Comments on: 8 Reasons You SHOULD Use Coupons

By: Savings Lifestyle: Andrea

Savings Lifestyle: Andrea — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:14:22 +0000

Brianna, I'm surprised your subscriptions are higher than purchasing at a store! I have never heard of that before and it goes against what the advertisers are paying for - a guaranteed body to see those coupons/advertisements. Very interesting! It may be beneficial to acquire additional inserts from a reputable clipping service. Some like The Q Hunter allow you to get into a plan so you have a set rate even (and better coupons).

By: Brianna Storch

Brianna Storch — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 07:44:44 +0000

I agree with you on everything EXCEPT #1. All the others are mostly about perspective and how you approach using coupons. It doesn’t have to be the work the article makes it out to be whether you have 5 coupons for 15.

The only thing I disagree with is #1 because in many “smaller” cities the cost of distributing a newspaper in an ever-growing digital age is felt in the subscription rates. The subscription rates in our city, just for Sunday’s edition, are actually $.50 per paper HIGHER than at a local gas station. That being said, so you buy it at the gas station but unfortunately that money isn’t always available every week to do so.

Basically I’m not trying to poke holes in your suggestions, simply making an example that it’s not always that black & white. I would LOVE to save my family some money every month or at least be able to stock up more on the same grocery budget but when a huge part of your coupon availability is determined by what I described above, it’s hard to manage that. Any retorts are always welcome! :)

By: Savings Lifestyle: Andrea

Savings Lifestyle: Andrea — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 02:33:10 +0000

Tamara, I love it: ” as for me and my family, we will coupon.” Best quote ever!

By: Tamara

Tamara — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 02:24:49 +0000

I have learned so much from focused couponing. How to compare prices effectively and what is a good price to pay for an item are of the top two. A close third and forth are when the produce is marked down and when the stores receive their trucks. All adding up to more effective shopping trips for my family. My husband views my coupon clipping/ organizing as a therapeutic hobby, (that saves us a ton). Before couponing we were always running to the store for that one item needed to complete the dinner, several times a week, at in opportune times. Now, we have all the ingredients for several dinner options stocked, no more emergency runs to the grocery store.
I also get great pleasure in scooping up those free items with coupons and giving them to friends, family, and neighbors.
” as for me and my family, we will coupon”

By: Extra!Extra! Read All About It! :: GettingFreedom.net

Extra!Extra! Read All About It! :: GettingFreedom.net — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 08:30:20 +0000

[...] wrote a fantastic rebuttal (8 Reasons YOU Should Use Coupons)¬†to the recent Yahoo Personal Finance article, 8 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Use [...]

By: emma

emma — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:22:01 +0000

I feel so dumb, but I never even thought of a subscription to the Sunday paper. There are plenty of times I forget to pick it up or whatever, but having it delivered sounds like a great idea.

By: emma

emma — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:11:03 +0000

I was one of those people spending outrageous amounts of money on groceries, sometime $300 a week for 3 people. I wouldn’t plan at all and used no coupons. I would go shopping several times a week and of course I would always pick up things I didn’t need or buy meat that I didn’t end up using because I didn’t have a plan. I really appreciate everyone’s input and the bloggers out there who are helping put all of this valuable information together.

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 03:56:28 +0000

LOVE the rebuttal! Thanks so much for putting into words what so many of us felt when we read that original article at first. The only thing I would add is that couponing has made me more aware of what I was impulse buying before I started saving. There is nothing wrong with not eating any ice cream because you don’t have any in the freezer just now. Our instant gratification society shrinks back from denying oneself, but I think it is a healthy thing for the children to not have everything they want all the time. So what if you don’t have dessert tonight because you couldn’t bring yourself to buy that $4.50 carton of ice cream because you know the new sale starts in 2 days and that it will probably be “buy one get one” then? I think couponing teaches discipline – to me and my children. :)

By: 8 Reasons Why You Shouldn‚Äôt Use Coupons‚Ä¶.Or Get a Job | PrintableCouponsLand

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:20:40 +0000

[...] article over on Yahoo Finance has caused quite the stir in the coupon blogging community! ¬†While the article is titled “8 Reasons Why You [...]

