I know some women who spend hours each week clipping coupons, then brag about how much they've saved on their grocery bill. Here are four reasons I (almost) never use coupons:
1. Coupons are mostly offered for high-cost convenience foods that are highly processed (and therefore not all that nutritious).
2. Websites featuring coupons almost always put adware and tracking software onto user's computers - even if the user doesn't download anything on purpose.
3. I rarely can get the special coupon-printing software required at many of these sites to work with my computer. (And if you think you're just downloading special printing software, see #2.)
4. I don't think spending hours looking for coupons is a good investment of my time. (Knowing which stores sell things at the lowest prices is a better investment of my time; I'll be typing more about this soon.) All that said, I do use coupons for a few things. For example, my kids seem to do best with a particular type of disposible diaper. Before their due date, I signed up with the manufacturer to recieve coupons for those diapers through the mail. They often mail me coupons for $1 to $3 off. And if I happen to come across coupons for things like toiletries, cleaning supplies, freezer bags, or toilet paper, I'll use those, too. But I don't go out of my way to find them. Do you use coupons? What sort of things do you mostly buy with coupons?
I feel the same way! I do get coupons, but mostly, for groceries, I shop at Aldi (where they don't take coupons since they're all store-brand), and get coupons in the mail periodically from Target where I get most of our non-grocery items. I also can't seem to download the printing software, and I just don't need to spend that much time on it--I've got a lot more important things to do!
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that you have to have a very organized brain in order to actually save using coupons. If you have a few different coupons for the same thing and if you hit a sale, you get great deals, but I'm not that organized.
ReplyDeleteI use coupons for diapers mostly, and baby food and a few convenience foods that we really like.
I am so with you. I don't find the value in spending hours and hours just to save a few dollars. My time is worth more than that. I do use coupons occasionally, though. Like you said, that is for very specific items that our family prefers.
ReplyDeleteRather than using coupons, I save money by shopping weekly specials. I make my menus around what's on sale. I also stock up on sale items with longer shelf lives (dried pasta, canned goods, etc.)
Finally someone who posted something that actually makes sense with the coupon story. I do the same... I don't go out of my way to find coupons and yes, they are mostly for highly processed food.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do use the coupons offered right there by the food I was ALREADY going to purchase at the store. :)
Thanks for sharing your wisdom.