Accurate information

[KennyD]

I was excited to join this site and discover a great way to shop. The concept is fantastic.

I became quickly disappointed however as I discovered significant flaws in the information I received regarding store prices vs. coupons.

I have already discovered significant discrepancies in estimated prices in-store and have found non-existant coupons that were listed.

I realize the site is free to use and the site cannot be correct on everything, but in two shopping weeks I’m already questioning the system here.

An email to the site last week to specify corrections that could be made to errors I found was not answered.

Hopefully this will improve or is an anomaly and I wont see these issues as much in the future.

[Jenng]

Sale prices vary greatly according to where you live. Even different Walmarts, Targets, ect. within 10 miles of each of can vary greatly in their prices.

Also, papers are regional in what coupons you receive. I have even had a friend give me her coupons from across town and they were different then mine. Companies use coupons to promote different products in different areas so that is why they target different areas. You can order what coupons you are missing from a clipping service or on ebay, or you can trade with others on this forum to get what your family uses.

Stick with it, it gets easier with time. Read all you can on this site and you will get the hang of it. You are in an expensive area of the country (I'm from VA and I know it's much more expensive than where I am now in TN) The prices on this list are from Atlanta, so they will always be less than what you will pay.

I suggest starting with the drugstores, Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid. Those prices seem to be less regional and more accurate and steady. When you can reduce the amount of money you are spending on medicine, household items, beauty supplies and hygiene, diapers, it really helps your bottom line. Good luck and welcome.

[jenne64]

I've been using this site since January and I realized pretty quickly this like everything else is simply a guide and a tool. It took me quite a while to figure everything out and what works for me and what doesn't. Use it as a guide rather than a bible is what I tend to do if that makes any sense. Start slowly, I started with CVS as it was my closest drug store, and while I was mastering that, I kept a book with the prices for my groceries and where I found the best prices, etc. As I got more confident at CVS, I added RiteAid into the mix and slowly began incoperating my local grocery store into the couponing mix.

When I first started I was lucky to be saving 10% a trip, now after 3 months I'm consistently saving 50% or more each trip as I've built a stockpile that means I no longer have to buy groceries every week, or as many other things that used to eat into my budget.

The site and the prices shown are a guide and prices and stores are very regional as are papers. I live on the border of two states and I check both states papers as often one will carry coupons that the other doesn't. You'd be amazed how different the inserts can be just between a ten mile radius. No site can ever give you definitive prices on anything, you still have to do your own research and that means knowing your stores that you most often frequent.

All I can say is hang in there, keep plodding away at it and the savings will come...

[Bear]

Coupons vary by region as do prices. The coupon matchups on Couponmom are BETTER than any other site. Unless you had someone matching prices at every store in the nation, the lists will never be 100% accurate. They are just a guide, not a guarantee.

Also make sure you buy the largest circulated paper in your area to get the best coupons.

[LITSA]

Thanks for the support everyone. I appreciate it.


Blessings and Hugs, "Angel"

[starladarcy]

I was excited to join this site and discover a great way to shop. The concept is fantastic.

I became quickly disappointed however as I discovered significant flaws in the information I received regarding store prices vs. coupons.

I have already discovered significant discrepancies in estimated prices in-store and have found non-existant coupons that were listed.

I realize the site is free to use and the site cannot be correct on everything, but in two shopping weeks I’m already questioning the system here.

An email to the site last week to specify corrections that could be made to errors I found was not answered.

Hopefully this will improve or is an anomaly and I wont see these issues as much in the future.

I came from VA BEACH and what i used to do was sign up for the local stores email weekly specials alert.( food lion harris teeter farm fresh ect.)
I would then do the match up myself with the qs that i had on hand.I found that to be alot easier for me.

[SAHM]

I agree with everyone else. The site is awesome, you just need to learn to tailor it to your own experiences and stores.

I have different prices than listed as well so what I did was make a list of my VIP items. I wrote down regular prices at my Walmart for things I buy most often. Diapers, popcorn, soda, etc. If you have a binder keep it in there. It will help you with whatever stores you are at because you will know if the sale price is good or if it is still cheaper at walmart/target (or wherever you prefer to shop).
As you go on you will learn prices without the list. For instance my favorite shampoo is $2.97 at walmart. It was on clearance for $3.20 at another store I was at today. I didn't even have to look it up to know to hold off. I have only been at it a few months and thanks to this site and its members I paid $6.27 for roughly $142 worth of items today. That was JUST today!

I hope you will give it another shot! Also, the coupon database on the regular cm site (not forum) is what I use the most. If you see an advertised price for something you like at store not listed on her site (privately owned ones usually) then look it up and see if you can find a q. That will probably help you more than the deals guide

[KennyD]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Like I wrote, I realize the site cannot be 100% accurate…I was getting too disappointed when a particular deal turned out to not have the listed matching coupon or the price in-store was not what I expected to see.

I have lowered my expectations and just do what you all have basically said and use the site as a tool, a basis for my shopping.

I love the feature that allows you sort a grocery store’s sale list by most savings to least savings. I don’t even go below the 50% savings mark and I stock up on those things even when I don’t need them…keeps the fridge and pantry very well stocked and we just fill in the necessary gaps usually at Wal-Mart where they have finally gone back to low price mantra.

I am also somewhat stockpiling long shelf life food items. Not only are we going to get hit with massive inflation as this year progresses…but I’m actually a little worried about America and the monetary policy of our government…our dollar may collapse if we don’t get federal government spending slashed…we’ll need a wheel barrow of cash to buy anything if that happens…

We all need to be prepared for the worst and try to keep the worst from happening. We need to be prepared to help out unprepared neighbors as well…

[lucylizzard]

I came from VA BEACH and what i used to do was sign up for the local stores email weekly specials alert.( food lion harris teeter farm fresh ect.)
I would then do the match up myself with the qs that i had on hand.I found that to be alot easier for me.

Thanx for the tip -- I forgot all about email alerts from the actual stores Thanx!
lucylizzard

[mnm'z]

Kenny, I'm very happy you didn't get discouraged and just quit. This is a lifestyle change and it doesn't happen overnight as you realize This will surely help with being prepared for whatever the future holds.