Comments on: Guest Post: Nine Coupon Myths Debunked http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html Helping You Be a Better Home Economist Thu, 24 May 2012 16:26:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michelle http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290439 Michelle Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:29:28 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290439 Myth no. 4 is so not true. I read in a study somewhere that higher income households do in fact record a higher rate of coupon use. Smart and wealthy people use coupons too! And so should the less fortunate. Myth no. 4 is so not true. I read in a study somewhere that higher income households do in fact record a higher rate of coupon use. Smart and wealthy people use coupons too! And so should the less fortunate.

]]> By: Christina http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290438 Christina Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:23:22 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290438 I shop at Dollar General weekly and they do have great sales, mark downs up to 90% off and rebates. They have not always done this but the last couple years, they have had more and more sales. I shop at Dollar General weekly and they do have great sales, mark downs up to 90% off and rebates. They have not always done this but the last couple years, they have had more and more sales.

]]> By: Momma @ Tales From The Road Less Traveled http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290437 Momma @ Tales From The Road Less Traveled Thu, 29 May 2008 16:15:02 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290437 I'm a recent convert to couponing. It has made an incredible difference to our family. Our grocery and household expenses have actually lowered by over $100 a week.. and we're getting more and more for our money. I'll never go back to paying full price again. As a matter of fact, I bought ice cream for the kids on the way home on Sunday and DH gasped and asked if I had a fever because I didn't check my coupons first! HAHA I’m a recent convert to couponing. It has made an incredible difference to our family. Our grocery and household expenses have actually lowered by over $100 a week.. and we’re getting more and more for our money. I’ll never go back to paying full price again.

As a matter of fact, I bought ice cream for the kids on the way home on Sunday and DH gasped and asked if I had a fever because I didn’t check my coupons first! HAHA

]]> By: Alyssa @ Keeping the Kingdom First http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290436 Alyssa @ Keeping the Kingdom First Thu, 29 May 2008 13:23:51 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290436 Thank you so much for this post! Great advice for all those skeptics out there. I used to be one of them! I hope some of the "drugstore game" bashers on Get Rich Slowly read this post! Thank you so much for this post! Great advice for all those skeptics out there. I used to be one of them!

I hope some of the “drugstore game” bashers on Get Rich Slowly read this post!

]]> By: Shannon http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290435 Shannon Thu, 29 May 2008 10:33:26 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290435 AMEN!!! AMEN!!!

]]> By: Michelle http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290434 Michelle Thu, 29 May 2008 09:54:31 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290434 Myth #9 You shouldn't clip coupons for products you won’t use. I went by this "myth" for awhile. Now I find myself in a store and see something on sale and think "If I only had that coupon it would be FREE!" Very frustrating to know that I threw out coupons that would have got me free items! Myth #9 You shouldn’t clip coupons for products you won’t use.

I went by this “myth” for awhile. Now I find myself in a store and see something on sale and think “If I only had that coupon it would be FREE!” Very frustrating to know that I threw out coupons that would have got me free items!

]]> By: Jan http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290433 Jan Thu, 29 May 2008 08:46:02 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290433 Hmm, I have never seen a coupon for fresh fruit in my life. So I don't know about that one. Coupons definitely save money though. I usually carefully plan my grocery trip each week because I only have time to shop one store per week. I usually budget $60 a week towards food. Last week I didn't have time to do coupons or make a list so I just went to the store and "winged" it and I spent $86- way over budget! Hmm, I have never seen a coupon for fresh fruit in my life. So I don’t know about that one. Coupons definitely save money though. I usually carefully plan my grocery trip each week because I only have time to shop one store per week. I usually budget $60 a week towards food. Last week I didn’t have time to do coupons or make a list so I just went to the store and “winged” it and I spent $86- way over budget!

