Keeping up with this new venture for the last 2 years has almost made me a slave to it. I don't coupon every single day - but I would imagine I spend at least 10 hours a week cutting, sorting, filtering and scanning the ads to see what I can get for a good deal. There are numerous times I will see something in an advertisement and laugh, thinking if anyone buys that at that store, it is NOT a good deal!
There is a lot of thinking that goes into the coupon deal itself. Even though I may have a coupon I have to think if I'll be getting a better deal at Kroger vs. WalMart. Even though Kroger doubles MC (Manufacturer's coupons) up to .99 and WalMart doesn't double/triple at all, maybe the better deal is not to go with the coupon because the generic brand, which is just as good, is still the better deal. DON'T USE THE COUPON JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE IT AND IT MAY BE LISTED ON SALE.
My family seems like we have gotten a bad rap on it because of the couponing that we have done. One family member doesn't even do it which I think their spouse would love it if they did. Another relative of mine makes fun of us because we do it. Oh well, I'm frugal (and not ashamed to admit it) and as long as I know I can get a good deal on something, I'll do it. I'm not willing to go to extremes to do it though.
The other week, I had cut out 2 coupons from the two Sunday papers for $5 off a Tylenol Precise product. I had seen on FB that Rite Aid was going to have a huge sale on these - $5 each on each product. I thought, with the coupons, I could get at least 2 products for free. I went to the store on Monday and the items were sold out. After talking to the cashier, she said that they sold out of the item Sunday morning by 9:30 a.m. People were lined up at the door before they were opened to get the item and by noon they had issued at least 20 rain checks. That's crazy. She said that I could come back on Friday or Saturday, after their next delivery truck had come, and see if they had any in stock. If they didn't they could scan my coupon and issue me a rain check to still get it free. That didn't work. I went in Friday and they were still out. I didn't want to come back on Saturday and bother them. Saturday I went to CVS and saw that they had a sale on the same items: Buy one get one 1/2 off (BOGO 1/2) So altogether I purchased 2 creams for a dollar and some change because I used both my $5 coupons and I didn't have to mess with the rain check. Not as good as free but almost. :D
When I first started couponing, I wasn't seeing the savings that everyone else was experiencing. The problem that I was having was that I was purchasing items from the coupons and still getting what I normally would. If you are doing this, you will be spending more on your grocery bill. Couponing is new habit you have to get accustomed to. Instead of getting Life cereal because it's what your family likes, they will have to get used to eating Honey Nut Cheerios because it's what you have a coupon for. It's a matter of a new lifestyle change that everyone in your family will have to agree on.
I've been watching the show "Extreme Couponing" lately. I have done a lot of reading about the show and what others have to say about it. There are several mixed reviews in light of the fraud that seems to be going on (please read this post about my thoughts on it) but that's not what I want to highlight. Several people have brought numerous ideals to it which I think are quite valuable:
1. With store policies, you cannot use that many coupons in one transaction. I don't care if your husband comes with you.
2. There is no way that a store would let you take up 4 hours in a check out lane.
3. If that were me in the check out lane, I would have one nasty cashier on my hands - this is something I don't want to deal with, ever.
4. Do you really need 77 bottles of mustard?
5. Your family is more important than couponing or hoarding/stockpiling items that you may or may not use.
6. With a television series, it is about advertising. Don't you think General Mills got a kickback for showing their brand on the show?
7. It's no longer about brand loyalty. If a company really wants you to buy their items, they will give a coupon for it.
8. This is something that they don't include in the show to balance how much of a savings they are actually receiving - the cost of computer paper, computer ink and the cost of the Sunday papers (especially for those who buy an extreme amount).
Don't get me wrong, there are some valuable lessons I have learned from the show and from my own experience:
1. Look through the circulars. Match and compare sale items with coupons.
2. Make sure to read the fine print of the coupon.
3. Write out a list. I'm a huge fan of apps available on my Droid (lovingly called "Andy") but with trying to navigate between several apps to find what I need, a good 'ole fashioned notebook and pen work just great.
4. Several stores will have the same items on sale during the same week. Check the circulars to see who has the better deal.
5. Talk to people and see if they are not using their coupons, see if you can use them if they are not.
6. DONATE or GIVE AWAY any items that you will not use. There is no sense of keeping items that will go bad if you won't use them. I have even given some away as Christmas gifts. Guess what you're getting this year? I got a great deal once at Kroger for some deodorant for free. But if my husband isn't going to use it, might as well give it someone who can use it. I didn't pay anything for it and giving it to someone (without strings attached) is a much better feeling than walking out of the store without having to pay for it.
7. Just because you have a coupon, doesn't mean that you have to use it. Read above about using coupons for brand names compared to the store brand.
8. Instead of basing your grocery bill on your menus, base your meals on your pantry. Meaning whatever sale deals you were able to score, plan your meals to what you have, not what you have to purchase.
9. When I would shop before, the bigger item was always the better deal, but the coupon deal, sometimes, the smaller item is the better deal, especially if you can get away with getting it free.
10. Talk to friends to share or compare deals that you can get.
