HELP! Couponing in the country--anxious

[hsat31]

Hi! I hope you all can help me. I'm moving to Laporte in a week and it seems to be a nice small town. We will live about 8 miles from town. Apparently, I have to have the 1 major newspaper delivered in my mailbox so I'll be late getting them. I am used to getting my papers free from CVS (ECB)and WAGS (rebate card) but they will be quite a bit of a drive for me. I haven't seen any dumpsters either and I have a nice supply here. I will be without my computer til we get set up too. I did meet one woman at the store who was very helpful, but she wouldn't tell me her haunts! (LOL) I don't really blame her. I can't seem to find any either on my few drives. Any suggestions on how to get coupons or find info ,... would be great. I've gotten so used to doing it and my budget is much better. Also, for those that do live the "country life", do you have any good hints, tips, advice, or suggestions? Can you believe that I am actually worried about this? I'm just not willing to let go of my system I guess, it's been so good to me so far!!!!!
Thanks
Tash

[MoneySavinDiva]

I'm moving in May, and will lose my supply of 5+ inserts per week. I'm going to really start embracing trading on this board to get the got coupons that I need, and on family and friends to save their inserts for me so I can still keep an inventory on hand. If you don't have a lot of coupons to offer in trade, offer items like forever stamps, coke rewards, etc.

Also, since you'll be in the country, you should plant a garden! You'll have the space, and then you can save that much more off your grocery bill since you'll have all of your produce in your backyard! Consider planting strawberry patches, apple trees, and other fruit patches/trees.

The closest Walgreens, CVS, Target, WalMart, bread outlet, etc. are currently 1/2 hour and when we move will be 45 minutes. I do (and plan to continue) make a trip to town to do my couponing and stockpile shopping once a week. and that's it. I try to combine this trip with other errands like dr. appointments, visiting family/friends, etc.

Living far out of town seems like kind of a hassle when it comes to things like shopping, couponing, etc. but it is so peaceful and relaxing that it's almost worth that extra hassle!

[Coinpurse]

Judging from the stores you listed in a previous post, you appear to live/shop in Lake County. Look at it this way, you're leaving the land of ridiculously limited doubles (Wiseway) and moving into or close to the land of real doubles, depending on which direction your 8 miles from town happens to be ... you will have:

N/NW = Al's (makes Jewel look cheap :sad: and most of them are kinda dark & dingy) & Kroger (Laporte), Meijer w/o doubles
NW/W = Wiseway & Jewel (Chesterton)
W/SW = Wiseway (Valpo), Town & Country (also Valpo - a Strack owned store) & Kroger
S/SE = plow up your back yard to grow a HUGE garden and build a barn as you'll need your own chickens & a cow
E/NE = Meijer w/Lake County comparable prices AND doubles , Kroger & I don't know what else except that you won't be too far from a Super Target.

"Country miles" aren't the same as "city miles". You need to learn to measure distance in minutes. For instance, traveling 8 miles in urban areas can easily take 20 minutes w/o traffic & trains working against you (at which point all bets are off - I was late to my own wedding pre-track blockage laws in Hammond). Out in the country 8 miles is not more than 10 minutes away and in many parts of Laporte County it's even closer , i.e. a skip & a hop. You'll still want to get a Chicago Tribune for the good coupons - not by mail subscription, though, as they don't include the ads & inserts.

Once you adjust, country life is very serene - I have regretted my return to NWI (lived in the middle of no where, Michigan for many years after the wedding mentioned above) for the past 20 some years and I'm NOT in Lake County (ugh). The shopping is no big deal - again an adjustment period - but most couponers are stockpilers & plan purchases ahead of their trip anyway so it's not as severe an adjustment compared to folks who are used to shopping daily for that day.

