A few topics lately have mentioned ways to save money.... So I thought I would ask about coupons.
Do you use them?
If so, where?
The grocery store?
Online?
At restaurants?
Any other places come to mind?
If not, why?
Just curious.......
Yes we use them, always have, at all the above.
My mom taught me to take advantage of discounts, including coupons, at an early age. She always said "manufacturers wouldn't print them if they didn't want you to use them." Makes perfect sense to me!
Cat
(Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle.... Live simply, love wholly, give generously, care deeply, speak kindly.
CatandJim wrote: ... "manufacturers wouldn't print them if they didn't want you to use them." Makes perfect sense to me!
But it's also true that manufacturers wouldn't have to use them to entice you to buy their products, if the products were already a good value.
Over the years, I have gradually given up on grocery coupons since a smaller and smaller number of them were relevant to the way we eat, and the majority seemed to be for processed foods that were overpriced, unhealthy, and we could make them better and cheaper on our own. Or I had to buy 3 of something to get one free. Even the "good" ones for name brands often just reduce the price difference between the branded item and the store-brand equivalent.
So I just go to the market with the best specials and average prices.
I also shop where I get the best overall prices and even take in competitor's ads for a price match when I can. I find coupons to be very useful on the brands we buy on a regular basis as well as paper products, shampoo, and pet supplies. There are certain items that I will buy the store brands, too.
I don't fall into the trap of buying anything simply based on a coupon, especially junk food. My slower metabolism can't keep up with the challenge of eating junk.
I used to use store coupons quite a bit, generally saved 50-60% off my grocery bill each week. There are web sites that tell you which are the best ones to use for your grocery store that week.
Stores here have cracked down on their usage. You used to be able to use several of the same coupon, say 6 coupons for 6 items and they would double the amount. Now I think they will only double 1 or 2, and the rest are at face value.
I would get the freebies and $.15 toiletries (toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, etc) and donate them.
Nothing wrong with using coupons for things you buy.
Cat, I use coupons all the time. When I'm shopping on-line, I will do a search for "coupon codes for (fill in name of store). There are a bunch of places where you can find coupon codes for everything from a percentage off to free shipping. If I can't find a coupon code, I've gone so far as to call customer service and ask if they're offering any specials and what the coupon codes are. I've never had a company turn down telling me over the phone.
One company that I buy shipping boxes from (I have to buy 48x4x4 boxes for some of our very popular products) had a special if you buy 100 of them. Well, it was around Christmas time, and I knew that I'd end up using the 100 boxes, so I took the deal and yes, I easily went through those 100 boxes. The savings just about equaled the cost of shipping!
I also go to different places on-line to find coupons for groceries. If I'm heading to McDonald's or some other fast food place, I will go to their website and see if they have a printable coupon -- many times they do.
I've even started going to places on-line that offer free samples! A free sample of deodorant can last a month! I had a bunch of free shampoo and conditioner samples and that's what my girls took for their week at summer camp. It was much more convenient to pack a couple of those little bottles, than give them a BIG bottle!
I use coupons and sometimes I save the unused ones from my Sunday paper and give them to my friends to go through. I also have my mom saving me the cat food and litter ones. I never buy my hair color wihout a coupon, I just saved $4.00 off an $8.00 box of L'oreal Preference! A lot cheaper and more convenient than running to the beauty salon every 4 weeks, lol.
Sometimes a good coupon will convince me to try a new product or a different brand than I would normally buy, but usually I just clip the ones for stuff I know we use.
DH used to track our coupon savings, and we'd always have several hundred dollars a year. It's very minimal work to clip them and keep up with them, so I figure it's pretty much free money.
I've never gotten into the online coupon sites. From what I hear, a lot of stores won't accept them, and it just seems like too much of a hassle to hunt them down, print them out and hold up the line if they're not accepted.
Me and the DH
Two boys and two dogs (and two cats who prefer to stay home)
2008 Forest River Georgetown 350DS (bunkhouse model)
2001 Honda CR-V
Offline
I had a bunch of free shampoo and conditioner samples and that's what my girls took for their week at summer camp. It was much more convenient to pack a couple of those little bottles, than give them a BIG bottle! 
