❤ mollymouser ❤
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Post by ❤ mollymouser ❤ on Jan 4, 2011 3:01:11 GMT -5
Are you an avid couponer? A sporadic and haphazard couponer? Do you buy or trade coupons? Do you carry them in a nifty organizer thingy?
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❤ mollymouser ❤
Senior Associate
Sarcasm is my Superpower
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 16:09:58 GMT -5
Posts: 12,857
Today's Mood: Gen X ... so I'm sarcastic and annoyed
Location: Central California
Favorite Drink: Diet Mountain Dew
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Post by ❤ mollymouser ❤ on Jan 4, 2011 3:01:59 GMT -5
And, yes, I realize that I just turned "coupon" into a verb, didn't I? (grin)
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NastyWoman
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Post by NastyWoman on Jan 4, 2011 3:22:06 GMT -5
Just a sporadic one. I keep forgetting to either take my coupons along or to use them. Still, I use them enough that I read my newspaper for free, so that is something
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Jan 4, 2011 9:41:53 GMT -5
I would consider myself avid and organized (I use a file box, but I am searching for a new method, possibly the photo album-style filing system). I will not shop if I forget my coupons. I am not a manic, extremist couponer though, like those folks on the TV show. I won't buy what I cannot use, or so much that it will go bad before I can use it.
I know it works, because I have the savings in my EF to prove it. It's a game and an adventure, and like Donna says, it can be one part of saving where you can so you can do what you want.
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Post by tiredboomer on Jan 4, 2011 9:43:41 GMT -5
As much as I can. I used to be an avid couponer. Unfortunately, now I live in an area that gets no newspaper so no Sunday coupons. I do print some off of the internet. I do carry them with me. Some of my best deals were unexpected ones.
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Post by sidney on Jan 4, 2011 9:53:45 GMT -5
The area I live most stores won't take printed coupons from the internet. They also don't double or triple the value of the coupon. I do use coupons. Try to catch when walgreens has their sales and use my coupon then. We shop for food mostly at Aldi so cant use coupons there.
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Post by moneywhisperer on Jan 4, 2011 9:54:50 GMT -5
Not so much. The area I live in now does not have 'doubling' coupons at the grocery stores, so it seems less worth it.
The grocery stores mostly have cards & special pricing if you have the card, so I do pay attention to that and buy what is on special. I was also using the Costco coupons, but my new years resolution is not to shop there anymore, so I guess I'll be skipping those unless there is a screaming deal!
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Jan 4, 2011 9:58:06 GMT -5
I'm not ashamed of using a coupon, especially to get something for free. This morning on my way home from dropping DS off I picked up another free mocha from McD's on the way home (no purchase necessary Right now I don't seek out coupons because I'm almost strictly no-spend, I have enough on hand to last me for a long time, and I'm trying to use things up, donate, give away so there will be less to move (hopefully) next year. I do get the Sunday paper and if there's a really good coupon I'll get an extra from my parents. If I see a money-making coupon I'll definitely use it though. If it's to get something free, well, if I need it I'll use it, if someone in the family can use it I'll pick it up, but if it's free after register rewards (like wags) I may or may not, depends on if I need something else I can get from that store before the RRs expire, otherwise, it still forces me to spend. I finally have some competition at Walgreen's, so if I don't get there early enough I miss out. I taught one of the cashiers there how to coupon (we went to HS together) so she's on top of it now. She makes sure I know what will be free and if she's got an extra coupon she'll give it to me. Some people have issues with their wags, I've been so happy with mine I've sent the corporate office an email.
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wackyaunt
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Post by wackyaunt on Jan 4, 2011 10:03:17 GMT -5
Yes, I coupon. I keep mine in a $3 4"x6" photo album (from Wally-World) that fits into my shopping tote purse. I use "post-it" file tags to index for fast retreival. I am blessed to live in an area where the double coupons up to 50 cents; so I regularly score great deals. On the soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, and toothbrushes that I don't or won't use, I donate to the local abused women and children's shelter.
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marvholly
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Post by marvholly on Jan 4, 2011 11:48:47 GMT -5
I am like nancyinfl I avidly coupon and keep them in a coupon caddy (which I NEED to replace). I do not buy/sell or trade because I get enough for my single person household on my own or w/getting an extra set of Sunday inserts from my Dad.
