Colorado Springs Coupons, Grocery Deals, And More
Andrea just posted a link to this crazy article: 8 Reasons You Shouldn’t Use Coupons. Among them, you shouldn’t use coupons because it takes time (tell me something that saves or earns you money that doesn’t take time!), and you “have to” buy a newspaper.
What would you say in rebuttal to this article?
$2.99 for Store Brand (gallon) at King Soopers
Added 05/19/2012 by Carrie
$6.79 for Horizon Organic (gallon) at Target
Added 05/19/2012 by Carrie
$2.49 for Store Brand (gallon) at Target
Added 05/19/2012 by Carrie
$4.99 for Horizon Organic (gallon) at Safeway
Added 05/19/2012 by Carrie
$4.59 for Store Brand Organic (half gallon) at Safeway
Added 05/19/2012 by Carrie
I would say that #5 is completely off-base. That’s a huge misconception about couponing – “they only put out coupons for junk food”…well, what about razors, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, dishwashing stuff, laundry products…etc!! The amount of money I have saved by using a “coupons + sales” mentality on buying those things has allowed me to provide WELL for my family and give SO MUCH overstock to friends, family and the needy. Twice I have gone shopping specifically to give 95% of the cart to someone else. I would NEVER have been able to afford that without coupons. She writes, “…coupons will only get you more food or different food – they won’t truly save you any money.” Well, that’s huey in my book!!
While some of these things *can* be true, it totally depends on if you coupon smart or not! I never buy stuff just because I have a coupon (unless it is free or overage), but lots of people do. And the time thing- I stay at home with my daughter so I have plenty of time to do it and it relaxes me. Plus it allows us to give more freely to food banks and such :)
#7 really made me laugh! “It can be very difficult to buy something without a coupon once you get used to using coupons.” First it says you really can’t save any money by using coupons, then it says it’s worth it buy ice cream for $4 rather than pine for it when you bought it for $2.50. I don’t think the article was written very well and the arguements just don’t “add” up in my book.
I agree with Beth – the article contradicts its own logic. First, coupons can encourage you to buy unhealthy things you normally wouldn’t, yet you become a “coupon slave” if you can’t wait to buy ice cream? Ridiculous.
Seriously? I wasted more time reading that article than I do clipping coupons. I only ever clip coupons for things I need/want or can get for free after the discount. And we have a subscription to the Gazette so it’s not like I’m running out to buy a paper every week. I’m a firm believer in cutting costs where possible and coupons help me do that.
I agree with some of the points of the article and can’t entirely disregard it. In the effort to feel like you are saving, you can actually spend more money (buy things you wouldn’t otherwise buy or travel to a store out of the neighborhood and spend the time and gas money to do so). It takes a smart shopper to really make it pay off. What I have found for me…I won’t travel a distance for a sale anymore and no longer schedule my life around certain days to get free things. Yes, it’s a thrill to get something for nothing, but the freebies can pack on the pounds. I only watch for the sales and coupons for the things I need and use regularly. It helps me to watch the flyers and the coupons to match them together for when the sales arrive. I definitely think it’s worthwhile to use coupons. I saved $70. by using them yesterday. I only bought things I knew I needed, though. It didn’t use to be that way with me- when I was constantly chasing the sales.
I would agree with a lot of her point IF you aren’t a smart coupon shopper! But self-control is a necessary part of a LOT of my life lol! I will say that I am buying a little bit more in the way of convenience food like Hamburger Helper since starting couponing, but I am buying TONS and TONS more fresh produce since I started watching sales (er ok, since I started watching Carrie’s blog to see what she says about sales!). And as for the ice cream example, I wouldn’t do without anything I really needed to feed my family just because I don’t have a coupon. If I get used to only buying ice cream with a coupon well, that means I can spend my hard-saved dollars on some smaller clothes!
I’m with Beth – this is a terribly written article. The author clearly was making stuff up on the fly with no real data to back it up. You have to buy a newspaper! The horror!!!!!
That said, I’m not a die hard coupon fan. In fact, I think you can eat healthier and cheaper without them. It’s just a matter of trading your time to save some money. Some people like to trade their time and clip coupons in order to keep a bit more of their paycheck. Others will trade time in the kitchen making things from scratch.
I e-mailed the author (googled her and found her e-mail contact on her blog) with a point-by-point response. Some of the highlights were:
“Couponing takes discretion, just as many other methods of saving money do. I adhere to the principle of buying only what I need, and it keeps me from giving in to advertising.”
