Is it cool again to clip coupons?
On the drive to work this morning, I heard a report that clipping coupons is back in vogue — and even younger people are doing it.
A story in today’s New York Times makes the argument that during our days of gluttonous consumption, coupons weren’t cool. But with the economy in the tank, it seems more people of all ages are happy to present their 50 cents off or 10 percent discount piece of paper.
I don’t know how to break it to the New York Times, but I never stopped using coupons. Saving money has always been cool for me, and even my kids (18 and 17) are not averse to using our high school’s ‘Gold Card’ that costs $15 but then gives them a free drink at Taco Bell, discounts at the hometown McDonald’s and free burgers at Sonic’s or Rally’s. We more than make up the $15 in no time, and usually go on to get at least $20 or $30 worth of freebies from the card.
Judging from the parking lot at Shop ‘N Save on $10 coupon Thursday, I’m not alone. Are you a monster clipper, a casual clipper or a ‘not worth my time’ full-price payer?
Couponing is one element of frugal living. You see there are three basic ways to use money - give, save, and spend. Because I’d rather partake in the first two (giving and saving), I use coupons to decrease my spending so I have more for the two areas I value more. I see couponing not only as practical, but fun and rewarding.
It is the only reason I get the Sunday paper.
Coupons more than justify my newspaper subscription. Combined with the weekly specials at the grocery store, they help our food budget stretch farther.
Thanksgiving is coming up, so the baking items coupons will be coming out soon. I stock up on most of my baking supplies for the whole year in November when they’re on sale and the coupons are best. Mmmm, cookies!
I started using coupons again about 3 years ago. Some trips I save $20-$30 with coupons, others I don’t use a single one. Coupons are savings I get on top of just following the normal grocery cycle and stocking up on the rock bottom price of an item. Its all about how you use the coupons, don’t buy something just because you have a coupon, and try to stock up (with coupons if you have them) when the price is at its lowest sale point!
I love my coupons and even give away ones I don’t need to people I know can use them.
I guess I’m out of the loop — nobody ever told me that coupon-clipping was not cool. We do it more now than years ago, but not to an extreme. I won’t cut a coupon to save 15 cents on a bottle of Head and Shoulders, and I’ve found that most coupons are for advertised brand-name products that too expensive anyway, when we can purchase the equivalent in off-brands and beat the coupon savings considerably. I will cut coupons for sizeable discounts off meals at restaurants we frequent or on any larger-ticket items when possible. We use the Entertainment book every year, and save a definitely worthwhile amount.
Oh - Amanda - I caught your typo, where you meant to say “averse” and not “adverse,” right?
I don’t do it but my wife does. She get the Sunday paper, takes out the center coupon section, gets her scissors and has a ball. It’s a Saturday night ritual at our house. She reads the rest of the paper Sunday morning.
I keep telling her that they make her buy more than she needs. She keeps telling me to be quiet, take care of the grass and cars and she will take care of the shopping. Like any smart man, that’s what I do.
I started clipping coupons a couple years ago, but quickly found it to not be worth the hassle. I ended up buying things that I didn’t really need or buying more expensive brands just because I had a coupon. Now I prefer to just go to Aldi and buy items that are already reasonably priced without a coupon!
Boyd: Thanks for the catch. And I agree that a lot of the coupons for the name stuff still don’t make it worthwhile when the store brand is just as good and a lot cheaper.
Agree with moduke. It’s like throwing money away.
The coupons I don’t go for are the “save a buck on three” Well I don’t want to buy three. I don’t need three, and I don’t have the room to store three. Just a way for companies to pass their inventory carrying costs to you. I also don’t buy a product just for the coupon typically. Sometimes prices on a product are still higher after the coupon compared to a similar product from another manufacturer.
And no, I didn’t start clipping because of the economy. I’ve done it for years.