]]> By: meggan http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290432 meggan Wed, 28 May 2008 12:00:32 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290432 I wish coupons worked for me. Here in Alaska, NO ONE doubles coupons, prices are a bit higher so programs like the Grocery Game are never the same. We don't have any chain pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, and RiteAid. We are getting Target in October, so I will be excited to see if any of the coupons will be helpful there. I would say 90% of the time, coupons wind up allowing me to buy snacks and junkier type foods that we don't usually want to eat, just because I like the feeling of getting a good deal. We don't seem to get the same coupons in our Sunday paper as MSM and TGG get! I'm fine with shopping at multiple stores but all we have is Fred Meyer and Safeway. For us, Costco is the best deal on most basics [canned beans, tomatos, cheese, eggs]Otherwise I just keep a keen eye out for manager's reduced specials at Fred Meyer. To keep our family's budget low [at $100 a week for 6 of us, and that's a comfortable amount]we need to eat as much unprocessed food as possible, cook from scratch, and not be afraid to buy stuff close to it's sell by date. Almost everything we buy is a manager's special. Scratch and dent at our Safeway is still insane. It was 8.99 for a smallish pack of diapers-sadly, this was a good deal for there. But still way too expensive. I look forward to trying more couponing if we ever leave Alaska, but the other benefits of living here outweigh getting killer deals on food. We can catch our own Salmon and the scenery is great. :) I wish coupons worked for me. Here in Alaska, NO ONE doubles coupons, prices are a bit higher so programs like the Grocery Game are never the same. We don’t have any chain pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, and RiteAid. We are getting Target in October, so I will be excited to see if any of the coupons will be helpful there. I would say 90% of the time, coupons wind up allowing me to buy snacks and junkier type foods that we don’t usually want to eat, just because I like the feeling of getting a good deal. We don’t seem to get the same coupons in our Sunday paper as MSM and TGG get! I’m fine with shopping at multiple stores but all we have is Fred Meyer and Safeway. For us, Costco is the best deal on most basics [canned beans, tomatos, cheese, eggs]Otherwise I just keep a keen eye out for manager’s reduced specials at Fred Meyer.
To keep our family’s budget low [at $100 a week for 6 of us, and that's a comfortable amount]we need to eat as much unprocessed food as possible, cook from scratch, and not be afraid to buy stuff close to it’s sell by date. Almost everything we buy is a manager’s special. Scratch and dent at our Safeway is still insane. It was 8.99 for a smallish pack of diapers-sadly, this was a good deal for there. But still way too expensive. I look forward to trying more couponing if we ever leave Alaska, but the other benefits of living here outweigh getting killer deals on food. We can catch our own Salmon and the scenery is great. :)

]]> By: Hannelore http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290431 Hannelore Wed, 28 May 2008 11:17:11 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290431 Thank you, Crystal, for serving so many families with your blog. In the past I have thought coupons were not worth the effort. However, with my family of seven to feed, I am giving it a try again and finding it to be very helpful and fun. To encourage the mom of twins (I think her name is Melanie) who posted recently-give yourself some time and grace. I had 5 children in two and a half years (yes, two sets of twins and a singleton) and I was lucky and happy just to get to the grocery (in or out of my pajamas). When you feel more ready and able, maybe just start with baby items (diapers, wipes, ointment, etc) because of their tendency to be exhorbitant. Another tip for everyone it to also check the "scratch and dent" section of your local grocery store-I have found so many bargains there ($ .25 spaghetti sauce, huge $3 pack of pull-ups....)Sometimes this is a shelf or just a grocery cart of reduced items (who cares about a dented can?). Also be on the lookout for stores that have been bought by other stores (I'm sure there is some sort of technical term for this but it escapes me) or stores going out of business. In a years span, two grocery stores in my area did this and I took advantage of about 75% savings on most items. Thank you, Crystal, for serving so many families with your blog. In the past I have thought coupons were not worth the effort. However, with my family of seven to feed, I am giving it a try again and finding it to be very helpful and fun. To encourage the mom of twins (I think her name is Melanie) who posted recently-give yourself some time and grace. I had 5 children in two and a half years (yes, two sets of twins and a singleton) and I was lucky and happy just to get to the grocery (in or out of my pajamas). When you feel more ready and able, maybe just start with baby items (diapers, wipes, ointment, etc) because of their tendency to be exhorbitant. Another tip for everyone it to also check the “scratch and dent” section of your local grocery store-I have found so many bargains there ($ .25 spaghetti sauce, huge $3 pack of pull-ups….)Sometimes this is a shelf or just a grocery cart of reduced items (who cares about a dented can?). Also be on the lookout for stores that have been bought by other stores (I’m sure there is some sort of technical term for this but it escapes me) or stores going out of business. In a years span, two grocery stores in my area did this and I took advantage of about 75% savings on most items.

