Couponing...Getting a Deal, Boy is it Work!

**SHOPGIRL** · 11-09-2005, 08:38 PM

Gee, all of you who use coupons, shop the flyers, get all your coupons organized, pick up the loss leaders-you know what I mean, can probably relate to my plight.

I spend a substantial amount of time investigating all the ads, using coupons to double the savings, and I use rebates whenever I can.  This all takes a great deal of time.

I've been doing a considerable amount of stockpiling.  Time is precious to me, and when I see a good deal, I certainly want to stock-up.  Winter is fast approaching, and I'd love to get through the winter without having to buy non-perishable items.  I also hate running out of things.  I don't want to have to go to the store because I run out of toothpaste, you get the idea.

It really annoys me that all the stores around me have different sale/coupon policies.  I probably should write them all down, just so I can keep all their rules and regulations straight. 

Last weekend, I found out that I wasn't saving as much money as I thought I was. 

1.  Meijer will take up to 5 coupons of the same item.  They'll double up to $.50.  Here's the catch.....You may purchase two of the same item and get double coupons.  So, if I buy 5 cans of beans and I happen to have 5 coupons $.50 off, for the beans, I can use all 5 coupons.  Only 2 of the 5 coupons will be doubled for $1 off each can.  The other 3 will only be for $.50 off.  I just found this out two months after doing serious stockpiling.  What a disappointment!  I've also found that Meijers prices are very higih.  The only time I get a good deal there is when I buy something on sale.  Even then, I really have to watch because sometimes they advertise a sale, but it is not a discount sale.

2.  Farmer Jack, I shopped there yesterday and when I inquired about their coupon policy, they told me there was no limit on the number of coupons you could use and they would double an unlimited amount.  So, I guess I'll be shopping there more often!

3.  Kroger, I was told that I could use 3 of the same coupon.  As far as I can tell, they doubled all 3.  Next time I shop there, I'm going to check with customer service for more specifics.

4.  Walmart, as far as I know, they don't double coupons. I don't know if they limit how many of the same coupon you can use.

5.  CVS, doesn't double, but didn't have a limit on the number of coupons I could use.

6.  Rite Aid, When the ad says, 2/$5, you really have to buy two items to get the sale price.  So far, they haven't limited me on the coupons, but no doubling. 

7.  Walgreens, they limited me to 3 coupons, no doubling.

So, all you savvy grocery shoppers, what have you found out?  What's your story?  Are you really getting as good of a deal as you think?  Better check that receipt of yours!!!

**Missy** · 11-09-2005, 08:55 PM

I mainly shop at Walmart, but i have never had a problem withthe number of coupons i could use.

When i have shopped at King Soopers (Kroger) I have had coupons doubled and wasn't limited, but i didn't have very many so if i was i didn't notice it.

**tnmimzie** · 11-09-2005, 10:19 PM

Walgreens also makes you buy two of an item when they do a 2/$5 sale. Otherwise you pay full price.

**Dixie** · 11-09-2005, 11:03 PM

It is work alright! I didn't know that about Walgreens.

Thanks for the info.

**SHOPGIRL** · 11-09-2005, 11:09 PM

That's what makes it work; each store has a different policy.

**Hollyhandi** · 11-10-2005, 05:36 AM

I shop Price Chopper, Aldis, and WalMart
I have no problems or limits at all.
I only use dollar off at walmart because they don't double.
Pricechopper doubles up to 99cents.
Never used coupons in Aldis.

**KatieInLa2** · 11-10-2005, 07:44 AM

My wal-mart would only take one coupon for face value for each item. Like only one Mrs. Smith pie coupon, one folgers coupon. I don't understand why, they get a handling fee for each coupon they take and they are not doubling.

**sanderson76** · 11-10-2005, 08:10 AM

It depends. I do walmart alot, however I have found in the past that if I have a coupon that is buy one get one free where they have to fill in the price on the coupon and then deduct it from the bill...they don't deduct it, so you are basically giving them a coupon. I have had that happen about 3 times there. So if it is a coupon like that, then I do use it at our local grocery store. Also if I have a coupon that is .50 or under I will use it at the local grocery store because they do double coupons 50 cents and under. If it is over 50 cents, usually I will get it at walmart.

And this I didn't know. My daughter was given a coupon for a free take 5 bar, and she still had to pay 3 cents at walmart, so it never occured to me that eventhough you get it free, you are still charged sales tax.

