OK, so it’s a little dramatic. But I do kind of feel like I’m at the end of an era in coupon shopping! A couple of weeks ago, I downsized my coupon box from this:
Original, big coupon box!
To this:
New, smaller coupon box
That’s a big change for me! There were several reasons I downsized my coupon box:
- I wanted to be able to take it in the store with me, and it’s gotten difficult to take my big coupon box with me when I have all my kids with me. The new one fits in my purse!
- I’m not using nearly as many coupons as I used to. We’re eating more foods made from scratch because they are healthier and more filling, and I haven’t had as much time to go around to all the stores to get the best deals.
- I wanted all my grocery and retail/restaurant coupons all in one place, so that I’d always have them with me. Even though I’ve been couponing for years, I’ve never had a good system for organizing retail and restaurant coupons. I kept them in an envelope in my purse for awhile, but it got beat up. Since I didn’t always have my big grocery coupon box with me, I didn’t want to put them in there or I’d never have them when I needed them. Now they are all in one box, and that box is always in my pure.
I’m still using coupons, for sure – just not as much as I used to, which you can read about in this link. I used to be able to get things like cereal for cheap so consistently that I clipped every single coupon for cereal.
Now, the deals are fewer and farther between, and my family needs something more filling than even a “non-sugary” cereal. So, we’re eating lots of oatmeal, bagels with cream cheese, and yogurt with granola for breakfast. I clip coupons for those items when they’re available (I’ve gotten some Cascadian Farm granola cheap that way recently!) but often I’m just buying things on sale but not necessarily at the lowest price.
I’ll still buy the deals on granola bars and cereal and crackers, but I’m couponing more strategically and saving the items I buy for traveling or weeks. So, I just didn’t need all that space in my coupon box!
I’ve been thinking about downsizing my coupon box for awhile, and I’m glad I finally did. It’s less overwhelming to me to have a small box at this point, and I think I’ve probably been using coupons more, now that it’s a little less to organize and I’m able to carry it into the store with me every time.
$1.99 for Pantry Essentials (gallon) at Safeway
You are not the only one Carrie! I also use less coupons, as we try to eat “healthier”. Of course, my garden is a real blessing-well worth the effort. I use a small photo album for my coupons and it also fits in my purse. Thanks for all you do to make our job easier!
You are welcome! :)
I don’t think there are as many great coupon deals as there used to be. Does anyone else feel that way?
That’s the sense I get too, Michelle. I think that as more people have become coupon savvy, the retailers and manufacturers have had to make adjustments to better control how much they give away free, you know?
Carrie, that’s amazing! I have always just used one of those wallet-size organizers, even when I did a lot of couponing. I bet you’re going to be a lot happier with your more portable solution!
Yeah, I think that more people becoming coupon-savvy affects the deals, but also, the economy has affected manufacturers too, so they just can’t offer the same deals they used to, even apart from coupons.
i agree! I can’t seem to get back into couponing big time because the deals just aren’t there like they used to be, sadly, since the prices are WAY up these days!
I’ve done the same thing! We mostly only eat whole foods in our house now. Now I only clip coupons for the stuff we always buy and nothing else. That way I still get to stock up on good deals like free shavers, and skip all the junk :)
I totally agree! I haven’t downsized the coupons quite yet, but I’m clipping fewer for sure. We also cancelled our Post subscription lately. There were a few extra coupons I might use, but it wasn’t worth the few dollars and the temptation to read things I didn’t actually care about.
My friends and I have discussed this a lot. It used to be that every time I went to the store I saved at least 50% and got at least one thing free. Now I am thrilled if I get something free. It is true that I am also more careful about the products our family is eating. The GMO research I have been doing has changed my shopping habits. I wish there were more coupons for produce and organic items.
Yeah, 50% used to always be my minimum goal but that’s like a super-good shopping trip now! We are eating less processed foods as well, and since I have less time than ever to grocery shop, I’m buying more things at regular or barely-a-sale price just so that I make sure my pantry is well-stocked and I’m not making unnecessary trips to the store.
Maybe Springsbargains can start a section that doesn’t have to do with specific stores any more and just go with money saving ideas. I have done a lot of health food research in the past and alternate ways of eating. I am working on stockpiling things for that kind of thing. Like I have a lot of dry peas and instead of just using them as peas they can be sprouted in about a week and used as a fresh vegetable for salads or sandwiches. Also lentils, clover seeds, and mung beans can be used as a main protein source that is sprouted. Mung beans and lentils can be eaten in a day after soaking- so they are really quick and super high in protein and no fat.
That is something I have learned that a couple of pounds of greens can be around 40-50 gms of protein, a head of broccoli can meet protein requirements for a day, and a smaller amount of the sprouted mung beans and lentils have adequate protein. Ive eaten soaked buckwheat and you can add raisins and cinnamon for a breakfast cereal- good with a little almond or coconut milk, chopped apples or berries, etc.
Another thing to get is tvp if you dont think your family will eat sprouted beans for protein. You can use it for tacos, chili, stuffed peppers, etc. and it is pretty good. I dont know about the gmo status if that kind of thing though.
A big advantage of growing ones own sprouts is that you know they dont have pesticides on them, gmo, and that nothing weird happened in the packaging or shipping process.
I’d love to see a section where people posted the best places to buy bulk fruit, nuts, bulk beans and grains, etc. and even recipes.
Liz, that’s a good idea, but to be honest, I have to tell you that I don’t have the time, or the money to hire another employee, to post even more money-saving ideas than we already do. :) I know there are a lot of websites that already focus on that, so at this point, I’m going to have to leave that to them. :)