About couponing

[Thevail]

Ok..I confess, I occassionally use a coupon if I happen to have one.

But I've never paid $1.53 for a cart full of groceries.
I don't use coupons regularly because I can never seem to find a coupon for anything I need.

I find online printable coupons, but they're really not for much that I buy, just convenience foods.

How do you successfully coupon? Is it really worth it? How do you find coupons for stuff you actually buy? (I swear those "savings cards" force the computer to print out only coupons for things you don't want and brands you don't buy.)

[Alisha]

I just started using coupons so I'm not entirely sure, but I've noticed that most of the coupons I've come across are for products I don't need. I save them anyway. You never know...one day there might be a sale you can pair it up with and get whatever it is for a few cents or even free. Then it might be worth it to you. Any free or extremely cheap things I can get that I don't want, I will donate.

[rowdy35]

well, I'm no coupon queen but if you are in Bellingham you probably have Safeway, Albertsons & Fred Meyer. Use the store coupons combined with manufacturer's coupons from the newspaper (or you can buy /trade them )and the club card for the stores and you will get some deals

this is what I do, I live in Puyallup & these are the stores I use.

[Thevail]

Are there good coupons in the Seattle Times.
I like the Bellingham Herald..but no sunday coupons..just ads.

[redeme]

I find I don't use many coupons, we don't usually eat what they are for. Where I have good luck is in the lead items and coupons in the ads I receive in the mail. I sit down with a big marker, read and compare them. I'm south of you by about an hour and a half.

I check Fred Meyer online, I don't receive their ad. They will honor their coupon even if you don't have here. They have some pretty good coupon and lead items. I write these down.

Safeway, generally has coupons on the mail flyer and a 48 hour weekend special. I try to swing in there with a flyer in hand that I've circled the items I want in bright marker. Sometimes, I will have both MFG coupon and a store coupon, this is really the only place I seem to be able to pull that off. It's not very often.

QFC has good lead items, they are Kroger, too like Fred Meyer. I don't buy much else there. Occasionally they have whole chickens WA grown for $.69 lb, pork shoulder for $0.99 lb. I usually wait for these and stock up.

Albertsons, will have okay coupons, but generally don't stock the items and are often out the first day. I find they are not worth the time to go for a sale item...it's about 50/50.

[Grainlady]

I'm another person who doesn't use many coupons - mainly because they are more-often-than-not for high-priced, over-processed foods we never use.

I also try to find lower-priced alternatives to begin with - like the 5-gallon (1,280 loads) bucket of Charlie's Soap (http://www.charliesoap.com/). The bucket of detergent will last me at least 3.5 years and the cost was 9-cents per load (the price has gone up since that original purchase). I recently stockpiled another bucket while they still have free shipping. Better for the environment as well, because all I've used over a 3.5-year period is one reusable 5-gallon bucket. Another cost-savings PLUS using Charlie's Soap is that I don't use fabric softener, it's unnecessary because the soap rinses out of your clothing and my clothes are soft even line-dried. So that eliminates another expense many people use coupons for.

I also use a whey-based milk substitute. When I purchase it in the 50# amount (= 70-gallons - $110.65 = $1.58-gallon) and split it with a friend (or I'll buy the 24# bucket for ourselves), the only packaging we have to recycyle is the box it was shipped in and the plastic bag it was packaged in.

I once read an article on "Coupon Queens" and how they actually spent an incredible amount of time to execute the "$1.53" for a cart full purchase and those savings are few and far between - not a weekly thing on each shopping trip.

When I do use a coupon, I also try to stack savings. Last week Scott TP was on sale and I had a coupon, so even MORE savings, plus the coupon was doubled (Good JOB!). I also look around for rebates on products as another way to "stack" savings.

The first and best way I save money on groceries is to limit my food budget to begin with. Everything after that I can do to drop the prices is just a plus.

[MoonMommy]

I don't often have a ton of coupons either, especially now that I cook a lot from scratch. Most of my coupons if I do have them are for flour or sugar, oh and creamer (coffee snob). However, if I do see a coupon for something I use, I snatch up as many as I can and use them up right quick. Also, unless the coupon is really really great, I only ever use them if the product is also on sale. Otherwise, you might still not be getting the best deal in the store, but just a name brand product for a few cents off.

I often try to shop the store when I know they discount things for "quick sale". I get a lot of meat on sale for good prices that way. On top of it, I buy the large packages and separate it. Same with produce. I have had good luck finding peppers in the quick sale rack and then I buy as many packages that I can and when I get home, I wash them and put them in the freezer.

[Nishu]

The seattle times has a decent amount of coupons I think. I used to get the Kitsap Sun and they hardly had any.

I've pulled off a few good coupon deals in my time doing it. A lot of it was frozen food, personal care items that rarely if ever use, and just various things that I wouldn't have purchased without a coupon and so it took a while to use. I was able to share a lot with another family because I got so much free stuff.