I do print from the internet but many of my independent markets will not take and some WAG are a BIG hassle.
None of my stores EVER double or triple.
Except for fresh produce I seldom buy anything that is not on sale, clearance and still use coupons too. Cashiers at my local CVS question me if I do not have/use coupons.
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Post by celticqueen on Jan 4, 2011 12:11:36 GMT -5
I have a coupon organizer and use it just about every time I go to the grocery. I'm lucky to get the coupons from the paper for free at work. I use couponmom.com to check the specials at my local store and match coupons. My local Kroger doubles up to $.55, so you can get some pretty good deals if you find stuff on sale and have a coupon that doubles. Between the sales and coupons I usually save between 15%-35% off my bill. I could probably do better if I shopped more often but I hate grocery shopping and try to avoid it as much as possible. I used to stockpile a lot at place like WAGS and Rite Aid but since our income got cut, I've cut back quite a bit on it. I also got frustrated when WAGS went from a rebate system to register rewards.
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Jan 4, 2011 12:17:00 GMT -5
I like hearing about what everyone is using to keep their coupons; like I said, the card file box is not really working for me anymore. I am leaning towards wackaunt's idea of the small photo album. I am going to check at home to see if I have one stashed in a closet somewhere, before I go out and buy one. I may even have some extra blank pages from albums already in use. No doubling of coupons here, either. And no Aldis, Wags, or other discount stores. We are supposedly getting Aldis in the near future, and I have heard good things. Our last Albertson's closed over a year ago.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2011 12:52:28 GMT -5
I want to coupon, I really do. But we don't get coupon inserts in the paper, just sales fliers. So I have to watch for the coupons in the store and then save them until a sale comes along, because usually the sale price is cheaper than the regular price minus coupon. So then I have to remember to check on the coupons later. It's like trying to remember to take my cloth bags to the grocery store. I usually do groceries after work and forget to grab the bags in the morning.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Jan 4, 2011 13:10:50 GMT -5
I'm a beginning low maintenance coup-oner at the moment. I carry some coupons with me in my regular wallet and a few more in a small flat wallet. I'm planning to get more organized with spread sheets and tracking prices as timing can be very important.
Not sure if I agree with spell check on couponer.
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Jan 4, 2011 13:40:48 GMT -5
Insurance, I do it by product now, and that's the problem for me. I need to change the storage method, so I can do it by date. The photo album sounds like it would be easy to see the coupons by product AND date.
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dogmom
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Post by dogmom on Jan 4, 2011 13:44:22 GMT -5
I have been using coupons for a little over a year. I carry a coupon organizer (free using my Staples rewards) sorted by type of product. I look through them every other week to pull out the ones that are expired or about to expire before I go to the store next time. I hate it when I hand the cashier an expired coupon, and it also reminds me what coupons I still have on hand so I don't forget to use them.
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telephus44
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Post by telephus44 on Jan 4, 2011 14:09:16 GMT -5
Sporadic. I can do really well, but only when I have the time to actually plan it out. Right now I pretty much only do deals that are totally free and easy enough with online access (like if I can print out a coupon from a website). I gave up the Sunday paper, although I occasionally get the coupons from my MIL's paper. I also started shopping at Trader Joe's for most of my groceries, so I have to go out of my way to hit a normal grocery store with coupons, so it had better be an outstanding deal.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jan 4, 2011 14:19:37 GMT -5
Are you an avid couponer? A sporadic and haphazard couponer? Do you buy or trade coupons? Do you carry them in a nifty organizer thingy? I am an avid couponer. I do not buy coupons. A couple of ma/pa liquor stores allow me to pull the inserts from the unsold Sunday papers on Sunday nights. I also receive coupons from some of my couponing buddies and they receive them from me. I do not carry a nifty organizer thingy. When I see an opportunity to use a coupon, I go to the database to see which insert it is in, I go to my stack of inserts to see if I got it, and I clip whatever I need. If it is an IP, I decide how many I might need and print (if there are still some available).
