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Buying Groceries on a Budget: Couponing Misconceptions

July 5, 2012 by Lisa Park + Leave a Comment

This week, I wanted to talk about Buying Groceries on a Budget: Couponing Misconceptions.

Before I started this blog, I actually stayed away from using coupons. My thinking of coupons was that when you used a coupon, you still paid more for a name brand product than if you just purchased the store brand using no coupons. And yes, this can be the case if you don’t know when the right time is to use the coupons. Later in this “Buying Groceries on a Budget” series, I’ll give more information on how to use coupons correctly.

First, I want to clear up some misconceptions that I think people often assume about couponers and clipping coupons:

1)  Misconception 1: You have to be a crazy coupon lady to save money on your grocery bill.
This isn’t true. I’m not one of those ladies with stacks of coupons and a massive coupon binder. I only have a small coupon pouch that easily fits into my purse. I do enjoy finding good coupons and deals, but it’s important for the every-day person to know that they can save money on groceries without spending hours and hours of clipping and organizing coupons. You need to be willing to do some couponing, but it’s not the main focus.

2)  Misconception 2: You can only find really good deals or pick up products for free on items such as junk food, boxed foods and pre-packaged foods that aren’t that healthy.
False. First of all, I don’t buy many boxed, pre-packaged or junk food items. Purchasing hundreds of items such as Top Ramen for free is notpart of providing healthy meals for my family. I mainly make homemade meals from scratch, and I am starting to do more freezer cooking so I have quick meals I can pull out at the last minute. In fact, most of my weekly grocery lists consist mainly of produce, dairy and meat.  

In reality, most of us won’t walk out of the store with hundreds of items in our cart with a grocery total of $0.01. But with the simple tips I share in this “Buying Groceries on a Budget” series, you will be able to walk out of the store with really good deals, which will help to cut down your grocery bill considerably.

3)  Misconception 3 – “I don’t have time for coupons.” 
I laugh at myself because I used to say this. Life is busy and there are constantly a hundred demands pulling us in different directions. But adding a few minutes here and there to clip some coupons doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If you’ve never used a coupon, don’t expect to immediately save 90% off your grocery bill. It takes some time to learn how to use coupons. But clipping coupons is going to save you money.

4)  Misconception 4 – “I tried using coupons, but I didn’t save any money.”
If you use nearly every coupon you clip, then you are notgoing to save any money. Instead, you’d probably end up buying a lot of over-priced items you wouldn’t normally buy or won’t use, and you’ll end up spending a significant amount more than you save. This is not how to effectively use coupons.

Couponing to save money doesn’t have to take hours out of your week. You could see considerable savings by committing to spend an extra hour each week to make a menu plan, write out a grocery list, follow a few couponing and deal websites, clip coupons, and check sales fliers.

Using coupons wisely requires patience. It involves waiting until an item is at its rock-bottom price, which is the lowest price you’ll see it at a store, and then pairing it with a coupon so that you get it inexpensively or free!

Other Posts in the Buying Groceries on a Budget Series:
  • Buying Groceries on a Budget: How to Determine a Budget
  • Buying Groceries on a Budget: Couponing Misconceptions
  • Buying Groceries on a Budget: Where to Find Coupons
  • Buying Groceries on a Budget: Organizing Coupons
  • Buying Groceries on a Budget: Find Sales & Stack Coupons
  • Buying Groceries on a Budget: Valuable Tips to Prepare for the Shopping Trip
  • Buying Groceries on a Budget: Tips During the Shopping Trip
  • Buying Groceries on a Budget: 8 Additional Tips When Shopping at the Grocery Store
  • Buying Groceries on a Budget: Organization & Patience

Filed Under: Buying Groceries on a Budget, Money-Saving Tips

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Hello, I'm Lisa

I enjoy teaching people how to live frugally so they can live within their means while still enjoying and doing the things in life that matter most to them. I'm here sharing tips about budgeting, saving money, meal planning, simple recipes, and more.

