Question about Coupons

**lgw** · 06-10-2008, 10:54 AM

The savings derived from coupons have been discussed a lot here, but I always find myself wondering if just buying the store brand is a better route. Our groceries don't offer double/triple coupons, so it seems that even with a coupon for a name brand item, buying the generic store brand is cheaper. Any thoughts?

**IntlMom** · 06-10-2008, 11:05 AM

It depends. Just watch the sales and match with coupons, if the store brand is still cheaper, buy it. Sometime the brand name will end up being cheaper, sometimes generic.

**FrugalMomof3** · 06-10-2008, 11:08 AM

I agree with you. I have found that generic/store brand is always cheaper here that name brand BUT our store does double coupons so there are times that brand name is "sometimes" cheaper, you have to watch the sales and match coupons with the sales.

**Michelle** · 06-10-2008, 11:15 AM

There are definitely times when the store brand is cheaper even when using a coupon on a brand item--especially in places like here where they don't offer double coupons (my town--I need to drive about 15-20 min to a store that does double).

Sometimes using coupons on loss leaders (brand name) works out to be cheaper than buying the store brand.

Having a price book and matching coupons with sales is the key IMO

**Domestic Gal** · 06-10-2008, 01:31 PM

For me it is hit and miss. But most of my stockpile is name brand. Which I got on sale with a coupon.
Example bush's grillin beans (new products have great coupons) where on sale for $1.18 I had $1. off coupons, that makes them .18 a can. I know that Aldi's brand is .49 a can for a smaller can than the bush's. So I trade for 20 coupons and buy 20 cans at .18 each. Even if the coupons cost me .10 each it is still cheaper to get the name brand.
Now I do not have to buy baked beans for a year.
Muir glen had a coupon out a while ago for $1 off any product.
I know walmart and target sells tomatoes product for $1.09 to $1.14 each. Aldi's is .49 for canned tom.
I know that I use at least 2 cans a week of tom. products.
I traded for 60 coupons. Again even if I have to pay .10 per coupon it is still cheaper to get the name brand.
I have a 6 months supply of tom. products.
Hopefully when I need more there will be another coupon out and I will stock up a 6 months supply again.

You have to know your prices and keep all coupons until they expire. Usually the product will go on sale before the coupon expires.
Especially if it is for a product that you normally would buy anyway.
I am always on the look out for a stockpile item.

This weeks coupons have a coupon for $1.50/2 ziploc bags.
I know that target has 25 ct. sandwich bags for .99 each (they are by the registers. )I traded for 30 coupons and will get them for .24 each. Or a .01 per bag. Even though I gave .10 for each coupon they are still cheaper than generics for these. I will not give more than .02 per bag even generics. So I am going to get name brand for less. This will be at least a years worth or more. .
Plus I have until the coupon expires to get them as this is the regular price.

Plus often times there are store promotions witch make name brand things cheaper. You have to read your ads carefully.
You can also get good deals by combining sales, coupons, and rebates. Lots of times they pay me to take things out of the store by combining these three things.

**MTS04** · 06-16-2008, 11:31 AM

we very rarely have coupons here, so I'm always buying store brand.

**baxjul** · 06-16-2008, 03:25 PM

Sometimes if you can get the good sale and combine it with the coupon, it is worth it.

**prftstrngr** · 06-16-2008, 06:50 PM

There are something we just wont buy store brand. So I ALWAYS look for coupons on those. And I wait until it is on sale for sure. Our grocery store also runs BOGO events about every 6 weeks. We stock up then on the brand name stuff. I also shop where I get points I can turn in for cash off or other things that I use.

**LuvMyHubby** · 06-16-2008, 08:02 PM

I have had it happen both ways. I'll clip the coupon and if it is a better deal than the store brand then that is the way I'll go and if not then the store brand it is.

Right now Shaw's has Hamb. Helper 1.00 each and MIL gave me a coupon for 1.00 off 3. Great deal for me. I know most people are death on Hamburger Helper however, quite frankly if money is tight and I am hungry, I am not inclined to get too picky. Besides even hamb. helper in moderation supplemented with a good salad or veggie is still a relatively decent meal.

**Telephus44** · 06-16-2008, 08:19 PM

Like everyone else has said, it depends on the coupon and the item. Many times the generic is cheaper than name brand even with a coupon. Around here, just about everyone double coupons up to $1 - I can't even think of a store that doesn't. To make up for this, almost all of our coupons are $1/2

My best deal was about 3 years ago, when there were $2/1 "blinkie" coupons in the grocery stores for Electrasol gel packs. They were $1.88 for a 12 pack at Walmart. We got paid $.12 each to take 15 or 20 of them - they lasted for a long time.

I think it also depends on what you buy. The best (read: high value) coupons are on new products, so you have to be willing to switch a lot. There aren't a lot of coupons out there for the staples, either.

**Marie78** · 06-16-2008, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by IntlMom

It depends. Just watch the sales and match with coupons, if the store brand is still cheaper, buy it. Sometime the brand name will end up being cheaper, sometimes generic.

I find this to be true too. Each week I find that I save between $3 and $6 with my coupons. Sometimes it's for products we don't buy store brand: like toothpaste, cat food, hair dye, deodorant, etc... (Mostly toiletries). The savings add up, each month we save between $12 and $24 at the grocery store. Sadly it's not really a savings for us, it just helps us to stay within our set monthly grocery budget, especially with the ever rising cost of groceries.