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As if I need to convince you, right?? :)

My husband sent me a link to a Yahoo Personal Finance article titled, “8 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Use Coupons.” ^[2] I find it extremely ironic that my husband, Paul, is the one who finds this article (rather than me finding it). I was encouraged when we spoke about how I would disagree with the article as soon as I read it! He thought it was so wrong too and suggested I share my reasons for disagreement :) He knows how opinionated passionate I am on this topic. And, hey even my man gives me stuff to write about sometimes! I know my source now for writer’s block!

So, here is my synopsis and rebuttal to the article written by Amy Fontinelle. My comments are listed below each reason the author gives on why you shouldn’t use coupons. Obviously, my views will be explaining why you SHOULD use coupons.

1) You have to buy a newspaper.

The author is arguing that the newspaper companies are making profits on your purchase.

My rebuttal: Don’t BUY a newspaper – SUBSCRIBE to your newspaper!

I share this whenever I teach a coupon workshop or just have a captivated audience so this could be redundant for you, bear with me :)

Newspapers may have different value coupons in the papers for subscribers and the papers you purchase at the local store on Sunday. To explain this simply, newspaper companies are paid more marketing dollars based on those subscribers – those are guaranteed eyes on the coupons (and the brands). The store newspapers are not guaranteed as sold, so they keep a lower value (or sometimes no coupon at all) in those newspaper inserts.

So, for this reason alone I say subscribe to your paper. Don’t just randomly buy one. When you do that, the paper is around $2.50 (in our region). Depending on how many of those coupons you will actually use, the $2.50 may not be worth your total cost of savings. I pay around $13 for a 12-week subscription. That’s 12 weeks of Sunday newspaper inserts! A 50% savings just by subscribing alone.

Check with your local paper on the best price, use the surrounding competing papers to your advantage. Surely one will give you a lower rate. Use that price as leverage to wheel and deal. If you want to search online, you can use this discounted newspaper site ^[3] to find a low rate as well.

2) Clipping coupons takes time.

The argument here is that they take time to clip and your time may be spent on another activity.

My Rebuttal: Clipping coupons takes time which is why I do NOT clip coupons!

I view this as part of coupon organization. There are several forms to use to organize your coupons. I share a few of the most popular methods in the Shopping with Coupons: A Beginner’s Guide to Savings ^[4].

To share a bit, in the first several months of focused couponing, I cut out all coupons from the newspaper inserts each week. I had my binder with the baseball card holders to organize the coupons. It was so pretty! That didn’t last long though and I share why I no longer use the binder method of coupon organization ^[5].

After abandoning the binder method, I started using the File by Insert method ^[5]. While it does have the disadvantages, the main point for me was planning my transaction to the penny and I didn’t need to have additional coupons with me to get that great clearance sale. If it was *that* good, I might stop back when I was headed in that direction (which rarely happened). It didn’t matter, I managed to live without it.

I now use a hybrid method of sorts. I clip what I call “SMART” coupons. These are the coupons I know I’ll use so I clip just those coupons (when I get around to it) and I file the rest. I also only print the printable coupons when I need them, unless they are a super hot coupon. I keep all of my coupons organized in my small carry-along zip coupon folder organized by shopping category (i.e., Frozen, Baby, Can, Box, etc).

Since I don’t really shop weekly anymore, I would say I spend about *maybe* 2 hours total a month to organize my coupons like this, including the cutting. Yeap, I’m spending some time but I’m also saving thousands. Is it worth it? Does the question even need to be asked?

3) Getting a newspaper invites lots of additional advertising into your home.

The argument is this advertising facilitates an unnecessary purchase or visit to a store.

My rebuttal: Coupons are advertisements.

I agree with this. Coupons are advertisements for brands. It’s marketing to consumers for purchase of those products. I view it just like television media and other forms of print advertising. The only difference with coupons is that we, the consumers, get a financial benefit with this form of advertising. I have never seen a way I could personally save through a commercial. Unless the commercial was directing me to the brand’s site to print a coupon, that is.

Bottom line, buy what you need or want and avoid the rest of the nonsense.

