The Hidden Cost Of Coupons

[genmed]

Re: The Hidden Cost Of Coupons

I don't consider coupons to be all that bad. True, if you use them on items you nromally won't buy they add up, but when I see a coupon on something we usually buy (dog food, peanut butter, etc) I'll cut it out to use. I also use coupons if they will make something almost free (Like a brand of toothpaste on sale for 1.19 this week, and using a double .50 coupon). However, I spend only about 15-20 minutes a week looking at circulars, coupons and planning our menu.

[cicy33]

Re: The Hidden Cost Of Coupons

it always amuses me when people say coupons don't save you money. like the one above that basically says it makes you buy stuff you normally wouldn't have. Now it is true I have bought things with coupons I dont' normally but does that mean that the other people never buy anything new??? how boring. at least with the coupons I get to try something for much cheaper. today I bought a brand of something that normally I get the cheapest box. but because I had a 2.50 off coupon and the product was only 3.97 I bought it since it made it cheaper than all the others like it. another example. I went triple coupon shopping (up to .75) this past friday. I spent total before coupons 192.xx, after coupons: 62.xx. Now, some stuff was my normal stuff and some wasn't but hey with a savings of 130.00 I think I can handle it!!! I bought single serving juices and milks, tyson nuggets and various other products, all things I love to buy but can't normally afford. so to all that think coupon shopping is nuts and can't work, I say THANK YOU! more for me!!!

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Re: The Hidden Cost Of Coupons

Um, I spend very little on groceries, I just looked. To feed two people our groceries, taking lunch everyday and eating most meals in I can cook for $100/month without coupons. I don't buy cheap stuff either. I just cook a lot from scratch and don't snack on stuff. We don't buy potato chips, tyson nuggets, frozen foods, etc. What we do occasionally buy is frozen pizza from costco 3 pack, yogurt, and that's it. Everything else is scratch, DH usually makes bread and pasta too.

It's healthier and we don't eat processed foods which is where most coupon savings come from. You don't get 50 cent coupons for meat or fish or veggies. You get it for hamburge helper, pasta, etc. I don't do those foods and I don't do junk food. Occasionally we buy ice cream, but we also usually make that from scratch as well.

[cicy33]

Re: The Hidden Cost Of Coupons

actually you are wrong. I frequently get coupons for del monte and libby and green giant veggies, rarely do I ever get a good coupon for hamburger helper, so I don't buy it, I don't buy ice cream cuz it is very fattening so those coupons are no good to me. I get coupons for meat when I buy other stuff with it, still helps! and I get coupons for sour cream, frenchs mustard, frenchs seasonings, campbell soup, ketchup, bananas, flour, bisquick, (I have 3 of those that I paid .25 each for), butter, juice, milk. We rarely buy potato chips and if we do it is usually for an activity like a bday party. Why does everyone assume cuz we use coupons all we eat is junk? The tyson nuggets I do buy and those are used once in a while when we are running out the door to one of the four kids game, they are not used for an every day meal but an occasional one. Our idea of junk food in this house is usually tostidos and salsa. please don't make an assumption that everyone eats junk that coupons. we don't. coupons are a good way that helps me afford other items. But couponing is hard work. Sometimes I have to make myself sort them but in the long run it is so worth it. I also have a lot of hot sauce I got for free, marinades, miracle whip, taco seasoning just to name a few more.

[genmed]

Re: The Hidden Cost Of Coupons

I have to agree with ciyc33, although you certainly CAN get coupons for processed food -- I mainly buy frozen vegetables, soy milk, granola, lime juice, orange juice, sour cream, frozen fruit, no-salt tomato sauce etc. There's a lot of coupons for good stuff. Even if you make from scratch (Bread, granola, etc) you have to start with some ingredients -- whole wheat flour, yeast, dried fruit, etc.

[katwoman]

Re: The Hidden Cost Of Coupons

Just 3 hours ago I went into Jewel just to purchase 18 Vive Pro shampoos and conditioners with coupons. All I paid was the tax.

You know what? I ONLY bought shampoo and conditioner! Some couponers can do entire orders of all kinds of stuff. Not me, I think too linearly and this actually keeps me from falling into the trap that Jeffery describes.

[Broken Arrow]

Re: The Hidden Cost Of Coupons

Now that I'm learning to clip coupons, I realized that they could entice me into buying things that I don't need simply because it'd be cheaper. I could also be tempted to buy other things I see along the way while I'm there.

Of course, coupons are great for things you do need and you aren't tempted by anything else.

[cicy33]

Re: The Hidden Cost Of Coupons

coupons are no different than any other item. if you have money you still have to resist temptation. it is like anything else in life, you have to remain in control of yourself.

[PRICEPLUS]

Re: The Hidden Cost Of Coupons

cicy33 has it quite right. You need to resist the temptation to buy those other things. The idea is to "save" not spend savings on other things!