Coupons as a Savings Strategy

by Debbie Clark (DealDebbie) | More from this Blogger

30 Jul 2009 09:34 PM

It's no secret that faithful readers of the Deals Blog like to find inside information and how-tos for saving with smart shopping strategies and coupons. Well, it may not be a secret, but what we know just got a bit more public.

The Deals Blog of Families.com was mentioned in Jonathan Burton's Life Savings column in MarketWatch from the Wall Street Journal. We're right up there with some of the major deals websites. Welcome to all who have found us from that link! Enjoy this blog and our other frugal articles as well.

What I found interesting was not only Jonathan Burton's well written article, but the overwhelming negativity of many comments. You would think that clipping coupons was a big waste of time for very little money. Clearly the folks who think that have not been reading this blog or other that match up coupons with sales, tell you about little known deals, connect you with printable coupons, and make it possible to routinely save anywhere from 20% to 80% or even 100% off your grocery bill.

For my money, the time spent finding, clipping, printing, and sorting coupons, and matching them to sales has a pretty good rate of return. Last week's Winn-Dixie trip was not spectacular, but it left more money in my pocket than if I had just bought what I wanted with no concern and no discounts. With coupons, I took $12.00 off a $60.50 bill. Much of that $60.50 was meat (buy 1 get 1 free) and vegetables. I used a store coupon for $10 and two $1 printable coupons for ice cream. That $12 is now in my pocket as cash.

What's the rate of return on stocks these days? I can guarantee you that household budgets are significantly stretched by coupons and similar savings. No longer a matter of 10 cents here and there, a collection of $1 and $2 coupons on items you use, coupled with store sales and special offers has a DYNAMIC rate of return on your investment of time, attention, and newspaper purchases and printing costs.

Coupons are not income, but they are spent like cash. And these days, everyone needs all the cash they can keep. Stay with the program, clipping, saving, organizing, and tracking the deals, and you'll keep more of your income from being spent - and stock up on the essentials you need.

Coupon savings are a serious part of many household budgets now. The time invested in the hobby pays off big. The ink and paper spent on printing internet coupons pays off when you print what you know you need. When you combine these with deals that just cycle back, like the Kroger deal I mentioned in the last article, the snowball of savings is truly making a difference in taking the financial "heat" off households.

Learn more about Debbie Clark (DealDebbie)

I'm a veteran deal hunter with two grown sons. I have been clipping coupons and doubling up with rebates and sales and points rewards since they were babies.

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