[Rebecca]

I cannot coupon to save my life.

The ones I do find expire quickly.

Idk how or if you can use online since I can never figure that out and as a busy mom of five I don’t have time to just drive 30 mins to the store for a few items.

Please help me understand how to get coupons, how to use them, and to do this the most frugal way!

I use Dillons, Walmart, and SAMs Club.

I’m at a loss and with my baby now in daycare with the toddler that’s one of my paychecks gone so I’m needing to make big changes and food is definitely a killer for us. The growing kids could eat a horse on the daily.

[Robyn]

We only shop at a couple of stores. Our local Kroger, who sends us coupons for stuff we actually buy. I combine the those with digital coupons and try to take advantage of their multi buy offers. I got about $100 off our $300 shop this past week by doing this.

We do a every other monthly trip to Sam’s to buy staples; mostly snacks and convenience foods for the kids. We also buy a number of snacks on Amazon’s Subscribe and Save. I also use Flashfood about once or twice a month.

It’s an app but they don’t have it for our local stores (small town) so I’ll just use it if we are going to the next city (25min away) for something else or I have my husband stop in his way home from work (he works in a larger city 50 miles away).

I only purchase from Flashfood when I can buy a number of things and I only buy things that I would buy anyway. We purchase meat and produce and kids snacks from the app, which are things they have a lot. For example, my toddler eats a lot of pouches so we make our own but also get the premade ones on Flashfood a lot and they are usually half price.

I got a whole chicken for $3. I also use Fetch and Ibotta apps and I don’t get a ton from there but every little helps. Fetch takes a long time to get rewarded but I scan every receipt.

Ibotta is a lot of brand names which I don’t buy much but sometimes I can combine that with the deals.

[Jeanie]

Paper coupons are not worth the hassle since covid
Use rebate apps.
Stores like CVS, Giant, (two i use) lets you load coupons right to your member card.

[Linda]

My trick for saving money on groceries (not couponing) is to never waste food. To do this I:

• Meal plan for only 3-4 meals a week. The other days are for leftovers, using up stuff from past meals, or 1 night of eggs.
• Go through the fridge 2x week to see what needs using up.
• Eating a lot of stews/chilis/salads to use up not-so-fresh ingredients.
• Chopping/Freezing produce that’s not going to be used before it goes bad – then using it in stews etc.

[Kristel]

For real… I look at the ads and shop those. I’ll take a peek at the store app because there are coupons there AFTER I’ve made my list to see if I can get some discounts.

There’s an app called Krazy coupon lady that I do use. Usually, I just use it for when I’m doing something bigger like back to school, but I’ll scroll through my stores really quickly to see if there’s anything printable etc that I want.

But honestly… it’s cheapest to buy not name brand, make your own cleaning supplies, and then find a deal when you need something specific like toilet paper. I keep extra in my grocery budget for things we use a lot of… like banza pasta. When there’s a deal, I buy enough for the next few months. Overall, it evens out the grocery budget and you are still saving money. Also, bulk is not always cheaper, becayse its often name brands… so pay attention to who has the best daily price on things you eat regularly and do a price list for these items at your normal stores. Then you know when something is a good deal or not. Cutting as far back as you can on processed foods and food waste will get you a lot further as far as your effort to reward goes.

The time it takes to be a super couponer is prohibitive so I don’t bother doing it proactively. Usually the price ends up about equal to just buying the generic of the item. People who coupon clear the shelves so things like ibotta is also a waste for me to do.

[Sue]

Most generally, I found buying store brand will get about the same as having coupon on name brand. Also, most things with a coupon in the food area is junk that is not healthy. I quit couponing years ago as I saw no benefit.

I know many have a different experience/opinion, but that is just my two cents from my experience.

[Rachael]

I have trouble with physical coupons, but I at least use the digital ones as often as possible. Every once in a while, or just before a shopping trip, I open the app for the place I’m going, and add all the digital coupons I might use onto my account, and then they load at checkout.

[Rachel]

Clipping coupons and even online coupons are minimal these days. Rebate apps are the current trend; however, those also require time. Many also focus on name brands or take forever to earn the minimum to redeem. Looking at the consumption types of food etc. Can save a lot more in the long run.

For example, do you buy store brands, how is your family about using leftovers, do you use convenience foods like proportioned applesauce or lots of store bought snacks, do you shop sales and compare prices online before you leave home, are you sticking to seasonal produce or always buying the same thing regardless of cost etc.

I can say that on a month where I was frugal with my grocery shopping I was over $300 less than when I buy what my husband wants me to cook and lots of snacks for him.

[LySette]

I don’t coupon. It’s never items I buy. They’re either more expensive brand name things where couponing still doesn’t really save, or it’s all junk food or chemical type household products.

I have joined local store fb pages and look for sales. I have 1 store which has good sales nearly every week. When the sale items apply to me, I get them. Recently they had buy 3lbs (3pks) of bacon for $10 and brand name hotdogs 10pks for $10. I stuff the extras in the freezer. We don’t eat many hotdogs and are usually used if we have a cookout. So 10pks lasts us a year. Deli meats and cheeses go from $8.99/lb to $5.99/lb. It’s the only time I buy, if at all. My husband eats deli meats. I can not. If no sale, it’s not bought by me.

I shop mainly between 2-3 stores. Learn store brand products and which store offers the best deal on a daily basis. Then I make my grocery lists accordingly.

Also, check clearance racks and areas when out and about. Don’t buy products because it’s a good deal. Search for your regularly used items and get those. For example, my chickens love meal worm bags. They’re expensive! I wait and wait til they hit the clearance rack. Of course most clearance racks aren’t what they used to be. Clearance growing up meant 50% off or more. Usually more. Now, clearance racks are 10-20% off. It’s still a savings if its products you’re buying anyway.

[Arlene]

Budget and meal plan, stick to a list and buy store brands. I gave up on coupons. This way takes a little more time but is easier with practice. Also buying individual snacks the most expensive. Quality airtight containers will help them stay fresh.

[Trinh]

I stopped couponing when it started digital for a lot of places. However, I have a lot of kids and big family within my siblings, and they have their kids. That means, big gatherings! I go to food pantries that assist to the public to receive some help. Then I shop the grocery sales, and if they have an app, I use their digital coupons.

Have you tried applying for state food stamps/EBT? Try that.

Then when I have family gatherings, I bring my to-go containers and ziplock bags to bring home leftovers. Hope this helps a little.

[Michelle]

There’s a website called Living Rich with coupons. Of course, as others have said, coupons per se aren’t such a big thing these days, but she tells you how to use digital coupons and the ones that print at the register (catalina’s) to get the best deals.

[Author]

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