I've been a diehard couponer forever--my mom clipped them and shopped several stores for loss leaders weekly, so in my mind that was the "normal" way to shop--but in the last couple of years there has been less and less of a payoff to it. No stores in my area have double coupons any more, and even the loss leaders are less of a "deal" than they used to be. I can't imagine giving up totally on coupons, but lately I'm questioning whether my big old coupon file is worth the space it takes up in my purse.

Anyone else relate?

I'm not ready to give it up either, it's kinda a part of my identity. BUT the the deals are not what they once were, that's for sure. Cereal c/os used to be 1.00 for one box, now they always seem to be for 2 boxes.....it;s things like this that make it less profitable than it once was........well, that and the insanely high grocery prices!
*sigh*

The deals aren't nearly as good in many parts of the country. My stores double coupons up to 50 cents. So, instead of putting out coupons for 50 cents off of one thing, the companies put out coupons for $1 off of two. No doubling for me :(

It's rare to find a good coupon deal that combines with a sale around here.

see, where i live, unless you get the weekly paper, you don't get coupons.
the ones that come in the mail (like the ValPak) are for services (ok, so those can be helpful). But no restaurant coupons, no shopping/grocery coupons. And most of the places around here won't take the printable kind either.
Oh & there was some complaining a few yrs ago about the loss leader section at the store i used to go to, so they got rid of that. :lame:

otherwise, the main grocer i go to has good prices on most anything and always has good weekly specials on produce - so i buy what is on special there and work my weekly cooking around that.

so for the most part, it just isnt around here! :cry:

The deals aren't nearly as good in many parts of the country. My stores double coupons up to 50 cents. So, instead of putting out coupons for 50 cents off of one thing, the companies put out coupons for $1 off of two. No doubling for me :(

It's rare to find a good coupon deal that combines with a sale around here.


I have the same problem. What I have noticed though, with rising prices, the store brand prices have gone up higher at my grocery store than the name brand. I'm noticing at times where the store brand is more expensive than the name brand. If this trend continues, I will clip more coupons and apply them to the name brand items and save more than I would buying the store brand. Just an idea, that's what seems to be happening here. All grocery prices seem to be higher though:ouch:

The deals aren't nearly as good in many parts of the country. My stores double coupons up to 50 cents. So, instead of putting out coupons for 50 cents off of one thing, the companies put out coupons for $1 off of two. No doubling for me :(

It's rare to find a good coupon deal that combines with a sale around here.

When they still had doubles around here it was up to .50, too, but they'd "double" a $1 coupon to 1.50--will yours do that?

otherwise, the main grocer i go to has good prices on most anything and always has good weekly specials on produce - so i buy what is on special there and work my weekly cooking around that.

so for the most part, it just isnt around here! :cry:

That's mostly what I do these days, too.

The only store that would double coupons (up to 50 cents) closed several months ago. The drive time to the closest double-coupon store doesn't make it worth my while as gas costs would exceed any savings.

I still use some coupons if I can match them to a good sale, but it's nothing like it used to be.

I used to cut coupons for my mom when I was living with my dad. But that was when the days that stores would double coupons up to and including $1.00. But to me personally that there is no coupons that I would use. Or that you have to buy so many before the coupon will work. Here I don't think that stores even double coupons anymore. I know when I worked at one that they would double up to including .50 cents. But I don't know if they are still even doing that. The stores around here won't even take the printable coupons eaither. One of my fellow co-workers will purchase 2 Sunday papers. He said that he may spend about $3.00 on both. But the savings in the end out weight what he spends on the papers.He saids that he and his girlefriend save atleast $10 if not more on the coupons they clip. To I guess that to some people that cliping coupons are worth it. But not to me.

I only started couponing about 8 months ago, so I can't really compare. I did notice that I had to spend more and more time to get any decent deals, it probably would have been much more profitable for me to find a pt job with all the time I was spending! I've decided to take a break this month, and I'm sure I'll go back to it on a smaller scale, but without the burn out!

There are 3 grocery stores in town... all the same chain *sigh*

They don't double, won't take printed, don't have store coupons, look at you as if you have a second head if you hand them coupons.

The other stores (in other towns) are more expensive, don't double or take printed either.

