According to the “experts,” couponing is the trendy thing to do these days. There are even reality shows to remind us of this fact. But when did a means of providing for my family become the “in” thing to do?
Is Couponing “Cool” Now?
I wasn’t the “cool kid” in school by any stretch of the imagination so it’s nice to know I’m doing something “hip” these days. Yet, I’ve been doing it for years.
I’ve been a casual couponer in some since I moved out of my parents’ house. Even before that, many of my early childhood memories involved clipping coupons with my mom and finding good deals. We weren’t following any trends; my mom was teaching me responsibility and how to follow a budget.
When I began serious couponing in 2008, it had nothing to do with what others were doing. It was a desire to save my family money. Once I stumbled on websites and blogs that showed me how to combine sales and coupons, I was hooked.
The Statistics Speak for Themselves
Statistics don’t lie. There definitely has been a shift in coupon usage since the economy took a nose dive in 2009. In fact, marketing experts say coupon redemption shot up 27% in 2009, the 2nd highest increase in history.
Another interesting statistic is that Internet printable coupon redemption skyrocketed by 263% in 2009! That is a trend worth noting!
Some experts predicted that coupons were headed to extinction before that recession in 2009. But those experts weren’t sitting in my living room floor watching TV with me while I clipped coupons and matched them up with my grocery list for a few hours each week back then either.
What Does the Future Hold?
Will coupon usage disappear when the economy rebounds in the future? For my family, I can honestly say it would be foolish to abandon something that has saved us 50% to 80% consistently on our grocery bill for 3 years straight.
This savings translates into hundreds of dollars each month we can be putting into our children’s education funds or some other more worthy goal, instead of our bellies. So for our family, “No way!” We will continue to do what we’re doing regardless of what the economy does.
This, of course, is much to the dismay of my children who will continue to hear my loving response, “I’m sorry, honey, but we don’t have a coupon for that” every time we grocery shop.
No matter what Mr. Expert says, couponing is not a trend in my family. It’s a way of life.
Robyn Adams loves to learn how to coupon and keep up with all the latest deals on “The Couponing Journey.” She’s a “wanna be” Type A personality who spends her days keeping up with two energetic little boys when she’s not chasing down bargains. She also wrote the successful ebook “30 Ways to Slash Your Budget in 30 Days” available for free download on her website.
Tina Marie
Couponing isn’t just a way of life for me, it has also come to be a way of life for my teenagers! We helped them open their own checking accounts at 16, and we helped them learn early on how to manage their own funds. Since they are in control of what they are and are not able to afford, they love couponing. My youngest is proud to call herself a, “Coupon Kid.”
liz
It definitely is more “trendy”, or at least, more acceptable. Even my hard-core punk-rock male cousin, who is ten years my junior, is now couponing and bragging openly about it! Up until now, the only thing we had in common was DNA. :)
Elizabeth
I’m 29 and remember moving to a new town in 1989 and combing through a coupon bin at the front of the grocery store looking for coupons to go with the things my mom was already buying. I was so proud to be contributing to her thriftiness and helping our family out. In college (2001-2005) I started getting the Sunday paper and learning the rebate programs of the drugstores and started seeing how easy it was to save major money on my toiletries.
I already owned my own accordion coupon holder when I got married in 2007 and my husband learned quickly to roll his eyes and grin as I came home with several bags of grocery and proclaimed, “I got all this for $4.” I’ve loved knowing just how thrifty we can be and living off little so that we can be generous to others and set and accomplish our own first goals, like closing on our first home next week!
I feel like I’ve been couponing most of my life. It’s a way of life for me – a normal component of navigating our consumer culture, getting our basic needs met, and allowing us to use our money elsewhere. As it’s gone “vogue” recession-forward I have to admit I’ve enjoyed teaching friends how to do this, too. I can’t see how it would be a trend that dies out. As more and more see the real impact it makes it will be hard to go back to paying regular prices. The only way it would die out is if our American economy continues to struggle and manufacturers simply cannot continue to offer such savings when so many people are taking advantage of them. I’m already seeing the whiplash as stores strictly clamp down on coupon policies and impose limits. They’re concerned about their own losses. I see only more hurdles to jump through in the future if companies begin to struggle and seek more ways to make you work for your discount.
Anna
Couponing for me is not a trend, it is definitely a way of life. I find that it has become more sensationalized with the Extreme Couponing show, but for those of us that have been at it for so long, I think we are wise enough to know that it is here to stay.
Tabitha
It’s just a smart use of your resources.
Alexis
While it is not just a trend for my family, I know several who will quickly fall away from couponing once their incomes rise. Those who do it for now, but are often on again, off again couponers – even now. A friend often tells me “Oh, I have to get back into that! I have been so bad the last few weeks!” I know that she will not be couponing once her household doesn’t require it for basic needs.
