Can some one explain couponing?

[rasilla]

I have two friends who have started websites listing hundreds of coupons and talking about how much they are saving (like $750 in a month for a family of three with one of them 8m old - who does not use disposable diapers). I don't know where else to ask this, if I ask them I know it will come off like "I don't like your site"... and I need to be careful when they ask what I think, so FV you are my sounding/venting board.

I think couponing is a bunch of malarkey, unless you are picky about the brand name, aren't generic items cheaper than the name brand with the coupon (or at least the same price, so why bother)? Don't people generally buy more or something they don't typically get if they have a coupon? I mean companies pay to print and distribute coupons... and they do that for a profit.

Am I completely off-base? I guess I am just shocked that a family of three "saved" $750, when my whole grocery bill for the month is slightly more than $400. Could my bill be even less if I gave up generic and clipped each Sunday afternoon?

What are the perks and the negatives of coupons for you?

[nodmicks]

I think it really depends on what you buy. It seems many coupons are for highly processed foods or plain old junk food. I do keep coupons and use they IF it is something we use and with the coupon it is cheaper than store brand.

90% of the coupons I use are deodrant, razors etc. because lots of the coupons are stuff we do not buy or eat (ok my kids would like too!)

As far as saving $750 a month goes I would want to know what their real grocery bill is every month after coupons because sure you could potentially save $750 with coupons and still spend $900 a month. Your not really saving $ unless you are spending less than before they became coupon queens and banking the difference. Hope that made sense.

[baxjul]

I use coupons only if I can get the item on sale also. I use coupons for items that I always buy, like coffee, olive oil, etc. Sometimes the coupon combined with a good sale is a real money saver.

[nodmicks]

Forgot to mention to the original poster than most of the coupons I do use combine a coupon from the Sunday paper and a Target coupon. You can learn about that on couponmom.com

[littleplum]

I would be interested in their blogs/websites.

[Contrary Housewife]

You're right, coupons are generally for the higher priced brand name item. You will often be able to get the generic or another brand cheaper, even after the coupon.

I'm pretty sure that not all of that $700 savings is from coupons, they'd have to be using thousands of them every month. What they are counting is probably the reduced/sale price plus the coupon. So if a $3 item was on sale for $2 and I had a $2 off coupon, it would count as "having saved $3" and not $2.

And I have to ask what they are buying. Most coupons are for processed items and junk food, like Nodmicks says. If you are buying and eating "real" food like vegetables, fruit, milk, and meat there are very very few coupons you can use, BUT your grocery bill is going to be a lot lower than someone who is living off of microwave dinner kits, chips, snack roll-ups, protein water, and juice boxes.

I think your bill could only be less if the coupons you clip are for products you already use. It sounds like you are already doing the smart thing by shopping generic. Not that coupons are bad, but if they are causing you to buy more expensive items then it is a false savings.

I do occasionally buy things I might not normally get IF the coupon + sale brings the price down really low. And if I have multiple coupons I will stock up on things if I can. Mostly I find it doesn't help me all that much. I bought a paper with all the good inserts a while back and have used maybe 2 of the ones I clipped. A few weeks ago when they had the super inserts again I actually stood in the store and looked through each one and did not see a single coupon (out of the hundred or more offered) for a product I would buy. I put the paper back.

[NewLeaf]

I am new to couponing. I only buy something w/ a coupon if it is on my list and I need it and it is lower than the generic. I am finding that I can get pretty good cereal deal and sometimes yogurt. I don't buy alot of junk food, and that's what alot of the food coupons are for. But, that said, if I can combine a coupon w/a sale I will pick up some chips or cookies. Not too long ago I ended up w/Pringles chips for 50cents a can.

Most of my best coupon deals seem to be non food items like soap, shampoo, razors, dogfood, trash bags, etc.

I have a friend that will buy something "just because" she has a coupon for it. If I don't usually buy it, then I won't get it just because.

I guess you just have to take time to compare prices and be careful that you are sticking to your list....

Have you tried some of the websites that match coupons with current sales? They help me sometimes.

[Sassyclass]

I use lots of coupons and I'm very picky about the stores I use them in.I get many brand names much cheaper with a coupon than I can the generic.It just depends on your shopping needs. My Giant Eagle doubles up to .99 cents so I use their sales along with my doubled coupons to save money there. I save my $1 off and up coupons to use at WM on the things that are cheaper there. I also combine my coupons with store coupons and rebates at RiteAid and CVS. Last week I got 2 30ft rolls of Reynolds Wrap for .49 cents each at Giant Eagle, cant' do that at WM on a good day. You have to really know the prices, watch the sales and you can save money and get many things almost free if not free. I use all free coupons and donate items I will not use. You also have to remember stores have different coupon policies so what works at one may not work at another and some companies leave it up to the manager. I suggest getting a copy of your stores coupon policy and keep it on hand when you shop.

Cat