Coupons

[bertine]

I have been watching Extreme Couponing lately. Now, I am cheapfrugal but I don't really use coupons. Rather, I just buy the generic brands and whatever is on sale. I do use store coupons that I can get when I walk into the store because I am not dumb but I figure that my time is worth something. However, I thought I would give it a shot for a couple weeks.

I went through the ads and noticed that there were a couple coupons for things that we do use. I brought them to the store and realize that even when something is on sale with the coupon that buying the generic is cheaper.

The next thing I tried is using "stacking" coupons where I had a store coupon, a manufacturer coupon and a sale price. I did this on toilet paper. I could have bought 48 rolls of toilet paper, spent $30 gotten a $5 gift card back and "saved" a total of 59¢ vs. the generic toilet paper. Plus we don't have any room to store that much toilet paper. So we bought a smaller pack and I bought a Twins tshirt instead.

I even tried to use a coupon for our toothbrush heads but Target has started making generic versions of those.

So, it seems like my way of eating what is on sale is a good way to do things. Right now I am happy since blackberries are on sale so I am eating a package of those a day.

Comments

[sithlet.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, I saw some of the generic toothbrush heads, but didn't realise they'd be compatible with name brand toothbrushes. Niiiice.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we have the oral-b toothbrushes and the heads work with them. They are half the cost! It is awesome, it brings them to about $5 a head!

[bubblemonkey.livejournal.com]

That show is like a trainwreck. I don't want to watch it, but I can't look away (the people drive me nuts because they seem like complete control freaks). I suppose extreme couponing is ok if you don't work, have 6 hours a day to cut coupons and make your calculations, AND have a warehouse to keep all your goods. But for the normal person, I think just buying things on sale is good enough. I'm happy when my keychain club card gets me 20 cents off a pack of gum or something.

[woodoo24.livejournal.com]

http://www.thegrocerygame.com/

The Grocery Game...they do all the work for you.

[woodoo24.livejournal.com]

But yeah you need the space to put the things as you stock up on them.

[dorei.livejournal.com]

I usually find that buying the store brand is cheaper, too, but every once in a while, buying the brand name with the coupon (doubled by the store) is the way to go. (Hell, sometimes just it being on sale when using my store card is cheaper, too.)

[bertine.livejournal.com]

I think this is the problem. Stores just don't really double coupons here. There is one store that does but it only does on Wednesday for the first 5 coupons that are under 50¢ in value.

I suppose I could go to the store on Wednesday but it doesn't seem to be worth it for $2.50.

[scentedwoods.livejournal.com]

Just checked their site. This Saturday they're doing up to $1 face value and up to 10 coupons.

For that, I'd go to a couple of them to save that.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

Is that rainbow?

[scentedwoods.livejournal.com]

Yup.

[woodoo24.livejournal.com]

Go check out the Grocery Game. http://www.thegrocerygame.com/ She does a great job and putting together coupons with store sales. But shopping for one or 2 people it is tough because you just don't buy enough if the things on sale to make it worth the effort.

[i12bmore.livejournal.com]

Coupons are one of the biggest and sneakiest rackets around. They are generally for things that people don't really need, or wouldn't buy without the coupon. Your way is by far the smarter.

[damncutekitty.livejournal.com]

This post made me laugh. I don't normally collect coupons but I got the paper on Sunday and decided to look and see if I could find any deals on stuff I might actually use. I did! Then today I went to CVS and 'stacked' a toilet paper coupon with their store special. Considering I normally buy Seventh Generation TP at the Wedge, I felt like I saved a fortune buying a 12 pack of toilet paper for $4.99.

I have a stack of food coupons I am taking to the supermarket on Friday when I get paid.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

You need to buy cheaper toilet paper. :P

Do you get the cub mail coupons? Those are the ones I use all the time. Rainbow has good ones too. I guess target has coupons on their website that are good. I'll use them if I am going to be buy the stuff already, I just can do math.

[scentedwoods.livejournal.com]

I'm not an extreme couponer, but I do clip and use. When it comes to the things in the middle aisles -- all the canned, boxed, etc. stuff I purely a generics girl. Heck, I prefer Aldi for such things.

Where I am able to get significant savings is on the outside edges. I end up with a lot of 2 for 1s on fresh foods that I'll prep and put in my chest freezer. I also double up on all the meats things I can.

Again. Chest freezer. Huge, huge difference.

I almost always shop Cub and search out manufacturer's coupons to stack on top.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

We have no place for a chest freezer. If we did I would already have one. We don't even have a normal size fridge (so we have a tiny freezer) so we basically buy our meat on a weekly basis.

Eric needs to move out so we can finish remodeling, though at this point we won't be able to afford it/be able to deal with it until after the wedding.

[scentedwoods.livejournal.com]

That's a shame. I keep my chest freezer in my attached garage. I wasn't sure if it would be okay in there so I bought a cheap one off of CraigsList just in case the first winter killed it. The freezer has seriously changed my life for the better -- how crazy does that sound? Got a closet wide enough for an upright?

[bertine.livejournal.com]

No. At least not until Eric moves out. I might after he leave but I have to do some measuring.