So coupons do really add up

[accountingsucks]

I had never really thought too much about coupons. At this time i'm dating someone fairly new and she is into this. Anyways as an example we just went and "purchased" 3 cans of gillete shaving cream, 3 deodorants (some female brand) and 3 other cans of female shaving cream. Anyways for all this we had a $5, $9 and $5 coupon that came in the paper as long as you purchased multiples of these products.

We coordinated use of these with in store sales and all told we were OWED $3.13 and had to buy some gum to get to get above $0 as the store's policy is not to reimburse money. Now granted this is probably not a typical coupon clipping exercise but there is a site i follow with "strategies" on this and many on there are saving significant $$$$. It does take work though and most have binders keeping track of all their coupons which they use in conjunction with store sales. Anyone else have similar success stories?

 

[bbbamI]

Yep..I'm a coupon user and have been for a few years. I check the sale ad, then select the proper coupons. So far this year, I've saved $267.

Of course I get the grocery store card so that I get the item sale price and save an additional $1700 a year.

 

[jazz4cash]

I've been going online and printing my own coupons from various sites like www.ecoupon.com

 

[tmm99]

Now granted this is probably not a typical coupon clipping exercise but there is a site i follow with "strategies" on this and many on there are saving significant $$$$.

Which site do you follow?

 

[BigNick]

Can we have the names of the store and/or products involved, so we can sell our stock?

 

[heikejohn]

I have been using coupons, matching the sales prices and different store promotions, sending in for rebates, giving away extras to friends and woman shelter PLUS selling extras at the local Flea Market for my own grocery money!!
This has worked out for me very nicely. I love to shop!!

 

[Dawg52]

Of course I get the grocery store card so that I get the item sale price and save an additional $1700 a year.

It chaps me you have to carry around a darn card to get the sale price advertised. I do it because I would be crazy not to, but I shop at other stores mostly that have no such thing. Others must feel the same way I do as the Winn Dixie Store close to my house went out of business not long ago. And it was a fairly new store. But Walmart and a generic grocery store did them in.

 

[Moemg]

We have been coupon clipping and taking advantage of store specials for awhile . It has drastically cut our grocery bill. Especially if the item is on buy one get one free and we also have a coupon .

 

[robls]

Walgreens is having a one-day event today(12-1-10).

 

[W2R]

It chaps me you have to carry around a darn card to get the sale price advertised. I do it because I would be crazy not to, but I shop at other stores mostly that have no such thing. Others must feel the same way I do as the Winn Dixie Store close to my house went out of business not long ago. And it was a fairly new store. But Walmart and a generic grocery store did them in.

Often these stores (and specifically Winn Dixie down here) have a tiny version of the card available that fits on your keyring. That helps, and it might be worth checking into whether they have them. But I do agree that it's pretty silly.

 

[Buck Rogers]

The card is necessary so they can track what you purchase.

 

[FUEGO]

I have done this at a grocery store that keeps sending me $10 off $40 every week. Combine that with doubling coupons up to $2, and buy one get one free or buy 1 get 2 free, and sometimes I can walk out with a handful of free items, and a bunch of other stuff that is 30-40% less than walmart's prices, and $10 off all that to boot.

A coworker does Rite-Aid deals like the OP mentioned. Free stuff or very nearly free stuff, sometimes cash back stuff. But it sounds really complicated and time consuming. I imagine the "return per hour invested" is not that great. Clipping coupons, organizing your shopping raid, then having the cashier ring up 5 separate orders isn't my favorite way to save $15-20 vs prices at walmart, especially if store brands are available.

 

[Dawg52]

The card is necessary so they can track what you purchase.

Why do they care what "I" purchase? I don't receive any specific rebate offers. Just normal ads that everyone else receive in the mail. And they should be able to tell what is sold to our specific area through sales recaps from their registers.

Here's another reason I hate the cards........

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/do-you-get-free-groceries-32961.html#post608912

 

[Texas Proud]

I hate the discount cards also.... and avoid the stores that have them as much as possible... but, I still use them when it is convenient.... they don't know who I am as I never sent in their application...


As for coupons... I have two sisters who have done this before... back when they had double and triple coupons.... one of my sisters had $300 of groceries and paid a few dollars... my other one (IIRC) had about $200 and got money back (this before they changed their rules)...


I can not get my wife to use them at all... but she is into fresh foods and they do not have coupons for them....

