Five reasons why I don’t use coupons
April 7, 2009 by Jennifer Chait
Filed under coupons
Coupons are sort of a thrifty staple. Plenty of budget-minded people sing their praises and there are entire books, blogs, and websites devoted to coupons and coupon tips. But me… well, I’m not so much into them. In the past I have used them, but now I almost never use coupons, and while I know plenty of you won’t agree with me, following is why I avoid them.
1. They’re usually only good for higher priced items. Most of the time when I used to actually take the time to look for coupons, they seemed to be for high priced items. So basically you’re getting a discount off of something pricey (like premium cereal), not getting the best deal on a specific item (i.e. bulk or store brand cereal).
2. It’s a paper waste. Coupons are not so green. Glossy papers can be recycled – but I’m guessing there’s a common train of thought that says glossy = not recyclable, because frequently I’ve seen people put the trash from coupons in the garbage rather than the recycling bin. Maybe the recycling community needs to do a better job of advertising, or maybe people should pay more attention, but no matter what the deal is, that’s a lot of paper ending up in the trash. PLUS in many cases I’ve known people who only buy the fat old Sunday paper for the coupons. That is a huge waste. Even if you recycle, it takes money to do so, there are gas transport issues for the paper, and overall, it’s just not the best green decision.
3. Greener items are shunned. While a few organic coupons books are out there, it’s hard to get your hands on them. Most green items take a lot of time to score coupons for. It’s rare to see recycled toilet paper coupons, organic food coupons, or natural health and home coupons. You have to visit countless websites, actually go to the natural food store, or just happen upon them by sheer luck. Because green is a major goal of mine, coupons make little sense.
4. Coupons aren’t as healthy. Many coupons seem to be for items that are high on the fun factor but not so much high on nutrition. I see loads of coupons for chips and cookies and few for produce, rice, or other healthy staples. There are some healthy coupons, but for the most part coupons focus on non-essentials which besides being less healthy also wastes money.
AND MY BIGGEST REASON:
5. Coupons take too much flipping time: The sorting, the cutting, the re-sorting for expired coupons, the lining them up at the store, the handing them over and making sure the clerk counts them all. HUGE time suck. As a work-at-home writer my time is money. I could write for an hour and make more than if I took an hour to clip coupons. Really that can apply to any old job. I could spend an hour with my son, plan a healthier and cheaper coupon-free meal, or just chill. In the end, with all the above cons considered, coupons just aren’t worth my personal time.
What about you – are you a coupon user? Why or why not?
My son is now seven weeks old, and since I’ve been home on maternity leave, I’ve gotten WAY into couponing. I completely understand all of your reasons, and that’s what’s kept me out of it in the past – especially the time. However, I’m trying to stock up on things we would normally buy anyway, and I know when I go back to work I won’t continue couponing anymore. I try to be really strict with myself on only getting things free or for very little, or things that are easy to stockpile. It’s a good use of my time since I’m not bringing any income to our family right now, and I can do the online research and print my coupons while breastfeeding!
I use them when they’re glued to the product on the shelf! Otherwise, I avoid them in general.
I completely disagree with most of the reasons in this article! First of all, there are several good organic coupons out there (Egglands Best eggs and Cascadian Farms come to mind immediately) and by using coupons regularly, I’ve been able to purchase most items for cheaper than the store brandgeneric prices. Just this weekend for example, I bought $125 worth of food and hygiene items for only $33, and that included lots of frozen vegetables, whole wheat pasta and high-fiber cereals. And while there are a good number of coupons for high-sugar, highly processed foods out there, I personally choose to not bring home any of that junk food. I feel truly blessed for learning how to use coupons so effectively in this economy and I encourage everyone who has some time to do so as well.
I understand all your reasonings, for me, before the last two years I was NOT into it at all. My childhood had a lot of handouts, coupons, discounts and stuff so I was NOT going down that road. Course then I found I could get 5 boxes of cereal for a $1 on brand name cereal, cheaper than my own brands (cheapo) We also have a big family so the reduced part of the coupons really helps and I have my kids that help me clip, cut, sort so it takes the time out of it and we are having fun together.
