Lower your Grocery Bill by using Grocery Coupons

Food prices are high because - 1) worldwide demand has increased and 2) the US Congress mandated ethanol production which took 15% of US corn production off the market. It is clear here in the US with Iowa pork producers and Iowa chicken producers at odds with Iowa corn farmers. Feed corn is a major cost input for pork, chicken, beef, eggs, milk, etc. The impact in the US is seen overseas in markets which look to the US for food imports. An example from a few years ago is the US selling chicken parts to Russia. Americans like breast meat which leads to excess of dark meat for export, which the Russians prefer.

Production cost of food has increased worldwide due to the price of fertilizer which has more than doubled. Most fertilizer is not oil based. Fertilizer production has lagged demand worldwide. Other costs are more than likely to have increased, but I do not have details.

Whatever the cause of food inflation, coupons can help some but not much - they are offering discounts on "processed foods" which are the highest cost items per serving. Consumers can save substantially on their food budgets by moving away from processed foods and making meals "from scratch" at home. We can save significant money by shopping in the local "vegetable store" which offers fruit and veg for much less than the supermarket. Or buy shopping at Costco or Walmart for basic items.

i certainly use coupons to shop with.

unfortunately, some stores don't take coupons from the internet. they think they're forged.

well, food prices go up for a couple of reasons, weather being a big one. this time it was because of the increasing gas prices. it takes more to fill the tanks, therefore, we have to offset that by raising prices. now that gas prices are going down, do you think they'll lower prices? not from what i've seen at the store recently.

let's hope they do.

I use coupons at the grocery store when they are for my usually purchased products. I tend to eat healthy and organic when possible. I like saving the few dollars. My sister, on the other hand, uses coupons a lot and saves a lot - sometimes up to $20+. I am always amazed at this.

I agree that coupon use will likely rise in a tough economy. In my experience though, coupon use can easily lead to over-buying and then having to store items that may not ever be used. The other down-side of coupon's is that it is another enticement to purchased packaged foods that have little nutritional value. Staying healthy is even more important when funds are tight. Perhaps our economy could benefit more from increased education about healthy meal preparation - and how to stretch healthy ingredients to feed a family for an entire week on a very limited budget.

Hi

I agree that coupons are a good means to lower the budget you will spend on food or on other products in general. I always shop at the same store where there are weekly new things that are cheaper, but they have changed the coupons to a loyalty card and indicate where and what you can save in the store - they did it because then people do not have to cut out their coupons every week, it is also a bit of service to the consumer.In these times of economic recession, I have noticed that where a few months ago you neede to buy 2 of something to get a price reduction, it has now changed to buy 3 to get a price reduction.

I do not totally agree that food costs are only higher because of the high oil prices. There are a lot of other factors involved - a year with bad crops, higher demand from countries like China and India where people now can afford more food and meat, crops being used for reneable energy, crops being used to bread cattle for all the extra consumers of meat in the world.... so it is not entirely correct to state that food costs are high just because oil prices are high.

Ives

Coupons always help a bit.
I have a gas card that gives me back 5% of the total purchase price at the pump.

Within 5 to 10 years, as alternative fuels become the norm, oil will become worthless, lowering transportation costs and thus prices for everything (including food products).

well in this world of crisis everyone suffer and every dime is really now counts. Let should grab always the free or we think could pay for less:D be practical!

I don't think oil will ever become worthless, Dave, but it would be nice to see the CEO's of the oil companies in the bread lines they created.

Low oil prices do go a long way towards lower food prices, though. I think coupons are a great way to save some money, too.

I don't bother with coupons or loyalty cards, I would find it tiresome trying to hoard them and make sure I have them.

Although I can understand someone wanting to use them, I find nothing more annoying than being stuck behind someone in the queue who is trying to work out with the cashire, what and which coupons are allowed.

I don't use coupons myself all that often, but my wife uses them frequently. It takes her some time to gather them and get them all together, but she's saved a good $1500 on merchandise this year at CVS alone. All of it was merchandise we use - shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc. She also saves a good deal of money when shopping at dominicks, etc. If you have the time and patience, the value is definitely there, and in this economic climate, every bit helps.

Listed below are ways that I significantly cut my grocery bill. They come naturally to me, but others have a hard time sticking to it.

1. Do not remain brand loyal. Remaining brand loyal is the surest way to make yourself pay too much for something. I've never noticed a meaningful difference between Tide and Cheer, Campbell's soup and Progresso, or Ban and Sure. Store brand "generics" are quite often every bit as good, or even better than the products made by big chains.
2. Use coupons. I am a casual coupon clipper in that I only peruse the Sunday paper. But, even with that casual effort I am able to save at least $10 a week in coupons.
3. Try new things. I am always up for trying a new product that has a deep initial discount designed to lure in new shoppers AND a coupon.