1.

Meredith
May 5th, 2006 at 3:07 pm

I agree with most of your denial. Our grocery stores have limited their doubling policies and never “pay you” to buy something–the computer system shuts the money down at zero. In fact, I often *spent* a few dollars in tax alone for a bag of freebies. However, when I first started couponing, I lived next to a newspaper recycling dumpster where acquiring stacks of inserts each Sunday only took a few minutes. Aaah, the good old days.

2.

Nick
May 5th, 2006 at 3:52 pm

Thanks for sharing your experience, Meredith. I noticed your review of GroceryGuide.com and decided to give it a try, so I’ll be sure to use it in conjuction with my grand coupon experiment.

3.

Empty Spaces
May 8th, 2006 at 12:53 am

I totally agree with you. I can never find coupons for the stuff I need and the coupons i have are for stuff i dont buy.
its easier to buy stuff at costco!

4.

mapgirl
May 8th, 2006 at 8:35 am

I’m thoroughly convinced that coupons are not for me. I have food allergies and a lot of coupons are for processed foods which I can’t eat or aren’t very healthy to consume week after week. They don’t have coupons for Asian food stores anyway.

5.

G
May 8th, 2006 at 9:17 am

Very interesting article. I do agree that coupons may be advertisements in disguise but, if the coupons are for products you would buy anyway, why not use them. I find coupons save us about 10% off of every grocery bill

6.

kassy
May 8th, 2006 at 8:31 pm

I’m very interested to see how your experiment turns out since we don’t use coupons either. They’re never for products or brands that I buy and I’m actually a little embarrassed to use them at the outlet store I shop at since the prices are already so low.

7.

SBeazer
May 9th, 2006 at 10:05 am

Many shoppers see the time required to save money at the grocery store as not worth the effort. Price books, coupon clipping, coupon matching, and weekly ads are hard to keep up with in our busy lives.

A new FREE website GroceryGuide.com takes the work out of saving money at the store. Here you will find they have the grocery sales listed, rated and matched with coupons. I love the feature that allows you to send your shopping list to a cell phone.

8.

Angie
May 24th, 2006 at 10:21 am

I used to think that you could never get brand names cheaper than generic too. My mindset changed a couple of months ago. I started doing research after reading an article about Faye Prosser. I do not buy coupons from the clipping service, nor do I buy things that I would never look at. I have however, reduced my grocery bill by at least 75% in the past 2 months. I look at the coupon preview (available online, google coupon preview) , and depending on the coupons in the next paper, I buy from 3 - 10 papers at Walgreens for $.99 each. I now have multiples for everything, and when things ( I use) are on sale, I buy as many as I can. In the past 2 days, I bought $524.54 worth of groceries for only $51.78. I buy meat in bulk for 1/4 of retail from a local farmer, and won’t have to step in a store for 2-3 months unless I want to.I do not own Prosser’s book, I did my own research and figured it out. It is true, I would have never believed it. I went from buying the cheap 10 packs of single blade razors to the most expensive ones in the drustore…for tax! Anyone can do this, and it IS worth the time!

9.

Muriel
May 29th, 2006 at 3:48 pm

I would like to let you know that I have taken Faye Prosser’s class and absolutely loved it. She taught us how to save at least 50% or more off of our grocery bill. With the money I saved, my husband and I were able to take our three children to Walt Disney World for 10 days!!!! I would put the difference of what the total bill was and what I actually paid in a savings account and in a little over a year’s time, we had enough to go for 10 days! And yes, even then I used her ideas to save even more money and still enjoy ourselves while down there. I use coupons every week and have had several stores even have to PAY ME to buy the items I have purchased. I know her system works because thanks to her I can stay at home with my three children(one whom is disabled) and care for my father whom is on hospice while only my husband works. For that, I am very grateful to her. She is a great inspiration to those of us who know her!!!!

10.

