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When the topic of couponing comes up among those who eat real, whole and organic foods, I usually hear this:
“Coupons just don’t work for me. They don’t make coupons for the things that I buy.”
Oh wait… that was me who said it!
I felt this way for a long time. I attempted to use coupons way back when after the birth of my first child, when I was learning to be a homemaker on an incredibly meager budget.
I became easily discouraged after trying for a short while, partly because at that time coupons were used only minimally in Canada, but mostly because I felt that the coupons were for products and foods that I simply didn’t want our family to buy or use!
Since that time, the foods that we eat and the lifestyle choices that we make have gone in the direction of being decidedly more natural, wholesome, organic, and choosy. And yet… I now use coupons more than I ever have before! So what happened?
I have learned that even though I can’t use most of the coupons out there, and I won’t choose to follow through on most of the deal scenarios that I read on other blogs, I can still use coupons to the extent that they work for me.
That’s the key. To the extent that they work for me.
If I were to break it down, I would estimate that I currently use coupons on about 5-8% of the grocery and household purchases that I make (that’s actual paper coupons, not including all of the store sales, co-op discounts, online coupon codes, etc. that I take advantage of). Piddly stuff, right?
Actually, it’s not. Even a savings of 5% per year on our monthly budget of $450 adds up. That’s almost $23 a month saved, and about $270 saved each year.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t think $270 is insignificant. I can think of a whole lot of amazing, real, nutrient-dense foods that I could buy with that much money (pastured butter, coconut oil, wild fish, raw milk!) that I potentially couldn’t afford to buy if I had to spend that money on other grocery and household basics.
I don’t expect couponing to revolutionize my whole foods budget, because the honest truth is that it can’t and it won’t. I will still be buying mounds of fresh produce, sides of grass-fed beef and whole pasture-raised chickens, huge bags of organic oats and kamut grain, and tubs of wild raw honey.
But, every little bit counts, especially for other families like ours who are trying to do the best they can with what they’ve got and who are seeking to be careful stewards of what they’ve been given.
I’ve made it my motto to do what I can do. I don’t fret about all the coupons that I consider useless. I don’t panic that I can’t make a bigger dent in my budget. I simply view this as another valuable tool in my arsenal that helps me to do better with the resources available to me.
This series, How to Start Saving, will work through many of the techniques and the ins and outs of saving on whole foods, using coupons, finding the best deals and knowing how to put it all together in a way that won’t make you pull your hair out. Promise. 
Thank you for this, Stephanie! I guess I fell into that trap of not even looking at coupons because so very few of them work for me. But even if a few do work, that is better than NO savings at all! I’ll have to re-examine my thoughts on coupons.
Can’t wait for more in this series!
.-= Megan@SortaCrunchy´s last blog ..Real Food on a Real Budget – review and giveaway! (You know you need it!) =-.
I definitely use coupons – often times I find that if you email or write the companies, you can get coupons for their products. I’ve done this with a variety of organic/wholesome food companies, and gotten great coupons in the process. I also buy paper products, razors, deodorant, etc with coupons. I am moving in the direction of having my cosmetics be more natural too, but I’m not there yet so in the meantime I definitely use the coupons that I get to get great deals on toiletries, which leaves room in the budget for some of the other, more expensive things (like produce and dairy).
I use coupons whenever I can, no matter the amount. I used to pass the coupons for 25 cents off, thinking it wasn’t worth the effort, but then I started thinking, if someone asked if I wanted a quarter wouldn’t I say yes? I agree with Lauren, that sending emails of praise or concern is a great way to get coupons. Mambo Sprouts has coupons that are more in line with an organic diet. Also, since our home is gluten-free, I have to pass many coupons by, but I will still use them occasionally if it is a deal beyond belief for a product I can give to our church’s food pantry.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Schmaltz =-.
I definitely thinks it’s possible but only if whole food companies made it easier to find their coupons. I too have had to call the whole food companies for coupons. They are happy to mail them to you but we shouldn’t have to work so hard if they want us to buy their products.
