Need Coupon Advice

[KYBOSH]

I'm making myself use coupons for groceries now.

No excuses.

 

I bought the newpaper and clipped every coupon that caught my eye.

We got promo coupons in the mail for 5% off our total grocery bill at Ingles.

That coupled with AMEX 5% off groceries at the end of the year made me think this is a good thing.

 

I called my local stores and asked about their doubling policy.

Since I am new to this they had to explain a few things but I think I got it.

Double coupons everyday. Nothing over 50 cents. No coupons for alcohol or smokes.

 

I recently got a flyer in the mail saying that Ingles was TRIPLING our coupons all this week.

I was like WOW, Im going to walk out of the store with free food!

 

The MRS never clipped coupons either so, me being more open to new things, went out tonight while she tended the herd and tried to make the most of all the coupons I collected. I even had them separated in my accordion binder by dairy, pasta, household goods, etc.

 

I spent 2 HOURS in the store and walked away with things that I really would never buy.

Yogart, Toaster Struddles and Campbells soups....

I paid $86 but saved $60. I tried to keep everything coupon but somethings didn't make sense.

Half gallon of Tropicana was $4. Had to buy 2 to save $1. A gallon of store brand OJ was $3.

 

I tried to tell myself that the coupon would allow me to enjoy the finer things in life but I wasn't buy my own BS.

Also I cant ever remember seeing a coupon for bread or milk. They go on sale sure.. but coupon???

 

All in all I was happy that I saved so much but I feel like I wasted 2 hours of my life.

Maybe its cause Im a guy in a grocery store...with coupons. Or maybe its because I didn't come out with anything of substance (i thought).

I had coupons for meat but they didnt stock the ones I had a coupon for. And the coupons I did have were mostly lunch meat anyway.

The KYBOSH family knosh on MEAT almost daily!

 

No meat??? Can my family really....

 

So I guess what I am asking for the seasoned coupon shoppers out there is... what am I doing wrong?

Did I not collect enuff coupons? It was just 1 sunday papers worth after all....but they expire so quickly.

Am I supposed to hit multiple stores for the items that are missing from the others?

 

One observations I noted was shopping at night is very nice because there is almost no one there. At least in this store there wasn't. I didn't feel funny about riffling through my dozens of coupons at all.

 

Another is stores do not take printed coupons so sites like coupon mom is a complete waist of bandwitch....unless I missed something.

 

 

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

[radi8]

Another is stores do not take printed coupons so sites like coupon mom is a complete waist of bandwitch....unless I missed something.

 

 

Nah, none of the local stores here will take coupons you printed at home either. Just stuff out of the newspaper which is never for anything i actually buy.

Heck, I saved $0.50/day by just canceling the newspaper, which is more than I would save with the coupons.

[angeleyeskkhr]

It really depends. I need to start doing coupons again. But you have to be very careful. If you wouldn't normally be buying the stuff to begin with, do not keep the coupon (it just begs to get used and then ya waste money).

 

I have seen coupons for breads before--like Sara Lee and stuff. But you also don't necessarily use the coupon the same week ya get them. Hold on to them until a sale comes around. For instance, if you don't need the shampoo right now, hold on to the coupon for it and two weeks from now, they may go on sale for $1.50....Use that $1.00 coupon then to get the most savings. Sure you still may not need it at that moment, but you will be needing shampoo in the house, and it beats waiting the 4 weeks and spending $4.00.

[squirrelgirl]

Target takes printed coupons...

 

Don't clip coupons for things you would not normally buy or things you MIGHT buy...

[KYBOSH]

I have seen coupons for breads before--like Sara Lee and stuff. But you also don't necessarily use the coupon the same week ya get them. Hold on to them until a sale comes around. For instance, if you don't need the shampoo right now, hold on to the coupon for it and two weeks from now, they may go on sale for $1.50....Use that $1.00 coupon then to get the most savings. Sure you still may not need it at that moment, but you will be needing shampoo in the house, and it beats waiting the 4 weeks and spending $4.00.

 

But that would mean I would spend HOURS in the grocery store trying to find products that are on sale and their corresponding coupons.

 

Target takes printed coupons...

 

Don't clip coupons for things you would not normally buy or things you MIGHT buy...

 

Didnt know Target took coupons.... Good to know. But aren't they more expensive?

If I didnt clip things I didn't normally eat I would have NO COUPONS AT ALL!

My thinking is to save $$$ you have to change your eating habits.

Instead of fresh veggies its the Green Giant freezer pack.

