Question for you coupon people

[shirleyb]

I always see people post about saving tons of money using coupons, and frankly, I just don't see how!

We don't have any stores around here that do triples, and even the doubles, are only 50 cents goes to a buck.

I generally find that I do better shopping at a discount place that doesn't take coupons than a regular store that does. Also, with coupons, I find myself tempted to buy things I wouldn't otherwise.

So, those of you that are masters, how do you do it?

 

[ncbyrne]

I keep a coupon file box arranged according to the aisles of my favorite store (ShopRite). I save coupons from everywhere I find them and swap coupons with friends and family as well. All of our local grocery stores take coupons. Most double up to .99¢ and some triple up to .50¢ I have a strict food budget and always stay within those limits by carrying a small calculator and keeping track as I shop. I scour the store circulars before I shop to know what's on sale and then shop with a list that I adhere to. The bottom portion of the receipt tells me the amount of coupon savings - which goes into our Disney fund. Plus I always pay with my Amex Skymiles card for free flights. We keep an envelope in the kitchen and as soon as I come home the $ and the receipt go into that envelope, and then we just pay the bill in full every month. It takes time and some organization, but using coupons and shopping wisely pays off!

 

[sln88]

I also live in LOND(land of no doubles), and I am shocked at how little I pay for groceries.

You have to be able to get coupons(friends, coupon swap, ect) and be willing to stockpile when there is a good sale.(I just put 30 Atkins pizzas in my freezer- all free)

I get many items free or close to it by combining sales and coupons.

It does take time to do tho, and you have to compromise on your eating sometimes(brands)

A great site for tips is mycoupons.com

 

[travelbug]

I love couponing and save tons of money doing so. But a few factors work in my favor:

1. I live in an area that has numerous grocery stores, drugstores, and discount stores all extremely close to me, or on my way to and from work. So I can easily go to wherever I see an excellent buy without spending extra money on gas and defeating the purpose.

2. All grocery stores around here double coupons. One of the drugstores allows you to use their store discount card, PLUS add coupons for those already discounted items. I will sometimes get things I need for free that way.

3. If I do say so myself, I'm exceptionally good with numbers. When I'm at the store, I can quickly compute what I'll be paying per ounce or per serving or whatever when I apply the sale price and the doubled coupon, and then compare it with what I'd pay by buying the store brand instead.

4. I'm also very competitive. Couponing is like my chance to "beat the system" by getting my groceries and essentials for a fraction of the sticker price. lol

I also exercise a few rules in my couponing:

1. When the weekend paper comes, I sit down with the flyers and my coupons. I make a list for each store I find good deals in, and paperclip the coupons and the list to those flyers. That's what I take to the store. I stick to my list at the store.

2. I don't buy items I wouldn't ordinarily buy just because there's a great deal. However, sometimes I've been able to get special treats or try new things because I can get them for free by coupling a great sale with a good coupon.

3. I'm willing to "stockpile" items when I can get a killer good deal. That way if an item doesn't come up for a super price for a long time, I've got it covered in between. I'm obviously careful with anything that has an expiration date.

4. My target is to discount all groceries and essentials by 60-75%, if not more. I'm usually not satisfied with merely half price. (Miserly, ain't I?) Things don't always work out that way when I have to get something and there's not a sale. But that's my target, and I do reach it a surprising amount of the time.

It may sound very time-consuming, but it's not bad at all. Guess I've got my system down. Besides what I buy for myself, I also pick up many items for my sister and family. I've become very familiar with what they eat and use, so that I can watch for irresistible deals for them too. They appreciate the cheap prices, and are glad to pay me back. It's a fun and easy way to help them out.

So that's my story. Sorry it's so long. It's probably WAYYYYYY more than you really wanted to know, but maybe a couple thoughts will help someone.

 

[ReneeQ]

Most of our grocery stores double coupons of up to 50 cents, any coupons for 55 cents or more are not doubled. So the most each coupon will be worth is $1. I check the ads before I go and decide what coupons I'll use before going to the store.

I do often buy things we won't eat and donate them to our church's food pantry. Actually, that's how I got into the couponing in the first place. Check out www.cutouthunger.com.
If cereal is on sale buy one get one free, then I have two 50 cent coupons, I get an additional $1 off per box (after doubling), so I can get cereal for 50 cents to $1 a box. I usually donate that. This weekend I got spaghettios for 10 cents a can, on sale 2 for $1, and I had a 40 cent off coupon when you buy two cans, which they doubled.

 

[FFerret]

ReneeQ's Cut out hunger site is an AWESOME one. There's also a coupon database there to let you know when certain coupons came out, which flyer they were in, and how much they are.
www.cutouthunger.com
We are in the land of no doubles as well (best deal is up to .35 tripled and .50 doubled)

www.mycoupons.com is my favorite site
To find where the hot deals of the week are for coupons, as well as how to use them, go to mycoupons, then do the following:

Hit SHOPPING BOARDS tab on top left
Go to TIPS OF THE TRADE (TOT) Forum


Like I siad, I LOVE mycoupons....and I had found out about it right here on the DIS board back in Jan 2000

Can't believe how much I've saved with 'em!!!

