Feeding Frenzy

By cindy

March 17, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

I can’t be bothered to clip coupons. It never seems to be for what I buy and I so I don’t even read them any more. I shop at Kroger’s though and they have register coupons that sometimes are really good and are geared to what I just purchased. So they make sense.

By Kat

March 17, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

Yes, I still clip coupons. It only takes a few minutes, and I usually save $3-$5 a week. I use one of those organizers, otherwise it would be impossible to keep them straight. I keep it in my purse so I always have it handy when I’m at the store. I have a few rules though…a coupon won’t get me to buy something I wouldn’t usually buy. I don’t use the ones where you have to buy two or more to get the discount, unless it’s something I would usually buy two of. Although I do look for buy one, get one free sales, then you can use the “buy two” coupons and get two for less than the price of one. As far as the savings, I figure it’s equal to at least a gallon of gas a week!

By FCM

March 17, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

I know lots of people save TONS of cash by doing the coupon thing. However I always forget mine. I do use the little ‘spit out’ coupons in the red machines at Publix. For example the Pilsbury brand cresent rolls are 3/$5.00 this week but the little machine makes them 3/$4.25 if you grab the coupon. Much better deal. I also look for the 5/$11 coupon on the Coca Cola…unfortunatley while the beverage is on sale 4/$11 the coupon hasn’t been in the ad circular Christmas. Coke has been suffering losses according to the business section……alas.

I basically try to time my buying to the circular…if I really need something I go ahead. Or if its something that is seldom on sale I go ahead. Otherwise, I try to stay on ad. I find I spend less and my stuff is fresher that way.

By Debbie

March 17, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this

Yes - I clip coupons, especially now that we’ve become part of the ‘unemployed’!! If I use the item, I clip the coupon. I figure even if its just 50 cents - I’d rather that 50 cents be in my pocket, than the pocket of the grocery stores!

By Angel

March 17, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

Ahh, my grandmother would be so proud!!! I am definitly a coupon clipper and usually save $15-20 a week. Publix and Kroger both double your coupons that are $.50 and less so this adds up as well and prevents me from having to go to Wal-Mart to get better prices (I loathe Wal-Mart but unfortunately they do have better everyday prices on most of their items).

I only clip coupons for my ‘regular’ items or if I see something I want to try. I usually look through the sale ads and pull out the coupons for any sale items before I leave the house so I won’t forget to stock up on those items.

Inevitably I still throw out coupons at the end of the month that I never used; most are duplicate items of different brands. It takes a bit more time to clip coupons and shop with them in mind but I figure if I can save $60-80 a month, it’s worth it.

By Becky

March 17, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

Yes, I clip coupons..I am also one that leaves them at home a lot though. I usually attempt to try one thing new each time I go to the grocery store, so if I clip a coupon for something that I normally woudln’t buy, if it’s on sale,I’ll buy it..Also, if I clip a coupon for something, then change my mind about buying it once I get to the sore, I’ll leave it with the product for the next person..I usually save about 5-10 per week..

By Leah

March 17, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

Yes, I started getting it to this recently, and finally feel like I’ve got my organization system down. Coupons get clipped and sorted in to 3 different ziplock bags for perishable, non-perishable or restaurant, and household items. I then enter the expiration date, product name, amount and any special restrictions on to a spreadsheet. When the weekly ad comes out for my local grocery store, I can then Ctrl+F my spreadsheet looking for coupons that I can match to the sales. It’s pretty simple and between the sales and coupons can net an average of $20 savings off an approx $70 - 80 weekly grocery bill. Only downside is that doing all this officially makes me a bigger dork than even my comic book-reading hubby ;)

By Sandra

March 17, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this

I am a regular coupon shopper. I always buy my Sunday paper on Saturday for the coupons and the sales paper so I know on Sunday who will have the best deals. When there is a holiday, there are no coupons, only the sales paper. After I finish clipping my coupons, I sort them by the months they expire so when the month ends and I haven’t used them, I can just take the expired month of coupons out and throw them away. I usually keep my coupons in my vehicle so I won’t forget them. I also save the fast food coupons that come out of the Sunday newspaper and the mailbox and keep those in my vehicle. They call me coupon lady at work. It surely saves me money. I do hate when you have to buy two of something to use the coupon bcuz living alone I usually do not need the extra product. Sometimes, I usually wait on a coupon to purchase certain products such as Scott toilet tissue with $1.00 off for the 12-roll pack. Other toilet tissue does not compare. Yes, I save money with coupons.

By michelle

March 17, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

i am a coupon-clipper and have been doing so since i was living on my own in college. some stuff it saves me hugely - take prilosec, for example. a 14day supply at walmart is currently around the $10.50 mark. i had a $3 coupon from a sales paper and normally they are only $1, so even though i didn’t really need it, the coupon was soon to expire and who knows if i’ll find another $3 coupon?

i, too, hate being “forced” into buying multiple items to redeem the coupon. in some instances it’s good, but like most people on here, it’s needless spending.

why do we take that bait though? i’m reminded of an old bit from the comedian, gallagher: “i just had to buy it - IT WAS ON SALE!!”

i think it’s worthwhile to do clip coupons…i figure i save about $50-$75 a month depending on where i shop. and i DO price-shop, given that groceries are out of whack at the moment.

