I have read so many articles where people claim that clipping coupons isn’t worth it and that it is too much effort. I’ll admit that there are time I feel like that. I wonder WHY am I clipping yet another insert? Well, the answer is simple – a penny saved is a penny earned.
It is my money darn it! I don’t know about you, but I work hard for my money. So, I don’t like to part with it willy nilly. I make sure it is first of all something I need and secondly, that I can get it for the lowest price possible. Sure, I may only save $0.25. But the way that I look at it — that is MY $0.25 and not the retailer’s. It’s all about keeping what you earn.
Pennies add up. I might only save $0.50 here and there, but if I save even just $1 every week, that is $52 in one year. Up that savings to $2 a week and that is a quick $100 in your pocket. Increase that even more to $10 a week and you are over $500 for the year! Think about what you could do if you had an extra windfall on January 1st of each year. I see ya smilin’!!!!!
Personal Challenge. I set a budget for groceries each week. Take that one step further — I set a CASH budget. While I may budget $200 (for example), I love to see if I can actually spend less than that. So for me, it’s a game. Every time I can have even $20 left at the end of my budget period, I feel like I won. It is my own little version of “Beat the Clock.”
Playing the Game. It is fun to see how many coupons I can match up each week and what deals I can get. I love to work the numbers, the deals and pay the LOWEST price I can. When I find a way to get something for free – or really close to it – I almost feel like yelling “BINGO!” Plus, seeing that I saved more than I spent is just so motivating!
It’s habit. The honest reason I now use coupons (in addition to the above of course), is that I don’t know how to shop without them. I’ve done so for such a long time now that I don’t know how to grocery shop without my binder in tow. The few times that I have had to dart into the store without the slip of paper in my hand, almost makes me feel like I am doing something I shouldn’t be. Hmmmm, maybe I’ve passed habit and am now an addict! LOL!
The reasons people use (or don’t use) coupons is personal. Some are extrme in nature and others are minimalistic. So, why do you use coupons? Is it for any of these reasons or another driving factor?
Tracie is a stay at home mom to three young children; ages 8, 9 and 12. In November 2007, she and her husband decided to eliminate their debt and made many changes in their lifestyle to do just that.
Andrea says
I really like to save on items on my staples list. If I can get my canned tomatoes for .19 each – I can afford to buy my family organic milk and meat. Its a way to move my family in the direction I think is most healthy for them in an affordable way.
Rach says
Psst… your math is off in #2! $52, not $520. $100, not $1000!
Wendy says
I started 9 years ago, when I was 18. I was pregnant with my son & thought we could save a little extra cash that way. I didnt truly coupon like I do now, but it was a start. Then I tried the Grocery Game for a bit & that’s what really got me into couponing like I do now. It’s all about saving money for me.
Danielle Goewert says
I do it so I can stay home with my children. I want this time and would not change it for anything. I just started but getting the hang of it so I can save more so I can give them more even if I am home:)
Heather says
I coupon because it makes me feel good to save for my family. I stay at home with my children so it’s my way to contribute to saving money. OH and I think it’s fun and is my hobby.
DD says
I have a question…if you save 1.00 a week..wouldnt that save just $52.00 a year? not $520.00?? There are only 52 weeks in a year x 1.00 = 52.00!!!! (you would have to save 10.00= 520.00!) and 20.00 a week for 1000.00!!!!
Tracie says
LOL – see what happens when you are cooped up in a house with 3 kids for 3 days! Your brain goes mooooshy!
Tracy says
I think it depends on where u are in your life…with active older children and a full time job I dont have time to do a ton of couponing….and no one really can say otherwise…all situations are different. Thankfully there are sites to help alert me to the deals I can get but truth be told there are weeks that I am lucky to get to the grocery store. Someday I will join the ranks but for now mediocrity is just gonna have to do.
Cindy D says
On February 10th, 2010 my hubby who is a road side semi mechanic had a semi fall on him and crush his left side. I am a housewife whose been looking for a job for 3 years after my job went under. So with just workman’s comp payments coming in willy nilly(as in whenever the girl decided to send check)I started buckling down on everything. I was on the Wilton cake decorating forum when they mentioned Facebook and someone said they only get on Facebook for coupons! Coupons? On Facebook? I had to race and see and it all started from there. So I am fairly new but have several people that want me to show them what I know! I am excited that in about another month hubby will go back to work and I plan to live the same and take the money difference between what we got in workman’s comp and his actual pay and save it! We have never in 25 yrs of marriage had a savings and I can’t wait!
