I'm in Central Jersey, and I noticed a change in the quality and quanitity of coupons a few years ago. I started buying the papers from the larger cities to the north and south of us to get a better selection and they, too, started going down hill. It wasn't even worth me buying the paper. It's getting to the point where I don't even look through them because they're mostly advertisements for some commemorative thing, Michigan Bulb, etc. They've gone from 2 inserts to 1. This past weekend, we had the Smart Source and Procter Gamble. But the PG one is practically the same on from a few weeks ago, so I'm already stocked up (combined those with coupons from a Target mailing, so I did well).
When my kids were little, I was able to rack up over $200 in coupons savings a month. Now, next to nothing. And the "double" coupons in this area are terrible. They only double up to $0.99. Most of the coupons in the paper now are $1.00 of 2 items. Not a great deal, IMHO. Also, I saw one on PG for $.20 off Downey. Are they serious? $.20???? That was a coupon amount when I was a kid!!!
To combat all this, I'm lucky to have a Wegman's nearby and their store brands are pretty good. When I can, I double up coupons with a Target circular. There isn't a Target Greatland or a Super
Walmart nearby, but I can get some things at Walmart - usually milk, bread, and snack crackers. Thank goodness it's summer because we have a small garden and there's a local u-pick.