Coupons in Sunday Paper vs. Generic Brand

[rob62521]

[QUOTE=cicy33;148113] The key is having the right coupons at the right time. QUOTE]

Bingo and planning your purchases!

[kgroves]

It depends on the product vs. the coupons. For example, I had 2 $1.00 off coupons for Quaker Life. Now, the Malt o Meal that I normally buy at Wal Mart was $4.48, and two boxes of Life were like $4.29, with the coupons, and I got more cereal. Does that help?

[rob62521]

You are right... it depends on the products and coupons and the shelf life of the product. I recently bought some personal product that was on sale, had store coupons, and then the store also excepted the product coupons out of the paper. I wound up stocking up and got a free package for a total of three packages for the price of less than one and half. Since it's a product that doesn't spoil, it made sense to me to stock up.

[toys]

Versus?

confession time- lately, I've only been going to 3 stores, instead of all of them. and sometimes, I just buy loss leaders and things on sale or generic, and I don't use ANY coupons. Gasp- the horror. I know, it's liberating sometimes to slide through the stores, toss some things in the basket and check out.

Three is my standard. I take every coupon I have and start at Kroger (usually higher prices, always much wider variety). With my Kroger card, I scan for specials/bargains matching my coupons and buy ONLY those items. Then, a second stop might be Ingles/Food City (more generics, less variety). With my value card, again I scan for coupon matching bargains... and buy ONLY those items. Finally, I end up at somewhere like Sav-a-Lot (exclusively generic). Then, I check my list, see what's left that I really need (coupons or no). Without a special card, I simply finish my shopping with no coupon preoccupation. Sometimes, these stores will take coupons, but you have to ask, repeatedly. So, if I get really lucky I find a few more that this store will actually accept.


I don't really have a battle between generic and brand name prices... rather a bargain harmony.

The only time I would go to a fourth store is if I needed a Pet Smart visit. But those are rare, only once I've really stocked up on (especially their store) coupons.

[nmboone]

I love couponing! I get a little too obsessed sometimes!

[SnoopyCool]

I believe keeping coupons with you creates an opportunity. I organize mine in a binder by section of the store, and I buy things that I eat when I get them free or nearly free. I haven't been able to do that with store brand.

For instance, Green Giant frozen steamers...something or other were $1 at Wal-Mart and I had a few $1 off coupons so I got them for free.

Also, you should never pay for most toiletries again. Combining coupons with CVS and Walgreens makes these things free (I heart wags or I heart cvs dot com).

In short... I believe it is worth it to get that paper!

[Goldy1]

I use coupons and it is worth it, but I toss most. The best thing for me I have found is stocking up on "on sale items" ie. a frozen dinner being half off beats a $1 off 3 coupon anyday. better yet, us eboth.

[Aleta]

Even if I have a coupon for three items, I buy the half-off items and still use the coupons. I've saved an amazing amount of money by combining sales, manufacturers coupon and the stores coupons.

[mom-from-missouri]

coupons are also available on-line. Can you ask neighbor or co-worker if they use Sunday paper coupons? I'm not sure you would save enough on coupons to pay for the newspaper.

Not all our stores take the online ones. But, I first see what they are on line, and then I may or may not go buy the paper based on what I see. Our paper is cheaper at one of the drug stores (they only sell it for 99 cents) on Sundays, so I get it there. That makes it easier to come out ahead on my coupons.

If it isn't a good coupon week, I don't buy it. I do a large amount of our shopping at Aldi anyway.

[sakigt]

I used to be all about coupons but for me, it just doesnt work.

I try and cut down on groceries in three ways:

- Buy in bulk at BJs (I just go with a friend once in a while so I dont pay the fee). Mostly buy meats, nuts, pasta an 10lb bags of rice

- Shop the Buy One Get One sales at Publix. My household rebuys certain things over and over again. JIF Peanut Butter, Honey Bunches of Oats, Wild Rice. As soon as these commonly purchased items go on sale for BOGO I snag as much as we need until the next sale (1-2 months). This way, I rarely have to go into the store and pay full price for anything.

- Buy fresh veggies that are on sale. Even if its just salad mix at least you can get your veggies in for cheap. I supplement with frozen veggies I can stand like peas and corn. (Most frozen veggies are nasty, imo)

The things I alway pay whatever they charge me for are:
- Hormone free Milk
- Cage Free Eggs
- Honey Wheat Bread

Doing this my family of two pays around $200 a month for food. Sometimes a little more when I stock up on a GREAT deal.