Hardcore coupon clipping is Fight Club for moms
by Lindsay Ferrier
Nashville is full of mom cliques. There are the gym moms, who meet for gossip each morning over the elliptical trainers once little Kayleigh and Hunter have been dropped off at school. There's the Green Hills MOMS Club, a sort of mommy sorority, with dues and scheduled bonding time. There are the lactivists and the scrapbookers, the attachment parents and the pageant moms. And then there are the coupon clippers. Maybe you've noticed them at the grocery, surrounded by kids and toting baseball card binders that contain clear plastic pages filled with coupons. Or perhaps you've stumbled across one of their online blogs, offering scripture alongside helpful links to all the best coupon sites on the web. They're a tight-knit group, almost cult-like in their quest to save more on groceries than they spend.
I've watched them for a few years now, and I've come to the conclusion that no matter how many coupons I manage to use, I will always be relegated to the minor leagues of their coupon-clipping game. I just don't have what it takes to be a savings superstar.
My suspicions were confirmed not long ago, when I met a mom whose claim to fame is spending just $50 dollars a week on groceries for her family of four.
"How is that even possible?" I asked her.
"Well, I do all the usual stuff—cut coupons, print out online coupons, shop store deals," she told me excitedly, "but even with all that, you can't really save big on fresh produce. So I barter."
"You... barter?" I asked, confused. She nodded. "I buy the 10-for-$10 deals at the grocery and trade my extras with local farmers for their fruits and vegetables."
"Whoa," I said weakly. This was hardcore.
With that in mind, I tried to warn my friend Suzie when she told me a few weeks later that she planned to infiltrate the cult of coupon clippers, with the goal of saving a few hundred dollars a month. I could picture Suzie bartering for a pair of gently worn True Religion jeans, maybe—but produce? No freaking way.
Despite my dire predictions, Suzie went right out and bought herself a trading card binder, filled it with coupons (which she clipped with a group of moms who each buy three Sunday papers and then swap the coupons between themselves every week), and went to Kroger on one of its rare triple coupon days. When I called her a few days after her inaugural shopping trip, she was still recovering.
"I couldn't even believe what I saw when I got there," she gulped.
"Do tell," I replied.
"Well, there were women everywhere with, like, 20 rolls of toilet paper in their carts, or 20 bottles of Soft Scrub. And I'm telling you, it was intense," she said. "Those women were sweating."
"Really?" I asked. This kind of sight was new to me, but then again, I had never made it to Kroger on a triple coupon day.
"They weren't very friendly, either," Suzie continued, "but I just had to know what was going on, so I asked one of them. And it turns out that they had all caravanned to our Kroger from an hour away, because apparently only the Krogers near a Harris Teeter do the triple coupon thing."
"Wow," I said.
"Yeah, and they only allow 20 coupons per person on triple coupon days," Suzie said. "So they had all divided up and one of them was in charge of cleaning supplies and one was in charge of paper goods, and so on."
"You're not going to start doing that, are you?" I asked Suzie. "Oh no!" she said. "But I do love my binder! And when I see another woman shopping with a binder, we're like, 'High five!' It's like a secret club! And the binder women are a lot nicer than the caravanners. They have all kinds of advice."
I shook my head in dismay on the other end of the line, imagining that Suzie's eyes had been replaced with swirling, hypnotic black-and-white circles. "So how much did you save?" I asked her.
"Fifty dollars!" she said proudly. Then she paused.
"Was there a problem?" I asked.
"Well," she sighed despondently, "I ended up with a lot of tuna."
I wondered aloud whether Suzie still wanted to be a member of the cult of coupon clippers. She laughed. "Honestly?" she said. "I'd rather pay the $20 dollars and save my sanity."
Welcome to the minors, Suz.
The good news is that there's hope, even for those of us who will never haggle with a farmer over how many Lean Cuisines his tomatoes are worth. While I was writing this column, one mom mentioned that I should check out a grocery savings site called SouthernSavers.com. I did that, used a couple of tips I found there, and ended up saving 25 percent on my grocery bill for the week.
Even the Nashville Sounds hit one out of the park every once in a while.
Read more Suburban Turmoil at www.suburbanturmoil.com.
Comments (21)
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I will admit that couponing here in suburban Nashville is quite addictive. My neighborhood group even has a name, "The Clippin Chicks." My best coupon tip has nothing to do with the couponing. It has everything to do with the actual shopping. I leave my children at home. It does me no good to spend the time clipping the coupons, poring over sites like Hip2save and Coupon Mom, and match my sale items to coupons if I have two barnacles attached to me at Publix. I need total concentration.
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I would have to say I'm in the minors too but I do clip coupons and I use a list from www.grocerygame.com to pair my coupon with sales for that week. You do have to pay a small fee for the list but it is the easiest one I've found to use. It doesn't use the coupon until it's the deepest discount you can get for that coupon with a sale. And it tells you how much you are saving on each item to determine if it's a good deal or not. I usually save anywhere between 40-60% on my grocery bill each week!! The best thing is that I can make my list of just the things I want before I leave for the store so I don't buy things I don't necessarily need- such as a ton of tuna!!
