this is mostly for the ones that do major savings with couponing all thou anyone is welcome to answer. when you shop do you settle for brands you have coupons for rather then the one you would really want. another words if you had a coupon for let say kraft mayo but you really like hellmann's would you get the krafts because it's on sale and you have a coupon, even if you don't care for it?
the reason i'm asking is i try and shop like you's guys do but i can no way save $100's sometimes more. the most i've saved is $55 in one trip. i don't have the triples but even with the doubling i can't save like that. i know i'm spoilded and i like certain things that just won't give up and i'm wondering if thats my problem. thanks

I don't, my family wont eat things we don't like. We don't have double or any of those great deals here. I stock up on items we use when they go on sale and I have a coupon. For example Albertsons had Cheerios on sale for $1 each and I had coupons for .75 off two. I got 40 boxes.

There are lots of things that I'll only buy a certain brand for. When that's the case I don't even clip the coupons for the others.

there are few items that I care which brand I get, so I have an advantage when it comes to couponing.

I won't get stuff we won't eat (or use), unless it is free, then I give it away. I am a regular at the food shelf. donating, that is.

I have only 1 picky kid out of 5. My husband and I are also not very picky. This makes it easier for us. But DH and one DS only eat Heinz ketchup so I would not clip a coupon for another brand of ketchup unless we were hosting a cookout or something of that nature where we might need a bunch of it.

I think for those that are loyal to certain brands they have to be much more diligent in stocking the coupons they do use, possibly join a club to trade the Kraft coupons for the Hellman's, etc. Also those people, like OP, really need to get on the mailing list for as many print ads as possible and go to a store that price matches when they find their brand on sale.

I try to stack a price match and a coupon together when at all possible since we have no stores that double here.

i didn't think supermarkets price matched. i have to check and see if any of my stores do that. thanks

I know superwalmarts do. Our Kroger used to but doesn't any longer. Meijer used to, but I haven't been to one in a long time, my SIL used to work there but it's been about 5 years ago so not certain if they still do. I usually take all my supermarket ads to walmart simply because I usually can get everything in one place that way without going to several stores. Just ask whatever stores you normally shop at and see what they say. It doesn't cost a thing to ask :-)

there are few items that I care which brand I get, so I have an advantage when it comes to couponing.

I won't get stuff we won't eat (or use), unless it is free, then I give it away. I am a regular at the food shelf. donating, that is.

What she said. If we wont eat it, its a waste. There arent many things we are picky about tho. Mayo is one. There are only 2 brands I will buy. And I figure, if I am getting hundreds of dollars of groceries pretty damn near free, I can stock up on my mayo when it goes 2/$3. (and there are usually .90/1 coupons out).

i agree if you don't like it why buy it, but what if it's just not your favorite brand would you still buy it if you could save a bundle?

i agree if you don't like it why buy it, but what if it's just not your favorite brand would you still buy it if you could save a bundle?

sometimes yes, sometimes no. I used mayo as an example. No matter how cheap, i would never buy anything other than Blue Plate or Dukes. If it was FREE, i would pick it up & donate it. other than that, no, I wouldnt get it. Ketchup for example: hubby will only eat Heinz. But the kids are fine with hunts, and so am i. so when i can get hunts for a quarter a bottle, i do. I still buy a bottle of heinz for hubby, but it lasts forever since the rest of us eat the hunts. Is there something in particular you are referring to? cuz alot of times it depends on the product in question.

fabric softener, toilet paper and a few other things there is only one brand that I will use so I don't even bother saving coupons for other brands. dish soap, paper towels, laundry soap there are brands that I prefer but will use most any, but there are some that I won't use so again I don't even bother saving coupons for those brands or even checking prices or pay attention to if they are on sale. most things we are not too picky about, there are some things that I won't buy even if they are a great deal at .25 because we won't use them unless I know that someone else does and can give it to them.

sometimes yes, sometimes no. I used mayo as an example. No matter how cheap, i would never buy anything other than Blue Plate or Dukes. If it was FREE, i would pick it up & donate it. other than that, no, I wouldnt get it. Ketchup for example: hubby will only eat Heinz. But the kids are fine with hunts, and so am i. so when i can get hunts for a quarter a bottle, i do. I still buy a bottle of heinz for hubby, but it lasts forever since the rest of us eat the hunts. Is there something in particular you are referring to? cuz alot of times it depends on the product in question.