Shelly
May 29th, 2006 at 4:15 pm

It seems pretty obvious to someone who has read both Faye Prossser’s book The Smart Spending Guide and you article The Science (Fiction) of Coupons, that you’ve cherry picked from Prosser the points you can best refute in order to support your opinion that couponing isn’t worth your time (so it must not be worth anyone’s time).
Couponing is one part of the system, you have to combine the coupons with the weekly sales, it has to be for stuff you use, and you have to plan your weekly menus using the sales flyers and coupons, to save the most money. It does require a little effort, saving money usually does. Faye Prosser addresses all of this in her book. Maybe you should have actually read it. If you had, you might have seen the paragraph 2 on page 33 that I feel best sums up the authors position on the appropriate use of coupons. It reads;
“Couponing Tip: When using coupons, make sure that you do not buy products you could purchase less expensively in another brand or make yourself for less. One of the keys to using coupons is to use them wisely, which means not spending extra money on a product you don’t use just because you have a coupon. Only use them on products you normally buy or on products that are a great deal that you know you will use or can donate.”
I use the system and I save A LOT of money. That’s proof enough for me.

11.

Laura
May 29th, 2006 at 5:47 pm

I was a doubter myself of Faye’s techniques. I was a wholesale shopper and thought I was saving money. I started reading Faye’s book and went slowly and sceptically.

I now save on average 88% off my grocery shopping. I DO NOT buy things my family will not eat. I don’t buy things just because I have a coupon. I keep my coupons organized and while I am out shopping I look for things that are on sale that I have a coupon for. If it is still more than I want to pay, I tuck the coupon away to give away/trade for something else. I only shop at stores that double my coupon and then really stock up when the stores have “triple coupon days”. This past weekend two different stores participate in Triple coupons and I used over 200 coupons. I saved over $700.

Now granted, I would not have spent that $700, I would have bought them at a cheaper store if it were not for coupons or for triple days. I definitely would have spent more than I did. On one trip alone I got $55 worth of wonderful food my family will enjoy for .97 cents. There is no way you can beat that.

I will not need any staple items like noodles, paper products or hot dogs for about 3-4 months. On top of that I got better name brand items than previously because I was not willing to buy for full price. My family is thrilled!! My pantry, freezer and poor sons closet is FULL. I got all of that for $85.96.

Try it for a month and tell us we are wrong. I bet if you ask Faye nicely she will even LEND you a copy of her book!

12.

Melinda
May 29th, 2006 at 6:02 pm

I do not understand how bashing anyone helps anything. You have your beliefs… you are entitled to them. Faye has her own opinion and she, as well, is entitled to it. Publicly criticizing someone gets NOTHING done. I personally like coupons. I still buy things that we need as long as they are on sale, but I cannot tell you how much I appreciate people’s advice on helping me. I never realized half of what it takes or what you can do using coupons. I hope that you find it useful, many American families need this in order to be able to have everything else that their children may need.

13.

Darlene
May 29th, 2006 at 6:04 pm

I’ve taken Faye Prosser’s class on saving money when grocery shopping. I use her ideas for a coupon notebook and clip coupons each week. I’ve learned the importance of looking for the sale items on things I buy/need and using double or triple coupons in conjunction with the sale. I’ve been able to save a lot of money through this process.

I work full-time outside the home and it is still worth my time to use the smart-spending system that I learned in Faye’s class.

I would recommend this method to anyone…unless you prefer to pay full-price for all your groceries!

14.

Carol G
May 29th, 2006 at 6:23 pm

On March 1st, I began using coupons and the weekly flyers to help reduce our grocery bills. Here’s what happened:

I saved an average of 60% of our bill from March 1st to date (May 29). This was well worth the expense of 1 newspaper (Sunday only) and 45 min. of my time each week (not the 3 hours you claim is necessary for couponing).

My family still eats healthy foods. My freezer is stocked with meats & fish, as well as frozen homemade meals that cost me a fraction of their retail cost. I buy very few convenience foods. I use coupons mostly on paper goods, household items, staples, etc. That alone is a big cost savings.

I buy generic brands and make purchases at BJs (a wholesale club) when it makes cents/sense. For example, unless milk is on sale, my best weekly deal is at the wholesale club.

