YOU In Bloom ~ Clip it to the Bank

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Coupons Gotcha Down?

(Yes, that’s my dorky hubby! Don’t we make a great pair?!)

On a fairly regular basis, I receive emails from newbie couponers that say they want to give up….. They want to throw in the towel and the coupons 😉 ! They’ve had a bad experience with a mean cashier, their coupon beeped, they’ve invested 5 hours organizing and still don’t know what is what, they’ve over-spent at the grocery store because their coupons didn’t scan properly, the person behind them in the checkout line scowled and glared…. And the list goes on and on.

I know from experience that couponing can definitely present a variety of challenges, but I also know that in the long run, it is absolutely worth it! I am dedicated to providing words of encouragement and sharing my own experiences as a means to help beginner couponers have a successful journey into the amazing world of saving money. Today, I ask you to do the same…. Please lift the spirits of these struggling readers by leaving words of motivation, inspiration, and wisdom below! 🙂

Thank you so much for participating!

Join The Discussion

Comments 299

  1. Alyssa

    Hey Ruth, a great friend and I had a horrible experience at a grocery store. I would try a couple of different avenues I would call the store and see if you can get the store manager’s name, number and when they will be in next. Try to talk with them face to face with coupon policy in hand. Stay calm and stand your ground. We all can make mistakes but we also know how undertrained the employees can be on their own coupon policy, so stay humble it could have been just a mistake either way. Really emphasize how embarrassed you are and how you feel that regardless it could have been handled better. If you feel satisfied with the Store Managers resolve make sure that he has the employees involved either apologize to you or that he speak with them while you are there. That was a big problem with our situation was that the manager kind of blew speaking with the employees off and they always saw us as the bad guys. If you don’t feel satisfied with the Store Manager’s resolve contact corporate (and let the Store Manager know that you will be taking this matter higher) or get the district or regional managers number.

    I am not a confrontational person myself and I still haven’t shopped at that store yet, but I think that it forced the employees to really look at the couponing education and realize that sense it is just beginning to get bigger where I live that they need more education for all of their employees. The regional manager, in our case, wants to meet us at the store, apologize with the employees there and follow us couponing and checking out to really see how we are saving so much. All the employees thought was that we were somehow ripping the store off. We have nothing to hide so we are more than happy to help educate them.

    Hang in there, even if you need to take a break from Target until you feel more comfortable shopping there again, there are always more deals elsewhere. I think that once you know how much you can save with coupons it is really hard to pay full price. What you do with couponing is worth it for you, your family and your finances. I hope that helps you, I really understand:)

  2. Michelle

    I too dove it too deep for just beginning and got burned out. But. when I basically stopped clipping all together, I felt ill at the checkout watching the total rise. That was my motivation. I just kept thinking… “a month ago, I would have never paid that, why am I now?” That was when I knew I had to push through and it is going great now. I don’t get in a frenzy if I miss on a really good deal because I know one will pop up again. I enjoy my life and clip coupons in between. A good place to clip for me is sitting at the doctors office waiting room or in the floor in front of the tv on Saturday mornings. You just find little ways to fit it in. My 5 year old actually started helping me clip. He thinks it is fun and is actually pretty good at it. So, don’t get too discouraged, you just have to push through and really concentrate on the end result.

  3. Jeanette

    It’s all about balance. If I don’t get the chance to go to the store, life will go on without the free after ECB toothpaste. Sometimes I miss that the cashier scanned a coupon twice, and sometimes I miss that the cashier didn’t scan a coupon at all. I leave my inserts unclipped, make my shopping list based on sales and what I need, then check coupon databases online to see if I have a coupon for anything I need. And I love all these blogs that do all the work for you. Definitely helps, I don’t have to reinvent the wheel. 🙂

  4. Ann

    I know for some this isn’t possible but I do shopping in 2 trips. My husband will always do the shopping for me but he WON’T do coupons. So we have 2 lists…one without coupons and one with.
    He shops on Saturday mornings and I shop on my lunch on fridays. I know some don’t feel the need but I ALWAYS let the clerk know I have lots of coupons and I also let the person behind me know I have coupons, that way if the choose they can find another check-out line. (believe I have made many clerks and other shoppers believers when they see some of the totals….especially with the free coupons!) I only clip coupons for products I actually use on a regular basis. That high dollar coupon doesn’t really save me anything if I dont ever use the product!