Instead of steak it turkey sausages.

 

I dont know how this will pan out.

I feel like all I have in the house was snack foods.

A lot of Pilsberry products and 2 cases of Jell-o pudding.

I never eat these things but I AM looking forward to the GRANDS Cinnamon rolls though!

 

I guess my issue isnt with shopping with coupons because I saved a lot.

My issue is with the quality of coupons my local paper gives us.

Where's the BEEF?

[squirrelgirl]

I have seen coupons for breads before--like Sara Lee and stuff. But you also don't necessarily use the coupon the same week ya get them. Hold on to them until a sale comes around. For instance, if you don't need the shampoo right now, hold on to the coupon for it and two weeks from now, they may go on sale for $1.50....Use that $1.00 coupon then to get the most savings. Sure you still may not need it at that moment, but you will be needing shampoo in the house, and it beats waiting the 4 weeks and spending $4.00.

 

But that would mean I would spend HOURS in the grocery store trying to find products that are on sale and their corresponding coupons.

 

Target takes printed coupons...

 

Don't clip coupons for things you would not normally buy or things you MIGHT buy...

 

Didnt know Target took coupons.... Good to know. But aren't they more expensive?

If I didnt clip things I didn't normally eat I would have NO COUPONS AT ALL!

My thinking is to save $$$ you have to change your eating habits.

Instead of fresh veggies its the Green Giant freezer pack.

Instead of steak it turkey sausages.

 

I dont know how this will pan out.

I feel like all I have in the house was snack foods.

A lot of Pilsberry products and 2 cases of Jell-o pudding.

I never eat these things but I AM looking forward to the GRANDS Cinnamon rolls though!

 

I guess my issue isnt with shopping with coupons because I saved a lot.

My issue is with the quality of coupons my local paper gives us.

Where's the BEEF?

 

In Colorado - Target and Walmart are the least expensive places to shop. King Soopers (Kroger) & Safeway are a LOT more expensive.

 

Quick example - a box of granola bars might cost $2.19 at Target and is over $4 a box at Kings unless it is on sale.

 

I have not shopped at a "grocery store" here in probably 4 years. The ONLY thing that is less expensive at the grocery store is milk, and I'm not gonna go out of my way to buy one item.

 

Try it one week - see if you save... (they don't double/triple coupons - but as I said, they accept printed ones).

[LadyT]

You might also try the grocery game, grocerygame . com. There is a fee, but they match up coupons with sales for you so that you just have to check the website. It saves your coupons for when an item is at it's "rock bottom" price. I did well while I used them, but started shopping at Target (they are cheaper!) and it, unfortunately, is not one of the stores you can get lists for.

[squirrelgirl]

You might also try the grocery game, grocerygame . com. There is a fee, but they match up coupons with sales for you so that you just have to check the website. It saves your coupons for when an item is at it's "rock bottom" price. I did well while I used them, but started shopping at Target (they are cheaper!) and it, unfortunately, is not one of the stores you can get lists for.

That has also been my experience!

[MoOn-BaBy]

I have seen coupons for breads before--like Sara Lee and stuff. But you also don't necessarily use the coupon the same week ya get them. Hold on to them until a sale comes around. For instance, if you don't need the shampoo right now, hold on to the coupon for it and two weeks from now, they may go on sale for $1.50....Use that $1.00 coupon then to get the most savings. Sure you still may not need it at that moment, but you will be needing shampoo in the house, and it beats waiting the 4 weeks and spending $4.00.

 

But that would mean I would spend HOURS in the grocery store trying to find products that are on sale and their corresponding coupons.

 

Target takes printed coupons...

 

Don't clip coupons for things you would not normally buy or things you MIGHT buy...

 

Didnt know Target took coupons.... Good to know. But aren't they more expensive?

If I didnt clip things I didn't normally eat I would have NO COUPONS AT ALL!

My thinking is to save $$$ you have to change your eating habits.

Instead of fresh veggies its the Green Giant freezer pack.

Instead of steak it turkey sausages.

 

I dont know how this will pan out.

I feel like all I have in the house was snack foods.

A lot of Pilsberry products and 2 cases of Jell-o pudding.

I never eat these things but I AM looking forward to the GRANDS Cinnamon rolls though!

 

I guess my issue isnt with shopping with coupons because I saved a lot.

My issue is with the quality of coupons my local paper gives us.

Where's the BEEF?

Then coupons are not for you. If you buy stuff just b/c you have a coupon you will end up wasting money.

