Reader Question and Comments on Coupons

Hi Tawra, I'm curious, do many other LOAD
subscribers use coupons or use lots of pre-made,
brand name, preserved type foods? I like the
idea of the coupon person benefiting from the
discounts on meats (those are always expensive
and I'm sure lots of us try to stretch it as far
as we can). But I'm wondering if the use of
Procter & Gamble, Pillsbury, etc. for family
menus isn't nutritious...your frugal recipes and
such don't cost a lot and are quite nutritious.
I haven't needed to break out coupons and we eat
well! Thanks for reading this and all the work
you put into creating such an informative and
well done publication. Yvonne :)



Hi Tawra,

This is in regard to the coupon lady from Wichita. I have been living/espousing the frugal life since my children were babies in the 1980's. I have had lots of experience testing saving by using coupons vs. saving by cooking from scratch, gardening, not using coupons, etc. I always lived in areas where there is a store that double coupons and has weekly "lost leaders". Here are some conclusions on her letter. I don't doubt that she can save & stockpile, but I feel that when we shop with coupons like that, there is a tendency to purchase more unnecessary & unhealthy food, which in the long run is detrimental to our lifestyle.

I do watch (when it isn't farmer's market or gardening season) weekly lost leaders on fruit & vegetables to be able to get the highest quality nourishment for my family for the lowest price (our King Sooper--a Kroger affiliate--often runs 10/$10 on potatoes, onions, etc.--so, for example, I can get 5 lb. bags of potatoes for @ one bag for $1.00--and you don't have to buy 10 bags!) but don't spend a lot of time on other coupons. I truly feel that over the years, I have saved more, spent less time shopping/cutting coupons and nourished my family better having NOT been dedicated to coupon cutting.

I fed a family of 5, a dog, a cat (along with various other fish, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits...) on $35.00 week from about 1985 to 1995--that included paper, cleaning/laundry & personal hygiene products (shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, etc.). I don't know what that would project into today's figures...but I think it should be reasonable still. I never went above $50/wk. even when my kids were in high school...my last graduated high school in 2001(2 of our 3 were boys with huge appetites--a lot of time they had friends over to eat!).

Of course, we ate more than "Just Beans"! Bravo to you for your books...I love them, and even though it is just me & my husband at home now...I still cook the same way(neither one of us has any health problems at all...no cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, arthritis & I credit much of that to healthy living, healthy eating, exercising our bodies --God has truly blessed us in our journey!) . Hope you appreciate the input...Have a blessed day in the Lord! Vicki T.