I'm not going to lie. I'm one of the crazies. Well, I used to be, but the last two months I've slacked off a little. One time I GOT PAID $3.28 for buying 17 items. I was pretty proud of that one. My friend and I went to Kroger at midnight on their "double up to $1," and no lie, we were there until 4 AM!!! There were a LOT of other people there too. People way crazier than the two of us. It's become a hobby, if you can believe that. It's like a game. I usually save about 50%-80% on groceries when I coupon, and I took our monthly grocery bill (for the two of us) from $300 to $180, and that includes all the household items (and all the stockpiling!) But I figure, as long as it's fun, I'll keep doing it. http://www.jackandmandy.com And the couponing label of my blog: http://jackandmandy.blogspot.com/search/label/Couponing
I used to do the minor-league coupon thing when I lived in the Orlando area, but now really the only place to shop is WalMart and to tell you the truth, the store brand is cheaper than the name brand WITH a coupon. So I haven't used too many coupons since I've been here in MO. And I have never, EVER CVS'd. Don't even get me started on how much it annoys me that CVS is now a verb. There is no way on the Lord's green earth that I can justify buying 16 car air fresheners just to get $2.00 in extra-care bucks. Ever seen the show "Hoarders" on A&E? I bet those people are CVS-ers.
Well, I'm a two-time Grocery Game dropout. Being a Crazy Coupon mom is something I WANT to be, but I'm not. I'm a minor-leaguer, I guess, when the mood hits. I just honestly could never get into the rhythm of the clipping, price comparing, going to the different stores, etc. I do much better to look at the Kroger flyer, make my list, pull out my small coupon stash, and match coupons to the sale items. Then I'm done for the week. One of the things I found was that we don't use so many of the items that coupons are published for. We don't eat tons of boxed, processed items and don't use supermarket-brand cleaning/toiletries (we buy wholesale from a natural, "green" health/wellness company). It didn't benefit me at all to save $$$ on Pantene or Tide. One unexpected savings tip: Shop at Walgreen's. Check their flyer AND the little coupon booklet at the front of the store. BIG savings on everything from boxed cereal to batteries to sandwich bags. And they usually have those great checkout coupons and they have a generous rebate program. But again, it all requires time and reading and studying and keeping up with receipts. Just not gonna get around to it right now in my world. http://www.writingmomof3.com
I have caught the coupon bug and actually feel a little guilt when I shop sans coupon binder. My best advice for 'minor league' Kroger shoppers like myself is to use shortcuts, cellfire, and p&G on top of the sunday coupons and sales flyer. If you don't like it don't buy it unless you can get it for 50 cents or less and donate it to the local food pantry, they really need it! Also with cvs watch the ECBs sometimes they don't print when you have earned them. If I really want something I don't have a coupon for that I don't really see a sales price that excites me I go to Walmart and if possible I buy the generic. It works well for me. I never get "paid" to shop but I have gotten some things on the cheap or free. hattahall.blogspot.com
LOL Loved this article- too funny! I just started couponing last winter (yes, *gasp*, I have a blog too- www.mamacheaps.com)... it started out just little savings here and there until I got the hang of it. Last month I walked away from Kmart Super Doubles week spending less than $10 for over $150 worth of stuff. Bottom line- it has to be worth it for you. Don't be a hoarder, and only get what your family can and will use. My new coupon clipping lifestyle (and blog) have made it possible for me to stay at home with my 1 year old daughter- something I never thought possible and something I wouldn't trade for anything. :)
You will find 2 types of comments here. One will be the people who think couponers are idiots and thieves and they have nothing better to do with their time. They will ridicule them for stocking up on a year's worth of product and can't understand why they just don't buy when they need. The other group will be avid couponers. They will ridicule the writer for spending SO much ($50 a week) on groceries. They will claim to feed a family of four on about $10 a week. They are the group that laugh at articles on coupon savings, because they are so much better at scamming the system and hardly pay anything for their goods. Of course they have no choice in what brands they use, and what they eat for dinner. After all, if it doesn't come with a coupon, they do NOT buy it! I praise anyone who can save anything with coupons and specials. If you are spending less than you normally would, then it is a good deal for you and nobody else should care. Great article, enjoyed it!
I hate to say that I usually don't clip coupons. The big reason I don't is that generics and Aldi are always cheaper than anything I can find a coupon with a coupon. Last night I sent Hubby to the store with 4 coupons: Mylicon drops, childrens Tylenol, childrens Motrin, and J&J baby bath wash. My Hubby is a wonderful man and had done the math while standing in the store. He came back with 3 generics and the J&J baby bath and said he saved $4 or $5 over the prices he would have paid using name brands and coupons and on at least one product, got more ounces for the price. He also found some clearance diapers for $0.15 per diaper and bought one pack to see if they work well with our baby. I'm going back today to get more. Aldi prices are usually the same scenario. There are really only about 10 items that we frequently consume that we just HAVE to have the name brand. We watch for deals on those items and get 90% of our groceries at Aldi. We're very evangelical about Aldi. Go try it out!
