Couponing: Do the Savings Make Up for Time Clipping?
- Posted on November 1, 2011 at 1:00am by
Liz Klimas
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The TLC show “Extreme Couponing” started a craze, but it also made many wonder, is it worth the time? The time it takes to scour newspapers and websites for coupons and stores that sometimes match the deals. The time it takes to actually clip or print. The time it takes to do this more intensive shopping.
According to this Technorati blogger’s math, it is. Jenny Richards figures out that for a typical shopping trip for food items, which include those that don’t have coupons or store sales, couponing can save between 30 and 50 percent. For trips purchasing paper products, cleaning supplies, beauty items and other related non-food products, coupon savings can reach up to 70 to 90 percent.
Richards assumes that the average shopping trip costs about $200 and “for the sake of reality” picks $80 as the savings she‘s going to use to calculate if it’s worth your time or not. She estimates it will take one hour to clip coupons from your Sunday paper and one to two hours for shopping trip planning (she suggests these sites for savings matchups AFullCup.com, Hot Coupon World, Slick Deals and We Use Coupons). That’s three hours total making your savings worth about $26.60 per hour.
But she notes, there is a balance. If you go extreme, it will take even more time and your savings will go down per hour.
While shoppers are happy with their savings, the craze has been causing some grocery stores and their employees to go crazy. Earlier this year, The Tampa Tribune reported stores like Target and Walmart revising their coupling policy to prevent shoppers from cleaning off their shelves of merchandise. The Rockford Register, an Illinois newspaper, also reports stores tightening their policies.
The trend has other countries interested as well. This article in the Yuma Sun describes how a French news station creating a program about about the “couponing phenomenon in America.”
If you haven’t seen how extreme the coupling can get, take at look at this TLC clip:
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Comments (76)
Rowgue
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 12:49pmWhat they depict on the show isn’t really saving, it’s more like stealing. And it’s largely more to feed their shopping addictions than to actually provide for themselves. They all have storage rooms full of crap they’re never going to use.
There‘s a reason you can’t do what they do on that show in most of the country. Most stores don’t double the value of coupons, or let you use hundreds of the same coupon, or any of the other gimmicks that the people depicted on the show use.
Report Post »Kingscairn
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 4:34pm“They all have storage rooms full of crap they’re never going to use.”………i don’t know anything about it but my first thought is that all that “crap they’re never going to use” is money in the bank at a flea market. Selling a $6 bottle of Tide to some struggling young family for a buck is both socially rewarding and like getting paid by the grocery store to shop there !
Report Post »just sayin !
Rowgue
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 5:52pmHence why it’s more like stealing than saving. There’s a reason when these practices start getting abused stores start instituting strict policies regarding coupon policies. There’s a difference between saving money using coupons and what the mentally ill people on that show do.
Report Post »sean_m.
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 12:39pmYeah, good for the consumer. A pain in the backside for those behind the register.
Report Post »shopper9987
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 12:32pmI am one of the crazy couponers out there and I spend about 7 hours a week in total (about an hour a day) planning my shopping trips, cutting coupons, organizing my binders and consuming online data. I save my family alot of money! For ie: when we fill up our gas tanks using stop&shop points we always have the most gas points you can use per transaction (2200 x 35 gallons of fuel = $90), so my husband and I fill up twice a month on each car, thats is $180/month in fuel savings.
I just went to CVS and bought $180 worth of stuff (toothpaste,mouthwash,deodorant,razors,etc…) and paid in total $6 + I received 2 AMEX gift cards for $10 each, so basically I paid nothing and actually made money.
I do use a number of websites in my travels to help me along the way. One of my favorites is a blog which provides weekly cheat sheets for the popular stores (http://www.sumballo.com/MySecretHabit.aspx).
This is just a taste of what I am able to do on a weekly basis. I enjoy it and it has become a great hobby of mine. With children and 1 income, it helps a great deal in regards to our monthly budget. I would recommend anyone who is thinking of starting, don’t waste any more time, MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!
Report Post »mrst
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 11:51amI use grocerygame.com I’m a believer. I almost always save more than half on my total. Often get freebies and never pay more than 50 cents for things like toothpaste.
