The 1-month coupon strategy

re: The 1-month coupon strategy

saving samantha — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:28:20 GMT

I use the coupons + store sale strategy too. I follow the coupon mom's advice and save and date the flyer. The coupon mom's virtual coupon organizer is free! And, I donate free soup, toothpaste, hair color, toothbrushes, deoderant etc. to the battered women's shelter.

You can also use the following sites to help you plan menus and use the food you bought:

kraft ( they have a 5 menus from one bag of groceries plan)

e-mealz.com

savingdinner.com

On the Kraft site, I entered what I had in my pantry and they came up with recipes.

I thought this was way cool.

As there is is just me and my husband, the meals we make usually cover dinner AND lunch the next day.

re: The 1-month coupon strategy

kelly — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:18:42 GMT

can you use 2 coupons on a item that is buy one get one free

re: The 1-month coupon strategy

Aria — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:38:21 GMT

I totally agree that one can save a lot with coupons from the local newspaper. In our office we have a coupon basket and share coupons. So if one of us don't a certain item, then other may find it useful, therefore we maximize the use of our coupons. I use grocery coupons on a weekly basis, and save an estimated $25-40 per month. That's incentive to start using them, if you don't already.

re: The 1-month coupon strategy

gail — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:06:52 GMT

In my area there are alot of drug stores (Walmart even) offering 25 to 30 dollar gift cards for transferring presciptions to their pharmacy dept. What a boom this has been for me, I transfer to let's say CVS for a 25 dollar gift card, then back to Walmart for a 26 dollar gift card. Right now in my purse< I have 90 dollars worth of gift cards from Safeway, 128 dollars in gift cards from Walmart, 50 dollars from Target and 35 dollars from Frys (Kroeger). Also carfully look over your check out reciepts, very often they make mistakes, when you bring it to the store's attention, some stores have policy of refunding you the difference and giving you the item free!!!

re: The 1-month coupon strategy

pharm-gal — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:11:16 GMT

Many of us do not purchase prepackaged foods or convience goods.Coupons are a way to advertise promotional items and I save more money in the long run by avoiding all the unecessary stuff in the first place. Besides a few household items I purchase in bulk at COSTCO (think laundry detergent, toothpaste, garbage bags etc) and rewards savings (my local store, Fred Meyer mails its loyal customers coupons good for as much as $5.00 to be used in the store) I think coupons are a waste of time. If there are ever coupons for fresh produce, free range chicken or eggs, grass fed beef, quality seafood, beer, wine or fresh bread from the bakery, then I may consider using them. This discussion would be better focused if we disucss prices and menus when feeding a family of 4 based on use or lack of coupons.

re: The 1-month coupon strategy

Amy — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:52:58 GMT

I think that coupons are wonderful and use them all the time. Both my husband and I use them before just buying something and I cut them out of the Sunday paper every week as well as use the internet websites for coupons as well. Last year we kept track of our savings every month and saved over $1,300 on things we would have purchased anyways. By watching sales, etc. you can really save a bundle!

re: The 1-month coupon strategy

eria — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:41:14 GMT

I not only use coupons, but i shop clearance sections ALL the time. You may not always find what your looking for or what you want, but sometimes You get what you need. I have sensitive skin and the only body wash I can use without aggrivating it is Dove Sensitive Skin. I was walking the clearance section and found a 3pack for 3.50! I decorated my entire bedroom with stuff from the Target clearance section and it looks AMAZING. I never pay full price for things.

re: The 1-month coupon strategy

Thrifty Mom — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:19:19 GMT

Coupons are great!! Just this weekend I went to a local drugstore and bought three bottles of shampoo, three bottles of conditioner ( Herbal essence & Pantene) two boxes of Cottonelle wipes and a bottle of Downey fabric softener. After coupons, my total for all the items was a little over $10. But the best part was that for my purchases, I received $12 in register rewards to be used on future purchases. The store basicly paid me to take these items. I always match my coupons to the weekly sales and shop at stores that double coupons. A lot of times I get items for almost free. My six year old daughter even knows to look for sales tags in the stores and to use coupons.

re: The 1-month coupon strategy

goalie mom 31 — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:06:21 GMT

I worked in a grocery store for 21 years. It is so easy to save 20% or more on your grocery bill every week with savy coupon shopping. If they advertised 20% off your bill, the store would be so busy, you couldn't get in the door! I have seen shoppers get their entire grocery bill, which would have been almost $200 for free! Watch for double and even triple coupon sales. These will increase as the economy slides. Just be sure you need the item. If you throw it out, it was not a bargain. If you can get something for free that you would not use, consider donating it to your local food bank. Someone out there needs it, even if you don't.

re: The 1-month coupon strategy

Kate — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:37:28 GMT

Here's how I do it (and don't pay xtra for a website to do it for me):

-clip/print coupons from the paper, magazines and internet (also watch for coupons inside the paskages)

-check your favorite stores website (Vons, Raplhs, etc) for the weekly ads and compare (sometimes you can find additonal coupons)

- use club cards from store if available and or frequent stores that will double your coupon

- stick to your list

I save an average of 30% each time I shop.

With the price of gas I have made some adjustments but all 3 stores I frequent are within 2 miles of my home and on the same street.