One think I find annoying is that so many coupons now are for $1 off when you buy 3 of an item. I'd much rather have a 0.35 coupon on 1, because most stores will double the smaller coupons.

I would if my twice a week paper included them. I'm not buying a large Sunday paper at over $2.50 to get a few cents off coupons...maybe..if there is something I use in there.
Our store here is not really large, but they do have ocassional special deals...and if they are for something we use, like if I buy a pack of ground beef, they throw in taco shells, refied beans, cheese & a head of lettuce...I'll buy the ground beef.
I don't subscribe to magazines with food ads (no magazines actually, I just buy an ocassional quilt magazine if I see an article I want to read).
I did just sign up to get Johnson & Johnson coupon book in the mail...and downloaded a 1.00 off Girahdelli chocolate.
We buy mostly meats & store brands, so coupons not real helpful.
Why by 90 of an item just because it's almost free? We buy what we will use, not what we can get a coupon for.

I have used coupons for years. When the kids were little, I would put the amount of money I saved into an envelope and use that for Christmas for a mini vacation. Now I use the savings for fabric purchases. If I don't save much one week I don't buy anything.

I use coupons for dog/cat foods, and if there are any on flours, choc chips, milks, coffees teas stuff like that - I'm crazy for fresh fruits and veggies, but they are so darn expensive I only buy what is in the middle of the season cheap. Trying to garden for a lot of fresh foods.

I try so hard not to buy any processed stuff, and read labels like crazy. I felt so sick for a few days in a row last week I thought I must be getting ready to have a heart attack. Told hubs, he made me just some eggs (3) and toast from bread I'd baked and tea, and after a few hrs I felt a million times better. He's now gone to the lake and Ive been eating fresh salads, fresh veggies, coconut milk and tea (green) and I feel like a top! I can't stop running around and getting stuff done - its amazing! All the meat I had was a little boiled chicken from making chicken soup fresh, no beef at all for a week. It works best for me to eat (esp a sm breakfast every day!) small bites thru the day, no one huge sit down meal, just what fits on a salad plate every 2-3 hrs, up until about 6PM. sharet

I use a lot of store brands I also shop at Aldi's and Sav-A-Lot and Miejer's-M has better prices on paper products and my coupons come in handy there and a much better produce selection The only groceries I get at Wal-Mart are my tea bags and Tony Packo Pickles Our Wally stores are high dollar stores as far as groceries are concerned,and their meats are way over priced I refuse to pay 2.19 lb for a whole fryer when I can get breasts for 99cents lb at Miejers not on sale

Yes I do. I understand what you're saying about the fresh food, but every once in a while there is a Q for Olivia's salads and other produce - you have to keep your eyes peeled.

I very rarely buy toiletries, paper products, cleaning supplies or non-perishables without a coupon. I even have my daughter who is in college using them! Meghan

me too

The local newspaper in Green Valley, Az had an article in August about a recent wide-spread problem of people putting money in newspaper vending machines for one newspaper but taking out a bunch of newspapers, pulling out the coupon inserts, and leaving the remainder of the papers by the machines. Guess this is a sign of the times.

Rarely do I find coupons that I can use. Bummer!

I am not a fanatic at collecting coupons, but I do use them whenever I find something that I use a lot.

Yes, I use coupons. Toilet paper, paper towels, hair dye, laundry and dish soaps, bleach, soups, soda, candy, ice cream---all this in one day about 3 days ago. I go to Walgreens and use their coupons all the time.

For many folks 'the top ramen diet' is normal. But congressmen only have 400,000 discretionary money. Poor babies! :roll:

aw, let them eat ramen...

I can and preserve a lot, so I don't need as much from the grocery store except fresh stuff in the winter. I do use coupons for cleaning products, shampoo and pet food, and usually save about $5 with every trip to Wal-mart for those things. I clip only those coupons for products I already will buy anyway, since I don't use a lot of name brand things.

same here but we do use the coupons for cat food when we get them. diabetic here too. i like to make a big pot of soup i can eat on when dh is at work. the canned has to much salt and sugar. also make my own pasta sauce cause they also put sugar in that. since having diabetis i have been amazed at what they put sugar in and also found i can't eat msg and that it in alot of stuff too.so only fresh stuff here too.also got to watch carbs of course.

I use coupons for the things we regularly use. I live with my DD and her family and I'm the official coupon clipper. So I make out the grocery list, clip the coupons we usually can save at least $20 per grocery run. I just can't stand to see money thrown away and if there is a coupon available why not use it?

We have a larger family and buy bulk. Also I have allergies to spices and processed things so I make everything from scratch. So no coupons here. We also make our own ice tea and drink water, no juices and soda. I find that coupons are mostly on prepared foods and smaller packages.

We used to make our own soda. I put the bottles in the bath tub in case they burst. One day DD was serving some of our finest for some guests and told everybody "My mom made this root beer in the bath tub...." For a minute I thought I was going to get to drink all of it...

I SHOP ON MILITARY BASE BU

Yes I know how you feel...with my husbands allergies to wheat soy, corn, vinager, most spices, most everything has to be fresh and made from rice. It really limits ones inspiration for cooking.

I am in the same boat. I only eat whole foods, and I only clean with white vinegar. I give restaurant coupons away to friends who eat out a lot.

I use coupons only for things I use regularly - mostly things like handlotion, soap, toilet paper/paper towels, cleaning items, etc. Very few times do I find coupons for food items, and mostly then just things like tomato sauce, vinegar, mayonnaise (but not if it has high fructose corn syrup in it), yogurt, butter, milk. I find myself shopping more and more at farmers' markets. Since I don't use boxed/prepared foods and junk foods, coupons don't play that big a role for me. But I do try to take advantage of specials, which aren't quite as "special" as they used to be. Some stores here used to offer double and even triple value for coupons, but that ended a while back. If you coupon a lot, check online and see if there are coupons available for what you're going to buy. Sometimes even individual grocery stores have their own downloadable coupons online, and many have in-store coupons available.

went to our Giant Eagle the other day Bill was 160.00 after coupons and specials bill was 110.00 worth it to me to cut out the coupons, I'll use store brand but if I can save money with a doubled coupon I'll get the name brand.

I try to, but you are right. I don't find many for fresh fruit/veggies, and meat. Mostly cleaning items, and health/beauty stuff.

I use coupons for things I will use - wish there were coupons for fresh fruits and veggies.

We have Fresh & Easy stores in So. California. Their prices are competitive or lower than the major super markets. I get an email coupon from them every week for $10 off on an order of $50 or more. They specialize in fresh produce and meats, so my coupon does go for the kind of things I buy. I just got back from getting from getting groceries for the week. My bill was $60.76, less $2.98 for one free salad dressing (2 for the price of one) and the $10 coupon, total $47.61.

Fresh and Easy is coming to Northern California soon!