Coupon Help

[GoodBuyGirl]

First of all don't go out and buy something just because somebody else got a great deal on it.
Continue to shop for the same items you always have. If you happen to have a coupon for one of those items Great, if not just look for the best price.
I have used coupons successfully for quite a while and on average I may save 50% off the total. I try to have multiple coupons so when a good sale hits I can stock up when the price is at it's lowest. That way when I'm well stocked I don't have to pay full price the next time I need the item and it's one more thing I won't have to put on my list the next time.
My DH thought I was nuts buying 10 bottles of ketchup last July because with coupons I got them free. I am now on my last bottle and it's making me crazy I will most likely have to pay for my next Ketchup. So I am still working on how much of each item I need to stock up on without overdoing it. But my DH doesn't think I'm so crazy now.

[rob62521]

I have always been envious (I hate to admit it) when I see those stories about how people can get $200 worth of groceries for mere dollars. It always made me feel like I wasn't doing something right. But, I've also discovered that different locales have different coupons and even different amounts on coupons. My husband buys the Chicago Trib which has coupons and the coupon inserts from it are far often better than the ones in our local paper. I belong to a couple of coupon trains and we share coupons and I see coupons from different areas that we don't get here in Illinois. I only use a coupon if it's for something I normally would buy. I don't save hundreds, but feel like if I save a few dollars that's a few more than I would have had.

Now to vent -- why can't the coupon manufacturers be reasonable? Saving $1.00 on four boxes of this or that often keeps me from buying it. Either having to purchase 4 boxes is out of my budget, or I don't have room to store all 4 boxes. I don't mind using a coupon for 25 cents for one! I had an old coupon for peanut butter that was for 15 cents and no expiration date. The cashier had quite a chuckle over it, but hey, that's 15 cents more than I had when I started and I was going to buy the peanut butter anyway!

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by rob62521

Now to vent -- why can't the coupon manufacturers be reasonable? Saving $1.00 on four boxes of this or that often keeps me from buying it. Either having to purchase 4 boxes is out of my budget, or I don't have room to store all 4 boxes. I don't mind using a coupon for 25 cents for one!

I agree. This seems to have gotten more common recently. Even having to buy 2 of something will often keep us from using the coupon. Not because of cost or space. Just because of practicality. If it is a food we buy regularly, like cereal, that's fine. But if it is something that we buy rarely, who needs 2 or 3 or 4 of them.

[cicy33]

Okay being an avid couponer there are few misconceptions.
1. I can regularly buy $200 worth for $20.
Truth: That is a rare occurence and usually requires a serious amount of coupons and a triple sale. I am not saying it does not happen but it is not as often as people think.

2. I can feed my family of 6 for $30 a week.
Truth: Sure if you want totally prepackaged food! If am down to that number it is because I have a fairly well stocked pantry and I am just replenshing. I mean, milk alone is almost $3 a gallon and bread is another $1 on average. there is already $4 gone. Of course there are those that only buy powdered milk.

3. Couponing is easy.
Truth: Couponing is a pain in the butt! But ever so worth it!

Now to give a few examples of couponing. I found coupons for electrasol on ebay. Cost me approx $1 per coupon. not quite but close. I got 20 of them. The item was free with coupon. So I spend $1 per box on something that I normally spend $4 a box. A savings of $3 per box for a total of $60. It won't go bad! so I won't have to buy that stuff for a year. Another one: coupons for franks red hot, .50/1 double at kroger and get the little bottle for free. We use a ton of this stuff. cost of bottle: $1 After I get the coupons I usually average about .05 per bottle. I usually have about 30 bottles at a time in my pantry. Lipton noodles and sauce, again .50/1 double at kroger usually free (watch for sales) cost of bag: $1 cost about .05 per bag. So just on these items I would have spent: 20 x $4 = $80 electrosal, 30 x $1 = $30 franks, and $20 x $1 = $20 Lipton for a total of $130. I actually spent 20 x $1 = $20 electrosal, 30 x .05 = 1.50 Franks, and 20 x .05 = $1, lipton, for a total spent: $22.50 less what it would have cost me: $107.50 for a total savings. These are just 3 items that at the store I get them for free, thought there is a cost getting the coupons sometimes. Now, keep in mind a few things, I have a pantry that is about 3 x 5 that i put a shelving unit in, which is where I store my items, and my cabinets hold the rest. Sometimes I do run out of room and that does get interesting!!! Recently Kroger had a deal that if you bought a package of Cottonelle for kids you got a B1G1 free. Well, I happend to have bought on e because I had a $1 off and it was on sale for 1.99 so I was thrilled when I got the catalina. I have been using them ever since. even at the usual price of $2.99 I am getting 2 packages for that cost and they are usually bigger rolls than the cheap stuff. and usually they are on sale for $2.50 or less. Also recently kroger had a coupon printing that if you bought 3 or 4 hamburger helper you got a coupon for $1.50 off meat. So Cool! and the hamburger helper happend to be on sale for $1 that week. Now, we dont' buy a lot of that stuff but sometimes I do make it. So I have some stocked up now. Those items above are just 3 of the items I do this with, there are more. Just trying to give an example. If I can save $20 or more off any shopping order I am thrilled. I just try to do what is best. Unfortunately the sales and coupons do not happen on a specific day you have to watch and be prepared which is how the above poster got 10 bottles of ketchup for free (I am sooo jealous, I never get that one for free) if you do this enough you will notice a drop in cost cuz you will have some stocked up. If you don't have room in your kitchen get creative, buy one of those short tubs and fill it up and stick it under your bed or the kids bed, tub keeps the buggies out and easily accessible. Sorry so long and believe me I could go on and on and on and on and on ........

[GoodBuyGirl]

Just to ad to what cicy33 said.
It comes down to how much work you want to put in it. As far as the Hamburger Helper deal, You may not eat it but if you have the right coupons you can get it for free and if the store is running a deal where you save money on your next order when you buy so many its worth it to do the deal anyways. You can always donate the free hamburger helper or keep the pasta packets from them and get rid of the rest. Plus you have a coupon you can use to buy fresh meat. All You magazine sold at Walmart always has $1 on 1 Hamburger helper coupons. So this can be done even if your stores don't do doubles. I don't suggest buying 4 copies of the magazine I'm just pointing out that there are coupons out there of that value. So you can trade for them or find them on ebay.
If you are not willing to put in the work your savings are not going to be as rewarding.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I'm happy just to save enough to make back the cost of the paper and maybe a coffee from Starbucks a week. Which is pretty good, because I've gotten mostly free shampoo, and toothpaste. Not huge savings but a $1 here and $1 there, like for ham this week, or shrimp last week was a $1 saved. I also will $1 on cheese this week, I'm willing to eat slightly cheaper cheese than I normally buy.

But I don't try and buy stuff DH won't eat like HH or prepackaged foods. I do buy stuff that we eat, like rice pilaf (25 cents a box), but I normally would not buy. I also use the coupons for frozen veggies which is 50 cents a bag or less, DH doesn't love frozen veggies but he'll eat them.