Comments on: Should A Frugal Person Bother With The Coupon Section In The Sunday Paper?

By: KED

KED — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:57:32 +0000

I generally save my coupons up in their magazine state until our local Harris Teeter has triple coupon day. It happens tends to be a quarterly happening in our area.

Last trip I spent $ 32.00 on $ 160.00 dollars worth of groceries. That included standard fare like chicken, milk, eggs, fruit and what not with the bulk of the remaining items being pantry staples.

Enough food to easily feed my family for several weeks. I enjoy this and share the wealth with my mother too!

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:31:57 +0000

Is the Sunday paper (or any print newspaper) a cost-effective purchase? There are lots of sources for free news.

By: Kim Naff

Kim Naff — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:44:41 +0000

I think I’ve spent maybe $100 in the last 3 months on groceries and household/personal care items. I routinely walk out of the grocery store with $75 worth of stuff for less than $5. Then again, I also know how to combine sales and coupons and then apply the appropriate rebates. It seriously saves quite a bit of money and I went from having practically no food in the house to a completedly stocked pantry, cupboards, freezer and fridge.

Also, don’t go thinking that coupons are solely for pre-packaged items, air-freshener, toothpaste, etc. Coupons do exist for fresh meat, produce, seafood, etc. My freezer is full of shrimp and crab legs that I got for free with coupons. This week, I’ll get plenty of steaks for free with coupons. The companies who make organic products often put out coupons for their products, too. Check out http://www.mambosprouts.com for printable coupons for organic and natural items. Organic Valley does organic dairy coupons online.

The point is, in the coupon debate, is that if you’re going to be buying an item anyway… use a coupon if you can. You’ll save money. If you have the time to invest and really need to save the money, though, you can go above and beyond and really learn the value of what a grocery store dollar is really worth. Today, I got 21 of the 28 items I purchased for free. The other 7 were under $.75 each for things like a pair of nail clippers, a box of Kashi cereal. etc.

By: Liz

Liz — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:11:06 +0000

I’ve had mixed results using coupons – *very* occasionally, I’ll find a dollar off coupon for a product we actually use.

Other than that, I have to echo some of the other people here in saying that 85% of the time, the coupons in our Sunday paper are for items we never buy in the first place, or they are for overprocessed packaged foods that we aren’t likely to eat.

I’ve had much better luck buying rice, pasta, etc., and fresh produce because I know I’ll use it.

By: Jodie R.

Jodie R. — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:30:19 +0000

Around here, the grocery stores double manufacturer coupons up to 99c, so I really don’t like the dollar off coupons! I would much rather clip a coupon for 75c which of course then turns into a buck fifty off!

By: saleshout

saleshout — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:03:26 +0000

Paper I thought people just printed coupons from online nowdays? :)

By: Nate

Nate — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:19:49 +0000

Gosh I clip out every coupon!!! I love a site called http://www.weusecoupons.com. It’s a great site all about coupons…even has a coupon database!!

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 04:17:36 +0000

I have been clipping coupons for over 30 years. I have an account that is for my retirement and two for my children one for each child for college. I have funded all of this with coupons each child has over $5,000 for college and I have over $100K clipping coupons does pay even if it is just .05 it does add up , it takes time and effort lots of it but it does add up. Plus you have to be very wise with a dollar ! KNOW THE SYSTEM !!!

