My mom is a very casual coupon clipper. I'll be the first to say she's great at ferreting out the best clothing buys around ($10 winter coats, anyone?)... but when it comes to the grocery store, it pains me to shop with her. She rarely uses coupons, only haphazardly watches the sales, and refuses to give up brand loyalty to save money. I can't relate to her in the supermarket.
One time my dad asked me if I thought I saved much money using coupons. So for the month of April, I did what I normally do for couponing, and kept track of it.
Between using coupons and mail-in-rebate offers, I saved a grand total of $122.09. That is NOT chump change my friends!
Using those coupons, rebates, and sending for freebie offers allowed me to score free or nearly free items like Tylenol, Excedrin, Johnson's Buddies bath soap, Huggies Clean Team wipes, Aquafresh toothpaste, photo prints from Walgreens, Colgate toothpaste, Hallmark greeting cards, a Glade Scented Oil Warmer, a 2 liter Diet 7Up, Pledge Multi-surface Cleaner, Schick Quattro Titanium razors, Post Honey Bunches of Oats Chocolate Clusters, and Lady Mitchum deodorant.
I estimate that I spend about an hour a week clipping coupons and finding printable coupons and other deals online. So that works out to a little more than $30 an hour. That's more than I made when I was working full-time!
I think it's well worth the time to clip coupons. My toddler, who likes helping me sort through coupons, saw a coupon on the counter and said, "like cash."
He's right. And I can't afford to just throw cash away.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Saving with Coupons
5 comments:
Great post! I'm finding it is also worth my time to clip coupons and just shop smarter. I'm coming over from my blog, where I saw your headline under my BlogHer ad. Way to go - so exciting to see you as part of their ad network now!
Thats so cool that you calculated that. That is very worth your time!
Too cute and funny about your toddler! I have been explaining to my three-year-old that my credit card and cash are basically the same thing. :)
I not only find that clipping coupons is worthwhile, it's just plain fun! Okay, so I'm weird that way ...
I think it's great if you can really save that much, but I am sceptical you could do it on a continuing monthly basis, especially at only an hour a week, and I am about the most frugal person I know. I am clipping fewer coupons these days unless it is for something I would have purchased anyway. I prefer to shop sales, go to the store less often, and make from scratch or do without.
I've been doing the coupon thing intensely for almost a year now... and I know it makes a difference. I also know it only takes me about an hour a week because I clip coupons while watching Desperate Housewives. :-) I do spend some time finding deals on the internet, too, but I consider it research for the blog. :-)
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