I don’t know what your motive for singling out Faye Prosser for your negativity campaign (I mean, really, why insult her by your comment about her swinging her purse at you — have you even met her? Why do you have a personal grievance against her?). But I think it weakens your argument about why not to use couponing.

Personally, I have found that the time watching an evening TV show, while doing our family’s laundry, and cutting & organizing my coupons is TIME well spent. . . and MONEY saved.

I am a couponer . . . and our family benefits from it.

15.

Tammy
May 29th, 2006 at 7:03 pm

I am new to couponing and have bought Faye’s book, but have not been to one of her classes but have all intentions in doing so. If you have not read the book or at least put a little effort into it, then you should not be bashing the system. I don’t have a local grocery store that doubles or triples but I can still save money at the ones that I do have. I don’t spend money just because I have coupons, that would not be using common sense. I work full-time plus have a family and go to college, but I find the time to fit it in. You will do what you have to do to try to save money, but if you do not have a need to save then don’t criticize the ones who do.

It does not take a great amount of extra time to find the sales and match the coupons. You can do that while you are kicked back watching TV. I used to think that coupons were a waste of time but if I can buy things that I normally would not have (When it is on sale only) you bet I will do it. I have seen the savings and I am a believer.

Faye gives alot of her time to help those of us who had no clue so I think she deserves a great amount of credit.

16.

Brenda
May 29th, 2006 at 7:07 pm

Been couponing for 3 months now since taking Faye’s class. I used to spend approx $200 wk for my family - now I rarely spend $50. I make my grocery list/meal plan by what is on sale or what I already have (which is a lot, since I stock up when I find a good deal). I spend less than an hour a week clipping, organizing coupons & making my list. I figure I am paying myself $150 an hour for this service since that is what I now save each week. Can you say you make that much in an hour by bashing respectful ladies such as Mrs. Prosser?

17.

milded
May 29th, 2006 at 8:06 pm

I find your site very interesting and disapointing. It is wonderful that you choose to not do coupons but why do the bashing of others? I use coupons for items that I use and on sale but coupons do not control my life!I buy generic brands also but if I have a coupon,it’s on sale and cheaper than the generic-which do you think that I am going to buy? Duh!!
Have a wonderful day and visit Faye’s site smartspending@yahoogroups.com to help you win your bet. I’m pulling for the coupon users!

18.

Terrie
May 29th, 2006 at 8:32 pm

Nick,

It’s obvious you know Not of what you speak. I take it personal when someone speaks so loudly about a subject they know so little about. If you’d done Any reliable research you would have found that ALOT of people/families benefit from couponing! Do you honestly think Good Morning America would have done so many “specials” highlighting the use of coupons if it was all a bunch of “huey”? Why single out Faye? Why not Stephanie Nelson? Stephanie has proven on national TV exactly what Faye teaches. Coupons can Save you Alot!

A bit of advice I’ll pass along…..

DON’T KNOCK IT UNTIL YOU’VE TRIED IT!

19.

Heather
May 29th, 2006 at 8:33 pm

There is a science to couponing, and yes, if you don’t do it religiously and keep up on prices, sales, and coupons, you won’t save much.

I’m a former “non beliver”. I finally started using coupons. You are NOT required to buy stuff you normally won’t. You use the coupons combined with sale prices. That’s the bottom line. You use coupons for items you want, and you match them with a sale price.

It’s very much a “game”. A friend of mine yesterday remarked (after eating my FREE angus steaks) that my couponing is very much like playing Magic The Gathering. Why? You take the coupon and see where it works the best for you.

Eat strawberries during the summer ever? I laugh when I see people paying $1.50 a pound for them. Why? Because I can get them for about $.25 a pound, or cheaper. Last week I bought a pound for $.18 after coupons.

Coupons are NOT for everyone. If you don’t have the time to buy the paper, cut the coupons, organize them, and scour sales ad’s, then don’t waste your time attempting them.

But when I can walk out of a grocery store with almost $50 worth of groceries, and pay only $.19, then I know it works, at least for me. And yes, that was a real shopping trip. I had around $48 worth of groceries, and I paid out the door less than a quarter.

Don’t bash it until you know what you are doing. Going on one trip using one week’s worth of coupons, and still buying whatever you want doesn’t count as actually trying.