  5. Jenna

    Don’t stress out. Start slow, maybe just a store or two. And as you master them add more if you’d like. It’s OK to miss a deal…I still sometimes feel a bit of guilt…but tell myself IT IS OK and it will go on sale again. Just try to focus on what you did get! Hang in there! It is so worth it and the best thing you can do to make your money really go a long ways!

  6. Bev

    Yes, it can be stressful at times, but when you realize how much $$ you’re saving, it is worth a little stress! If you’ve been couponing for a long time, maybe you need to take a break, or at least back off for a little while. I’ve found I need to forget about getting every single deal out there, and just concentrate on what is really necessary. Hang in there!

  7. heidi

    I have couponing for 30 years and let me tell you I am glad for every coupon I’ve clipped. I can’t imagine how much money I have saved in that time. I will say it is always work to get it all organized, but I think you will learn a method that works for you. Don’t think you have to do it exactly like someone else. I had a system and thought hey that person’s system looks better I’ll try it – it wasn’t better and took me hours to change mine over to hers and then 10 minutes to change it back after several months of trying hers. Mine is not as organized, but even if I have to look for a coupon I still save time because filing every single coupon I had took me forever. You can do it. Develop a tough skin when you get the looks – you are doing nothing wrong. You might even say that to the person sweetly – I am just trying to save some money here and I am not doing anything wrong. I actually had a Walgreens checker tell me she wished I would not shop there. Too bad I am and I am using coupons and trying to save my money, so I can go on a vacation and go out to eat and go have some fun with the money I saved. You go girl. I don’t know you, but I am rooting for you. I aways encourage new people who see how much I’ve saved to try it. I will stop and write down blog names and coupon sites, because It is smart to save money.

  8. Northeasterner

    Dont try to be Super Coupon Queen when you first start out! If you have never used coupons and you use just one, you have taken your first step forward! Set small goals like using 1-5 coupons this week and when you reach your goal, set another one. Each small victory is money saved and one step closer to being the couponer you want to be! 🙂

  9. Morgan

    I’m going on my fourth month of couponing and it’s really starting to pay off!! I was frustrated at first, but it’s gotten so much easier with practice and it’s really motivating to see how much my bills have gone down. I have a great stockpile of toiletries and food. As far as other people go, don’t let them get to you. I go into the store with a positive attitude and am friendly to people and 98% of the time I get the same treatment in return! I’ve had many cashiers say they are impressed with my savings and I’ve even told them about Hip2Save. I’ve also had nice older women in line behind me at Target ask me how much I saved and congratulated me rather than being impatient. For the most part I feel like you get back the kind of treatment you give people. And for the 2% of the population that are always rude and mean to everyone – I just feel sorry for them that they live such an unhappy life. Keep couponing and figure out what works for you. Good luck!!!

  10. CeeCee

    I grew up in a frugal family–not because we didn’t have money, but because my parents were children of the Great Depression who didn’t believe in spending haphazardly. So I ‘ve always used coupons, but getting on this site took it to another level.

    I think most of us have had some problems getting a organization system down. Or had some trouble with our coupons not being applied properly when we got to the hardcore couponing…like $100.00 or more off your grocery bill at a time.

    I almost stopped when I trying to figuring out how to stand up for myself at the register without coming across as being rude. For me these steps work; I hope you can gleam something from them too.

    The first thing that helped me was to break down my shopping, even at the same store, take fewer items to the cashier at a time–even if it means a couple extra trips to the cashier. You can watch how the scanning up without getting overwhelmed. It’s more time consuming, but in the beginning, less items means less mistakes.

    Next, one of the most important things is to pull your coupon the moment you put the item in your basket. That way, you’ll have all coupons in a pile, and don’t have to remember four items later what coupon you forgot. It also saves on those post-check out trips to customer service to get your money back from the coupons you forgot to pull.

