Is Couponing Worth It? What Percentage is Really Saved?

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Couponing is a great way to save money on purchases. But we want to know is couponing worth it? Here we talk about all the savings.

Is Couponing Worth It? – What Percentage IS Really Saved?

When I first started out couponing 15+ years ago, I would save between 10 – 15 percent on my shopping trips.

At that point in time, I still called myself a true couponer. I was clipping and saving, but things change, kids happened, and our budget got tighter.

On top of all those changes, our grocery shopping list got bigger. My couponing mindset changed quickly, and I learned to shop sales (with coupons), stock up, and stick to my list. As well as other little tips and tricks.

While the world of couponing continues to change, I started wondering how many people say they use coupons and what percentage they are saving on their grocery bill.

Especially as we are entering into the digital age of couponing, we are finding less paper produced resources.

Searching for exact numbers for my questions, I found some statistics released by the Juniper Research Company. I found it shocking.

I never thought that the number of digital coupons available versus the redemption rate would have been so low. Here is what I dug up.

Here are some couponing statistics that might surprise you:

• There were approximately $91 billion in coupon redemptions by 2022.
• In 2019 only 31 billion digital coupons were redeemed in 2019.
• In 2021 there were more than 145.3 online coupon users
• 80% off all coupon redemptions in 2022 were digital.
• American consumers spend 13 million hours per week searching for online coupons. However, half of the time is wasted as they stumble upon expired or incorrect coupon codes.

Does Couponing Save Money?

According to recent research from the Promotion Marketing Association’s (PMA) Coupon Council, many consumers are already taking advantage of the savings opportunities.

The recent PMA Coupon Council Internet survey of 1,000 people found that:

• 89% of the overall population report that they use coupons when shopping (for grocery, household, and healthcare items at supermarkets). – This number is based on people who have reported using one or more coupons in a one-month period. I would say those people are not considered true couponers, but for this research project, it was considered as such.
• 97% of primary shoppers report that they use coupons at supermarkets.
• Coupon users report an average of seven percent savings on their grocery bill with coupons.
• The typical family saves between $5.20 and $9.60 per week using coupons.
• Those who spend 10 minutes or fewer per week clipping and organizing their coupons (46 percent of consumers) still achieve an average of $7.00 weekly savings on their grocery bill.

SEVEN Percent….. is what the average couponer is savings – I know that according to this research stats most of us fall way out of this percentage range and are saving much more than this.

I am not the average couponer and I know that many of you are not either.

What percentage are you saving each week by using coupons? Because I know you are NOT in the 7% savings range. Leave us a comment below.

Why do people continue to use coupons

Simply put… because coupons do help you cut costs.

But for some, couponing is a way of life.

It’s a simple and easy way to save money on the grocery bill and put that hard-earned cash to use somewhere else—like saving up for your next family vacation.

And for others, it’s just a great way to save a dollar or two on something they were already in the market for.

I know for our family it is now a way of life. I honestly feel like if I won the lotto, I would still use coupons. Being frugal is being smart with your money. Spending frivolously can cause more harm than good.

Coupons are a great way to save money on things you were already going to purchase. So why not use them?

The Bottom Line – Is couponing worth it?

Here’s the deal, couponing is only worth what you save. If you are not consistently using and find you are too out of sorts trying to pair coupons with a sale, it can make grocery shopping more confusing. I say it isn’t worth it for you.

However, if you understand and feel comfortable clipping coupons, then couponing is worth it. Especially when you look at the bottom of your register receipt and see all the savings add up.

There is no need to pay full price on any item.

There’s nothing wrong with couponing, especially if you’re trying to save money at checkout. However, just make sure you’re not being lured into spending money on an item that you won’t use.

Just because you can save a $1 doesn’t mean you need to spend it. And all for the thrill of saving.

Looking for more family savings at the grocery store?

Savings Even More Money By Shopping the Sales Cycles

What Are Loss Leaders And How Can They Save You Money

The Big Secret to Saving Money at The Grocery Store – Is Not The Couponing

Outsmart The Experts: How to Avoid Marketing Tactics When Grocery Shopping