$59,000 Saved Through Coupons

[jeffrey]

To show that coupon savings can add up:

Food and Recipes (March 7, 2007)

[JanH]

Wow and wow.

[krayziebone33]

That is absolutely amazing. Kudos to her and anyone who is following this model.

[Ima saver]

That is great!! We live in a small town, so have very few coupons and none in the paper.

[DayByDay]

That's amazing. And here I was proud of myself because I remembered to use one 55 cent coupon this week.

[Aleta]

There was a time when I began questioning about having the newspaper delivered and did it pay for itself. I started clipping the coupons and everytime that I went to the store, I would come back home and take the coupon money out that was saved. I actually saved up enough or almost enough for a new stove in the kitchen. Then, I started saving for little purchases that I wanted. I have a FlyLady calender that I love and I didn't want to take it from my budget so, I saved the coupon money and even bought a few of her items.

What I realized was that the newspaper does pay for itself and more. also, I'd never see half of the sales if I didn't have the paper. One of our large grocery store chains only sends out their sales in the newspaper.

Ima: You can get coupons on-line. I've never done it but you can download them.

[fairy74]

I'm in awe!

[Lori63]

I have no doubt that in all those years I have literally saved in the tens of thousands (1993-2006). It takes alot of time but is worth it to me.

[cschin4]

That is great for her. But, personally, I just don't want to spend the time it takes to do this. I hate coupons. I rarely use them. I have found that it just makes me end up buying things I had not planned to buy. And, I don't do "bulk shopping". For my family, I just ended up buying too much of whatever and it would not get used. Ultimately to be thrown away or still sitting there. I prefer to just buy and cook what I will actually use. For example, I think it is cheaper to buy say a small can of green beans for .69 cents and eat it all than it is to pay .89 for a larger can and throw part of it away. I tend to look at cost per meal as how I judge value and spending.
But, to each his own.

[jodi]

Anyone notice that she spends almost $1000 per month before coupons, and over $450 per month after coupons? I know a lot of people who do just as good or better without coupons at all. I realize she is feeding five grown men, but I still think you can do better skipping the name brand foods, buying in bulk, and cooking from scratch without the coupons (and save 6+ hours per month).
I'm not saying anything against coupons - I use them myself for particular name brand items that I prefer - but I don't think the savings are all that spectacular. JMO.

[cschin4]

I really don't know (sad to say) how much we spend on groceries per month. It is kind of the great "unknown". We aren't in debt or anything so I really don't track it. But, I guess I get fuzzy on what is really groceries. What about toiletries, household supplies, take out etc? I kind of like to lump all that stuff together.

[PrincessPerky]

Although Avery says she never pays full price for anything, the most common coupons are for canned and packaged food such as cereal, soup and cookies. She even uses pet food coupons to feed the family's two dogs and cat.

This part caught my eye..we don't buy prepackaged soups cereal or cookies much anymore........we don't buy much prepackaged at all...mac n cheese is it.

I am not saying coupons are useless, we find decent ones in the beer asile (I feel like a beer ad some days...) And occassionally see or use another, but in general there is no way we can save that much.......we don't even eat canned vegetables.

And that drawer of three packs of cookies, would last 3 days..and only mom or dad eat them..we have no willpower with junk!

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I'm going to start using coupons this week. I bought the Sunday paper today. I do not buy cereal, soup, or cookies. Please no way. I cook mostly from scratch, tonights dinner was green beans, whole chicken grilled (35 cents/lb from costco sale), mashed potatoes. This is a typical meal. Last night was pierogies (fresh from russian store), organic frozen veggie mix. The night before was pork chops, rice, broccoli.

Anyway I am buying 3 items with coupons this week, unfortunately the coupons from the paper also had $1 Margaritaville frozen shrimp. I never had it before, never buy frozen food, and here I am tempted because I have a stupid coupon!

This is just supporting my point that coupons cost me more money to buy things I don't need but want because I have a coupon.

[Snoopy2645]

Wow thats awesome!!!

I save alot by using coupons & rebates & doubling manufactures with stores like at walgreens & then sometimes getting a rebate on top of the coupons I get some good deals & I saved a ton on formula & baby stuff when the kids were little but thier are some things you save money but dont need coupons like my kids needed new backpacks a few weeks ago they had the same ones for years that I had bought for $2 & I came across a cart full of dora & princess & even a purple messanger one for $2 & 1.50 while working I was estatic. I havent paid for movies in years either I send in upcs & stuff for free movie tickets & I save my coke codes & have gotten months free of online blockbuster.

I use coupons mainly on hba products.

So I know I save alot of money not just with coupons but deals I come across otherways like comforters like dora & strawberry shortcake & so on for $5 at sears & swimsutis for $1 at disneystore & some months I keep track of only rebates & I do pretty good with those. I sure wish I kept track of everything threw the years I started coupons in 1995 when my oldest was born & got big time into them again when I had my middle dd & the rest is history. Its amazing what coupons & rebates & stuff can get you.

Point being I wonder how you calculate that kinda say I pay $2 for backpacks & I have friends who pay $20 for them every year do ya count that KWIM?? Other point is it pays to keep your eyes peeled!!!

[Aleta]

I think that you have to use wisdom in using coupons. To buy something just for the sake of using the coupon probably won't save you anything. Sometimes the new products on the market have sale prices and coupons to encourage you to buy the item and try it. Sometimes, that works because you would never have paid the more expensive cost just to try it.

Because I like certain brands of coffee, I watch for those coupons as a way to lower the cost of the coffee that I like. I also save coupons for my daughter-on-law now that she has a new baby so that comes in handy. Some have said here that sometimes you can save a lot just by not spending as much and that has it's merits too. I know for a fact that I'm trying to stay away from the grocery stores as much as possible and it has shown up in my lowered grocery bills.

But coupons are a big plus if you use them right. I also like to keep a coupon until I find the item on sale, so that's a 2nd. savings.

[mom-from-missouri]

Originally Posted by jodi

Anyone notice that she spends almost $1000 per month before coupons, and over $450 per month after coupons? I know a lot of people who do just as good or better without coupons at all. I realize she is feeding five grown men, but I still think you can do better skipping the name brand foods, buying in bulk, and cooking from scratch without the coupons (and save 6+ hours per month).
I'm not saying anything against coupons - I use them myself for particular name brand items that I prefer - but I don't think the savings are all that spectacular. JMO.

i agree. I shop aldi's, buy in bulk, cook from scratch, and on a bad month spend maybe $250. I feed 5 kids and 2 adults--but 2 of the kids are 19. Sometimes I feed 3 adults, as a friend of my DH is very often here on DH days off. They trade work on each others farms every other week, and whichever they are working at feeds them.

[Lori63]

I could in no way spend $1000 before coupons, and certainly don't spend $450 after. I have three growing boys (18, 15, 11), a hubby, and a cat;all of which eat all the time.

[emmiedahl]

Originally Posted by jodi

Anyone notice that she spends almost $1000 per month before coupons, and over $450 per month after coupons? I know a lot of people who do just as good or better without coupons at all.

That's my opinion too.

I spend $400 or less every month for an eight person household including me (pregnant), a blue-collar husband, three teenaged boys, a preteen boy, and two younger children. The lady in the article's older boys don't even live with her, so it's feasible that she isn't providing all of their nourishment, either. Even if she is, she is spending more than me per person and convincing herself it's *really* saving.

Another thing to consider: Even if I can get cookies for free with a coupon, I will still need to buy fruits, whole grains, etc, right? Cookies are yummy and all, but last I checked most people need actual nutrients. The foods she and other couponers describe getting for these low prices aren't going to contribute anything to your diet.

Emmie