    Read your coupons, some won’t multiply at all and are face value only. I know it sounds stupid and overly simple, but it helps in the next step. Most importantly some coupons have additional information further down the coupon. I once got 2.5 lbs of Wild Alaskan Cod for about $1.23 w/tax when they were on sale for $3.99 a pound. The coupons had a clause in a small paragraph off to the side stating that when buying fresh fillets, the package needed to be at least a pound, where as frozen fillets could be any size package. I live in Colorado…pretty much all seafood is froze before it’s in the case and I was going to freeze it anyhow. So I picked up all the 1/4 lb packages I could find. Needless to say, it pays to read your coupons!

    Always, always count the dollar amount of your coupons and the number of coupons you are using before you get in line. This way you know exactly how much you SHOULD be saving. If your bill is not reduced that amount, you can be sure the cashier didn’t ring them up correctly. And you can back it up if you know how many coupons you gave him/her too when it states how many coupons were applied. I usually write how many coupons I have under each denomination, and note how many won’t multiply. I know it sounds a little OCD, but I have used this method repeatedly to get money I overpaid when my coupons were not applied correctly. And I am talking about $20.00+ at Safeway in one trip, and smaller amounts at other stores–but it all adds up.

    Lastly, be nice to the cashier. She/he is human, they have bad days too. Treat them with respect…get off the phone or quit talking to everybody around except them. (All that Golden Rule stuff your learned as a child…it applies big time here) They will be more willing to help you if there is a mistake on the bill. And if you, yourself, made the mistake thinking, for example, your chip coupon said B1G1, when it actually was for B1G1 50% off–apologize. Let’s face it, if you own up, they’ll be more apt to be nice when they double check the bill when they make a mistake.

    I hope some of my methods help you. I carry a coupon wallet with me at all times, or at least, in my car. I always have a list when I set out on a shopping trip. And before leaving, I put all the coupons I plan on using in a special area of my coupon wallet, and pull as I go. If I get a rain check, I immediately attach my coupons to the rain check when I get home, then file it in the wallet.

    With all these methods, I’ve been able to save about 70% – 80% off each weeks grocery bill, and yes, that includes some meats (not lunchmeat). I must disclose that I have several freezers and a 20′ x 12’ pantry with built in shelves that give me the ability to stock up–a luxury most people do not have. I buy extra Sunday newspapers from a small store that lets me have them for almost nothing, and ask my friends/family to print coupons from their computers.

  11. April

    That is a funny pic! Yes he looks like a dork as well but like I always tell my daughter…..if we all werent a little dorky sometimes, the world would be a pretty boring place!!!!

  12. Teresa T.

    I needed this advice – Thanks for all the positive feedback. I have been couponing since October and have saved a lot. I still get a little nervous and it takes a lot of time, but is worth it and I’m getting better!

    I try to always be kind to the cashiers and thank them for their help and I have even asked them to help me as I started out – asking them to tell me if I had done something wrong. They have all been nice so far.

    Always take coupons with you and just try to do the best you can! A $1.00 saved isn’t $10.00, but it’s still a $1.00! Have fun! If it’s not fun, then hardly worth it, at least for me! I tell everyone this is the funnest hobby ever!

  13. Sheri

    Sometimes you get that cashier that breathes heavy when you hand over the coupons. Sometimes they question every other coupon as to the legitamacy. Sometimes they ask you if you got the product or the right amount of products. Sometimes if you don’t watch them closely, they try to hurry and push coupons thru without getting them punched in right.
    Hang in there! I always have to remind myself that I’m doing it for me and mine and that it is all worth it. When I can purchase everything on my list and only pay $42.00 for $168.00 of groceries and misc., I can pat myself on the back and be proud. It is work, but it pays well and you are your own boss!

  14. Dawn

    I am a working mom with 2 small kids, so I don’t have a ton of extra time to hop from store to store to get the best deals. I feel that my couponing experience is a success when I look at the amount I save on my receipt. I know that I could get better deals sometimes, but sometimes the aggrivation of going to different stores with the kids is not worth the amount I would save! My best advice is to be super organized. I used to only bring the coupons that I thought I would need, but lately I bring all my coupons in case I see something super cheap. If I have a coupon it would make it an even better deal. Don’t give up, but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t do it perfectly everytime! Do what works for you:)

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