I hate to admit this, but coupons freak me out. Not the coupons themselves, but the art (yes it truly is an art) of couponing. A girl from my old ward has this Crazy Coupon Blog for all of you who are interested in it. She does incredible things with coupons. Insanity is the word that comes to mind every time I see her post something new. Today she's opened her blog up to questions for anyone interested in learning her couponing secrets. She is the kind of person who would often get money back if they'd let her; she often has to purchase a non coupon item to restore the balance. So, go and browse her posts and learn her trade if it's something you're interested in.
The idea of this is amazing. Spend little to no money out of pocket for groceries and toiletries??? Not only that, but make money on the "extra" items you don't need or want by reselling them at yard sales?
But when it comes right down to it, I just feel like it requires organization, determinedness, and detail oriented OCD tendencies I just don't possess. I know I could do it, but I'd really, really, really need to need the benefits of the time I put in. For her it is a hobby and a challenge. For me feels like a chore that makes me sweat just thinking about it.
14 comments:
I so so agree with you on everything. Also it seems like the food items that I see coupons for are things we don't use. Like meals in a box, cold sugar cereals, fruit rolls and soda/gatorade. Having said that I have a neighbor who is super good at it too and I'm going to try to go to one of their meetings and maybe start doing it. If I think I can save a bunch I will think of the time consumption as my part-time job.
Also I was hoping you could please remove my last names from the link to my page.
The only time I use a coupon is if it is at the store for something I was already going to buy. I think they are more of a headache.
Do you mind if I leave initials?
It's really not worth it to me to use coupons, since I hardly buy anything processed that I could use a coupon for. I pretty much only buy produce, dairy, beans, and bread. I've also found that generics are usually cheaper than the name brands with a coupon. I do a lot of stocking up while things are on sale and that's how I save my grocery money. Plus the stores here don't double coupons so it wouldn't work for me.
I'm with Juls...unless it's for something I already buy, I typically don't clip/use coupons. If I did, I'd likely just end up buying stuff I can get cheaper otherwise (like if I buy a store brand or something), so in my world, coupons, unless I'm careful typically mean spending more money. I find I'm better off if I just stick to planning my meals and purchases around what's on sale.
argh. i had a headache just reading that blog. i am glad that someone has found a way to work the system though and that it brings her joy.
as far as using coupons, i clip the ones for things that i already use, and then i forget to use them. so, yah, i don't think that i would be very good at what she does.
Amanda, I am so the same way. The few coupons I do see and try and use, I forget about and find a week later (usually after it's expired) and go "DOH! I forgot my 5$ off!!"
You have to be very deliberate and organized to do her system, but I take my hat off to her.
She does do her menu planning around the weekly mailer so she knows when certain produce is on sale, so she doesn't JUST do coupons and canned/boxed stuff.
hahaha! I totally agree. It's WAY too much work!
I so agree with you too. I once went to a RS activity where a one shared her couponing secrets. It's nice to see someone's benefitting from all of this, but it sure isn't going to be me. Like you said, I sweat, but I also shake and quiver in my pants!
The first thing I thought when I read that blog was, "this girl is a shopaholic". For one thing, where does she keep it all? Does she use it up and go get more, or constanly keep buying?
I'm only interested in coupons for baby stuff. They are pretty rare so I'm definitely not a coupon clipper. I watch the ads and get stuff they advertise on sale but that's it. I agree, it's a total headache.
On the answers today she said she pays about $20 out of pocket each week but last week alone she ended up with about $2000 worth of products, and actually makes money by selling the extras. She keeps it the majority in her garage I believe. She said she does it because it's like a puzzle and because they're on a really limited income right now. She said it's her only hobby.
Also, like I said, last month when she did a garage sale with her "extras" she made several hundred dollars. So, coupons really can work if you do it correctly and are willing to spend 10-15 hours/wk. Kind of like a part time job.
well, since this post was about me, I thought I'd put my 2 cents in here. Before I started couponing, I totally agreed with what everyone said. I thought generic was always cheaper, I only used fresh items and hated processed crap and we don't really drink soda.
What made me interested was hearing people say that they would never pay money for toothpaste and deoderant again, that it was too easy to get for free. So i decided to research it. A lot. Before coupons, I spent about $25-30/week on groceries and we ate but had nothing in the house for extras. no crackers, chips, juice, barely enough milk, made all my own bread, oatmeal ONLY for breakfast cuz it was cheap. Now I am spending MAYBE $20/week (usually less) and our pantry's are FULL, and this includes all cleaning products, toiletries, diapers, wipes, and food and food storage.
Yes, I do enjoy shopping, so instead of blowing $$ at target on random stuff, i choose to get food for pennies or less. We use the food products. a couple months ago I got 50 boxes of green giant frozen veggies and we are still eating them, 100 cans of tomatoes, but we use them. It's amazing what you can get for free, and you don't need to spend as much time as I do, my friend cindy prbably spends 2 hours a week and still gets a lot of stuff.
Here are some examples of my favorite hauls and storage answers.
I sold all the M&M's and suave at my garage sale from this one...
http://christinescoupons.blogspot.com/2008/04/flawless.html
http://christinescoupons.blogspot.com/2008/03/storage.html
Thanks Christine!
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