Get Out Those Scissors: September is National Coupon Month

That's right, the practice of getting out the scissors on Sunday mornings to clip coupons from the newspaper is honored with a month of its own.

This month marks the Seventh Annual Coupon Month, and the 100th anniversary since the first coupon appeared in 1909, when grocer C.W. Post offered a penny off his new cereal, Grape-Nuts.

Some organizations and websites are promoting National Coupon Month as a way to bring families together to clip coupons, or as a way to teach children math skills. Those are fine reasons to clip coupons, but with 89% of the population using coupons when shopping for grocery, household and healthcare items at supermarkets, I suspect most people simply want to save money.

According to recent research from the Promotion Marketing Association's Coupon Council, many consumers are already taking advantage of the savings opportunities. A recent survey revealed that:

• 89% of the overall population report that they use coupons when shopping (for grocery, household and healthcare items at supermarkets).
• 97% of primary shoppers report that they use coupons at supermarkets.
• Coupon users report an average of 7% savings on their grocery bill with coupons.
• Approximately $2.6 billion is saved annually by shoppers using manufacturer's coupons.
• Today, the average value is approximately $1.25 per coupon. 
• Shoppers who spend 20 minutes per week clipping and organizing their coupons can save up to $1,000 per year
  

"Consumers love coupons -- they are a great way to economize, stretch the grocery budget and try new products for less than retail price," says Charles Brown, Co-Chair of the PMA Coupon Council.

C.W. Post would have been proud.


A special THANKS to Stacy C. for telling me that September is National Coupon Month. Without her help, this post would not have been possible.