Report Post »The idea is they match sales to coupons so you get the lowest price possible at the store you choose. I shop at Harris Teeter which is probably the nicest store in my area and some folks think the most expensive–but I regularly save more at this nice store than at the ‘meh’ stores. One reason is they have good sales but also they double coupons and sometimes even triple.
does it pay — HECK YES. With the grocery game website help I only need about an hour a week to pull coupons. I keep my newspaper coupon inserts in a milk crate filed by month–with hanging folders (recycled) I don’t cut coupons until the list tells me to use them–so most weeks I cut maybe 20-30 coupons which it helps me locate by giving me the date of the inserts. I cut ‘em, stick ‘em in my little bitty coupon holder, print out my grocery game and save 50, 60, sometimes 70%.
The trick is you buy a little extra of things when you can get them on sale with a coupon, or just on a really good sale–eventually you have a great pantry and can cherry pick what you buy at the store.
I keep extra stuff–canned goods, toiletries etc.. I have things on hand to help my kids and donate with and I never have to run out to the store when I‘m cooking or worry if we’re in a bad weather thing.
YES coupons pay–but you need to know when to use
Brooke Lorren
Posted on November 2, 2011 at 5:52amI use the Grocery Game too… in fact, I used it this evening. I only saved about 35% today, but I bought a lot of things that were off-list. I did get some free kid’s toothpaste – my little boy has been bothered by the “spicy” adult toothpaste and getting him to brush his teeth was like pulling them, but he liked my freebie today.
Coupons are advertisements for the companies producing the coupons – that’s why they make them in the first place. It’s not stealing if you are using the coupons ethically. There are unethical ways to use coupons; there are certain coupon codes that you can use for items that you don’t even buy, but using coupons as they are meant to be used is not immoral.
Some people spend more money than they otherwise would because of coupons as well – they‘ll buy an item that they normally wouldn’t buy, even though the generic item might cost less than the item with a coupon. Plus there’s the whole brand recognition/loyalty thing that comes as a result of offering coupons.
Our family can use all the financial help we can get. Coupons let my family buy foods that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford.
Report Post »Rajabear1
Posted on November 2, 2011 at 11:13amThanks to all of you putting links up for sites you use. I’ve been wanting to do this for years, but I’m not disciplined for things of this nature (which times are now forcing me to be), I’ve always hated shopping in any form and I had no clue how to start and the type of system to create. So thank you…If anyone has any other helpful hints or links could you attach here?
Report Post »NotSoCommonSense
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 11:25amThere are many sites (in addition to the ones mentioned in the article) that enable you to benefit from extreme couponing without investing the inordinate amount of time necessary to be successful at it. My favorite is Sumballo.com. They have great deals, printable coupons, online coupons plus an extreme couponing blog.
Report Post »Niner
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 11:11amCouponers know they are trying to hide this wonderful secret in plain sight by talking about the time clipping and hours spent in the stores etc. making your savings go down. I started couponing about 2 years ago and it has literally added an extra $10k -15k a year to our household budget because I don’t have to spend $150 or more a week on the same stuff I used to buy every week. I use the coupon mom system (don’t clip coupons until your headed for the store). I’m stocked up all right – I assume my household will continue to use toilet paper, paper towels, dish and laundry soap, cleaning supplies, shampoo, conditioner, bath soap & body wash, hair spray and such things on a daily basis. Why wouldn’t any prudent person buy these items when they are free, nearly free or very cheap and stock up?? And yes, I have a LOT of peanut butter too:) I don’t spend hours in the stores either – you don’t need to get it all in one trip. Now that I‘m stocked up on the items my household uses I often don’t go to the grocery store for weeks at a time. Unless they are giving me something for free or nearly free, I don’t HAVE to go.
