How much money do you save on groceries - when using coupons?

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   Karina S.posted 14 years ago

   How much money do you save on groceries - when using coupons? (per month)

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      falcon64posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I used coupon not most of the time. Maybe $10 dollars a month for my favorite pizza house.

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      Habbyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I do use coupons, but prefer to save money using the store brand item.  I save lots more money this way.  The main way I save money at the store is to plan menus for the week that use some of the same items: pico, feta cheese, rotisserie chicken, etc. This way, I don't waste those items.

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      CRMoneysaverposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I follow several bloggers and am learning to REALLY use coupons.  I went to Target last night and saw my total go from $155 to $105.  Some people probably do much better but I'm still learning.  I'm pretty proud of saving $50 on one run though:)

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         Moms-Secretposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Are you saving more now?  I hope so!

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      MarloByDesignposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Over $20 - I love coupons!

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      webguyonlineposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      above $50, i usually use coupons,  most of them are found online.

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      arsenicandoldlaceposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Coupons are a stupid waste of time. Picture trying to cut them out and file them and then find them again when you are shopping with five hungry kids. I once dumped my whole purse out at the check out aisle to find a coupon for an expensive brand of peanut butter and to hunt down the extra $1.00 in change it was going to cost me to afford it! Store and sale brands are much more economical both in time and money.

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         MarloByDesignposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         arsenicandoldlace, I completely disagree with you. If you keep your coupons organized, they end up saving you lots of money. Take it from me and many members of my family.

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      4closurefraud32posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      coupons along with shopping the store sales and brands can save you big! i recently woke up and switched to this method of shopping and easily save over $100 each month and about 33% off my average bill. i always sign up for the grocery store circulars to see when store sales are going on and organize brand coupons around that... hope it helps!

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      dutchman1951posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      none, I am diabetic and the coupons don't cover health foods and such, very few apply

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         Danddmanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I'm diabetic as well and coupons do help a lot.  The secret is to MAKE healthy food. Quit buying so called healthy, prepackaged meals. Processed foods are not healthy for the most part.  Buy your basics and make your own healthy meals.  They taste better anyway

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      Financial Helpposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      To be honest with you, you can save thousands. I was watching this show "Extreme Couponers" where consumers would save a bunch of coupons throughout the week. When they go to the store, they would get 450 to 800 dollars worth of product for free!

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       Jill Larsonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       We typically save around $200 a month between couponing and price matching using ads.  I definitely feel that the time invested in couponing pays off.

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   dahoglundposted 14 years ago

   I actually quit using coupons because I find it more cost effective to by alternate products that are cheaper than the coupon brand even with the coupon. Also because of the inflation of prices the amount off on coupons doesn't really amount to as much as it used to.

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      amurbachposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      There are many techniques with getting dirt cheap prices using coupons.  Here's one:
      
      Use your buy 1/get 1 free coupons in combination with buy 1/get 1 frees sales that are advertised that way you buy just 1 and end up getting 2 things free and with some stores you can use two coupons in which would further deduct from the price.
      
      Go to my page at http://hubpages.com/hub/Extreme-Couponi … Strategies for other ideas.

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   cosetteposted 14 years ago

   i never clip coupons. i have heard, though, of some people buying like two carts of groceries and paying like ten bucks for it when using coupons. maybe that is an urban legend...

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      Karina S.posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I usually save $10-15 every two weeks using coupons

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         cosetteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         hmm maybe i should look into that.

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      ladycat999posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Not an urban legend. Google coupon forums and learn all the tricks. You can get hundreds of $$$ worth of stuff every month with very little work, and yes it's all legit. And it doesn't have to be all processed foods (one of the reasons I hear that people don't want to coupon). You can do it organically.

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   marcel285posted 14 years ago

   I don't bother with coupons. When something i like is on special, i just but in bulk. Buying in bulk is the best way to save money. I used to buy a 100g packet of nescafe coffee once a week at about $5.00 a packet. Now i buy a 500gm tin of it when it's on special at about $15 dollars, and it lasts for about 6 weeks.
   