 

[TromboneAl]

Every time I take a second look at coupons, I find that they are usually for name-brand stuff. Often the store brand is cheaper, or I can find a cheaper alternative.

Also, I've never seen a double- or triple-coupon offer around here.

 

[W2R]

When gathering coupons, I think it's very helpful to only get the ones that are for something you planned to buy anyway (and for the same brand, I agree, Al). Otherwise there is a risk of spending more, not less, with coupons.

 

[Moemg]

My favorite grocery store frequently runs buy one get one free specials plus they honor competitors coupons so if a competitor sends me a $10 off $50 coupon they will honor it . That is when I'll stock up on essentials such as coffee & laundry detergent . My grocery bill for two with all meals has been shaved from $100 a week to $70 . That includes paper goods and toothpaste and cleaning supplies .We do eat out once a week but other than that we eat all our meals at home and it's not rice & beans .

 

[bbbamI]

Why do they care what "I" purchase? I don't receive any specific rebate offers. Just normal ads that everyone else receive in the mail. And they should be able to tell what is sold to our specific area through sales recaps from their registers.

Here's another reason I hate the cards........

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/do-you-get-free-groceries-32961.html#post608912

That's a shame Dawg.

I shop at Kroger, get the double and triple coupon deal and yes I use my Kroger card for the sale items. They do track my purchases...and send a packet of coupons to me about every three months or so on items I purchase.

 

[Bimmerbill]

I don't use the cards either. I am waiting for the companies to sell the info to health or life insurance companies. You can bet your rates will go up if they see you buy a 30pack of Busch every day, or a box of twinkies.

 

[Rustward]

And if you get the Kroger branded MasterCard, it has your shopper number (I think they call it Kroger Pluss) right there on the card -- no need for a separate shopper card. We use Kroger, but you have to shop on price. A box of Shredded Wheat at Kroger is $4, but WalMart has it for $3, so we occasionally experience the humanity at the nation's largest retailer for certain items.

 

[ERD50]

Every time I take a second look at coupons, I find that they are usually for name-brand stuff. Often the store brand is cheaper, or I can find a cheaper alternative.

Also, I've never seen a double- or triple-coupon offer around here.

When gathering coupons, I think it's very helpful to only get the ones that are for something you planned to buy anyway (and for the same brand, I agree, Al). Otherwise there is a risk of spending more, not less, with coupons.

Yep, and the coupons are rarely for the stuff we buy. They need to push the stuff with high markups. They can't afford to do this with the low margin stuff.

Every time we see some TV blip about someone getting an entire shopping cart of stuff at a grocery store for 2 cents or something, DW & I mention that you couldn't pay me to take 98% of that over-processed crap. I'd be embarrassed to give it to the food bank.

-ERD50

 

[Nords]

Most of the coupons we use are on the store's aisles, and we only use them if it's less than a generic/store brand. Otherwise we'd have to sort through an awful lot of junk mail for one or two coupons.

Every time I take a second look at coupons, I find that they are usually for name-brand stuff. Often the store brand is cheaper, or I can find a cheaper alternative.
Also, I've never seen a double- or triple-coupon offer around here.

Goodwill, especially with a punch-card redemption!

 

[Orchidflower]

I had never really thought too much about coupons. At this time i'm dating someone fairly new and she is into this. Anyways as an example we just went and "purchased" 3 cans of gillete shaving cream, 3 deodorants (some female brand) and 3 other cans of female shaving cream. Anyways for all this we had a $5, $9 and $5 coupon that came in the paper as long as you purchased multiples of these products.

I say that gal is marriage material!

 

[Dawg52]

That's a shame Dawg.

I shop at Kroger, get the double and triple coupon deal and yes I use my Kroger card for the sale items. They do track my purchases...and send a packet of coupons to me about every three months or so on items I purchase.

Glad it works for someone. Never have I received a packet of coupons in the mail on items I have purchased. But that's Winn Dixie. Glad they are gone.

 

[TromboneAl]

I also didn't like it when the store card idea came out. But one way to look at it is this: The company thinks it's really valuable to know what I purchase. As a result it subsidizes my purchases.

But even better, my purchases are subsidized by the non-card-holder shoppers who pay significantly more. That's a pretty good deal. I haven't gotten any targeted advertising, and it wouldn't bother me much if I did.

Also, the cards are coded to my phone number, so I don't have to carry anything extra in my wallet.