If there’s ever been a problem putting food on the table, or you are ever short on money, I can get you a week’s worth of groceries for under $10, sometimes cheaper, such as my trip above. Faye knows her stuff. Just because you don’t doesn’t make her way wrong.

By all means, feel free to spend $100 a week on groceries. I’ll keep my coupons, thank you, and feed my family of 5 for less than $20 a week.

20.

jo
May 29th, 2006 at 9:02 pm

I work with the eldery and I also supply them with much needed food. They are all on fixed incomes and with the price of gas ( for cooking and heating) and their meds, lots of them can not afford much food.Most of them can not get goverment food assistance.With coupons, I have been able to provide food for them plus donating lots to the food bank. I have been using coupons for many years and I have saved tons with them. I dont see why anyone would not use them!
So what it its just .50 cents. If you use enough of the .50 coupons , dont that add up to dollars? To me, not using coupons is like just throwing that .50 in the trash. If you feel you have that much money to just throw it away, then please throw it toward me and I will see that it goes to a needing person.
If the coupon is for a item you do not use and by using it, it will make the item free, why not get the item and donate it to the food bank. Just because you personally do not use it dont mean that NO ONE uses it. I feel sure that someone enjoyed the 24 cans of bush baked beans and the 48 boxes of kraft mac and cheese I donated to the food bank even though we dont eat either of them. I paid a total of 1.39TOTAL for BOTH THESE CASES food.
With me using coupons, I am able to have a nice stockpile in my home also so when something comes up, I have plenty of food for it . A good example : A friend of mine who lives in town in apartment told me last week of a family who just moved into their apartment complex. This is a husband and wife and 2 small children. They have lost their home due to the company they both worked for has closed. Their signup check has ran out and they did not have any money after paying the rent for food. I took them enough food to last them 2 weeks. This includes milk and meats and veggies. They were so thrilled. Iproabably had spent maybe 30.00 for that 2 weeks worth of food for them. I took it all out of my stockpile and it didnt make a dent in it. If I didnt use coupons, I would not have that type of stockpile ready to donate to whoever needs it .
Soooo. Dont knock it until you try it. But, as I said before. If you have that much money to just wanna throw it away, my clients would love for you to throw it this way.

21.

Angela Henley
May 30th, 2006 at 5:09 am

Hey there Nick! GREAT TOPIC! when-ever a topic gets so many varied responses, EVERYONE BENEFITS! Your site gets attention from couponers and non-couponers alike! Faye is a FREELANCER and a friend of mine who started her coupon journey just a few years ago, I however have been doing this for MANY YEARS! I started out of NECCESSITY and now it is to help me live LAVISHLY FOR LESS!

My humble beginnings as a single mom with ZERO extra money helped me find a way 24 years ago to make ends meet and feed my daughter WITHOUT depending on the “system” to do so!

Couponing is NOT for everyone, if you don’t have ANY CREATIVITY you definately cannot benefit from coupons. You have to learn to be creative with your menus, want to try new things, and have tons of tenacity. If you lack these qualities you should just buy generic and bulk and be done with it! Pay more and eat less.

EXAMPLE this week if you are a FOOD LION shopper you can get the following:
Oscar Mayer hot dogs, Food Lion Brand Cheese slices (16oz) and Food Lion Brand Ketchup, using coupons and walk out of the store paying 69 cents.

Most of Fayes Following has access to things the rest of the country DOES NOT HAVE, TRIPLE COUPONS and DOUBLE COUPONS that exceed our 50c limit that we have here. This enables them to do much better with coupons than many. BUT this does not stop many other areas in their quest to get FREE PRODUCTS and ALMOST FREE PRODUCTS matching LOSS LEADERS with coupons. Then you just SUPPLEMENT the FREE PRODUCTS with other SALE PRODUCTS to reap the most savings.

I would be CURIOUS to see your shopping list for 1 week, maybe you could challenge a SEASONED couponer to get the same items you do at a lower cost USING COUPONS? that would be more fair than just taking a hand full of coupons on a one time shopping trip and then making a judgement call………
COME ON HOW BOUT IT?