[smiles]

I live in the town of Chesterton, and I used to live in Lake county. Chesterton is the country to me, but it's not the country to others. LaPorte has some to offer, and you will not be terribly far from some common stores. Just plan your trips wisely before you go to the stores. Kroger does coupon doubles. You can get access to the Chicago Tribune and the South Bend paper in Michigan City, Chesterton, or Valpo. Keep your eyes open for sales, and trade coupons for stamps, coke codes, ect if you don't have good coupons to trade. My husband once had a job interview to work for the Laporte paper. I know it's not much.

[searcher]

I made the move from the big city to the country just over a year ago. I have one Kroger that doubles and one CVS. (I don't like that my CVS hardly ever has what I need grrr!) I also have a Carnival food store that does not double. The rest are Walmart, Save-a-Lot, Aldi and a couple of Dollar General and Family Dollars. and also a Grocery Outlet. Thats it! These stores are about 8 miles from me. If I want to drive 25 min. the other way, I have a Mall with a lot of stores. I don't get out that way much though cause everything else I do is 8 miles the other way and it takes all day to go and shop there.

I have a small minimart where I live and get inserts from the lady that works there. I only get them if she is working weekends though. I also get a couple of inserts from my son each week. I just recently met a local woman on Freecycle who gave me a few inserts too! I trade on here sometimes. (I am also considering buying some coupons from a clipping service)

You won't be able to save on such a large scale as you are use to, but if you collect the inserts (or trade) and watch the sales, you can still save a lot of money. You don't catch every sale.

I just got back from my Carnival food store and with sales and coupons I saved $43.72 and that was without doubling or a courtesy card.

I am planning to have a big garden this year and do some canning to help out the budget. I know that is not possible for everyone though.

So it can be done and it is a little more work! You don't go as often (which saves money) and you plan your trips. Like the pp said the peace and quiet is worth it!

[puakinikini]

You have gotten great advice. I will just add the obvious advice: be nice, get to know people and try not to burn bridges. This is basic advice for anyone living in a small town - couponing or not. Even in my large town, I get to know my cashiers and am friendly - makes my shopping more enjoyable. I am from a small town originally so I grew up with everyone knowing everyone - even though that is far from the case now, I still treat everyone like they know my mother and grandmother.

[searcher]

Originally Posted by puakinikini You have gotten great advice. I will just add the obvious advice: be nice, get to know people and try not to burn bridges. This is basic advice for anyone living in a small town - couponing or not. Even in my large town, I get to know my cashiers and am friendly - makes my shopping more enjoyable. I am from a small town originally so I grew up with everyone knowing everyone - even though that is far from the case now, I still treat everyone like they know my mother and grandmother.

That is such great advice!

[VANILLAGRRL]

I second Freecycle and clipping services. I actually am expecting some coupons from a nice lady on Freecycle right now. I live in a tiny town in Michigan and all the good stores are a little less than an hour away so I feel your pain. Maybe you can have friends or family from your current area send you their inserts. Or maybe arrange for them to pick up a few papers for you and send those inserts.

Incidentally, I grew up in Dyer in Lake County. I moved from there when I was 10 or 11. My dad lived there until I was 18 though, and I spent my summers there. My dad was the general manager of Phil Smidt's in Hammond in the eighties and early nineties. Sad to here it closed a couple of years ago.

[hsat31]

thank you so very much for all the help and positive support. I'll be without a pc for a bit, but I had to let everyone know just how grateful I am for your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thecouponlady]

Well howdy neighbor. My nearest town is LaPorte too. I am about 7 miles out of town. Just to let you know that if you find a dumpster to dive better ask first as it is illegal here. Hate to see the cops get ya:sad: Our only recycling is picked up from our homes so no place to go rummage thru papers for inserts. I get all my extras from HCW trades or clipping sites and sometimes Ebay.
LaPorte does have a cvs too so you can still use Ecb and they have 2 WAGS too.

And depending on where you are Michigan City or South Bend may not be much more of a drive.

PM with any questions I would be happy to help out in any way.