Poll: Are You Embarrassed about Using Coupons?
By: Jen Mueller,
SparkPeople Blogger
3/6/2009 2:06 PM
: 1061 comments
A recent survey from the company ICOM Information and Communications finds that more than one in five consumers (22%) are embarrassed to use coupons at the grocery store. But could tough economic times change some of those attitudes? Nearly 57% of the respondents who said they were self-conscious about redeeming coupons also said that within the last 6 months, they no longer care as long as they are saving money.
Of consumers age 35 and younger, 26% said that they have fewer inhibitions about coupon usage than they did last year. Nearly 20% in this demographic said they used to be self-conscious but are no longer because of the economic benefit of clipping and redeeming coupons.
Whether or not times are tough, I'm a coupon clipper. I love getting the Sunday paper and flipping through the ads to find deals on the foods I frequently purchase. I have a little coupon box to organize them. When I get to the checkout line and they ask "Do you have any coupons?" I'm always excited to say "Yes, I do!" I'm never embarrassed to use them. In fact, I feel like it's almost throwing money away not to, which is why the results of this survey were pretty surprising to me.
How do you feel? Have you ever been embarrassed to use coupons? Why or why not?
Of consumers age 35 and younger, 26% said that they have fewer inhibitions about coupon usage than they did last year. Nearly 20% in this demographic said they used to be self-conscious but are no longer because of the economic benefit of clipping and redeeming coupons.
Whether or not times are tough, I'm a coupon clipper. I love getting the Sunday paper and flipping through the ads to find deals on the foods I frequently purchase. I have a little coupon box to organize them. When I get to the checkout line and they ask "Do you have any coupons?" I'm always excited to say "Yes, I do!" I'm never embarrassed to use them. In fact, I feel like it's almost throwing money away not to, which is why the results of this survey were pretty surprising to me.
How do you feel? Have you ever been embarrassed to use coupons? Why or why not?
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Comments
Got over $100 of groceries once for under $1 once when they were doubling coupons in my area. And when I'm in the checkout lane and have a coupon for an item the person ahead of me is buying, I always give it to them and they are grateful. Makes me feel good as well. - 5/24/2012 10:08:28 AM
If I have a coupon for something I know I use and need, great. I won't use a coupon to save .20 on something I wouldn't normally buy. Nor do I think it's worth the time and clutter to clip or collect coupons for products I don't use. - 2/28/2012 3:18:45 PM
- 11/23/2011 9:07:41 PM
Although, my children are now adults, I would purposefully purchase day old bakery goods -- once they've been placed in the refrigerator NO ONE COULD TELL THE DIFFERENCE.
It's my firm belief that as a consumer YOU HAVE TO USE EVERY MEANS POSSIBLE to save irregardless of a good economy or a bad economy.
One tip I would like to suggest to those of you who are interested. Buy a Round Steak (that is lean) and have your butcher grind it for you .. that way you have selected the product and know how much fat there is .. also purchase a WHOLE BODY chicken and save yourself some money by cutting it up yourself .. these are things I still do today. - 8/26/2011 4:47:45 PM
I don't feel embarrassed using coupons. I actually picked up a pre made coupon binder at my local hobby store for $11. all I had to do was add dividers which I got off of Krazy Koupon Lady's web site.
Sure it takes a few hours on a Sunday when I clip the coupons and get them into the binder. And Krazy Koupon Lady has a daily email i subscribe to which shows the different great price scenarios. You really can save some money couponing. I admit that I don't do the stock ups like some do. I really can't use 10 containers of laundry detergent in a year. I do use some of my coupling to help with my Soldiers Angel adoptee shipments. There have been gobs of razor, soap and oral care deals and coupons. Mix a special sale with a coupon and talk about save!
I'm not embarrassed. Look at it this way. It leaves you with more money in your pocket either because you need tonuse it elsewhere or you can save it or spend it the way you want to. Regardless of your economic situation, coupons are a great way to stretch your dollar! - 8/26/2011 9:13:17 AM
Unfortunately, with food shopping there are for so many coupons for things that I do not use. Also, there are many times that I do not want 2 items to use the coupon. So I do not clip many coupons to grocery shop - 4/25/2011 9:36:52 AM
A great way to get coupons is to write a letter or go online and compliment the product. I've got some free item coupons this way. - 4/5/2011 8:03:06 AM
There are cool websites too, that give you $$$ off for just about everything on the market--but beware, still comparison shop--just because there's a coupon doesn't mean it's a good deal. Here are some websites that give you rewards and/or coupons for shopping: www.ebates.com (cash back), www.mypoints.com (earn points for reward/gift cards) and www.retailmenot.com (coupons for just about everything under the sun). The only thing I don't like about a lot of the coupons when it comes to foods is that they are quite often for $$$ off the most unhealthful and processed stuff on the market. - 3/13/2011 9:35:23 AM
I not however an aggressive coupon user, either, because I discovered that the money I saved wasn't worth the time it took go through the ads, cut out coupons, organize them, etc. And we no longer have a local print newspaper--it went on line--so I don't have access to those coupons anymore anyway. So I use them when I have them, but I don't spend a lot of time looking for them; instead we tend to save money mostly through sales. - 3/11/2011 2:47:01 PM
Jocelyn - 3/11/2011 11:57:07 AM
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