulk stores don't work for everyone.

My store will offer 2.00 off beef, chicken or tuna if I buy (wait for it, the HORROR) hamburger helper. Oh yes, sometimes I feed my child hamburger helper.

But I think finding the coupons for 2.00 off any meat any store would be like finding a coupon for 10 cents of a gallon of gas anywhere. It just doesn't make sense that they would have those. Where would the stores send the coupons to get reimbursed?

I think a lot of it depends on the definition of what we all consider "healthy" too. A lot of what you put in your post I wouldn't consider "healthy" by my personal definition. Lunch meats are full of sodium and by-product, Tyson products are out for me because of additives and because I try to buy cruelty-free and organic meats, same with eggs. I stay away from the big dairies due to hormones (and smaller organic dairy products also taste WAY better!). Sara Lee and Wonder use (at least the last time I looked) HFCS's and preservatives. And much to my husband's dislike, I wouldn't touch Hamburger Helper with a ten foot poll!

I'm not picking on you, I don't think your a bad mother for buying things for your family that I wouldn't for mine, it's just our definitions and priorities are not the same. Neither of us are right or wrong, just different.

I make a lot of my foods from scratch (including bread) so in turn I can afford to spend more money on the more expensive organic/cruelty free/HFCS free/preservative free/food dye free items that don't have coupons. And I'm growing way more in the garden this year which I hope will cut my produce costs (depends on how the garden does and if the bunnies get to it before I do!). We are also fortunate that we make the kind of income where I can simply afford to pay more for the foods that we want and enjoy, I realize not everyone is in that position, and people gotta do what they need to do to get by.

 

[JennyKS]

I think a lot of it depends on the definition of what we all consider "healthy" too. A lot of what you put in your post I wouldn't consider "healthy" by my personal definition. Lunch meats are full of sodium and by-product, Tyson products are out for me because of additives and because I try to buy cruelty-free and organic meats, same with eggs. I stay away from the big dairies due to hormones (and smaller organic dairy products also taste WAY better!). Sara Lee and Wonder use (at least the last time I looked) HFCS's and preservatives. And much to my husband's dislike, I wouldn't touch Hamburger Helper with a ten foot poll!

I'm not picking on you, I don't think your a bad mother for buying things for your family that I wouldn't for mine, it's just our definitions and priorities are not the same. Neither of us are right or wrong, just different.

I make a lot of my foods from scratch (including bread) so in turn I can afford to spend more money on the more expensive organic/cruelty free/HFCS free/preservative free/food dye free items that don't have coupons. And I'm growing way more in the garden this year which I hope will cut my produce costs (depends on how the garden does and if the bunnies get to it before I do!). We are also fortunate that we make the kind of income where I can simply afford to pay more for the foods that we want and enjoy, I realize not everyone is in that position, and people gotta do what they need to do to get by.

Thank you. I needed this laugh today.

 

[GinnyEmma]

Uhm, don't read them. see it's very easy. on the dis you can skip all the post you don't want to read.

In my area coupons generally are for junk. that's just the way it is. no biggie. Now I only go for the paper coupons. Yeah, they do have coupons for butter but it's always for the high priced butter so imo it's a useless coupon. Same with bread, yes you can find coupons for bread but in my area is always for the processed white bread.

The only vegetable coupons I've seen are for delmonte and dole CANNED vegetables, which once again are loaded with salt. I do not consider them fresh vegetables. Same with fruit, there is enough sodium and sugar added into canned fruit to make the resemblance to fresh fruit purely coincidental. I've never run across a coupon for a pound of fresh apples.

I stand by my assesment, the food coupons that are in the general sunday paper, 9/10 are for processed cereal and junk snack food. Sorry this irates you.

Same here. We have yogurt coupons but the only decent one I've seen is chobani. We boycotted the big chicken suppliers so we buy local free range chickens. We will buy brownberry bread, but I can buy it cheaper at the bread store (delivered end of day, not day old) and the bread store doesn't take coupons.