If I didn't have the commissary right here I have found it useful to do the coordination and the collections that's required to really get heavy into the couponing thing. It does take a lot of time and effort. The best thing I can suggest (if you want to try the coupon queen approach) would be to get organized first. Plan on what day you're going to visit what store and have your list made out already.

[Judi Dial]

I use coupons to take about 10-20% more off my food bill, when I"m organized.

But being that organized takes time. I go through mygrocerydeals.com and come up with a shopping list for my local markets. I catalog the coupons I"m going to use every week (I send the ones I don't use to my SIL) and this list is by expiration date and then brand. (I'm trying to use couponmom's list of Sunday circular coupons, which will save me a lot of time, but haven't gotten this to work, yet.)

So, I go through the ads on mygrocerydeals, figure out what I think I want to buy that's in the ads, check my pantry and freezer to see what I need that may be on sale, or if I need something else? Then I go through the coupon list and pull the coupons that match what's on sale or that I need otherwise.

It's a time-intensive process, and I know that I spend too long on it as this can take me up to 3 hours a week.For the $20 it saves us this is marginal in effectiveness. Spending the same amount of time online to find alternatives or cheaper sources has frequently become more productive!

I want to get where I only buy fresh foods from local markets every week, I think, or at least that's the direction I'm going.

I don't have a lot of space for bulk storage, so how far down that road I can actually go is uncertain. I'd rather buy from a farmer's market/CSA and butcher than a supermarket. Along this line, I've built myself a seasonal foods calculator in a data base I use and I run ingredients in my favorite recipes through it so I know which months the ingredients are at their best.

Judi

[thefrug]

I only use coupons for the things I actually use when I'm cooking from scratch. So, I'm not one of the queens LOL hey! every little bit helps IMO. I buy in bulk at Sam's and break it down. When theres a sale at the store, I stock up so I don't need to keep running to the store. I grow alot of our vegies and then freeze them. This year I'd like to learn to can and am looking into that.
Don't feel bad that you're not a coupon queen. But every little bit helps, so I'd just use what I can and not sweat it. If you're frugal in other areas of your life then you can go with out the coupons.

[mombottoo]

Back in the late 70's & all of the 80's the stores had to sometimes pay me to take my groceries between coupons and rebates...but, those days are long gone.

Now, I still find that couponing is worth it for me...but, we do use a lot of convenience products since it is more cost effective for us to do so. I find my coupons mainly online, in flyers and in magazines.

[spyzvixxen]

I buy multiple papers, usually 4-5 @ $1 each. I clip the coupons I think I will use. I also clip the ones I think will sell on eBay - this usually makes up for the cost of the papers. I consider this my hobby, although it is time consuming as another poster said. Having multiple coupons helps when there are deals such as 4/$3, must buy 4. That way you can use 4 coupons to maximize your savings and build your stockpile.

[old_lady_in_the_shoe]

I admit it, I am a coupon nut! Love it... I will say thought, that I live in a small town and do not have ALL the big card saving, club joining store that others have, but I think I do ok.

What I do is use coupons for things I do need, like cheese, or cereal and I try to watch for these to go on sale first...example. If a box of cereal is normally $3 and I have a $1 off coupon, then I get it for $2, BUT if I wait till the same cereal is $5 for 2, use 2 $1 off coupons, then I get 2 boxes for $3... or $1.50 each which is a 50% saving over regular price. Now with that said, I try and watch for even better deals so that next time, i can get more for even cheaper. When I do find it for really cheap, then I purchase a lot of it, because I may not find it that cheap again for 6-8 months...so I can save a lot if I purchase enough cereal to last that long....
Now I used this example on cereal, but you can apply this to almost anything out there... The goal is to buy it as cheap as you can and NEVER, never buy it when you need it, only when it is cheap and keep it stocked up...if you have to buy it when you need it, you wind up paying full price.

Now, you are probally wondering where do I get coupons from, I mean, who has 20 of the same coupons for $1 off cerealy, right???
Not I...so I purchase newspapers (usually only 2 each week) and then I check the ads coming out and match them up...when I see a deal, I order or trade coupons right away. You can trade coupons right here on FV with others, or on other sites like spam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typed.com or couponforum.com ... it that is to slow for you, then you can purchase coupons from couponclippers.com or places like ebay.

Now...you just have to look, listen, watch and find the deals...

Here is how I figure it. I save most on household products, bath and body products, medicine/first aid products and then shelf stable foods.

