Five of the Biggest Myths about Couponers

With years spent in the couponing game, I've learned people have all sorts of wild ideas about coupons and couponers. You've undoubtedly heard the tall tales but now it is time to set the record straight.

Let's debunk five of the biggest myths about couponers.

We spend hours clipping coupons each week.

You might watch some TV shows and think couponing is a full-time job with all the clipping involved. And certainly some couponers do clip all the coupons they can find and put them in a binder or box to carry to the store.

However, at SavingsAngel.com, we advocate for a less time-intensive form of couponing. We recommend our members file away their Sunday inserts by date and then only clip coupons when they need them. The same goes for printable coupons ““ only print when you need them. Our Enlightened Shopping lists on the site direct members to right insert or website so they can quickly find the right coupons.

Rather than spending hours each week clipping coupons they may never use, SavingsAngel members may spend less than an hour a week clipping and organizing.

We're tightwads who are obsessed with saving 25 cents.

But you may be thinking an hour is still a lot of time to spend in order to save a few cents. That brings us to another common myth: that of the skinflint couponer who is obsessing over pennies.

Of course couponers are a thrifty bunch, but they aren't obsessing over small potatoes. Instead, savvy couponers know they can save 50 percent or more off their grocery bill when they combine coupons with sales. Just last week, I got $83.58 worth of items at Walgreens for only $12.51. In my book, that doesn't make us obsessive tightwads ““ it makes us smart shoppers.

We're cheats who are gaming the system.

Due to a few high profile cases, some people assume couponers who save big must be scamming stores. However, most couponers are playing by the rules and simply finding the best of the best deals.

For example, most stores allow you to use both a store coupon plus a manufacturer coupon on an item. Save those coupons until the right sale, and you can get groceries practically for free without doing anything unethical.

We live on highly processed, boxed foods.

If you think couponers are living on Hamburger Helper, you might be surprised to learn there are plenty of coupons available for produce, meat and organic foods. Saving money and eating healthy are not mutually exclusive.

We have SavingsAngel members who eat only whole foods, and my own diet leans toward lots of fresh fruits and veggies. A popular tactic is to use coupons to get products like shampoo, deodorant and cleaning supplies for free using coupons. That frees up money in the budget that can then be used to buy those foods that don't typically go on sale.

We have a 500 bottles of mustard in our basement.

Thanks to the show Extreme Couponing, we've been pigeon-holed as extremists living with bunkers filled with enough baby wipes and ketchup to last through at least two Armageddons. In reality, while smart couponers may have a well-stocked pantry, they know not to buy more than they need.

For example, sales often run in 12 week cycles. At SavingsAngel, we suggest our members stock up during good sales with only enough to get them to the next sale. If a family has something expensive looming in the future ““ such as a potential lay-off or a new baby ““ they want to buy more. However, our members know it is silly to clear the shelves buying items they will never be able to use before they go bad. Through their individual abundance, our members and friends have collectively donated millions of dollars in products as well over the years.

There you have it. Couponers are not wacky hoarders or junk food junkies. Instead, they are regular people who are smart enough to not want to pay full price for their groceries.

If you hate couponing,you'll LOVE SavingsAngel. If you love couponing, you'll LOVE SavingsAngel.

The most important thing SavingsAngel saves you… is TIME!

The best couponers save hundreds of dollars every month at the grocery store. However, couponers can end up living very extreme lifestyles to get those savings. For over five years, SavingsAngel.com has equalized the playing field ““ giving extreme savings to busy families who don't have the time or ability to be a full-time couponer. Each week, SavingsAngel.com's team of more than 70 angels combines over 2,000 products on sale at local grocery and drug stores with an enormous database of over 2,000 different manufacturer coupons. These combinations result in our members getting access to over 300 products each week for 50% off or better. Simply log in, choose the deals you want, print or clip only the coupons you need, and save hundreds of dollars a month at regional and national stores. Our angels will personally work with you to craft a plan that will help you buy healthier food at lower prices ““ helping you keep $200 to $400 in savings each month.

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