“If I don’t have a coupon for one kind of ice cream, there is usually another kind I do have a coupon for and/or is on sale. Because I stock up on things I know I like to keep on hand while they’re on sale and have coupons, I save a large percentage off of full price. If I don’t have ice cream on hand, I’ll either wait until I need quite a few things before I go to the store, or find something else in my well-stocked kitchen to have instead, such as yogurt.”
“If you shop at the same few stores on a regular basis, finding an item you have a coupon for doesn’t take any longer than buying it without a coupon. My shopping trips are well-planned, with a list of what I need and a packet of the coupons I’ll be using for those items. I go in, I get what’s on my list, and I check out.”
“Someone who hasn’t already started clipping coupons should consider doing so. With the wealth of information available online on the best deals at stores in your area and what coupons to combine with them for optimum savings, you have so much to gain.”
I suggested she should have re-titled the article “8 Reasons Why You Should Use Caution With Coupons” or something of that nature.
Great responses, Becky! I did the same – except I just sent her a free copy of Grocery University. ;)
I’d say I’m in the middle of smart and dumb couponer. That said – even with my “gotta have” items, shopping at one store, my splurges and figuring in the cost of the newspaper – I still save around 50%… or roughly $100 a month. I will save up two or three weeks of newspapers and sit down and clip and will buy in spurts because we don’t have the luxury right now of my being able to get around very well. I sit down for max 2 hours clipping what I want, know I will use and occasionally I will print from the net. Still, even with my not so great shopping – that’s $25 an hour for sitting on my tush. When the twins come, I’ll probably get a bit better because we’re doubling up on diapers, wipes, shampoos, etc. but for now, I can’t stand not to keep with my cravings or certain meals that I make regularly.
I think this writer got exactly what they wanted…a lot of people to read a ridiculous article. It is funny the interpretations some people have in life, isn’t it?
I don’t think this person has ever tried couponing. I have been spending about $300 and saving about $300 a month. I send all my ‘extra’ stuff to soldiers over seas. Even with sending a package a month, I am still saving 50%. I got hooked slowly but now I am fully hooked!
Reason to use coupons: You get to buy and try items you either would not have otherwise been able to afford or felt that the initial price point was too high. Sure, buying a newspaper just for the coupons can be a gamble (especially when buying several), but I have saved money each and EVERY time.
Part of #5 is incorrect. I have found alot of coupons for many good-for-you things. Often, a coupon for a cereal that you expect is a healthy choice is for a higher money-off value than a coupon for a sugary cereal (most of which are not that bad for you). I always find coupons for butter, oil & milk alternatives that are supposedly more healthful, as well as organics, fruit juices, canned/frozen fruits & veggies, granola, etc. All you need to do is make sure to keep a balance in the variety of things you’re choosing to eat.
I don’t think it is true to say that you can eat better without using coupons. I make most things from scratch as well, but I’m a die-hard coupon user – I don’t remember the last time I paid for toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving cream or shampoo! Coupons have also gotten me free pineapple, free berries and super cheap organic milk and yogurt (for the times when I was unable to make my own yogurt). If you have some self-control and just choose not to buy the chips and cookies and processed things that you wouldn’t normally buy, coupons are great.
It’s just like saying that because there is a McDonald’s on my way to the store and I have to drive right by the drive-through entrance, I’m going to eat there more and gain weight. Not true – if I choose to drive past it. Even when there are coupons for free smoothies, I could still choose not to use them. Same with the chips in the store aisles – just keep walking!
Or better yet – buy them for free or very cheap and donate them or send them in a care package to deployed soldiers! I’m sure they would love some chips and cookies!
When I first started couponing I felt like I had to get every deal and then I realized that was not a good use of the money that God has called me to be a steward of. Now I use the ones I want and give away the others, but we do take advantage of the “free” items because even if I don’t use them there is someone who will. In our old neighborhood the ladies would come over ( we had some elderly ones who could not get out much) and “shop” from our free section. Usually dishwashing things (we make our own), laundry soap (we make that too), and personal hygine. It just takes self disipline to use those coupons to make the most of your money. I’d like to thank Carrie for teaching that to so many people. You have helped us cut our grocery bill by 68% and we still have enough to donate. Thanks.
are we in the 21st century? I mean, I occasionally clip coupons from the flyers that come in the mail (OK, yes, and that occasional Sunday paper), but has the article’s author never heard of coupons online? Online coupons take the wind out of her argument: you don’t have to “clip,” you don’t have to “buy” a newspaper, and you only click on the coupons you’ll actually use, so you don’t end up “buying products you normally wouldn’t.”
Sounds to me like she’s got a rich persons view of the world, for sure.