Do you use coupons?

[Frugal]

I am trying to always find ways to save money with coupons. My question for all of you reading this is the following: do you all use coupons? I am wondering how many actually do. I continue to use them, and have used them for about ten years to save money on grocery bills and to buy personal care items that I need, say at Walmart or Target.

What do you think of the argument that many people give that coupon-cutting is too time-consuming to be worth the time? I personally spend only one hour or less per week clipping coupons, and still save a substantial amount of money on my grocery bill. I love to see the amount "saved with coupons" collect at the bottom of the receipt.

[kork13]

I would call myself a "casual couponer." If I happen to see a coupon for something I regularly purchase, I'll grab it and use it at the next opportunity. Otherwise, I almost never go out searching for coupons. I wouldn't necessarily say I don't think it's not worth the time, but I just don't want to be bothered being constantly on the lookout for a deal, or sitting down for an hour or two digging up coupons. So I guess I do think it's not worth my time, mostly just out of laziness.

[jpg7n16]

Occassionally. I'm pretty much exactly like kork on this one.

I usually just shop for groceries at Wal-mart, and figure that it saves enough over the closer grocery stores. If I happen to remember that I have a coupon, cool. But I don't bother looking for them.


How much would you say you save with your coupons on average? And how long does it take you to hunt them down?

[GREENBACK]

I'll ditto the other responses. I use them when I come upon something that I know I'll need but don't hunt for them. The reason coupons are so widely available is because the stores know that the majority of people will buy so many more things once they're in the store and shopping.

Be careful that you're really "saving".

[Frugal]

I save more than you would probably believe with coupons. Yes, it takes a little time and a little more effort, but to me, it is worth it if I save $20 in one hour's time of grocery shopping, because $20 an hour is a pretty decent wage, if I do say so myself! The truth is, coupons are only useful if you use them for things you actually need, and/or can use.

I have sometimes strayed from this principal, but I always come back to it, esp. lately, as my budget is tighter now with the economy. I know this may sound impossible to some people, but since I had enough time, I was able to save about $25 at Target this last week, perhaps a little more, with a large amount of coupons, plus an in-store credit I received from the company for my feedback on a product. I only paid $0.52 cents cash...and I have the receipts to prove that I did this, and it was in line with the store's coupon policy. It is hard to do this, and basically I spent an hour at the store, because I take my time to maximize my deals. However, once you get the hang of this couponing at a little bit higher of a level, it is not at all hard to do! Don't get too discouraged. I don't always save this much. I did get my grocery bill down to $58 dollars vs. the usual $150 two weeks ago, but it took some effort and researching sales at different stores.

Hope this helps the poster who asks.

For the average person, I would say you can save at least $20-40 per week with coupons, just starting out. For others, with more time on their hands, you can save much, much more.

[Frugal]

p.s. Walmart is not the best price around on most stuff...I know, because I have a photographic kind of memory about prices and figures in my brain, and they charged more on most of the food items I looked at two days ago at Walmart than at the local cheaper chain grocery store. I don't know if it is overhead costs or what these days (plus, they are ALWAYS out of stuff I need lately that is not in stock!!! Aghh!), but they do seem to be passing on costs to the consumer more than other stores.

[marvholly]

frugal
I am w/you on Walmart prices plus I have MAJOR issues w/my stores re: parking, coupon acceptance (they read it 3x, open the bags and check for the "proper item, same for next coupon, and next and......). NOT worth it to me.

I spend a LOT of time on couponing and check various web site data bases for available coupons BUT I am a retired single and have the time.

In the words of my late DH, "I have NEVER paid retail in my live and at 65 I am NOT about to start now.

[NolaP]

I don't use coupons, because I feel like they encourage me to buy things I wouldn't normally buy and so spend more money. Also, finding things on sale in the store is so much easier than clipping coupons, I don't see the need.

[frugalgirl]

I use coupons and shop the local store sales for things I normally buy. If an item I normally buy is on sale, I will stock up on it and match coupons if I can. I don't buy things that I don't use. I know that extreme couponers will buy groupings of items to get rewards dollars and end up with things that are cheap or free as well as with things they don't use but can donate. That is too much work for me. I scan the inserts in the mail and Sunday paper and clip ones for things I use. I almost never pay full price for anything but fresh produce and milk. I know which stores have the best sales prices for things I use and which coupons they will take, who doubles coupons, etc. so I know a good deal when I see it.

Currently, we are living temporarily in Stockholm, Sweden. They essentially don't have coupons here. The only ones I have seen are occasional peelies in the stores. I actually go to about 6 different stores per week shopping the weekly specials to keep our grocery bill under control here. I am spending 40% more on groceries here because the prices are so much higher. If they had coupons here, I'd be spending a lot more time trying to use them!