99% of coupons are frozen food or snack items. The point of those is so you can get "brand" items cheaper than the offlable stuff.

Wal-Mart self check outs you can use printed coupons on aswell, no hassel from a machine!

Edited January 21, 2009 by MoOn-BaBy

[hlburi]

But that would mean I would spend HOURS in the grocery store trying to find products that are on sale and their corresponding coupons.

 

ummmmm....no. That is what you use the sale papers and circulars for.

 

as others have said, don't use a coupon just because you have a coupon. To get the most savings you need to know the prices of the stuff you buy regularly at the different markets. You are on the right track with knowing who doubles and triples coupons. That way, if you know the prices of say, V8, at all the different shops that carry it, you will know if going to Kroger (which will double your .50 cent coupon) is a better deal than going to Target, which won't. Sometimes the answer may be one retailer vs. another.

 

Coupons can also be used on all of the Free After Rebate and Extra Buck stuff from Walgreens and CVS, respectively.

[hlburi]

I dont know how this will pan out.

I feel like all I have in the house was snack foods.

A lot of Pilsberry products and 2 cases of Jell-o pudding.

I never eat these things but I AM looking forward to the GRANDS Cinnamon rolls though!

 

I guess my issue isnt with shopping with coupons because I saved a lot.

My issue is with the quality of coupons my local paper gives us.

Where's the BEEF?

 

 

I'll admit I use very little food coupons as they are mostly for prepackaged stuff and I don't buy very much of that. I will use the coupons I get for Tabasco Sauce and there are a few others I use. Most of my coupon savings comes from the household goods and health/beauty coupons.

[Kevin20]

I don't think you should use coupons. That only harms the store and its hardworking employees. The new president says we need to do our part and make sacrifices to help the economy, and for you I think that means paying full price.

[pryan67]

I don't think you should use coupons. That only harms the store and its hardworking employees. The new president says we need to do our part and make sacrifices to help the economy, and for you I think that means paying full price.

 

 

 

NO politics...AT ALL....

 

if that's too hard to understand...then please...PM me and I'd educate you

[KYBOSH]

Very good points and mostly productive.

 

I mostly ignore the sales paper the grocery stores send out these days.

If I am not mistaken half of it is taken up by ads for their own store brand products.

And then there is no way a grocery store can fit most of the items they currently have on sale in a flyer.

It'll look like a JC Penny catalog if they did.

 

I hadn't thought of the frozen food route.

I DO see quite a bit of coupons for those as well as household/health and beauty and medicines.

 

Grocery shopping at Wal-mart and Target has always given me the hibbie-jibbies.

To me its like grocery shopping at Woolworths or JC Pennys.

I've equated these store with consumer goods for so long it just seems wrong!

I also tend to only buy food at Sam's Club too.

Guess I will have to get over that and give them a try since the everyone says they are cheaper than a normal grocer.

 

Thanks for the website and the tips too.

I think I realize that our family must eat a lot less snacks than most others since we normally never use any of the products offered.

[squirrelgirl]

Grocery shopping at Wal-mart and Target has always given me the hibbie-jibbies.

 

Know your store... I won't grocery shop at EVERY WM or Target...

 

If you see LOTS of carts in the CS area... some of that could be frozen/refrigerated food that has not been put away.

 

The Target closest by me is the one my sister works at, so I'm pretty secure in buying all my food from there - she would tell me if it wasn't "safe"

[purplelove]

I've been cutting and using coupons as long as I've been married (going on 19 years). I get the majority of them from the paper, print some via internet, but that's a pain since it doesn't always print right.

 

I also complain about every little thing that is wrong to companies and get coupons for free stuff all the time. I also will jot off the occassional email telling them how wonderful they are if I really like the product. Also get free coupons and other stuff this way.

 

Emailed Little Debbie, a box of snack cakes was missing one when I opened it. They sent me a coupon the next week for a free fox. Emailed Campbell's and told them one of their soups is horribly disgusting and I would never buy it again. Sent me a recipe booklet and two coupons for $2 off any of their products.

 

If you're getting your coupons from the Sunday paper, you also have to look at the grocery store ads on Sunday and compare what items are on sale that you want and what coupons you have for them.

 

I have a family of five. We have home-cooked meals every night. The kids have an actuall cooked breakfast before school and my husband takes a ton of food to work every day. We have snacks and various drinks and I bake a lot. I also make special meals every now and then (last night was island themed foods for the Lost premiere)! I manage to do all this on around $100 a week. I think that is pretty good considering the amount of food we have each week and the good dinners every night.