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We were hoping we would get a few more years out o We were hoping we would get a few more years out of our water heater, but unfortunately after 17 years, it gave out. This morning we had cold showers, which wasn't very fun. ☹️

What I am grateful for is that we have a home repairs sinking fund. This is where you set aside money for expenses that are predictable. You know the expense is coming up, and instead of waiting until you need to pay for the expense and there is no room in your budget for it, you plan ahead by creating a sinking fund and set the money aside until you need to pay for that expense.

We knew that items in our house would eventually get older and we would need to replace them. 

Years ago, we started to set aside a little money each month in an envelope so when a household item breaks or needs replaced, such as our water heater, we can pay for it with cash and not have to go into debt for it. Even $20 or $50 set aside a month will start to add up over time. That may seem like such a small amount. But saving a little money each month is better than nothing.

I also feel grateful that my husband is very good at fixing items around the house. He knows how to install water heaters, which will save us money by doing it ourselves.

#fix #doityourselfhome #fixit #brokenwaterheater #savemoney #savemoneytips
This American Flag Fruit Pizza is an easy fruit pi This American Flag Fruit Pizza is an easy fruit pizza dessert that is made from a sugar cookie mix topped with a sweet frosting and fresh berries. It's the perfect treat for the 4th of July or another patriotic holiday.

The link to the recipe is below or message me and I'll send you the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2021/06/29/easy-american-flag-fruit-pizza/

#fruitpizza #fruitpizzarecipe #flag #americanflag #flagfruitpizza #americanflagfruitpizza #4thofjuly #fourthofjuly #4thofjulydessert #fourthofjulydessert #easydessert #patrioticdessert
If you want to save money on something, not buying If you want to save money on something, not buying anything at all will save you more money than buying something on sale.

Before you purchase something, think about whether you could instead make it yourself, get it used, fix it, do without, or find a less expensive alternative.

When you do head to the store or go online to shop, think before you buy anything by asking yourself these three questions:

- Is this item a necessity?

- Can I absolutely afford this item?

- Have I done everything to ensure that I'm getting the best deal?

If it's something you want, wait 2-3 months to see if you really still want that item. And during that time start to save up for it by putting money aside in an envelope or in an account.

In a few months, there's a chance you might not want it. But if you do still want it, then you've already starting saving money to purchase it so you can pay cash for it.

#moneysavingtips #savingmoney #savemoney #savemoneyfixityourself #moneysaver #shopping #beforeyoushop #beforeshopping
This Southwestern Chicken Salad has lettuce, avoca This Southwestern Chicken Salad has lettuce, avocado, tomato, bell pepper, green onions, corn and black beans. Mix in a creamy ranch taco Greek yogurt dressing for a delicious summer recipe. 

Message me or use the link below to get the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2022/06/22/southwestern-chicken-salad/

#chickensalad #chickensaladrecipe #southwesternchicken #southwesternchickensalad #salad #saladrecipe #summerrecipe #summerrecipes
Have you ever thought to yourself, "I don't know w Have you ever thought to yourself, "I don't know what to cook for dinner." Well, here are some dinner ideas for you. 

Message me or use the link below to see 20 easy weeknight dinners for the family.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2019/08/20/20-easy-weeknight-dinners-for-the-family/

#easydinners #dinnerideas #familydinnerideas #familydinner #dinner #dinnerrecipes #easydinnerideas #easydinnerideas
Making these shredded beef tacos tonight for dinne Making these shredded beef tacos tonight for dinner. It took me less than 10 minutes to put it in the crock pot. It will cook for 8-9 hours, and then I'll shred it and serve it with tortillas, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, fresh onions, sour cream, and limes.

