Just Because You Clip It Doesn’t Mean You Have To Buy It
I have been trying to become a more savvy grocery shopper, and part of that has been better incorporating coupons into my grocery shopping. I’d say into all my shopping but I don’t seem to shop for much more than groceries very often. I’ve started to consistently get the Sunday paper and not only read all of the circulars and plan my grocery list from them, I’ve been clipping coupons. I started out clipping too few coupons - only clipping what I absolutely knew I would use because I buy it, exactly, that brand, already. But I realized that if I can combine a coupon with a sale, I may be able to buy something name brand for less money than I usually buy generic items, and although I have no name brand vs generic preference for these things, I’d like to get the least expensive option possible.
So I started clipping loads and loads of coupons. basically anything that was for a type of something I’d buy, even if it wasn’t for the exact one I usually buy. I started clipping coupons in earnest in August, and so now some of them are starting to expire. And I realized that clipping coupons had a strange effect on me. If I clipped something, as it grew close to its expiration, I started to feel like I should buy it. Even if it wasn’t on sale. Even if the coupon wasn’t a big enough discount to warrant buying that item over whatever else I usually buy.
I haven’t bought anything just because I had a coupon. Yet. But if I hadn’t realized that just having the coupon was giving me this feeling like I needed to buy it, I might have ended up buying some things that weren’t a bargain at all, just because I had a coupon.
Just because I clipped it doesn’t mean I have to use it. Last night I stopped at Meijer (a grocery store) to do my weekly shopping trip there, and they had a new Dole bagged salad kit on sale for buy one get one free. I didn’t know what the original price was, but I had a coupon for 55 cents for it (which they would double), so I decided to check it out. It turns out that the regular price for it is $3.99, so with my coupon doubled, I would pay $2.89 for two bags, or ~$1.45 each bag. I was thinking of getting some when I didn’t know what the price was, because a salad kit in a bag sounded fun. But it ended up enough more expensive than buying salad ingredients, per ounce, then making my own salads, that I decided to forgo the fun of a nifty salad kit. So I left the carefully clipped coupon on the shelf for someone else who might want it.
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September 17th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Like you, I recently started clipping coupons. We’ve always been a family that has basically eaten “clean”, so there wasn’t much need for the RedPlum instert, but with our grocery budget shrinking we’re having to rethink grocery savings. My best advice to you is to make friends with someone who delivers the Sunday paper. We have a friend who passes 7 or 8 newspapers on to us per week. Then me and two friends clip coupons en masse and wait for the sales. Between 3 families, there’s always someone using something, so not much coupon waste, we don’t pay anything for the newspaper, so it’s all straight profit. Whoppee!
Oh, and we bought the Dole salad. You’re right, it’s good, but not $3.99 good. Win some, lose some.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I love finding people’s coupons on shelves! I leave some behind when I can’t use them, as well. I wonder what the employees think. heh
September 17th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Oh, I can so relate to this! I also started clipping coupons diligently a few months ago, then realized that I was buying things because I had coupons for them without comparing the price with the coupon to other options for that item. I got a little more savvy about it eventually, but lately my life has gotten really busy and I haven’t been taking the time to plan my grocery and other shopping around sales and coupons like I was doing before. Thanks for the reminder to get back into it!
September 17th, 2008 at 9:27 am
i clip a lot of coupons too, but have gotten over the “need” to use them all. i’m a grocery gamer so i match coupons with sales, and i’ve also left coupons in the grocery store for others. and i keep my expired ones to send to overseas military families — they can use them for six months or so after the expiration date. just google “expired coupons for military” and you’ll find organizations that you can send yours to.
September 17th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Morning!!
My mother was a couponer, and now I am too. I have a feeling that even after I’m completely out of debt, i’ll continue this practice.
Here’s how I handle coupons:
1. I file the inserts by date in an expanding file.
2. I watch for sales for items that my household uses regularly (not brand-specific).
3. I use the Hot Coupon World coupon database to find out if there’s coupons for a specific product when it goes on sale.
4. I clip that coupon from that insert, because HCW tells me where to find it.
5. I also clip and keep a separate file for BXGY coupons that come through and take those with me through the store in case I see any unadvertised deals.
6. When I’m stocked on an item, I will absolutely NOT buy it unless it’s free to me.
7. I keep a file for expireds for the military, and a file for things like dog food (I don’t have a dog) and baby items (no kids!) to RAOK (random act of kindness) while walking through the stores. A roll of tape always goes with me through the market.
September 17th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I was making myself crazy with the coupons too, printing out free ones online, weekly inserts, etc. I was wasting ink and paper and never getting around to using over half the coupons! I think what’s working for me best now is to simply toss Sunday’s in folder (don’t even bother clipping!) and when I’m getting my list together for the week’s groceries, I’ll browse online the weekly sale to see if there are things I’m out of, browse the Sunday folder to see if there are coupons for anything on my list, then go online and print out anything I buy regularly and need now (pullups). So far, this is saving my sense, and a few cents ;).
I don’t have the dedication to line up sales and BOGO offers too much, don’t have the room to stockpile, and usually buy generic, but I’m still saving an average of 15$ a week, and take advantage of BOGO when I see them.
September 17th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
There’s lots of ways to acquire coupons; there are even Yahoo groups where you can trade or purchase in bulk. The trick is being organized enough to combine the coupons with sales -when possible- and knowing what you can purchase en masse and use over time (stockpiling). Your price book would be really helpful to determine when it makes sense to use coupons.
I am always open to trying different brands and products; I also will sometimes buy with a really good coupon something I normally wouldn’t consider. Keeps things interesting!
I now keep a spreadsheet sorted by expiration date and by aisle (of the grocer I go to most often). I have a big “thing” I use to keep coupons sorted the same way when I am in the store, too, which helps keep me from getting “confused” or forgetting something.
It is work, though, with the payment being lower prices and a variety of foods in our home.
Don’t forget coupons are also out there for diapers, OTC meds, lotions, etc.
September 18th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Good point, well made. I am constantly being bombarded with Burger King vouchers but I never used them. If I did I would end up spending money where I wouldn’t have.