 

[ajksmom]

shirleyb,
I use coupons ALOT!! I try desperately to only buy on sale with a coupon whenever I can. To get the most out of it here's what I do-

I do a "coupon swap" with family and friends. No big deal we all just clip what we will use and pass them on. Also, the library has a coupon swap box that I will check out when I'm there.

Have a coupon organizer, done by aisles, with the first slot filled with coupons that will expire the end of current month. Let's me see quickly if there is something I need and it's not on sale that at least I will get the coupon savings.

I shop at Shaw's and noticed last year that in really fine print their ad said that they took competitors coupons. Now I look at all competitor ads for triple coupons, $$$ off XX amount, etc. and bring them with me. Also, check the Entertainment book for competitor coupons, our local one had 9 5$ off coupons. Shaw's always doubles up to 1.00, will triple if a competitor is.

I'm willing to buy in bulk, I have an extra pantry in the basement along with a big freezer, so if I see something we use alot, it's on sale and I have coupons, I am able to purchase quite a large amount. Example I recently was able to purchase flavored rice at $.25 per box while on sale with coupons. I bought 24 boxes!! For my family that means 12 side dishes for $.50 on those "quick meal" nights. Be careful of expiration dates when buying in bulk.

Only buy what you will need/use. Just cuz it's cheap doesn't mean there is any savings there if you didn't need it anyways or threw it out.

In addition to coupon savings I found that Tuesday AM is when they mark down their meats. I buy this almost exclusively and freeze it. Since the cost of meats has risen sooo much this really cuts down my grocery bill.
Kristy

 

[kfeuer]

As others have said, a big key is getting multiple coupons when there's a great deal so that you can stockpile. If you only have one coupon for something that's a great deal, that's not going to bring your overall total down very much. What really helps is when you can get multiple items you use for free/cheap so that over time you get to a point where you don't pay full price for hardly anything.

Another idea to explore is rebates. Walgreen's, Eckerds, and Rite Aid all have monthly rebates with free items you can get for free each month. They're not hard to do, and you can use coupons for the free items and get back the full retail price. Just doing these kind of rebates will get you a decent health/beauty aids stockpile going. Also, keep an eye out for try-me-free rebates in the regular Sunday coupon inserts.

If you're really serious about learning to use coupons, I second checking out the Tips of the Trade forum on mycoupons. It takes time to really learn all the tricks, but it's a fun hobby

 

[frannn]

Now I just look at the coupons that come for free in my pennysaver. If one coupon matches what's on sale at one of the three local markets I frequent, I will see if it's a good enough deal to purchase. Most of the time, though, those coupons are for things I wouldn't normally purchase. I try to shop according to the market circular, planning meals around what meat/pasta is on sale. It does get boring, though. Buy 1 get 1 frees on meat, etc, are only good when the price you end up paying is less than you would had the item gone on sale in a single quantity. Also, if the "1 free" goes bad and gets thrown out, it ends up being no bargain at all. I have purchased so many things and tossed them that I am more careful now. I saved a good deal of $ using the certs from restaurant.com and meal vouchers on our WDW trip last week.

 

[PaulaSue]

Ditto to mycoupons.com!

IT takes a lot of time and going to a lot of different stores but I got a bunch of stuff free or nearly in less than a month of really tring to get into this. IT also takes a lot of friends to give you coupons.

 

[KristinU]

ajksmom/Kristy - I'm in Manchester! Howdy neighbor! I had NO CLUE that Shaw's a) takes competitor coupons and b) doubles coupons! I go mostly to Shaw's but I've been making a trip out to the Willimantic Super Wal-Mart and hit BJ's at the same time. Here I've been taking my under $1 coupons on a special trip to Stop & Shop (which I'm not hot on) just to get doubles! You are sooooo saving me time! Thanks!!!

I'm fairly new to the couponing thing (started when DS arrived), so I really appreciate this thread!

 

[ajksmom]

KristinU

Funny how the DIS is like BSing over the fence w/ neighbors.

I lived in Manchester until the fall of '99. Until June I was in town alot for my DS17's school stuff cuz he went to Cheney Tech. Now I try to go once a week to get all shopping/errands done.

I agree about Stop & Shop. I spend a fortune if I even walk though the door.
Keep an eye out in the sunday paper for the triple coupons found in competitors adds. Also, go to Shaw's website and sign up for their "ducklings" program, lots of coupons for babies/toddlers. It also gets you on their mailing list for those additional $$$ off coupons. Do you have their shopping card???
Mid-week Shop-Rite has some good coupons in the courant and sometimes in the JI, Shaw's accepts these also.

 

[KristinU]

Cool, thanks ajksmom! I just signed up for Ducklings I do have their shopping card (along with every place around). I love the DIS - you're right, it is like BSing wit neighbors over the fence - lots of great neighbors from near and far BTW, we moved to Manchester from Minneapolis in 2000...once our realtor took us to Shady Glen for lunch the day we were house hunting we knew we HAD to live close by. LOL!

Thanks again!