“Why should residents buy local?” For many people, the benefit is the personal satisfaction gained from financially supported businesses in their own neighborhoods. Beyond those feelings, the New Economics Foundation “compared what happens when people buy produce at a supermarket vs. a local farmer’s market or community supported agriculture (CSA) program and found that twice the money stayed in the community when folks bought locally.”

With more money staying in the community, local jobs and wages are strengthened and the local economy is stabilized. According to United States Small Business Administration, “there are over 27 million small businesses in the United States and between 60% – 80% of all new jobs created in the country can be attributed to small businesses.”

“A soon to be released study from Coupons.com, in conjunction with GfK Knowledge Networks, to identify the shopping behavior of the digital coupon user, shows that digital coupon users shop more frequently and spend significantly more during each trip than the average U.S. consumer.

The study, based on more than 200,000 households using digital coupons, and compared to 2.3 million shoppers, tell us that “…brands wanting to reach heavy grocery spenders… (should) strongly consider digital coupon sites as an important piece of their coupon and brand advertising market mix…” says Neal Heffernan, SVP/GM, Behavioral Insights Group at GfK Knowledge Networks

Heffernan continued by noting that “… the findings are unique from other studies… (in that) the research measures actual purchase behavior, not purchase intent… “

Higlights of the 52 week study included these digital coupon user facts:

• Digital coupon users make 22% more shopping trips per year than the average shopper. The digital coupon user and the average shopper make 69 and 57 trips, respectively, per year
• Digital coupon users spend 23% more per shopping trip than the average shopper. The digital coupon user and the average shopper spend $55.05 and $44.87, respectively, per trip
• Digital coupon users spend 49% more per year than the average shopper. The digital coupon user and the average shopper spend $3,803 and $2,545 per year, respectively.
• Digital coupon users make 48% more “stock up” trips than the average shopper, with 18.6 and 12.6 stock up trips, respectively, per year.

In addition, Coupons.com also released the results of a second research project designed to measure timing of the next anticipated shopping trip, showing that 62% of visitors to Coupons.com planned to visit a grocery store within 2 days of printing coupons, or saving them to a loyalty card, and in fact 43% planned to shop within the next 24 hours.

The study asked Coupons.com users in January, 2012, “When is your next grocery shopping trip?” and found that:

• 18% expected to shop that day
• 25% expected to shop the next day
• 19% expect to shop in two days
• 22% expected to shop in 3-7 days
• 11% expected to shop in more than 7 days

Some more interesting “coupon” facts include:

• More than 55.7 million American consumers are now using online coupons, representing 25% of the U.S. population
• Users of digital coupons have higher household incomes and are better educated than users of newspaper coupons and the general population overall
• The consumer who uses digital coupons has an average household income of $96,900, a 20% higher income level than the U.S average and 20% higher than average household income of users of newspaper coupons
• 38% of those who use digital coupons have a college degree, compared to 30% of those who use newspaper coupons and 27% of the general populace

For the slide show and additional information from Coupons.inc, please visit here.”

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/171495/digital-coupon-users-shop-more-spend-more.html

Thank you to Sara at The Millennial Housewife and Julia at Confessions of a Frugal Mind for contributing their favorite deals this week.

Sara’s favorite Fareway Deals:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – $1.88/lb

7UP Products (2liter) – Buy two 2 liters and get one FREE with Fareway Coupon.

Hunt’s Manwich – $0.99 each

John Morrell Hot Dogs – $0.88 each

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Julia’s favorite Fareway Deals

Julia’s favorite Dahl’s Deals

Julia’s favorite Hy-Vee Deals

Sara’s favorite deals at Fareway:

Green Giant Vegetables – 3/$2
Ragu Pasta Sauce – 3/$5

Ortega Seasoning Mix – 2/$1
Buy 2 and use $1/2 coupon
from the 1/15 Smartsource insert
FREE after coupon!!