I'm not big on coupons. My mom taught me that buying store brand is the cheapest way to go but lately I've been getting great coupons from Target FOR their Target brands. Also, Costco tends to have great coupons and I found myself getting an extra box of diapers to save $5.00 although money's been tight this year so I don't like to exceed our monthly budget on too many bulk buys. I'm super upset with myself for forgetting to use a $50.00 airline voucher AFTER I had bought tickets. :( Any advice on how to remember a coupon or voucher received about a year ago would be greatly appreciated! http://sprocketswife.blogspot.com/
Just wanted to reiterate Carla's point. Yes! Aldi rocks. Don't make it there regularly because--again--of the time commitment. But I think shopping at Aldi is a brilliant cost-saving strategy!
LOVE THIS! I am SO not the coupon clipping type, but in thinking of ways to pay off my own student loans more quickly to better save for my daughter's college, I was willing to give it a go. Binder and all I resentfully engaged. What it finally boiled down to for me was that I was not going to let a stay-at-home soccer mom outdo me in a game of tactic--a game I play every day in my intense profession. Not to say all stay-at-home soccer moms couldn't be equally as savvy...I'm just picturing the denim plaid jumper, Keds and socks, minivan mom I strived to never become. It's a game now. A hobby I resentfully, but relentlessly, now have out of sheer love for my children!
I am a coupon clipper! but like you I am in the minors. I only cut coupons for items that I normally buy. However if I do have extra coupons...like all those baby items coupons that keep coming for years after you give birth...I offer them to my friends via facebook, etc. I guess I've kind of set up my own coupon exchange via the internet...who has time to actually meet? www.brookeblogsthis.blogspot.com
That is so funny because I witness the same thing at our Kroger recently when they had a super coupon Saturday. I had forgotten and just ran in to get a birthday card. BIG mistake. People were acting like this was the armageddon or something! It was worse than when we have hurricane warnings. I've found Southern Savers and Cellfire (loads Kroger coupons onto your store card so you get them automatically at check out!) They're worth it. I will clip, but I'm really bad about remembering to take them. It's kind of like the fabric grocery totes. They're great when you remember to actually bring and USE them. HA!
I'm a complete idiot when it comes to coupons. I try to salve my ego by thinking that it's not the only way to save money at the grocery store. But I have to admit, this article and the discussion here (and over at Suburban Turmoil, the blog) has me thinking. I'm especially interested in getting my kids into the game, both as a way of playing "real life math" and also having them help to earn moola for the family. As for what I'm good at, I'm a lot better at finding loose change on the ground. Sometimes I visualize how much I would like to find, and then, voila! Anyway, hats off to all of you coupon clippers out there. I salute you. http://jacoblawrencenewman.blogspot.com/
I really laughed when I read this. I guess I would be considered a "hard core" couponer. However, I never leave the house without my Chanel shades or my coach purse. I certainly do not "sweat" when I shop. Not all of us are compulsive hoarders who shop in hair rollers. Many of us verge on brilliant because we can manipulate a sale with our coupons to make our out of pocket from grocery shopping minimal. While I don't barter, I certainly wouldn't cross it off my list. You see people get rich by NOT spending their money. And trust me, you can have a little flair while doing it. Sign me, A Sexy Saver www.thecoupongoddess.blogspot.com
I am a new coupon clipper and my trick is to cut the coupons in the Sunday paper - then read the Kroger, Harris Teeter and Publix ads and match which coupon goes with the sale item at the store (if that works out) If not Harris Teeter doubles up to 99 cents and SOMETIMES triples or sometimes they will do a "double up to $1.99" coupon week and that is GREAT! And to answer your comment on my blog - been to tired to blog :) hopefully can catch up this week Have lots of good pictures to share! Brittany Bspeight.blogspot.com
I'm with you. Coupon clipping just takes so much time and effort. I typically don't buy name-brand stuff anyway, so coupons don't apply for me. I shop my list at Aldi (most awesome store ever), and then head to the local grocery store to pick up whatever Aldi doesn't have. And there, I buy generic.
I am not sure if any of you have heard of yet, but That Free Thing is a company that offers free things. I recently got 50,000 whole life ins as a member and 10,000 United miles for my daughter. The $25 to join pays for itself. Soon will have a mobile app and then launch this company. Great place to get free stuff, and opportunity!
www.afreething.com/alice
Yes I agree with you that Walmart is the cheapest most economical way to shop, I am hooked for very good reason. Here's how I'm able to BUY GROCERIES ONE TIME and then go back to the store and shop and shop and shop month after month and still use coupons if I wanted too. It's awesome. Check it out it's a no-brainer. The WORD IS SPREADING and people are shopping like crazy www.mpbtoday.com/BeaconOfHope
Yes I agree coupon clipping does take a lot of time. Walmart is the cheapest most economical way to shop, I am hooked for very good reason. Here's how I'm able to BUY GROCERIES ONE TIME and then go back to the store and shop and shop and shop month after month and without clipping coupons if I don"t want too. It's awesome. Check it out it's a no-brainer. The WORD IS SPREADING and people are shopping like crazy www.mpbtoday.com/BeaconOfHope
