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7 Reasons Why Coupons Are Still Cool!
Love 'em or hate 'em, coupons are definitely here to stay. 2009 marks the 100th year anniversary of coupons. C.W. Post, creator of Post Cereals, developed and distributed coupons way back in 1909 as a marketing device to help sell his product. Coupons have definitely weathered the test of time, and in today's market, they add up to billions of dollars in savings for the consumer. Who knew $0.50 cents here or there could add to so much money in savings?
Actually, my mother knew, and chances are, yours did too! When I was younger, I considered my mother an advanced mathematician come grocery shopping day, because somehow she was able to shave the grocery bill significantly with a few carefully clipped coupons and a well-studied circular. It truly seemed like magic. Somewhere along the way, the art of couponing lost its magic. In recent years, coupons have taken a negative turn. Many people think coupons are useless, too complicated, too time consuming, or all three. I was one of those people. Coupons seemed overwhelming, and I am definitely not good at mathematics, so I decided to avoid clipping.
How was it possible for me, the self-professed queen of frugality, not to clip coupons? A few months ago, it started to become more difficult to meet my weekly grocery budget of $50 without coupons. Prices were increasing, but quantity was decreasing. I could no longer justify my "coupon-free" attitude. I had to confront my fears about couponing: I don't know how to do it, I don't know where to start, and I don't want to hold up the grocery line and have people looking at me. Once I faced these fears I was able to dismiss them one by one.
I don't know how to do it. I have access to the internet, I'm sure someone has a blog about it!
I don't know where to start. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. The first step into the world of coupons is to get a Sunday paper and clip them. I had a pair of scissors and $1.50, so I could definitely do that.
I don't want to hold up the grocery line and have people looking at me. I still get self-conscious about this, and try to go on off-peak times, to avoid unnecessary frustrations. What I've found is that a lot of people are looking at me because they're surprised by how much money I've saved. It inspires them to go get a Sunday paper, too.
So, without further ado, here are the 7 reasons why coupons aren't just for your mother.
1. You save a ton of money.
It's always cool to save money. Regardless of what you see on television, rich people stay that way because they conserve their income. Especially in these stressful economic times, it's responsible of you to minimize your expenses and maximize your savings. Change the way you think about coupons. Instead of thinking, 'the box of rice is $0.25 less because of this coupon', think, 'I have $0.25 more because of this coupon.' The simple act of changing your thinking from less to more really enhances your perception of couponing. Think of coupons as an investment for the future-- you may be saving pennies per coupon, but in the big picture, you'll be saving hundreds.
2. You have lots of resources.
There is a wealth of advice online about everything, especially coupons. Coupon clippers all over America meet at online forums to discuss deals and coupon scenarios. Forums at SlickDeals, A Full Cup, Coupon Mom, and Hot Coupon World are populated with hundreds of users, and greatly detailed advice. If you don't know where to begin, take an evening a visit these forums to get a comprehensive and free understanding of how to use coupons effectively. Many posters match up coupons with weekly grocery store circulars, making it easy to see how much you'll save before you leave out the door.
3. Hone up your math skills.
By default, your math will be much improved with the continued use of coupons. Coupons force you to comparison shop, and require you to look at how much you're spending. When used in conjunction with sales prices, coupons will cause you to exercise your math muscles, so that you know exactly how much you're saving.
4. Get a natural high at the register.
If you're not one of those people who knows the prices of things, you will after you start couponing, and you will love the satisfaction you feel when the price is slashed dramatically. I guarantee it. It's rewarding, on many levels, to in your future, and feel like you've "beaten the system".
5. Inspire other people.
Although you think people may groan when they see you come through the register with an envelop full of coupons, it's usually the opposite. People are inspired by your use of coupons. You are teaching them that you care about your money, and they are also reminded that they can clip coupons too. In fact, most people will think you're smart for clipping coupons.
6. Coupons make deal hunting a fun activity.
You may have read or seen stories of housewives who make a business out of clipping coupons. Women who can go to the grocery store, armed only with coupons, and walk out with over a hundred dollars worth of products, having spent less than $5.00. It's insane, but possible. Take a look at the marvelous deals on the coupon forums. A lot of posters explain step-by-step, coupon-by-coupon how they achieve mind-boggling savings. It's an attainable goal. When you really start couponing, you'll discover how fun it can be to save money. Also, you can show off your spoils to a huge community of coupon clippers who will truly appreciate your work.
7. Open yourself up to new products.
Oftentimes, manufacturers provide great deals for new products through coupons. Not only do they provide coupons, but the manufactures also negotiate discounts through stores that sell their products. If you hold on to your coupon until the store also has a sale on the same item, you can often get it for free, or close to it. Coupons by themselves are not as exciting as they can be when used in combination with a sale. Also, clip coupons for products you don't normally use. Consider the coupon an invitation to try something new. You may just like it.