By: L Olson

L Olson — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:52:15 +0000

Great rebuttals! I saved $52 at Target today with coupons alone – amazing!

By: Eight Reasons Why You Shouldn‚Äôt Use Coupons ‚Äî oh really?! | theoffertree.com

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:19:08 +0000

[...] Andrea did a great job of responding and rebutting each of the author’s points in her post. And, just for kicks, I thought I’d do the same. So here are the eight arguments for not using coupons from Yahoo along with my rebuttals: Argument #1 You have to buy a newspaper. [...]

By: Eight Reasons Why You Should Use Coupons :: Money Saving Mom℠

Eight Reasons Why You Should Use Coupons :: Money Saving Mom℠ — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:10:28 +0000

[...] to casually use them for a few products each week and shave $40 off your grocery budget every month.Andrea did a great job of responding and rebutting each of the author’s points in her post. And, just for kicks, I thought I’d do the same. So here are the eight arguments for not [...]

By: MommySnacks: Andrea

MommySnacks: Andrea — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:33:06 +0000

Thanks for the link, Chris. Obviously the article was written to get some exposure and traffic :)

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 01:36:54 +0000

From http://www.torontosun.com/money/savings/2010/02/26/13047476.html#/money/savings/2010/02/26/pf-13047501.html

When it comes to effectively using coupons, budgeting expert and savvy money saver Amy Fontinelle uses the Coupon Mom method, developed by renowned strategic shopper Stephanie Nelson (www.couponmom.com).

Fill a three-ring binder with plastic baseball card holder sheets, and fill each slot with coupons that fit into a specific category: dedicate a certain number of pages for dairy, produce, meat, junk food, and so on. When you go grocery shopping, bring your coupon binder with you ‚Äî and start saving!

‚ÄúWhen I‚Äôm at the grocery store, whatever aisle I‚Äôm in, I flip to the corresponding section and see what I have coupons for,‚Äù Fontinelle says. ‚ÄúIt takes some time to maintain the system, but it makes it easier to use the coupons.‚Äù

By: Teresa

Teresa — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:10:36 +0000

Great response! I have made my way through all the stages of couponing (the crazed person in the beginning to now where if I miss a sale, oh well). There were a few unhealthier things that I was purchasing before with coupons, but now that we changed how we eat I just changed my coupon focus. I know how to find coupons for the healthy things we eat now! And it doesn’t take any huge extra amount of time to shop with coupons, I think it actually helps me focus and plan better! I know, this is what I am going into this store for and that’s it, no impulse buying. And getting things like shampoo/deodorant, etc for free allows us to spend more on those things that you can’t ususally find coupons for like fresh fruits and veggies!

By: Bridgett

Bridgett — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:40:48 +0000

Loved your response and all the comment in regards to this article. Recently, my husband lost his job and it has helped us to cut expenses. He is very picky about brands but is willing to try others to save a buck. We have plenty of razors when they were FREE at the drugstores. I have cut our grocery bill in half and I am learning ways to save time in the process. I really appreciate your efforts and I enjoy reading your blog!

By: liz

liz — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:44:38 +0000

Love your comments on couponing!! It always cracks me up when friends will make fun of me for couponing saying they don’t have the time, but then it’s them in the end who ends up not having money to do little extra things that I somehow magage to always be able to do. Something to think about….

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:54:01 +0000

Love it! My thoughts exactly. I’m hoping to get a group of my friends together and talk about my couponing efforts and how they can get in the game. One of my big concepts that I wish everyone understood is that couponing can be done at SO MANY levels! If you don’t want to spend a lot of time, don’t! Start small! Subscribe to the Sunday paper, subscribe to a blog or two, and learn how to shop sales & stockpile. Those things are a great start and take very very little time! I only wish I knew years ago how easy couponing could be and how much I could save doing it. I admit that I spend a LOT of time on it now, but it’s fun for me! It has become my hobby and what can be more rewarding than finding ways to get paid to shop? :-)

By: Tweets that mention I wrote post 2day that rebuts ur article 2day on "8 Reasons U Shldn't Use Coupons" Feel free 2 use it :) -- Topsy.com

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:08:25 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Andrea Deckard, Andrea Deckard. Andrea Deckard said: @yahoofinance I wrote post 2day that rebuts ur article 2day on "8 Reasons U Shldn't Use Coupons" Feel free 2 use it :) http://bit.ly/drY8Fb [...]

