What percentage of your coupons do you use?

[Paintbrush]

Generally, since coupons come in groups, about what percentage do you use from each source you obtain? Or, conversely, what percentage of your coupons do you end up throwing out/getting rid of because they are expired or trading because you know you will never use them?

Numbers don't have to be precise. I'm just curious about what the going trend is. I know that my mother looked at the last set she got from redplum and said "Most of these I won't use. What am I supposed to do with them?" She'd found only 10 of the pages to be something she'd actually buy. The rest were irrelevant to her. Since I'd just helped her put her binder together, she was asking to figure out if she should put them in it or not.

I know I just filed about ten expired q's, and I've only been collecting them for a month (that's minus the ones that expire in a week). My life had not been my own for April and I'm just now getting to where I am not on other people's "honey do" lists. (not even talking about spousal honey do's). Only a couple of the q's I had that expired were ones I'd lament for two seconds even. But I am gaining a nice little stockpile of q's and just got curious.

So... how many/what percentage of q's end up in your "will use" / "won't use" piles?

[sheldensb]

I just recently started couponing and was wondering the same thing from veteran couponers?

I've only been seriously using coupons over the past few weeks, but I will say that by collecting my 3 Sunday paper inserts and supplementing with printables from various online sources, I've been able to save a minimum of $30 on every shopping trip I've had--resulting in roughly a 45-50% savings overall from my totals. This to me justifies having any coupons I won't/don't use in my binder, because I make up for my savings on my bill way over what those coupons are worth.

That said, I would say I've used maybe 10% of the coupons I've collected so far, but then I'm only shopping my store sales items and trying to start a stockpile with those items. I've noticed that my stores sales seem to happen a few weeks after a particular insert has come out, so be on the lookout for deals in the coming weeks.

There are definitely coupons that I don't/won't use, like hair coloring, pets, and some medicines, but everything else I keep, just in case I find a deal that I can get for cheap or free to donate to our local food bank or women's shelter. I've also seen that HCW has a trading forum here, so even if you get coupons you won't use, you could see if you could trade them on here for ones you're looking for or will use. I know that some stores also have community coupon bins in the front of the stores where you can donate coupons you don't want for others to use.

Coupons are great if you use them, so just be aware of the deals that you tend to take advantage of, and enjoy the savings! HTH! :)

[belinda2]

I don't think you will find a good average number. Every family is different with different dietary needs. Usually on Saturday I'll go through and throw out coupons which have expired and make room for new ones. I try and trade coupons I don't need for those I will need.

I cut out only those I will use and those I Think might use and new products are fun to investigate. All others are left with the insert page and filed for later trades. There is no point in cutting out cat coupons when we don't have a cat. But I have cut out cat coupons for a trade in situations where the trader wanted a specific coupon. It is nice to be able to give coupons to someone who can save on cat litter, treats or food.

[JulieDB]

Of the ones I see in the paper I use maybe 10 to 20%. Occasionally I will find one in a magazine I can use. And in searching for two weeks I think I have found 3 I could print online.

[cheapdate29]

"What am I supposed to do with them?"

Our military families overseas can use coupons up to 6 months after the expiration date. Of course, their commissaries don't have the variety of products that we have stateside so I've contacted some families and they are going to send me a list of what is commonly available.

I only keep the grocery, laundry/cleaning and personal care like body wash, deodorant, shampoo, etc.

When I get the lists I'll start an adoption program for them where we can send coupons directly to them and know it will be something they can actually use.

[motherofmolly]

we have a sticky in the expired coupons post ( at the top of the forum) where you can send your expireds to overseas military. you are paired up with a specific trader to send them too.

as far as using them, i dont get the paper anymore. our coupons stink. so i trade and purchase what i need. i do print alot of coupons...and probably do not use 50% of the printed ones i print. but as far as the coupons i trade for, more than 80%.

[motherofmolly]

www.printablecouponspot.com sister site to here. lots of great printables. for just about everything. including stuff besides food (borders, michaels, restaurants, etc)

[vica]

I use about 5% of all qs I have, 10-20% go to others via trades.

I guess I have too much junk nobody wants