Couponing? Do you do it? Is it worth it?

So after talking to everyone from last year to now about couponing I can tell you I love to save money but I don't have the time to coupon. I have been couponing since like 2000 before it was even a HUGE thing, and I remember a couple of friends would do this and make money off of it, especially my coupon savvy friends at Bragg.

So the commissary has discouraged the use of extreme couponing however they have this GREAT website called CommissaryShopper, check out my review right here..


Extreme Couponing follows savvy shoppers as they plan and plot their way to unbelievable savings. Witness amazing shopping skills and shocking stockpiles of merchandise, as everyday people go to extremes in pursuit of extraordinary deals.

DID YOU KNOW that the average American family spends between $500 and $1,000 every month on groceries, toiletries, cleaning products, pet items, and clothes. You know you can make some sacrifices to get from the high-end of that range to the low-end.

So after doing some research and market studies did you know there are LEVELS to couponing? OMG I didn't even know. So I have branded these people my way and how they fit into the levels…

First Level: Basic Coupon Clipper: This is me, I fit this category..Most of the time, I will pay for a whole cart full of groceries while handing over less than 10 coupons. I end up normally saving a few bucks off the entire order. 

Second Level: Buying the Generic Store Brand over the Name Brand: This is the category that my grandmother fits into! She used to be a name brand shopper but as times have gotten tight she solely shops for generic brands, and she saves about $200-$300 per month without clipping a single coupon. The problem for me here is that I prefer the name brand over the generic – it just tastes different to me and let me tell you I have tried to pass over a few items and my mom is SPOT on and can taste the difference right from the start (#nopullingthewooloverhereyes).

Third Level: The Savvy Shopper: This is my friend Jackie, she fits into this category perfect. Saving at this level requires a little bit of effort, you must clip and organize your coupons, and be patient. By spending about 2-3 hours per week, you can save 75-95% on all you buy at the grocery store and the drug store. She can go into Walmart or Harris Teeter and get just about anything for one penny or free. When the conditions are just right, people can save even more money buying the name brand products than the generic brands. Items often go on sale, and when they do, the Savvy Shopper capitalizes on the opportunity. They’ll join a store sale with a manufacturer’s coupon, and get the item for pennies or even for free.
Fourth Level: Extreme Couponer:  I have only met a FEW people who fit into this category, they are shopper SAVVY! Did you know that you can use a manufacturer’s coupon and a store coupon on the same item? Well, you can. Did you know that you can use two coupons on a buy-one-get-one-free sale? Well, you can. Setting up bigger and better deals is what the Extreme Couponer does. They take the same measures as the Savvy Shopper but then they look for several deals. Why get just one deal when you can get three or four all at once? To this end, it’s not odd for an Extreme Couponer to have 4 Sunday newspapers delivered to their home.  This is where you start to buy things in volume, the more coupons the more you can save.

Coming up in a few weeks check back on my ways on how to Coupon 101. In the meantime I have GREAT COUPONS on ATW COUPONS

Comments

  1. Thanks for the follow! I'm a basic couponer as well, however my "stockpile" of toiletries has gotten us through 6 months in texas without having to buy anything other than Paper Towels (once) and Contact Solution, so I may go back to it in California. I saved probably 50% between personal items, feminine products, laundry detergent, and cleaning supplies. It's amazing not having to buy any of that stuff. We eat too healthy to save much couponing food :(

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  2. LOVE love love love couponing! Great deals at the commissary! Wish they would double coupons to make it more, but they seem to be cheaper than out in town stores already! Following back from Marine Wife, Mommy & Life come by and snag my new military spouse blogger button when you get the chance :) http://wifemomworklife.blogspot.com/p/military-spouse-blogs.html

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  3. Anonymous2:47 PM

    I like to coupon, especially as we can use them six months past expiration at the overseas commissary. It's not as useful when we eat fresh food as it was when we ate crap food, but it's still good for a lot of basic things like paper towels, tooth pastes, razors, etc.

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  4. I rarely use coupons. Most of the items that I receive a coupons for I do not use. I like when I receive coupons in the mail for money off my entire purchase.

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