Do you use coupons?

[prolesunited]

I've become compulsive about it and we're saving a ton of money. I love when I find things on sale and then have a coupon for it as well. It's even better when it's a good sale and I have several coupons so I can stock up.

Do you like coupons? What are your strategies for getting the most out of them?

[reyd reid reed]

1. Finding someplace that'll double 'em

up to a dollar. And then having a bunch of coupons for the same thing and then having that item on sale.

I've literally saved hundreds of dollars on a single trip to the grocery store that way.

[prolesunited]

3. There's only one store around here

that doubles them and I wasn't that happy with it overall. They don't have as good of prices at other stores and restict you to $5 or $10 in savings. Most trips I do way better than that.

[sniffa]

14. i don't know of any that do such a thing.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. I do, but not as much as I used to...

When most stores decided to only double coupons up to 50 cents, it really took the wind out of my sails. Then a Super FResh that doubled coupons up to a dollar opened not far away. But now they've decided to double only up to 99 cents.

I used to get a lot of stuff for free, including travel-size things of toothpaste.

I only use coupons on expensive items like cereal when they're on sale.

[barb162]

4. Yes; been doing it for years

I have no strategies other than keeping them organized in about 7 categories and in my car at all times.

[S n o w b a l l]

5. Sometimes if they're at least $1.00 or more

and I would more often, but I usually find store brands that are just as good and cheaper than the brand names with coupons.

[prolesunited]

18. I use store brands as well

For a lot of stuff, we use Kirkland (Costco) and Walgreens.

[Kali]

6. I don't buy that much stuff that coupons are pushing.

too much overprocessed garbage or the store brand is still cheaper, but I do check the sunday pile of them - I usually find one or two to use.

[Nicole]

7. Not often at the grocery store.

The bulk of my grocery purchases are fresh fruit, veggies & dairy. Those things seldom, if ever, have coupons.

I do find coupons for baking staples during the holidays. So I try to use those when I can combine them with a sale. My local store doubles up to $1.

I use coupons at the drug store a lot for health & beauty aids. Even with a coupon those things cost more at the grocery.

[Neoma]

8. Nope.

[MonkeyFunk]

9. No

I never have, but I know I should. It just seems like so much work.

But I do use my "club card" to buy stuff on sale.

[JVS]

10. sometimes when they are really good, or on stuff I'd buy anyway

but I usually save by getting generic products

[u4ic]

11. Sometimes

If it's a brand I normally buy (cereal, for eg), I'll grab a few coupons to tide me over for the next while.

Most of what I buy are on the outside aisles of the supermarket - produce, (unprepared) chicken and fish, eggs and cheese. Rarely any coupons for those things.

[bluecrush]

12. Yes, it can be a good thing

but have you noticed, in some cases, that you have to buy 3-to-5 items for the coupons to work? I just don't have that much pantry space.

[bedpanartist]

13. We bought $110 worth of groceries last week for $55

nothing else to say.

[prolesunited]

19. You're my kind of shopper!

My best moment was saving more in coupons and in-store sales than I actually spent.

[slj0101]

15. If it's something I buy regularly,

or if it's a fantastic deal, then yes. Otherwise, I don't use them just for the sake of using them.

[philosophie_en_rose]

16. Yes

I look in the Sunday paper and will clip coupons for things I already buy.

I also look for coupons online, when I make an online purchase. Most times, I can get free shipping or 20% or some other discount.

[lildreamer316]

17. Psst. We started a whole group talking about this.

Scroll down a bit and you will see several posts from our coupon queens..
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=353

[prolesunited]

20. Thanks for the link

But I've already posted there. I would love if there was even more activity.

[catmandu57]

21. As often as possible

especially ones for catfood and litter, I have several people who will keep coupons for me, about every other month there is a dollar off for the brand of food we use, I like to snag all of those I can.