I'd rather make real meat into lunch meat. I got a roast yesterday for about $5 that was over two pounds. I do buy tuna, which is really bad for me. It is my vice! But I buy it when krogers has it for $.50 a can. Our kroger will occasionally send a coupon for frozen veggies, but that is about it.

I keep a batch of cookies about. We always have a houseful. I love it. We also keep pizza dough in the freezer. Feeding a half dozen teen boys on the fly makes me plan ahead! But I am not going to fill them with junk. And I really can't imagine feeding kids hamburger helper, ever. That is the epitome of nasty coupon offering.

 

[C.Ann]

We have a store called Price Chopper in our area. This week on Facebook (you have to like them) they printed a coupon for $5 of of any 10 Price Chopper branded items. I bought 10 packages of Price Chopper breakfast sausage (on sale) and got $5.00 off. In addition on another trip, I bought 11 Price Chopper Yogurts (.45 each) and they were free when they took off the $5. DH bought 10 Price Chopper cat foods that were free..perfect for our rescue cats. Price Chopper has lots of brand items we purchase anyway, so having these coupons have been great. Last week one of the coupons was Hellmans mayo for $1.99, and strawberries for $2.00.
Besides the wonderful Facebook coupons which can't be beat, on Thursdays their regular website posts decent coupons..and all week long they have "ok" coupons on their site. The Facebook ones are the best though for us.
Many manufacturers also have coupons when you 'like' their facebook pages.
Ronzoni has coupons from their regular site (as do many others) that I used last week. We buy the Heathy Harvest and last week it was on sale in our area for $1.00 a box, and Ronzoni had this coupon, where it was $1 off two boxes. That was a great savings. Some people got it free at the sales at their markets:
http://ronzoni.newworldpasta.com/pasta_coupon.cfm

Coupons can be great, if you use them for items you will be able to consume before the expiration dates.

PC is the family choice here - in terms of grocery shopping - but for me, I purchase more from Aldi's than PC.. DD's DH is pretty fanatical about the PC coupons - prints them off from the internet (that's how he views the weekly ad as well) - and when I told him about the FB thing, he said that he would be checking them out as well (when it comes to saving money, FB doesn't seem quite so bad to him - LOL).. So that was very useful information for him (thanks ), but I still won't be going the FB route for personal reasons.. Since it's just me at the lake (and the closest PC would eat up my savings in gas if I had to go on a weekly basis to take advantage of the coupons), if there's something I need or want, DD will get it for me down here (split any of the 10 for 10 deals and things of that nature - IF I can use or freeze the items before they go bad), so that should work out well..

Yesterday she had $2 coupons for the Folgers (the large can), so they got 4 (2 for me, 2 for them) and received two more $1.50 coupons off any size Folgers that are good until very early June..

Between now and the time I leave for the lake, we'll have to put our heads together and decide what I can get with coupons that won't spoil before I use them - or that I have enough room for in my small freezer over my fridge.. Wasting food (even if I got it for free) would drive me up a wall!!

I don't know if this place has been posted:

http://www.coupons.com/couponweb/Of...id=iq37&nid=10&bid=alk040719040424465fce76018

but it has a Folgers someone was looking for.
If I need a particular coupon, I just put in the name in google with the word coupon, and there we go.

That's an interesting site - will have to check it out further later on today.. (It's in my favorites so it won't get lost..) As soon as I pack up all the staples that I already have here, then I'll sit down and make a list of what else I need - and which option would save me the most money - coupons for PC or Aldi's.. One big shopping trip should last me for months, so it will be interesting to see how it all pans out..

For all who have posted on this thread, thanks for your suggestions; links to sites; etc.. Being "one" it wouldn't make much sense for me to hoard - or even shop once a week when I'm so far from the stores at the lake - so everyones suggestions are greatly appreciated..

The less helpful comments and snide remarks? Seems to be a never-ending circle..