I don't understand why they won't take ones off the printer, they are from the manufacturers themselves!!!

I'm just starting to get into couponing, been reading a lot about it. If I even save a few dollars, I will be happy, its is a few dollars I wouldn't have had otherwise.
Many years ago I worked in a supermarket as a cashier, one day a woman comes through with her grocieries, I ring her up. She hands me a very large envelope of coupons, I open it and start entering.. very soon I realize this woman hadn't bought the items she had coupons for, just brought in a set $ worth of coupons and figured she would pay for her whole purchase that way. It was a very large envelope. After I realized this I told her I couldn't honor the coupons for items she hadn't purchased and she lit into me about how she didn't have to buy THOSE items, someone else already had and had not used coupons. I ended up having to call the manager over, she was sooo mad. She left without her groceries.

she didn't have to buy THOSE items, someone else already had and had not used coupons.

Okay, I had to read that twice. The first time I thought I had read it wrong.

You've gotta admit, that's pretty darn funny . . . even if she was a little :screwy:

Julie

I can barely use coupons anymore, it seems like all of them are for things I don't buy!

I coupon like a mad woman. When I first started seriously about 2.5 years ago my store would double up to $1. Now they have changed it and only double to .50 and that is for 2-like coupons only. BUT I shop the stockpile method. I am usually so well stocked on groceries that I only buy what is super cheap with coupons and since I pass that grocery store every day on my way to work I will run in a couple of times a week. I usually get 4 sets of coupons. I buy 2 papers, my mother gives my hers and a guy at work gives me his. So I am still doing pretty good with coupons. My budget for groceries and HBA is $50 per week and I am about to cut that down to $35 per week due to my son having some medical issues and I think co-pays are gonna kill me.

. After I realized this I told her I couldn't honor the coupons for items she hadn't purchased and she lit into me about how she didn't have to buy THOSE items, someone else already had and had not used coupons. .


That is the funniest coupon story I have heard in a long time.


I still use a ton of coupons every single time I shop. There are stores that double (just not in my area) and there are stores that take internet coupons ( I can use them at all the stores in my area ).
And some stores even let you combined coupons like Target and Walgreens.
I admit it is a lot of work and the last couple of months the deals have been strinking.

I coupon like a mad woman. When I first started seriously about 2.5 years ago my store would double up to $1. Now they have changed it and only double to .50 and that is for 2-like coupons only. BUT I shop the stockpile method. I am usually so well stocked on groceries that I only buy what is super cheap with coupons and since I pass that grocery store every day on my way to work I will run in a couple of times a week. I usually get 4 sets of coupons. I buy 2 papers, my mother gives my hers and a guy at work gives me his. So I am still doing pretty good with coupons. My budget for groceries and HBA is $50 per week and I am about to cut that down to $35 per week due to my son having some medical issues and I think co-pays are gonna kill me.

Are you by chance a grocery gamer? I am and I can't imagine doing it anyother way.

I find fewer and fewer coupons for the things I buy. I probably wouldn't bother at all, but I have a deal with the director at the library. I have to work all the Sunday shifts (the only full time staff member here) so she said I could have the coupons from the library's two papers.

I did have a pretty good coupon day today--I just did my monthly-or-so Wal-Mart stockup (mostly personal care and cleaning/laundry/paper products) and was able to use $6 in coupons without buying anything I wouldn't have bought anyway. *\o/*

That's my thing with most coupons: they tend to be for overpriced convenience items I don't normally buy, so using them doesn't actually save money.

she didn't have to buy THOSE items, someone else already had and had not used coupons.

When I was a cashier I had a lady and her husband come through and the lady did the same thing. Even the husband tried to explain to her that she couldn't do it, and she flipped on him. Some people's children....lol

I Used to cut coupons for my gramma when I was a kid, she always got good deals, but when I try it, they're not worth it. Like those new frozen crockpot things. I found a $4.00 coupon for them, but they cost almost $10. I wouldn't buy it anyway because its way cheaper to just cut everything up yourself. It's always convenience food. I usually only use coupons (if and when I can find them) on toiletries, shampoo, deoderant etc. That's where I see the most savings with them, but that is hardly ever.

