Question

[FreeIs4Me]

When I see people who purchase for example $300 on groceries and only pay $8, are they just buying things that are on sale, things that they have coupons for?

I don't see how they are doing it and it makes no since to just buy the stuff that you have coupons for, you may not need that stuff

Confused

[tmsmalley]

Yes, they are just buying things that are on sale and that they have coupons for, BUT, they are usually only buying things that they need as well. If you start collecting coupons, most people are able to pick out several things a week that they need and pretty soon you're reducing your spending while still getting what you need. Start with reading this thread- http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/getting-started-couponing-basics-new-members/89883-couponing-101-couponing-basics-newbie.html

It will all start to make sense.

Tess

[isis]

I never buy stuff I don't need. Even if I do overbuy, and don't get around to using it, I can always donate to the food pantry or local shelters in my area.

[cpnmaniac44]

When I see people who purchase for example $300 on groceries and only pay $8, are they just buying things that are on sale, things that they have coupons for?

I don't see how they are doing it and it makes no since to just buy the stuff that you have coupons for, you may not need that stuff

Confused
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I do not buy things I do not need or use. However, store sales and coupons give me a chance to try brands and varieties of items I've never eaten before, because the prices were too high. No one will get $300 of food and pay $8 unless it is several trips during triples. You do not save that much accidentally, you save it because you were prepared with coupons and matching sales items and most likely triples, and you got 5-10-15-20 of each item. No way to save $292 on one order with dozens of different items. There are not that many good coupons in the inserts. The number of food coupons in the inserts seems to keep getting less and less.
I've seen savings on orders and you look at the list of what they bought and compare to the store ads and prices, and you know that some people are not that good in math. And then you have a few scattered braggers who like to exaggerate their savings.

[tmsmalley]

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I do not buy things I do not need or use. However, store sales and coupons give me a chance to try brands and varieties of items I've never eaten before, because the prices were too high. No one will get $300 of food and pay $8 unless it is several trips during triples. You do not save that much accidentally, you save it because you were prepared with coupons and matching sales items and most likely triples, and you got 5-10-15-20 of each item. No way to save $292 on one order with dozens of different items. There are not that many good coupons in the inserts. The number of food coupons in the inserts seems to keep getting less and less.
I've seen savings on orders and you look at the list of what they bought and compare to the store ads and prices, and you know that some people are not that good in math. And then you have a few scattered braggers who like to exaggerate their savings.

OK, I have to beg to differ here. There ARE ways to save big money without necessarily having triples or even doubles and without screwing up the math or exaggerating. I would say that those trips are carefully orchestrated and planned, but I have done MANY shopping runs with $200+ in savings and I have no doubles or triples. I typically do one big shopping every 2 weeks with a smaller shopping on the weeks in between. I've never paid just $8 for a big load, but I have paid $150 for a $300 or $400+ worth many times. I only shop (for the most part) at one store, I'm married to Mr. Fussy and the Fussettes so there are a lot of items and brands that I don't bother with and I can still do it. Someone who goes around to different stores and has a more flexible family can CERTAINLY do it, maybe not every week, but many weeks.

Tess