Do you use coupons or are you addicted?

@ZephyrSun (7381)
United States
May 26, 2008 6:22am CST
I believe in using coupons. I try to get the item I am buying for as close to free as possible. My mom makes fun of me for this, but this allows me to stay home and not work. I used coupons before I started in the work force but then got away because I didn't have the time. Are you addicted or just thrifty? I would say I am addicted. I went to the store for the week on Saturday, and before coupons my total was $158.59 then after coupons it was $49. I liked walked out of the store with that huge savings. Of course the cashiers hate me but I honestly don't care because it's their job and if they don't like it quit and find a new one. When I started using coupons after so long of not using them my kids would say "oh, why are you doing that, it's so stupid". I ended up taking them to the store so they could see how much coupons helped the family and let me stay home with them. Now, they say "do you have a coupon so we can buy this" even my 4 year old says he is cutting coupons (he is actually just cutting up the ads). I would love to know if I am the only coupon crazy person out there. I would also like to know if you do use coupons what is the most you have ever saved using them?
1 person likes this
9 responses
@marchgale (260)
• United States
29 May 08
I would be more like you if I could find the coupons.Could you tell me your secret for finding so many.
• United States
30 May 08
Thank you.I guess I will hunt a little harder.What I really hate is that there are no stores around me that offer double or triple coupons.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
30 May 08
Yeah I hated that when I lived out west. Now, I am in Ohio and the store I go to often doubles up to $1 and anything about $1 becomes $2. This store also offers a lot of BOGO free and instead of one being full price they cut the price of each one by 50% so I can use a coupon on each item. So depending on the price it is close to free or is free for both.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
30 May 08
Well I personally get the Sunday newspaper and check the coupons right away, if there are really good ones I will go buy more. I belong to a coupon forum and I trade with others to get the ones I want, it's a great site they are so good at banning spammers and bad traders. I also print a lot from the internet but you have to check the store you shop at because some won't take black and white and some won't take them at all.
• Philippines
1 Jun 08
we dont have much coupon here in the philippines, except for the coupons for mcdonalds or jollibee. but i love buying things on sale. i live near a supermarket and i love going there every sunday to check out new items on sale. most of the time, they put granola bars, honeycombs, and other US products on sale. which i will not buy for the regular rate. i would normally get it half the price when it is on sale. the cashier once told me "sir, all the things that you bought are on sale." i just smiled, paid, and walked away. i realize that instead of paying around 3T for my grocery, i paid 1500. a huge savings. i wish we also have coupons here in the philippines.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
1 Jun 08
We hardly ever get coupons for McDonalds here but we get tons of other coupons. Wouldn't 3t be less than 1500?
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
27 May 08
I'm addicted to saving money, which some of my friends think is a waste of time. I'll admit I have been known to buy generic when its the best deal, but most of the time have such a big stockpile when buying the name brand that its rare to see me buy generic. Cashiers actually congratulate me for my great savings. Today only saved $36.00; however, purchased 2 packages of meat, 2 cartons of milk, bag of apples and 2 cartons of juice. Its hard to save money on these products, as its hard to trade for milk coupons. The meat was on sale and had a coupon from the grocery store to save $6.00 on meat.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
27 May 08
Do you belong to a coupon forum? Or where do you trade your coupons? Do you do coupon trains? I have been on a few trains but I haven't been to impressed with the coupons on the train.
@nanayangel (7879)
• Philippines
31 May 08
Hi there Zephyr Sun! I just wish that I have coupons to use.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
31 May 08
Do they just not have coupons in your country or is it just hard to find them?
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
26 May 08
When I first came here to the US coupons were a new concept for me as we don't have them in my home country. My husband didn't use them and it took me a year to catch on. Boy was I angry with him because we could have saved so much money! And when we were students money was tight. His mom is wasteful in her spending habits. I guess he never really learned to save where he can until he met me (and my family). I use coupons religiously. I used to trade coupons with others but don't have the time for that anymore. And I, too, don't care about the cashiers. In fact some of them have asked me where I get so many coupons and how I stay organized. The only ones they all don't like are the ones where they have to fill in the price of the item because then they have to look it up,lol. Anyhow, since we have u-scans I mostly use those machines. It's faster than a cashier and the items are better packed, LOL.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
26 May 08
I like the U-Scans as well but our have a limit so after so many coupons, the "cashier" has to come over and over ride the transaction, but I use it because I know the coupons are all getting taken off and not forgotten. I always warn the people behind me that it will be a while and most of the time they are smart and go to a different lane.
• United States
31 May 08
Starting this month, I save my receipts after i've used all my coupons, stick it in an envelope with the amount I saved out of my pocket. Right now I"m standing at $15.30- not much but this is 15 bucks i would have gladly given my neighborhood grocer :)
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
31 May 08
That's great!! Depending on where you live that's a bit of groceries! I save my receipts and then use the spreadsheet because I can't save things. I have this over whelming need to throw everything away.
• Singapore
26 May 08
I am not addicted lol. But when I get coupons and I can use them, I will. Save money, why not? Normally the coupons I use are for fast food restaurants. Cheers!
• United States
26 May 08
I wouldn't say I'm addicted, but I do use coupons. The companies are promoting their merchandise by offering a price break, that's all a coupon really is, so why not save some money? I'm certainly not "mad at money" and will look to save on the products I use, so why not use the coupons? I also use a free cash back online program, to get cash back when I shop online or win Ebay auctions...why? Because cash back money is being offered and it's free for me to get it!
@snowy22315 (182344)
• United States
26 May 08
I dont use them that often because i find it's usually cheaper to buy generic. I know alot of people do save major money with them though. I'm not that organized. I'd probably leave my coupons at home.