Coupons are a great way to become conscious of your spending habits. Saving your first dollar is rewarding and addictive at the same time. Try it out for yourself!
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I like this post. Coupons are great I love the feeling of saving .50 off pasta. I love the natural high of it. Saving money is actually fun. It gives you an excuse to splurge on something else.
Ok, I’m pretty sure that most people agree that coupons are a good thing but, wow, I really can’t believe how much you wrote here supporting them. I think you may have a bit too much time on your hands. Perhaps the development of a hobby might be a better expenditure of your time. Try riding a bike or learning to paint. Coupons are good but this tremendous piece concerning them is overkill.
Great blog post - it's a great introduction to people who don't regularly use coupons. My friends call me hardcore with my couponclipping - and when I try to explain my obsession they get turned off by the system and extent I research sales to get a good deal - this post is more non-coupon-user-friendly.
Great blog. I use coupons all the time and love them!
I agree with the "natural high" part as well. I think of couponing with the same treasure hunt mentality one takes to big sales. And when the coupon is for an item that's on sale...oh yeah!! This blog reminded me that I've fallen away from my couponing, and gave me a couple of interesting websites to check out. Thanks!
I'm a fellow coupon-clipper, and your comment about getting a "natural high" at the register cracked me up. I can totally relate - it's not only about how much an item cost or how much you spent, it's about how much you saved! I snatch up every coupon that comes my way, especially coupons for restaurants and home improvement stores. While we may be cutting back on dining out and making improvements around the home, those coupons still come in handy from time to time, and usually they come free in the mail, without even purchasing a newspaper. Kudos to you - great advice!
This is an awesome article. Because I've always watched my mom clip coupons, I started as soon as I started living on my own and its so great to get the feeling that you saved so much money with coupons! I love the online websites that you can go to grab deals and I totally agree that you inspire others. My friend now clips coupons when she found out how much I was saving! Well done!
This is a great article. We have a coupon club and everybody put in coupons for things they want and we go shopping and save a ton of money. Once a month we go to the “big” city, we try to hit double coupon days, and shop for everything in our “basket” and our savings are in the hundreds. All of us have different kinds of coupon saving boxes and they’re a lot of fun to make (use the coupon) and to carry around.
I love this blog!! I am just getting into couponing aside from the local newspaper but I'm learning and saving bundles!! It's so great, but like you I also try to go at off-peak hours especially if I'm going to be price-matching. What a wonderful thing to post about and hopefully some readers will become more frugal after reading this! Great job!
I agree about printing coupons off the internet! Last week I saved a little of $9 on the Christmas dinner supplies we bought, which were originally $43. And who can't use those kind of saving this time of year?
Coupons are awesome, especially around the holidays. I love that I can just print them off the internet, it's saved me a ton of money. I should start keeping track of my savings.
I use coupons all of the time! My kids used to roll their eyes at me when I got excited about a certain coupon in the Sunday paper. Alot of people are like big deal, you saved a quarter. Those quarters and dimes add up! Now that my boys are older and help out in the grocery store (3 teenage boys, it can be a big job),they really get into the coupons. They'll come back to the cart all excited, "Look Mom, this was on sale and with this 50 cent coupon we saved a dollar!" They compete with each other to see who can find the best deals! A couple of years ago, I started doing alot of my Christmas shopping online using coupon codes. This Christmas alone, I saved literally hundreds of dollars! A little hunting for codes and the online store with the best deal and you can get things for less than half the cost you would pay at the store.
Online coupons are the best. Easy to use, easy to find, and there's no line that you're holding up. I'm still a little hesitant about using paper coupons for the reasons that you mentioned and for the fact that I like to buy what I like to buy. Most of the coupons I see are for products or brands I never purchase.
I love coupons. Especially coupons for cat products. I've got 4 cats, and it puts a little bit of a strain on my finances when I need to buy more food or litter. I feel so good when I find a coupon for the brand of food or litter that I tend to buy for my cats!
Nobody in my family uses coupons, but I try to encourage them to use them. $.50 here and there is a big difference at the end of the month.
Thanks for writing such a good article!
I personally love coupons. However my big complain is most of them we get in the Sunday papers are for processed junk food. Grrrr! I don't think there is any stigma any more to using coupons like there was years ago. Thanks for the great advice on coupons!
Don't forget the online coupons! Especially in this holiday season, retailers are cutting deals to get your business. There are a number of websites that make it easy to find the coupon codes, just google for the name of the store and "coupon."
lol You're awesome! Coupons are for cool people! I love coupons, they honestly can save you money. Sometimes it's only 50 cents, but every little bit adds up. Also, when you come across an awesome coupon, like the ones that give you something FREE, it's like CHRISTMAS!