I found a good deal on schick razors... here is how I worked it (along with many others) a coupon comes out in the sunday newspaper, it is $2 off any one schick desposable razors. I have one of the coupons, from my sunday paper, I check out wally world (because that is what I have close to me) and see that there is a pack of schick desposable razors for $1.97 ... so I purchase one pack, use my one coupons and see how it works (might as well be sure before you pay for any other coupons) it works great, so I go on ebay, and search for this same coupons. I find tons, up for auction and tons on buy it now, I find the best deal for me. I buy it now a group of 20 of the $2 off schick disposable coupons, for $2 plus .68 shipping...the come in the mail 3 days later, I go to wally world and purchase 20 of the bags of razors and now for $2.68 I now have 20 bags of 10 razors. When you find a good deal, you work it so that you do not have to buy anymore razors for a long time and any money you "normally" use on razors for the next few months can "go toward something else". I also traded for 10 additional one from a trading buddy on one of the above mentioned forums for coupons that I would never use (i dont have a baby, but have baby coupons).

As you do it longer, you can see the deals our there, it just takes time. a lot of boards and such have a place to show where everyone gets good deals...so we can all share what we know and it is easy to pick and choose what you need/want.

I sometimes purchase extra stuff (that I get very cheap or free) with coupons, that I have not intention of eating, like betty crocker boxed potatoes, but if I can get them for .20 each, or free, then I buy what i have coupons for (maybe 2-3 boxes) and dontate them to the food bank, or share with friends or family who may eat these products.

Hope this helps and makes some since. Good luck.

[TheMartianChick]

I started out cutting coupons for my mom when I was around 13. It was the only way to get her to buy some of the more expensive processed cereals and snacks that all of my friends had!

For the most part, I have been couponing ever since. If you were to peek in my fridge, freezers and cupboards, you would find a mix of name brand and store brand items. My husband and I cook from scratch for the most part, but you will find things like Red Star & Fleishmanns yeast, Quaker oatmeal, Barilla pasta and lots of Francesco Rinaldi pasta sauce and Eggo waffles. All were purchased when on sale and coupled with a coupon, making them cheaper than store brand.

We have two children who attend a local college and live in dorms. When we grocery shop, we also shop for items that they need. While it is feasible for us to cook from scratch, it is not for them. So... some things that we buy are prepared foods which they take back to campus. Those items are often bought with coupons. Some weeks, I might save $30 or more using coupons on frozen pizza and other college staples. Other weeks, it might only be a few dollars. What helps me to save more money is getting coupon fliers from people who don't use them or have already cut the coupons that they want. In my office, a co-worker only uses a few coupons. She brings her (barely used)coupon fliers in and we pass them around. I do the same. My mom also saves her coupons for me becasue her pantry is well-stocked and she doesn't eat a lot of variety due to health issues. I circulate any coupons that I don't use and sometimes leave them in the grocery store for others, especially coupons for Tide, diapers, cleaning products, etc. Those items are expensive and it makes me feel that I am helping someone to afford the things that they need!

Last week, Folgers coffee was on sale for $2.19. I bought 5 of the regular cans and paid $1.19 each, thanks to coupons. Since my husband is the only one who drinks coffee, this will last quite awhile.

I think that it is difficult to buy weekly groceries and save a ton of money with coupons if you are truly buying what you need for the week. However, if you are buying to stock up/stockpile, it is much easier. I don't go to the grocery store to buy food for this week, I go to purchase only the things that are on sale that we use. This allows me to buy large quantities of a few things each week at the best possible price.

I let my Sam's membership go because I never used it much and when I factored in the membership fee, it was costing us more than it saved. I found that I could save more money doing things my way than I ever could at a wholesale club. Your experience may be different. I shop at 3 different stores each week: Wegmans, Price Chopper and P&C. I usually spend about $30 per store, though I am trying to cut that back a bit in an effort to make more room for the items that we will be growing in the garden this year. Ocassionally, I will stop into Aldi's to stock up on something that they carry because they don't really have sales...just consistently good prices. We just don't eat a lot of what they sell, but do find that some of their products like their frozen 100% juice is usually priced fairly.

I find that it takes me about 20 minutes to make a list and match up coupons for each store which totals about an hour a week. Sometimes, I do it on my lunch hour at work. To me, couponing is well worth the effort, because the grocery bill is the one bill in the house that has a lot of flexibility. That allows me to pay off more debt, add more to savings, etc...

[Sassyclass]

Avid couponer of 30 years here. I buy the papers with the biggest circulation because they have more/better selection of coupons. Mine come out on Sunday so I wait and do my shopping on Monday so I can take advantage of matching Q's with sales. I shop Giant Eagle for the Q's up to .99 since they double these. Anything over that I try to use at WM or my Dollar General market. For healthy/beauty I love CVS and Riteaid. If you grab a rebate booklet at the beginning of every month and wait for the sales to use my coupons with a rebate. You can get tons of things free after rebate and if you use a coupon on top you make money. CVS ECB's work the same way only you don't have to wait till the end of the month for a check, you can walk right back into the store and use them on another purchase. I have not bought toothpaste, body wash, in over a year because I got so much free using coupons with rebates.

Cat