I went a little coupon crazy
By SomeCowgirl
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
United States
December 1, 2012 9:43am CST
So I am trying to be more of a smart shopper and started looking at ways online for me to get coupons without having a printer. Of course I know I can get the sunday paper, the coupons out of the catalina when I shop, and find coupons at the things around the store. To get the Sunday paper I would have to go to the gas station up the road from me because if it's a good coupon ad, the Sunday papers are gone by the time I get to work on Sunday evening.
I just used two coupon clipping services. I spent about $5.00 in over $20.00 worth of savings, so I still faired well. You do not pay for the coupons, but rather pay for the services of clipping the coupons. The fee is cheap, usually no more then 25 cents, and it depends on the rarity of the coupon.
I should be getting lots of coupons in the next two weeks. Some I paid for, some I requested via snail mail. I need to start calling or emailing a few companies. One is Horizon Milk, I get coupons via the catalina sometimes, but I've not in quite awhile.
In any case, did you know about these services? Do you use them?
2 people like this
7 responses
@911Ricki (13588)
• Canada
1 Dec 12
I use save.ca and websaver.ca , here which they print the coupons, and mail it to you, and you clip them out (they are free). I was just writing out a list of companies to email, and its always hit and miss with the companies honestly. I rarely pick up the coupons with the papers, as there is never good in it. I found the promotions companies hold, and emailing them got me better turnouts. For example I just used a company that sent me $10.00 off of $10.00 value, I paid $0.62 for 6 cans of cat food.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
1 Dec 12
I wouldn't want to do printable coupons, I'd rather them be clipped from papers. Down here there are rules against it. Like at my store it's three coupons per like item, no more then that. Only 20 coupons are going to double (We double up to 99 cents everyday)...
The clipped coupons are guranteed to work at stores, whereas printed not always. I've just looked through coupons in Sunday papers, some where people hardly got one that day at work, and I'm thinking "why didn't anyone get these?" I'd have.
The only time I've gotten one for like free was when I called and explained my package was damaged inside, and they sent me a coupon for a free item.
I'm looking forward to using my coupon clipping services again.
@911Ricki (13588)
• Canada
1 Dec 12
I know here many stores refuse the printable ones, as some can photocopy them and this is considered fraud.
I perfer fromt he company, or the paper myself, but again some cashiers make it sound like your robbing the store.
I have a few here from packages of food for free tuna, and chocolate, but I am trying to get it all back up and before I use to pay $10.00 for $100 worth of groceries.
while I working midnights I use to get out of it as I didnt have the time, and energy to do it. But now I am trying to get back into it like I once was.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
1 Dec 12
The way I feel about couponers as a cashier is this : I wish I could do it. Our couponers are loyal, they come back to us and I enjoy having them come through my line. Yes it does take a little away from us, but just a little. We still get them coming back, and they are loyal. Now there are other parts of my job that I don't like, like I want to do the bagging / making sure every bag is utilized, that can take away from us.
I don't have any right now, there are two hanging on the fridge from a package of food, but those we give to my sister as we don't use them.
I have plenty of time to search for coupons, I'm divising a schedule of when to start doing them, like every two weeks or so.
@celticeagle (189833)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Dec 12
That is so smart of you! Be careful not to fall for the coupon thing where you get the brand on the coupon and do not save money but actually end up paying more because the brand you would normally get would be much cheaper. In-store brands would be good ones. I saw a woman in line ahead of us last time I was in buy $85 worth of merchandise and payed only $12 for it using coupons.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
2 Dec 12
No, I won't be doing that. there are somethings I just do not buy becuase I can not see myself affording it, but with coupons I can indulge every once in awhile. There are some things, horizon milk, that I won't waiver on and so coupons for it would help. Yes couponers are smart smart people, I love to see them come through.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189833)
• Boise, Idaho
7 Dec 12
Yes, they are. It does take some forethought that I just don't seem to have anymore.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
8 Dec 12
Now that I've kind of experienced it firsthand for myself I see how hard it really is. I should have brought all of my coupons with me though I don't have a proper couponing system yet. Why? Because there were like three things I could have gotten for merely pocket change because of the coupon and the price.
Oh well you live and you learn.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
1 Dec 12
Ricki lives up in Canada ans listed a few sites that do for Canadians.
@ladym33 (10978)
• United States
1 Dec 12
I have heard of these types of things. I have also known people who use them. It seems like a pretty good deal, but it might be cheaper in the long run for you to go to a thrift store and pick up a nice used printer. I have seen them for about $10 at thrift stores. Just a suggested to help you in the long run, then you can print the coupons off the computer. Be careful though one of those sites gave me a bad virus on my computer.