[jpg7n16]

Originally Posted by Frugal

p.s. Walmart is not the best price around on most stuff...I know, because I have a photographic kind of memory about prices and figures in my brain, and they charged more on most of the food items I looked at two days ago at Walmart than at the local cheaper chain grocery store. I don't know if it is overhead costs or what these days (plus, they are ALWAYS out of stuff I need lately that is not in stock!!! Aghh!), but they do seem to be passing on costs to the consumer more than other stores.

From the comparison shopping I've done, it may not be the cheapest around for every single item, but it's close enough for me. And I've seen a big enough difference to keep doing it.

I found their prices on canned vegetables, fruit, canned tuna, boneless chicken, ground beef, milk, toilet paper, microwave dinners, and cereal to save me enough on the trip. {That's actually a pretty good summary of all that I eat } Occasionally, the local store has better deals on specific items here or there (usually some brand of bottled water), but I don't want to make 15 trips to get items only when they're on sale. Would rather go once and stock up (but I don't need Costco size stuff - there's only one of me )

Surveys typically indicate that Wal-Mart is either the top, or close enough to it on 'whose groceries are the cheapest' - so I'm just going with that assumption. So far it's been workin out for me

Walmart is leader for lowest prices - first result (SA thinks the actual link is trying to cuss! haha)
Which is cheaper, Target or Walmart? The answer may surprise you


Where do you do your coupon shopping at? Online? Or do you get the Sunday papers and dig through them??

[jpg7n16]

Originally Posted by Frugal

The truth is, coupons are only useful if you use them for things you actually need, and/or can use.

That reminds me, I typically get some odd coupons at checkout sometimes. I was at a Tom Thumb one day, and it printed me a coupon for $5 off some ladies handbag makeup thing.

I'm a 25 year old single guy.

Very useful coupon Tom Thumb. Thanks.


I've gotten coupons for diapers, Playtex, baby food, makeup, etc. Someone needs to do their market research better!

[Frugal]

Yes, the coupons you get when they print out with the receipt are generally not as good. I get some useful ones at Walgreen's some weeks for things like Listerine, that I turn around and combine with other coupons I have on hand from the manufacturer.

[rob62521]

Yes, I use coupons, but only for things I would normally buy. However, I am becoming quite disgruntled because so many are asking you to buy 3 items. My storage is limited. Or, 50 cents off of this product if you buy this other product. Doesn't do me much good if I didn't need the other product to begin with.

I got quite the chuckle, JPG, over your checkout coupons. I would concur -- they need to do more market research if you are getting such inappropriate ones.

[Frugal]

I also find it annoying how now the companies, to save money, are switching to coupons only valid if you buy from 2-3 items, instead of just one. However, if you search hard enough, you can still find plenty of the old ones good for a discount off only one item.

[marvholly]

Rob
For me it is not so much the storage space (big house) but the simple fact that as a single person I just cannot use a bunch of abc product in a reasonable amount of time. Also I do NOT want to have 3-4 containers of some junk food (rare treat) on hand. I KNOW I will eat if they are here and my hips/scale will not like it.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by kork13

I would call myself a "casual couponer." If I happen to see a coupon for something I regularly purchase, I'll grab it and use it at the next opportunity.

Same here. We clip a lot more coupons than we use. Part of the problem is that my wife is usually the one who clips the coupons but I'm usually the one who does the grocery shopping, so there is a disconnect there. Also, I go to the store straight from work on Thursdays. It never occurs to me Wednesday night to sit down and see if I have any coupons.

Originally Posted by Frugal

I also find it annoying how now the companies, to save money, are switching to coupons only valid if you buy from 2-3 items, instead of just one.

I agree. Really, who buys 3 bottles of mustard at once? We might buy 2 bottles in a year.

We also buy a lot of store brand and lesser known brand items. The coupons are almost exclusively for the much more costly national brands. So even with a coupon, the item is typically still more expensive than the cheaper brand.

[khosta]

I don't use coupons... Although, I live on an island and I'm not sure they distribute them. When I lived in the states I didn't use them either. However, because of that new reality show on TLC, I think it is, couponing seems to be becoming more popular!!! When givent he chance, I will probably will try it out to save myself some dollar bills!!!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

There are many "slow" things I do that save money, but methodical couponing is not one of them.

To me, looking for coupons is boring. There are so few out there for foods or products I want to buy. However, if I just happen to come across one for something I know I will be buying, sure, I'll use it. I have a hard time remembering to take a coupon with me, though. Lots of times it will sit in my desk drawer or wallet until it expires.

I would not discourage others from giving it a try, though. Some people really enjoy the hunt and save money. Just do it wisely, right? Don't buy stuff that you didn't want unless you have someone to give it to.

[mom-from-missouri]

I use them big time. I feed 7 for around $250 a month. But, I have learned that my best deals for cereal and bathroom items are at the dollar stores. Cereal (same brands) is 1/4 of the price at Dollar general, for the same size, as at Hy Vee, Price Chipper or High Klass (around here called High Dollar)......

[marvholly]

I have a pile I am going to use today. I will report back how I do.