how much are you saving using coupons?

[Cheetahwoman7]

Re: how much are you saving using coupons?

Nanamom, I would go to the dealagogo site to start. They have a section devoted to people just starting out. In my opinion, the things to do that will help you out and save the most:

1. Organize your coupons and never leave home without them. I use the binder method. In my zippered binder I have baseball card holders that are divided into sections, the same sections that are in the grocery stores: frozen foods, dairy, canned veggies, shampoo, etc...you get the picture. This makes it easy to flip to any section and find the coupons I'm looking for. Much easier than thumbing through envelopes.

The reason to never leave home without them is you never know when you'll find a great bargain that can be made even better (like my favorite, FREE) if you'd only had your coupons with you.

2. Find a source, friends, family, McDonald's on Sunday afternoon, for all your Sunday newspaper inserts. Remember, having multiple coupons will allow you to buy multiple items that you can then stockpile until the next sale.

3. Use your coupons on things that are on sale. When you combine the two (especially with double coupons) you'll save much more. Don't use your coupons because they will expire in two weeks and you don't want to lose using them. I can't tell you the number of times when something I had coupons for went on sale the week they were expiring. Made for much better deals.

4. Remember, there's usually a cycle to coupons. If you didn't find any sales on something that you had tons of coupons for, usually within a few weeks those coupons will come out again and you'll have the chance to buy the items when they go on sale.

Hope that helps to get you started.

[shelbylovesmelby]

Re: how much are you saving using coupons?

I have been anti coupon for years, My mother hated them. I admit I tried years ago when I was first married to see if I could do that shop for 100 but pay 10 or 15 but never understood how they did it. i even subscribed to a newsletter on refunding once but go nowhere with it. They wanted me to save every wrapper that came into my house and I couldn't stand that much clutter. Plus often I would find that the generic or homemade version of something was cheaper than the thing with the coupon. Last night I found that the store I most like has started doubling coupons one day a week so I am going to try again. Any advice or web sites I should check out?

I'm with you on this one!!! Aldi's outbeats all our local grocery stores prices. One store started double couponing but you could only use up to $5 in coupons & had to spend $50 to get anything doubled!! I don't always have $50/wk to toss away for groceries @ that store to save a few cents.

I save more buying generic & then using coupons I find online for the few namebrand products I actually use. Plus the paper here runs crummy coupons that again make Aldi's much cheaper even with the coupon. & if it's a good coupon it can't be doubled because it usually says "DO NOT DOUBLE" So what's the point?!?!?

I'd love it if they didn't attach all these rules but the store does & it's the only one within a few counties that even double coupons at all. CAN"T WIN HERE!

[Snoopy2645]

Re: how much are you saving using coupons?

Well I did alot of coupons everytime I had a baby thier are tons for babies food, formula diapers all of that. Now that none are babies I have gotten more into rebates. Our coupons around here are bad & no stores double. But as for rebates I average probably $30 a month doing those.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: how much are you saving using coupons?

I am with Nanamom, I could never find coupons for the brands I use, or anything...I just settle for the sale price and cheapest store around.

Part of my thing is I don't shop much, so I am not stopping at a store on Monday to grab coupoins and Wednesday for the meat sales, and friday for the bread sale, I just go once a week to one or two stores (I prefer one)

I may not save on groceries but I do save on gas, and more importantly, my marriage! DH hates shopping!

This is not to knock those who have had success, just to chime in for anyone else not having success.

[poundwise]

Re: how much are you saving using coupons?

There certainly needs to be a balance. I started using coupons and seeking sales again recently because it is worthwhile for me. However, the reason my wife and didn't do it for a while is because we sort of got 'caught up' in it and ended up spending way too much time to save a small amount. I understand the mentality to do anything to save but really, time is a valuable asset that cannot be recouped. So, now I watch for sales, clip coupons, etc. but I do it as efficiently as possible and with a sort of unofficial, built-in time limit for myself to spend on 'saving'.

[markio26]

Re: how much are you saving using coupons?

i use a price book mostly.. so, i generally know what is a great buy.... i belong to dealagogo too. i get alot of savings.. i just have to stop beating up myself about the one i missed or got away and i did not see it.... lol.

[flash]

Re: how much are you saving using coupons?

DH and I used coupons extensively when we lived in California. Then, working 24/7, found it was cheaper to just buy what we needed. Cheap isn't savings when you end up throwing everything out.

Last year, when we started budgeting again, we went back to shopping sales and coupons, and we've done well. If I pay more than 50% of regular price in any shopping trip, I am disappointed.

Saving boxes, etc., doesn't work well anymore, since you need a CASH REGISTER RECEIPT to get most refunds now.

Sign up for the store cards and get the one-check rebates at Rite Aid and other stores. That will help!