   I used to buy small packets of meat, one for each night, at about $6 - 8 dollars, for steak and chicken, for 400-500gms. Now i buy chicken breast by the kg, at $10.00 a kg, divide it up at home, glad wrap, and freeze in 400- 5oogm portions. It saves heaps of money.
   
   I used to spend about $120 on groceries a week, for my partner and i, now it averages out to about $80 a week.

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      Karina S.posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for good tips, marcel

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   Quilligrapherposted 14 years ago

   I typically save $3 to $5 a week by using manufacturers' coupons.  But this is nothing compared to the 30% to 40% I save just by stocking up on specials found in the weekly circulars.  I buy enough of a non-perishable item to last until the next time it goes on sale.   Soaps, detergents, paper products, and many packaged food products are good candidates for savings.  An hour spent making my shopping list from the store's weekly circular usually yields ten times more than I save with coupons.
   Q.

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      Karina S.posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      another great idea.

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      Beth100posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you Q.  I also use the "we beat our competitors pricing" guarantee to lower the sales price.  lol  As for meals, I plan the menu around the sales items...takes a bit of work, but well worth the effort.

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   Milla Mahnoposted 14 years ago

   I don't bother, sorry gals

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   Beth100posted 14 years ago

   Well, I save on average $40 per week through the use of coupons and about another $60 per week by buying items on sale.    No, it's not an urban legend...one can save a lot of money.  Also, I do this at one store, not driving all over the city to save $0.10 on one item and then drive to another to save another $0.25 on another item.  This is not cost effective!  lol  For me, it's worth the effort. 

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      Karina S.posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Good for you, Beth. You are one smart lady.

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   TLMinutposted 14 years ago

   My friend (with five kids) saves LOTS of $$ by buying what's on sale using coupons, circulars, doubling (some such thing). She has a whole plan but now that she's gotten organized with it, it only takes her about 30 minutes/week to do the paperwork. It's definitely worth it for her. Might for us too but we don't eat all that much to FEEL like it's worth the trouble.

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   Crazdwriterposted 14 years ago

   I love using coupons...that reminds me...I need to cut mroe out when they come in the mail

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    Rochelle Frankposted 14 years ago

    I used to and sometimes they are useful, but I have found that most of the products that are heavily advertised and promoted with coupons are usually the ones that are heavily processed and loaded with chemicals I no longer want to eat.
    I have gone way over to using a lot of fresh and simple foods. My diet is much better.

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    cosetteposted 14 years ago

    wow, i just throw all of those coupons from sunday's paper and wednesday's mail in the recycle bin. imma use them now!

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    magnoliazzposted 14 years ago

    I never use coupons, because it is still more expensive to buy name brands even with a coupon, compared to the store brands. My favorite is Roundys.
    
    I also buy in bulk. Buying in bulk saves big.

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    Berta456posted 14 years ago

    I use coupons almost daily saving an average of around $100.00 a week,in fact i havent paid for a bottle of shampoo conditioner,deodorant,toothpaste body wash,bar soap or razors in almost 2 years.Not to mention all the free cereal and other food i get with my coupons.My friends call me the queen of free and are always want to know if i have an extra bottle of shampoo i can spare,so when i bring out  the big plastic tote full i tell them to pick out what ever kind thy want I HAVE MORE.Thanks for reading berta456

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       MarloByDesignposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       You are a person after my own heart and style - I am the same way - I use coupons and virtually get many products for free! Got to love BOGO free offers while also using a coupon at the same time. For example, two deodorants ends up costing me 50 cents each!

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    Rafiniposted 14 years ago

    I don't save as much or as often as I would like.  I mostly use coupons for things like laundry detergent, dish soap, toothpaste...I have found most of the food coupons are for things I don't usually buy so it isn't worth it for me to buy it with the coupons.

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    drbjposted 14 years ago

    i save $2 or $3 whenever I shop with coupons, but I save over $20 if I don't buy the products in the first place.
    Too oftem I use the coupons for something I could live without.

