I love clipping coupons. Sunday is my favorite day of the week, where I can sit for awhile and clip and compare with the deals being offered. For me, it's something like a game of how little can I pay for something that I need.
The majority of the things I get are toiletries, soaps, toothpaste, feminine items and the like, but sometimes I am also able to combine sales at the grocery store on things like milk so I can make the most of my budget.
The best part is that a lot of the stuff I get is more that I need or my family can use, which allows me to donate it to local groups in need. This combines my love for a deal with the ability to help others in a concrete way.
I have lost too much of my time trying to find coupons that I would actually use. (Time is money too!) Most of the coupons I find are for highly processed, non-nutritional foods that I should not be eating anyway. Even if I do find a coupon for Kraft Mac n Cheese, the generic brand is still cheaper and my son doesn't know the difference. Now if they start making coupons for fresh fruit and vegetables, especially locally grown, then I'll be all over them. In the meantime, taking advantage of my store's discount card and store brands saves me tons of money.
No need to buy all those fancy cleaners/disinfectants. Buy a jug of bleach and you are good to go (cleans toilets, sinks, fridge, tubs). Cleans and disinfects everything at $0.99 a jug!
Like most posters, I use coupons mostly for toiletries and non-grocery items, but I don't go nuts about it. I carry them around and if I happen to see a sale for something I need then I check to see if I have a coupon.
No offense to the people who brag about spending zero dollars at hte supermarkets and stores, but I call bull. Do you not eat produce or fresh vegetables? There are never coupons for fruit or veggies (fresh, not frozen).
A grocery store gift card is a great way to get your feet wet with envelope budgeting. Most stores offer them and you can fill it at the store in the checkout line or at customer service. Some stores, like Kroger, will link the gift card to a school and donate a percentage of your spending to that school.
Most of our grocery shopping is done at the local bump and dent place. They don't take coupons. That said, coupons are a great way to get loss leaders in regular stores down to practically zero. The two regular supermarkets near us post online flyers, perfect for comparing prices. We use couponing in addition to other strategies: perimeter shopping; price book; seasonal foods; farm stands; growing our own; stockpiling; brand flexibility; making a list. It is a game, though a necessary one, and it all adds up.
I used to scour the internet for coupons and print and clip, but few stores now take internet coupons. If I see one in the paper for something I use, I'll clip it, but otherwise I don't go out of my way.
I use coupons in combination with sales to get food, hba, etc. cheap or free whenever possible. Like others, I tend to stick with staples, unprocessed food, lots of produce for my family, but my husband has a stubborn addiction to Honey Nut Cheerios and diet soda that I'd prefer to satisfy as inexpensively as possible.
I've been a regular coupon clipper for years, long before this recent economic turbulence. The coupons are my favourite part of the Sunday paper! Why not get something for less if you can? I feel it's very much worth the time and "effort" it takes to find and clip coupons. My coupon usage has increased recently, especially thanks to the Internet. Now, before I go anywhere to buy anything, I always do a quick check online first to see if a coupon exists for whatever product or service and there usually are some! I use coupons or coupon codes both in brick and mortar stores and at online shopping sites. Even if it's "only" a few cents off here and there it really does add up!
Well what i did for loosing 25-30 pounds was cycling alot and a healthy diet. I never tried any pills because i know a diet and sporting is very important.
Clipping coupons and getting stuff for free or almost free is my hobby. Many people have hobbies that cost money - mine saves me money. It's a win/win situation!
I am a clipper too! I clipped throughout college because not only was it a relaxing activity on a Sunday morning...but I was poor! Poverty level hasn't changed so when I am not traveling I clip for sure :-)
I love clipping and using coupons and I've been doing it since college. The only newspaper I get is the Sunday paper, and I only get that if it's fat with couponery! I also got the Entertainment book for the first time this year that has local coupons in it for everything from grocery stores and museums to golf courses and restaurants. LOVE IT!!
If you are AAA members you get free parking when you buy your Disneyland passes (already at a steep discount)at AAA--and that is free parking for every day of your visit!
You know those people you hear about who get the six turkeys for free at Thanksgiving by working the store giveaways? Yes, I am that crazy. That said, I only buy stuff with coupons that I would buy for full-price, like toothpaste or soap. Sadly, most coupons these days are for over-packaged food products that I will never eat.
Here are my favorite tips:
1. Why buy the Sunday paper when you can get 8 coupon sections from the recycling bin in the garage of the apartment building down the street every weekend without even having to dig?
2. You can combine a store coupon with a manufacturer's coupon for additional savings. For example CVS pharmacy runs a 50 cent coupon for Crest toothpaste in their sales circular. You can stack that with a 50 cent coupon Crest ran in the Sunday coupon section for a total savings of $1.
3. In California gift cards purchased with cash have no expiration date. Gift cards include coupons that offer you the full value of a particular item. So if you receive say, 36 "Redeem for a free half gallon of double-churned ice cream" coupons from your neighbor's recycling bin, well, that's 18 gallons of free ice cream you just got yourself that you don't have to store all at once.
