Coupon slump?

[TheyCallMeMom]

I have been on a couponing fast. And I need help/ideas/advice

This past week we went shopping as a family. Usually I take 1-2 kids but at least once a month I like to take the whole family. During our shopping trip DH asked why I wasn't using coupons. I tried to explain that 1. We no longer had access to the coupons we use to 2.The deals I use to find were no longer as abundant and 3. we have changed our eating habits to more "from scratch" and less processed. What he said next was hard to hear. "So I guess you are no longer the coupon queen". I know he had no intentions to hurt my feelings, and really, it shouldn't have. But it did.

When I first began couponing I lived in an area that had many "coupon stores" -- CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, etc.. and I had access to left over inserts. This gave me 50-60 sets of inserts each week and a grocery store (Shaws) that doubled up to .99.

I then moved to an area that had no CVS and a grocery store ( Kroger) that doubled up to .50. I lost my coupon resource and was now paying $1.75 for the Sunday paper.

Now I live in an area that has no CVS and no stores that double. And they have little to no deals. I have access to stores like Save a lot that have some off brand deals. But the stores with the name brand products are just to costly. The Kroger is 35 min away, so I can shop there if I have good enough reason to go to town. ( last week we hit Sam's club as well) The Sunday paper here is $2 and the one store gets 6. LOL

So while I am still keeping in budget, just barely. I can order coupons online but then I just dont know if its worth the $. I have ordered coupons for a sale but then they dont come in time. Many of the new deals I see, rainchecks wont work ( ie RR deals).

I want to continue to eat more from scratch and avoid products like pop tarts and such. But I still need to save $. I guess I went from doing Mega Coupons deals and having $100 in coupons to now handing the cashier 1-2 coupons. I did a full circle from when I first began couponing 5 years ago.

I dont know if I am being emotional from hormones ( 7 mos pregnant) - and I just closed down my business I had for 1.5 years and became a FT SAHM ( I LOVE IT!) after 15 years, or if this is normal LOL

sorry if this is long.. Thanks if you read it all

* if this is in the wrong place please fix it *

[gctattoo]

I'll say what I always say to people who don't like the food products most of the coupons available are for-- don't use the food coupons. There are so many other products to save on that you can just use those types of Q's and still save lots of money. Anything you save on HBA, cleaning, etc means more money for healthier foods you'd like to buy.

To me, couponing doesn't have to be an all or nothing proposition. Choose the coupons and deals that best suit your needs and don't worry about the rest.

As for finding a good source for coupons, you already have one here on HCW. I would say you're better off sticking with your fellow traders instead of relying on typically overpriced clipping sites. ;)

[434Teresa]

Well alot of us have to drive 30 minutes one way to get to a store that doubles thats Kroger for me. I have a walmart and Dollar stores in my town but I still use my coupons. I buy my papers from the Dallar Tree which cuts the cost in half of regular price. Sure I buy some foods that we really dont need but I also buy fresh fruits and vegys there is sort of a balance. There is tons of other stuff that I use coupons for other than food items and with a family and kids you should be the same way.

Most of us also dont have a free coupon resource so we have to buy papers, trade or buy coupons from online but we still save what we can even if its not always getting us free or almost free items in return.

Sorry I dont mean to sound mean but it seems like you are just really NOT wantting to fool with coupons any longer which is ok for its a lot of work. I think that alot of us that coupon are in the same huntting down coupons and driving to get doubled coupon deals that you are but we chose to go ahead and save our money the best we can. I even know several people that dont have any stores at all that doubles not even 30 minuts away, so count yourself lucky on that one and if I am right KY still dont tax food so that alone helps you out.

[TheyCallMeMom]

No, I actually enjoy the couponing. I really miss it.

But spending $2 on a Sunday paper that has $2 worth of coupons in it, isnt worth it. The last inserts I bought had nothing that was even close to a good deal. Many were what most call "junk" coupons KWIM. I see some deals but by the time I get the coupons in the mail, I miss the sale. Something just isnt clicking right for me I guess.

For most things the store brand or Dollar Tree version is still cheaper. It just seems I am back at square one where its cheaper to buy store brand than it is to buy on sale with coupons. I guess after 5 years of couponing, that just doesn't make sense to me. I guess I miss the days of getting $100 worth of groceries for $20-30.

[434Teresa]

Those deals and coupons are out there but do keep in mine that you are cooking more from scratch which may take more to find the coupons you need now days and the stuff may not be on sale as often.

It dont seem right to pay $2 for a paper when you only use $2 in coupons yourself but if you take and list those coupons and try to trade them for ones you do need then the $2 for the paper could be well worth the $2 for keep in mind whats a junk q' to me maybe gold to someone else.

There are coupons out there for the better for us proucts but they are just hard to find. I have not been to a Dollar tree in KY for a few years now but if the stuff there is no better then the stuff at mine well I will stick with my coupons. I do find some good deals there from time to time but why pay $1 for things that is often smaller in amount when I coupon and maybe pay less than a $1 for a better brand.

