8 Common Couponing Myths (Debunked)

Chances are .. if you read our blog you use a coupon, or two… or more – some of us a little more than others.

Over the last few years we have all (at some point) bragged about our trips, the latest deal we scored or, just simply our ability to get MORE for less. And in each instance, I can probably guarantee you that you had that ONE friend that comments with that one reason that they don’t coupon.

I buy generic, it’s less anyways.

We buy organic so we can’t coupon.

We don’t need to coupon…

I don’t have time.

Or, the BIGGEST one I hear… and I hear this from my own family .. “They don’t have coupons for the food we buy..”

You know as much as I do that ALL of these are myths. Check out some of the BEST ones we have heard, feel free to tell us if you have any to add! 

Generic Brands are ALWAYS Less

Not entirely true – there are some instances that they are, but it is not something that is true across the board.

The BEST deals in couponing come when you pair a SALE price with a coupon for a steeper discount. You can’t assume that a coupon in hand is always going to be a great deal just because you clipped it…

Watch the store ads and sales cycles – pair those sale prices with coupons for those items, and you can indeed pick up items for MUCH less than the price of generic items.

A good example is Cereal – it’ll commonly go on sale for $.99 – $1.49 per box. When paired with a coupon for $.50/1, you can pick up as low as FREE with doubles. OR, $.49 – $.99 without doubles. 

You Need to Buy MANY Newspapers {Or Subscribe}

This is a fallacy too – I coupon myself and I don’t get any inserts. I don’t pay for a subscription (and won’t – quite honestly, it’s just unnecessary). 

Unless you are Extreme Couponing, us regular folks really can manage quite well on printables.  Many manufacturers have coupons available on their website. You can also print coupons on our print center here – most coupons you see in inserts are often times available to print at some point in time, too.

You can now find coupons in ANY of these places:

• On your Phone
• Back of your receipt
• Store packaging
• In magazines
• On Manufacturer websites
• On Facebook
• From Machines in the Grocery store
• And more…

Couponing Takes an Incredible Amount of Time

You are the sole factor that dictates the time spent on couponing – while it’s easy to get carried away, it’s important to set limits at the start.

If you have a full time job and work through the day, then set aside 30 minutes each night to catch up with your favorite blog (checking out any new or updated deals, and printable coupons). 

The time to savings ratio may be a shocker for you – that 30 minutes each night may save you up to 70% off each week on your shopping trip.  Keeping that in mind, you’re practically giving yourself a raise with that money saved. That savings is substantial – and in the bigger scheme of things .. can be invested and used later on for a cash only car purchase or even a family vacation.

Not a bad trade off for a little work while you watch your favorite TV Shows each week. 

Couponing Requires Visiting Multiple Stores

We never, ever advocate running all over to get deals. I have 4 kids, and that just simply would not be efficient for me – nor is it for you. 

Instead, find ONE Drugstore and ONE Grocery Store (or two at most) that work best for you and focus your efforts on those. If you shop at Costco, normally that would be a bi-weekly trip anyways. 

Pick up the deals that you would buy that your designated stores and forget the rest – you have a life and family that need you, too!

Coupons Are Only for Struggling Families

This is such an unrealistic statement.  JUST because you coupon doesn’t insinuate that you are struggling… people coupon for various reasons.

I started couponing when we went from TWO incomes to one – in hopes to make it stretch. But after some time, I also found it a great way to keep busy when my husband was deployed.  Whatever reason you coupon, it’s one of several ways to save money – and saving money is something that everyone can benefit from, no matter how much or little they have.

Those who are in the “under 25,000 per year” income bracket are less likely to use coupons. And, right now, more than 90% of Millennials (those born between 1980 – 2000) say they use coupons to plan their shopping lists (reference).

Coupons Will Make Me Buy Things I Don’t Need

Well – that’s true, if you let that happen :)  You and only you dictate what goes into your grocery buggy. 

A few years ago, I would and did buy anything that was FREE – fast forward 6 years, I’m a little more picky on what we eat, and what I bring in the house. That’s because once it’s HERE it’s hard to get RID of. ;)

Coupons are a great way to try NEW items at a substantial savings. If you can pick up items for cheap or free, even if you can’t use them, they can always be given to friends and family, or even donated.

We always say… Buy what you NEED or what you would normally use, and do so reasonably (40 Mustards is NOT reasonable!) and you won’t have the problem of bringing stuff in that you don’t need.

I Don’t Want to be Extreme (Like that Show)

Nor do I…..  Understand that 90% of couponers are NOT like those featured on the Extreme Show – understand that the show was also for ratings. If they would have showcased someone normal, then it would not have been as appealing -right?

Sales cycle, so buy what you can reasonably use. Understand that most stores don’t permit you to be as extreme as they showcased on the program, and lastly – understand that you ultimately control what goes in your cart.

They Don’t Have Coupons for the Things We Purchase

Probably the myth that I hear ALL the time, & the one that most ruffles my feathers!

Do you try to eat Organic? Non-GMO?  Believe it or not, there are MANY coupons for healthy, organic food – in many cases, NON-GMO.  Obviously .. they are not as well advertised as those for processed food!

Find those GOOD foods that you buy for your family – write down those brands, and contact them for coupons. Let them know you appreciate their mission statement, their purpose, and ask for savings. You might be surprised!  Follow them on Facebook as well, and stalk blogs like mine for deals at Sprouts & Whole Foods that can often times get you items for up to 75% OFF.

Believe it or not, Produce companies DO mail coupons to you — but you have to ask. We have mentioned (in the past) that you can write to companies to request these coupons too.

Do you Use Toothpaste? Toilet Paper? Soap or Shampoo? Chances are.. you do – coupons are widely available all of those items. Check out your Sunday Newspaper Inserts, or even the Printable Coupon Database.

Since the very beginning, and over the last 6 years, coupons have played a huge role in reducing our monthly budget.  Sure, I might be a little more picky now than I was in 2009… but that doesn’t mean I don’t use them at all.

Coupons allowed us to eradicate over $60,000 in Consumer Debt outside of our mortgage, build a healthy emergency fund, and increase our contributions to both of our retirement funds and children’s College Funds.  It also allowed us to pay cash for all of our family vehicles – our only consumer debt is our mortgage – it is a GREAT feeling.

Although we can’t attribute this solely to coupons… we can say that maximizing our coupon use and finding ways to save in many other areas all played an integral part.