By Michael Smith (Veshengro)
The headline to this article is as much a statement as a question and both are valid.
Couponing is a serious activity for some people and some really manage to spend very little on their groceries – in the USA at least – using only coupons.
I have even heard of some people where the stores, nigh on, pay them but then that is “extreme couponing”.
However, I am one of those who (1) most of the time forgets to take the coupons to the store in time, before they expire, and (2) I would suggest to use coupons only if you really generally would make use of the products “on offer”.
You can save a lot of money using coupons, especially in places where there are lots of offers on coupons – such as if you happen to live in the US. In Britain we don't get all that many offers and definitely – or I haven't seen them as yet – there are no couponing websites for British stores.
However, such savings only work if you would otherwise buy the particular products. Getting something just because you have got a money off coupon for it might not be a good idea, in general, if it is savings in the long run that you are after.
My biggest problem is, as said already, that I tend to end up with coupons I want to use and then never take them to the stores with me. Not a good move, I know. Maybe I need to get better organized and have a wallet where I put such coupons in so that I have got them on me.
So far we have, theoretically, looked at the statement concealed in the headline and now I want to look at the question as to whether couponing is a way to cut the grocery bill.
As mentioned above, in the United States of America at least, some people do manage to buy most of their stuff via coupons paying very little if anything for their weekly grocery shopping. That is all fine and good and if you can do it then that is a great bonus and there the statement holds true.
There are, however, also people that will use coupons to buy things that they otherwise would not just simply because they have a money off coupon.
If you can buy a store own brand, basics range or other generic product cheaper than the branded one even if you use the coupon for 70cents off or whatever then it is not a good idea to buy the branded item regardless of the coupon. Some people will do that, however.
Therefore, couponing is great when you really would buy those goods anyway but if you are going to buy them just because you have a money off coupon for this or that product that you would not normally buy then that is wasting money.
It is a little bit like the disclaimer on “slimming foods” that states: “Can help you to lose weight as part of a calorie controlled diet”. Coupons can save you money, lots of money, only if you choose wisely.
© 2011
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