To Insert or not to Insert...???
Posted 01-03-2009 at 08:23:25 PM by thriftycj
I've always been a person who used the inserts. Each week, I'd read the previews for what coupons to expect, and then I'd buy 4-10 copies of the paper, depending on the number of inserts, q's I'd use, etc. I have two CVS cards, so I would get 10 papers when there were coupons that would be usable for items that were limit 10. In KC, there is a neighboring city, Independence, who's paper comes out on Saturday and is only $0.75. So, 10 copies for $7.50 wasn't too bad. If I had to get the KC Star ($1.25-$1.50, depending on the store), I'd get it at CVS or WAGS and burn ECBs/RRs.
I have a confession to make, though... today, I went a bit crazy.
Originally, I was only going to get 10. Except that there are ALOT of inserts this week (5 in our paper). And there is the once-yearly coupon for V8 vegetable juice, which I drink every day. My original thought was to get 10 copies of the paper, then get 20 more V8 q's elsewhere.
But then, I started reading the inserts. L'Oreal q's... Smuckers natural peanut butter... Powerade Zero. So many good q's!!! So then, I was going to get 20. Which proved to be difficult to find... and at the last gas station I stopped at, intending to buy just 2 papers, well... they had exactly 12 left.
So, yes. I now have 30 copies of the Independence Examiner in my car (I don't dare bring them in... I just pull them out Monday mornings and drop them in the recycling). And ooodles and ooodles of inserts.
Side note...they had last Sunday's KC Star too, so I got 4 of those. Even though they just had PG inserts, those inserts had the Infusium and Pantene q's that will lead to cheap shampoo and conditioner for the women's shelter.
I'm a binder girl, so I'm about to spend my Saturday night clipping q's. It's an exotic life I lead. :)
And I'm wondering... is it worth it? I spent $22.50. Now, I'll use all 30 of the V8 q's (not sure where I'll put all the V8, but I've got until March 31 to figure that out!), which means that by using just that coupon, I'll have saved $15.00... $30 if I use them at a store that doubles, which is likely.
I'm going to try to keep better track this year.... how much am I really getting out of all these newspapers? I'll update my blog at the end of each month with how much I've saved from each week's inserts vs. how much I spent for them.
For now, though, I'm off to clip. and clip, and clip......
I have a confession to make, though... today, I went a bit crazy.
Originally, I was only going to get 10. Except that there are ALOT of inserts this week (5 in our paper). And there is the once-yearly coupon for V8 vegetable juice, which I drink every day. My original thought was to get 10 copies of the paper, then get 20 more V8 q's elsewhere.
But then, I started reading the inserts. L'Oreal q's... Smuckers natural peanut butter... Powerade Zero. So many good q's!!! So then, I was going to get 20. Which proved to be difficult to find... and at the last gas station I stopped at, intending to buy just 2 papers, well... they had exactly 12 left.
So, yes. I now have 30 copies of the Independence Examiner in my car (I don't dare bring them in... I just pull them out Monday mornings and drop them in the recycling). And ooodles and ooodles of inserts.
Side note...they had last Sunday's KC Star too, so I got 4 of those. Even though they just had PG inserts, those inserts had the Infusium and Pantene q's that will lead to cheap shampoo and conditioner for the women's shelter.
I'm a binder girl, so I'm about to spend my Saturday night clipping q's. It's an exotic life I lead. :)
And I'm wondering... is it worth it? I spent $22.50. Now, I'll use all 30 of the V8 q's (not sure where I'll put all the V8, but I've got until March 31 to figure that out!), which means that by using just that coupon, I'll have saved $15.00... $30 if I use them at a store that doubles, which is likely.
I'm going to try to keep better track this year.... how much am I really getting out of all these newspapers? I'll update my blog at the end of each month with how much I've saved from each week's inserts vs. how much I spent for them.
For now, though, I'm off to clip. and clip, and clip......
Total Comments 12
Comments
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I know your dilemma. Sometimes I look and think, oh there isn't but one coupon in it I need. So I don't buy it, then I need those other q's.
So I try to buy at least one, especially if it's a p&g.