Hi Stephanie,
I’m wondering where you get your tubs of raw honey? I’ve been buying unpasteurized honey from Whole Foods but I know it isn’t truly raw. I’d love to find a local (GVRD) raw source that isn’t cost prohibitive.
Thanks for the informative and interesting posts!
I buy mine in 1 gallon tubs from Azure Standard (natural foods co-op). We also have a local honey store that sells raw honey where I can buy large buckets, though it’s definitely a bit more expensive (but not as much as in stores, and I know that it is very high quality).
I think the coupons can definitely be helpful, if you have a store nearby that sells the items coupons are for. We are living in a tiny rural town, with just a small market (mostly canned foods/camping stuff). I have yet to see any of the organic/natural foods that I used to clip coupons for when we lived in the city.
I get my groceries delivered monthly from Azure Standard (which doesn’t take coupons), purchase from local farms (again, no coupons), harvest from my garden, and make my toiletries.
Also, we don’t have a printer, so I’ve never been able to print out coupons on a regular basis.
I know coupons CAN be used responsibly; I’ve used them occasionally when we lived in the city. But for some, I think they can actually lead to more unnecessary buying, “because its on sale!”
Michele
.-= Michele @ Frugal Granola´s last blog ..Baby Essentials (or Not): Mommy Bag =-.
I tried hard core couponing after hearing how much my friends were saving, but it didn’t work for me. We are moving towards a more whole foods diet, and we don’t eat the things that are typically on sale – heavily processed foods. I still use for coupons on toiletries and I look up coupon codes for online shopping and try to save in other areas. I get e-mail coupons for Borders, Babies R Us, Shutterfly, etc. so if I buy a book for my little girl, I can get up to 40% off. Even though a new book may not seem as necessary, I feel good about saving several dollars on a planned purchase of a book or toy.
I used to use coupons quite a bit. We recently relocated to another state and in our old home i was almost the coupon queen. Unfortunately, in an effort to keep the budget down, the coupons helped me bring in items that were less than wholesome. Now I have neglected the coupons, not because I don’t like saving, but because it takes a lot of time to do and I just don’t know where to find coupons on items that are more nutritious.
Looking forward to your take on how to mix couponing and whole foods!
Excellent thoughts – they echo where I am just about
I rarely buy the paper, but will print coupons that are available online. If it’s something I will use. Or something that is already on my shopping list. Or it’s such a killer deal on something that I don’t mind stocking up on. If it’s not something I will use, I pass.
I agree, every bit helps. I love that Whole Foods around here often tapes the coupons right to the packages in the store so if I am looking at something I am planning on buying there may be a coupon right there for me.
And I do shop stuff around. Not all the time. There is a time with 3 young kids that an extra stop to save .50 on whatever isn’t worth it. But every few weeks/months I try and shop around frequently bought items. And I usually don’t try and do it all at once. One week I might price honey as I hit the stores I normally shop at. Then for awhile, I try and just buy honey at the best place- in a few months I will re-price it around and obviously watch for sales as well.
i’ve tried to use coupons on the past but quit because i didn’t eat the type of food that i found coupons for. i’m SO excited about the series…
.-= stacey´s last blog ..My thrifty weekend. What I spent… and what I saved! =-.
I’ve been a couponing queen for just over a year. I recently went through all my coupons and saved only the products I want to actually USE and feed my family. Mostly household / heathy & beauty items (although I will slowly be making my own to save even more!).
Many of the whole & natural foods that I find coupons for are so expensive, its still cheaper to make it yourself than buy on sale with a coupon. But there are a few things that we will get as treats occasionally (usually convenience foods when we are in a hurry or traveling).
I have found a local blog that highlights our local stores’ organic & natural foods and pairs them with coupons. This helps a lot so I don’t have to do the work of matching them up myself!
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Sorry, moved into a retirement community in the boondocks where my meals are provided and I no longer have to shop. thank you