Julia’s favorite deals at Fareway:  Bear Naked Granola

Julia’s favorite deals at Hy-Vee:  Weight Watchers Yogurt and Nabisco Crackers

Julia’s favorite deals at Dahl’s:

Sara’s Favorite Fareway Deals:

Fareway White Bread – $0.98 each

Frito Lay Doritos – 2/$5 

Totino’s Pizza – 5/$5 with Fareway Coupon
Buy 5 and use $1/5 coupon from the 1/8 GM insert
$0.80 each after coupons

 Julia’s Favorite Fareway  Deals:

Avocados, Honey Bunches of Oats and Smuckers Sugar Free

Julia’s Favorite Hy-Vee Deals:

Hy-Vee Macaroni & Cheese and Pebbles Treats and Cereals

Julia’s Favorite Dahl’s Deals:

Offer on Flu Vaccine

Fareway and Hy-Vee are having Friday the 13th sales this week – check out all of their great deals!!

Sara’s favorite deals at Fareway:

Purex Laundry Detergent (50oz) – $1.99 with Fareway Super Coupon

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts – $1.69/lb

Bananas – $0.39/lb

Folgers Coffee (10.3-11.3 oz)- $3.99 each
Buy 2 and use $1/2 coupon from the 12/4 Redplum insert
$3.49 each after coupon

FAREWAY FRIDAY THE 13TH SALE:

Large Eggs (one dz) – $0.49 each with Fareway Coupon

Russett Potatoes (15lb bag) – $3.88 each

Julia’s favorite Fareway Deals:  AE Yogurt

Julia’s favorite Hy-Vee Deals:   $0.99 Wonder Bread during their 13 hour sale on Friday!

Julia’s full list of Dahl’s Deals

Thank you to Julia from Confessions of a Frugal Mind and Sara from The Millennial Housewife for sharing their favorite deals.  Visit their blogs for their full lists of deals!

Sara’s Favorite Fareway Deals:

Boneless Rump Roast – $1.99/lb

Pillsbury Cake Mix – $0.97 each

Pillsbury Frosting – $1.48 each

Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent – $11.88 each
Use $2/1 coupon from the 1/1 PG insert
$9.88 each after coupon

Julia’s Favorite Fareway Deals:

Baby Carrots $0.88 each

Dole Celery – $0.77 each

Frosted Toast Crunch Cereal – $1.88 each

Julia’s Favorite Hy-Vee Deals are part of the 2 day sale!  Read her full list for details!

Julia’s Favorite Dahl’s Deals - Check out her Dahl’s post for the awesome savings going on there this week.

Sara’s Favorite Deals from Fareway:

John Morrell Spiral Sliced Half Ham – $1.88/lb

Fastco Broth Basted Turkey – $0.69/lb

Green Giant Corn or Green Beans – 5/$3
Buy 4 and use $1/4 coupon from the 11/13 GM insert
$0.35 each after coupon

Julia’s Favorite Deals at Fareway:

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls & Nabisco Crackers for $1.32 each

Julia’s Favorite Deals at Hy-Vee:

Fave deals are Campbell’s Cream Soups & Hy-Vee Corn & Green Beans
with B2G1 Free coupon

If you would like to share your favorite deals, send us an email at marketing@iowacouponnetwork.com and we will add you to our list!

Julia’s favorite deals at Hy-Vee:

Pepsi 12 packs 4 for $8 with coupon

$0.69 Cool Whip

Julia’s favorite deal at Dahl’s:

Free Tone’s mini spices with coupon

Julia’s favorite deal at Fareway:

2 DiGiorno pizzas for $8 with coupon

Sara’s favorite deals at Fareway:

Butter Kernel Corn or Green Beans – 2/$1

Nestle Chocolate Chips – $1.99 each
Buy 2 and use $1/2 coupon from the 11/6 Redplum insert
$1.49 each after coupon

Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom or Chicken Soup – $0.59 each

Swanson’s Broth – 2/$1

Buy 3 and use $0.50/3 coupon from the 11/6 Smartsource insert
$0.33 each after coupon