 

[bettymae1121]

Thank you. I needed this laugh today.

Hey, you want to laugh at me go right ahead. I'm doing what's right for my family. You do what's right for yours. I respect the choices you make, even if I don't agree with them for myself. I guess not everyone is capable of doing that though. No worries!

 

[JennyKS]

Hey, you want to laugh at me go right ahead. I'm doing what's right for my family. You do what's right for yours. I respect the choices you make, even if I don't agree with them for myself. I guess not everyone is capable of doing that though. No worries!

Whoooa, slow down there. I listed things, I did not say I buy them all did I? Please dont jump to conclusions, thats not fair.

I should have bolded this.

depends on how the garden does and if the bunnies get to it before I do!

You didn't mean that to be funny?

Please stop judging me. I did not judge you. Please stop being hateful. I was not being hateful to you.

 

[bettymae1121]

Whoooa, slow down there. I listed things, I did not say I buy them all did I? Please dont jump to conclusions, thats not fair.

I should have bolded this.

depends on how the garden does and if the bunnies get to it before I do!

You didn't mean that to be funny?

Please stop judging me. I did not judge you. Please stop being hateful. I was not being hateful to you.

So sorry, I didn't realize you were laughing at the bunny bit! I thought you were refering to the the way I shop. I get that a lot from people who think organic is a huge waste of money etc. Ignore my post, my appoligies!

 

[MEM]

To get back to the OP, in my experience Denise is correct - not all coupons are for junk. You have to do your research and I have said this before, the coupons you want are not going to leap up and bite you on the bum! The time some folks might spend watching mindless reality TV shows is the time I use to surf the internet checking my favorite coupon blogs. The folks on the coupon forums do a lot of the legwork for you. If you only buy "health food" or foods marked "organic", there are coupon forums for that. Some times you have to get your coupons by visiting the manufacturers' sites directly, sometimes you can get a decent coupon on Facebook by "liking" a product. I found it a little annoying to hear people on this thread saying "we don't have Food Lion here, the nearest Kroger is 50 miles away, etc. etc". So, research the stores that ARE in your area! You can search on the various coupon forums for deals by your state or by the stores in your area. I stopped buying the Sunday paper a long time ago because here in the Boston area the coupons tend to suck, plus the paper is over $3.00. I order what coupons I can use from a clipping service.

I buy mostly frozen vegetables and yes, there are coupons for them - birdseye, green giant and Hanover - these are plain vegetables with no salt or sauces added. I stock up when they go on sale, I have coupons that will double and there is a Catalina deal for them. I also stock up on no-salt added canned tomatoes and low-sodium chicken broth...I have obtained those for free by combining a sale with a Catalina deal. For fresh fruit I will use the Cuties tangerine coupons and Driscoll berries. I also accept the fact that there won't be many coupons for fresh poultry and seafood, although store coupons often can be had for the seafood. Even though I'm in a HCOLA, Eggland's Best eggs frequently go on sale for $1.88 a dozen and with a doubled 50cent coupon I can get them for 88cents.

These are just examples - do whatever works for you but you will have to expend some effort. I work full-time so I consider couponing to be a second, part-time job (that can be very gratifying).

 

[JennyKS]

So sorry, I didn't realize you were laughing at the bunny bit! I thought you were refering to the the way I shop. I get that a lot from people who think organic is a huge waste of money etc. Ignore my post, my appoligies!

You mean like this comment you made about me sometimes fixing hamburger helper?

I wouldn't touch Hamburger Helper with a ten foot poll! (Seriously, that comment wasn't necessary)

No, I don't judge you. I think it's great you do what you do for your family. I would LOVE to garden. I don't understand the organic part, I haven't learned it. But because I don't understand doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it. The garden part well I have to do it in the back yard and the dog likes to bury his bones in the places I happen to want to plant something. I do get to plant tomatoes, watermelon and cantelope. The melons I plant on the side of the house. I don't get much off them, for I have the same problem as you, bunnies. Or birds, I'm not really for sure what it is that eats the buds. Plus, when I get them almost ready to pick and I go back out, they are gone. I swear my neighbors are stealing them, though I've not seem them do it, so maybe I have super large bunnies eating them.

