What are coupons?

What is you're guys take on using coupons when out shopping?

• And about how much does it help save? Would it be weird for a male in his mid 20's to use coupons on such things as groceries and household items? And overall if it's something they want or need and have a coupon for the item use it. I'm learning how to save money and want to get into the habit of maxamizing the amount I have. I live on SSI right now, going to school, and working on learning to save while getting a car and working on saving so I'll have a nest egg started when I hope to get off of SSI after i graduate from my program and get my first job. I want to get in the habit of maximizing what I can get with what I have, by using coupons even though I get foodstamps, just want to get into the habit while still learning how to handle my own money. So how is it like using coupons? How much does it help?

• Answer:

  I've been using them for decades. Just keep in mind that coupons aren't always the best money savers. A bag of beans is a bag of beans, no matter what name they have on them. Even with coupons it's not always a good bet to buy the name brands. Seek out discount food stores in your area and start comparing prices. Don't assume that a higher price tag means better taste. It may be true in some cases but not nearly in all of them. For instance I buy Chase & Sanborn coffee at our local Save A Lot store for $5.49 a can. We have a coupon for Folgers that will save a dollar. Even with the coupon the Folgers is going to be over $3 more and it's going to be bitter compared to the C&S coffee. Sometimes the cheaper brands are better than the name brands.