4. If I can buy toiletry items (shampoo, toothpaste, etc) using coupons for a super low price (like less than 10 cents) I will buy as much as I can (even if it's not my brand) and donate those items to homeless shelters. My charity dollars go further and purchases stuff that's really needed.
I am a coupon crazy lady!
I use coupons every time I shop, and I just cringe when I see people paying for items at full price!
I don't pay for anything at full price anymore.
If I am at a grocery store and I forgot a coupon, I simply don't buy it until I have that coupon.
I'm obessed with finding the best deals!
I have walked out of Albertsons, Fred Meyer, Target and even fast food restaurants using coupons, their items on sale and double coupons without paying a cent.
woo-hooo!!!! Long live the coupon!!!
Frozen Pizza is not fresh. Papa Murphy's is fresh. I was checking out frozen pizzas last week and the 12" pizza that is comparable was almost $7 on sale. At Papa Murphy's the 14" pizza (about 30% more) was on sale for $6.99. When you have a coupon or the pizza is on sale, Papa Murphy's cannot be beat, even with homemade.
I scan the coupon sites (like coupon.com) and when there is a coupon for something I buy, like Cheerios or Rice Krispies, I print out the coupons until the print limit is reached. Then when it goes on sale (the current trend is for items to go on sale for multiples, like 5 for $10), I stock up. My store doubles coupons up to $1.00 so occassionally I will save a large percentage of my grocery bill. I clip coupons knowing I won't use them all unless the item goes on sale.
I'm leaving this reasonably anonymous as I work for a chinese company - I was one of their Canadian reps, so I still live in Canada .. however, I'm privy to all the stuff that happens to the chinese staff.
A lot of companies actually fine employees money for things. The company I work for is so .... well, bad I guess -- but it doesn't affect me, because it's illegal in the majority of the freeworld to do such thing. They fine staff several RMB for a lot of things, including calling in sick, which is a 100RMB fine, forgetting your doctors note the following shift? 300RMB. Slouching at your desk? 10RMB. caught surfing the web? 1000RMB. 1000.
Granted, there's a TON of bonuses to be earned - but that's out of pocket...
careful where you work.
Thanks for the great links Linsey. Dare I try ramen ice cream?
http://www.ramenlicious.com/recipes/ice-cream-ramen.html
I clip and use regularly.
Anyone notice that the calculator tattoo spells "Leslie" if you look at the numbers upside-down? Some sort of secret meaning to that?
:)
I love clipping coupons. Sunday is my favorite day of the week, where I can sit for awhile and clip and compare with the deals being offered. For me, it's something like a game of how little can I pay for something that I need.
The majority of the things I get are toiletries, soaps, toothpaste, feminine items and the like, but sometimes I am also able to combine sales at the grocery store on things like milk so I can make the most of my budget.
The best part is that a lot of the stuff I get is more that I need or my family can use, which allows me to donate it to local groups in need. This combines my love for a deal with the ability to help others in a concrete way.
I have lost too much of my time trying to find coupons that I would actually use. (Time is money too!) Most of the coupons I find are for highly processed, non-nutritional foods that I should not be eating anyway. Even if I do find a coupon for Kraft Mac n Cheese, the generic brand is still cheaper and my son doesn't know the difference. Now if they start making coupons for fresh fruit and vegetables, especially locally grown, then I'll be all over them. In the meantime, taking advantage of my store's discount card and store brands saves me tons of money.
with the article's advice.
No need to buy all those fancy cleaners/disinfectants. Buy a jug of bleach and you are good to go (cleans toilets, sinks, fridge, tubs). Cleans and disinfects everything at $0.99 a jug!
Like most posters, I use coupons mostly for toiletries and non-grocery items, but I don't go nuts about it. I carry them around and if I happen to see a sale for something I need then I check to see if I have a coupon.
No offense to the people who brag about spending zero dollars at hte supermarkets and stores, but I call bull. Do you not eat produce or fresh vegetables? There are never coupons for fruit or veggies (fresh, not frozen).
i do clip when i can. the problem of course is remembering to bring the coupons with me...its amazing how much one can save...
A grocery store gift card is a great way to get your feet wet with envelope budgeting. Most stores offer them and you can fill it at the store in the checkout line or at customer service. Some stores, like Kroger, will link the gift card to a school and donate a percentage of your spending to that school.
Most of our grocery shopping is done at the local bump and dent place. They don't take coupons. That said, coupons are a great way to get loss leaders in regular stores down to practically zero. The two regular supermarkets near us post online flyers, perfect for comparing prices. We use couponing in addition to other strategies: perimeter shopping; price book; seasonal foods; farm stands; growing our own; stockpiling; brand flexibility; making a list. It is a game, though a necessary one, and it all adds up.