You could be a little proud of me, my eggs I do get free range and fresh. I happen to drive by a place that does that on the way to get my daughter from daycare.

This will sound extremely silly but while I daughter was watching the disney channel they keep having those healthy commercials with the first lady. Anyway, she talked about container gardening. I need to figure out what you can just plant in containers so that I can save even more money that way. Cucumbers, lettuce. I would assume you cant do carrots since they need to grow deep, but I'm not a gardener so I'm probably not making sense. I would LOVE a strawberry patch but I am afraid of snakes and I think I heard (I said think because I really don't remember) that snakes like strawberry patches? I would just die if I stuck my hand in there and saw one.

 

[MEM]

You mean like this comment you made about me sometimes fixing hamburger helper?

I wouldn't touch Hamburger Helper with a ten foot poll! (Seriously, that comment wasn't necessary)

No, I don't judge you. I think it's great you do what you do for your family. I would LOVE to garden. I don't understand the organic part, I haven't learned it. But because I don't understand doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it. The garden part well I have to do it in the back yard and the dog likes to bury his bones in the places I happen to want to plant something. I do get to plant tomatoes, watermelon and cantelope. The melons I plant on the side of the house. I don't get much off them, for I have the same problem as you, bunnies. Or birds, I'm not really for sure what it is that eats the buds. Plus, when I get them almost ready to pick and I go back out, they are gone. I swear my neighbors are stealing them, though I've not seem them do it, so maybe I have super large bunnies eating them.

You could be a little proud of me, my eggs I do get free range and fresh. I happen to drive by a place that does that on the way to get my daughter from daycare.

This will sound extremely silly but while I daughter was watching the disney channel they keep having those healthy commercials with the first lady. Anyway, she talked about container gardening. I need to figure out what you can just plant in containers so that I can save even more money that way. Cucumbers, lettuce. I would assume you cant do carrots since they need to grow deep, but I'm not a gardener so I'm probably not making sense. I would LOVE a strawberry patch but I am afraid of snakes and I think I heard (I said think because I really don't remember) that snakes like strawberry patches? I would just die if I stuck my hand in there and saw one.

I live in New England so the growing season for me runs from June to September. I grow several vegetables in containers, and strawberries. I find cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes to be the best use of containers but have also planted cucumbers, snow peas, eggplant and peppers in containers. I have planted strawberries in containers but you have to put netting over them or else the birds (and skunks and other varmints) will get them. I wouldn't worry about snakes.

 

[estherhead]

I need to figure out what you can just plant in containers so that I can save even more money that way. Cucumbers, lettuce. I would assume you cant do carrots since they need to grow deep, but I'm not a gardener so I'm probably not making sense. I would LOVE a strawberry patch but I am afraid of snakes and I think I heard (I said think because I really don't remember) that snakes like strawberry patches? I would just die if I stuck my hand in there and saw one.

You can't plant almost anything in containers. The trick is, you have to water then EVERY day pretty much. The earth is not taking care of your plants, you are. So you'll need to give them everything they need. I'm going to try this this year as last year my garden was too big and too far away (I have a lot of shade and hills) but I know when I go to Disney in June I'll have to have someone house sit and drill into their head to water my plants every morning.

 

[beansmom]

I live in New England so the growing season for me runs from June to September. I grow several vegetables in containers, and strawberries. I find cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes to be the best use of containers but have also planted cucumbers, snow peas, eggplant and peppers in containers. I have planted strawberries in containers but you have to put netting over them or else the birds (and skunks and other varmints) will get them. I wouldn't worry about snakes.