Now this week how many do I buy? I can get the local paper for a $1 instead of the big town for $2. I might buy 5.Posted 01-03-2009 at 10:02:25 PM by thickbluebug
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I find it helpful to review what is going to be in the inserts before making my decision. There are a couple websites out there that provide previews... just do a bit of googling or search the forums (don't want to violate rules by posting... sorry!).
This week, there are some real goodies... once a year type ones. Plus, with 5 total inserts (3 smart source and 2 red plums), you get ALOT of coupons for the money.
I think 5 would be a good number, esp. if you have CVS and/or Walgreens in your area. This week, Walgreens has Garnier products on sale for $2.99. With the coupon from the Easy Saver book and the manufacturer coupons from the inserts, you come out $5 ahead! (5 shampoo/conditioner coupons + 5 styler coupons).
Good luck!Posted 01-03-2009 at 11:42:06 PM by thriftycj -
I might tempt to do the same since you know that you are going to use the coupons as V8. Maybe if you good at trading you might cut it in half like 10 issues. Since I am not good at trading I will go a head do the 20 but I will definitely considering my budget and also it will make me very busy with coupons life since we need to justify by using the coupons.
PhinPosted 01-04-2009 at 01:32:41 AM by phinphana 
- I should be better with trading, but I'm not. :( Maybe that should be another goal for this year as well! Might help me to save a few trees...Posted 01-04-2009 at 08:46:41 AM by thriftycj
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I bought 4.... now I'm thinking I should have bought more. hmmmm. Oh well... I think I'll stick to the 4 I have.Posted 01-04-2009 at 02:41:12 PM by FreckleTown -
I wanted double q papers - they sell on Sundays for $2.50 whereas 1 paper is $2. Well, the first store only had singles, so I bought 3. Then they next store had doubles so I bought another. I now have 5, and am overwhelmed with inserts!! I can't imagine 30 LOL, what a pile!!! Go get some shelving for the V8 ;)Posted 01-04-2009 at 03:43:34 PM by mommaof2kiddos -
I think it's always a good idea to have each weeks inserts, because what it seems there is no good coupons know in a couple of weeks a deal can come up, and you will have the coupons available.
It's worth having the most coupons you can find on hand. Have you tried looking in the recycling centers for inserts. Next time you take your papers maybe you can find some for free.Posted 01-04-2009 at 05:49:01 PM by Yenna - We have curbside recycling here, so I never have to drop it off. Most of our drop offs are for charity too, so I feel bad grabbing stuff out. Plus, the containers aren't very condusive for that purpose.
If I have the time, I will sometimes go read the Sunday paper at Starbucks. If I get there early, I can usually pilfer at least 4 sets of inserts from papers people leave behind. I buy one copy to read (don't want to anger the coupon gods!), and then for what I would have paid for 4 copies of the KC Star, I have a cup of coffee and scone instead.
I agree on having multiple copies of inserts, though. I wish we had double papers here in KC. Would make it so much easier! Though, getting the smaller paper on Saturday makes a big difference too. Because I donate, having multiple q's really helps me be more charitable as well.Posted 01-05-2009 at 12:12:39 PM by thriftycj -
wow i am a coupon dud I only got one paper and still that took like 2 hours to cut and orgonize.BUT I got some great walgreens coupons I spent 30 dollars and saved like 25 dollars,see if i was better at this i would have saved more because my sister said I could have used my grocery store coupons there as well LOL BUT next week I may get 2 papers, I am a wild woman LOLPosted 01-05-2009 at 12:35:03 PM by tammy.franks - Just remember, if you're buying multiple papers, collate first, THEN clip. :) You'll do a lot less cutting that way.
You don't know how many weeks went by before I learned that one.....Posted 01-05-2009 at 12:37:59 PM by thriftycj - i have found whenever i really love one or two coupons it's cheaper/easier to just order them on ebay or buy them from the coupon clippers.com i have gotten a big envelope full of stuff that i really need for like 3 to 5 dollars.
this week i am guilty of buying three papers cause the deals were so good. i also swap some q's with buddies of mine so that helps a bit too.Posted 01-05-2009 at 08:16:26 PM by tiffini - Tiffini--
Normally, that's my approach too. But then there were so many coupons this week that I knew I'd use, I decided to go crazy just this once. I'm not even half way through cutting my inserts though, so it's doubtful I'll ever do that again.... :)Posted 01-06-2009 at 10:46:05 AM by thriftycj