Report Post »I would encourage anyone who is considering couponing to go to some of the sites mentioned in the article and head for the newbie areas. Old timers will help teach you the fine art of couponing. It has saved my family during these hard times and I hope it will help save many more.
mrst
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 11:53amAmen–I have used coupon mom too, I personally prefer grocery game–you do have to pay for this service–but its so complete! Its like the cadillac of coupon websites. makes the job super easy for a low cost I save tons and tons. :)
Report Post »NotSoCommonSense
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 11:08amThere are a lot of sites that limit your time and provide great instructions on how to benefit from extreme couponing while others do all the work. My favorite is at Sumballo.com – check it out:
http://www.sumballo.com/MySecretHabit.aspx
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 10:56amIf the store brand is cheaper than the national brand with a coupon, get the store brand, in most cases it is just as good, sometimes even better. The only time coupons are worth it is when the item is on sale. In many cases store sales are coordinated with coupons. And also look for stores that double coupons, a 50 cent coupon becomes a dollar and that is almost always worthwhile.
Report Post »mrst
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 11:56amthe store brand is almost never cheaper when you combine a sale and a coupon–at least not at my store. but they double coupons up to .99 and sometimes have specials where they double to 2.00 or triple to .99.
Report Post »anyhow– I almost always get name brand good stuff for less and I dumped my warehouse store too. don’t need it. :)
Arc
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 9:51amOK OK I admit my naivte……..Are there actually people out there who actively search for ways to depress an already struggling economy? I will just have to consider that the author of that piece is either a diabolical cellar dwelling spoiled brat or an author who Wayyyyy overvalues his time. Its apparent the writer/author/ rookie jounalist may very well be all.
I strongly suggest that all coupon cutters in the United States be PROMOTED to the
Finacial Budget/ GAO(Govt Accounting Office/Anti-Lobbyist/ Anti Pork/ US AID for InternalDevelopement/ Famine Relief/ Fight Hunger/ World Food Bank CONGRESSIONAL / BLIND / NEARSIGHTED/ JUST PLAIN DUMB / OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 11:11pmARC: Really? Saving money for your family when money is very tight is a bad thing & stupid? Prepare for emergencies & share when emergencies hit. In the old days this was simply called smart shopping & good home economics. This is nothing to be ashamed of.
Report Post »Ford
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 9:32amTo me, it’s totally worth the time. I don’t spend a lot of time clipping and printing, but I still make out really well. The first time I couponed, I saved $185 and only paid about $130 for a family of 5. I still get free products and use the excess to either store or give to charity. There are quite a few website that do the legwork for you, so you really don’t need to spend a ton of time anyway.
Report Post »upstatenyteabagger
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 9:00amthis is a awesome way to save money, yes you can’t always do what they do on tv but it is worth every minuete, I spent 112 and saved 113 last week and 2 weeks before that I saved 188 plus get 70 cents off my gas up to 20 gallons. I only started in October but I feel its worth my time. I go to church pick up the paper then sort my coupons and match them up. Big deal it takes some time but it beats sitting on the couch or computer plus it helps our family and my children at college. It’s fun kind of like a game in a way and I hope to get better so I can help others out there. The stores get there money back from the companies. I will be stock piling because Glenn is right it’s coming and I will be prepared. I was lazy before but no more. You can also go to living rich with couponing and it will help you match things up.
Report Post »MoniqueS
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 8:38amWhat most people out there don’t realize is that there is a lot of good that can be done with couponing, not just hoarding and keeping it to our selves. I give at least 50-60% of what I get with couponing to my church for a food bank for the less fortunate, or to help in other areas of the church. Some of those people on that show do just hoard it to their selves, then there are those that do give (although I don’t think enough). Lets not let the few bad apples spoil the bunch.
Report Post »mrst
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 12:01pmWhen my husband was relocated and we had to move, we left our house to our college kids for a while–and I left it fully stocked with food and supplies. It was months before those kids living a really low income had to buy much. and all that stuff was bought for I’m guessing at least half off regular store prices. It blessed me a great deal when my daughter, whose husband is a student was able to manage even with a baby, and others in the place. Between them all they used up the goodies I was thrilled to be able to give.
Report Post »emh1701
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 8:05amSadly, for those of us who are trying to eat less processed food, coupons are indeed a waste of time. Most are for highly processed food, be it frozen, boxed, or canned. If they sold coupons for things like produce, meat, or dairy, I would use them on a regular basis. As it currently stands, I cannot use coupons because they don’t make them for what I buy except for general merch. However it’s fairly easy to save money on general merch by buying generic anyway. You don’t need fancy soap or toilet paper.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 8:41amThere are coupons for good foods, however, they’ve become almost impossible to use. The “only on days not ending with the letter ”Y”" syndrome is creeping more and more into coupons. We just buy things that are on sale now, most of the time, coupons have become far too difficult to redeem, by intent of course.