You may also find that a coupon available for a new product gets you to purchase the product. That is part of the marketing strategy for these brands offering coupons. I take these coupons as a way to compare the new brand with other similar, less expensive, brands The coupon is allowing me to do brand comparison and save in the meantime.

Now, be warned: you *might* just become loyal to that brand. I raise my hand and proclaim “Kashi TLC Bars coupons and word of mouth marketing worked on me!” But it was ONLY because I needed a product that offered the benefits that Kashi TLC Bars have to compete with a similar product like Nutri-Grain bars. Now, I’m experimenting with my own copycat recipe for Kashi TLC Bars to eliminate this cost all together. If you have one, please share since my experimentation isn’t turning out so well!

4) Many of the coupons will be for things you neither need nor want.

The argument made is that from a financial perspective, buying more than you need or want just doesn’t make sense.

My Rebuttal: BUY things you NEITHER need nor want. Why? Donate!

Yes, buy those things BUT only within your budget AND with proper planning of purchases.

I will admit that when I first started focused couponing, I did go overboard. Well, I was spending the same amount from our grocery budget but getting twice the amount. I wasn’t spending anymore, but I wasn’t realizing the true opportunity in savings that were possible! I realized quickly I didn’t need that much and was able to reduce the budget pretty quickly while building a stockpile ^[4] in the process.

The other benefit to buying things you don’t need or want is purely for donating and giving back ^[6]. I know many couponers have been able to donate thousands of dollars worth of products that we purchased with our own money spending very little out of pocket. That is the beauty in a coupon. It not only blesses our own needs, there is huge potential to bless others!

You can always call your local shelters and food banks to see if there are specific needs to truly focus your donation efforts. If they don’t need another 100 boxes of pasta, figure out what they do need and get those items on sale and with coupons. Go bedazzle them with your strategic shopping skillz and purchase those very items for next to nothing.

5) Coupons can tempt you to spend your grocery dollars on things you shouldn’t.

The argument here is that coupons tend to be available for unhealthy items.

My Rebuttal: NOT couponing can tempt you to spend your grocery dollars on things you shouldn’t.

To address the argument about the health factor on the brands, this is a one I hear all . the . time! Let me share a few items I have purchased recently, with coupons, and you decide if they are healthy:

• Wholly Guacamole
• Boulder Canyon Chips
• Cascadian Farms Granola
• Muir Glen Tomato Paste
• Ronzoni Whole Wheat Pasta
• Del Monte Fresh Pineapple

I don’t want to bore you with a longer list, but hopefully you get the point. Of course, I didn’t lose 70 pounds total ^[7] by eating junk, right? No, eating unhealthy foods consistently does not aide in weight loss efforts! The truth is you are going to purchase just as many unhealthy products WITHOUT coupons as you purchase healthy products WITH coupons!

There are tons of brands with coupons that ARE for healthy products. There are also coupons for products that are unhealthy products. Just like there are a ton of brands/products for unhealthy products that do NOT offer coupons. I haven’t seen a coupon for Little Debbie Fudge Rounds, ever. (Have you?) Sorry, it’s my weakness. Well, I’d like a coupon occasionally for ‘em, Little Debbie!

With regards to finding coupons, I created a comprehensive list of Organic Food Companies offering coupons ^[8]. You can also search my coupon database ^[9] to find thousands more coupons on any products. Many coupons in the database are for organic brands as well. My point is that there ARE resources to find these types of product coupons. It’s all a matter of what you personally want.

I will say that the organic/whole foods companies have a ways to go. Since our family has focused more on a few organic/whole food items ^[10], I have done some price comparison (and I have lots more to share on the topic too). Organic items ARE more expensive than conventional products BUT I am saving on what I need to spend on what I want. I can get free shampoo, toothpaste, razors, and several other hygiene items (which tend to be a big budget buster for a lot of people). I can then take a portion of that savings to spend on some items that may be more expensive and may/may not have a coupon.

6) The same coupons tend to be offered over and over again.

The argument is that the same coupons are republished as soon as the other coupon expires and the continued clipping takes time and is redundant.

My Rebuttal: The same coupons are offered over and over again.

