Home > Feeding Frenzy > Archives > 2008 > September > 24 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHave you shifted from shopaholic to saveaholic?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My friend PJ loves to shop. You can usually find her at Phipps buying out the contents of some exclusive boutique.
I recently saw her at a girl’s night and you can imagine my surprise when instead of taking about he latest outfit she was preaching the power of cutting coupons.
She announced she was on a mission to make up the money she uses to splurge for the newest fashions by reducing her supermarket bill. She now spends Sunday mornings clipping coupons with a vengeance and cross checking them with supermarket circulars to build on her returns. She is determined to save 40 percent of her total shopping bill on every trip while pledging to buy only things she needs. She told of returning to a store four times to redeem their penny mystery coupon, when she discovered it was something she uses regularly. She bought the $10 minimum, put the packages in the car and went right back in to do it again…and again…and again.
She showed off her new coupon holder as proudly as she used to show off her high-priced shoes. She has already converted our friend, Lisa. They now have a weekly Sunday morning “conference call” to discuss strategy for the week.
She feels this is a no-brainer way to save money and then allows herself to buy the overpriced items she loves to wear without guilt.
With everyone tightening their belt, what’s been your best method for squirreling away extra cash? Has it been with coupons or by watching sales?
Here are even more ways to watch your money
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment | Categories: Saving money
Comments
By Amy
September 24, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
I have started getting the Sunday paper, but honestly last week the paper cost $2.00 and I found $2.00 worth of coupons on things we actually use. I have started looking earnestly, though, with the Sunday paper and sales, and through coupons that come in the mail, etc - I tried a coupon website but can’t get the print driver to work to print my barcodes - frustrating.
It is exciting to see the savings at the bottom of my recepit - but $40% aint happening!
By Lissa
September 24, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
I don’t see how your friend can save enough simply by clipping coupons to pay for anything at Phipps. In my experience, grocery coupons generally only save generally 10% of my overall bill. She may be switching to store brands to save a little more, but her rationale is still ridiculous. She’d have to be spending a fortune on groceries to begin with to “save” the hundreds of dollars for boutique fashions.
The only way to hit the really high savings is to do the Walgreens and CVS rebate programs. There are easy ways to stock up on sale items for cheap (sometimes free) there, but it still won’t be enough to make any significant dent in a fashionable wardrobe.
She may have reduced her overall monthly grocery bill by not buying unneeded products, cheaper alternatives, etc., but I highly doubt she’s saving 40% in coupons/sales alone.
By Kat
September 25, 2008 7:33 AM | Link to this
As a note, if you have say four Publix penny coupons - which is the store I’m assuming she is going to - and you spend $45 on groceries, they will give you the four items for free. In fact, when I told them I forgot my coupon one day (true!), they gave it to me when I asked. Publix is customer service-oriented in that way. You just have to ask!
By CBL
September 25, 2008 8:07 AM | Link to this
I’m saving 40-50% of my paycheck and putting it into a money market account. Better to earn 3.5% interest than burn a hole in my pocket and get spent on garbage I don’t need.
Not knowing whether you’ll have a job next month will make it REAL easy to save 45% of your income.
By jct
September 25, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this
I buy the Sunday paper but no longer in the store. You can get the Sunday paper for $1 from the folks who stand on the corner.
Also, it is better to go to each stores website so that you can see all the sales. From the Kroger site, you can add electronic coupons to your KrogerPlus card so that you don’t have to worry about clipping coupons.
In the AJC a few months ago, Coupon Mom.com was featured. I have found that site most useful for making grocery lists. They have already broken down the savings.
I used to save 25% - 30% per month prior to using the electronic methods. I have now saving 33% - 40% per month on groceries.
The only thing I do with the savings is pay for gas for my car.
By clyde
September 25, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
Two things I do to save money.One is to buy sales.When the price is down it is not unusual for me to buy a two year supply.I recently found an off brand coffee with an introductory price of $3.99 for a 2 pound can.I bought 8 cases of six cans each.I have enough coffee for 4 years.
Another way I save money is to plant a small garden,or actually,several small box gardens.Lettuce,spinich,chard,mustard greens,bunching onions,tomatos,cucumbers,zucchini,all in 150 square feet of space.It’s unbelieveable the amount of produce that has come from that small space.
Should I find a coupon for an item I normally buy I use it.I have found that clipping coupons for items not on my usual list is not cost effective for me.
By Debby
September 25, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
I find that most of the time the coupons in the paper are for new, convenience-type foods. Of course they’re all brand-name items also. I do much better by going to Aldi and taking advantage of the off-brand stuff at much lower prices than Publix for instance. For things I can’t get at Aldi, I check around to find the store with the lowest overall prices on things I buy.
By Love to save
September 25, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
I must be PJs twin sister! I am not coupon crazy at the supermarket, but am that way for restaurants, nail salons, etc. At Publix, I shop house brands more, as these save more $ than using coupons. I also plan meals around the weekly circular. As for Phipps, I shop Saks twice a year when they have their sale. I like nice things, but refuse to pay full price anymore. Same for any other retail store. Their stuff is just worth less nowdays, and the sales must be competitive. If it is super special, I will pay full price, but that is rare!
By Unvelievable
September 25, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
So basically your friend cut her grocery bill by using coupons, in order to fund her expensive wardrobe? Nice. Her family may be starving, but she’s gotta have the latest clothes….what a shame….
By Magenta
September 25, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
Check Ebay. There are people selling lots of 100 grocery coupons for as little as a penny, often with free shipping. I got a batch recently for $1.60 total, and that is less than the cost of a Sunday paper that I very often don’t read. Good coupons, too; enough to share with co-workers.
My husband is “under-employed” at the moment (he works for tips), and at the same time I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. I have radically changed my diet and cut way back on meat and processed food. That’s another thing that’s saving us grocery money, and for most people, I think it’s a matter of differentiating between “like/want” and “need.” Retailers and advertisers rip us off shamelessly by constructing ideas in our heads about what’s good for us. We see something on TV that’s been made to look glamorous (even soup and frozen foods, which used to be called “TV dinners”), and we think we’ll be glamorous if we buy it. Sticking to the outside perimeter of the store (produce, dairy, meat) and making more foods from scratch instead of buying that processed, overpriced cr@p, will save you money and extend your life.
By Edna
September 26, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
I love Target and found a blog where this blogger matches up all the products in the Sunday Target ads with coupons both in the Sunday inserts and with coupons you can print off the Internet. When you do your shopping at Target you get to use one Target coupon from their site and stack it on top of a manufacturers coupon for one item. You can’t make a profit but you can get items for free.
Ginger also tells you about great clearance deals at Target.
You might want to visit her blog too. She links to other sites that match up coupons for all sorts of stores.
You can find her at AttentionTargetShoppers.com
Trust Edna on this. You should visit this blog.
Edna
By FCM
September 27, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this
Trader Joes….interesting food that does not break the bank….l
By mc
September 27, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this
Remember why coupons exist — to get you to buy things you wouldn’t otherwise have bought. That’s why I don’t think there’s much money to be saved by clipping coupons. (They only make you think you’re saving money.) Instead, shop intelligently and put pressure on merchants to give us low prices without gimmicks or games.