I have heard every excuse in the book as to why people don’t start to coupon. I wanted to break down these excuses and explain why they are simply myths so you can start saving your family money!
Generic is Cheaper
Before I found the wonderful world of coupons I would have agreed with this statement. I can’t even count the number of times I have walked into a store, looked at the generic brand price, and have my jaw hit the floor. This is usually followed by me looking at my husband and saying “I can get real stuff for half that price!”
I have been told that generic brands on average are about 24% less than the name brand. I know that I can save 60% and up on name brands shopping the way I do (and that’s on a ‘meh’ day).
There are times when I will buy generic, but it’s because I am getting the item for nearly free (or I am getting it for free, and why pass up free).
I just shop at bulk warehouse stores and they save you just as much
Wrong! I know when I walk into a warehouse store I can’t walk out of it and save 60%+ off the normal price, or pay nothing, or even get paid. The warehouse stores are good for some items, but most of the stores don’t allow you to use coupons. I know I do not shop at warehouse stores, and I save WAY more than my friends and family who do shop there.
There are some apps that will pay you back for purchasing an item no matter what store you purchase it at. I will be writing about these apps that pay you Next Week so be on the lookout for the post! (or subscribe so you don’t miss it)
Coupons are only for junk food
This is just not true. I know many people think that extreme couponers live off of hamburger helper and boxed potatoes, but I know I don’t. I mostly shop fresh and/or organic. There are plenty of coupons for healthy food like Kashi. There are even coupons for eggs and milk.
Not to mention most people need paper products, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, shaving cream, shampoo and conditioner. Coupons are not always for food, think of what you have in your house, that you use often and you don’t eat. Why not save money and use a coupon on those items?
Stores lose money from coupons and end up raising prices
The stores are actually reimbursed for the face value of the coupon as well as given a handling fee. This means that sometimes the stores are actually able to make a bit more money.
Couponers are rude
I know I am not rude when I go out couponing. I make sure I abide by the rules and I am always very nice about it. If someone gets behind me in line I will politely say “just so you know I might take a little bit to ring up” or “just so you know I have a lot of coupons to use.” This way they know, and if they want to stay behind me in line then more power to them.
I have had experiences when people literally clapped when they saw my savings. They of course bombarded me with questions asking me how I was able to save so much money. There was also another occasion when I pulled out my coupon binder and the cashier got all excited and said “you’re one of those extreme couponers, that is so cool!”
This doesn’t mean that if a coupon rings up wrong, or the cashier tells me I can’t do something (when I know their coupon policy states differently) that I won’t break out their policy and explain why they are wrong. Remember, there is a difference between being polite and then being passive.