Last month, I started to use coupons like a crazy woman. I was amazed about how much money I saved. I'm starting to get lazy about using coupons now, but I really am glad you wrote this. Especially during these times of economical difficulties, people should use their coupons! However, I have to point out, that if it's not on your list, don't buy it just because you have a coupon. Sometimes you spend more money that way.
I personally think that people who do not use coupons are idiots. The coupons are built into the price, so not using them is like literally throwing money away. I have often gotten things free or even ended up getting paid to take them when I combine coupons with sales in the stores. I also am not above emailing companies and requesting coupons. You would be surprised how many companies have coupons to mail out just for such requests but that don't put coupons in your local paper. It never hurts to ask and I have gotten some coupons for free stuff this way!
Like I said in another blog, I'm am all about saving money. I just recently starting getting coupons offline, and it's unreal how much money this has saved me. If I don't find them online, the grocery store on the military post that I live has them hanging up everywhere, so I always manage to get the best of both worlds. I agree with this post, coupons help out so much in a household who is having financial trouble. Great blog.
Wow, I love reading the comment section, because there's so many great ideas here, passed back and forth. I'm getting extra inspiration! And I'm happy to meet all you coupon-lovers!
Great points! I think coupons are useful but I would be too self-concious to use them.
That is really surprising, 100 years, has paper been around that long? Anyways, I try to clip coupons too, yet some of them have become overly complicated. Or they try to get you to spend more then you wanted to spend just to save a dollar. If you are serious about saving you hard earned money though, you can and should be vigilant and persistent in your pursuit of finding the best coupons to get you the most for your money. Just try not to fall for some of their tricks either.
Great blog, hopefully you've made some people cross over to the "coupon side." I've been couponing for years and just want to mention fatwallet.com has a great forum and you can get printables from coupons.com and coolsavings.com. I routinely save 50%-65% on all my grocery trips. It's a hassle sometimes but so worth it. I don't think my husband would let me in the house if I stop using coupons!
you know what. even in the age of the internet. theres coupons and bargains and codes to enter. all pointing to cost-savings. same things apply, calculating shipping. comparing costs of different websites etc etc. so you're right, they ARE here to stay! great post btw.
Amazing, it's like you're in my head. I too was maybe a bit proud, or lazy, whichever, but I was just not a coupon clipper. Notice the term "WAS not" , that all changed as soon as gas prices soared and grocery bills went with them. Coupons are great, so great in fact that I keep looking for the catch! Only one I have really found is that they expire. It's nice to know I'm not alone!!! Thanks!!!
Love it! I proudly cruise the isles with my coupon binder, getting deals and steals and saving my family those precious pennies.
Coupons are awesome and we don't shop without them!The natural high at the register you speak of, both myself and my husband get all the time, especially him! It just does something to you to watch how much you saved. Great and informative article that will help a lot of people.
I love coupons:) I had no idea they have been around for 100 years! WOW
I love your story on why coupons are so good. I never really tried coupons as I always thought they were a waste of time but knw that I see how much money I can save I am going to give it a try.
This is a great list. You've got some great resources listed as well. I'm always proud when I save money with coupons, it just makes you feel good! My best deal was getting something entirely free, because of a combined store and manufacturer coupon plus a sale.
i'm exactly like foxyloxy. there's something really intense to feeling like you're beating the system, especially making walmart price match a serious sale, and then busting out an awesome coupon. hotcouponworld.com is a great resource, and so is slickdeals.net, and i'm glad you mentioned them.
tonight i went to wally world, made them price match and used a coupon and got an air wick freshmatic ultra air freshener for a dollar. that's an 11.57 addition to my pocket. yay for coupons!
I'm a coupon using gal. I'm one of those people that studies out the ads, the rebates, and the coupons until I get the best deal possible. I can't explain it, I almost get a sense of being high when I save significant amounts of money. That sounds crazy, I know, but it's like a buzz. I feel like I'm beating the system when I get so much for so little.
Super! I like to coupon,as well, I also leave coupons on the shelf next to products I am not buying right then for someone else to use.
I love deals, and what better way than to use coupons for it. Your article is a great resource for all coupon lovers. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
i agree, they are cool!
I don't use coupons for some of the reasons you mentioned above. Your blog has torn down my excuses for not using coupons and shown me the reasons why I really need to get into couponing. I am very jealous of the people I read about on the internet who pay $6 for $100 worth of groceries. I want to be that person!
I love coupons and am glad you wrote on them. I'm not ashamed of my coupon use and I found it funny you mentioned getting a natural high at the register. For me, there's nothing better than a good deal and I love the high I get when making an awesome purchase. In addition, I like hunting online for coupons. Whether it is shopping online or preparing for a grocery store trip, I like to research what I buy and make the best possible decision.
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