**AmyBoz** · 11-10-2005, 09:41 AM

It is work, but worth it to me. Now that you are aware of all of the policies, you'll find you'll do better.

**Michelle** · 11-10-2005, 10:47 AM

It is definitely work, but in the end it's worth it. You are so right when you say that you need to be super organized to do it to yield the best results for you.

**MandiDawn** · 11-10-2005, 11:46 AM

I shop mostly at Meijer, with some stuff at Kroger. Walmart about every 2-3 months.
The farmer jack by me is quite nasty, so I only go there for pop (faygo, 10 for 10 - great deal every few months).
I dont' find it that much work - my system is to sit down early in the week, about monday or tues, while watching tv and cut out all my coupons. Then I go thru the sale ads and decide what I want from what's on sale, and if I have a coupon, great.
For example, this is my list this week:
Meijer
Spagetti (3) - $1
Salad (1) - $2
pop (5 2L) - $5
Ketchup (2) - $2
Noodles (8) - $6
Bread (4) - $6 (coupon also B1G1)
Dogfood (1) - $15 (coupon)
Cascade (2) - $4 (coupon)

Kroger
Eggs (2) - $0.66
Milk (1) - $1
Hot cocoa (4) - $2 (coupon)

Total: $45

I also need to pick up, but not on sale:
Rice
Koolaide
Beer

I don't use many coupons, because there are not coupons for most of the stuff I buy.
This is it for 2 weeks (yes, there is no meat, My freezer is stocked). I find my system very easy, only takes about an hour total to make my list, and that is while I am also watching tv. the trick is to have so much stockpiled, that your groceries are not what you actually eat each week, You use your stock pile, and grocery shopping just replinsh's your stockpile. I just started doing this a few months ago, Maybe May? and my stockpile is built up so much, we never run out of anything. I Love it.
When I do buy meat, I allocate about $20 for "whatever is on sale". Be that $20 worth of chicken, or maybe pork, or whatever. Just doing this has filled my chest freezer up so much, I havn't bought meat in 3 months. (then I bought a half hog, and my bf got 2 deer, so we are set for a few more months).
You might want to revise your system if it takes to much time. Yeah, you might not get the "best" deal every time, but is an extra hour of your time really worth saving $1.00?
Good Luck!!!

**Mojjo** · 11-10-2005, 05:08 PM

It's work, but DH is a big help with keeping track at the register. On my list I'll mark what's on sale (how much) and if I have a coupon for it. I shop mostly Acme (Albertsons) but Giant has triple coupons this week so if they have a loss leader I want and have a coupon for then I'll be there too.

Super Fresh is normally over priced, but their loss leaders are really good and if you have a coupon, even $1 they double it.

**SHOPGIRL** · 11-10-2005, 06:00 PM

Mandi,

I use the same system that you use. I keep all my coupons in a plastic organizer according to category. It was just that last month I spent over $500 stockpiling so that was a huge amount of work. Of course, I saved a lot of money. I also shopped at several stores in my area. Often I've been overcharged and I've had to go back to the store which is a real pain. I'm careful to check the sign, description, and size, but it seems to often that I have to return to the store.

**pita1213** · 11-10-2005, 06:38 PM

the only store near me that doubles is kroger, but they are also teh most expensive and only doubles up to 99 cents. it's usually not worth the stop there even after the doubles because it's still more than walmart, and they only double on a certain day of the week. it's not even every week that they do the doubles. too big a pain to keep track.

mostly i just shop at walmart. every other week i'll stop at farmfresh to get dh's soda. every other week they have pepsi on sale so when i run may errands out tht way, i stop in and get 4 bottles. 4 is usually their limit.

i need to get my freezer abnd pantry organized a bit better so i can see my stockpile better, but i do the same as someone else mentioned before: shop to replenish the stockpile. the exception being milk, bread and frozen pizza. those i buy just about every shopping trip.

**inneedofhope** · 11-10-2005, 07:08 PM

I do the bulk of my grocery shopping at Tops. They do double up to .99 and take multiples. At this point I'm trying to do one monthly stock up, with coupons there and then only go back for milk or fresh produce as needed. I was sick over the weekend and got caught up on the coupon clipping. I need to keep up with that. i'm only saving coupons for things I know I will buy, though.
The stores in my area will not take internet coupons either, so I don't bother with them.