Local Coupon Exchange Groups

bramdam · 03-20-2008, 03:26:35 AM

Ok, so I just recently started couponing. Is joining some type of local trading group worthwhile or is it just easier to do your searching for coupons online?

I live in the suburban Chicago and I've tried to find local groups with no success.

~Anne Marie~

goobyers · 03-20-2008, 06:15:28 AM

I have NO idea, but I have been wondering the same thing. Or does everyone local just have the same coupons, and you still end up looking for others. I am in Ohio.

Thanks for asking!

03-20-2008, 06:12:26 PM

I agree with the previous poster that you may end up with the same coupons lol. I think one of the benefits of HCW is that you can trade with people around the country. Different areas get different or slightly different coupons - even here in NJ one paper may get for example a 40c off 1 Ziplic product Q, while another paper had $1 off 2 Ziploc Products.

I do all of my trades here on HCW for that reason. Although a local trading group may help you if for example you don't need baby Qs, while someone else doesn't need HBA Qs. Just my opinion though.

Scarlett · 03-21-2008, 11:23:20 PM

The only advantage I can think of is if there is a coupon in a flyer that you would use, but someone else might not and vice versa. Like I use Huggies diapers and one of my daycare moms uses Pampers, so we can trade coupons, but other than that... yeah, you would have all the same coupons for the most part.

werfanita · 03-27-2008, 10:48:50 PM

i agree with Scarlett, but i think it also help if you have buddy shoppers
or u guys split deals, less trips more stuff ;) IMHO

ZabMom · 03-29-2008, 04:44:30 AM

I wish there was a local group for me. I would rather trade with someone in my town then pay for postage and wait for coupons to come in the mail. The trader may be local but she may also get coupons from out of state friends and family.

coupn_gal · 03-31-2008, 01:39:16 PM

I have actually started a local group. It has grown from 4 members to 12 and three more that want to join but never seem to get here.

We meet once a month and we swap coupons and recipes. We even have three members that have started swapping frozen meals. They are singles and this works out great for them. We are going to start bringing in our extra stockpiles to "swap out or trade" in the May meeting. I am still trying to figure out how to monitor this!

We all seem to have the same coupons but there is always something that you can pick up in this meeting. Last week during our meeting I mentioned that I had bought coupons off Ebay and everyone there just looked at me. I laughed and said "you really can buy just about anything off of ebay!" They had no clue but two have ordered off there already. I want to teach them how to scan the cvs ads in advance and look for coupons to help with those specaials.

It is a work in progress and we really have fun when we meet!

neener130 · 03-31-2008, 01:57:59 PM

I was thinking the same thing. I would like to start trading but when I start reading the rules I get so overwhelmed and confused. It could be I'm reading the stickies at 3 am!!!! Is there a Trading for Dummies manual? I would rather trade with HCW members who don't live near me. Any help out there?

Dreams4us4 · 03-31-2008, 01:58:52 PM

Coup gal......how did you go about starting the group and where do you meet?

BabyBlissProducts · 03-31-2008, 04:35:56 PM

You might want to check yahoo groups, I belong to one in my area and we use to get together ever few months, the board is kinda dead now, but it was real nice to meet people from my area that cut coupons, we use to trade over stock, and use to do a book exchange for the kids, use to meet up at the park and I made some good friends there. I am already signed up to one in Indianapolis from yahoo because we are in the middle of selling our home and planning on moving there over the summer. I dont know if they ever get together, but its a great way to finding the deals in my local area and seeing what others are doing in the area. Natalie