I don’t really understand that mentality. But again, I know several who think this way. Couponing was big in the 80’s, taboo in the late 90’s, and now popular again. I guess time will tell how long this lasts, but I believe that even if it is just a trend, it will cycle back around eventually….
Janet
I have to say, that even though couponing has become the “trendy” thing to do, even in this economy,most people need to “need” to save money before they are willing to consistently coupon. A number of times people have approached me about wanting to learn to coupon, only not to use the tools I shared with them. Too many people think that saving money should require no effort, but couponing absolutely requires time, persistence, and dedication in order to be a successful money-saving tool.
Robyn A.
I have been couponing and shopping thift years for years (long before it became popular). I remember my friends laughing at me for this….now they ask me advice on how to save money.
Gina
I admit I never used coupons until about a year ago when I needed too – but now that I see how much money I can save and all the free stuff I get I still do it even though the “need” is gone – every sunday I sit down with my coupons and my 2.5 yr old tells my hubby that mommy is cutting coupons leave her alone! hahah
Robyn @ Couponing Journey
Hi, I’m Robyn, the author of this article. I’m glad others agree this is a way of life. I agree with Janet, people need to “need” to save money. But once they discover how easy couponing is, it seems logical they would continue to do it to some extent for years to come.
Janet
I do have to say, those who have taken advantage of the opportunity to learn about couponing and have used the tools do stick to it. The satisfaction one gains from living well on little is addicting, and now I have a little community of friends that share deals that they find, successes and failures. It is rewarding, knowing that we can help each other.
Andrea K.
I’m hoping so. The competition is getting heavy and the stores are having stocking issues all the while toughening their couponing policies. And, honestly, should Target reeeally need to say you can’t use 2 BOGO coupons to get both items free?! It was easier before Extreme Couponing came on TV, but only time will tell.
Vanessa
I’m in my 30’s and it’s nice to know that I am FINALLY in the trendy “in-crowd!” :)
I started seriously couponing shortly after I became a SAHM and I’m still amazed at the deals I can find using coupons and sales. It’s hard to imagine that I used to pay full price for things that I am now getting for just pennies!
Renee
I love couponing and like the author of this article, I remember fondly helping my Mom clip coupons and use them to save money at the grocery store as a child. I’ve learned from blogs how to do the coupon drugstore game more efficiently and effectively to save more. I know that I will continue to use coupons to some extent no matter the trends. Whether that is simply using the coupons that apply to the products I need to buy anyways or trying to find the best deals to stockpile and help those around me.
However, I understand why the trend is going to die because although it is thrilling and such fun to do; it takes time. When money is not so tight people will begin to go see more movies and go on more vacations again. They will become “too busy” to continue couponing. While it is something that we consider a valuable way to spend our time there are many that consider it only valuable for now while they need the money.
Nancy
I’ve been married almost 43 years, and I can’t remember NOT using coupons, sending in rebates, etc. to stretch the budget. I still have a few “ancient” coupons that don’t have a bar code!! My mother is now in a nursing home and I’ve been cleaning out her house. Just this week, I was finding coupons in some of her really old purses ~~ guess couponing is in my genes! It’s another way we can be wise stewards of our finances.
jill
One thing I’ve been wondering lately is how manufacturers will recoup the lost revenue. Don’t misunderstand….I’m not anti-coupon, and always look for the best deal….but it seems there must eventually be a financial backlash for shoppers. Will they raise prices to offset money spent on coupon reimbursement?
Jonisa
As a fashion merchandising major we learned how companies set their prices. For the most part these “adjustments” are set into the price by the company. So when a company say, Rite Aid, purchases a product from the manufacturer they mark up that price but include in their income statement their planned price adjustments (coupons, sale prices,etc.. HTH :)
Pam
Jill,
I have been thinking the same thing! I only use coupons casually so I only save a few dollars here and there-not a huge loss to the store or company. However, someone has to pay for the 80-90% that other people are saving! I’d imagine that results in higher prices! If you are out of work and absolutely depend on couponing, then by all means go for it, but I feel that if you have the money to pay for items, or if you can spend your time that you would normally spend clipping coupons working a part time job, then that might be better for the economy, including your own finances, in the long run. For example, I tutor math 3 hours a week and baby sit for an hour and a half. I have a stay-at-home mom “income” of $50. Personally, I’d rather spend those hours doing something I consider to be productive, rather than clipping coupons. I know people refer to coupons as “money” but the problem is that their really not-the company has to charge higher prices to make up for the coupon savings.
I still plan to use coupons casually, especially on brand name things I buy anyways, such as diapers, but I don’t plan to be an “extreme” couponer unless my family reaches a desperate financial situation.
Laura
It’s definitely a way of life for me. Not necessarily couponing by itself, but stocking up on sale-priced items for sure. I’m always thinking ahead and buying ahead. It’s so nice to have a few things stocked up in my house so I don’t have to run out and buy toothpaste or diapers because we’re out.
cindy
This might tickle your funny bone.