]]> By: Christi http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290430 Christi Wed, 28 May 2008 10:21:55 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290430 Very nice. Thanks. Very nice. Thanks.

]]> By: JBLeach http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290429 JBLeach Wed, 28 May 2008 10:13:47 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290429 I have been reading your blog for about a month and really enjoy all of the great tips and advice. I have begun couponing and appreciate all of the deals you report. I have found, though, that quite a few of the items you have been able to get great deals on (for example Fast-Fixins chicken, Muir Glen, Cascadian Farms) are not available in my area. We also do not have Kroger or CVS in our area and none of the stores around here double coupons. I am disappointed to miss out on these deals, but very much appreciate the ones I am able to locate. With regard to your $40 per week food/household items budget, how do you fit milk into those numbers? Between my husband and our three kids, we go through at least four gallons of milk per week. Walmart’s Great Value brand 2% milk is currently $3.32 per gallon. At 4 gallons per week that is $13.28. At almost 33% of a $40 per week budget, any ideas on stretching the other 67%? Any ideas are greatly appreciated. --JBLeach I have been reading your blog for about a month and really enjoy all of the great tips and advice. I have begun couponing and appreciate all of the deals you report.
I have found, though, that quite a few of the items you have been able to get great deals on (for example Fast-Fixins chicken, Muir Glen, Cascadian Farms) are not available in my area.
We also do not have Kroger or CVS in our area and none of the stores around here double coupons. I am disappointed to miss out on these deals, but very much appreciate the ones I am able to locate.

With regard to your $40 per week food/household items budget, how do you fit milk into those numbers?
Between my husband and our three kids, we go through at least four gallons of milk per week. Walmart’s Great Value brand 2% milk is currently $3.32 per gallon.
At 4 gallons per week that is $13.28. At almost 33% of a $40 per week budget, any ideas on stretching the other 67%?

Any ideas are greatly appreciated.
–JBLeach

]]> By: Kansas Mom http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290428 Kansas Mom Wed, 28 May 2008 09:56:42 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290428 I wanted to second the thanks for the links to online coupons. I do fine with the ones in the circular each week(I clip them when I'm done eating breakfast on Sunday while the kids are still eating.) but being able to just click a link to the online coupons that match up each week is a great time-saver for me. It's one of the reasons I keep coming back to this blog at least once a day. (I also love all the tips on frugal living. I can use all the advice you can give!) I wanted to second the thanks for the links to online coupons. I do fine with the ones in the circular each week(I clip them when I’m done eating breakfast on Sunday while the kids are still eating.) but being able to just click a link to the online coupons that match up each week is a great time-saver for me. It’s one of the reasons I keep coming back to this blog at least once a day. (I also love all the tips on frugal living. I can use all the advice you can give!)

]]> By: Sasha http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290427 Sasha Wed, 28 May 2008 08:41:29 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290427 Thank you, Joy! I believed many of those myths (especially #2 and #5). And I didn't do well with coupons ... because I wasn't really working at it. It never seemed worth the effort to save fifty cents here and there. Thanks to people like you and Crystal, I've been learning a lot and am saving far more than fifty cents -- using coupons. It's worth the effort if we take the time to learn! Please keep up the great work and thank you for encouraging us to give coupons a chance! I still have to learn how to save with grocery shopping ... but now I'm excited to try! Thank you, Joy!
I believed many of those myths (especially #2 and #5). And I didn’t do well with coupons … because I wasn’t really working at it. It never seemed worth the effort to save fifty cents here and there. Thanks to people like you and Crystal, I’ve been learning a lot and am saving far more than fifty cents — using coupons. It’s worth the effort if we take the time to learn! Please keep up the great work and thank you for encouraging us to give coupons a chance! I still have to learn how to save with grocery shopping … but now I’m excited to try!

]]> By: S.B. http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290426 S.B. Wed, 28 May 2008 07:27:38 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290426 Great post about coupon myths. I really like shopping a few different stores - it is worth the time! Great post about coupon myths. I really like shopping a few different stores – it is worth the time!

