To Coupon or Not to Coupon?
Is it worth it to clip coupons or not? Savvy consumers want to know.
The question of using coupons is one that experts have weighed in on, both for and against, and one that even major retailers and manufacturers are struggling with. The question is simply whether or not coupons will actually save us money. The answer to that question is absolutely yes…probably.
Probably?
Naturally, coupons can prompt you to spend more money than you would without the coupon. Otherwise, companies wouldn’t put them out. So impulse buyers beware — don’t buy anything you can’t use or wouldn’t normally buy, and always check other brands for lower prices. Also, don’t buy more than you can use:, veggies that go bad in the fridge don’t save you any money. Finally, don’t drive all around town to save pennies while dollars burn away in your gas tank. If you can avoid these pitfalls, you can save money.
Active versus Passive
I think of coupon use along a scale of active and passive use, with each having certain characteristics that help people save. Both have their advantages, and you can slide yourself along the scale at your convenience. Neither is clearly superior, since priorities vary with who is willing to give up more time to save more money. Below, I have a chart of what tends to characterize one or the other type of user. It it is a handy way of seeing just where you fall on the scale.
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| Visits stores often | Does not visit stores often or only goes to one store |
| Gets at least one newspaper and exchanges coupons with friends | Gets one or no newspaper, may or may not get coupons online |
| Looks at sales circulars to get an item at its lowest price | Does not look at circulars |
| Not brand loyal | Brand loyal |
| Buys for many people or a few who eat a lot | Buys for one or two people |
| Stockpiles good deals to last until the next sale | Does not stockpile or already has ample stores |
Any time you see a Coupon Queen on television, you are looking at an active coupon user in the extreme. Active users have the time, energy, and resources to make their coupons work for them. They know each store’s coupon policies and which stores match competitors prices, so they don’t have to drive all over town to get the best deals. They save more at the register and seem to use what they buy quickly.
A passive user simply sees a coupon for a product they use, clips it, and uses it either the next time they go to the store or when they run out of an item. They will save less money but more time. Neither category is absolute and you can find any niche between these types that works for you.
Now What?
If you’ve decided that coupons aren’t for you, that’s fine. There are other ways to save on groceries if you need to. If you have decided to try coupons, or revamp the way you use them, there are plenty of resources online, such as Smartsource and Couponmom. The savings tools are out there for those that choose to use them. In the end, you may even find that the joy you get from snagging a really good deal makes the time spent on coupons well worth it.
Copyright . Published 1 July 2007 in The Zone.
Reader comments
Commenting is closed for this article.