Is Couponing Really Worth It?
By Kate Ashford from Parents Magazine
What mom hasn’t heard tales of women who buy $500 worth of groceries for $12 and been intrigued, even envious? Don’t be fooled, though: Being a serious couponer is hard work. “It takes hours of going through circulars, matching them with sales, and driving to stores,” says Andrea Woroch, a consumer-savings expert for Kinoli, which runs CouponSherpa.com and GiftCardGranny.com. “The average mom doesn’t have time for that.” In fact, 64 percent of Parents readers polled spend less than one hour per month collecting coupons or don’t do so at all. Still, the cost of food, diapers, and toiletries can add up.
So will couponing improve your quality of life? Here are six questions to ask yourself before you start to see if it’s right for you.
1. How much free time can you devote to couponing?
The best couponers treat their hobby like a part-time job. “The people who save $1,000 a month devote ten to 20 hours a week to it,” says Joanie Demer, cofounder of TheKrazyCouponLady.com.
2. Do you have space?
One way couponers expand their savings is by buying discounted items in volume. Pick five to ten products that you use up quickly (toilet paper, diapers, cereal, etc.) for bulk purchases. If you don’t have the space, choose small things to store, such as deodorant and wet wipes.
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3. Are you willing to travel to multiple stores each week?
If the next-closest supermarket is 30 minutes away or you don’t have time to store-hop, this probably isn’t the most efficient way to save money, especially when you factor in the cost of gas. Novices should consider selecting two stores for starters: a basic food market and a drug or big-box store (such as Target or Walmart).
4. Are you up for reading the fine print?
Stores have specific limits: They may not accept double discounts or might disallow them for items already on sale. They may also restrict how many units of a reduced item you can purchase. Rules can also change at any time, so you’ll need to do your homework before you shop.
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5. How do you feel about haggling?
You may need to argue your case with a cashier who isn’t familiar with the coupon policy. Print the rules from a retailer’s website and carry them with you. You should also be prepared to annoy the customers behind you in line, who must wait until all your discounts are scanned.
6. Are you organized?
Couponing is not recommended for those who are organizationally challenged. It requires you to track sites, circulars, newspaper coupons, and manufacturer offers, as well as expiration dates. You also have to bring the right ones when you shop. “If coupons are scattered across the floor of your car, you’re not going to find it’s worth the effort,” Demer says.
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