Used to be that shoppers who used coupons were those who were struggling to make ends meet. No more.
These days nearly everyone–the wealthy included–are looking to get more bang for their buck and have taken to couponing like never before. I recently got some statistics from a Coupons.com survey on people’s couponing habits as well as their demographics, and I thought I’d share them with you here.
The Sophisticated Couponer
- Adults who are wealthy, educated and from metro areas are more likely to use coupons
- Six out of 10 people (61%) with a household income of $100K or more have redeemed a coupon in the past six months
- Adults with college degrees are almost twice as likely to have used coupons in the past six months as those who didn’t graduate from high school
- About 2/3 (67%) of adults with college degrees have redeemed a coupon in the past six months, compared to only 35% of adults who didn’t graduate from high school
- Almost 2/3 (64%) of adults who live in metro areas have used a coupon in the past six months – compared to 53% of adults who live in non-metro areas
- 77% of coupon users live in metro areas
- About 4 in 10 (39%) adults with a household income of $100K or more have redeemed a coupon printed from an online source in the past six months
- Adults with a college degree are more likely to use coupons printed from an online source than those who graduated high school but did not attend college (43% and 20%, respectively)
- Adults who went to college are more likely than those who did not to make a purchase specifically to redeem a coupon (37% vs. 22%, respectively), visit a product’s Web site to get a coupon (34% vs. 13%) and search for coupons online (29% vs. 16%)
- In the past six months, more adults have redeemed coupons (61%) than have shopped at discount retail outlet stores (42%), bought used goods (37%) or purchased something from a discount Web site to save money (19%). Using coupons is second only to shopping at mass discount retailers (73%).
The Male Coupon User
- Women are still the coupon queens, but men are using coupons more than you’d think – and are telling their friends about it
- About 1 in 2 (51%) of adult males have used a coupon in the past six months
- 36% of men have a designated place to keep their coupons
- 1 in 4 men made a purchase specifically to redeem a coupon in the past six months
- About 1 in 3 men have redeemed coupons printed from an online source in the past six months
- 18% of men have told a friend about a coupon they found online – not statistically different from the 23% of women who have told a friend about a coupon they found online
Tell me: do you fit the couponing profile? I know that I do! I mean, before I head out to grocery shop, I check a number of sources for coupons–the Sunday paper inserts, Coupons.com, women’s magazines that have coupons in them (think All You and Woman’s Day) and manufacturer’s websites, such as P&G.
READ LEAH ON HOME GOES STRONG
I don’t use coupons all that often. If I get some at Target that are actually useful to more and that’s pretty much it. Otherwise, we don’t get the paper and I rarely buy magazines with coupons, plus I do a lot of my shopping at local stores instead of big chains.
I use coupons for cleaning products, health & beauty items like shampoo and toothpaste, and the occasional pantry item like chicken stock, flour, sugar, etc. Since so many coupons are for processed or canned food, prepared foods or snacks, we probably far fewer coupons than others. I do like it when stores put instant coupons on items like meat and produce that are nearing their expiration date…there can be some big savings.
I have off and on tried to really use coupons, but most of the coupons out there are for things that I don’t buy. I have also tried hunting for online coupons, but between all the ink and paper used, and the reality that most stores won’t take them… feels like wasted effort and resources.
Being said, I’m thrilled when I come across coupons that I can use, and I do use them happily!
I fit the coupon profile and always checkout http://www.ineedabargain.com before placing my orders.