Tesco Self-Scan tills

Phoenixx73

tottie666 wrote: »

I am just about to move to Canada and have been reading up on living there. In a book I got there was a section on shopping and the second hand market. It also said that the prices in the supermarkets genarally take into account the value of the coupons, so not using the coupons mean that you are actually spending too much. Couponing seems to be a way of life for canadian shoppers (so the book says), they have been through a couple of recessions so know how to save money - maybe we can learn from them. It is not stealing using the coupons, it is just getting the best value for money and watching the news at the moment it is about time we all started to do this.

As an aside - I have far too much coke in my cupboard!! But for the addditional 50p each time it was worth it as my children had their packed lunches for free that week. Stealing or sensible use of coupons??

I lived in Michigan in America and the coupon thing over there is MASSIVE, if fact, you are looked upon as a freak if you ARENT using them. The mentality over there as far as shopping goes is totaly different, Magazines of the things come through the mail most days and a part of the weekly routine is: Friday Night, Balance check book (yes they still do that over there, and as a result people are more controll of their finances, unlike us who expect people to do it for us without pay) Clip coupons, get out the big box of other coupons and plan the weeks shopping around them.

I saw a TV show about 2 years ago while I was staying in Canada (while my body was on UK time and late night TV was on) that followed one woman (who claimed to be the local coupon champion, yes it is THAT serious there) who did a weekly shop that totaled over $70 but after the coupons had been reduced from the total, she ended up handing over the proncly sum of $7.75 for the lot.

It pays to use them!

avstar

Phoenixx73 wrote: »

I lived in Michigan in America and the coupon thing over there is MASSIVE, if fact, you are looked upon as a freak if you ARENT using them. The mentality over there as far as shopping goes is totaly different, Magazines of the things come through the mail most days and a part of the weekly routine is: Friday Night, Balance check book (yes they still do that over there, and as a result people are more controll of their finances, unlike us who expect people to do it for us without pay) Clip coupons, get out the big box of other coupons and plan the weeks shopping around them.

I saw a TV show about 2 years ago while I was staying in Canada (while my body was on UK time and late night TV was on) that followed one woman (who claimed to be the local coupon champion, yes it is THAT serious there) who did a weekly shop that totaled over $70 but after the coupons had been reduced from the total, she ended up handing over the proncly sum of $7.75 for the lot.

It pays to use them!

Thats really interesting - I've noticed coupons are much more acceptable in USA when I've been on holiday there.

Just one question tho, do people in USA use the coupons for items they haven't bought ? You say they plan their shopping around their coupons so I'm assuming that means buying whatever you have a coupon for.

The point of contention here seems to be people using coupons when they haven't bought the item, altho if the store stocked the item then they will just claim it back from the manufacturer regardless of whether you've bought it or not.

Oggyoi

pash wrote: »

have to say i cant tell the difference in taste to normal diet coke! maybe just me tho!?!? :beer:

must be you my dear.
I think it depends how much voddy or Bacardi you mix with them anyway :rotfl:

pash_2

Oggyoi wrote: »

must be you my dear.
I think it depends how much voddy or Bacardi you mix with them anyway :rotfl:

i dont mix it unless with ice.. as well you know my dear! :rolleyes:

pash_2

stebiz wrote: »

You're joking right. Don't you have taste buds?? :rotfl: :rotfl:

The green one is IMOH is just about edible..........the orange one is okay.

Stebiz

no I am not joking, and yes I do have taste buds (well I did last time I looked!) so is it only me that thinks it just tastes like normal diet coke.. surely not?!:eek::eek:

Dormouse

pash wrote: »

no I am not joking, and yes I do have taste buds (well I did last time I looked!) so is it only me that thinks it just tastes like normal diet coke.. surely not?!:eek::eek:

Not just you - I thought the orange/green Coke tastes the same as normal Diet stuff. Mind you, I don't usually drink Diet Coke, it's full fat for me!

Dormouse

avstar wrote: »

Just one question tho, do people in USA use the coupons for items they haven't bought ? You say they plan their shopping around their coupons so I'm assuming that means buying whatever you have a coupon for.

I was under the impression that in the US, you have to buy the product the coupon is for, but there are more ways of combining coupons than here so the discounts can be quite sizeable. :money:

fodendeb

hi there . i am a coupon queen and have saved so much money from giving in coupons taken from newspapers etc. I give 5 coupons per shop and never feel guilty and have never being refused. I always go to a young lad as they do not care abount the coupons!!!

Another tip is that I sometimes split my shopping in 2 (say i am shopping for my mum) and give 5 coupons per transaction. I also buy coupons from a very well known auction site!!!

I put all my coupon money in a pot and every 4 months I empty the pot and usually treat myself and husband to a very nice meal on TESCO'S!!!!

I too have used the coke coupons without buying the item. At £2.49 a coupon i must have used about 10 of them already. deadline is end of the month though!

Coupon-mad

Dormouse wrote: »

I was under the impression that in the US, you have to buy the product the coupon is for, but there are more ways of combining coupons than here so the discounts can be quite sizeable. :money:

That's what I believe as well, about couponing in the USA.

On www.paidtoshop.co.uk there were some posts last year from some Americans (from a shopping forum where there was a brief meeting of minds). When we compared couponing experiences they were absolutely gobsmacked that some stores allow you to use coupons without buying the product, they said it was not allowed over there and they would love the luxury of being able to buy what you want rather than what the coupons state.

stebiz

Dormouse wrote: »

Not just you - I thought the orange/green Coke tastes the same as normal Diet stuff. Mind you, I don't usually drink Diet Coke, it's full fat for me!

I'll have to take you and Pash out for a drink. Champagne all night on me (really it is really nasty cheap wine but you'll never know).

Stebiz