Are you using coupons more lately?
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
May 29, 2008 8:34pm CST
I don't think I've ever seen so many people using coupons before in my life. Even men with mitfuls of coupons! I used to use coupons more, but often my husband showed me that the generic food was cheaper than the name brands even with coupons. Since then, very seldom do I use coupons. Do you use them more than you have before? Are they worth it for you? Many things I like there are no coupons for and often there are coupons for things I could care less about. So that really narrows the number of coupons I use down.
But I did like Michael's 50% off one item not on sale coupon. I like 3 dollars off any item at PetSmart. 25% off Borders Books. Those are my kind of coupons. What kinds of coupons do you like best?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
31 May 08
I don't like to grocery shop but my husband does so he messes around with all the coupons and is so thrilled when he saves money. He does end up buying some things we don't need and only because he had a coupon. That makes me a little crazy but he earns the money in the family so I don't complain. I will use coupons from the newspaper or in mailers at places like Michael's or other stores if I am going there anyway. I won't bother to make a special trip to Michael's since they are quite a distance from our house just to save 50 cents or so.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
1 Jun 08
I agree about taking advantage of a 50% off coupon. I don't shop very often at Michael's since I can buy any craft supplies at Walmart and they are really cheap. I buy plastic canvas in quantity so I do have enough for a year or so. Michael's has some great craft projects and I love to shop there when I am in the vicinity.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
4 Jun 08
You'd love it up here. Walmart and Michaels are close to each other. Like one parking lot to the next. Yes, Walmart has some great stuff and much of it is cheaper. Esp. yarn. Sometimes even our dollar stores have some great yarn. Take care
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
1 Jun 08
I work next door to Michaels and I think you'd better look at those flyers. Some coupons aren't 50 cents, they're 50% off. They've had two coupons so far in the last couple of months for any one item 1/2 price. That makes a $150 knitting machine including a Dvd on how to use it affordable at $75 and some of the other big ticket items. Like some of their books. They've been having way better sales than just 50 cents off. So if you are going by anyway, 50 percent off can be really, really good if you see a big ticket item you'd like.
Yes, I agree that some people do save a lot of money with coupons, but if they don't watch out, they can use up all the savings by buying things that they wouldn't normally buy. Thanks and take care.
@freedomg (1684)
• United States
2 Jun 08
I have been using them a lot more lately we are on a very tight budget and need to. While I do buy generic for a lot of stuff some things the generic is not an equal quality. That's where i bring in the coupons. As well as for eating out or like some of the other posters said craft stores, oil changes,ect. You just have to do your research to see what will get you the better deal.
1 person likes this
@whittby (3072)
• United States
1 Jun 08
I don't use many of the grocery coupons because they're usually for convenience foods that I don't buy. I cook from scratch whenever possible. I buy meat on sale and look for the manager's specials markdowns we have occasionally around here.
I should be looking for coupons for toiletries more often though. Even WalMart takes coupons and I'm sure I'd save a little as I don't always buy generic there.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
2 Jun 08
I was buying regular food and cooking from scratch, but now with two part-time jobs, not so much any more. Part of the problem is the commute time, 25 minutes each way. But I think I will have more time now because I won't be looking for a job which takes more time than having one with all the resume writing, interviews, etc.
@bowtieguy (5915)
• United States
31 May 08
I pay more attention to them now then I ever used to, I used to just dismiss them. I always had a hard time finding ones for the products I like to buy and would not settle for less. I am still having that problem sometimes but have tried harder find some I can use.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
1 Jun 08
I don't believe people should get coupons for things they wouldn't normally buy either. Defeats the purpose of saving money if you buy more stuff than you would normally buy.
You're proving what I thought, people who wouldn't normally be bothered with coupons are using them now. I hope my job realizes this and they give me more coupons. I think we're loosing business to companies that are giving them out. Thanks
@sherlock27 (913)
• United States
1 Jun 08
If I have need for a certain product and I come across a coupon for it I'll use it. I don't keep coupons for items I don't use. I sometimes take those along to the store anyway and drop them on the shelves in the store thinking someone else may be able to use them. I don't ride around from store to store like some people I know just to save a few pennies on a product that may be out in my usual store, that's wasting GAS!!! I don't use too many generics because they don't all do as well as the name brands.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
1 Jun 08
I agree with you for most of what you said. Generics, some aren't as good, some are, and some are better. For instance, there is a generic mixed veggies in a can at Aldies that we like better. Instead of just green beans and carrots or peas and carrots, the mixed veggies have all kinds of stuff including potatoes, lima beans, etc., not just two vegetables and call it mixed veggies. So it does depend. Like generic puffed rice, pretty much the same. So you may have just had a run of some of the ones that aren't as good. Like I compared ingredients in some generic mixes and some are mostly or all artificial ingredients whereas the regular mixes had more or all real ingredients. So yes, some are worse, but some are the same and some are better. Like shredded wheat, the generic where I am and the name brands are all 100% wheat, so it's pretty much the same. But mixes and some of the cheeses, the generic isn't anywhere near as good. You're right. Some of the cheeses are only half cheese or don't have cheese in them (how you can be a cheese and have no milk is beyond me, should be in the soy aisle).
But thank you very much, this does make for an interesting debate on generic items. Take care and thanks.
@TheManager24 (1302)
• Philippines
1 Jun 08
the only coupons i see here in my place are mcdonalds or jollibee coupons... the fastfood type.
i will check our newspapers and see if they have coupons and will try to use them. i love sale and discounts.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
1 Jun 08
Usually Sunday papers have the most coupons. Now some places have Sunday plus one more day, whatever day their newspaper sales are low, and the sales will be for different items from the Sunday paper.
So, yes, do check. My Mother used to go with coupons on double coupon days and whichever ones didn't say no doubles, she really went to town. She could buy $200 worth of groceries and other necessities for $100.
Let me know how you do. Thanks and take care.
@Adelida2233 (1005)
• United States
30 May 08
It depends on what the item is. For a lot of food items, I choose the brand name that I grew up with(which is of course what they are hoping), but I use coupons to counteract the price. Things like peanut butter where the brand names really arn't all that different(I mean really, it's busted up peanuts, how different can it be?)I buy what I have a coupon for, or a store brand, whatever is cheaper.
There are lists on the internet of where stores have thier store brands made. For instance, Ukrops(a local grocery store chain in Virginia) uses the same beans and roasters as Starbucks, so the coffee tastes almost indentical(if not exactly the same, I cant seem to make coffee the same twice to be able to actually test this theory).
I like all kinds of coupons, but only if it is for something I would be buying anyways. There's no point in buying something on sale if you aren't going to use it. You can still save a ton with coupons, and now with the price of food, it's almost necessary.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
30 May 08
Yes, I agree, only if I'm going to use it anyway.
Peanut butter, some of it, if you read the ingredients, where is the peanut butter? I like mine to be peanut butter and peanut oil. Some of that has everything but the kitchen sink in, like molasses and soy bean oil. Also the salt content. I wish it all was just busted up peanuts.
Thanks and take care