I used to scour the internet for coupons and print and clip, but few stores now take internet coupons. If I see one in the paper for something I use, I'll clip it, but otherwise I don't go out of my way.
I use coupons in combination with sales to get food, hba, etc. cheap or free whenever possible. Like others, I tend to stick with staples, unprocessed food, lots of produce for my family, but my husband has a stubborn addiction to Honey Nut Cheerios and diet soda that I'd prefer to satisfy as inexpensively as possible.
I've been a regular coupon clipper for years, long before this recent economic turbulence. The coupons are my favourite part of the Sunday paper! Why not get something for less if you can? I feel it's very much worth the time and "effort" it takes to find and clip coupons. My coupon usage has increased recently, especially thanks to the Internet. Now, before I go anywhere to buy anything, I always do a quick check online first to see if a coupon exists for whatever product or service and there usually are some! I use coupons or coupon codes both in brick and mortar stores and at online shopping sites. Even if it's "only" a few cents off here and there it really does add up!
Well what i did for loosing 25-30 pounds was cycling alot and a healthy diet. I never tried any pills because i know a diet and sporting is very important.
Clipping coupons and getting stuff for free or almost free is my hobby. Many people have hobbies that cost money - mine saves me money. It's a win/win situation!
I am a clipper too! I clipped throughout college because not only was it a relaxing activity on a Sunday morning...but I was poor! Poverty level hasn't changed so when I am not traveling I clip for sure :-)
I love clipping and using coupons and I've been doing it since college. The only newspaper I get is the Sunday paper, and I only get that if it's fat with couponery! I also got the Entertainment book for the first time this year that has local coupons in it for everything from grocery stores and museums to golf courses and restaurants. LOVE IT!!
If you are AAA members you get free parking when you buy your Disneyland passes (already at a steep discount)at AAA--and that is free parking for every day of your visit!
You know those people you hear about who get the six turkeys for free at Thanksgiving by working the store giveaways? Yes, I am that crazy. That said, I only buy stuff with coupons that I would buy for full-price, like toothpaste or soap. Sadly, most coupons these days are for over-packaged food products that I will never eat.
Here are my favorite tips:
1. Why buy the Sunday paper when you can get 8 coupon sections from the recycling bin in the garage of the apartment building down the street every weekend without even having to dig?
2. You can combine a store coupon with a manufacturer's coupon for additional savings. For example CVS pharmacy runs a 50 cent coupon for Crest toothpaste in their sales circular. You can stack that with a 50 cent coupon Crest ran in the Sunday coupon section for a total savings of $1.
3. In California gift cards purchased with cash have no expiration date. Gift cards include coupons that offer you the full value of a particular item. So if you receive say, 36 "Redeem for a free half gallon of double-churned ice cream" coupons from your neighbor's recycling bin, well, that's 18 gallons of free ice cream you just got yourself that you don't have to store all at once.
4. If I can buy toiletry items (shampoo, toothpaste, etc) using coupons for a super low price (like less than 10 cents) I will buy as much as I can (even if it's not my brand) and donate those items to homeless shelters. My charity dollars go further and purchases stuff that's really needed.
I am a coupon crazy lady!
I use coupons every time I shop, and I just cringe when I see people paying for items at full price!
I don't pay for anything at full price anymore.
If I am at a grocery store and I forgot a coupon, I simply don't buy it until I have that coupon.
I'm obessed with finding the best deals!
I have walked out of Albertsons, Fred Meyer, Target and even fast food restaurants using coupons, their items on sale and double coupons without paying a cent.
woo-hooo!!!! Long live the coupon!!!
Frozen Pizza is not fresh. Papa Murphy's is fresh. I was checking out frozen pizzas last week and the 12" pizza that is comparable was almost $7 on sale. At Papa Murphy's the 14" pizza (about 30% more) was on sale for $6.99. When you have a coupon or the pizza is on sale, Papa Murphy's cannot be beat, even with homemade.
I scan the coupon sites (like coupon.com) and when there is a coupon for something I buy, like Cheerios or Rice Krispies, I print out the coupons until the print limit is reached. Then when it goes on sale (the current trend is for items to go on sale for multiples, like 5 for $10), I stock up. My store doubles coupons up to $1.00 so occassionally I will save a large percentage of my grocery bill. I clip coupons knowing I won't use them all unless the item goes on sale.
I'm leaving this reasonably anonymous as I work for a chinese company - I was one of their Canadian reps, so I still live in Canada .. however, I'm privy to all the stuff that happens to the chinese staff.
A lot of companies actually fine employees money for things. The company I work for is so .... well, bad I guess -- but it doesn't affect me, because it's illegal in the majority of the freeworld to do such thing. They fine staff several RMB for a lot of things, including calling in sick, which is a 100RMB fine, forgetting your doctors note the following shift? 300RMB. Slouching at your desk? 10RMB. caught surfing the web? 1000RMB. 1000.
Granted, there's a TON of bonuses to be earned - but that's out of pocket...
careful where you work.