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
1 Dec 12
We have a printer, just no ink. We have two printers really, and neither of them have ink. One stopped carrying the brand that is used for it. I'd rather use from the paper because that way I know it will work. Sometimes there are troubles with the sites, sometimes troubles with the coupons. I know that those that are printed out are harder to scan because I scan them for a living lol.
I appreciate the suggestions, but it's just not for me.
@LaDeBoheme (2004)
• United States
1 Dec 12
I have been using coupons since the '80s, but no, I have never paid for any service like clipping.
Coupons have come a loooong way since I started using them. Now it is possible to download coupons to your smartphone or to your store loyalty card.
Here are a few sites that offer alternatives to printing:
Coupon Sherpa: http://www.couponsherpa.com/
RetailMeNot: http://www.retailmenot.com/
Savings Card: http://www.coupons.com/couponweb/eoffers.aspx?pid=13306&nid=10&zid=iq37
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
1 Dec 12
People in my family have been couponing for years but I never have gotten really.. attached to it I guess you could say. Now though I am pretty much the one who buys food, if I don't buy food then it's going out to eat, and I can't keep doing that. I live with family again, and the one responsible for shopping doesn't know how to shop really, so I shop for myself, and share food with them, but I can't keep doing that without saving some money as I dont' get paid enough to juggle everything.
I've seen how it's done, now I just need to do it myself. Honestly since I work for a grocery store I will stay loyal to them, and shop at walmart also but that's most likely the only places I'll shop.
I've picked up a few more earning sites to help me save on other things as well and it's going nicely.
I don't shop at CVS but my sister works there, and she can tell me if anything worth my while will be there, i do need to sign up for my own card for them though.
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
1 Dec 12
I don't have a smartphone right now but I know there are some great services for that, or even just things like you scan an item and earn a point etc towards gift cards. I work for a grocery store that has coupons on their site you can put onto your card, I need to do more of that as I do shop where I work.
I'll check out those sites and see if they are for me, the more coupons I can get the better. Thank You.
@LaDeBoheme (2004)
• United States
1 Dec 12
Stores in my area, i.e. Food Lion, Giant, Target, and more, also print out coupons when checking out for future use based on your purchases. Some stores like CVS and Food Lion have kiosks in their store where you can scan your loyalty card and it spits out coupons, also based on your purchase history.
Even though I hate spam, I do have a separate dedicated e-mail address where stores will send me codes or links to automatically download savings to my card.
I really do like the whole card concept -- carry all your coupons in one handy piece of plastic, rather than fumbling through a bunch of pieces of paper while shopping in the store.
But like I said, I've been doing this for almost 30 years and it's become second nature to never leave home and go shopping without them.
But like I said, I've been doing this for almost 30 years and it's become second nature to never leave home and go shopping without them.
1 person likes this
@vernaC (1491)
• Romania
1 Dec 12
hi..I saw extreme couponing in tlc channel and very much amazed on their savings, some of them are not even paying anymore or less than 10 dollars. I went nuts and trying to find coupons. So far, i found none. Can you give me pointers and strategies? I'd really want this couponing.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
1 Dec 12
Hi, okay I'll be happy to.
First of all, Extreme couponing? It's a cute show but that's it, a cute show. A lot of places just do not allow such EXTREME couponing. Like I explained to ricki above, the store I work for it's only three coupons per like item, and limit of 20 that will double.
I am not sure where you live, but you should look online for coupon clipping services, for coupons you can get via snail mail, and you can always print them out if you have a printer. Calling or writing companies to express your love for their product is also another way to go.
I'm kind of new to this myself.
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
1 Dec 12
I may not be able to help you as much then. Do you guys not have them in your newspapers? You could try calling companies of products you use, or find their websites and email / write them. There may be a few Romanian bloggers who have couponed and can help you, perhaps a friendly cashier at a grocer would be able to help as well. We have machines here called catalina's, they print out coupons, when you go to a grocery store this is where they have them.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
1 Dec 12
I've heard of such services but have not participated in such things. I find it's better to buy store brands than to go crazy with coupons. Now if it's a significant savings to reduce the price lower than store brand perhaps but otherwise no it's not my thing. Plus they don't double coupons around here so it's quite pointless.
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
1 Dec 12
There are some things that are store brand that I just do not buy. Toilet paper for instance, and milk. I buy Horizon milk and it can be expensive. Coupons do save quite a bit though, I've seen it for myself. Some people who coupon still buy store brand on somethings but if they have a coupon they use it, of course my store doubles coupons.
I also save, or can, when my job gives it's employees a discount on something that I would eat.