I do like the fact that you did bring ATTENTION to the subject here for your readers…………….. maybe this will help someone in the end!

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR BLOG!
anjie

22.

brett
May 30th, 2006 at 7:26 am

Another couponer here- I never save less than 50% off my bills each week using coupons and comparing that with sale flyers. And we ONLY buy what we normally use. I love being able to buy more coupons of what we use online– saves us from having to go looking for more editions of the Sunday paper!! Spending $3 to save $40 in coupons on sites like The Coupon Clippers is definitely worth it. We stock up on things that don’t expire quickly, and I share things that we can’t use.

It does take me about 2 hours each Sunday to get through all of the local grocery flyers and pharmacy flyers, make my lists for each place, and get my coupons for each store, and order any extra coupons I’m wanting to use…but its worth it. Like someone else said, I do it while I’m watching TV. It’s a fun game for us, to see how much we can save. It’s also giving us more money to keep for other things!

I think that you should consider perhaps giving things another shot- but a real, fair shot. Maybe you will see things differently when you leave 2 stores in one day having a cart FULL of groceries having spent no more than $40 at both stores. Even with a baby in diapers :o)

23.

erica
May 30th, 2006 at 10:59 am

I think that this article was more a personal attack then an attack on couponing and that is shameful. You only cited one person’s way of doing things and very-much overgeneralized your comments and took alot of ideas out of context. It was insulting to my intelligence.

it almost overrode some of the halfway decent points made in your article, such as buying what works out to be cheapest in the item that you need (something that Faye would agree with if she weren’t so upset over a personal attack), buying generic if its cheaper (it’s not always the case esp if an item is BOGO and you have a coupon) — I don’t beleive in spending money to get coupons, but I do belong to a few coupon trains and coupon trading groups — its not a waste of time — its a fun and social time as well. Coupon clipping is worth the time for many people so to say its not worth “our” time is absurd — don’t lump me in with your idiocy and personal attacks — it’s well worth it to me to get the pampers and huggies coupons alone — that’s one item I am brand loyal to Diapers — most of the generics leak horribly, I have found and I spend more time and money doing laundry and changing my son after only an hour his clothes are wet and stinky from a leaky diaper. I am not saying that all generics are bad — but some are some aren’t — its a matter of trial and error.

Some people do take couponing to an extreme and buy things just because they have a coupon — some don’t. Some people want to try a new item and the coupon makes it a little more affordable. In a situation like the last we all win, because we get to try our new item at a discounted price, the manufacturer makes money and so does the store so you can argue you are helping the economy.

Coupons and how we save money are choices, and we should each base those choices on what works for us — not once did I see comments like that in the article. Maybe your articles would be better received if you had a more positive spin to them rather than such negativity — your life must be pretty sad if all you have to offer is negative comments.

24.

Brian
May 30th, 2006 at 11:36 am

Erica,

Nick promises to put a punch line in your bottom line, so many things go without saying in his articles. There is an undercurrent of humor that gets to the quick of everyday economics. I can almost imagine this article becoming a Seinfeld bit. He does not condemn coupon mavens and their clipping compulsion. He questions them. It’s food for thought (No pun-ny intended.)

Anyway, I enjoyed your turbulent comments and I think you’d like a short article I wrote called Following Punny Money’s Grand Coupon Experiment. (I’d link to this post, but I have no idea how to do that.)

Something tells me that you’ll have a lot to say after reading my article. And give Nick a chance to redeem (I love these coupon punnies) himself. In Nick’s follow-up experiments, which I might add do take a modicum of diligence and time, we might find that Nick has no legitimate use for coupons.

Keep it real!

Brian

25.

cookergirl
May 30th, 2006 at 12:39 pm

Coupons have saved my life! I began couponing two years ago when my husband’s business fell into a slump. We were forced to find ways of saving quickly since cash flow was limited. Our family has always lived simply no cable, no X box, our big splurge is going to the $1.50 movie.
I purchase one newspaper a week. I don’t purchase coupons on line or print them off line because of cost of ink and paper. I do dumpster dive and find coupons at thrift stores etc. I use a coupon for almost everything except fresh meat and produce. The savings is about 75% off my grocery bill. I even use coupons for RX transfers. Couponing is some work but anything can become a routine and second nature. I encourage you to really figure out the art of couponing. Dig deep you can do it!