We live in a townhouse with a small yard...we tore out the flower beds and made our own 'victory' garden. We had tomatoes, zucchini, squash, scallions, corn, lettuce. We had no problem with the birds (we live in NE, too) but the chipmunks loved my cherry tomatoes and pumpkins. Little rat b*st*rds!! And SOMETHING huge rolled all over my zucchini and squash plants and killed them off. We're putting coyote urine out this year to see if it helps scare them off.

As for the original topic here..why does anybody CARE what others think about their coupon use or not use? TO each his own and keep yer eyes outta my grocery cart. If we all ate the same thing, there wouldn't be enough Spelt to go around.

 

[JennyKS]

I'm not good at the whole copying and pasting thing so forgive me but....

The ladies talking about container gardens, THANKS!

I'm really going to try it this year. Watering every day might be a little difficult time wise, but I figure I can get a watering can and maybe let my daughter help. I just think it would be lots of fun and a great learning experience for her.

 

[GinnyEmma]

I'm not good at the whole copying and pasting thing so forgive me but....

The ladies talking about container gardens, THANKS!

I'm really going to try it this year. Watering every day might be a little difficult time wise, but I figure I can get a watering can and maybe let my daughter help. I just think it would be lots of fun and a great learning experience for her.

You can always put the containers in a container so they are watered from below.

 

[Disneefun]

I just have to toss this out there (dons flame suit)... What is wrong with people? Why spend all this energy and time beating each other up over junk/not junk? Its like the mommy wars all over again. "I'm better because I work. "No, I'm better because I stay home." Same thing, except this thread is, "I'm better because I never touch a store bought item and only eat organic," "No, I'm better because I can save money and get stuff for free."

WHO CARES? So people find a way to save money. So they eat organic. So they feed their family in a way that you don't/can't/won't. So what if your region has "good" coupons or not. Why does it matter? Why can't people just be happy for others. "Hey, you found a way to save $2.00? Good for you." Without all the subtext and judging that goes, "Hey, good for you, but too bad your kids are going to grow up nutritionally deficient." Is any of what these other people do directly affecting your life or your eating habits? Nope. So it does not matter what other people do or don't do.

The thing is, coupons and their use are a matter of personal preference. What works for one may not work for another. What works in one area may not work in another. That doesn't mean that anyone is better or worse than you (or that even if you believe it to be so, you have to comment on it). Coupons are out there for those that want to use them. End of story. You don't find them useful, don't use them. If you do, that's fine too.

Why can't everyone just play nice and offer helpful suggestions instead of beating each other up? We're all just trying to save money in whatever ways make sense for us and our own personal situations. There doesn't have to be a "winner" in every discussion. There's no right or wrong here, except what's right or wrong for each individual. All ways of saving money (heck, even living in general) are subjective. What's great for me may stink for you. It's not my business to judge or even comment on it.

Why can't we simply say, "Hey, I'm happy that you're saving so much money. Great!." Or say, "Hey, it's great that you eat so healthfully. Good for you." Try being happy for others. As long as they are happy with their choices, that's all that really matters. Try supporting someone before you rip them to shreds. I can just about guarantee you'll be happier, more relaxed, and more empathetic toward the ways others choose to/have to live their lives.

Off soapbox now...

 

[GinnyEmma]

Lol the only one with that much angst about it is you. I can't imagine feeding my Kidd trash. I am absolutely sure that others feel the same about stuff in my life such as homeschooling. Big whup. Dont read it if you dont want to.

 

[DisneyCher]

But that's not what the OP said. She said that coupons weren't just for junk. Not that she used the money she saved to buy good stuff.

I have never gotten or seen a coupon for fresh produce. They have been on sale, but in my circulars I have never seen a coupon for them.

Your profile says you live in Frederick, MD - do you not get the Washington Post newspaper? I was visiting my daughter in MD a couple of weekends ago and there were coupons for Cuties and Dole salad bags. Last time I checked, those counted as produce.