By: Jaclyn

Jaclyn — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:10:00 +0000

I was always a person that thought buying generic was better then coupons, but when I started couponing in feb we have had more name brand food then ever becuase I could get it cheaper. Also I think a good sale without a coupon is a deal too sometimes. Like right now Dillons (kroger) has Kraft shells & cheese cups for $0.50 when you by 10, I don’t care if I have to buy 10 (in fact we got 30 lol) It was half of normal price. And yes I have been waiting for another coupon for it (it will come out as soon as this sale is over I am sure of it) but a lot of the time it is the only thing my 4 year old will eat, she is mac & cheese picky can’t be powder, so I have to say well it is a good deal without a coupon so lets stockpile. Not that the stockpile will last long with her.
Thanks for this I loved it!

By: lynn @ Maven of Savin'

lynn @ Maven of Savin' — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:55:06 +0000

HOLY COW!! Reasons NOT to use coupons – hello… it is money! That is crazy and you wrote a wonderful rebuttal. I almost threw up the other day watching someone spend $50+ at CVS – EEKKK!!!

By: Kandi

Kandi — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:50:10 +0000

Very well said. I’m a believer ;) I’m extremely “brand” picky and it is still possible to achieve a huge amount of savings with coupons. I set a goal last year and reached it, plus some. I just don’t get people. Who can’t afford to save money these days? Really?

By: Kristi

Kristi — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:20:59 +0000

Thank you for the time & effort you put in to this rebuttal!! I have learned so much from your page & I am happy to share it with my frugal friends! I hope the writer of the Yahoo article gets to read your reply and sees that saving money can be simple with a little bit of organization and patience. Most people now days don’t have that and this is why people just throw money away. “It’s not convenient”, “It’s not my brand” – Hello? With a coupon, it’s FREE??? I blows my mind. I guess they should try having their income cut by 60% without warning and then they would have only wished that had that nice coupon filing system set up ready to use. I totally believe that by the grace of God & my coupons, that is the only reason we are still doing okay today. Thanks again =)

By: MommySnacks: Andrea

MommySnacks: Andrea — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:19:01 +0000

Exactly, Celia!! Newspaper inserts are just one of many!

By: Celia Emmons

Celia Emmons — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:04:53 +0000

Love your response!

Not to mention, Newspapers aren’t the only coupon source.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:41:39 +0000

Thanks for sharing! You should totally send this post to them!!!

By: MommySnacks: Andrea

MommySnacks: Andrea — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:31:09 +0000

Thanks, Leah! I posted that one a while ago. That is definitely an awesome deal too!! Thanks for dropping it in here.

By: Becky

Becky — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:29:50 +0000

Well said Andrea!! I wish everyone saw just how much can be saved with a little time spent couponing and planning. I cringe when I hear the stories of how much some people spend on groceries weekly. I’m quite sure that the writer of the Yahoo article could learn a TON from you like all of us have! Thanks for all you do!

By: Leah

Leah — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:27:04 +0000

whoopsy. here’s the link:
https://secure.cincinnati.com/communitypress/subscribe/betheljournal.html

By: Leah

Leah — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:26:38 +0000

Andrea, I was let in on a fantastic deal by moneysavingmethods blog. If you live in a regular delivery route of the Cinti Enquirer you could get the Bethel Journal AND the Sunday Enquirer for as low as $18/year. A YEAR!
I have had this subscription for over a year now. :) FYI, if you already have a subscription to the Sunday Enquirer, be prepared for some confusion at the upstart and either cancel through the Enquirer first or call after you have your first Journal in hand.