WoodElves

I have been asked a lot lately, "Do you still coupon?"  Since Extreme Couponing took over the couponing world, many things have changed for couponers.  High value coupons seem more difficult to find, stores have tightened their coupon policies, and more couponers per capita means more cleared shelves and more difficulty finding the deal you want in stock.  Many blogs have posted articles about why they are couponing less these days, perhaps saving time by sticking to big box or bulk stores.  People are turned off by the amount of coupons that are for processed or junk foods.

Well, my answer to this question is "YES!"  I DO still coupon every week and save quite a bit of money, and here are some of my reasons why:

1.  Regardless of whether coupons are available for the foods you eat or not, YOU CAN ALWAYS SAVE MONEY COUPONING FOR TOILETRIES AND DIAPERS.
     I haven't paid for toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, or mouthwash for a couple of years.  I never pay more than a dollar for shampoo or conditioner, and I don't buy the cheapo brands. I often find feminine products in clearance carts at the grocery stores so with a coupon, I often get those for under a dollar.  If all you eat is organic vegetables, you can and should still save money on your toiletries.  This also includes diapers and other baby items.  Although I cloth diaper, I do still need wipes and I use disposables for overnights and babysitters, and I can't imagine buying these without a coupon.

2.  I USUALLY ONLY SPEND AN HOUR OR SO A WEEK WORKING ON COUPONING.
     I save more money by clipping and sorting coupons for an hour a week than I would if I worked at a job for that hour and then just went to the store and got what I needed without coupons.  It probably takes me about a half hour to clip my coupons every week (longer once a month when I clean out my expired coupons) and since blogs do all the matchup work for you, you really don't need to spend time doing that yourself, although I do scan the ads quickly to see if there's anything I would have missed.

3.  I DON'T LIKE WALMART
     There, I said it.  I know there are two kinds of people in the world, those that like Walmart and those that don't.  I just find my local grocery store is a much more pleasant experience than Walmart and I would rather get name brand food with coupons than Walmart brand food for maybe the same price without coupons.  Yes, it takes a little more thought than just going to Walmart with your list, but see #2.

4.  I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO GET IT JUST BECAUSE I HAVE A COUPON FOR IT
     I throw out a lot of unused coupons, and I don't get a lot of processed foods.  For instance, we recently made the switch to bagged stove-top popcorn from microwave popcorn with a coupon.  I may or may not be spending more money but for some things, my health isn't worth the price of a coupon and I'm still able to coupon guilt-free for things I need.  I probably use coupons for half or less of the groceries I buy every week, but I still get good deals on those things I do have coupons for.

5.  MY GROCERY STORES ARE CLOSE BY
     I have three grocery stores within a half mile of my home and can easily hit up all three of them for the best deals of the week.  I don't have to run all over town and use a lot of gas and energy to shop.

6.  COUPONING ISN'T A GAME, IT'S REAL LIFE TO ME
     I have a very limited weekly budget and it's a reality.  I HAVE to feed us on that amount.  I may or may not be able to accomplish this by buying beans and rice from Walmart, but I much prefer to be able to eat a variety of foods and ones that we'll enjoy.  Here are some numbers for you:  I never pay for salad dressing or mustard and am often able to find other condiments for 50 cents.  I haven't had to pay more than 50 cents for a box of cereal, pasta, and often pasta sauce.  Other foods we enjoy, like pepperoni, sausage, juice, and cheese would often be outside our price range if I didn't have a coupon for them.

7.  I CAN GIVE MORE 
     I believe that for a gift to mean something it has to be a bit of a sacrifice.  We give anyway, but we are able to give more because I coupon.  I can purchase more coffee creamer for church, and we can give more toothpaste and feminine products to the homeless shelter with the same amount of money.  Our giving is multiplied this way

8.  BY COUPONING, I CAN SAVE MORE MONEY ON MEAT
    This one is a little bit more of a stretch, but since I go to more stores more often to coupon, I find more meat markdowns.  Every time I run into the store for something I always run by the meat department looking for markdown stickers and am more likely to find them.

9.  I GET TO TREAT MYSELF MORE
     We went to Target the other day and I got a couple of Glade fall scented products.  I have this weakness for scented products and I have a weakness for Glade packaging.  So anyway, I bought all my things and after a rebate I sent in when I got home, I spent about a dollar at Target, including my new scents.  I can get things I enjoy and make our home a more pleasant (and less dirty-diaper-smelling) place and not break the bank or feel guilty.  We also get to try a lot of new products on the market since high-value coupons often accompany the release of a new item.  And yes, I do get ice cream in the summer or other treats that otherwise we wouldn't be able to afford, and this definitely comes in handy when I'm hosting a party.

10.  YOU CAN LOSE WEIGHT COUPONING
    ok, just joking about that one.

So if you've kind of given up on couponing, I'd recommend giving it another try, even if you just save a dollar here or a dollar there, that's money that you can then give or spend on something you REALLY want, because I know that you didn't really wish you could spend that extra dollar on toilet paper.