By: Tristyn

Tristyn — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 17:51:26 +0000

I’m a converted coupon nut! I never saw much use for coupons, and when my husband suggested trying them I scoffed and swore I would never waste my time with them. I changed my tune, however, a few months ago when my mother-in-law turned me on to a local website that matches coupons with the local store ads (like the grocery game, but free and local). I was amazed! There are no stores that double coupons around here, but even so I’ve been able to save TONS of money, and I’ve gotten so much free toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, makeup, body wash, toothbrushes, deodorants, etc I’m going to have to start giving it away. I also have a pantry brimming with canned soups and boxes of cereal. I have a 2″ zippered binder chock full of coupons in baseball card pockets, organized by category for easy access. It does take time, but to me it’s well worth it. I have more time than money, after all. The price I will tolerate paying for items has steadily decreased as I’ve used this program. I used to be comfortable paying $3.00 for a box of cereal, but now I won’t buy it unless I can get it under $.50. I won’t get toiletries unless they’re free, or nearly free (depending on how much I’ve already got of it, sometimes I won’t take unless I’m paid to). One of my favorite coupon/sale combinations is the buy one get one free coupon, with the buy one get one free sale. At most stores that makes it free. I got $300 in Covergirl makeup free using that combination. I was so pleased with my experiencing couponing, I added a whole page devoted to it on my website http://www.letsgetset.net. I think coupons are a great way to cut your grocery bill and build a reserve of food and other essentials. Yay for coupons!

By: divadee

divadee — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:30:11 +0000

For me, couponing is a 2nd job. I save more money than I would be paid working the same number of hours per week at Wal-mart, for example. Just this past weekend, I was doing some fall cleaning, and realized we have a full two-year supply of toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, body wash/soap, razors, shaving cream, pain relievers, lotion and vitamins. All for free, due to combining sales, rebates and such things as the CVS Extra Care Bucks program. We are actually going through a very tough financial time right now, and would probably qualify for food stamps. We haven’t applied, though, because freeing up the money we’re spending on food wouldn’t really add much more to our bank account. We live in an area with no double or triple coupons, and lousy ones in the newspaper. I cancelled our subscription because the coupons didn’t pay for it anymore. I get my coupons from friends who don’t want them, my local library (who throws them away), etc. When coupons are really good, I’ll spring for a paper at the dollar store. Couponing can be very worth it, but it does take time. If I can get 10 free boxes of cereal (like I did yesterday, using coupons and sale prices), then I have cash to buy things like fruit and veggies. Also, one of the best investments you can make is a good freezer – you can really take advantage of sales on meat and seasonal fruits and veggies and freeze them yourself.

By: Caitlan

Caitlan — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:16:29 +0000

I have never used a coupon but what I do like are the inserts with loss leaders in local stores- you can buy things you need or will certainly need shortly for very cheap prices, and unless grocery stores and office supply stores seem exciting to you, you will not be remotely tempted to pick up the full price items. (”Oooh! Post its!” “Boxes of cereal and yogurt cups! Wow!”)

By: reb

reb — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:25:02 +0000

I still do not understand where exactly people are getting all these great coupons,, and for what? What exactly are they buying…? The ONLY things that I see coupons for nowadays are crappy junk food like baloney, hot dogs, chips, hamburger helper, hi-fat overprocessed food,,, etc.. etc.. stuff I never buy anyway. You might save a few cents now but are te long-term health risks (and future doctor’s bills) really worth it..?
And I have yet to find an online site that doesn’t just lead you down a long trail of empty promises with endless “one more click, you’re almost there!” messages and then there’s nothing worthwhile at the end except ads for restaurants and lies about earning ‘free gas’.. and then they take your e-mail address and spam you to death. Besides… if you print out coupons you’re still spending $$ on paper and ink. If you swap by mail, you’re still paying for the stamp. If you buy the newspaper, then you are still paying for the paper. In my state I know of no store that doubles or triples coupons– and certainly not for any food or other products worth buying! But if there is something that I don’t know about (in Austin TX),, please enlighten me!

By: JHall

JHall — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:03:21 +0000

Since I am trying to buy better as well (organic and non processed) when I can I use a clipping service and occasionally Ebay. That way I can search for brands that I want a coupon for and skip all the junk food. The small fee I pay thecouponclippers.com is easily cleared by how much I save at the store in a month.
Also in stores like Kroger (in TX) they always have organic lettuce and fruit marked down for quick sale since the stuff doesn’t last as long. I grab this stuff when I can.

