Coupons overwhelm me....I have heard of several ways to use them....save the flyers? cut the ones you use? File all. What really is the easiest way to start using them? Are they really wotrth teh time and energy? I feel like it is clutter in my life? If it is worth it I may revisit!

I think it all depends. It can save you a bundle, but also requires a fair amount of work and organization, and some feel their time is worth more than the amount saved. Others also see it as fun and a challenge to see how much can be saved.

I fall in the middle and totally can understand your concern about clutter. I can't deal with clutter! I find it best to glance through the inserts and pick what I think I will need and put them in a file to go with me to the store. I also look to see what is on sale that week, since most times you can match up sale items with coupons for huge savings. Anyway, just do what works for you and good luck!

This is one area that you are not going to get agreement on. Some people swear by them and claim to save tons of money.

I am in the other camp. I think that for the most part, they are not worth the effort. I buy Aldi's brand or store brand items for just as cheap or cheaper than what it would be with coupons, and there are no stores around me that double coupons. To me it is way too much time and effort to collect, coordinate etc the coupons. I am a busy working mom, so I don't think they are worth the effort.

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~Happiness is a large family~

with Happymom, this is one of those subjects....

IMO it depends on what you buy. I am happy with generic/store brand for most things we buy and we don't eat many of the foods that coupons are offered for, many are for processed foods, high in salt, with hydrogenated oils and corn syrup.

If there were coupons for fresh fruits and veggies (not the packaged, precut kind) and fresh, not frozen, meats then I may consider using coupons. Until then, coupons would lead me to buy foods I do not need, thus actually spending more money.

I totally LOVE coupons. I agree that they take a lot of time to organize and sometimes I do get a little overwhelmed. However, I have been using coupons for years and I have gotten into a routine, plus there are websites that help you find the bargains and match them to your coupons. I find the most benefit from coupons is at stores like CVS, Walgreens, the grocery store and sometimes Target. But if you do most of your shopping at Wal-Mart, you are probably not going to see the same benefit as I do. I use coupons mostly on stuff that I can get for free or nearly free. I clip out almost all the coupons in the newspaper inserts, unless it is for something I know I am never going to use. I have 17 bottles of shampoo and conditioner in my linen closet right now because I got them for free using coupons. Not that I need that much shampoo and conditioner, but I got it all for free so why not!

Also, sometimes I do find coupons for fresh meat and produce. I guess it just depends on your location.

I think the bargain hunt is fun! At first they can be overwelming but once you get a system pretty simple.

I have shopped Aldis and still do but there are a lot of things my family just doesn't like from there so I do have a tendecy to stick with name brands. Personal choice! Same with generics from the grocery store with a little effort I would like the better brand for just as cheap as generic.

Coupons are worth the effort for me because I do save money using them. I had to find a method that works for me, though. If I try to keep the fliers or cut coupons I 'might' use, I get overwhelmed and miss using good coupons. If I cut out only the coupons I know I will use, they are easy to organize and I'm much more likely to use them.

I use a lot of generic brands as well but coupons can sometimes make higher quality products as cheap or cheaper than generic. My son can no longer where generic diapers so premium diaper coupons are extremely welcome in this household.

I think it is a misconception that generics are inferior to name brands. Obviously people have personal preferances, but generics are not inferior products.

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~Happiness is a large family~

For me, clipping and sorting is worth the effort. I have also discovered that sometimes a brand name with a coupon costs less than the generic counterpart. When you can stockpile about a 3-month supply of proudcts you use regularly, you'll start to see more savings.
At first the quest seems overwhelming, but when you find a system that works for you, the time investment is no longer as great.
I wish I could remember where I read this so I could give credit: Don't approach couponing with the idea, "I never buy this brand/product, so I won't clip the coupon." Instead ask yourself, "Would I use this product if it were free?" IF the answer is yes, clip the coupon. I've tried lots of brands and products I never would have selected, but coupons made then free or really, really inexpensive.

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~Jeweled

i should claify, I didnt mean to imply that at all. For example I think that Aldis has better boxed mac and cheese than Kraft but we can't stand their baked beans so we only buy Bushs. I DO shop there but there are just some things we prefer to it. The applesauce they carry is not Natural but I will buy the natural generic appleasauce at the grocery store, but sometimes if Motts is on sale and has a coupon it is a better price. Sorry I really dont mean to offend who purchses generic!