Coupon Article

[pedersoc]

I thought this article was interesting especially this statement:

"Typical Savings Studies have shown that shoppers who spend 20 minutes per week clipping and organizing their coupons can save up to $1,000 per year. (With an average annual family grocery bill of $5,000 that means 20 minutes could result in a 20 percent savings from coupons)."

September is National Coupon Month

[disneysteve]

There is no way we could save $1,000/year with coupons. That is about $20/week. In an average week when I go through the coupons in the paper, there are maybe 4 or 5 coupons for items we use and sometimes zero for items that we actually need to buy before that coupon will expire.

Cook more from scratch, eat out less and buy more store brands and most families could save far more money.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I agree with disneysteve. I only occasionally look at the food coupons because I so infrequently find one that I would use. But for someone who uses a lot of packaged foods and like to try the latest offerings, coupons might be a good idea.

[Aleta]

I saw the same thing as Steve. Even on my best days $19.23 per week would be almost an impossibility. If you buy a lot of processed, boxed, and prepared frozen foods, you may save a lot. I am of the opinion that by cooking from scratch saves alot more than coupons. I do use my coupons on sale items and I buy in bulk.

Actually, the site offers alot of information about savings so it is a good source for reading as well.

[geojen]

I agree. When these stories come out, they usually require that the supermarkets double coupons, which in my area doesn't happen. I may save a couple of dollars a week at most by using coupons.

[disneysteve]

But for someone who uses a lot of packaged foods and like to try the latest offerings, coupons might be a good idea.

If you buy a lot of processed, boxed, and prepared frozen foods, you may save a lot.

If you are using coupons toward items that are a lot more expensive in the first place, are you really saving any money?

[zakity]

Well, $20 a week is $1040 a year...

[osadg]

I realized a few years ago that I wasn't saving anything with coupons. I mostly cook from scratch and the coupons are mostly for things I've never even heard of. What does saving me money, is not buying the Sunday paper in the first place! :-)

[Aleta]

A few years ago, I started wondering whether the daily newspaper was worth keeping and could pay for itself. After going to the store, I would keep back the coupon money and saw that the newspaper did pay for itself. Not only that, one of our grocery stores deliver their weekly sales flyer through the newspaper. Ever so often, we receive free samples through the mail. The newspaper has saved money by having all of the sale papers right there rather than having to look up each vendors website for sales. Also many large department stores have coupons for 10 - 15- to 25% off.

Yes, I still consider the daily newspaper to be a savings for me in the long run. I don't want to have to turn on my computer everytime that I have to look up something that would be handier for me to just pick up and read.