Your right its hard to coupon shop when you dont have the "right' store but I am about sure that has alot to do with if you are use to shopping at the store or not. If you have a walmart in your town they should price match the ads to the stores that are 30 minutes away or mine dose, that will help you out alot more than you think. Then as to getting my q's doubled at kroger I will drive that 30 minutes if they are having a mega and I have a huge list as to where I will be getting things for near free...

If you want to coupon then do it and forget about what you have saved in the past as to what you can save now. I know your food saving wont be as good becuase you say you eat alot different now but all your saving on personal,household and ect should still rock. I know with 8 little ones and one on the way (I think it is) you need to save as much as you can for I only have 4 two of which are teen boys and I need to save everyting I can........you know cooking a pot of chicken and duplings is cheaper than handing out pop tarts to everyone even with coupons.

[ICanDanSaulKnight]

Sweetie, hormones are real, as we women know all too well. Nothing we can do about it, but its a start to at least admit it and try to work around them. If you can recognize that maybe part of this feeling might be stronger than it would be had I been not pg, then that is one step ahead right there. Give yourself some room.. being pg is tough in and of itself. I know there are those out there who had it pretty easy with few issues etc but I nearly died having my 1st baby & God saw fit to surprise us with another one where I got terribly terrbily ill for an entire 8.5 months. Its something where we have to just give ourself a bye. A freebie if you will. Just it is what it is, and so what.
Think-- right now what is most important to you...and then focus clearly on that. Maybe that can help.
Also, let me tell you what my Mom told me while I was preggers. Dont make any major life changing decisions while preggers! It isnt fair to yourself or your loved ones. Its better to wait, and be sure and be sure on the non-pg you, since a majority of the time you are a non-pg you right.
Also, I happen to agree with you about the Q's out there on clipping sites. While its lovely to have them show up clipped, if they dont come in time for the sale, it was wasted time effort energy and money. You probably dont have a lot of extra time effort energy or money if you are pg either! Am I right. So, I think you gotta look to the other things that you can still try to save money on.
I know poptarts arent the best, so we limit those. I might buy them once every two or three months, and then it is something that they only have 1 of the two in the pack in one day. We limit all junk food etc. But, then it does cost more to buy fresh fruits and veggies doesnt it. Fact, if you ask me. So, maybe the food ones arent going to be worth your while right now. Maybe the other things? I know that Ive saved a lot more on health and household products lately, too. But, as was mentioned before- that allows more money to buy the fresh.
One other thought-- we have a couple of farmers markets here... the key there is to go in the last 30 to 45 mins before they close up for the day. They dont wanna load all those veggies up and takle em back home- they want to sell them, go home empty and easy, and come back tomorrow with another batch. So, Ive found that they are totally reasonable about the prices come closing time. In fact, Ive gotten B1G1 on watermelon, cantelope, lettuce heads, buy 5lbs get 5 lbs free of potatoes... from simply waiting til they are almost closed for the day. It would be so cool if you had access to a farmers market!
Also, I have turned to saving in other ways too. We have agreed to use a device [the elec. company comes and installs it for free] that limits your use during peak times. Only during the summer months, and they are only allowed to do it for 15 mins out of an hour during those hours. I can honestly say it never ever ever once affected us to where we noticed it. We kept the house cool in summer and warm in winter, but for 11% less just for agreeing to let them install that device. I forget what it is called, if you want more info I will ask hubby and can get back to you on it.
Anyway, I also pay more attention to where I go and why these days. My van gets 16 mpg and that isnt a lot when you consider it takes $55 to fill it & it only lasts 8 or 9 days! Instead of how I used to do-- go wherever I needed to whenever I needed to-- I told DH to plan on bank either Mon or Fri [open to changing from week to week of course, as needs come about] and all shopping trips in the same area done at the same time... if it was only 1 great sale item, I decided, well, is it worth my gas to drive all the way over there? If you actually DO the math on it, well, in my sienna van, I can tell you, it wasnt always worth it to drive over and get it! So, I have made my gas tank last 2 weeks now.. Ive even made 17 or 18 days on a tank before... just by paying closer attention.
Also, I have always been good about turning things off... but even so, I still had room to improve. How? Well, I like to get on my laptop again in the late late evening, once the kids are all asleep. But, I also use it in the afternoon. I used to just keep it set up and running. Once I took the xtra minute to turn it off, and restart at night time... you wouldnt believe it, but that made a noticeable difference in our electricity bill!!! Hubby got it and came and asked me what I thought it could be, and I was sooo excited because I knew what it was! I had been doing it all month to test it out! And that was just ONE laptop! Imagine what we could save if we turned off AND unplugged every single thing we use!! It is A LOT more than people think. Our electricity bill is just over half of what it used to be. Oh yeah, the other thing we did was we bought the more expensive light bulbs that say they last years! I couldnt believe it was true. I made DH write the date we put it in on the bulb to PROVE it to me. I can honestly tell you that while we paid a lot more for that bulb than the old cheapies, we save WAY more than that difference EVERY single month in our bill!!! I mean we're talking more than a hundred dollars difference from just changing these things Ive told you about. Not too bad.
Lastly, we are finally at a place where I get part of my dream- which was to have one day a week where I didnt have to cook the big dinner meal- which means going out to a restaurant. Well, a soda or lemonade to drink is $2.49 around here. For the kids it ranges from $.99 to $1.99 each. We are four, 2 adults 2 kids and in one month of ordering water with our meal and having a soda or lemonade when we got home, we save between $7 and $9 each week! Which is $28 a month! I mean, how worth it is that?!! I love it. You actually save more than the cost of the drinks, because you also dont have a higher bill that you are paying a tip percentage on! Your bill is less, you tip less, =more you save.