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Post by bobbysgirl on Jan 4, 2011 14:49:45 GMT -5
With the exception of milk and eggs and butter I use coupons and / or sales, or I don't buy it. It's just me. I don't buy coupons and I am not an extremist in anything I do. I have a stocked pantry and replenish with sales and coupons when it is getting low. I don't cut out coupons until I need them. I mark the inserts with the dates as an easy reference when I read a deal. I have at most 2 months worth of coupons on hand because they expire so quickly. So not difficult to go through them. I also print from the computer and we have 2x coupons up to 1.00. I guess I am lucky to live in this area in that respect.
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vnot
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Post by vnot on Jan 4, 2011 16:05:03 GMT -5
I am an avid couponer with an organizer. I get the Sunday paper ($20/year promo) and I occasionally buy coupons from coupon clipping sites but only when there's a great deal on things I want. I'm trying to use couponing to control my household/grocery budget. I just got started a couple months ago and went a little wild with all the deals but my goal this year is to be more discerning and only go after things that are free or I use.
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Jan 4, 2011 16:18:10 GMT -5
Sporadic. It depends on the product and the store. Today I found a coupon for the health food store. They put an ad in quarterly with different coupons. I gave my 1/2 off vitamin purchase to the woman behind me in line because it was about to expire.
One grocery store offers a variety of different coupons. One is a refrigerator magnet good for 12 weeks on certain specials. They have free items for a $30 purchase. Sometimes they have a coupon booklet along with instore coupons. It's a challenge but well worth the thought of developing the list.
I left my unused Staples coupons on the shelf by the item hoping someone could use it.
May be I should change to avid since I share coupons and hold on to them when an items is also reduced price. We don't get coupon doubling here.
I used to share a lot with an ex-friend. He started call me "coupie" then followed up with it's not "poopie". That ended that. He'll be lucky to see me again.
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bobosensei
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Post by bobosensei on Jan 4, 2011 16:26:49 GMT -5
I only use coupons when there is a tear pad in front of me for the product I am going to buy. It is sad really, because I can use them 6 months past the expiration date at our commissary since we are overseas. The problem is I can't stockpile even if I wanted to because I am in a tiny apartment with limited storage and we may be moving back to the states in less than a year. I wouldn't be able to ship any food stuff back home.
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rubyslippers
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Post by rubyslippers on Jan 4, 2011 16:36:52 GMT -5
I coupon a lot and got started seriously a few years ago. I use a coupon/binder briefcase with baseball card sleeves to store my coupons by type. It is very organized which takes some time, but when I'm shopping, I can whip out a coupon in no time. I use coupons for just about everything and keep track of how much I've saved, and it is quite a bit. I have no qualms about buying something I don't need if it will earn me a profitable rebate. I just give away what I don't use. It has allowed me to save more money and to keep a pretty good stockpile of items we use on a regular basis. I have ordered coupons online after much thinking and planning if it will save me a lot of money in the long run. Mostly I get my coupons from people who save me inserts and we get the Sunday paper. I will also print coupons from the internet. Our stores double coupons and also have store coupons to stack which often makes for pretty good deals.
When I plan my shopping trips, I put my lists and coupons in individual little sleeves, the kind that you get from car insurance companies to put your insurance cards in. The binder stays in my car unless I see an unexpected good deal. For Rite Aid, I have a little accordian binder to store coupons, VV, rainchecks, UP rewards and a little scissors. This file and the little sleeves go into a little canvas bag and off I go. I need to get a new binder but haven't found one I like as much as the one that needs replaced. Walmart had them a couple years ago and they look just like a briefcase. Mine got used too much.
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Post by gaultamort on Jan 4, 2011 16:53:45 GMT -5
I can do alright with coupons. I'm short on time so I won't go to more than 1 grocery store per week for a deal, but I've got the stacking part down. As of late coupon expiration dates have been watched more closely by more stores, prob because redemption rates for coupons are so high right now. I try to use a coupon whenever I can and will use them at restaurants without even thinking about it. I did have a little accordian folder, but with this new checking the dates, I tossed that and just have them clipped together. For 2011, I've started actually "saving my savings" from all areas of my budget and hope this will add up! So far, I'm at $50 for the hardcover books I read from thel libary.
Longtime reader on MSN...glad to become a regular poster here! Your comments and insights on the other board kept me motivated while we wiped up CC debt and saved an Emergency Fund!
