How's that for creating a new verb? I'm slowly gearing up to try to learn how to "do" coupons. There is a whole cottage industry, you know. Women everywhere are spreading the word about special deals each week, secrets one wouldn't know just by walking down the aisles. I've been a bit distrusting of coupons because one doesn't save money if one is buying food one normally doesn't want to eat. However, today I took advantage of some great sales from the Harris Teeter grocery store and Kellogg's (thanks to Sarah W. who gave me the hot lead!).
I bought 64 Huggies disposable diapers regularly $24, now $4 off from the store, plus $1.50 off from my coupon. (That is still an expensive 28 cents per diaper, which is why I prefer to use cloth.)
I bought seven boxes of Kellogg's cereal, regularly $24.92 total, now $17.92 because of seven $1-off "blinkie" coupons.
Because two of my purchases were All-Bran, which I eat anyway, I received a free package of Activia yogurt, regularly $2.50.
If I purchased an eighth product from the Kellogg family, I'd get another special, so I chose Eggo frozen waffles, which were additionally on sale from $2.79 each down to $1.67, which equals 17 cents per waffle.
My total: $59.79 worth of products for $41.43 = 31% savings.
But the fun doesn't end there! Because I bought eight Kellogg's products, I earned a $10 mail-in-rebate for Harris Teeter, plus three gallons of free milk (valued up to $14.07). Ultimately, this will result in a 50% savings on all these products!
This couponing thing could become addictive.
I don't do coupons and go mostly with house brands for staples.
ReplyDeleteI would buy Kroger brand diapers for 16-18cent a diaper and avoid the coupon'd name brand all together. Same thing with cereal, frozen vegetables, etc.
Hi Katherine,
ReplyDeleteI'm a friend of Rebecca's in MA and I really enjoy following your blog. It's encouraging to see the joys and struggles of another Catholic mother! I just started a blog with all the "how to's" of using coupons! If you're interested in learning more, you can visit me at www.recessionproofshopping.blogspot.com
Happy Couponing!
Christina
Chrissy beat me to it! I was going to recommend her blog to you! I am very much a beginner when it comes to "couponing," so we can learn from each other!
ReplyDeleteKatherine,
ReplyDeletecheck out moneysavingmom.com she is pretty comprehensive with good deals and coupons.
I am with you...lately I do the bulk of my shopping at Aldis and use no coupons but save because it is cheap there. But I still do my once a month or so at Shop Rite and then I use coupons where I can.
BTW moneysavingmom just had a link for $5 off Huggies diapers...GREAT coupon! I just bought 4 packs of diapers by printing coupon as many times as allowed.
Have you tried grocerygame.com?
ReplyDeleteI sometimes randomly find coupons I'm able to use (like recently on the kroger website had $3 off a pack of store brand diapers that are already on sale for $6.99!) but we only shop the outer rim of the store (produce/meat/dairy) and I am hard pressed to ever find a coupon we can use. I do better just stocking up on the loss leaders if it's something we use (reduced prices on meat or veggies to bring people in the store) It's a bummer because I loved the concept of grocerygame and so many people recommend it to me.
Just for fun I looked up couponing and it came up as an entry on dictionary.com. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/couponing
the grocery game you have to pay for while couponmom.com is free. i don't *do* it. I'm w/Elaine on the Kroger brand stuff. I buy their diapers and all their stuff. I get special coupons from them too in the mail for items i already buy.
ReplyDeleteA couple wks ago one of the managers asked me, "are you a kroger employee?"
I said," no, why?"
"B/c you have *all* kroger brands in your cart!"
we laughed! big family = need for savings
It IS addictive, isn't it? I don't use grocery store coupons much because I always forget them, but I have turned Chris on to the joy of bargain-hunting, and he now goes to the local discount grocery store for staple items, saving us a bundle. And when we go out to eat, he always asks, "Where do we have a coupon for?!"
ReplyDeleteAbout diapers...we use disposables only when traveling, but I have found that the "house brand" at Target isn't as effective as the name brand. With disposable diapers, I think you sometimes get what you pay for. But I can't speak for Kroger diapers, as we don't have Kroger out here!
I have to admit, I have a sort of addiction to bargain shopping...or at least to the game of finding bargains. It's actually a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteMost of my grocery shopping is done at the local discount store (probably the same one Cathleen mentioned), and as long as I go during certain hours, it's pleasant enough (go at the wrong hours, and there are all sorts of unsavory people to deal with).
But I always use coupons too...just have to make sure I look out for ones for items I actually use.
it doesn't "work" here but I'm boggled by the 3 free gallons of milk. Here that's $30 worth of milk... with sales tax a gallon costs us over $10.
ReplyDeleteKuskoMama: Where do you live that milk is so expensive?! I thought our milk at nearly half that cost was outrageous.
ReplyDeleteChristina: Thanks! Rebecca had shared your blog with me and I've found it very helpful.
ReplyDeleteLadies: Yes, generally I buy generic much of the time. (And the brand names I buy are for specific reasons and are things not found in generic brands--for example, Trader Joe's items.) I have found in years past that the coupon for the brand name often results in a price still higher than the generic. But I'm just wondering if there is a place for using coupons combined with buying mostly generic items.
ReplyDeleteKatherine - this is Christine from Maryskeys. I suppose I should amend my username... I was taking a stab at anonymity on my blog but kinda gave that up with the picture and names of our kids and all.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, we're in western Alaska and the price is so high because everything flies in on a plane - no roads. That and the stores LOVE to get that extra $$$ from you. :P
Oh, hi Christine! Now it makes sense why milk is so expensive where you live. You really are a pioneering gal!
ReplyDelete