Heee Hee……he’s cute. Not so much.
I get this question asked alot – Sheryl, how much time do YOU spend couponing?
Gosh, bad question to ask me. I’ll give a skewed answer.. well, obviously you can’t go from my answer because – well, you’d sit with your jaw dropped open…… I am constantly on it, up early, to bed …well, after 2 a.m…. yeah, you don’t want to know!!!
On a serious note though, many of you spend alot of time in front of the computer. I see you. Up early. Staying up late. Many of you stay up late to chitter chatter with ME. I love that. :) You keep me great company. I love chit chat.
But in reality, we all want to know: How much time do YOU think you spend, a day, in the subject of “Coupons” – deals, thinking about deals, or shopping for deals?
I might just pop in and let you know how much time I spend…but I don’t think you want to know! :)
To be honest, I would probably spend a lot of time on the computer coupons or not. I used to spend hours and hours a day playing video games, at least now I'm doing something that is more productive for my family. Plus I've made friends along the way.
In reality though, I probably spend about 8-10 hours a day browsing coupon forums, checking my favorite blog, doing surveys, requesting coupons from companies and shopping.
Oh jeez i'd have to say waaaaay too much time! But I can't help it…free toothpaste…free food…free CHOCOLATE! Mmmm chocolate :)
Oh- at least 25-30 hours between the ads, blogs, coupons and coupon clipping site and planning shops and actually shopping…. Who says SAHMs don't work????
I think of it as a job…pay's good!! I'm still learning and truly wish I figured this out long ago! I always used coupons but never as good as this :D Amount of time spent varies on the day but mornings seem consumed by it!
probably on average 4-6 hours a day. Sometimes I feel like im neglecting my family when all im trying to do is save money trying to provide for them.
I think we are all in-the-closet coupon hogs. I seriously just do the necessities, you know feed the kids, clean (a little), maybe use the bathroom every now and then on a good day … oh and of course I make time for reading the bible that's a must. But the rest of the time it's my coupon time!! I love it. It's fun, it's useful, and it's allll mine! We need rehab.
by the way I'm up late too if you want company!
It all depends on what I have going on in my life… and how big my stockpile is. I just moved here, and gave a lot of my stockpile to my son's other household, so that means with my stocks really down, I am couponing and deal hunting daily. I have the time right now, and there are plenty of good deals, so I will rebuild. Once I have things built back up, I do it only sporadically, it is no fun to live in a house filled to the brim with stuff you can't find after all!
I dedicate a lot of time to couponing each day. I'm either reading blogs like this one or putting together scenarios and clipping coupons for them or actually going to the stores to do the deals; but I would say the majority of my time is spent on a message board with a great group of gals sharing info about the latest deals, sharing coupons with each other, and teaching coupon newbies the ropes.
I'm with Sheryl on this one. You don't even want to know how much time I spend.
I just started couponing and I spend about 2-3 hours a day following blogs like this, putting deals together and going to the stores. But I'm trying to cut back on the time spent and blogs like this are great in the sense that the deals are already laid out for me! My goal is to spend 1 hour or less a day couponing.
Look at all the anonymous posts! Aren't we a bunch of closet couponers! Heehee! I find that so funny. :) I spend about 20 minutes a day max checking your blog and printing or clipping any coupons. On a day I am actually going shopping I take about 30min to an hour to prepare. Usually since I have done a little everyday it is all pretty much ready. Try to go only one or 2 times in a week and it usually takes an hour for each trip. When I first started it took me hours upon hours getting organized and searching blogs. I have been doing about 10 months now and have a small stockpile (5-15 of each item) of what we use regularly. Weekly budget is $40 for everything from grocery, diapers, papergoods, cleaning supplies, cosmetics, etc. And the only stores where I live are Safeway, Bashas, Walmart, and Walgreens so this is a challenge! When I go to an area with a Fry's though watch out! I will spend 1/2 a day preparing and 3 hrs at the store stocking up when there is a MEGA sale! I have done that 2 times last year. I really have had to find a balance because at first I spent so many hours searching for coupons online and in recycle bins, organizing trips, and going to stores every day. I pass up a lot of deals because they are too time consuming. I have had to become okay with that so that I can do lots of other things that are important. And there are lots of other things that I enjoy spending time doing just as much as couponing.
I would say I spend about 2 hours a day checking blogs. On days that I plan shopping, I can spend up to 4 hours getting stuff together and another 2 hours shopping. I'm still new at this but if I didn't have a job, I could do this all day. This is very addicting.
I too would say about 2 hours a day. Some days I spend way more and others way less. I sometimes spend a little more time to prepare for a big shop. If it's a quick trip to the store, it's usually a matter of minutes to prepare.
If I am able to be home and on the computer 2-4 hours. That is usually only 2-3 days a week though. Not as much compared to some of you but I am still saving a TON of money :-)
UMMM ALOT!!! Prolly anywhere around 8-10 hrs a day..(At least thats all I am admitting too!!)lol…Oh well, just started, very new, reading all I can. Trying to absorb it all. Very addicting! But what the heck this Nana needs something to do most of the time I guess. Posted Anonymous cause I couldnt figure out comment as?? CINDY
I would say I spend about 2-3 hours a day reading blogs,mainly this one cuz i don't want to miss a single deal :) I am constantly on the frugal websites reading how i can change our household more. I go through my budget and crank numbers and read dave ramsey information. I'm trying very hard to not go the store everyday but just twice a week. But then readers here find a deal and I run to go check it out at my store. LOL I blame you guys :-) I am so thankful for Sheryl and all the readers here!
MacKenzie
"Anonymous said…
probably on average 4-6 hours a day. Sometimes I feel like im neglecting my family when all im trying to do is save money trying to provide for them.
January 19, 2011 4:06 PM "
Totally agree Anonymous! About 4-6 hours a day, except on weekends when I spend less than 2 hours a day – somedays 0 hours – everyone needs a break, right? I have an addictive personality, so I choose to have this addiction. It's much better than cigarette's, alcohol or gambling IMO. If it's a really big shopping week cause the deals are really good I'll spend up to 3 hours at home with my stack of coupons and computer preparing for my trip. It makes my husband nuts, but when you save 70% every single week at the store how can you complain?
Glad to see others spending significant time doing this. Thought it was just my aging brain that couldn't grasp all the deals! I probably spend at least two-three hours day with this. But I saved over $4,400 last year, not counting the grocer store. That's just with CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens. My goal for 2011 is to get groceries down to $50 wk avg. We have 3 eating here consistently and sometimes 4/5 depending on who comes home. I'm in Norcal which is a high COLA and no double coupons. I read your blog and want to cry!!
I'm relatively new to the US, so I'm still working at building my coupon stash again – getting there, though! I probably spend 10-12 hours a week on my coupons, more if there's great sales to take advantage of. PLUS, of course, I spend time @ Fry's, Safeway, Cellfire, and the Shortcuts sites, loading coupons onto my loyalty cards. We use my FIL's senior's discount at Fry's on the first Wednesday of every month, so that Wednesday, I'm good for about 3-4 hours of coupon hunting & deal figuring … if only I could get him to load digital q's onto his card for my trips! But when I can get $350 in groceries for around $75, I figure that's a good way to spend my time. Wish I could find a job that payed so well!!
Then again, since I'm not yet working, I guess keeping the household accounts up to date, and the cupboards stocked IS my job, isn't it?
A big shout-out to you, Sheryl … you make my job far easier. Thanks. ;-)