]]> By: Today's Daily Dose http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290425 Today's Daily Dose Wed, 28 May 2008 06:48:14 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290425 Thank you for posting this! I try to tell people these things all the time! I'm sure I will be referring to this in the future when trying to sway non-couponers to join the ranks! :) Thank you for posting this! I try to tell people these things all the time! I’m sure I will be referring to this in the future when trying to sway non-couponers to join the ranks! :)

]]> By: Trixie http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290424 Trixie Wed, 28 May 2008 06:38:22 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290424 This is so true! I save so much on my groceries and household products by using coupons. I worked in a grocery store for 8 years and the people that appear to have the least amount of money never use coupons. It is always the middle class appearing women and some men. Thanks for the great post! Trixie This is so true! I save so much on my groceries and household products by using coupons.

I worked in a grocery store for 8 years and the people that appear to have the least amount of money never use coupons. It is always the middle class appearing women and some men.

Thanks for the great post!

Trixie

]]> By: Jen http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290423 Jen Wed, 28 May 2008 06:27:46 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290423 Another thing I recently learned is that you can use one coupon per item NOT per transaction. (I know most people already know this) I still have some cashiers try to tell me I can't use more than one coupon if I buy two of the same item but luckily many manufacturers have started changing the wording on the coupons to make it clearer. Another thing I recently learned is that you can use one coupon per item NOT per transaction. (I know most people already know this) I still have some cashiers try to tell me I can’t use more than one coupon if I buy two of the same item but luckily many manufacturers have started changing the wording on the coupons to make it clearer.

]]> By: Shawn http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290422 Shawn Wed, 28 May 2008 06:01:09 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290422 Great post -- nice addition to this blog. I like the change of pace. What I've come to realize is that as the mother of young twins and a husband who isn't around much except on weekends that I do not have time to clip all those coupons and shop multiple stores. Stores like CVS do not make carts to fit young twins except our major grocery store. So, I have figured out that I only need to cut what I think may work for us -- this means no cleaning products because we are a green household, no drug products that aren't used regularly (mostly pain or cold meds) and nothing that would not be used and have to be donated. I, personally, am just not going to buy something I do not need even if it is free. I believe in having less stuff, not more. That said, a note to Crystal: My favorite part of your blog, besides everything else, is links to really great online coupons. As much as I wish I could scour the web for those, I just don't always have time. Thanks for all you do. Great post — nice addition to this blog. I like the change of pace.

What I’ve come to realize is that as the mother of young twins and a husband who isn’t around much except on weekends that I do not have time to clip all those coupons and shop multiple stores. Stores like CVS do not make carts to fit young twins except our major grocery store.

So, I have figured out that I only need to cut what I think may work for us — this means no cleaning products because we are a green household, no drug products that aren’t used regularly (mostly pain or cold meds) and nothing that would not be used and have to be donated. I, personally, am just not going to buy something I do not need even if it is free. I believe in having less stuff, not more.

That said, a note to Crystal: My favorite part of your blog, besides everything else, is links to really great online coupons. As much as I wish I could scour the web for those, I just don’t always have time. Thanks for all you do.

]]> By: Melanie http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290421 Melanie Tue, 27 May 2008 23:10:47 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290421 Check out this great new FREE Tulsa web-site www.sendmemydeals.com it lists all of Tulsa's best restaurant deals (kids eat free, BOGO free, daily specials, birthday specials). You can sign up to recieve email and text message alerts for special deals. I think this would be a great addition to your site. Check out this great new FREE Tulsa web-site http://www.sendmemydeals.com it lists all of Tulsa’s best restaurant deals (kids eat free, BOGO free, daily specials, birthday specials). You can sign up to recieve email and text message alerts for special deals. I think this would be a great addition to your site.

]]> By: LeAnna C http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html/comment-page-1#comment-290420 LeAnna C Tue, 27 May 2008 20:50:05 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/05/guest-post-nine.html#comment-290420 Love your sites new look. Glad you were able to get back to your site. :) Love your sites new look. Glad you were able to get back to your site. :)

]]>