I do know what you mean about not having many “Green” coupons, I’d also like to see lots of fruits and veggies but those are few and far between as well. I normally just grab those when I’m going out and buying a ton with coupons so it’ll cost me basically just to get the fruits and veggies and the othr stuff ends up more of a luxury or freebie item.
Maybe it’s worth taking a look at them again? I am relatively new to serious couponing and I understand what you’re saying about higher priced or unhealthy items. Those coupons are there but I avoid them. I am saving a LOT on things like wholewheat pasta, pure orange juice, healthy cereal, olive oil, dairy, toothpaste – everything that I already buy. Coupons combined with my store’s sale items make it very economical for me to shop there – I’d be nuts not too
This week there were MANY green coupons – lots. And, there are whole booklets dedicated to organic foods.
I normally enjoy your posts, but this one kind of ticked me off! I couldn’t disagree with you more on ALL of your points. I just saved $80 at the supermarket this week with coupons + BOGO items. Not worth it?? Umm its WORTH IT. I got salad, organic frozen raspberries, organic cereal, TONS of frozen veggies, just to name a few ‘healthier’ items. The coupons are out there, you just have to look for them!!
To each their own – if you dont want to use them, fine. But its uncool to make it seem like those that do are wasting their time or eating Little Debbies all week!! That’s simply not the case!
I also disagree. Coupons aren’t only for the high dollar items. Many times you can get brand name items for a free or under $1… that’s MUCH better than store brands.
On Sunday I went grocery shopping and my bill was $117. I shaved it down to $72 with my coupons. Even the cashier was impressed.
Yes, you do have to invest a little bit of time, but not nearly what you’re describing. If it takes me 15 minutes to clip coupons to get $45 worth of free stuff, then I’m all for it.
And, there’s an increasing amount of organic coupons. There’s also several printable coupons, which you can print on recycled paper (like I do). If that’s not green, I’m not sure what is.
Exactly! Reason #5 in particular…
I totally disagree with you. You’re right, time is money. Yesterday I went to the store and with my coupons and sales I saved $99 dollars. It took me about 2 hours to research the sales and then clip and sort my coupons. That means I made about $50 dollars an hour. Where else can I make that?! In addition, my family does not eat junk food. The only snacks I keep in the house are granola bars and fruit. We don’t eat sugary cereal or drink juice. But I do wash dishes and laundry. I do eat rice, pasta and frozen veggies. We do brush our teeth and wash our hair, and I like to save as much as possible on these items.
It’s a personal choice whether you think the time is worth it, what else you might be doing instead. I only use the ones the store sends me, which often gives me discounts on the items I ordinarily use. It’s a little weird that they track my purchases though.
I use them only on the stuff I normally use. You should check out how Karen uses them with the grocery game. You never have to worry about cutting them or saving them or organizing them until you are ready to use them. She saves hundreds of dollars a month and she eats very healthy. I do very well with shopping store sales. Today I went to Kroger, a more expensive store usually, but paid $55 dollars for $85 dollars worth of groceries and I only had 1 coupon which I was given inside the store. It’s all about smart shopping.
1, 4 and 5 are my main reasons for not doing coupons. I’m a working mom, I don’t have time to cut out coupons for junk food…. At least that’s the way I feel about it. It’s just not worth it for me.
Check out my website, and you will see why couponing is worth your time!
I agree about how many healthy foods and not on with coupons…that is why MOST of my couponing, (about 80%) has to do with medicine, baby items, hygiene items, etc.
I have not paid for toothpaste, body wash, toothbrushes, deodorant, and more in FIVE YEARS.
Couponing is worth it. Websites like my own outline shopping lists for you so you don’t have to do the work!
Look into it again..you won’t be sorry.
I hear you and these are some of the reasons I was loathe to use coupons in the past. Now I do but selectively, and I’m not saving hundreds of dollars, but I think it’s worth it every now and then to save a few bucks. First, you’re right, you need to make sure the price with coupon is still lower than the store brand – but I usually save my coupons so that I am using them only when an item is on sale. That, plus a doubled coupon, can save me a few bucks. I never buy something that I wouldn’t buy without a coupon – this keeps me from wasting money and from buying junkier foods. The money I save on “box” stuff I need that is non-organic frees up some money for me to buy non-coupon items that are organic.