26.

joanna
May 30th, 2006 at 2:11 pm

I hate to tell you but your first statement ” am about to shatter your budget-minded world” proved either one or two things to me.
1. You have no clue what you are talking about.
OR
2.You THINK you know what you are talking about and really dont but had to come up with something for this article and decided you really DO know what you are talking about when in fact, you have no clue.
which convinces me that in fact you have no clue. And are just one of those people who THINK they know everything when in fact they do not.

27.

Pamela
May 30th, 2006 at 5:43 pm

Thanks SO much for bringing the art of couponing to such a great spotlight! I am always amazed at people’s inability to understand the value of a dollar (and yes, I treat coupons just like money).

I have done research for companies for several years and I put all my efforts into learning about coupons. I was amazed at what I have learned by both reading Faye’s book and doing my own research.

I spend about 45 minutes to an hour every week clipping my coupons and putting them into my binder so I can easily find them in the grocery store. I’m not one of those people who actually plan out my meals though. I usually just throw together something at the last minute using what I have stocked in my cabinets, refrigerators (yes, I have 2) or my freezer. So, I could most likely save even MORE money if I put that extra effort into it, but I’m just not that predictable (and neither are my children or my husband!)

I buy only what’s on sale and what I have a coupon for (with very few exceptions) and everything I buy, my family likes and we actually use. Sometimes, generic ends up being the better buy, so I DO use generic items.

I generally spend less than $50.00 every week feeding a family of 4, PLUS I share my food with others in my family on a regular basis. PLUS, I feed 3 LARGE dogs out of that also. I often carry food to a local charity to help out.

You have provided an excellent place for all the people who have had very POSITIVE results from clipping their coupons to tell our stories.

We are regular, everyday people who have found a better way to spend our money. I’m living debt-free with a much higher quality of life than I ever dreamed of. My husband and I both retired from our jobs last year because we could (neither of us is over 50 yet). We spent an entire year traveling the US in our Winnebago (that’s paid for) and enjoying ourselves. Our younger children have benefited from having parents with TIME to spend with them without having to feel the stress of work or over-hanging debt and bills.

I did not get to this point in one week, clipping 4-5 or coupons. It takes several weeks worth of coupon clipping to get to the point that you can actually get a “system” to save like this. It takes a little work and a little creativity. You have to be willing to do a little research and to actually open your mind and learn something.

Please, send me your grocery list for a week and let me do your shopping and SHOW you what someone with a little creativity and know-how can do for you.

Pamela

28.

Jo
May 30th, 2006 at 7:47 pm

Just wondering something. If you feel that strongly about how coupons work and how they DO NOT save you money, why have you not replied to any of the above success stories???

29.

Jonathan
May 31st, 2006 at 1:49 am

The key to Couponing is to buy in bulk. Think 10-20 of the same coupon, not just one. I believe it is a powerful saving strategy, especially for large families with lots of storage space.

That said, I don’t coupon at all either. It intrigued me at first, but I decided that my time could be spent better elsewhere as I only have a two-person (+dog) household. Sure, I could save $1,000 a year, but I could also apply for a couple credit cards and make the same in MUCH less time. I’m with Punny, the reward/time ratio just isn’t there for me.

In short, Couponing is a great way to save money, but is not for everyone. To each their own.

30.

LivingAlmostLarge
March 1st, 2007 at 8:08 pm

Die hard couponers I did post on my website the stuff I bought weekly for groceries. I do not buy coupons, I do shop sale flyers but we do not use a lot of toilet paper, we do not use a lot of paper towels (clothe), we do not use a lot of body wash, not a lot of shampoo, not a lot of toothpaste. There is two of us and no kids.