And, um, what is wrong with that? We love YoPlus yogurt. I know that General Mills offers new coupons every 6-8 weeks. The value of the coupon varies anywhere from a $0.50/1 coupon to a $1/1 coupon. Plus, sites like Coupons.com ^[11], Smartsource ^[12], Coolsavings ^[13] and RedPlum ^[14] offers these great coupons as well. When we run out (and we always do), I can still save when I buy more yogurt. Again, what is wrong with that?

To the point that it takes time to clip and it is redundant. See point #2 above. Figure out the most efficient way that works for you.

7) You might become a slave to coupons.

The argument is that it becomes harder to spend more money on a product when you know a coupon will become available soon. The other note is coupons may make you go to the store multiple times which results in more time and money spent.

My Rebuttal: Do coupons really have *that* kind of power over people?

First off, don’t be a slave to anything! And, specific to the argument, what is wrong with waiting for that sale, stockpiling items you use normally and having enough to last until the next sale? And, being a slave to coupons? Well, I truly do think I’ve heard it all now!

I get for some, there is the “there is no coupon, we aren’t buying that” mentality. I respect that because it’s your life and your choices! I actually use that line with my kids, but it really has nothing to do with not having a coupon :) We will personally splurge on things that we want. Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet if you are craving something and the coupon isn’t available.

Last summer, M&M Ice Cream sandwiches had several coupons that came out (do you remember, I bet you do!). I stocked up like nobody’s business!! I was hoping to see, and still expect to see, the same coupon return this year. Those sandwiches are a tasty treat!! Well, I’m not waiting around for that coupon to get here so I went ahead and bought a box, WITHOUT a coupon!

GASP, the HOROR, did you FAINT?

All joking aside, it goes back to saving where you can so those little splurges, without the anticipated coupon, doesn’t make you go nuts over the loss of savings. I constantly think of all the thousands of dollars I could have saved before I started focused couponing. I stop myself really quick because it’s pointless. I focus on making wise decisions today so I can pay full price for my M&M ice cream sandwiches!

If you *do* get upset about the purchase without that coupon, you aren’t alone. I used to as well. Those symptoms will likely subside when you realize you don’t have to buy toilet paper for a year. Not that I have *ever* had that much toilet paper I bought. Well, I didn’t buy it at least. It was all free! It feels a little softer when it’s free too :)

8) Shopping takes longer.

The argument is coupon shopping requires more search for the coupon items.

My Rebuttal: Shop with a Plan: Save Money AND Time!

True story:

Shopping at 5 stores + an infant + a coupon binder + a diaper bag + a purse =
2 hours in and out WITH a Plan!

I don’t shop that many stores anymore, nor do I have an infant (but a 3-year old toddler is way more challenging, trust me on this one!). When I started focused coupling it was fun. And, well, we had a little one that had to go shop with mommy so I had no choice. Planning helped me achieve the total cost of savings.

Check out the Mommy Snacks Files page ^[15]. There is a Savings Tracking and Planning file ^[15] to help you plan your purchases and then track everything you saved. Yeap, that’s what I still use today. I have played around with a new format on the planning but until it gets to a place where I see the true time savings for the plan in excel, I won’t share. Coming soon from a blog near you :)

Bottom Line

To summarize the Yahoo author’s “Bottom Line,” dedicated coupon clippers can overcome the reasons above for why coupons can help you save and achieve realistic savings. But, the thing I am saddened by is when Fontinelle says “If you’re not one of them {dedicated coupon clippers}, there’s no need to start clipping.”

That’s not true! At . All. Please do NOT take that advice!

Again, one year of focused couponing and we saved $6,500 ^[16]. That money was money we needed in so many ways, which I will share in detail (…eventually). Even if you do half the effort, spend a total of around 8-10 hours a month on your couponing organization, planning AND shopping, you can realistically be able to achieve half of that.

I guess it’s not even about the large savings number really. The point is take what you spend today, aim to cut it a small percentage each week/month. Continue to do that and find that wiggle room in your budget. Again, it’s all about doing what works for YOU!

It’s YOUR quality of life that can be changed.

I’ts YOUR satisfaction in giving to others that will be seen, and felt.

It’s YOUR financial goals to achieve.

$.25 Coupon = $6,500 Savings for our family ^[16].

What does it mean for you?

Disclaimer: This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclaimer Policy ^[17] for additional information.