How much $ do you figure you 'waste' on coupon services..

[secret squirrel]

when a sale/deal never materializes before the q expires?

In my previous couponing life, I found that because I live in a "doubles-under-a-buck-area-that-only-issues-$1-off-2-in-the-flyers" that I'd end up using a coupon service for many products that I was interested in/would use, but the sale never came. I called this my "Cost of Doing Business" LOL, but it all still added up.

Was I simply not educated enough to know WHEN those products would be scheduled to be on sale? While I was watching the TLC special, I did take note that one of the couponers did mention that sales were cyclical (I do know that part), but that you generally could count on something being on sale every 3 months. Is this 3-month rule a true assumption, or would it be a regional thing?

TIA

[foggierbard9]

I think when it comes to some products it is true, but I know there is a thread here somewhere about the sales cycles that shows what are the typical times of year for certain stuff....like right now is a lot of the diet foods and stuff, summer is cookout stuff, school time is cereals and easy lunch type stuff, holidays is baking stuff.

[tacatcon]

Honestly, I think the 3 month thing was wrong. I see the same "brands" go on sale more often then that. But types of items like the pp mentioned are cyclical.

I live in MA so I'm in the same boat as you and there are alot of times I have spent too much on coupons that I never used. So I try to keep that to a minimum and trade away anything I don't use. I do end up giving alot away too though.

Don't forget, many of the HCWers can use expireds so if they are good coupons, that is one avenue and also the overseas military can often use them

But you need to join up as a Trader in Training so you can trade your coupons here.

HTH

[tinkinpink84]

Their have been times ive ordered coupons and end up not being able to use them in hopes of a good sale. So i just try to limit the # of coupons i order. I just ordered coupons yesterday wich im glad i did. I want to do the wisk deal at cvs. and well my papers didnt get the wisk coupons! so im glad i ordered those. Ive ordered shave gel ones in hopes of a good sale wich never came and they just expired today! I was tempted to go in the recyclin bin at my gmas lol for old inserts. but i figure that their recycle people come regularly and that i sfor about only 12 houses. so prob no luck there. I really hate buying coupons lol.

[mmb1996]

I don't order coupons unless I know of a sale that I can use them on. To big of a risk for me I guess. I have a fairly large stockpile though so I can be choosy.

[greenfrog57]

I only order coupons when I know of a sale or I desperately need the items. In my experience, some sales are only once yearly (batteries at Albertsons at $1 a pack in the summer) while some are twice yearly (Nature Valley and BC Fruit Snacks in Sept and Jan with catalinas. I'd rather trade with my regular trading pals so we're all happy with random regional values.

[everprincess]

I've traded for coupons and then the sale never appeared. You live and learn. I fiqure with all the money I saved in 2 1/2 years I've done really well so I don't sweat it. There is always the next time.

[kval07]

I've traded for coupons for a sale that never materialized, but I always make the envelope worth the stamp. As long as I save more money than I spend on "the cost of business" I'm not too concerned. If you want a variety of stuff, join the Trader in Training group and start riding trains. That's a good way to get a bunch of different things. Also, pay attention to ad postings, especially for the drug stores. If you see a sale you want to catch, try to trade for the those coupons. Most times, if you get coupons mailed to you on Monday, you should be able to make the sale before it ends on Saturday. If all else fails, get a raincheck and then you have time to get the coupons in that you need.

[434Teresa]

I only but them if I know I am going to use them sell or not....if I know of a sale I may buy more than I would if there is not a sale..if I buy say 20 of hte same coupon and there is not a sale right then I will only buy what I need at this time and wait to the coupons are about to expire for a sale if no sale and I know I need the items I will go ahead and use my coupons. Most cpoupons I buy only come out every few months so I had reather save that amount than pay full price next month becuase I dont have coupons or a sale.

Some things go on sale every few months others every other week or so, then there is some items that on sale somewhere every week but then again others that only show up every 6 months or so..the best thing to do is write down your sales items and the dates on things you use all the time so you know when the sales may show again...this way you will kind of learn when you need to stock up on what and how many months you need to try to get while you have coupons and hte items are on sale.....but I look for items that maybe Free or next to free and those I stock as much as I can abd have coupons for while on sale., 6 months supply if I can.

[MaMaHaHa]

I LOVE using my clipping service! There are so many web sites/blogs where you can get sneak peeks of the grocery sales coming up and then do your match-ups...that it has been well worth it for me. Plus, the gal that I use has a great delivery schedule-usually only a two-day turn around time. And even if I do miss something...the amount of time saved from no more hunting and clipping myself, and the reduction of overall clutter that stacks and stacks of inserts caused...has been well worth the $20-$30/month I spend.