Why Americans are using less coupons

[MonicaLee5186]

We have been talking about the decline in good coupons, good sales, etc. so much lately on this thread.  This popped up on Yahoo this morning and I thought it was really interesting that even with the Extreme Couponing show and all of the buzz around it, coupon use has actually declined 17% from last year.


news.yahoo.com/why-americans-cutting-coupons-lives-130040807--finance.html


Some of the arguments made make good sense.  Most coupons now require you to buy more of an item than you may actually want -- 3 boxes of cereal instead of 1 -- so you're actually spending more just to get the $1 savings.

I totally see their arguments, but I still plan on getting the papers and using coupons to my advantage as much as possible.  For me this is mostly HBA and household items more than anything else, I know most of you are doing the same.

[sheilaincali]

I agree with Lone.  We have found that very little of what we actually buy has coupons.  We don't eat convenience meals so I don't need coupons for frozen pizza, cereal, poptarts, etc.  No little kids so I don't need coupons for fruit snacks and go-gurt.  No store around here doubles.  So I'd have to drive to the gas station and pay $2.00 for the local paper on the off chance there is a coupon in there we would actually use, then drive back home, find the coupons, cut them out, store them, etc.  All to hope there was enough in there to justify the initial $2.00 expense.

[swamp]

I don't find many coupons for stuff I use either.   

[Deleted]

My wife is a couponer.   She loves it, especially at CVS.

[Sam_2.0]

Since Extreme Couponing, and the crazy shelf-clearers that followed it, our stores have locked down the game so much that it is not really fun or worth it anymore. It was good while it lasted, and maybe it will come back again. Not holding my breath though.

[sarcasticgirl]

There really aren't many coupons for items that I use. Shampoo, conditioner and deodorant, that is pretty much it. - i do clip those since I haven't canceled my paper yet.

as far as food items go, nearly everything I buy is meat, dairy or produce. there is an occasional coupon for some dairy items that we use. though it is rare. the few packaged items I get now and then come from trader joe's so no coupons there.

[tootsieroll]

I have been couponing for years but am now starting to buy more local products.  I do still need some products for cleaning, hba, paper stuff, etc, but we get a subscription to the paper so I always get the coupons with it.  If you are unsure about picking up a Sunday paper, there are preview sites that list the coupons that are likely to be in that week's paper (some are regional).

i personally prefer my store's app - Shoprite - where I can load store coupons to my card to combine with manufacturer's coupons.  I also use Endorse where I can scan receipts from any store to get a % back in cash rebates.

[Clever Username]

Only thing I look for coupons on are razors.
Everything else falls well below the signal to noise ratio.

Razors are the only item I know of that has coupons always available at a large enough discount to seek out.

When I do, I usually end up with a half dozen others that I simply do not use.

[Sam_2.0]

Clever - buy those on eBay or coupon clipping sites

[dancinmama]

Not only are coupon values declining, but more and more manufacturers are printing usage restrictions on their coupons.  The coupons issued by Johnson & Johnson now read "ONE PER PERSON".  All Proctor and Gamble coupons read "Limit of 4 Like Coupons per Household per Day".  Gone are the days when Dawn was on sale for $1 and you could use (10) $.75/1 coupons all at one time to scoop up (10) bottles of Dawn.  In addition, the perks offered by retailers that sweeten the pot are on the decline.

My coupon usage this year has already declined because the freebie shopping that I have been doing for more than six years, especially to purchase the non-perishables that we use on a regular basis, is drying up.  I knew the window of opportunity to "shop for free" would close some day and that day is rapidly approaching.  It's all good; I've stocked up.

[kgb18]

I don't find many coupons for stuff I use either.  

Same here. My grocery store gives you coupons when you buy, and but they aren't good about giving coupons for the brand products you actually bought. I am a brand-loyal shopper for the most part. I'm not going to buy a different brand to save 50 cents.

I do use coupons for diapers, baby food and formula as much as I can.

[jeep108]

I think I get better coupons from the companies that I write with complements. Than what has been in the paper lately.

[mrsdutt]

When I heard that show was coming on I knew it would ruin things for everyone who shopped 'free'.  When there were 3 of us, I was an avid couponer.  Three people liked 3 different things.  Now that it's just me I very seldom coupon.  I do have a stock of hb items though from before.  I also have a stockpile of food in case a hurricane shuts down the electricity or we have to get out of the area.  My normal things now are meats, fruits, veggies, dairy.  If I want cookies and don't want to bake, I buy one package that lasts a while.

I still look for great deals, but they are few.  The drug stores have gone to different programs that are not productive for me. 

I did get coupons from Kleenix because I contacted them.  I ended up paying 2.00 for 3 boxes.  So I guess you could say I cherry pick.

It was great while it lasted.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Some companies will send you coupons if you ask nicely ~ I did that for Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze.

[Ombud]

I don't coupon in the traditional sense. Safeway's app on my phone has 'just 4 you' discounts. At least 1 free item per week ~~ the new way to coupon. No clipping, don't have to remember anything ~~ simple

[Shooby]

Coupons are ANNOYING!  I have Never used coupons and don't ever intend to.  I can't be bothered.

[Ombud]

I look at the hoarders on that show and wonder what they'll do with all that stuff as it hits expiration dates!

[happyscooter]

I used to be a faithful couponer.  I shop at Aldis now, we can't tell the difference in coffee, cereal, ice cream, peanut butter, etc...

