Thoughts on couponing

[beltainelady]

In an effort to save money on my grocery bills, I've increased the amount of time I spend clipping coupons. I've always used coupons, but now I'm signed up with a few online coupon sites and I scour the weekly ads for ways to combine sales with coupons and stack manufacturers coupons with store coupons and so forth. It's a bit of work, but definitely worth it.

A lot of the couponing websites (as well as bits I've seen on TV) talk about how you can save more than you spend, if you do it right. For example, the bagger told me today about how a woman saved almost $350, only spending $70. Wow. BUT...and it's a big BUT....

... Most coupons are for processed convenience foods. Those of us who don't buy much of those products don't save anything. Rarely are there coupons for fresh produce and meats. And the coupons for frozen produce are usually those small boxes of Green Giant or Birdseye veggies that are either too small for a family or laden with sauce. If you've ever seen the segments on TV about "super shoppers", their pantries are full of macaroni and cheese, Chef Boyardee and Rice a Roni. I've talked with other patrons in the stores, and they've told me how they'll buy stuff they don't use because they can get it for free. Then, they usually donate it. Well...if Will's office or the store itself is running a food drive, I'll do it. Otherwise, I have to drive somewhere to donate it. And there's NEVER a coupon for gasoline!

Little by little, I'm shaving off a lot of money from my grocery bill by playing the coupon game. My local Publix takes competitor's coupons as well, so I can use a $10 Target coupon there. It's a little bit of work, clipping and printing and going to more than one store, but I spend about $200 today, and saved over $75. Not too shabby.

Comments

[matrinka69.livejournal.com]

I gave up on the coupons, mostly.

I don't buy processed foods, period, and we never get coupons here for the things I do buy. Now, I do give my coupons to the ladies at the pantry, who clip and buy with them, but that's also why I only get my commodities every other month. Most of it is stuff I just won't use.

I don't use boxed mac&cheese very often, and I never eat hamburger helper stuff. Euw.

[wild-heart.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way about the coupon thing. I won't buy something just because it's virtually free if I'm not going to use it.

Kroger sends targeted coupon mailers out every week or so. Obviously, they track your purchases through your shopper card. Those coupons I use more often than not, and if I don't need something before the coupon expires, I'll put it on the shelf where the product is located so someone else can benefit.

[mycorethoughts.livejournal.com]

I shop at Aldi and Sam's Club. I've never been into clipping coupons, although my mother and sister both do. My average grocery spending per month is about $400, which is pretty damned good considering that I'm feeding two teenaged boys who are both 6'4" and about 230lbs.

[serpentrose.livejournal.com]

Somehow I can't bring myself to do the coupon thing, even though I'm sure I could benefit from it. I would also add that if you are spending money on something you wouldn't have bought, and probably won't use, you aren't really saving any money.
Also by buying ingredients and cooking for yourself you save money and eat better. I remember impressing Shane because if I went shopping I would get twice as much stuff for less money than he would.
Some of that was that I would compare prices on items, something he never learned, and I would buy ingredients rather than processed 'food'