Monique P says
Now that I coupon, I feel guilty for not having done it properly in the past. I feel very silly for paying $4.99 for Crest Mouthwash for so long, for example. Yes, the smaller coupons add up, but the bigger ones (the ones that make you want to shout Bingo!) really DO make a difference in your bottom line straight away – no matter how committed you are to the ‘power of the deal’.
If you’re a stay-at-home mom this almost becomes your second job, not just a hobby!
You can always find a few minutes each day to search out some deals – and thanks to sites like this, it’s so easy to do. Saving money on things you purchase anyway just makes sense, not to mention the ‘thrill of the chase’.
I totally underestimated how looking at your stockpile, however small, feels.
People may scoff, but when those same people are behind you in the checkout line it always elicits a ‘Wow’ when they see how much you save with coupons.
Laura L. Dunker says
I have used coupons here and there before now. I am just now realizing I should have been trying to figure this out long before now. Being a single mother of three with only being allowed to hold a part time job due to medical conditions means we live on a very small budget. Unfortunately I cannot seem to evade the ever rising cost of gas for my 45 mile drive to work but I figure if I can save money on the other things we have to have (ex: diapers, tooth paste, etc.) than I have more money to spend on other things for my girlies. I haven’t yet mastered the art of walking out of the grocery store saving more than I spend but it’s better than paying full price any day! Clipping coupons is now starting to rub off on my oldest as she loves to do crafts…she loves using scissors! I just tell her which coupons we need and away she goes! Hopefully this is the start of a good habit.
Alice says
I started couponing after graduating and getting married. My husband and I have A LOT of student loans that eat up a lot of our monthly budget and we want to start a family soon. We would like to wait though until we are more financially secure. So I stumbled across your website and have been hooked ever since. My husband used to laugh at me until I started showing him the receipts and even gave him a list and stack of coupons to do the shopping for the week!
Megan G. says
I was going to comment, but my story is your story WORD FOR WORD Alice. Education is a necessity, but student loans are killer when it’s time to pay them back, especially when you trying to get your feet under you before starting a family. I feel like couponing makes it a little easier though. Nice to know someone else is going through the exact same situation that I am. Sorry 🙁
holly vdh says
why do i use coupons?! besides the reasons you listed above, it helps us save for items we want. Every 2 weeks we have our grocery budget and a “trip” fund. At the end of the 2 weeks whatever we havent used in the grocery budget goes into our trip fund. That is how we go on our family vacations without credit cards or worrying how we are going to pay for items while we are on the trip. its amazing how much money i am able to put in there every 2 weeks. We arent going to disney world or anything but taking 3-4 mini vacations every year to places the girls love is well worth it and we pay zip out of our own pocket. Before we go on trips I break it down into envelopes, Food, gas and misc and seperate the money up depending on how long we are going to be gone, where we are going and what gas prices are. we have been doing it for 3 years now and its succesfull!!
Connie says
I look at it as a game.I love to get stuff free.And the other reason is my son is a U.S Marine, I’m always senting him home with tons of food and bath things for the other Marines.Last year, I sented tons of baby wipes down. Razors,and bath products r not cheap.But, I wish I could spent less each month.My food budget is $400.00 a month.It’s not bad for all the things.
Barbara says
Fortunately my DH and I are at a place in our lives where we don’t have to watch every penny. But I still coupon! Last year I kept a record of how many goods we donated to church and the food pantry and the women’s shelter. It came to well over $5000 dollars’ worth.
Leslie says
I coupon because my honey and I made a deal. He puts the amount of money I save by using coupons in a vacation account. Then we get to go on vacation basically worry free. Last year we went to Vegas (yes i still used coupons in Vegas to contribute to my vacation fund for this yr)
Melanie says
I have learned to love coupons!! I save myself some of the time and frustation of cutting coupons by putting my kids to work. I have a jar full of pennies that I have collected over the years and my kiddos are more than happy to cut out coupons for me at a penny for each coupon. Saves me time and keeps them occupied.
Megean says
I have only been clipping coupons for about year, but my biggest motivation is definitely the savings. I love knowing that I can put that money elsewhere in my life, because trust me there is always somewhere else it can go. I also must admit I am a competitor at heart, I am always looks for a challenge. Couponing feels like a game to me and I am always out to win.
Erika says
I coupon because I quit working full-time when our kids were born. If I’m not going to bring a full salary to our family the least I can do is make myself all about saving money. Saving $25 a week on groceries makes living on one salary that much more doable.