nothing in particular just trying to figure out how some of you save so much. i do the couponing but still can't save BIG in any shopping. i sometimes save about 50% but thats rare. it gets frustating to see some of you get $500 or more worth of stuff and only spend less the $100. so i'm trying to learn how to do it and thought that maybe this was something that was done.

nothing in particular just trying to figure out how some of you save so much. i do the couponing but still can't save BIG in any shopping. i sometimes save about 50% but thats rare. it gets frustating to see some of you get $500 or more worth of stuff and only spend less the $100. so i'm trying to learn how to do it and thought that maybe this was something that was done.


I think a lot of times the savings just depend on the stores in your area. Those who typically save tons and tons, have stores that double and triple. Here, in Tulsa, we have only one store that doubles and it's not the best store around so many people don't bother going. I do major couponing/sales/rebates and I can save around $200-$300 a month clipping coupons, but in my area, it can take a lot of planning for me just to get that kind of savings. This is because our stores are crappy when it comes to coupons and deals and we just don't have stores that double or triple.

We are not brand loyal for Ketchup and Mayo, or anything else EXCEPT for Kraft Mac N Cheese. Hunts, Heinz, Kraft, Hellmans we don't care. As far as mayo is concerned we usually mix ours with Ketchup (on burgers) so it doesn't matter...or for a Pasta Salad, again, it is mixed with other flavors so I can't tell. EXCEPT Dukes, I did try it and it is too sweet for me, it tastes like Mircle Whip, which is salad dressing.

Don't care which pasta we buy, laundry soap, tp (except Charmin, it clogs our toilets) shampoo, shaving cream, paper towels, napkins... I am always willing to try something new. For instance we LOVE Pasta Roni and Rice A Roni, but I never seem to be able to get a coupon. I used lipton pasta sides and Rice Sides and also a Matahma Chicken flavored rice thing with my triple coupons and got them all for free...Well, I am glad I did because I found out we like them just the same. And Matahama is cheaper than Rice A Roni. We haven't had the Lipton yet.

I do stock up on EVERYTHING I can when it is on sale and we will use it. I have about 50 cans of Progresso Soup because I had coupons and they were on sale (DH takes them to work plus they have a pretty long shelf life). I think that is how we do manage to save so much is we try to ONLY buy when it is on sale and we have a coupon. I have run out of Mac N cheese several times because I can't get it for Buy one get one, we just go without. And just because it is on sale doesn't mean it is a good price. I will hold out if I know I have seen it cheaper at other times.

Also something you have to realize about the stores that double (and triple), the groceries as a whole are usually more expensive. They have good sales, but they charge more for the other groceries. I used to live in Florida where they did not double. Then I moved to NC (and they double) and the first thing I notice was my grocery bill went up. Milk is more (was atleast $.50 more a gallon) meat, cereal, everything was more for us. The key to the grocery game and couponing is to try and buy only when it is on sale at a good price and you have a coupon. My kids know, if it isn't on sale they can't get it (and if I am feeling really stingy I have to have a coupon too). When a store doubles that comes out of thier bottom line because doubleing and tripling doesn't get paid back by the coupon issuer.

my hubby is one of 8 kids that each have at least 2 of their own children so I pretty much get it if the gettings good lol!! On the other hand yes we are picky about certain brands and will only get them when they are on sale and with a coupon. People at work call me the coupon queen and other names. I love to get deals and also will share if I know that someone really likes something and I can get it for just a few cents because it is on sale with a coupon. My family members like it, and so do a few friends that I donate to. I have never done major shopping and saved hundreds but I feel that I do good with the little I have :)

LoveNcMountains, I ve done the same thing as you mentioned in your 3rd and 4th paragraph. i stock up when it's on sale and i'll try and hold off for that sale when i can. i've also leard that the stores that double do have higher prices of none sale items, so i do my regular shoping at another store.

sunnysky24
i do like you, my friends now call me coupon lady, lol. but now they come to me and ask if i have coupons for some of the products that they use when they go on sale. or i'll notice a coupon and will give it to some one i know can use it if i can't.