By: Alotta Errata

Alotta Errata — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:48:04 +0000

I saw this today and thought of this post. It’s a family of 7 that lives debt free on 35k a year. Seriously! She loves her coupons… watch how they grocery shop, it’s amazing.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=49750&cl=3892900&ch=61492&src=news

By: marcia

marcia — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:32:52 +0000

If I save with coupons at all, it’s on non food items such as household goods and OTC meds. Most of the food coupons are basically useless since I cook mostly from scratch. I do buy a few cold cereals when I can get coupons and have good deals…to me, $1.50 or less on a box of cold cereal is a good deal. Hubby likes to snack on cold cereal and it’s better than chips, at least you get some nutrition. No doubling on coupons here, and no one will take computer coupons at all. Coupons don’t pay off for me like they used to years ago.

By: A Penny Closer

A Penny Closer — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 11:38:41 +0000

Coupons, when combined with good sales, have helped me save a lot of money on staples and pantry items. I spend the time to clip coupons – all of them – from the flyers. I keep the ones I’m going to use then give the rest to my neighbors. It feels good to be able to help others potentially save some money instead of just throwing them in the trash.

My goal is to have a coupon for every pantry item I’m going to get. If my coupon and sale can’t beat the generic, I buy the generic. I minimize brand loyalty unless my experiences tell me there is truly a superior product in the mix. If I have developed a preference for a specific name brand I always make an effort to find coupons and deals for it. Right or wrong, it helps me feel like I’m getting some sort of deal on that product, and that feeling is important to me.

Sometimes, the sales and coupons line up and something magical happens that allows me to get phenomenal deals. I walk out with a big smile and a cartful and it reaffirms my couponing ways.

If you enjoy the challenge of matching up deals with coupons AND accept that it is unrealistic to expect your grocery bill to dwindle down to nothing (unless you eat processed foods exclusively – bleh), coupons can be a very rewarding “hobby”.

By: michelle

michelle — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:08:32 +0000

I also live in Iowa, and I’ve found the coupon sections more or less worthless. I’ve been meaning to write to manufacturers, and get some coupons that way, but I havent gotten around to it yet.

By: daydreamr

daydreamr — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:09:32 +0000

I agree with Mary, it’s about getting one over on the man and saving money while your at it. I look thru the coupons and use the ones for items I would normally purchase. Sometimes they have a coupon for buy 1 get 1 free or a free item. I look to see what the better value is. In the end it saves me at least $14 a month and pays for my monthly newspaper subscription. I’m sure coupons don’t work in some areas and it might not seem to add up. But even pennies add up over time. 30 cents a week over a year would be more than $15.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:10:45 +0000

Where I live, we have one store that doubles coupons and sometimes triples them. This is the most expensive grocery store. So doubling the coupon doesn’t really give you a better price.

A different store tends to have the lowest prices and yet another store tends to have the best sales.

For those who buy natural, organic, etc. foods, check for coupon books in the store. Both Whole Foods and my local coop have coupon books (the coupons are good only in that one store, though).

Both of these stores are getting to where you can sometimes have good sales (i.e., more than 2% off) as well, and Whole Foods’ 360 brand is making quite a few things much more affordable than they used to be.

If you buy at farmer’s markets, you can probably bargain quite effectively at the end of the day.

One idea I like is to get on the mailing list or preferred customer list, etc. of your favorite stores (check their websites). I periodically get coupons for Half Price Books, Thrift Town, and La Madeleine this way. You can also find out about sales. I think you get similar benefits for having a store credit card in some places.

By: ccof

ccof — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:59:07 +0000

The grocery stores in my area (Texas) no longer accept any coupons printed from online subscriptions because of abuse of the system i.e. legitimate subscriber prints off coupon and mass produces it on copier, then distributes it to all mankind, making the system virtually useless for legitimate subscribers. Anyone else having this problem or know how to address the issue? Phone calls & inquiries to originating coupon websites have so far been unanswered.