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Post by radiodiva on Jan 4, 2011 17:28:55 GMT -5
Hello there- This is my very first post EVER ! I have been reading the MSN boards for months and love the tips and ideas you all share. Because of your posts I have ramped up my "occasional" couponing and have even started my own pantry ! I cleaned out our messy Laundry room and bought some heavy duty shelving from Lowes (with a $10 coupon !) at the beginning of December. We are nicely stocked with non perishables that I bought for pennies on the dollar or got for free --- all due to your inspiring stories. My DH does all of the cooking, and he is having a blast "shopping" from our pantry. I have to admit- I'm so proud of it, sometimes I just open the door to admire it.... I just love how all of the labels line up. My Grammie (she raised me) told me that as a child, I would often take out all of her canned goods and rearrange them. She made sure that she stocked a low level cabinet in the kitchen to keep me busy. Glad to finally be a poster here ... thanks for setting this up for all of us "ex-lurkers" !
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Post by texaspn on Jan 4, 2011 19:12:41 GMT -5
I use coupons moderately-I buy a lot of generics plus get Angel Food but I do use coupons for things that I need.
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naturallyfrugal
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Post by naturallyfrugal on Jan 4, 2011 19:20:16 GMT -5
I think I'm an avid couponer - I always have my binder with me (it stays in the car unless I take it in to update), along with my reuseable bags. I use a binder and baseball card sleeves and organize by product type (the binder, sleeves, and tab dividers were all free using Staples rewards). I do get the inserts from the Sunday paper (59 cents/week), plus we get the inserts with our Friday mail (in some local newspaper, which is free), so I get at least 2 sets/week. I've never bought coupons before, but I do frequent websites to print coupons for items I use regularly; especially Target and Horizon milk. Apple, I get the McDonald's coupon book, too and I love the free drinks - I usually use the 32 oz. beverage one for sweet tea (for me) and the free smoothie ones for my son. In the summer and fall, Taco Bell had a whole page of coupons offering free Fruitista Freeze drinks, which I like and would use up the "free with no purchase" coupons each time I had them. I thought I lost my coupon binder this Saturday when I went to Rite Aid to use some Register Rewards and couldn't find it! I didn't freak out then, because I thought I might have brought it into the house.......I did, however, freak out when it wasn't at home! I retraced my steps and realized that I had it last at Harris Teeter on Thursday, but by this time it was after 9pm, so first thing Sunday I went there and asked about their "lost & found" and.....what do you know.....they had it!!!! I was so happy and thanked the front desk guy probably a few time too many! In all the years I've been couponing, this was the first time I had ever left them somewhere.
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wackyaunt
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Post by wackyaunt on Jan 4, 2011 19:48:48 GMT -5
@later: I used to have the same problem about remembering my totes, I have now retrained myself to put back in the trunk of the car as soon as I unload the groceries as part of the put-away process...now they are always in the car ready to go without me trying to remember to grab them. Be patient with yourself, it took me about 2 months to retrain myself.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2011 21:15:45 GMT -5
It's like trying to remember to take my cloth bags to the grocery store. I usually do groceries after work and forget to grab the bags in the morning. Later: Do you drive a vehicle to work? Your cloth bags can go in the back seat or trunk so you'll always have them with you. ;D Also, question for everyone regarding coupons: Do you find it easier to organize via product (canned, baking, dairy, etc) or by date? Ok, I will try to incorporate that. Man oh man! I have a lot of NY resolutions!
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Post by stillyoung39 on Jan 4, 2011 21:24:59 GMT -5
I have learned to return my reusable bags to my car by putting my purse inside them once I have emptied them. That way I don't forget to grab them the next time I go out to the car. I also am just learning how to coupon thanks to the boards and all the tips I've learned. In December alone I saved almost $150. Thats half of what I would normally budget for groceries. My goal is to learn to coupon so well that I can get my grocery budget to $100/month. I carry my coupons in a 3 ring binder with resealable envelopes. I have them sorted by category and have also added a price book tab, previous grocery list tab so that I can see where I stayed on track and where I strayed (I staple the receipts to the list so I can compare) and then I add the new list in the front. When I create my list I pull whatever coupons I have and paperclip them to the front of the binder so they are quick and easy to access but then if I find a deal at the store I can always check to see if I have any other coupons.
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