In January, I decided to run a little experiment. It seems that couponing is one of the latest trends, and I haven’t really jumped on this bandwagon like everyone else. Every time I go looking for coupons, they seem to be junk foods or things we don’t use in our household due to allergies. For this reason, I wasn’t really seeing how couponing was saving us money. I had tried coupon collecting in the past before it was ‘popular’ and while it was a very good way to save money on a few items, it just didn’t work for me. I was left spending countless hours comparing coupons with sales, and finding that all the healthy food I loved just was never on sale!
Saving Money Experiment : Compliment for Coupons
It wasn’t until one of my friends was writing companies for coupons that I became interested. Was there a way to get coupons for healthy foods and be able to support small brands I love? I’m always looking out for a new way to save money on healthy food for my family, especially if it’s not a time sink!
I decided to do a little documenting and make an experiment of it – writing 58 companies one day, and seeing how many of them responded back. I didn’t just want to write to random companies, only those that sold healthy food products for my family. It seemed like writing companies and complimenting them for a good job was a great way to let them know I loved their products, and might help me save money on healthy foods for my family without spending a great deal of time. During a two-month time span, I kept track of the following:
- Companies Emailed
- Correspondence Dates of Companies
- What Was Sent
Saving Money Experiment: Results
After two months, I was a bit surprised with the results of the experiment. Quite a few people told me that this was a great way to save money, but I wanted to see if this was really an effective method for people who used green products and bought healthy food for their family. As well, it had to be worth spending four hours of time writing to these companies. While I am all for saving money, it is always important to remember that time isn’t free. Out of the 58 companies, I found that:
- 20 out of 58 Companies Sent Coupons, Freebies, or Recipe Books
- 10 Companies Never Replied Back
- 28 Companies Wrote a Letter or Email
Overall, between freebies and coupons, I ended up compiling about $78 worth of coupons, with only about $10 of the coupons being for products my family could not use – these came from a handful of the largest companies with lots of different products. These coupons were traded off to nearby friends. The companies that gave the best coupons for saving money were actually the small companies that sold natural and green products. They were more likely to give samples and usable coupons. Since these coupons are the ones that are most usable to me, I was fairly excited and considered this a major win for me. While not all the coupons came from small companies, here is a list of the companies that rewarded me for complimenting their products!
- Hodgson Mill
- Chobani
- Red Rose Tea
- Botticelli (free bottle of Olive Oil!)
- Florida’s Natural
- Twining’s (great coupons, booklet, and, of course, wonderful tea!)
- Burt’s Bees
- Freihofers (they even called to thank me!)
- Pacific Natural Foods
- Swan Down Cake Flower
About Susan Bewley
Susan Bewley is a professional writer who has been writing content online & in print format for over 10 years. As well, she is an alumni of the University of Louisville with a Masters Degree in Special Education. When not working as an online business consultant or ghost writing, she can be found writing on Budget Earth, on her own novel, or working with various entities in the pet industry.
Only if I could get coupons for fresh fruit and vegs.
Actually, you can get some, but not many. I know Dole has sent me some coupons for bagged salads.
It is not easy to find coupons for healthy foods but it can be done! I too e-mail the companies who produce my fam's favorite products! It's surprising what you'll get 🙂
I love coupons, I am far from being an extream couponer I only get stuff I already wanted to try or on stuff that we use already.
With fruits and veggies I know that safeway just4U has buy $10 get $3 off. they it that quite often. I have also simular with meats too. (Safeway is the store we shop at most since its the closest)
That's awesome! Sounds like you got a pretty good response from those companies. I've written to companies in the past, but haven't in a while. It is a great idea though…
Awesome. i’ll have to try this
I am truly surprised by those results! That is awesome! I am definietly going to be writing some letters of my own! Thank you!
I have done this in the past. I think I need to try it again 🙂
Excellent advice! Why didn’t I think of this! Thanks for sharing! Not only good for the wallet, but good for the soul as well (I love complimenting people and good service!)
Thanks Susan! I think too often I think about writing companies when I have a bad experience but I really need to start writing those compliments as well 🙂
I am a HUGE coupons user!! I commit a lot of time cutting, searching, exchanging, & waiting for good sales or double coupons days so that I can get the most out of saving!! I used to write to some companies when I has a bad experience – but some never wrote me back. The ones that did wanted to send me a refund or a free coupon for their product or fill-out a survey to help them better. It was getting to be too much!! Too much of my time, stamps, paper, envelopes, etc. I have to admit, I have only written a few times when I was pleased with something. That should change.