[barb0812]

I apologize if this topic has already been addressed...I would love to know what folks are doing to maintain same level of savings with all the new coupon requirements?

For example, I have noticed that where many coupons used to requie only 1 item be purchased, now it is 2 or 3. The savings for items like "buy 3 boxes of cereal (10oz or greater) and save $1" seems hardly worth the effort for such little savings.

I have also noticed that even food companies are placing larger restrictions on their coupons or requiring that you purchase 1 item to get a discount on another.

Finally, many have gotten savvy to wording of coupon and place restrictions on size.

Would love to know how you all do it...on a good trip, I can manage between 40-49% savings but it has gotten pretty challenging.

I suppose with the rise in fuel, droughts, etc have increased food prices and reduced marketing dollars for coupons or are there just more people using coupons then ever before, something many companies did not anticipate??

Appreciate the feedback, folks!

[Z and G's Mom]

I think we all need to be accepting of the fact that we are not going to see the freebies that we used to see. Manufacturer's - for the most part - are becoming MUCH more coupon/sale savvy... while I used to get boxes of cereal for less than $1 on a regular basis, my stock up price is now $1.50. (Sometimes you can still hit that $1 mark but not nearly as frequently as in the past.)

I'm all for people using coupons but with the "show", I think a good deal of people are trying and not doing it correctly which is hurting us all. Also, back in the day, there were many less people stockpiling... they might have been couponing but not purchasing 50 of one item like many are doing now. I think manufacturers have caught wind of that and that's why the wording has changed on so many q's.

Unfortunately, the prices will need to keep going up if the businesses want to stay in business. Fuel prices affect shipping costs which in turn affect the savings that those manufacturers can pass on to us. Climate/weather will ruin crops and drive up prices.

I used to only stock up for 3-6 months but now I will stock up for a year if I find a great deal on something bc I am afraid that between now and then the rules will change again.

I'm also very lucky to live in a city that has multiple of just about every store you could possibly imagine within 15 minutes of my house. A dozen Kroger, more than a dozen CVS, Wags and RA, 3-4 Meijer, 3-4 Wal-Mart, 3-4 Target, etc, etc, etc. My running doesn't typically eat up a bunch of gas and I always try to plan my trips around the other errands I need to do that day.

[siriradha]

Originally Posted by barb0812

I apologize if this topic has already been addressed...I would love to know what folks are doing to maintain same level of savings with all the new coupon requirements?

For example, I have noticed that where many coupons used to requie only 1 item be purchased, now it is 2 or 3. The savings for items like "buy 3 boxes of cereal (10oz or greater) and save $1" seems hardly worth the effort for such little savings.

This may sound silly, but I just absolutely refuse to use coupons that save under $.50/1. I feel like it's usually a waste of time to deal with those. Maybe I'm being foolish, but I feel like I am saving lots of money without those. YMMV

I have also noticed that even food companies are placing larger restrictions on their coupons or requiring that you purchase 1 item to get a discount on another.

I cut and save those coupons in case there is a fabulous sale in the future, but generally find I don't use them.

Finally, many have gotten savvy to wording of coupon and place restrictions on size.

This is nothing new, just aggravating.

Would love to know how you all do it...on a good trip, I can manage between 40-49% savings but it has gotten pretty challenging.

I suppose with the rise in fuel, droughts, etc have increased food prices and reduced marketing dollars for coupons or are there just more people using coupons then ever before, something many companies did not anticipate??

I would assume that the companies who issue coupons are just trying to save a buck like the rest of us. Part of my protest of not using coupons under $.50 value is that I'm hoping other people will do the same and the companies that are issuing them will find that they are having very few of them redeemed.

Appreciate the feedback, folks!

Thank YOU for asking! I do not always save a huge percentage on all of my shopping trips, but I have enough of the ones where I save 80-100% stocking up on great deals that it makes up for the others!