A few weeks ago my husband was on the phone with a friend who said his wife has resorted to shopping at the dollar store. My husband laughed and said, “My wife never shops at the dollar store. It’s too expensive!”.
Jennifer
I admit it, I started couponing after watching Extreme Couponing on TV. But, it has helped our family SO much in the past couple months. We were struggling with buying food and daily necessaties, and now that is no longer an issue. I’ve been able to decrease or food budget, and am stocked up on personal items (no, not like the ones on TV lol!). My kids know that if we don’t have a coupon, we don’t buy it anymore. They groan and do there little eye rolling (they’re both 5), but they also just last weekend ‘helped’ me clip coupons. I remember walking through the store with my mom, and she had her little accordian coupon book, and we’d only buy what we had coupons for. As time went on, she had two more kids, my dad was traveling alot for work and she didn’t have time to do all the coupons anymore. Just the other day she said she didn’t know why she didn’t stick with it, but she hopes I do! There’s no way I’m going back to paying $4 for a tube of toothpaste when I know I can get it free or for less than 50cents! All our savings goes into college funds for our kids, and I’d hate to stop now when we still have 13 more years to save lol!
Carrie
I totally agree. I hadn’t used coupons outside of the grocery store-and even then, I’d buy the item if I had a coupon and it WASN’T on sale. Not true anymore! If it doesn’t match with a sale price and I don’t have a coupon, I don’t buy it unless we absolutely need it. In fact, when we are shopping, my kids will ask if I have a coupon for certain items-I think that’s kind of cute!
Kandace {Making It Bright}
Couponing is much more popular and socially acceptable now. For me, it’s been a way of life since I graduated from college, moved out on my own, and got married. Some people that are using coupons now may not do so as consistently as the economy rebounds, but I can’t imagine passing up the savings. Hopefully the extreme part of it will fade away soon. I never go anywhere without my coupon binder, and now my husband always asks, “Do you have a coupon for ___?”
Mary
Kandace, so does my husband, lol : )
Lindsay
I don’t understand how people can get items for pennies. I understand some of the freebies, but I live in an area where no stores double or triple coupons. I live close to a walmart, winn dixie, albertsons, and associated grocers. Half an hour away from a Kmart. I don’t understand. I would LOVE to save even more money for my family, but we don’t typically buy brand name stuff, just store brand. I don’t wear much makeup, so I won’t waste the $1 or so to get it. I understand ECBs and rebates and other stuff, and would like to save 50-80% of my grocery bill. I just don’t see how it’s possible in my area. (I do coupon and hit the sales, when I can and it applies to me)
Kristy
Lindsay –
I am in the same boat as you. In my area no stores double or triple either. We also don’t have any stores that give out catalinas for $ off your next pruchase or anything like that.
I just try and save as much as I can for my area and I have to accept that I won’t be able to get those great deals and free things like others.
Michelle
I also am looking for a way to slash my GROCERY budget. I live in a smaller community where we have 2 CVS and Walgreen stores, a Wal-Mart, KMart and a handful of grocery stores. I am stocked up on cleaning supplies and health items…anybody need toothpaste??? I have 15 (all for free)! but I am definately finding it hard to save on my food items. There is 1 bigger store in my town which I have only been able to find one website to help me match up the deals on and the rest are small local stores. No one double coupons in my town…triple coupon what is that (I wish)? The only thing that I can help you out with is this. Make do with what you have available to you. Need diapers…shop on Amazon, produce and milk…shop at Aldi, going to a town with a bigger store..check the websites before you go and pack a cooler. Other than that get what you can in your town. I am with you sister!
Joy
I have been couponing for 20 years now (since I graduated college in 1991). Money saving blogs have def. helped me in the last several years save even more though because doing match-ups are a lot easier. Growing up, my Mom was a couponer as well. Of course, back then food was cheaper and there weren’t high value dollar coupons. And, there was less highly processed food.
I grew up dirt poor so we had no choice but to be frugal. My Dad grew all our own veggies and my Mom canned/froze them. Homemade pickles were the best! One time, we even raised chickens so we could have meat on the table and had a huge cornfield so we could sell the surplus for extra $$.
My point is, that being frugal and using coupons has always been a way of life for me. There have been times in my life when I didn’t really need to coupon (like when dh and I both had full-time jobs and no kids), but I still did it anyway.
Adrianne
I’m sad Coupon has become trendy. I can’t get many online coupons anymore. Couponing is a way of life for our family too!
Couponing 4 a Difference
As for the predication about that people won’t coupon after the economy makes a come back that would be crazy! I would like to always save money for my family and now that I knmow how I won’t stop! Besides, you can always continue so you can help make donations for those in need as I am trying to do with my blog Couponing 4 a Difference.