Report Post »mrst
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 12:11pmSo you don’t use olive oil, vinegars, cleaning supplies, cheeses, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, yogurt, ??
Report Post »suejenkins
Posted on November 2, 2011 at 2:23amI disagree. My family eats almost no processed foods, yet we save at least 50% a week on our grocery bill. Weekly I buy dairy (regular milk, soy, almond, cheeses, yogurt) at 50% off. Often there are coupons or “get free with purchase” deals for meats and produce. And, as another poster mentioned, you will save money over generics when you combine sales with coupons for foodstuffs as well as general merchandise.
For instance, today I bought three Hallmark greeting cards, Dawn dishwashing liquid and Iams dog food. The total I paid for all of it was $3.25, saving $9.93 off the regular price, which I could use toward organic veggies, etc.
There is nothing wrong with frozen veggies, by the way. Last week I bought 10 1# bags of frozen vegetables for 80 cents/bag. Today I bought black beans (for soup), chick peas (for hummus) and kidney beans (for chili) for 57% off. Also bought a few dozen eggs on sale for 99 cents a dozen.
I don’t have the time, space, or inclination to be an extreme couponer. I also live in an area that never double or triples coupons. And I’m vegetarian (tho my “men” eat meat). And I still save about 51%. It allows me to purchase organics and free range meats without increasing my food budget.
Before you disparage it, you might want to give it a shot!
Report Post »Vietvet1
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 7:53amCoupons can be good but… I wonder how long they will keep printing them with a whole Reality Show that touts Couponing to the extent of paying pennies…if anything…for thousands of dollars worth of items. These Super Couponers don’t seem to even buy items from that store that they might actually need. Then they stockpile in their Garages and extra bedrooms… Hmmmm maybe contestants on another reality show… HOARDERS…
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 1:15pmThat’s exactly what the people on that show are. They aren‘t shopping for need they’re shopping out of compulsion. They’re completely OCD, and will eventually end up like the people on hoarders if their families let them.
Report Post »obfuscatenot
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 7:17amCoupons, make me think of rationing……is it coming too? To the land of free to sit on your butt and take from the productive? I woke up on the wrong side of the bread, me thinks. Ugh, where is 2012.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 7:33amActually I’d rather have people do the hard work of couponing then “sitting on their butts” waiting for the gumberment check!
Report Post »DonaldH
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 7:08amSHHhhhhhh!! the more people talk and the more people participate then the sooner the stores STOP offering…. Our “War-Room“or ”Bunker-room” as the wife and family sometimes likes to call it is nearly full with all kinds of goodies,, from plenty of soaps to canned-goods to plenty of 3% peroxide.. All made possible by the wifes”extreme couponing!! IT works!! And here’s a little secret,, If you have a Krogers in your region,, all you have to do is go Krogers sight and download the coupon that are good for that wk onto your Kroger Card or your home phone number and BAME,, it’s all taken care of when you check out— all you need is a list for what you are hopping for…..
Report Post »DonaldH
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 7:12amshopping for
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 7:16amI can never find coupons for what I actually want to stock up on. I don’t have my hair back from chemo yet, shampoo is not high on my list. I have an Aldi’s where the prices are really low already. And I don’t think they take coupons.
Report Post »southgapassion
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 7:05amAbsolutely!!! With a $60 a week budget, I began struggling to get everything our family of five needed! I began couponing in May and not only am I able to get more for less, but I’m also able to stock pile things. My own personal food storage as it were. :) It was rough getting started, but WELL WORTH the perseverance! It’s now a weekly family activity. I get my two oldest girls to help me clip & sort, then we plan our shopping accordingly. My youngest girls loves the thrill and even wakes up early with me on Friday’s to coupon, then goes to school afterward.
On such a tight budget, I would have never been able to help a family in need. Due to couponing however, I have been able to help a single income family who’s sole provider was in a wreck. I‘ve been able to donate to the local women’s shelter here as well. Charity I would have NEVER had access to had I not started to put in the effort to take control of my shopping bill.
