Comments on: Coupons? Yes or No?

By: anna

anna — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:47:10 +0000

Hi Becky:

Welcome! Glad you like the site and feel free to use the bathroom wall whenever you want! Your success with couponing is great. I will have to check out the grocery game myself.

By: Becky

Becky — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:25:21 +0000

Anna:

I love your site, especially the picture of your son on your “about” page.

I’ve recently got into couponing big time with the help of The Grocery Game (thegrocerygame.com). On a typical shopping trip, I’m saving between $40 and $50 in coupons (without doubling) – not bad for a $1.25 investment plus the cost of the newspaper. And I’m getting the food we regularly eat. They focus on the local stores so you’re getting the deals relevant to you.

But that’s just a bonus.

Really, I wanted to check on the bathroom wall. I love the anonymous blog option and wanted to make sure it wasn’t “painted over”. What a great way to vent without repercussions! Don’t be surprised if I use it one day.

By: anna

anna — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:32:15 +0000

Are you kidding? That’s a huge job! Wow. I’m totally in awe of you, Mollie. I have one child and am consistently overwhelmed!

By: Mollie

Mollie — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:17:08 +0000

We are a family of six, and I spend between $25-$100 a week depending on how great the sales are. I actually spend more when the prices are right to stock upon whatever is at its lowest price. At first, it took much more effort than it does now, (hunting down coupons and building a price notebook) and I am not sure if I would have tried it if I had a real job. I mean outside of being responsible for the safety and well being of my webblings.

By: Juliet

Juliet — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:39:22 +0000

How much does your family spend on groceries per month, Mollie? That is substantial.

By: anna

anna — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:03:21 +0000

That is awesome, Mollie! $2500!

By: Mollie

Mollie — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:53:31 +0000

I started couponing and matching sales about 8 weeks ago. I have saved all my receipts and have total savings of over $2500 in that time. I shop at a store that doubles up to a dollar and now that I have a little stockpile, I don’t buy anything unless it is free or almost free.

I use my children as my clipping labor source. I tell them I’ll get them a juice (free! I don’t mention) at the store as payment. Suckers.

By: anna

anna — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:25:03 +0000

That’s interesting, Juliet. I’m going to keep an eye out for when the sales are timed around here. I think another rule for couponing is that you should use the coupon to buy the smallest size allowed to get the best deal. I’ve see some coupons with exclusions on trial sizes now, though.

By: Juliet

Juliet — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:53:03 +0000

Where I live I’ve noticed stores often time sales (sometimes really, really good sales) with the exact time when the coupons first come out (“fresh” in coupon-cutter lingo.) My best technique is to clip for everything I’d remotely buy and sort by category. I flip through it quickly right before I walk in the store to refresh my memory. Then as I walk the aisles, if I see that there’s a great sale on toothpaste, AND I have a coupon, I can pull out the coupon even if toothpaste isn’t on my list that week. Also know when you are brand-loyal and when you are flexible. For instance I need mozzarella cheese. Where I live that means Precious, Stella, or store brand. I have coupons for Precious & Stella plus store coupon for purchase over $X in dairy dept. If I’m not brand loyal I can buy whatever ends up being cheapest that day (usually one of the three will be on sale.) If cheese isn’t on the list but I see that Stella is on sale I’ll stock up anyway if the sale is good enough.

Generally coupons have to be $0.75 or more to be cheaper than store brand/generic. Also I only use coupons at double coupon stores. I shop at Stater Bros a lot and they don’t double coupons but overall come out cheaper. But, on certain items it’s a better deal to wait ’til I’m at Ralphs, which does double coupons.

To make coupons work you have to (a) enjoy it (at least a bit) and (b) have the time to be patient, stock up when sales appear and (c) go to several stores in a month. I wouldn’t say I go to several stores in a week but in a month I do — Costco, Trader Joe’s, Stater Bros (low end grocery), Ralphs (high end grocery), Henry’s & Sprouts (local health food stores; Henry’s is owned by Wild Oats.)

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:08:05 +0000

I have not tried that – although I do try to use coupons more & more – especially the store coupons. I don’t get the Sunday paper though, so not sure i can try that technique.