Are Coupons Making A Comeback?
YES the economy is challenging!
YES expenses are going up
YES people are saving less than in the years past!
Thanks Merrill for stating the obvious!!
What does all that mean? One thing it means, is people are looking for deals! They are looking to buy items on sale and yes they are probably using coupons more than ever. Okay…at least I am! I said it and I am okay with it!
Last week I went to our local grocery store, Tom Thumb, and saved 28% on my order! Yes, I said 28%. I saved the money based on in-store promotions and coupons. I haven’t been doing this forever (which is interesting, considering my mom and sister are really good at it, have been doing it for years and save a tremendous amount week after week). But since I am a rookie and it needs to easy for me to use coupons (meaning that they need to be coupons that I happen to see in the Sunday newspaper, in-store promotions or a coupon that gets mailed to me).
Recently we had a friend in town (thanks for visiting SG) and we got a $50 coupon to visit a restaurant. I must admit I was shocked that the coupon was for $50.00 and had to check the fine print. I did and it was for that amount and very easy to use. Recently I have noticed more “buy one get one free” promotions and I am taking advantage of them–especially if the items are stuff like paper towels and trash bags. I have also noticed that products like cereal and potato chips are running big promotions very often.
Rest assured anytime I will get a $50.00 off coupon at a restaurant it will be used. A week doesn’t go by where I don’t receive coupons in the mail and in our household, they are being used now more than ever!
What about you?
- Are you using coupons more than you have in the past?
- What are some of your tricks of the trade that you can share?
- How much do in-store promotions affect your decision making?
I look forward to reading your comments.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:46 am
I am like you, I have not used coupons in the past, however, now i find myself drawn to them. Last weekend Whole Foods was offering their customers $10 off their $50 seafood and meat order. We never shop at Whole Foods because it’s a couple of miles further than our Fresh Market, but we made the trip. we decided the extra $2 in gas was worth the $10 off!
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Similar to your $50 restaurant coupon, I’ve received two $50 coupons in the past couple of weeks. One was for a Jewelry Store and the other for a Major Appliance Store. Both are simply $50 off your next purchase with no minimum purchase amount. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen that before. One is a store I’ve purchased from before and one I’ve never visited. I plan to visit both and see what I can get for my $50 coupon.
September 6th, 2008 at 7:16 am
I love a good deal, which doesn’t always mean the lowest price, necessarily. I am a flyer shopper. mostly with groceries, meaning I cruise the flyer for the store I shop and then compile a list of groceries. I make lists, clip coupons, and then even compare once there. Makes my Scorpio wife crazy, she being a “Need toothpaste, this is what I want - need OJ, this is what I want” and I’m the one saying “But does it HAVE to be QTips or can it be this name brand, which is on sale?” Nope, has to be QTips, and Kleenex, and Tropicana, and Stoneyfield Farm Yogurt.
I love to shop and pick up bottles and cans and read them and compare packaging and notice things like HYDROX IS BACK!!!
With coupons, I do notice that presently, they have expiration dates. In the Clinton Era, - surprise NO EXPIRATION DATE. And I remember this being the case during last recession too, which is how I know we are in recession. ANd I use coupons a lot, shop where they double the value, and often get to try new brands this way, find new favorites.
I also shop at odd times - this business (MR) does encourage that - and the market is a strange place at 2am, which is a whole other blog Merrill (ALiens 6)
But I also like to watch others too, snoop from down the aisle and watch them squeeze, sniff, read, and often taste. And kids, they are supreme in their excitement - like the Eddie Murphy bit “ICE CREAM — ICE CREAM — EVERYBODY WE’RE GETTING ICE CREAM!!!”
I don’t do this ’cause I work in a related business, I work in a related business because I like doing this. I’ve always loved the story of things - thank my grandmom for that, a lover of a good story.
Last shop I d=saved $33.13 on what would have been a $98 bill!
Happy shopping and clipping.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
My husband does 98% of the grocery shopping and I’m trying to convert him to using the coupons as well. What he has noticed is that the sales sound good but the boxes of cereal are now smaller and there is no longer a 5 lb. bag of flour or sugar - they are 4 lbs. So, you still have to watch what you buy as it sounds like a good deal but in essence the packaging has changed. Just as a quick note - back in the late 70’s & early 80’s I saved enough money on coupons and rebates to take both of my daughters on a trip to Honolulu, HI. It took us about 2 -1/2 years but it was worth every bit of the vacation for 10 days!
September 8th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Steve,
Thanks for your email. Appreciate your comments. Although I don’t recall shopping at 2:00am sounds like it might be a good time to people watch.
Merrill
September 8th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I am a huge coupon advocate! Every week I take my 10 inch x 18 inch plastic container filled with labeled categorized envelopes. I have men and women approaching me in awe of my coupon collection.
I have saved anywhere from 10-40% of my order. I have to say it is helpful to do the pre-work looking at the circulars and pulling the coupons prior to going, that is when I get my maximum savings.
Also, Stop and Shop now does self check out which gives you additional non advertised specials, I have gotten a half gallon of ice cream for $1 and this week got laundry detergent for $2.
I am not committed to certain brands, but do have an allegiance to a few items that even if I don’t have a coupon I buy.
September 8th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
We have converted to mostly ordering groceries online and having them delivered. While you can still take advantage of store specials and BOGO, you can’t use manufacturer coupons. Given the increasing value of manufacturer coupons, it may force us back into the store.
September 19th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I just read an interesting article (based on a study from Scarborough Research) that I thought I would share. Here are some of the cities where households are most likely to use coupons 2008:
Milwaukee WI………………….40%
Rochester NY…………………..38%
Pittsburgh PA…………………..36%
Columbus, OH………………….36%
Minneapolis MN…………………34%
NY, NY……………………………33%
Merrill