Comments on: The Science (Fiction) of Coupons http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/ Adding a punchline to your bottom line Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:27:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Andy http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-208487 Andy Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:06:16 +0000 http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-208487 Using coupons only works if you use them at the right time, at the right stores, and only for things you'll actually use. I subscribe to a website called GroceryGame.com. Similar to GroceryGuide.com I guess, but it has a lot more information. It tracks sales (even unadvertised sales) at grocery stores in your area and tells you about decent buys, really good buys, and even items you can get free (except for sales tax) with coupons. The coupons they base the information on are from free online sources, or from advertising circulars and newspaper inserts in your area, as well as the in-store coupons at the store. The idea is that items go on sale in certain cycles, and you save money by stocking up on things when they're on sale so you don't need to buy them when they're not. Works great if you have a freezer to store the more perishable items like meat. They update the lists every week. You get billed by the site every two months ($10 for the first store, $5 for each store after that). I get a list for Kroger and HEB, so it costs me like $7.50 a month. But they let you try it for a month for free, as many store lists as you like. The first week I tried it I bought like $150 worth of groceries (all things that I use) and saved like $50. Well worth it, IMO. Using coupons only works if you use them at the right time, at the right stores, and only for things you’ll actually use. I subscribe to a website called GroceryGame.com. Similar to GroceryGuide.com I guess, but it has a lot more information. It tracks sales (even unadvertised sales) at grocery stores in your area and tells you about decent buys, really good buys, and even items you can get free (except for sales tax) with coupons. The coupons they base the information on are from free online sources, or from advertising circulars and newspaper inserts in your area, as well as the in-store coupons at the store. The idea is that items go on sale in certain cycles, and you save money by stocking up on things when they’re on sale so you don’t need to buy them when they’re not. Works great if you have a freezer to store the more perishable items like meat. They update the lists every week. You get billed by the site every two months ($10 for the first store, $5 for each store after that). I get a list for Kroger and HEB, so it costs me like $7.50 a month. But they let you try it for a month for free, as many store lists as you like. The first week I tried it I bought like $150 worth of groceries (all things that I use) and saved like $50. Well worth it, IMO.

]]> By: Variety http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-140217 Variety Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:20:25 +0000 http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-140217 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. 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.

]]> By: Nick http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-122679 Nick Sun, 02 Dec 2007 19:24:27 +0000 http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-122679 Obbop, are you <i>sure</i> you got off heroin? :) Obbop, are you sure you got off heroin? :)

]]> By: Obbop http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-122354 Obbop Sun, 02 Dec 2007 00:25:03 +0000 http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-122354 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. 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.

]]> By: Green Life, Green Wallet » Coupons http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-92878 Green Life, Green Wallet » Coupons Mon, 27 Aug 2007 01:28:04 +0000 http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-92878 [...] recently read an article written by Nick at Punny Money about coupon use.  Nick doesn’t think that using coupons is a good way to save money.  He argues [...] [...] recently read an article written by Nick at Punny Money about coupon use.  Nick doesn’t think that using coupons is a good way to save money.  He argues [...]

]]> By: Patrick Kibler http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-92492 Patrick Kibler Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:51:46 +0000 http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-92492 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. :P 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. :P

]]> By: The Grocery Game ∞ Get Rich Slowly http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-92371 The Grocery Game ∞ Get Rich Slowly Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:58:01 +0000 http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-92371 [...] I have used coupons as one tool to get lower prices when shopping for groceries. Some people are opposed to coupons, but we’ve found that they help us to save money. (Number one tip: don’t use a coupon [...] [...] I have used coupons as one tool to get lower prices when shopping for groceries. Some people are opposed to coupons, but we’ve found that they help us to save money. (Number one tip: don’t use a coupon [...]

]]> By: » Money Madness: The Elite Eight @ raising4boys.com http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-52636 » Money Madness: The Elite Eight @ raising4boys.com Sun, 25 Mar 2007 03:20:49 +0000 http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-52636 [...] Teaching Kids the Value of a Dollar defeated The Science (Fiction) of Coupons [...] [...] Teaching Kids the Value of a Dollar defeated The Science (Fiction) of Coupons [...]

]]> By: » Money Madness: The Elite Eight @ fivecentnickel.com http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-52113 » Money Madness: The Elite Eight @ fivecentnickel.com Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:41:57 +0000 http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-52113 [...] Teaching Kids the Value of a Dollar defeated The Science (Fiction) of Coupons [...] [...] Teaching Kids the Value of a Dollar defeated The Science (Fiction) of Coupons [...]

]]> By: LivingAlmostLarge http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-51058 LivingAlmostLarge Mon, 12 Mar 2007 18:50:46 +0000 http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-51058 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. 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.

]]> By: Free Money Finance http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-51045 Free Money Finance Mon, 12 Mar 2007 12:52:41 +0000 http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-51045 <strong>Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 3, Posts 17-24...</strong> We're continuing with the third round of Free Money Finance March Madness (if you wonder what's going on in these posts, see my article announcing March Madness and/or click on my March Madness category link and scroll down to read... Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 3, Posts 17-24…

We’re continuing with the third round of Free Money Finance March Madness (if you wonder what’s going on in these posts, see my article announcing March Madness and/or click on my March Madness category link and scroll down to read…

]]> By: Free Money Finance http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-50339 Free Money Finance Mon, 05 Mar 2007 18:06:31 +0000 http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-50339 <strong>Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 2, Posts 33-40...</strong> We're continuing with the first round of Free Money Finance March Madness (if you wonder what's going on in these posts, see my article announcing March Madness and/or click on my March Madness category link and scroll down to read... Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 2, Posts 33-40…

We’re continuing with the first round of Free Money Finance March Madness (if you wonder what’s going on in these posts, see my article announcing March Madness and/or click on my March Madness category link and scroll down to read…

]]> By: Nick http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-49959 Nick Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:20:04 +0000 http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-49959 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. 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.

]]> By: LivingAlmostLarge http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-49957 LivingAlmostLarge Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:08:32 +0000 http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-49957 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. 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.

]]> By: Free Money Finance http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-49916 Free Money Finance Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:25:49 +0000 http://www.punny.org/money/the-science-fiction-of-coupons/#comment-49916 <strong>Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 65-80...</strong> We're continuing with the first round of Free Money Finance March Madness (if you wonder what's going on in these posts, see my article announcing March Madness and/or click on my March Madness category link and scroll down to read... Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 65-80…

We’re continuing with the first round of Free Money Finance March Madness (if you wonder what’s going on in these posts, see my article announcing March Madness and/or click on my March Madness category link and scroll down to read…

]]>