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    lisaduncanposted 14 years ago

    I have all good intentions to use coupons ... but fail miserably. I may cut them out, bring them to the store and then forget to redeem. Instead I've developed a number of coupon-free grocery saving strategies that are sure to have me saving large without the redemption issues.
    
    -  Stock up sales
    -  BOGO free sales
    -  Being brand loyal and watching for sales on those items
    -  Buying quality store brands -- this saves BIG -- and working in the industry, I know that many store brands are name brands in different packaging
    -  Shop weekly (or less) versus meal shopping
    -  Make and list ... and stick to it
    
    The list goes on...

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    Pcunixposted 13 years ago

    As my wife explained when our daughter asked why there was so much of one brand of soup in our pantry:
    
    "I had to buy it - it kept being on sale!"

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    tritrainposted 13 years ago

    A few dollars.
    
    I really should use coupons more.

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    KristenGraceposted 13 years ago

    Between thirty and fifty dollars.  Coupons can be amazinggg 

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    rebekahELLEposted 13 years ago

    that is the major reason I don't use them. I don't buy that food. I usually buy items on sale, especially when they have BOGO free or buy at a farmer's market.
    
    
    good advice, lisaduncan.

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    klarawieckposted 13 years ago

    I never use coupons, but ever since I started planning my weekly recipes on Sunday, shopping only what I need for those recipes, plus the necessary items for the week such as toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. I've been able to save a lot of money. I go with my list, look for what I need and buy nothing more.

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    Martyv25posted 13 years ago

    I tend to find that using coupons is no good at all, the only time you use them is for things you do not really need. If you did not have the coupon then you probably would not buy the item. I don't think you can save that much using coupons.

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    Candelishposted 13 years ago

    I started couponing a little over 2 months ago.  At first I thought like a lot of you - what's the point for a couple of dollars saved here and there? Then as I did more research and collected multiple coupons, I began to see the savings add up.  I am changing how we eat by adding a lot more fresh fruits and veggies with the money I save couponing.  Here are 2 examples:  one night at Wal. Pharmacy, I chose over $35 in items and only paid $4.04 for all of them, and they were items I normally purchase!  The one that REALLY made me stand up and take notice was the time we went to Winn- and I chose over $200 in grocery items, that we normally use, and only paid $130 for everything and $30 was all fresh fruit and vegetables!  If you take the way you are shopping currently (if you stock up on BOGO items  & multiple product sales) then add couponing on top of it, the savings DO add up to a very noticeable difference.  I've only been a member of HupPages for a week and my very first Hub was about couponing and stockpiling to save money to hedge against the inflation coming.   That’s how much my attitude has changed!  There’s links on it for excellent coupon websites to help you learn the ropes.  There are a lot of crappy sites out there so you have to be careful.  These assisted me immensely and I don't even get any affiliate money for recommending them! If you're interested, take a look.

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    wampyriiposted 13 years ago

    Personally, I save around $30 - $40 per month using coupons, but I'm not very good at keeping organized. I guess the plan is to save the manufacturer coupons until you see the item go on sale and then use the coupon so you get the product for virtually nothing. There's a couple of websites which help you find those deals in your local area but like I said, I'm not good at keeping organized. My savings mostly come from the costco coupon book which drops in my lap once a month and a few random offers which also come to me rather than me seeking them out.
    
    That said, I guess if you are really organized you can save hundreds of dollars. I've even heard how people combine coupons and sales to get the item for next to nothing and then turn around and garage sale the lot to make a profit (or donate their freebies to various charities in the more charitable cases).
    
    Some people have the whole thing down to an art form.

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       Tammy's Tidbitsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       i save $60+ a month on manufacturer coupons, then save even more buy using our grocers store card. I only buy what the store offers on sale and what my coupons are that week. I typically find that the wk before a coupon expires, our Giant has those items on sale as well - so a double savings. I bought a Coupon Pro binder and love it! Keeps me organized:)

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    classicalgeekposted 13 years ago

    When I moved, I didn't have any groceries. So I combined sales, coupons, and reward cards to stock up. I filled up the bed of my father's pickup truck with stuff I normally eat for $30. It takes a while to get organized but it's definitely worth it. My mother is retired and has more time than I do, and some months she actually makes about $10.