I hate coupons and rebates. Why can’t you just deduct it from the price? Why put all the burden on the consumer?
We’ve tried the coupon games, and perhaps it’s because of where we are located, but it just doesn’t work for us. We’ve found that your points # 1, 4 & 5 have been proven time and time again. Now, the coupons sent to us by the store have been well worth it…
I use coupons but only sometimes. Where I’m from there aren’t many choices to go grocery shopping and the one “real” grocery store knows this. There sales aren’t really that wonderful. Most of the times I look at coupons and they won’t be for the brands I use. I do love getting baby coupons. That’s where I save my big money.
Jennifer, there’s a new iPhone coupon app that’s earth friendly:
http://www.blisstree.com/articles/iphone-coupon-sherpa-revolution/
wow…kind of a strange post for a blog called “thrifty mommy”. i agree with all the couponers who previously posted. i guess it’s just a matter of personal taste…some would rather pay full price on most items others prefer to do their research; organize; and reap the benifits. sure, it’s a little work but the pay offs are pretty high. i would rather spend $35-40 a week on groceries and household needs and save the remainder of the money towards other things my family may need or want. also, as kellys said, there’s times that a local store may be having such great sales that you don’t need to worry about coupons…you can base your meals and such around the sales.
i don’t limit my couponing to food…there’s so many other things out there like clothing coupons…combined with a great sale you cna get things for pennies on the dollar.
while i would never condemn someone for not using coupons…i don’t think my kids are lacking my personal attention or too much of my time is being wasted by skimming the ads and doing a little clipping.
I agree with your number 1 for sure. Even when I go to use a $1 off such and such coupon, the final price is still not cheaper than a Great Value or Equate item.
I agree with mom_of_14, it seems strange that you’re a contributor when you don’t use coupons.
We don’t eat many processed foods either but there are LOTS of other coupons for things we do use and if you have a CVS in your area, whew, learn how to work it! We get all our non-food items from CVS and have saved THOUSANDS in just seven months of figuring it all out.
Maybe you don’t live in an area where store sales are that good or something. I used to believe that store brand was always cheaper until I tried coupons. Two of our local stores have triple up .99 cent coupon promotions every month or so and I get name brand eggs, pasta, tomato sauce, peanut butter, mayonnaise, salad dressing, cereal etc. way cheaper than store brand. In my opinion soupons don’t take that much time, probably two hours out of every week for me to clip and sort and the savings they bring when you really know how to use them combined with sales is enormous. You might want to try it again.
Several blogs I founf helpful when I first started couponing 7 months ago
…and my comment printed before I spell checked and finished it.
centsiblesawyer.blogspot.com, southernsavers.com, perfectlyprovident.blogspot.com, freebies4mom.blogspot.com, moneysavingmom.com, etc.
That happens – no worries I always forget to spell check, hit post and then go.. OH MAN. Thanks for the sites.
Hey all – I’m not responding here to everyone, (although I like everyone’s points) I wrote a follow up post in response. BUT I would like to point out something twice (I also point this out in the follow up post) – just because someone doesn’t use coupons doesn’t make them a non-thrift individual. Coupons, like any budget tool is just that, ONE tool. I agree with most of the comments above; from a coupon user pov I can see how these smart comments make sense, but to say that a non-coupon user is an odd choice for a contributor to a thrift-minded blog, kind of narrow minded, and totally unfounded. There are millions of ways to save $ that have nothing to do with coupons. No one uses every budget tool at their disposal.
All in all though; great comment stream folks – thanks to everyone with tips on green coupons too!
I didn’t but I do now because
1. Things are getting more expensive.
2. A coupon combined with a sale can be a real savings.
3. Some electronic coupons can be added to your grocery card – eliminating paper and the cutting.
4. Some green companies have their own coupons to encourage you to get their stuff.
This post bothers me. I’m a stay at home mom and have to find ways to cut costs. I’m new to the coupon game and am just now getting the hang of it. I read several “thrifty” blogs and this is the first one that says coupons are a waste of time! How discouraging.
