THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!
Do you clip out coupons to save money? Do you surf the web for coupon and promotional codes? Have you avoided buying anything these days if it doesn't have a discount?
In these tough economic times, according to a story in today's Chicago Tribune by Reporter Sandra M. Jones, coupon usage by savvy human discount-seeking shoppers is on the rise - for the first time since 1992!
Until now, use of clipped coupons has been declining every year for the last 18.
And, the clipped coupons are not just for things like Pedigree and DentaBones!
According to Todd Hale, Senior Vice President of Consumer and Shopper Insights at Market Research Firm Nielsen Company, those using coupons to save often-considerable money cross many socio-economic lines. Today, coupons can be had from your local drugstore chain, or from an upscale nationwide department store outlet.
Indeed, our Economic Recession seems to have most folks increasingly focusing on frugality, and the considerable savings coupon redemption can often provide.
This Holiday Season, many major retailers, stung by disappointing holiday sales last year, are stocking less inventory, and avoiding 2008 repeated seasonal markdowns. Often times, those with coupons in hand pick up the best deals, and the greatest savings.
On Google, searches for "Online Printable Coupons" have more than doubled within the past year. According to the National Retail Federation, 42% of consumers surveyed plan to use at least one coupon toward their purchases this holiday season. Yahoo indicates "coupon" searches are one of it's most active.
One big coupon-offering web site - Coupons.com - expects its visitors to print out $1 Billion worth of coupons before the end of the year. In 2008, total value of its printed coupons totaled just over $300 Million - a nearly 220% increase within just 12 months!
Even so, most coupons used today are still the printed variety, from newspapers and magazines. But the Internet is the fastest growing coupon distribution category, and might overtake the printed media very soon.
I don't know about you dogs, but I find it very difficult to clip coupons without opposable thumbs on my paws, and very hard to hold on to them without pockets in my fur.
But unless the economy changes for the better sometime soon, I might have to borrow a couple of thumbs and a pair of pants from my Human Daddy, Team Leader Dean.
After all . . . tis the season, to be frugal, you know!
See my post today via BlogChicagoHomes.com.
YOUR ACE REPORTER ON FOUR PAWS,
BUDDY HOLLY MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
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