Is Couponing Worth It?
I was asked (after hearing Safeway will probably be accepting coupons at face value in AZ soon, more here) …
Is couponing worth it?
If you want the short answer … yes, for me.
If you want the long answer, grab your coffee (maybe it’s a smoothie this time of year?) and snuggle up to your computer or mobile, as I share my thoughts.
When, I say “couponing,” I mean using paper coupons (printable, from Sunday paper, & misc. coupons that may show up) or digital coupons you can load directly to your shopping cards.
I only use coupons for products I will use or have a specific purpose for (donating, giving to friends, etc).ย I’m not a true “extreme couponer.”ย I’ve only seen a couple of the TLC shows, but I’m nothing like what I’ve seen.ย I like to call myself an “intentional couponer.”ย I use them wisely and save a bunch of money!ย I don’t need a trailer to get my groceries home and one bottle of mustard will usually last us until it expires, around my house.
For me, couponing will still be worth it, even if coupons are taken at face value.ย (Keep in mind that most of the country can only redeem coupons at face value and many do it.)ย There is still money to be saved.
I’m a firm believer that pennies add up to quarters, add up to dollars, add up to $20, etc.ย I’ll even still bend down to pick up a penny.ย The bonus is a little bit of exercise, if nothing else.ย :)
On the other hand, I also value my time.ย If I’m finding that saving $3 is taking me an hour, I won’t do it.ย My time is worth more than $3/hour.ย On the other hand, if it takes me an hour to get ready to go to the grocery store (or an extra hour to run somewhere else & look at ads, etc.) and I end up saving $30 (random number for example) … totally worth my time.ย I should say … usually!ย There are weeks when I don’t have an hour to spare to save $30, as much as I want to.ย I value my sanity more than thirty bucks.
As much as I love the savings and the financial freedom it helps bring to my family, it’s not for everyone.ย I have different time, priorities, and needs than you do.ย Don’t blindly use coupons, without counting the cost.ย There are costs.ย I would never deny that!
- Time — What “wages” are acceptable to you?ย Remember, it’s tax-free “income.”
- Space — How will you store surplus?ย Do you have room or need to stick with basics?
- Sanity — Does the extra clutter (coupons or treasures you get) drive you nuts?
- Need — Do you need to do it to make ends meet?
- Want — Do you enjoy using the savings for something else that makes the effort worthwhile?
- Respect — Does your spouse value the fact that you do it or does it drive him/her nuts?
- Cost — How much are you spending on newspapers, ink, paper, buying coupons, gas, whatever?
Take a serious inventory of the above list.ย Ponder it and calculate it.ย If you feel it’s more of a burden, stop — unless you feel it’s a necessity!ย (Well, I don’t see how you can resist clicking and loading a few digital coupons.)ย :)ย Yes, I know I run a coupon website.ย Well, I don’t fully see it that way.ย I run a money saving website, that often involves coupons, but there’s much more!
Whatever you end up doing with your coupon usage, I hope you stick around Bargain Believer.ย We’ll always share deals that have coupons, but we go beyond that.ย We want you to have fun with your family, without spending a bunch.ย We’ll point you to those deals and other bargains we just can’t seem to keep to ourselves.ย As long as there are businesses competing, there will always be bargains out there and we’ll help you find them!ย We may even tempt the non-coupon users out there to click and load a digital coupon or even print a coupon every once in awhile.ย The coupon/non-coupon line can be crossed at any time.ย :)
I was going to share some other ways to save, but I’m afraid you’re falling asleep now.ย And, I’m out of time.ย Stay tuned … more on saving (beyond coupons) soon!
What do you think?
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The key to being happy with couponing for me is with store loyalty. I notice when I stick to shopping my favorite stores, I am happy saving money and never second guess the deal. I enjoy simple shopping.
Whereas stores or trips that I ‘deal’ only shop stress me out and take up more time. Whether it is looking up the deal, driving to the deal, trying to figure out the store, or whatever. So I only ‘deal’ shop stores I’m in the deal-hunting mood.
I’m sort of the opposite, I guess. I like to find my “favorite” store each week, by looking at the lists. Then, I go shop there. If I’m super motivated, I’ll go somewhere else, but I don’t like to run around more than I need to. Often, it’s one store and then ad matching at Walmart. Without double coupons, I will probably do more ad matching and may not even hit a “regular” grocery store some weeks. Well … unless I’m looking for prices, which means … I will still be in often. Maybe the first part is the “theoretical me,” if there weren’t so many new prices to discover all the time — and I didn’t run a website. :) Glad you have a system that helps you save and stay sane!
I’ve really enjoyed some of your ‘other” posts, such as Disney tips, $10 off $10 Penney’s posts, free ice coffee at Chic-file, or quadruple gas points at Fry’s to name of few. I find your site is more creative and different than other sites out there that just focus on coupons or amazon deals. I do like to save using coupons, but there are many other ways to save such as automatic monthly savings that come from small changes like switching from Verizon to Republic wireless and saving over $50 every single month. Same thing goes for changing from cable to Netflix. Over time those savings really add up, so I am always looking for ways to save.