In my area, there is one grocery chain and one Super Wal-mart. I hate using coupons at Wal-mart because of the hassle the cashiers always give. I usually only use them at the grocery store, but don't use as many as I used to because I have noticed most coupons aren't for what we use, I can buy generic cheaper, and you have to buy 2 items to use the coupon which doesn't make it a very good deal.

My gripes with couponing is that the expiration dates aren't long enough. also iin my area of the country we don't get the coupons the rest of the country gets. I get all excited when I see the preview at Taylortown and disappointed when I open the paper and the coupons aren't there.

I found a $4.00 coupon for them, but they cost almost $10. I wouldn't buy it anyway because its way cheaper to just cut everything up yourself. .



Correct 6 bucks is still too much. But if you hold on the coupon until the item is buy1 get1 sale and you got your hands on two of the coupons then it would only be 1 dollar each. A bucks isn't too much. Thats how I buy 90% of my groceries.

Just starting to get back into couponing. We have a super Wal-Mart here and one small local store who's prices are much higher than the Wal-Mart. So I don't have much choice. I have noticed that the Wal-mart store brands aren't that much lower than the brand name on many items. So will start using the brand coupons when I can.

My problem is most of the coupons I find are for items I don't buy. Processed foods, swiffer mops, glade candles etc... I'm concentrating on finding coupons for health products like our vitamins, tylenol and such. I've only been saving a couple of dollars on each trip but it adds up over time so will keep trying.

I remember the days when we used to come home with bags of free groceries.
Expiration dates are too short, and despite food prices going through the roof I find that the coupons are worth less than they used to be. Our lifestyle has also changed we now eat less prepared foods and more fresh food. For instance I used to buy juice on a weekly basis I now buy more fresh fruit.
There was a time when I had coupons for all kinds of free items for example I remember always having rice a roni, I would get it free with a coupon so we ate a lot of rice a roni.

see, where i live, unless you get the weekly paper, you don't get coupons.
the ones that come in the mail (like the ValPak) are for services (ok, so those can be helpful). But no restaurant coupons, no shopping/grocery coupons. And most of the places around here won't take the printable kind either.

I don't get the paper anymore so no coupons but, I found I was spending more buying things I really did need so I could get the deal. I buy store brands and I am around the area with my job so I stop in different store and pick up the cheap things in the stores I need. I give all of you so much credit with coupons it's not my thing I guess.

All but one grocery store doubles to .50 where I live. I am very well-stocked (read huge stockpiles of everything) so I only shop for two or three things weekly combining sales with doubled coupons. Otherwise, I only have to pick up milk, bread and eggs. I have coupons that will double on the eggs and I buy bread at the bread thrift store, fresh not stale. Milk I usually have to pay full price and it's not cheap.

I guess because I only have to shop for sales now, I haven't noticed much change in finding good deals. What I have noticed is a decrease in good refund offers. The best refunds are at Publix, buy $15 in certain products and get a $10 gift card. I have a hard time finding good manufacturers' refund offers and I love doing them because it can mean a free plus extra grocery month for me when I do.

Kathy

Ann K

YES!!!! I am a grocery gamer. It has truly been a blessing!!! I went from not knowing how I was going to buy enough to eat to last the week to not knowing how I was going to find one other spot in my house to store something. I have been doing it for about 3 years and it is truly a lifesaver!!!!!!

Michelle

I used to be a gamer too! I wouldn't get anytihing from the store unless it was free or close to it and it would be lots and lots of the same item. I would come home with 20 boxes of waffles, 30 packages of tp, peanut butter, etc...and not have paid a thing at the store. Now the deals are hard to come by and the coupons are not nearly as good. I am getting back into cpning again though after taking about a 2 year break so I'll just have to look harder..................:hubba:

When they still had doubles around here it was up to .50, too, but they'd "double" a $1 coupon to 1.50--will yours do that?

Nope. It stays at a dollar. A 75 cent coupon doubles to a dollar - that's as high as it goes.

A grad student at the University of MS has developed at way for customers to scan the choice of coupons. He created this because his own mother, a coupon clipper, has arthritis. This should prove to be more timely and provide cost savings. This was recently covered in our local paper. I will attempt to find and send the link to others. It places coupon clipping in the current times......nurseliz:nurse:
:yippee: I am exercising daily.......