How many inserts to buy?

by Briana Carter on January 19, 2009

Reader Question:

I’m new to couponing and don’t have the right number of coupons for the deals. How many Sunday papers do you normally buy?

I subscribe to two local Sunday papers. So I usually have at least two sets of insert coupons. My grandma gives me her insert coupons. Lately, with all the good coupons out there, I’ve been spending a little extra and buying 3 more Sunday papers. “They” recommend buying 1-2 inserts per household member while you are in the stockpiling phase. Once you get stockpiled and only buy the absolute best deals, you may not need as many papers. Sometimes having more than 5 papers is a little much but when there is a $2.50/1 Electrasol coupon, you regret you don’t have 10 more of that coupon!

A little funny: The cashier today looked stumped when I was buying 3 of the same paper. I said “I have my reasons.” Then went on to tell him it was for the coupons. He asked if it was worth. Oh, little does he know….

comments { 9 Comments }

Kristy - January 19, 2009 @ 7:08 am 1

2-3 papers are great for 3 for 5 and 2 for 5 especially if your store doubles.
Kelona - January 19, 2009 @ 2:30 pm 2

Excellent advice!
sarah - January 19, 2009 @ 2:38 pm 3

ive heard that there’s a website that sells the full inserts. does anyone know any?
Holly - January 19, 2009 @ 3:34 pm 4

I usually pick up 2 papers. If the coupons are really good I might get one or two more. We are so stocked on Electrasol from this summer when they had the $2.50 coupon and I bought 7 papers and wound up with 4 more of that coupon from my mom.
Bargain Briana - January 19, 2009 @ 3:43 pm 5

Holly – You know I let my (2) $2.50/1 from last summer EXPIRE! We were so busy this summer I forgot to use it! I could have smacked myself!

I’ve bought full insert on Ebay from Erik’s General Store in the past. Quick Service: http://stores.ebay.com/eriks-general-store
jamie - January 19, 2009 @ 5:02 pm 6

My husband and i have this conversation all the time.
I used to buy 2 and would get 2-3 more copies from friends and family. now, i always buy 3 and extra if needed, I purchase 10 to get extra electrasol coupons andused 2 my wags rebates, 2 for my fil. I had 2 friends that wanted to start wag rebates, so I purchase the tabs, they reimbursed me (paid for the papers) and they will start the rebate program.
when the cashier ask why, i say coupons and they usually say huh? :)
One time i bought my papers and only checked one for inserts, got home and realized they were missing-back to the store I went. They REALLY thought I was crazy!!
JenniferR - January 19, 2009 @ 6:30 pm 7

I love coupons! I have the Sunday paper delivered to my house, and my dad brings me his coupon inserts. The coupons are the first section I look through. What I want to know is how many of you have stores that allow doubling coupons? Do they still do that?
sherri - January 20, 2009 @ 7:07 am 8

Here is a tip….make “friends” with the newspaper delivery people or the people who sell them beside the road!! They only have to turn in the FRONT page of the ones that they do not sell!! I have bought 20 papers for just $5 once-but now, I have a good friend who delivers and she GIVES me as many as I want!!

sherris last blog post..Free stock Pictures for bloggers!
Corey - January 20, 2009 @ 1:56 pm 9

I wish it was that easy for me. I do a bit of gambling. If the ad isn’t that amazing, I purchase a single newspaper. The reason is because on Tuesdays, my college campus will get inserts in their papers. The only problem is, sometimes it has all the inserts other times it just has SmartSource or RedPlum or P&G. I wish it was more consistent, so I wouldn’t have to decide how many papers to buy. (Today, not a single newspaper exists on campus, we don’t appear to be getting our regular deliveries :()