Yesterday I went to Harris Teeter
before specials and coupons total was $88.03
coupons $12.50
specials $40.09
oop $35.44

Not one of my coupons doubled.
And I also got a $4.00 coupon off my next grocery order. And I just found a $3.53 error (on store packaged meat of all things-ALWAYS check your reciept) in the stores favor that I will be going back to the store to get corrected.
Not including that $4.00 coupon for my next order that was a 63.75% savings...I think that is pretty good. I will never be as good as Fairydustcrissy...I am happy with anything over 50%

My husband went to work yesterday and asked if he could have some co- workers coupons after they are done using them, if they use them. They agreed as long as what we don't use gets donated to the local food bank that they donate to through work. Everyone benefits. They have a contest at his work for which group donates the most pounds of food. I can't wait to unload some stuff we haven't used. -Its a WIN-WIN-WIN for everyone.

Yesterday I went to Harris Teeter
before specials and coupons total was $88.03
coupons $12.50
specials $40.09
oop $35.44

Not one of my coupons doubled.
And I also got a $4.00 coupon off my next grocery order. And I just found a $3.53 error (on store packaged meat of all things-ALWAYS check your reciept) in the stores favor that I will be going back to the store to get corrected.
Not including that $4.00 coupon for my next order that was a 63.75% savings...I think that is pretty good. I will never be as good as Fairydustcrissy...I am happy with anything over 50%

My husband went to work yesterday and asked if he could have some co- workers coupons after they are done using them, if they use them. They agreed as long as what we don't use gets donated to the local food bank that they donate to through work. Everyone benefits. They have a contest at his work for which group donates the most pounds of food. I can't wait to unload some stuff we haven't used. -Its a WIN-WIN-WIN for everyone.

Hehe, well it makes me smile to know that someone appreciates what I do. Most people think i'm just crazy.

They may think you are crazy but it is the good kind of crazy...Crazy about saving money.

I only wish I had started doing coupons like this years ago. I would start but then forget the coupons or not get the sunday paper so I wouldn't bother anymore. The first 10 yrs of my marriage when I needed to be doing this I wasn't.

Yes, I clip coupons, I buy on sale, I stock up, and i do rebates. I do not buy things my family won't eat. What kind of savings is that? I do buy buy some products, like some of the others, to donate. We have a drive at work every year for the womens shelter, so i always stock up on shampoo and toothpaste and deodorant, things like that.

We also will but most any brand. I guess we are not too picky :)
But I would never get a cake mix because I like to bake.
Most stores here don't double coupons either. The new store is cheaper on most things but I like FLion for dairy (can I name a store?) so we alternate weeks.

yup, you can name a store, unless Brad has gone into the grocery business. You will find stores named all over the site :) welcome.

I like to bake, not love, but like... but cake mixes are so dang easy to do with the kids....

but cake mixes are so dang easy to do with the kids....

I like to bake too, BUT my kids can handle the cake mixes so I do buy them. My son likes to make cup cakes only "Pillsbury Funetti" ones and I have a pumpkin cupcake recipe that calls for a yellow cake mix...And cake/cookie/brownie mixes are so much easier to make than the real deal. (and cheaper with coupon and on sale) I do make the real deal I just find they are not very appreciated now a days so why bother. The only person that really appreciates it is my mom and she can't have sweets anymore cause she has "the sugar". I do make real cookies at XMas time though.

I go both ways: some yes and some no.
You guys are just lucky though for stores.

We have a Meijer's; regular Target / Walmart; no superstores at all.
Mostly local owned Grocery Stores. I am in Northern -;) Western side of Michigan. ;)

But... for mistakes on register tapes? Most stores if not all in MI are required to give you
double what the mistake was... up to $5.00. ie for the 3.53 above she would have gotten
that plus 3.53 for the mistake itself /// or 5.00 but I think the amount of mistake. Target
had to do that with me.

We do have a Sav-a-Lot grocery store as of the past year. But yesterday I noticed the regular grocery store lettuce was less money then the cheaper store. ;)
brenda

I don't, my family wont eat things we don't like. We don't have double or any of those great deals here. I stock up on items we use when they go on sale and I have a coupon. For example Albertsons had Cheerios on sale for $1 each and I had coupons for .75 off two. I got 40 boxes.

if I had kids and Cheerios were that cheap,they will learn to like them VERY quickly!!!!:cheesy: ;)