sew cornie

Oh yes, I use coupons. And I do my best to use them when the items are already on sale which saves a bundle. I shop at 2 or 3 stores per week, tailoring a list for each store based on sales ads. Last week my grocery bill at one store was $142.62, but I paid only $89.52. Saved $53.10! I usually average 30-40% savings each week. It is so satisfying to see the original total and then watch it drop like a rock as the coupons come ticking off. And I like the challenge of trying to beat my best record.

Among 3 of our 4 family members, we have allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, dairy, egg, and watermelon. This really limits us in brand selection, knocking most store brands and generics out due to either ingredients or processing. Coupons really save so much for us, especially on items in which the name brand is our only safe choice.

amma

When my kids were home, we would buy 3-5 Sunday papers for the coupons. When my oldest started driving, it was awesome to give her the list, they would clip coupons, I would alot X amount of dollars. Their goal was to get everything on the list for the least amount of money, the extra they were allowed to use for junk food :wink: They were AWESOME at this... There were actually times they came home with as much munchies as regular food. The next week, the extra they would save I gave to them in cash to go to the movies. This taught them to budget and save, it helped them immensely when they married and started families.

I still clip some coupons, but shopping for one, and the items I normally buy, there aren't many coupons available. Most of what I use now are all non grocery coupons :D:D:D

May in Jersey

Hey shopping nowadays is a big job even though it's just the 2 of us . Clipping and using coupons, checking weekly supermarket circulars for the best sales, keeping a list going at home when I use up an item and lugging those bags home isn't fun. I'm lucky to have several big supermarkets near me, newest one has the others offering $'s off my next order. I usually get a free turkey by spending a certain amount and sometimes a pork loin. Been seeing fewer coupons in the newspapers and in the mail, going to check out the websites listed to see what I can use. I always check out prices of store brand vs. buying a name brand product with a coupon to see what's the best bargin money and taste wise. Sometimes store brands don't taste or work as well as name ones. Get better prices and quality of cold cuts, fruits, veggies and eggs at the local farm market. Plan my shopping trips around errands to save on gas too. Check out clerks at one supermarket circle my savings on my checkout receipt. Now if I would just go home and put that amount in the bank I'd be rich!
May in Jersey

Lneal

I'm interested, please post should you find it. Thanks

homequilter

I used to use a lot of coupons but in my area, the stores are no longer doubling. Also, the selection of coupons has dwindled considerably in the past 6 months. I used to save about 10-15% when I would shop-not any more.

Olivia's Grammy

If you saved $139.00, how much was your total bill?

tlrnhi

Years ago, I was "in charge" of the coupons that people would send for the boat. Ladies all around the states would send me packages upon packages of coupons. I would sit for hours, sort them out, then at a meeting, would "dump" them on a table for people to go thru. What wasn't taken, was tossed in the trash. Some of the coupons, ok...ALOT of the coupons were expired. This is when I was in Hawaii. I wrote a nice letter to the lady who was heading the coupon thing up and told her that many of the coupons we were getting were expired and unusable. Well, I guess she got her nose in a snit or something because all of a sudden, the coupons stopped coming. I really didn't mind since I didn't have to go thru them anymore. Was actually a blessing in disguise for me.
But, a few of us had sat down and pretty much sent a list of what brands we could purchase so the ladies who were sending could eliminate brands we couldn't use. Guess they really couldn't read because we would get coupons for TONS of things that weren't carried on island.
I know here on Guam, there are some boats that get the packages and people are grateful for them. Don't get me wrong, we ARE grateful for them, but when most of the coupons are for things that are unobtainable, it's not a good thing.
Ok...I'm rambling...guess it's time for bed.

Lisa_wanna_b_quilter

Our Wal-mart will match any ad for groceries. Since Wal-mart is only 12 miles away and all the "real" grocery stores are about 40 miles away, it's nice. Look at all the ads at all the stores, pick all the best prices and take the ad to Wal-mart.

Tippy

I've just started using coupons again this week.. went to Krogers and my total bill was $119. my savings was .... $59.
and I didn't buy a thing that wasn't on my "list". Did similar at WalMart and Target. Though not as much total cost..I have a friend who does ad comparisons then takes it all to WalMart and gets EVERYTHING there. they have a policy to match sale prices. Saves her a stop.. It's on the way for me so it's no problem. I also check the dates on the sale items if I'm buying a lot to make sure it won't expire before I get it used. I've sent comments on products to several companies in the past also and wound up getting free product and coupons for my effort.. well worth 5 minutes to send an e-mail

Lisanne

Well, just realize it's rarely the cashier's fault. Nowadays, cashiers just scan the bar codes or punch in code numbers, They don't enter actual prices the way they used to. It's more that a price wasn't updated in the store's computer system. Or that the shelf stockperson didn't put the items by the right sign or didn't update the shelf price tag.

It's the same here. Who buys those bras???