Why I Don’t Play The Coupon Game
I’ve been reading food labels for years. For me, it’s a necessity, because three of us here have allergic reactions to soy and all of its derivatives… resulting in not just a rash or a runny nose but a reaction so severe that accidentally ingesting soy could kill us. Which, of course, makes label reading probably the most important part of my grocery shopping experience. After many years of researching the ingredients on food labels while I was checking for the presence of soy, I have become totally convinced that many ingredients commonly present in those outwardly-appealing processed foods are not only unhealthy, they are actually dangerous. We avoid them completely.
I agree, the coupon deals do sound appealing. It’s tempting to think that using coupons can pare a grocery bill down to only a few dollars and that items can be gotten for free. Playing the coupon game does sound good… UNTIL I think about the types of products that most of these coupons are for. Even the foods that seem to be healthy, like soups and cold cereals, are actually packed full of sugar, salt, preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, and more. Also, the more processed a food is, the more likely it is to contain some of those questionable uninspected ingredients from other countries. I worry about the quality of the food I prepare for my family, and I feel that I have an obligation to provide the most healthful and nutritious food I can. For me, processed foods just do not meet this obligation or criteria… regardless of all those great deals.
Saving money on groceries does not have to be a trade-off between money spent and good nutrition. It is very possible to live within a frugal grocery budget, eat delicious, healthful, and nutritious food, and not ingest ingredients like nitrites, hydrogenated oils, monosodium glutamate, and artificial colors and flavors. Research results on these and so many other additives and preservatives are downright scary… especially since researchers believe the side effects of these chemicals may be cumulative and not show up for years.
So that’s why I don’t play the coupon game. I prefer to spend my grocery money on real food, real value, and real nutrition. They may be harder to find, but there are some great deals and great savings on this type of food out there… and it tastes a lot better than the processed stuff too.
Written by Shirley | Filed Under Frugality & Nutrition series, Living with a Soy Allergy, Simple Living, Voluntary Simplicity
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[...] Shirley wrote an interesting post today on Why I Don’t Play The Coupon Game. Here’s a quick excerpt… “and it tastes a lot better than the processed stuff too. I’ll share some of the ways I save money on groceries in some of my future posts. Anyone out there feel the same way? I’d love to hear how YOU save money on unprocessed food.” [...]
Comment by momhuebert:
I agree with you about avoiding processed food. After reading the South Beach Diet book last year I have made an even greater effort to eat healthier, and I discovered I can do 90 percent of my shopping in the perimeter of the store. That is, I buy mostly meat, produce, and dairy products, with a few minor excursions in to the aisles for things like baking supplies and rice and pasta. There are whole aisles now I hardly even walk down! I’m amazed how much stuff there is in the grocery store that isn’t really food in my book.
But how to save money, I’m not sure, beyond watching for sales.
Comment by Maxime:
That’s the reason I don’t play the coupon game. I’d rather pay a little a more and have “real” food, than get awful food for a low price.
We buy a lot of our stuff at CostCo in bulk sizes so we save money on that. I also save money on baking my own bread, making my own pancake mixes etc.
Comment by Brenna Kater, the Ocean Skater:
I & my son eat dairy, soy, corn, & wheat-free, so I know what you mean. I have just recently started to look into using coupons again and am finding there are still some deals to be had :)
Comment by Cathy:
I buy 90% organic, and I play the coupon game. I have a coupon for almost every item I buy. Some of the things I buy are Cascadian Farms frozen vegetables, Knudsen’s bottled juices, Lundberg’s short grain brown rice, and a hundred other organic products. And I use coupons for them!
Comment by Shirley:
Good for you! You’re lucky your stores carry those brands.
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