One thing that would be nice to keep in mind is that not everything works for everyone! You think the color is pink, I say it’s magenta. It doesn’t change the color.
I used to be very into couponing, but I just don’t have the time anymore. It does not mean that I am against those that do in any way.
Jami,
I don’t think that she is saying that couponing is a waste of time for everyone. She simply is making the point that you can save money and be thrifty without couponing. I do use coupons, but there are definitely months when I go without couponing because I don’t have the time to, and our family can sometimes save just as much money at the store without coupons by buying store brands.
I have a 2 year old son and before having him I never cooked or kept a budget. Now thanks to food network and Paula Deen I now know my way around the kitchen but not so much at saving on the groceries.
Last month I somehow got us down to where we had $10 to last us a week and a half. I can’t do this again. I think when I read this post I was already feeling discouraged and I had just spent and hour going through the ads and clipping coupons. However I think I finally got it right. I went to the grocery store today and spent $108 on the same amount of stuff that usually costs $160. I think having the coupons helps me stop and see how much I’m saving and if I find a cheaper brand I buy that instead.
jami…i think that’s very ENCOURAGING!!!! you spent an hour clipping coupons and shaved $52.00 from the usual grocery bill. not bad at all, especially since you said you’re new to couponing. once you can build up a stash of coupons, you’ll be able to match them up to the sales and save even more. do you have a target store near you? if you do, go to target.com and watch for their ads/coupons. they allow you to use one target coupon with one manufacturers coupon per item. many times, they have coupons for their fresh produce; meat and dairy products…sometimes they end up being free after coupons. my kids don’t eat junk food but i let them have things like granola bars; cereal bars; breakfast bars; etc. and you can always find good coupons for those.
don’t get discouraged…you’re already doing a great job!!!!
I’m glad I found this post. I found it very interesting, and the first time I tried couponing, I would have completely agreed with you. I didn’t understand how $.50 and $1.00 savings could save anyone money or how a name brand product could be a better value than a store brand product, and I just gave up.
A few months later, I came across Bargain Briana’s Coupon Basics guide, and it clicked. I had been using the coupons all wrong. The trick is to use the coupon when the item is on sale at rock bottom prices.
Using this method and using the coupon databases at Coupon Mom and A Full Cup have made a huge impact on my budget. Now, I typically save 30-60% off my grocery purchases.
$200 is now more than sufficient for our food, cleaning supplies, and household items for our family of 6 for 2 weeks. With that money, I not only buy the items we need right then but also stock up on sale items so that I never again have to pay full price for them. For example, I now have enough shampoo and body wash to last at least 6 months and paid $.50 or less per bottle. I also have stockpiled laundry detergent, fabric softener, bottled water (for my husband’s lunches), paper towels, and much more. I got all of these items at a lower cost than the generic equivalent, whether it’s the Wal-Mart brand or another store brand. In fact, there was no comparison in the prices. The name brand purchased using coupons cost WAY less than the generic.
In addition to using my coupons on sale items, I also learned that in my area, Harris Teeter will double (and sometimes triple) coupons $.99 or less. So those coupons are typically put to better use at Harris Teeter while my $1+ coupons typically get me more value at WalMart or at Food Lion.
I also learned that you don’t have to clip all the coupons. Just clip the ones you will actually use. For me, clipping every single coupon is a time waste, so I just don’t do it.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’d definitely encourage you to read Bargain Briana’s instructions and consider again whether you might benefit from using coupons.
Revka – Thanks for the link and I’m glad I was able to help!
Couponing isn’t for everyone and maybe it isn’t worth everyone’s time but once I got the hang of couponing, I am able to save around $50 for every hour I spend on couponing! This is well worth my time!
Getting started at first is time consuming like anything new but once you get it down pat, you can coupon in your sleep! P.S. I don’t clip. I use the insert method – saves me a ton of time!
I’ve recently added Whole Food Sales/Coupon Match ups to my weekly match up! There are deals to be had and coupons out there for organic products. I’m beginning to see more and more as consumers are demanding it!
Good luck!