By Leah

March 17, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this

I used to clip coupons a lot. I wouldn’t go to the store without them. I still have a stock pile of cleaning items that I got close to free. The coupon habit was handed down by my mother who swore by them. As a child we would spend much time together clipping and organizing and taking an entire shoe box organized with index cards to the grocery store every week. But now with the economy as it is I have stopped going to the grocery store regularly and now purchase only necessary items. I really don’t miss the extra work of clipping and buying things that are discretionary…or worse going around to different stores only to keep finding that the best coupon items are sold out.

By Smarter Shopper

March 17, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this

I wasn’t as good at saving money when I worked, but now that I stay home it’s a priority. In case you aren’t aware, the free Thursday AJC they throw in the driveway has most of the same coupons that are in Sunday’s paper. Also, my PUBLIX honors competitors coupons which is great because now I don’t have to run to the other stores for the savings and nearly 100% of my grocery budget is spent at PUBLIX so they benefit too.

By DB

March 17, 2008 6:23 PM | Link to this

I clip, but only for things I know I use. I seldom use them to buy “new” things. I’m a little anal about filing for rebates, too!

Two websites I love to use are www.couponmom.com — helps you organize all those coupons! — and cutouthunger.org. Cut Out Hunger encourages you to utilize those 2 for 1 coupons, etc., and donate the extra goods to area food banks. The shelves in so many food banks are bare at this time of year — yes, it’s nice to donate at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but people need to eat year-round, too.

By Val

March 17, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this

I am a devote coupon clipper. I gather coupons in the supermarket to use in the next sales. I watch all the sales. So, I use coupons on sale items. Love the BOGO with a double coupon combined with a Publix’s coupon. I have purchased two brand name items for 25 cents before. The biggest saving I had is $75.

By Val

March 17, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this

Oh, I use Sunday coupons. My friends and family give me theirs. I use online coupons from several websites.

By stonecs1

March 17, 2008 10:58 PM | Link to this

I am a recent convert to coupon clipping and find it’s really a nice money saver on the grocery bill! An added bonus is that the money we save on the grocery bill can be put elsewhere - like a pedicure, or a night out.

I always try to sit down with the store ad’s at home and figure out what to buy. I typically only buy what is on sale and what I have a coupon for. The real trick with coupon shopping is not to get too wrapped up in a brand. By remembering that and some of my tricks listed below, I have had a lot of really nice grocery bills. I just paid 84 cents tonight at Publix for groceries (groceries for 2 people for 1 week) - before my coupons, it was $54.

Some of my tricks are:

• Purchase coupons from eBay. You can typically get 100-200 coupons already printed out for $1-$2 a stack.

• Prescription Gift Cards - if you have a prescription, there is no reason not to take it to a Publix or Kroger pharmacy with a coupon for a gift card. The awesome thing is that both Publix and Kroger accept competitor coupons, so if you have a $30 gift card to Rite Aid, you can take it to Publix or Kroger and get a $30 gift card to that store. I figure I have to get the prescription anyway - might as well get it where I can use it the most.

• Internet Manufacturer Coupons - there are several sites available to print off coupons - coupons.com, slickdeals. net (has tons of links)

By Tina B

March 17, 2008 11:08 PM | Link to this

I am a faithful coupon clipper. I find I get the best deals w/Publix BOBO. When I shop it has to be on sale or I have a coupon. Also, people if you buy a product that you are not happy with, just email the company and they will either send you a refund/ and or coupons for a replacent. I had 3 of the new energy saving bulbs die on me. GE sent me 3 $10 coupons to replace them. Yeah, that’s $30 to replace 3 bulbs. I went to Walmart and got 3 boxes (6 bulbs each) for $9.99. Used my coupons and now had 18 bulbs for free. Can’t beat that. It only takes a second to email the company and they always respond.

By CarrieO

March 18, 2008 1:11 AM | Link to this

I do clip coupons. I have two coupon folders that I keep in a cloth bag along with the salespapers of the stores I want to visit each week. I have been using coupons regularly for about 10 years. I learned how to do it from my mother-in-law and online at www.mycoupons.com . One of the best tips I can give is to visit the websites of your favorite brands and tell them how much you like their product. Often they will send you coupons in the mail that are much better than the ones you can get in the Sunday paper. I also take advantage of B1G1F offers at local stores. I know that Publix will allow you to only buy one, and give it to you for 50% off. Our local Kroger does the same thing, but not all Kroger stores do that. The best shopping trip I have ever was about 5 years ago. Kroger was doing super-doubles (double every coupon up to $1). I went in and got about $400 worth of groceries for about $125. If I really organize myself, I still save around 50% in a shopping trip, but the sales aren’t as good as they used to be.

By hardmanb

March 18, 2008 2:56 AM | Link to this

My wife and I are retired and use coupons extensively from the coupon sites for dining out.

Many meals can be eaten in restaurants for less than the produce cost/quantity/spoilage problems involved in home preparation…especially when the large American portions usually mean that we take-home some for “tomorrows lunch”.

Senior Buffets also offer us nutritional variety that would cost more to offer at home.