New to couponing

[Anonymous]

I imagine I will get flamed for this but I would love some advice on how to start couponing without it becoming a full time job. We are a household of two adults and I generally spend anywhere on 350 to 600 per month on groceries. I bring my lunch to work most days; my husband does not. This does not include dining out which adds a lot.

I look for things on sale while I'm at giant but not in advance. I also will bring coupons with me if I have them (like from the inside of a box of rice). Any advice would be helpful as well as what a target range should be for grocery shopping in this area.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

The reality is, the healthiest foods don't have coupons. Consider that you're supposed to shop the perimeter of a grocery store - do you ever see coupons for lettuce? For milk? For fruit? No. The only things you'll find coupons for are toilet paper, dishwashing detergent, etc.

Instead of buying cleaning solutions like Windex and Clorox wipes, for which there are coupons, look up how to clean with vinegar, water and lemons and do that instead.

[Anonymous]

There are some great couponing forums on the internet. Those people do a lot of research and are happy to share.

The key to couponing is knowing what is on sale and of course having your coupons in hand. It's a different mentality of shopping. Every week I buy a small amount of perishables--lunch meat, produce, milk, eggs. But everything else I only buy when it's on sale.

For example, this week HT is having their stock up and save sale. My grocery budget this week went to individual packages of chips for the kids lunches, K Cups, Granola Bars, and something else...I don't remember.

But my point is...I can't feed a family for a week off of what I bought at the grocery store this week. But last week, chicken was on sale. So I spent a good portion of my budget on chicken. Again, I can't just feed my family chicken 7 days a week, 3 meals a day. But now I don't have to buy chicken for a few months. Tomorrow, the new sale ads will start popping up and I'll decide what I'd like to stock up on.

The coupon forums also know when the new coupons are coming out so you can pre-order them from a coupon source or ebay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reality is, the healthiest foods don't have coupons. Consider that you're supposed to shop the perimeter of a grocery store - do you ever see coupons for lettuce? For milk? For fruit? No. The only things you'll find coupons for are toilet paper, dishwashing detergent, etc.

Instead of buying cleaning solutions like Windex and Clorox wipes, for which there are coupons, look up how to clean with vinegar, water and lemons and do that instead.

There are coupons for essentials like diapers, baby wipes, butter, sugar, flour, organic milk, etc. Not something you would need to purchase every day but you can save more if you shop at stores that do double on coupons.

Try coupons.com

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reality is, the healthiest foods don't have coupons. Consider that you're supposed to shop the perimeter of a grocery store - do you ever see coupons for lettuce? For milk? For fruit? No. The only things you'll find coupons for are toilet paper, dishwashing detergent, etc.

Instead of buying cleaning solutions like Windex and Clorox wipes, for which there are coupons, look up how to clean with vinegar, water and lemons and do that instead.

I agree with this. We eat mostly fresh food and coupons are just a waste of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality is, the healthiest foods don't have coupons. Consider that you're supposed to shop the perimeter of a grocery store - do you ever see coupons for lettuce? For milk? For fruit? No. The only things you'll find coupons for are toilet paper, dishwashing detergent, etc.

Instead of buying cleaning solutions like Windex and Clorox wipes, for which there are coupons, look up how to clean with vinegar, water and lemons and do that instead.

I agree with this. We eat mostly fresh food and coupons are just a waste of time.

Really? You don't buy toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, tampons, butter, mayo, ketchup, mustard, oil, vinegar, bread, cheese, yogurt?

[Anonymous]

OP when I couponed I usually only did it for non-perishables such as cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, etc.

As others have indicated it's best to shop the perimeter of your grocery store and always #1 have a list and #2 stick to it! Better yet, send your spouse -- I find my DH very rarely strays from any list I provide him and is good about looking for deals such as sales, BOGO, etc.

Not sure coupons are really worth it after not using them for awhile now... I think being aware of your shopping habits, making a list and knowing what it is you want to make for b'fast, lunch, dinner in advance (i.e., planning!) is the key to success for helping control the food budget.

Good luck... I know it's hard. I am still not entirely there but at this point we don't eat out but once a month and I know that's a big budget killer in this area and a hard habit to break!

[Anonymous]

Apparently some dollar stores accept coupons. My MIL would go there with her t-paste, t-brush $1 coupons and always have lots of them to pass out to us. LOL!!!

She's retired and goes around collecting Sunday inserts from the neighbors.

[Anonymous]

The key is to only use coupons for products that you would buy anyway. As many people said, coupons are generally for brand name items and processed foods.

Be sure to compare prices though--a lot of the time if you are willing to use store brands it's still cheaper than the equivalent brand name with a coupon.