Message me or use the link below to get the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2019/09/26/the-best-crock-pot-shredded-beef-tacos/

#shreddedbeef #beeftacos #shreddedbeeftacos #tacos #tacotuesday #easydinner #easy Dinners #simpledinner #simpledinners #crockpot #crockpotmeals #crockpotbeef
We were hoping we would get a few more years out o We were hoping we would get a few more years out of our water heater, but unfortunately after 17 years, it gave out. This morning we had cold showers, which wasn't very fun. ☹️

What I am grateful for is that we have a home repairs sinking fund. This is where you set aside money for expenses that are predictable. You know the expense is coming up, and instead of waiting until you need to pay for the expense and there is no room in your budget for it, you plan ahead by creating a sinking fund and set the money aside until you need to pay for that expense.

We knew that items in our house would eventually get older and we would need to replace them. 

Years ago, we started to set aside a little money each month in an envelope so when a household item breaks or needs replaced, such as our water heater, we can pay for it with cash and not have to go into debt for it. Even $20 or $50 set aside a month will start to add up over time. That may seem like such a small amount. But saving a little money each month is better than nothing.

I also feel grateful that my husband is very good at fixing items around the house. He knows how to install water heaters, which will save us money by doing it ourselves.

#fix #doityourselfhome #fixit #brokenwaterheater #savemoney #savemoneytips
This American Flag Fruit Pizza is an easy fruit pi This American Flag Fruit Pizza is an easy fruit pizza dessert that is made from a sugar cookie mix topped with a sweet frosting and fresh berries. It's the perfect treat for the 4th of July or another patriotic holiday.

The link to the recipe is below or message me and I'll send you the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2021/06/29/easy-american-flag-fruit-pizza/

#fruitpizza #fruitpizzarecipe #flag #americanflag #flagfruitpizza #americanflagfruitpizza #4thofjuly #fourthofjuly #4thofjulydessert #fourthofjulydessert #easydessert #patrioticdessert
If you want to save money on something, not buying If you want to save money on something, not buying anything at all will save you more money than buying something on sale.

Before you purchase something, think about whether you could instead make it yourself, get it used, fix it, do without, or find a less expensive alternative.

When you do head to the store or go online to shop, think before you buy anything by asking yourself these three questions:

- Is this item a necessity?

- Can I absolutely afford this item?

- Have I done everything to ensure that I'm getting the best deal?

If it's something you want, wait 2-3 months to see if you really still want that item. And during that time start to save up for it by putting money aside in an envelope or in an account.

In a few months, there's a chance you might not want it. But if you do still want it, then you've already starting saving money to purchase it so you can pay cash for it.

#moneysavingtips #savingmoney #savemoney #savemoneyfixityourself #moneysaver #shopping #beforeyoushop #beforeshopping
This Southwestern Chicken Salad has lettuce, avoca This Southwestern Chicken Salad has lettuce, avocado, tomato, bell pepper, green onions, corn and black beans. Mix in a creamy ranch taco Greek yogurt dressing for a delicious summer recipe. 

Message me or use the link below to get the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2022/06/22/southwestern-chicken-salad/

#chickensalad #chickensaladrecipe #southwesternchicken #southwesternchickensalad #salad #saladrecipe #summerrecipe #summerrecipes
Have you ever thought to yourself, "I don't know w Have you ever thought to yourself, "I don't know what to cook for dinner." Well, here are some dinner ideas for you. 

Message me or use the link below to see 20 easy weeknight dinners for the family.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2019/08/20/20-easy-weeknight-dinners-for-the-family/

#easydinners #dinnerideas #familydinnerideas #familydinner #dinner #dinnerrecipes #easydinnerideas #easydinnerideas
Making these shredded beef tacos tonight for dinne Making these shredded beef tacos tonight for dinner. It took me less than 10 minutes to put it in the crock pot. It will cook for 8-9 hours, and then I'll shred it and serve it with tortillas, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, fresh onions, sour cream, and limes.