[squirrelgirl]

I've been cutting and using coupons as long as I've been married (going on 19 years). I get the majority of them from the paper, print some via internet, but that's a pain since it doesn't always print right.

 

I also complain about every little thing that is wrong to companies and get coupons for free stuff all the time. I also will jot off the occassional email telling them how wonderful they are if I really like the product. Also get free coupons and other stuff this way.

 

Emailed Little Debbie, a box of snack cakes was missing one when I opened it. They sent me a coupon the next week for a free fox. Emailed Campbell's and told them one of their soups is horribly disgusting and I would never buy it again. Sent me a recipe booklet and two coupons for $2 off any of their products.

 

If you're getting your coupons from the Sunday paper, you also have to look at the grocery store ads on Sunday and compare what items are on sale that you want and what coupons you have for them.

 

I have a family of five. We have home-cooked meals every night. The kids have an actuall cooked breakfast before school and my husband takes a ton of food to work every day. We have snacks and various drinks and I bake a lot. I also make special meals every now and then (last night was island themed foods for the Lost premiere)! I manage to do all this on around $100 a week. I think that is pretty good considering the amount of food we have each week and the good dinners every night.

 

Every little thing?

[megensmom]

I'm a coupon using fanatic. If you want to learn how to use coupons for items you actually use and where to find the deals. Check out a site that will help you for FREE. I learned everything from them. I get many many items for free. Everything they do is totally legal and you will see that the other people there really do check out things to make sure people don't post stuff that isn't legal. The site is www.couponforum.com

I think you will be totally surprised at just how easy it is to use coupons and get items that you can use.

My biggest savings was I got 346 cans of canned dog food for $34.xx which was just the tax.

[KYBOSH]

Megansmom, thank you for that website.

 

All I an say is

 

I didn't know ppl traded coupons amongst themselves!

 

Its like CB but the topic is coupons... amazing!

 

I'm going through the Newbie FAQ now...

 

Here's an example:

Question:

Hey. I joined about a month ago and have been browsing the freebies, but now I am interested in coupon trading. I have never traded coupons before so I need help getting started I guess. I am a coupon clipper and have been for years, but obviously I am not doing it right as I don't get the good coupons most of you post. The Sunday paper and sometimes the mail is all I get, but nothing fabulous. I have King Soopers and Safeway in my town, Albertsons too but don't shop there very often. Safeway is the place of choice as it is close to home. Anyway, if anyone is willing to help me get started I would appreciate it.

 

Answer:

There is a really good "newbies" post in coupon talk, I think, helps a lot.

 

The FIRST way to get started in trading is to organize yourself. Most of us have two folders- personal coups and trading coups. Also save UPC's, cash register tapes, Catalinas, blinkies, signup at mfg websites, print some off the net if you can use or trade them, ask your family for coups they won't use, etc. There are also coupon clipping services or you can buy some off Ebay if you are looking for something very specific. Next is to know your stores' coupon policies- do they accept internet printed coupons? Do they double cents off coups? Do they accept internet printed coupons for free items? Is there a max to how many coupons you can use per order? Watch your sales cycles and see when the things you like go on sale. Diapers, health and beauty aids, cleaning products, etc all have "cycles". Soda and hot dogs in the summer, soup in the winter, you get the picture. Wink Picking up more than one Sunday paper may also help if the coups are good! Make a list of particular brands or items you tend to buy or prefer. It will take a while to compile this list, a few peeks in the cabinet, fridge, freezer, bathroom, under the sink and a few shopping trips and you should have a pretty good list!

 

Then coordinate the stuff you don't want. I find it easy to use a dollar store coupon organizer and break them up into easy searchable categories. Then when someone posts an ISO or they have something you want to trade for, you can search pretty quickly to see if you have anything they want! When you get a chance, posting a list of haves is preferable to some people. Remember to include your extra upcs and samples or actuals you want to get rid of! One man's trash is another man's treasure- I made over 1/2 dozen trades last night out of my trade pile!

 

Keep a few stamps on hand and maybe open a Paypal account- some people prefer to trade that way. Be sure your trading supplies are full & handy- envies, tradeslips, address labels, pens, scissors, tape, highliter. Use Word or a spreadsheet, gmail or the pm system to track your trades. Be prompt with leaving feedback and politely request that others do the same, especially when you are first starting out!

 

Be patient with us, many of us have been burned by newbies and are sometimes hesitant to be a first trade. Some people may ask you to send your end first, this is a common precaution. If you read that persons feedback and feel comfy doing that, go for it. Kindness is often returned in multiples- throw in a few extra coups from your trade pile, especially if you have something from the persons w/l! Trade potlucks, join trains- GREAT ways to come across new coups!