As for using coupons, I still use them, but I’ve become a bit more “meh” about them. I use my Safeway and Fry’s apps, some printable and insert coupons, and can’t be bothered with those other apps like ibiotta. Keep up the good work on your site and I look forward to your posts on other ways to save!!!
Glad you like the variety and take advantage of some of them. I also like your thinking. Some people are so worried about spending an extra $0.25 on toothpaste, but don’t see other huge ways that money is disappearing. The big savings are even better than the little, but few people do the big if they’re not doing the small — at least what I’ve found. It really is a whole different mentality and lifestyle
Yes!! Those apps kill me! I gave up on them for awhile, but am trying to force myself to give them another try. It’s so hard … much effort for little results. I’m not sure how long I’ll last, but I’ll evaluate soon … and either quit or keep going. You’ll notice we never put what the final price is after the app. savings. On the other hand, I put the price after a Register Reward, Extra Care Buck, or Target gift card. Those are in a different league, at least to me. Plus, not everyone has a mobile, to get all those other savings. Sounds like we think alike on a lot of things! :)
Hope we can keep bringing you more of what you like to see!
Thank you Juli for this post. I do love saving money and love when I walk away with a lot of savings after using coupons. I’m fairly new to the digital couponing and need a good printer to really start making that side work for me. Saving pennies are important but like you said needs to be worth my time. I do appreciate all you have done with this website. If it wasn’t for your website I probably wouldn’t be saving what I am now. I liked how you said that couponer/no coupons is a line that can be crossed easily. I guess when life gets too busy and couponing seems too much you have to give yourself a break and know you can always come back. Maybe at this point some time saving tips is what I need. Thanks again for all you do.
I hope to find time to do some more general posts about how to save money and how to save time, on a regular basis. I hope there will be something for everyone, depending on the amount of time you want to put into it. Now, just to find time and motivation to hit me at the same time. :) Keep saving where it makes sense for you!
I really haven’t been couponing lately or as often as when I first started. Even then, I never got too crazy with stocking things up unless I got an item for free. Plus, I only used 3 papers per week, so I was fairly limited to, well, 3 items usually… and I would NEVER clear a shelf! As my knowledge of couponing progressed, I noticed what was best for me and my family (and my husband’s sanity) was to use the Bargain Believer website to make my list first and then find possible coupons ONLY to go with those things I NEEDED. Despite our budget being able to afford 25ยข bottles of MUSTARD, there’s really no reason to have 7 bottles of it sitting on our garage shelf (unless you’re a hotdog vendor! LOL!) :) So, I think your terminology of “intentional couponing” makes complete & total sense. I love your blog, love your assistance in helping us save, love your compassion to help others while maintaining integrity in all that you do! Thank You!!!
First of all, thank you for the kind words. They are appreciated!
Secondly … totally agree with everything you do and said. Here’s my mustard math story problem . . . :)
Ruthanne buys seven bottles of mustard she doesn’t use and one she does, for $0.25 each. Would she be better off paying $1.99, which is full price for one, or getting the extras?
Answer: She just spent $2 on all eight and could have walked in the store and paid $1.99 full price, whenever it was needed. That’s a whopping savings of a penny. Run away from the “deal” and pay full price! She wasted time getting the coupons, cutting the coupons, filing the coupons, getting mustard to her list, going to the correct store, going down that aisle, causing the register to beep at her fourth coupon or having to go back twice or separating transactions to get more than three, finding a place to store the eight yellow bottles, and … eventually spending time on a near mental breakdown, when having to throw the beloved mustard away since the expired mustard had been boiling in the garage … unless you’re a hot dog vendor. :)
Do any of your kids elaborate on their math story problems that much?
Yes, I’ll still bend down to pick up a penny, but I won’t go to that much effort to save a penny and waste seven bottles of mustard!
Take care, Ruthanne!
I agree that coupons are worth the time. I do the majority of my shopping in one big monthly trip and save an average of $25-$30 per trip. That is shopping at a store that only gives face value for coupons. I also use coupons for items I might need in between or if there is a great stock up price, saving another $5-$10 per month. So, for me to take a couple of hours per month to get this kind of savings, it is worth my time. I agree with you…I pick up pennies too! If you watch your pennies, the dollars mind themselves!
I feel like I’m just throwing money away, if I get something I know I can save on, with a coupon. I just can’t give it up, until I can prove to myself that my “wages” are too low. Right now, I can say without any hesitation, that I save enough to make it worthwhile … and my dollars are minding themselves. :)
It is worth it for my family. I stay at home with my kids. To do that we loose an income. For me to stay home I must use every penny I have correctly. If we go out to eat we use a coupon. If we need meats we wait till there onsale and buy way more then we need at one time so we have plenty for weeks to come. Snack foods for the kids our bought with coupons and stored well so they are fresh for weeks. Every thing we do revolves around our coupons. If we mess up with our coupons it ruins our meals and even our budget for weeks.
I love that you’re deliberate and have a plan that works for your family. One income can be tough, but I’m glad you’re tackling it and get to stay home with your kids. Great job!