Do you buy coupons from online sites?

[newbymom05]

I read an article about hard-core coupon cutters in the WSJ the other day about sites like Coupon Clippers--does anyone use them? I normally would poo-poo coupons since I don't want a 6 ft tall stack of Jello packs or flavored water (profiled in the WSJ, ick), but there's a $1 off for almond milk that I could totally use. Please share any experiences!

ETA I should have also asked, how does it work and does it really save any $$. The people in the article almost seemed like they did it b/c they were obsessive rather than they saved their families $$. I only want coupons for things I'm going to use, y/k?

[ShwarmaQueen]

Hmmm I didn't know about them. I might, only if I found things I'm really particular about getting (most things I do store-brand but somethings I like certain brands- King Arthur WW flour, etc.).

[leaveit2beeker]

I do not use the websites. If I find some coupons in the Sunday paper that I like, I hang out until about Tuesday or Wednesday and scoop them up from the coupon corner at the county libraries. If your library doesn't have a swap area for coupons, ask them to consider starting one!! To be fair, I clip and drop off the ones I won't be using, and then help myself to the ones I know I'll use.

What?? All of the coupons for Newman's Own pasta sauce and salsa are gone? All of them?? I have no idea what you're talking about...

[Denvergirlie]

I buy sometimes on eBay. In fact I just ordered 20 coupons for Morningstar frozen soy products on Monday.

I have never used that site, but know it's popular and many people have had great success with getting what they ordered.

I've never had any issues with the purchases I have made on eBay. Like you, I only buy extra's of products I know I will buy. I would say I make 5-7 eBay coupon purchases a year. I've gotten stuff for pennies on the dollar using coupons and pairing with a sale. But I've also just got the coupon discount which is still a money saver.

I'm going to buy Morningstar products regardless, might as well save a few bucks where I can. Normally, I will buy coupons for a price of $2 and get $20 of value in coupons, right there it's an $18 savings over normal retail prices. If I can pair it with a sale... all the better. (Frozen food month at Safeway in the month of March... so my coupons I just ordered and am going to pair with this sale, will net me valueable savings.

I do also get the normal Sunday paper, and also will occasionally hit my neighbors receyling bins in the alley for un-used coupons as well.

good luck

[newbymom05]

Leaveittobeekeeper--that's a great idea re: library corner!

Denvergirlie, do you redeem them all at once? I would ideally wait until Sprouts ran a sale price of $1.49, but I wonder if they'd give me a hard time if I tried to redeem 15 $1 coupons or whatever in one transaction.

[leavemealone]

I sometimes buy coupons from a coupon site. It depends on the coupon and how many of the product I can use. I sometimes use ebay, sometimes The Coupon Clippers, other times a site called Kountry Klippers.

[newbymom05]

OK, I just went to the Coupon Clipper site and put $30 worth of coupons in my cart for $4.09. That seems like an awesome deal for products I buy anyway, but I really don't want to get into a hassle at checkout or have to do multiple transactions. Any tips on that or am I worrying for nothing?

[Denvergirlie]

Originally Posted by newbymom05

Leaveittobeekeeper--that's a great idea re: library corner!

Denvergirlie, do you redeem them all at once? I would ideally wait until Sprouts ran a sale price of $1.49, but I wonder if they'd give me a hard time if I tried to redeem 15 $1 coupons or whatever in one transaction.

This will wholy depend on the coupon policies of the store you are buying at. Safeway, Albertsons, Target superstore and Sunflower market (Sprouts) do not have limits on how many coupons one can use. King Soopers (Kroger) will only allow 3 of the same coupon per transaction. I can use as many coupons as I like at King Soopers, but only 3 can be the same.

You'll have to check the coupon policies of the store you shop at to know what there policies are. i suggest checking their corporate website as well as calling the stores local customer service.

[leaveit2beeker]

I know the grocery store (Giant/Martin's) I like to frequent has never mentioned anything to me about redeeming 6-10 of the same coupon. As long as the amount of items matches the amount of coupons I'm trying to redeem, I doubt they even notice!

[newbymom05]

Thanks, ladies. I'm getting really tired of my grocery bills going up up up!

[leaveit2beeker]

Oh, and if you belong to your local freecycle network, if there is one, that is also a great resource for getting extra coupons for free. I've requested the past week's coupons and offered to pick them up, and you'd be surprised how many people are willing to hold them!

[jessaroo]

I buy specific organic/natural coupons from e-bay. If you sign up for the ebay bucks program you get a percentage of what you spend on ebay every 3 months or so. I shopped on e-bay a lot for x-mas gifts and used my percentage to buy coupons=free.

[flminivanmama]

i usualy get my coupons on ebay because the clipper sites want me to buy more coupons than I need generally... like I just got 20 V8 coupons because publix has them BOGO this week - it came to $1.14 or something at coupon clippers and they wanted a minimum of $3 - I couldn't think of anything else I wanted to I went to ebay where I spent $1.50 for the same amount - a little more but it was all I wanted....

my publix does not care how much of something I buy at once

[lilyka]

i do the coupon clippers. I usually spend about $20 and recieve about $150-$200 in coupons. A lot of the stuff I get coupons for are buy one get one free or get one half off. its always for stuff i would already be buying and won't mind having a stack of I only do it about 3--4 times a year though. I try to coordinate with things like sales and stuff. but it is great way to save money on things like shampoo, razors and tampons, doog food and treats and other non-parishables.