 

And ask away if you have any questions! Welcome!

Edited January 22, 2009 by KYBOSH

[shop_free]

Sunday night was my first time using a lot of coupons at once...I too spent 2 hours in Walmart..buying most things from one section

I had lots of coupons for toothpaste etc..I saved $70..total was $180 paid $110

$10 worth of stuff didn't have coupons however.

I'm sure once I get going I'll get better at it and it's also best too to use the papers so the store can price match...Haven't tried that yet.

I too went at night and it wasn't really busy..I have soo many coupons and I need to get organized and with someone that knows the heck they're doing.

Good luck on your coupon endeavors...the difference I saw is that I bought stuff I normally use but this time I bought bunches of it..like 6 or 7 tubes of toothpaste..soap, medicine etc.

[PinkGirl]

when we were working, even though we had the money we used coupons...........i print them online! we have a supertarget and walmart as well as walmart grocery stores.........the only time i go to the actual grocer grocer is when things are buy one get one deal..........especially for rice.........my gramma used to get the fliers and make lists for us........ i think the double coupon price still doesnt make it cheaper than walmart.........in my experience

[KYBOSH]

I went shopping with coupons again tonight.

It was MUCH better this time.

This time I knew where everything was. I forgot to mention that I had only been at this Ingles once before so it was totally new to me.

Instead of taking my envelope full of coupons I picked exactly what I wanted/needed before I left the house and stuffed those coupons in my pocket. Shopping only took 30 minutes this time. I was very happy.

 

One thing I noticed is that ppl had coupons but they were hiding it like it was a bad thing.

You could almost see the look of shame on some ppls faces. Me? I had all my coupons laid out in my cart.

There was no shame in my game.... except when a cute lady walked by.... you know I had to cover those coupons up with a cereal box!

 

You should also check your receipt before leaving too. The self checkout did not automatically triple my coupons! Of course the attendant standing at the front didn't bother to tell me this as she say me scanning my coupons in. I had to get the manager to give me my $$$. About $6 worth!

 

Also if you self checkout you dont have to put to coupons into the slot. It tells you to and you "should" but I opted to use those coupons another day. Shame on me .. I know.

 

In all, I am doing better now. I guess there was a bit of a comfort/learning curve to overcome.

I still didn't come away with anything but snacks and frozen foods but the pantry is FULL right now and all for a little over $100.

I'll go to the butcher for my meats I think.... they are much cheaper anyway.

[Corythus]

I buy coupons on ebay. For a couple of $, I usually get 20 of the same coupon. As soon as I get a store weekly specials flier, I check to see if something I need or want is on sale, then I go to ebay and look for coupons for those items.

For example, last week I got 20 jars of Dole fruit. It was on sale for $2 each, I got coupons for .55 that doubled to $1.10. The cash register machine printed out coupons to save .75 on my next shopping trip - I got 5 of those. So I paid $18 dollars for 20 jars of fruit and got $3.75 in coupons to use on future trips to that chain of stores. If I hadn't been in a hurry, I would have bought 4 jars at a time, using 4 coupons, and then received the print-out at register coupon, in a second transaction bought 4 more jars, used 4 of my coupons plus the .75 print-out at register coupon, and so on.

That's kind of long-winded, but that is how I use coupons. Buy lots of the same thing when it on sale and I have coupons.

If you don't do ebay, then ask friends or relatives to give you their unused coupon inserts from the paper.

 

I never see meat coupons but I do stock up on whatever is on sale, it helps to have a freezer.

 

Don't use coupons to buy stuff you don't usually purchase. If you usually use suave shampoo for $1.50 a bottle, you are not saving money using a $1 coupon on a $5.99 bottle of pantene.

[KYBOSH]

Using coupons is easier and easier now.

Bought $32 worth of stuff (that I'll actually eat) and save $13.

Made out like a bandit and it felt really good.

 

I noticed more and more ppl with coupons too.

There is a way we hold them while in the store.

Half clutching, half hiding them.

 

Pretty funny.

But we're laughin all the way to the bank.

 

Bad thing about coupons is... there is a lot more food in the house to snack on.

Sigh... gotta get back in the gym after finishing off those toaster struddles!

[hlburi]

Me too!

 

I went to Randalls on Sunday and they had a bunch of good deals plus I had some coupons.

 

Got $65 worth of stuff for about $32!