My Gripe About Coupons
Coupons, I know they have value when you live on a budget, but I have several reasons why they do not work for me:
Coupons are usually for products I do not use, or use rarely.
Coupons are usually for products I do not use, or use rarely.
When it comes to groceries I usually buy a lot of whole foods. They don’t make coupons for tomatoes, zucchinis and cage free chicken eggs. I usually see a lot of boxed dinners and air freshener coupons (go figure, coupon clippers must be stinky people or they wouldn't peddle the coupons).
Further, coupons are usually for brand named products and I usually buy a good quality generic brand. The generic brands are still cheaper than a brand name bought with a coupon. For example, diapers–it is still more expensive to buy pampers or huggies with a coupon than to buy the store brand.
There are a couple of products in my home that are worth getting the top brand with a coupon, for example razors and household cleaners. However, I buy those things infrequently, or I can buy them bulk.
I use coupons on occasion when it is something I use and I happen to have a coupon on hand at the time of purchase. However, my time is already so full I usually do not have time to go hunting for a coupon for a $2.00 tube of toothpaste for which if I then bought three tubes I could get a $0.55 discount via coupon. The time spent hunting for the coupon usually amounts to more than the coupon is worth.
On the other hand, our local grocery prints store coupons when I check out. When purchasing certain products, I may get a coupon for the exact same product like yogurt or toddler snacks. If it is a product I use, it is usually a pretty good deal. However, the drawback is the coupon is often a short term offer and expires before I get to use it.
Coupons expire! Again, I do not have time to keep track of which ones are going to expire.
Perhaps, I do not want to do business with a company that does not pass the savings on to consumers every time I purchase the product.
I have a feeling a few of my reasons may be why a lot of people do not use coupons any more.
I feel better now that that is off my chest.
I have a feeling a few of my reasons may be why a lot of people do not use coupons any more.
I feel better now that that is off my chest.
2 comments:
I find that the coupons published by the store directly are usually the best buys. The coupons you get with purchases at Target are my favorite, but I score some really great deals using coupons from the grocery store weekly ads ($1.48 for a pound of cheese anyone?), not to mention things like the Safeway Club Card deals (and using those gets you a fuel discount!). There are supposedly some great websites to keep up with current coupons and to print your own, but that seems like a full-time job to me, and I have better things to do with my time!
I totally hear you. I look at a coupon and say, "hey, I buy that anyway. I could save money next time!" and then invariably forget to use the coupon. Then months later, as I'm cleaning out my purse, I find all my expired and un-used coupons.
Oh well :) I feel better now, too.
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