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Coupon Clipping: Not Just For Grandma Anymore

by Mary Catherine Brutz
10/10/2007

The idea of using coupons to save money rarely, if ever, comes to the minds of most university students. Coupon clippers are few and far between, perhaps because many students do not realize the financial benefits of using them at the grocery store, restaurants or retail shops.

Donna Montaldo, a contributor to About, writes that “over $331 billion in potential consumer savings were distributed through coupons in 2006 with over $2.6 billion redeemed.” Even though many people fail to use coupons, the younger generations take the lowest spot of the coupon-spending totem pole.

Laziness and the financial situations of university students’ families are the reasons why Kroger manager Glen Zaitsev, 24, believes students fail to spend coupons at grocery stores.

Another Kroger employee, Vickie Crumbsy, 39, of Athens said, “A lot of times people say they left them at home or they don’t have time.”

Some students, like Jaanki Purohit, a junior from Valdosta, believe that one day they may start using coupons more.

“Once I have a family - then I'd need to buy more of a certain item, where coupons would become quite useful,” she said.

As for right now, she rarely uses them.

University students are confronted with a variety of ways to save. At the beginning of every semester bookstores distribute coupon books full of discounts at restaurants, shops, car maintenance facilities, and even jail bond locations around the Athens area. Athens periodicals print coupons or advertise business savings on their pages as well.

Major grocery stores such as Publix, Ingles and Kroger all double coupons up to 50 cents, allowing even more savings for consumers.

Just using one of these options can become financially beneficial. For example, saving $10 each week through coupon usage can lead to a surplus of over $500 every year.

Last month was national coupon month, leading the Promotion Marketing Association Coupon Council to release a series of ways to make the world of coupons easier for consumers.

It said, “Look for coupons in the Sunday newspaper, coupon books, in magazines, in your mailbox, at the grocery store shelf, and on the Internet.”

Although it is up to each student to decide whether or not he or she uses coupons, everyone should at least be aware of the money-saving possibilities these little pieces of paper provide.

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