9 coupon myths exposed for what they are
Posted
May 28 2008, 06:52 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Guest blogger Jody Connelly takes aim at nine myths about coupons and blows each one out of the water in an excellent post at Money Saving Mom, an authoritative coupon site.
We know you've all heard this one: "Coupons are only for unhealthful processed junk foods." Yes, Jody says, a lot of coupons are for foods that aren't good for you. "However," she says, "there are just as many coupons for good healthful foods" -- like fresh produce, frozen veggies and yogurt.
(Kris at Cheap Healthy Good, who alerted readers to Jody's post, seconds that thought with her own post about how to eat healthy with the help of coupons. "Sure, some folks have the time and inclination to brew their own soy sauce from scratch, and more power to them. I don't," Kris writes. "Fortunately for me, a plethora of standard condiments and cupboard stalwarts appear quite regularly in coupon inserts.")
Also on Jody's myth list: "Only poor people use coupons." Actually, she says, lower-income people are less likely to use coupons than middle-income people with college degrees.
"Generic is always cheaper" is another myth if you match your coupon with a store sale on the name-brand item, Jody says. Plus, Kris notes at Cheap Healthy Good, sometimes generic kitchen supplies aren't very good. She writes, "I don't know if you've ever bought generic plastic wrap, but in my experience, it's slightly less worthless than a Paris Hilton math book." (Kris, we have, and it is.)
Some people think coupons aren't worth the effort if your local stores don't offer double coupons. But Jody knows how to work the deals at CVS and other drugstores that don't double coupons but do offer in-store deals, rebates and other amazing ways to save money. Remember that when you're using coupons, the trick is to match them with sales.
Bloggers often advise us to clip coupons only for things we normally eat. However, Jody says, you might be depriving yourself of some culinary delights you thought were beyond your budget. Plus, you can always swap the cat food coupons with your neighbor for coupons you can really use.
Another myth is that it's not worth the effort to shop at multiple stores. Jody says, "For instance, if you are able to get $100 worth of product you need for $20 and you only spent $6 extra in gas and an additional 20 minutes, then I would say that would certainly be worth it."