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    melporposted 13 years ago

    I never really use coupons because they are generally for undesirable products like sodas, cakes, and many other high calorie foods. I seldom find coupons for grocery products I want to buy. I often noticed people buying stuff because they have a coupon for it. They are actually spending more money instead of saving money when coupons are used that way.

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    cat on a soapboxposted 13 years ago

    Alot of coupons are useless because I avoid many of the things like processed foods and sodas; however, I still manage to save about 40% by combining coupons and in store specials. I am careful to read the price per oz.on tags and pick the best value. I also buy store brands whenever possible. It takes time, but it all helps.

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    sosieckiposted 13 years ago

    Its true alot of coupons are for processed food with fillers,but
    there are many great ones too.Going straight to the web sites you can find q's other than listed on coupons.com,Red plum,etc.My wife says we've cut our grocery bill about sixty percent per month and we do'nt eat much junk.My wife's an old time cook from scratch cook.

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    coloradomomposted 13 years ago

    I am trying to learn how to save money using coupons, but it seems I spend more time cutting out the coupons and organizing them and before you know it - they have expired. What is the piece to the puzzle? I just can't seem to convince myself that it works. When I go shopping, I usually buy the sale items and if I have a coupon I will use it, but mostly the sale items dont have coupons.

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       BMGposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       that coupon only beneficial to whom like shopping...

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    MarloByDesignposted 13 years ago

    I save, at a minumun, $5-$10 a week. I have a great organizer I carry around with me (always in my car), so I never miss a great deal!

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    Pamela Sarzanaposted 13 years ago

    I just started about 10 weeks ago. I watched tutorials on youtube.  I found some I liked showing me the best way to set up the binder and use the coupons. I use a binder and tabbed dividers. Usually clip and organize my coupons on Sundays.

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    Pamela Sarzanaposted 13 years ago

    I forgot to say how much I save. I save about five hundred dollars a month.

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    Dawn Conklinposted 13 years ago

    It is hard for me to say exactly how much I save as some weeks there are more coupons for things that I use then other weeks.  Some weeks there are not many coupons for stuff I use. 
    My Aunt uses coupons every shopping trip and the money she saves goes into a jar.  Say she had $20 worth of coupons, $20 goes into a jar.  It all adds up and they have used that money for things they wanted such as new TV and other things.  It really is a great idea for anybody looking to save money for another day.

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    Disturbiaposted 13 years ago

    I don't bother with coupons mainly because they are usually for brands I wouldn't by anyway.  I'm not going to buy something I don't want just because of a coupon.

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    klarawieckposted 13 years ago

    About $160 a week, more or less. It has gotten really expensive!

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    ddmemberposted 12 years ago

    My girlfriend always look for coupons and it is pretty effective - we save around 50 - 100$ every week. I also have another trick save money. I use this android app  - SnyervBPrice1.0 Scanner . It allows you to scan the product's barcode and shows you all the information about the product, including where you can find the same product for a better price.

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    Millionaire Tipsposted 11 years ago

    My sister used to say that couponing wasn't worth it - that there aren't coupons for the stuff she uses, just like many of the posters in this forum.  One day, I went shopping with her.  I brought my coupon box.  She filled up the cart with the stuff she usually buys.  I simply looked through my coupon box for the things she had purchased, without asking her to buy a different size or a different quantity.  Simply, whatever was in the cart was matched up with a coupon.  I was able to save her $10, and would have been able to save even more if I had asked her to buy a bigger size, a different brand or a different quantity.
    
    You can really save money by buying the things you normally buy, although adjusting a little bit saves you a great deal.  Adjusting your purchase schedule to match the sales, sometimes buying in bulk, saves you even more.

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    jcalesposted 11 years ago

    I don't go out of my way to find and use them. For pizzas I do though.
    Groceries and personal items, if the paper is there or on sale it is good enough for me since I don;t buy newspapers. I am a tree hugger.
    For car repairs and online purchases, I look for coupons, for clothing I tend to wait for sales at Macys.

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