Also, if you can find a store that doubles coupons (much rarer than it used to be) that will maximize their impact.

[Anonymous]

I coupon here and there and it is not a full time job and I eat fairly healthy.

First, if it is possible for your husband to take his lunch, he should do that. I found that a lot of money is wasted with eating out and thigns like morning coffee! This will probably make the biggest dent in your budget.

Also, try coupon and deal blogs like Hip2save and fatwallet and slickdeals. Basically Google "coupon blogs" and you will find a ton out there, and many have the same deals posted.

The key is to match deals with coupons. For example, if something at CVS is on sale or you get Extra Bucks AND use a coupon, then it often times if free. You do not need to do the research on this. The coupon blogs will do them for you.

PPs are right in that many coupons are for unhealthy things. But occasionally you can find healthy coupons on websites like Common Kindness.

Stock up when you find the good deals. Also pay attention when Harris Teeter has their "super double" coupon weeks where they double any coupon up to $2, making some things $4 off.

Finally, if you have time, do a spreadsheet that compares prices of things. I have found that Whole Foods often has the cheapest prices on things by comparing prices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I coupon here and there and it is not a full time job and I eat fairly healthy.

First, if it is possible for your husband to take his lunch, he should do that. I found that a lot of money is wasted with eating out and thigns like morning coffee! This will probably make the biggest dent in your budget.

Also, try coupon and deal blogs like Hip2save and fatwallet and slickdeals. Basically Google "coupon blogs" and you will find a ton out there, and many have the same deals posted.

The key is to match deals with coupons. For example, if something at CVS is on sale or you get Extra Bucks AND use a coupon, then it often times if free. You do not need to do the research on this. The coupon blogs will do them for you.

PPs are right in that many coupons are for unhealthy things. But occasionally you can find healthy coupons on websites like Common Kindness.

Stock up when you find the good deals. Also pay attention when Harris Teeter has their "super double" coupon weeks where they double any coupon up to $2, making some things $4 off.

Finally, if you have time, do a spreadsheet that compares prices of things. I have found that Whole Foods often has the cheapest prices on things by comparing prices.

Rumor is that HT super doubles starts tomorrow

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality is, the healthiest foods don't have coupons. Consider that you're supposed to shop the perimeter of a grocery store - do you ever see coupons for lettuce? For milk? For fruit? No. The only things you'll find coupons for are toilet paper, dishwashing detergent, etc.

Instead of buying cleaning solutions like Windex and Clorox wipes, for which there are coupons, look up how to clean with vinegar, water and lemons and do that instead.

I agree with this. We eat mostly fresh food and coupons are just a waste of time.

Really? You don't buy toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, tampons, butter, mayo, ketchup, mustard, oil, vinegar, bread, cheese, yogurt?

We make our own yogurt, bread, ketchup, use rags instead of paper towels, use handkerchiefs for tissues, I use a diva cup rather than tampons.

[Anonymous]

I have also discovered, astonishingly, that Whole Foods has the cheapest prices on some stuff!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality is, the healthiest foods don't have coupons. Consider that you're supposed to shop the perimeter of a grocery store - do you ever see coupons for lettuce? For milk? For fruit? No. The only things you'll find coupons for are toilet paper, dishwashing detergent, etc.

Instead of buying cleaning solutions like Windex and Clorox wipes, for which there are coupons, look up how to clean with vinegar, water and lemons and do that instead.

I agree with this. We eat mostly fresh food and coupons are just a waste of time.

Really? You don't buy toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, tampons, butter, mayo, ketchup, mustard, oil, vinegar, bread, cheese, yogurt?

We make our own yogurt, bread, ketchup, use rags instead of paper towels, use handkerchiefs for tissues, I use a diva cup rather than tampons.

Funny but gross at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality is, the healthiest foods don't have coupons. Consider that you're supposed to shop the perimeter of a grocery store - do you ever see coupons for lettuce? For milk? For fruit? No. The only things you'll find coupons for are toilet paper, dishwashing detergent, etc.

Instead of buying cleaning solutions like Windex and Clorox wipes, for which there are coupons, look up how to clean with vinegar, water and lemons and do that instead.

I agree with this. We eat mostly fresh food and coupons are just a waste of time.

Really? You don't buy toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, tampons, butter, mayo, ketchup, mustard, oil, vinegar, bread, cheese, yogurt?

We make our own yogurt, bread, ketchup, use rags instead of paper towels, use handkerchiefs for tissues, I use a diva cup rather than tampons.

Funny but gross at the same time.

Opss..I was thinking of the Dixie cup. Just realized Diva cup is an actual product.