Not only does it save money, but there are times when I‘m able to purchase things for free or cheap that I don’t necessarily use. Those things I use to barter with other folks for things they have that they don’t use or they have an overage of. I’ve gotten many a toilet paper and laundry soap by bartering and swapping stockpiles.
I encourage EVERYONE to at least give it a try.
Report Post »mmadi10699
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 5:17amYou also have to remember that you are saving after-tax dollars. If you save $100 with 4 hours of work, that’s $25 an hour tax free, so more like $31.00, of course stockpiling stuff you‘ll never use doesn’t make much sense. Some stores are limiting customers to 4 coupons per item to prevent someone taking 100 items.
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 7:15am…and then you also have to think about whether the house brand is cheaper than the name brand after the coupon.
My wife started this a while back and we’ve found that for instance, the Walmart or Target house brand lunch meats are cheaper than post-coupon Hillshire Farms in most cases.
I agree. Don‘t get extreme amounts of stuff you’ll never use (maybe just 2-4 to last an entire year), and shop sensably everywhere else. If the house brand is cheaper than they would give you after the coupon, go with the house brand. Great Value tastes the same as Peter Pan.
The article also didn’t cover another additional aspect of the equation: time running from store-to-store chasing BOGO’s. To maximize the savings, you’d also have to do that. It’s not just an investment of 4 hours a week clipping coupons, it’s also gas and time going from one grocery store to the next to get the BOGO deals,
Report Post »TEA4Me
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 9:04amTime commitment is a good point. My wife and I got into couponing for a while, but shopping trips that would take 30 mins began taking 3 hrs b/c I was going from store to store. Also, I found that prices at Walmart, even on the name brand items with a coupon where cheaper than other stores that would DOUBLE the coupon. And the house brand was even cheaper than that. There are very few specific items that I have found are worth going to another store to use a coupon. For the most part you can do all your shopping at Walmart, even buying only name brands, and get it just as cheap as anywhere else, at least here in North Carolina. (couponing rules here make it impossible to get the kind of savings you see on the TV show “Extreme Couponing”)
Report Post »LibertymyLove
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 4:26amIt is almost impossible to obtain the savings shown in the tv show but it is possible to save a ton using coupon clipping sites online. Our best trip to Kroger was paying $20 on over $150. You can buy like 20 of a coupon for a dollar and change. Screw clipping coupons from the paper that is nothing but a waste of time 90% of the time. Yes the stores in our area limit 4 coupons apiece but when you go with your spouse it can still be worth while, plus no one says you can’t drop out your bags in your car and go back in for another trip. Anyone not using coupons is throwing away money. My Schick hydro razors are anywhere from $9.50 to $11.50 each. When the store put them on sale for buy one get one I stocked up using two $2 dollar coupons on each order lowering the price to $2.75 each. For less than $100 bucks it saves me from having to buy razors for the next 3 years. That’s just one example of how they save in a big way.
Report Post »ballsofFe
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 2:59amThis obsession with coupons, “makes God to be a moneyed gentleman who scatters a handful of pennies in order to see mankind scramble for them.” Thoreau
Report Post »chfields62
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 9:45amIt must be nice to have all that money to throw away every week……We never started couponing until after the wife saw extreme couponing….Now here in Florida, we don’t have stores that double coupons and we only purchase things we actually use, but hey, an extra $25 here and $50 there adds up. Since there is only me, the wife and my 19yo son who is joining the military next year, its hard to stock up on perishables…..Got lots of TP, paper towels, laundry soap and stocking up on light bulbs…the real ones….
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 1:05pmNormal use of coupons is different than what they are talking about in this article and on that show.
Report Post »Findalis
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 2:58amThis show is the worst thing on TV. Since it started I have not received the coupons in my Sunday paper. In fact the coupons were the only reason I got the paper.
I’ve cancelled the paper and wish each and every one of these couponers would drop dead.
Report Post »BlackAce41
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 6:25amPSSST the reason you never got coupons in your paper is because you delivery person was stealing them…And the is against the law. Also i got and by the Sunday paper on Saturday and get it for .75cents. i buy four and print them. So i can see you are just big Quitter…You should join the OCWS crowd.