Amy says
Check your math in #2. Big difference between $100 vs. $1000!
Jessica says
Its still a good chunk of change though.
Natalie says
amen sista!
Jessica says
I really started clipping coupons, budgeting, and following blogs last October. I had just started my first “big girl” job out of college and they pay was less then steller. However, the experience I am getting is worth the low salary. I was stressed to the max about money to the point where I wasn’t sleeping at night and it was hard to focus during the day. One week, I had very little cash but I was out of dog food. By chance, I found a coupon for his brand on coupons.com. It was such a blessing.
Since then I have been hooked. These days, I clip for several reasons. I believe in saving where you can so you can splurge on other things at other times. Since I sat down and made a budget and developed a stockpile I have the freedom to jump on an amazing deal when it comes along. A second reason I clip coupons is because with the discounts they provide I am able to try new things. Yes, I wouldn’t buy these things if I didn’t have a coupon but I’m talking about a new juice or a better dish soap so I am okay with it. The absolute biggest reason I clip is because it frees up other money. I have been able to pay off a credit card, pay for 3 semesters of grad school in cash, and I am currently saving to attend a professional conference this summer. Cash is King.
PPM, you were the first site I found through my SIL. I want to say THANK YOU because you are the one who brought this to my attention. Words can’t describe how thankful I truly am. PS….. I’m a KC (Northland) girl so it was even better that you were from my area.
Tracie says
I am glad that you found me too! And that hometown connection is perk! 😉
Natalie says
I coupon for therapy..or because it is cheaper than therapy. I have just become a single mom and am really worried about how I am going to pay for things like school medical etc for my two kids. But with couponing I can save and still give to charities with my freebies. My daughter is in preschool and her teachers are just amazed at how well she holds and cuts with her scissors. I starting laughing when her teachers told me this and had to confess it was from cutting coupons with her mama :0)
d says
I started couponing as a way to be able to donate more to food pantries and shelters. I don’t have very much extra money, but I feel that it is important to help out others who have even less than me. Couponing helps me give way more than I could otherwise. Plus it makes me feel a little like Robin Hood, “stealing” from the rich and giving to the poor. 😉
Jessica says
I started couponing after about three different things happened. First, I was reading a blog of a friend for several months and watching her savings each week, I was intrigued! I had two kids at the time and it really bugged me that we had recently increased our grocery budget (we always have had a budget). Finally, we had a speaker at my mom’s group talk about coupons. I bought a paper that week and started. I started learning CVS after about two months of couponing. Within about three months I had a stockpile and was saving money. My plan was to save it up and throw a big graduation party for my hubby when he finished his MBA. When he found himself out of a job about five months later, I had about $700 saved up from my grocery budget. I was SO THANKFUL that I had learned to coupon for fun and knew how when our budget really needed it!! It blows my mind that I paid so much for some things for SO LONG! I also love that I can donate things even on a tight budget. It is such a habit now (or addiction like you said) and I don’t think I would want to go back. Thanks so much for your site, I appreciate it greatly!
Debbie says
I have just started couponing this year and can’t believe how many coupons I have accumulated. I also cant believe it took me 25 years of marriage to realize coupons really could save you a lot of money. I was wondering you can tax deduct the things that you donate, and, if you can, can you deduct the value of the product, instead of what you paid? Love sites like these that make couponing so easy.
Tracie says
I would consult with a tax professional on that Debbie as I am not one. I know that I’ve been TOLD that you can only deduct the value of what you paid, but again, since I am not a tax consultant, I can’t give you tax advice.
Michelle says
I agree with so many of the above comments. Fortunately, my husband and I have been able to keep our jobs throughout these hard economic times. But after seeing it happen to so many of my friends and family, I know one day one of us (or God forbid even both of us) could lose our job, and the stockpile of food and household goods, will be very helpful in keeping our expenses low. Plus, coupons have allowed us to fully-fund an emergency account. And, as with the other commenters, it is also nice to be able to score items for a great price and donate a large amount of stuff to the food pantry!
I’ve been doing this for about two and a half years now, and that feeling of wanting to yell ‘Bingo’ never goes away! 😉 I live in rural Kansas (all we’ve got is Walmart) so I miss out on a lot of deals, but I have still cut my grocery budget significantly. Thank you Tracie for sharing all the tips and great deals on your site!
Jenny S. says
I use coupons to save where I can so I can spend where I want. :o)