one other idea for you-- we also no longer go to the movie theatre to watch movies. It just isnt worth it to us. Again, 2 adults, 2 kids, admission alone is $14 for the kids and $20 for us for a total of $34. Then, if you buy a snack or drink, and lets face it, its pretty tough [for me anyway] to smell that wonderful popcorn and not have any! So people can spend anywhere from $5 on up [per item] for that. Shucks, I have seen people spend $40 at the concession stand!
Well, we changed to netflix. We pay only $9 a month, and we get all the movies we can possibly want. Not only that, but you can watch them whereever you are!! For example, my little sister came to visit, she had netflix at the time we did not- we wanted to watch something- the men wanted to watch sports- so we grabbed the laptop [or we could have chosen to watch on a different t.v. or on a cell phone even!] sat together and watched a movie on her laptop! It is streaming or something like that they call it. Its not just "older dated" movies either. Eat Pray Love was available not long after it left theatres. Granted, not ALL of them are, but enough that we are happy with it! We get unlimited movies all the time for less than a family of four would pay at the movie theatre just going once or twice a year! Its worth it to us. You dont really socialize while at the movies anyway-- cuz youre watching the movie! So if you wanna see someone, catchup, its better to do something else anyway so that you can actually communicate!
I see Ive rambled on for miles here and I had better close it up before they come drag me away!
I feel for you, I really do. I dont blame you for how you feel, and I think its true of many places in the country right now. Those deals just arent as good as they were years ago. Period. Im hoping someday they come back but in the meantime, cut corners where you can and continue to just make the best of it.. all you can do... plus, I can tell you are that kind of person anyway, since you couponed and saved $100 in the past!!! :)
Take care. Im thinking of you.

[CouponQueen23]

^ Lots of great advise^^
I ditto the net flix we have it not only do you save on addmission and snack, but the cost of gas too.

Also do yodo mail in rebates not sure if KY is a nbpr state, just an idea, I can justify a lot of purchases I make doing rebates. I have noticed Dh and myself need to try transitional eatting. I think I spelled it right. It is more money and harder to find deals, on fresh fruits and veggies. I agree farmers markets are great! I plan to do another garden this year. Deal hunting can be exusting and sometimes it might seem like the amount of time vested is just not worth it. I know there have been times when I need a deal and it hasn't been around in a while or I am trying really hard to trade for coupons that are far and few between. The amount that people want for them really doesn't justify the deal and like you said if they don't show uo it time it really blows it. I know where you are comming from. I deal with the roller coaster couponing. I shop hard and heavy then back off a little. I try to keep the main nessessities stocked regularly, Like Tp, paper towels, laundry soap, dishwasher soap, baby wash, diapers, deodorants, shavers, shampoos, conditioners, all those types of things that really don't expire. I stock up really good when they are free or close to it. This way I never pay full price, and When I don't have a coupon for something healthy I can be like well all the stuff that gets washed down the drain was rock bottom prices so I can handle paying for somthing that is good for us to eat. Congrats on the new little one btw it has to be hard making time for everything. I only have 3 kids and I find it challenging to do everything sometimes.

[fungirl2727]

I will shop like crazy on super dbl and get tons of stuff for like nothing! Then all the other wks I haven been going to costco and stuff.

[melodyjg]

The coupons lately have been quite boring also.....that alone has put me in a slump! Maybe you are just feeling the same thing, don't worry too much.... You will find your groove again:)

Take care!

[bryansilvia]

When hubby and I got stationed here in England I had a freak moment.. my first thought was omg I will only have one store to shop at and no Sunday paper with coupons!
I am grateful I can use expired coupons and thanks to the donation of many on HCW I am still able to save money plus help other families here save as well. I find that a lot of my coupons come from writing the companies and complimenting there products. I even write those that I do not regulary use to get coupons so I can trade for ones that I actually do use.
There is a fantastic list up here on HCW under the contacting companies challenge.Someoen took the time to make a datebase so you just click the link to go to the company sites,, write them a nice compliment and wait for your mail.(I suggest not asking for coupons) Try to contact a couple a day and wait for your coupons to start arrving in the mail.
Since you are preggers make sure you get singed up with all the different sites that do clubs. I think Huggies and Pampers have stuff they send out and a few other places to.
Good Luck and dont beat yourself up over it.You will get back into things just enjoy this special time in your life and worry about coupons later.I do recommend signing up for all the sites that have baby clubs etc.. a lot of times they will send you coupons. free samples and so forth.