Message me or use the link below to get the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2019/09/26/the-best-crock-pot-shredded-beef-tacos/

#shreddedbeef #beeftacos #shreddedbeeftacos #tacos #tacotuesday #easydinner #easy Dinners #simpledinner #simpledinners #crockpot #crockpotmeals #crockpotbeef
We were hoping we would get a few more years out o We were hoping we would get a few more years out of our water heater, but unfortunately after 17 years, it gave out. This morning we had cold showers, which wasn't very fun. ☹️

What I am grateful for is that we have a home repairs sinking fund. This is where you set aside money for expenses that are predictable. You know the expense is coming up, and instead of waiting until you need to pay for the expense and there is no room in your budget for it, you plan ahead by creating a sinking fund and set the money aside until you need to pay for that expense.

We knew that items in our house would eventually get older and we would need to replace them. 

Years ago, we started to set aside a little money each month in an envelope so when a household item breaks or needs replaced, such as our water heater, we can pay for it with cash and not have to go into debt for it. Even $20 or $50 set aside a month will start to add up over time. That may seem like such a small amount. But saving a little money each month is better than nothing.

I also feel grateful that my husband is very good at fixing items around the house. He knows how to install water heaters, which will save us money by doing it ourselves.

#fix #doityourselfhome #fixit #brokenwaterheater #savemoney #savemoneytips
This American Flag Fruit Pizza is an easy fruit pi This American Flag Fruit Pizza is an easy fruit pizza dessert that is made from a sugar cookie mix topped with a sweet frosting and fresh berries. It's the perfect treat for the 4th of July or another patriotic holiday.

The link to the recipe is below or message me and I'll send you the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2021/06/29/easy-american-flag-fruit-pizza/

#fruitpizza #fruitpizzarecipe #flag #americanflag #flagfruitpizza #americanflagfruitpizza #4thofjuly #fourthofjuly #4thofjulydessert #fourthofjulydessert #easydessert #patrioticdessert
If you want to save money on something, not buying If you want to save money on something, not buying anything at all will save you more money than buying something on sale.

Before you purchase something, think about whether you could instead make it yourself, get it used, fix it, do without, or find a less expensive alternative.

When you do head to the store or go online to shop, think before you buy anything by asking yourself these three questions:

- Is this item a necessity?

- Can I absolutely afford this item?

- Have I done everything to ensure that I'm getting the best deal?

If it's something you want, wait 2-3 months to see if you really still want that item. And during that time start to save up for it by putting money aside in an envelope or in an account.

In a few months, there's a chance you might not want it. But if you do still want it, then you've already starting saving money to purchase it so you can pay cash for it.

#moneysavingtips #savingmoney #savemoney #savemoneyfixityourself #moneysaver #shopping #beforeyoushop #beforeshopping
This Southwestern Chicken Salad has lettuce, avoca This Southwestern Chicken Salad has lettuce, avocado, tomato, bell pepper, green onions, corn and black beans. Mix in a creamy ranch taco Greek yogurt dressing for a delicious summer recipe. 

Message me or use the link below to get the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2022/06/22/southwestern-chicken-salad/

#chickensalad #chickensaladrecipe #southwesternchicken #southwesternchickensalad #salad #saladrecipe #summerrecipe #summerrecipes
Have you ever thought to yourself, "I don't know w Have you ever thought to yourself, "I don't know what to cook for dinner." Well, here are some dinner ideas for you. 

Message me or use the link below to see 20 easy weeknight dinners for the family.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2019/08/20/20-easy-weeknight-dinners-for-the-family/

#easydinners #dinnerideas #familydinnerideas #familydinner #dinner #dinnerrecipes #easydinnerideas #easydinnerideas
Making these shredded beef tacos tonight for dinne Making these shredded beef tacos tonight for dinner. It took me less than 10 minutes to put it in the crock pot. It will cook for 8-9 hours, and then I'll shred it and serve it with tortillas, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, fresh onions, sour cream, and limes.

Message me or use the link below to get the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2019/09/26/the-best-crock-pot-shredded-beef-tacos/

#shreddedbeef #beeftacos #shreddedbeeftacos #tacos #tacotuesday #easydinner #easy Dinners #simpledinner #simpledinners #crockpot #crockpotmeals #crockpotbeef

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