Report Post »Clive
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 10:16amPeople that spend 30 or 40 hours a week scouring for coupons, to stock their garages full of cheeto’s, grape soda and other garbage, need to have their heads examined. Heres an idea, get a real job, and buy the food you actually want to eat, with the money you EARN. crazy huh!
Report Post »ramburner
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 1:48amMy wife used to save me from 60-80% every week! Yes, she did what most people do not do, and that means she organized her coupons by store. she would stand in one place after entering the store for as many as 20 minutes, organizing the coupons by isle, and then begin shopping. But the benefits were outrageous! One tim she brought bags of items and placed 5 in the kitchen and 8-10 in the living room. Then she said, I paid for the ones in the kitchen, the rest were free. Yes, she had shelving set up and stored excess items. At the time, she would buy liquid Tide for $3.xx when it was selling for $8.xx, who wouldn’t buy more? I used to ask her what will we eat this week? Tide or toothpaste? We were both coffee drinkers and had 5 years worth of coffee cans in the cupboard, because she would only buy during two or three for one deals. She would try to do the same with many other products as well. If money means anything to your family, then couponing is the way to shop, no matter what this article says about how many hours spent and dollars saved. An average of 50% saved still amounts to a lot of money. Food is NOT getting cheaper, so couponer’s should get more serious.
Report Post »sabrinacle
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 5:10amGod bless your thrifty wife. That show is like watching porn to me. I mean it. Saving that much money is working a full time job. These people are a blessing to their family but not that the cat is out of the bag Im sure they will be eliminated. Lord knows the stores dont really want to let people save money. What I dont understand is…the stores are getting paid for these items so why are they bitching
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 7:21amLike porn…I love it. I watched a few times and I have to agree. But, I went on to other stuff. I can’t find the coupons, and refuse to buy the Sunday Paper, it’s too leftist for me to support. I‘m blessed that we have an Aldi’s in Texas now….really low prices. And they’ll probably stay lower than the average, because they went in right across the street from a super-Walmart.
Report Post »mrst
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 12:06pmI understand the idea of not wanting to buy the sunday paper–but I usually buy 2. :) I do not buy the paper the entire rest of the week–so I’m sending them a message I think. The message is the biased news you guys print is worthless, you better keep including the coupons on Sunday. ;)
Report Post »timbepat
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 1:39amWhen I’ve seen the show metioned in the article, it just seems very unrealistic. I’ve been an avid couponer for all of my adult life, it takes time, but it saves my family lots of money. There are just many rules and restrictions that make the situations on the show very unrealistic. I plan to continue using coupons as time allows. I, for one, think it’s worth it. My kids probably do, too, because they often get treats they wouldn’t normally get unless “it was on sale and I had a coupon” (a phrase they often hear).
Report Post »sisserydoo
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 1:29amI’d rather spend time with my family than with a stack of newspapers!
Report Post »mrst
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 12:07pmHand ‘em some scissors. ;)
Report Post »MidwestMomof3
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 1:08amIt might be if you live somewhere that has stores that double/triple coupons or don’t limit the number of items you can purchase with the coupon. However, here, almost all the times I check the coupon for a brand-name product with a coupon vs a store brand without a coupon, the store brand wins. It’s GREAT for the “big cities” but most of rural America is left-out as our businesses figured out long ago that limiting couponing would keep them from losing their butts! LOL
Report Post »CatB
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 1:56amMany stores are tightening the rules also since this show started .. :-(
Report Post »DonaldH
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 7:11amThis is true.. Kroger won’t allow double coupons anymore,, if you have a coupon from a manufactor and Krogers is offering a coupon on the same product and you try to use both,, their system automatically uses the coupon with the less savings to you…..
Report Post »mrst
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 12:13pmMy store has rules, but they are very reasonable and I am doing fine with them. Also–I don’t run to several stores–most things are going to come up on sale during the life of a coupon so I just shop at the one store and rarely fail to get a good deal on what I need.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 12:59pmMost stores also don’t allow the use of coupons on items that are already on sale.
“This offer not valid in conjuction with any other promotions”
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