Example of week
Steak $2 off because it was old
7 lb ham at 59 cent/lb
beef and shrimp meatballs
3 crowns broccoli
2 heads of lettuce
1 cauliflower
bunch of asparagus
2 red peppers
bunch of bananas
3 lbs of grapes
milk
hoisin sauce (not typically weekly)
peanut sauce (not typically weekly)
-about $50

And this is our typical week. Occasionally we buy rice, we make bread and pasta often from scratch. WE do not eat processed food from the store, if we do eat food like that we eat out.

Thus I have my doubts over what we spend. I sometimes buy yogurt, though I do make my own. I also mostly try to make it to a farmers market then I save even more. If I had more money I’d only buy organic meat and organic milk. But I don’t. Please tell me if you thinkit’s possible to save on these items.

Because I track my purchases, I have no bought toilet paper or paper towels, tooth paste, tissue over over 6 months. I have the same laundry detergent from Costco since 8/2005 because I have a front loading washing machine and use very little. I also wash dishes in one sink of hot water with soap so I don’t use too much dish soap. I haven’t bought that since we moved in either.

Please tell me how to save more money with coupons? I’ve looks for them, but we do not buy monthly stuff like pasta, toothpaste, etc. I make my own cleaning supplies or just use soap and water.

DH prefers things from scratch. I looked at people talking about happy lion, I have never eaten at home hot dogs. I do not eat any frozen pizza (we make it), no ketchup, I do not the mac and cheese, nor baked beans. I know that a lot has to do with our eating habits, we don’t eat canned veggies, DH doesn’t like frozen veggies, we eat mostly fresh fruits, veggies, meat/seafood and from scratch pasta or brown/white rice.

And rather than time shopping, I’d rather donate money to the food bank, which I do every year.

31.

Nick
March 1st, 2007 at 8:20 pm

LivingAlmostLarge, your weekly grocery list looks a lot like mine. Unfortunately, when you’re buying a lot of fresh ingredients like meat and produce, coupons aren’t really an option. But that’s okay because these items are generally cheaper and healthier for you that all the processed foods you can find coupons for anyway.

32.

LivingAlmostLarge
March 12th, 2007 at 1:50 pm

Aack, I tried coupon shopping this weekend. I wasted more money buying stuff I never buy like ice cream and junk food than I should have. I’m writing my blog about it. I’m so stupid.

33.

Patrick Kibler
August 24th, 2007 at 6:51 am

This is some god awful logic… lol… I like how your entire argument is built upon unlikely eventualities if you applied the form that you used to section 4 “Shop, Save” to your writing style you’d see what i mean.

Also it’s worth noting that an ‘or’ statement unless it is explicitly so, never means that you have to choose one or the other.

34.

Obbop
December 1st, 2007 at 7:25 pm

Couponing saved my life.

They got me off heroin and from a life in the gutter to the 18 room mini-mansion that is now my humble home.

Coupons cured my psoriasis and I will never need Viagra to smack the pesky dysfunction thing down… errr up? Whatever.

Coupons saved my marriage and my kids now adore me.

Even the dog quit trying to bite me.

I am LOVED and, assuredly, based upon “feeeeelings” without the encumberance of rational thinking or the accumulation of long-term data I just KNOW that coupons are responsible.

I love coupons.

35.

Nick
December 2nd, 2007 at 2:24 pm

Obbop, are you sure you got off heroin?

36.

Variety
January 12th, 2008 at 6:20 am

I think you make a good argument and I agree with you in many ways. However one of the things I like about coupons is precisely that they sometimes cause me to buy things I otherwise wouldn’t have. I like this because it helps me vary my shopping, and thus the things I try, in a pretty easy way. For instance if I have a coupon for $3 off some Tollhouse cookies and it makes the Tollhouse cookies really cheap where I think its worth it to try them, then I’ll buy them. I wouldn’t just buy it if I didn’t really want it, something I think a lot of couponers are guilty of, but often times it will get me to look at and consider a product I otherwise wouldn’t have. This works for sale items as well. Just yesterday I stopped into the store for some staples like milk and eggs and I saw they had these frozen Japanese style chicken strips on a superb sale, $2.50 a pack whereas normally they are $6 each. At that price I just bought them to try them out.