And 95% of my cleaning supplies are bought at the dollar store.  Works just as good as the more expensive stuff.

[bean29]

I don't use a lot of coupons, I often don't have the time to go through them at the store or I am not buying stuff that has coupons.

I did fairly well downloading JoAnn Fabrics coupons to my phone.  I got 4 50% off a reg priced item coupons.  They also take competitor's coupons.  They apparently no longer advertise in the paper.  I only go to JoAnn when DD has a school project.  This one was fairly pricey so the coupons helped.

I have a coupon for $10 off 1 pound of fannie farmer candy.  I haven't decided if I am going to use it.  My Mom is on a Diet, I don't eat candy, and DH and many of his family are Diabetic or Borderline Diabetic so candy is a bad idea.

But I think the cereal companies and the stores are nuts.  My local grocery often runs buy 6 boxes of cereal get this super deal on them.  I don't know what to do with more than 2 boxes of cereal.  I am not buying 3 at a time just to use  a coupon.  10 for $10 is OK if it is mix and match and a good variety but who needs 10 of the same item at a time?  It is almost like they are offering it b/c they know few will take them up on the deal.

[trimatty471]

Usually because you have to purchase 2 for $1 off.

I may not need multiple items.

[Shooby]

  With my new phone, it is a little easier to use coupons.  I am signed up for some rewards type coupons via email.  And, when shopping, i can pull up a coupon on my phone for them to scan.  So, now i do use them on occassion.  But, really, i just want a good price either a really good normal price or a good sale.  

[Deleted]

Is anyone else just getting a swagbucks ad when they click the article link?

I'm using less coupons for food and beauty items because the deals aren't as good as they used to be.

[constanz22]

May 5, 2013 17:38:17 GMT -5 trimatty471 said:

Usually because you have to purchase 2 for $1 off.

I may not need multiple items.

Yeah, I noticed in today's coupon insert, the Ziplock coupon is now $1 off THREE! No thanks...I'll buy Dollar Store bags first. When I first started heavily couponing in 2009, they were regularly $1/1, then went to $1/2 most of the time. I will NEVER buy them for $1/3.

[busymom]

I still use coupons, but I'm very selective.  I laughed when I saw in today's newspaper some entree had a $3 off coupon, but you had to buy TEN!  (Not happening.)  I tend to use the coupons for the stuff we go through quickly, like cereal.  I started couponing more heavily a couple of years ago, & have kept it up.  I even use the 10 cents off per gallon of gas coupons, because most competitors around here accept them. 

[mmhmm]

I've never used coupons.  Never really had the time (nor the interest) to get involved.  With just mother and I now, there are few products for which using a coupon would make sense.  I also buy a lot of local produce, meats, eggs, and dairy.  My grocery check-out clerk is great about letting me know there's a coupon for something I've bought and getting it out of their flyer for me.  I appreciate it, but I sure don't expect it and wouldn't mind if she didn't bother.  It's just not enough savings to warrant the trouble.

[kittensaver]

Americans are using fewer coupons because their are fewer companies offering fewer things the public wants. And the rules of the "deals" have gotten stricter and stricter.

[suek1958]

Thank you, kittensaver, for saying "fewer" coupons!  

[Shooby]

  But, i honestly don't know how the Extreme Couponers do it.  I still don't understand how they can use a coupon and get so much for so little.  But, i don't need 100 jars of mustard so i guess it doesn't matter.

[mrsdutt]

May 6, 2013 5:42:13 GMT -5 Shooby said:

  But, i honestly don't know how the Extreme Couponers do it.  I still don't understand how they can use a coupon and get so much for so little.  But, i don't need 100 jars of mustard so i guess it doesn't matter.

I think most people don't look at the fact that real estate comes at a hefty price.  In today's coupon environment it's a poor use of space to load up on 10 of most items. (perishable ones)  2 years ago it was a bargain.  Mustard has a forever shelf life, so free mustard is a good thing.
I loved the hunt when a good deal was to be had.  They're gone.  I do other things like make my cleaning items, not use paper towels often, or use no softener.  I'm alone so I can purchase a large bottle of Dawn on sale because it takes me 6 months to use it up.  Or Tide pods with 90 count.  At 2 loads a week I have 45 weeks before I buy a new one.  That's more than 9 months @ 24.00. With a large family, I would have never bought these items without a coupon - or bought them at all.

I'm inherently frugal, but have altered the game to meet the current standards.  Life is too short (for me anyway!) to worry about the changes.  Besides I still have a stock of my freebie h and b items.

[marvholly]

I have been a big couponer but MUCH less now because:

I am a single & how many boxes of cereal, pasta, dishsoap .....do I eat/use in a reasonable amount of time?
I mostly shop the store perimeter (meat, dairy, produce, bakery (my good outlet stores closed)
I seldom wear makeup
how much nail polish do I really need even if I buy for DGD1
my independent & fruit/veg (cheaper) stores do NOT take internet printables
in MANY instances the dollar store is WAAAAY cheaper
too many mfg requirements, restrictions and/or buy togethers

There were 3 inserts in the Chicagoi Tribune this weekend.  I only clipped 2 coupons, both for items I regularly use.  I do save my inserts (neatly in an old magazine rack) in case something comes up a couple months down the road.  My local bloggers generally will post if there is an older, valid coupon.