Do y'all remember the Extreme Couponing shows from the past where folks would have their notebooks of coupons and plan a big trip and get cartloads of groceries for very little? I enjoyed watching them and I looked on YouTube and there are a few there. I was always amazed at how their built their stockpiles on so very little. But then, I always wondered, how they really did it.
Our local paper had pathetic coupons. I learned that there were different coupons packages the papers could buy and of course our local one bought the cheapest which was basically a couple of coupons for the grocery and mostly ads. The Chicago Tribune had better coupons, but the paper was a lot more too.
Then there was the fact none of our local grocery stores would double the coupons. So, I resigned myself to never being able to make such great deals, but I still liked the idea of it. Plus, I don't need 50 boxes of cereal or jugs of laundry detergent in my pantry, garage, or basement or wherever I could store it.
Years ago in the book, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," the author made a comment about one of the characters. Flossie was a minor character and amongst all the characters in this tome, they were all basically working poor. But Flossie had a hobby, and that was to dress up every Saturday night and enter a contest and if she won, she would receive a silky, colorful parasol. The parasols were useless, but she displayed them proudly and the author as the narrator stated that people who are poor, like to display things they collect. So, I sort of wonder if that is the case with those extreme couponers...they liked to display all their products. I remember a couple talked about doing a shop where they would donate the stuff to a charity which was great, but most were just wanting to add to their stockpile. I wonder if they ever used everything before some of it went bad.
Well, I digress. I spent a few minutes this morning writing some sites to ask for coupons. I do the digital coupons at the stores that offer them. I no longer get a printed copy of the paper so no coupons there. Rarely does the store have those little things that offer you coupons on the shelves. But I have no problem writing companies and asking. Earlier this year Land O'Lakes and Folgers sent me coupons and I used them. Land O'Lakes actually sent 4 coupons, two of which were for products I don't buy, so I put them on the shelf next to the items for someone else to take advantage of. Hopefully someone used them and saved a little bit.
I was discussing the saving money and couponing with DH and he said I should start keeping track of what I save with coupons and see just how much it adds up to. I was thinking that might be a good project. There are a lot of products I don't buy that coupons are offered for and I'm not going to purchase the item just because of the coupon. I remember some friends who would get coupons emailed to them by a couple of businesses and they would rush to go the store or restaurant to use them since they received them, even though they weren't planning on going and really didn't anything from the product. I'm sure the businesses were glad, but not sure how financially responsible they are.
So, my challenge is to start keeping track of how much I save with coupons. There will be times I save more than others. Right now I'm not buying a ton of stuff because we are using what we have from the garden of what's in the freezer. But I think it will be a worthwhile project just to see if it is worth the time and trouble. What do you think?
July 27th, 2025 at 02:07 pm 1753621624
July 27th, 2025 at 04:08 pm 1753628935
I use digital coupons from the stores I shop at. Even 10+ years ago or so, most of
the coupons being offered via the newspapers were for items I didn't buy and/or use.
July 27th, 2025 at 05:18 pm 1753633130
A well managed pantry can be really helpful, but if you have 12 bottles of mustard, I don’t think you ‘saved’ money.
I live car free - talk about a way to save money - and I don’t have easy access to shop in person at Walmart or a Dollar store. If I did, I would.
My main store is a division of Albertsons. They have weekly sales, some requiring digital coupons. In a month, they will have pork, chicken, ground beef, steak/roast beef on sale. When they do, I buy, repackage in smaller packages, freeze.
In the fall, soup will be on sale a few times. I buy a year’s worth.
Before holidays butter, sugar, flour goes on sale. I buy then.
Same is true of potatoes, onions, carrots.
Periodically frozen vegetables will be discounted. I prefer fresh but I use mixed veggies, peas and carrots in casseroles, pot pie, soup.
I buy vegetables based on what is in season/on sale. There is always something.
Other things I buy, I know a ‘good’ price and buy when I see it.
I have groceries delivered. My store has a program that is $99 per year, but you get a $5 per month credit so is really $39. I also tip the driver $10 - I live about a 20 minute walk from the store, and a taxi home would cost that or more. I order on weekends when there is less traffic. This is about 20% on most orders. I shop 2-3 times per month.
I buy household and personal care stuff from either CVS, Walmart, or Target online. I have a CVS Extracare membership for $48 per year that gives a $10 per month credit. They offer 2% Extrabucks.
I buy Target gift cards for 10% off in their December sale and watch for sales on laundry and dishwasher detergent. I start to watch prices before I run out to decide the best place to buy. They often have ‘buy one, get one half off’ which means in shop less often. I
One of my credit cards offers a ‘portal’ where if you start shopping from there, they offer a certain amount of rebate - 3-10%. When I’m shopping online, I start there. And my card gives 2-3% cash back depending on type of store. I pay my card in full so feel safe using it.
These are all small economies, but money you ‘save’ is tax free ‘income.’ I am retired, so I have nothing but time and I enjoy the challenge.
July 29th, 2025 at 03:42 am 1753756961
July 31st, 2025 at 02:35 am 1753925709
Although I shouldn't talk, since I do still keep a grocery price list that I refer to sometimes, although I think it's pretty much delivered the main message that I should shop as much as possible at BJs and Aldi's for maximum price savings.