If you use coupons.... - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Missystuy 

Are you still using them as much as you were??

 

I have totally fallen off the wagon.  I always said I could never understand why people didn't use coupons because I saved a TON of money, and my grocery shopping trips were always sucessful.   Now I realize.  I never put as much time into it as the folks on TV, LOL but it is very time consuming.  When I started coaching cheerleading on a regular basis, and working a few days a week, I found that even the little time I spent on clipping and deal searching, just wasn't there anymore.    I started shopping at ALDI and Walmart more and more and eventually my coupon binder started gathering dust.

 

I'm starting to get back into it though, I need to create a nice stock pile since we don't know how much longer DH will have his job.  But its been at least 9 months since I actively clipped, and used coupons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karen1985 

I have a pretty good stockpile of most things, so I'm content to just check what the loss leaders are each week or what I can get for free that week and leave it at that.

 

I haven't been all out with my coupons for 4 or 5 months. I just don't need anything. It has worked against me though, my binder is so out of date it isn't funny. I'm pretty sure I still have 12/31/2011 coupons in it....

 

It is pretty bad though, Hubby asked me the other day why I'm not doing my couponing thing anymore. I guess if he notices I really have seriously dropped off lol

  I started couponing because with the economy, no job is safe! I never want to have to make the choice between food or soap! So I stockpile things that do not expire (but I don't have a room dedicated to my stockpile!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by oopsilostmyhalo 

 

  I started couponing because with the economy, no job is safe! I never want to have to make the choice between food or soap! So I stockpile things that do not expire (but I don't have a room dedicated to my stockpile!)

LOL I don't either. I must say though, I'm jealous of people with basements, I'd corden off a little corner...

I have a weird alcove in my bathroom, I put a shelving unit in it and have fabric totes. Each tote gets a different personal care product and when the tote is full, that is that (granted I rip most everything out of packaging to fit more). Although I upgraded to a laundry basket on the top shelf to house the candle obsession haha I have a spare bedroom/craft/out of season/large toys room, and I have a shelving unit in the closet that is my make shift pantry because I have ridiculously little cabinet space in my kitchen. Under the kitchen sink is all my cleaning products and random things such as batteries, dog treats, etc. I have a doored end table at my washer and dryer for laundry detergent. If things do not fit in the place they are stored then I don't bring any more into the house. It can be easy to go 'oh my gosh I can get all this for $3!' Well, if you won't be going through it in 10 years spend $2 of that on something more immediate or build up a different portion. I don't want things to overrun living spaces. Although I've shoved bottled water, paper towels, and bulk items like that under bed, but I don't really consider that living space haha

I was out of work for 6 months so I totally understand that concern. I did not have to worry about those normal day to day expenses. Other than things like bread or milk I was able to chug along with no visits to the store and no money coming out of pocket on everyday items. I could worry about the monthly bills and NOT the fact that we have no food or toothpaste.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karen1985 

LOL I don't either. I must say though, I'm jealous of people with basements, I'd corden off a little corner...

 

I have a weird alcove in my bathroom, I put a shelving unit in it and have fabric totes. Each tote gets a different personal care product and when the tote is full, that is that (granted I rip most everything out of packaging to fit more). Although I upgraded to a laundry basket on the top shelf to house the candle obsession haha I have a spare bedroom/craft/out of season/large toys room, and I have a shelving unit in the closet that is my make shift pantry because I have ridiculously little cabinet space in my kitchen. Under the kitchen sink is all my cleaning products and random things such as batteries, dog treats, etc. I have a doored end table at my washer and dryer for laundry detergent. If things do not fit in the place they are stored then I don't bring any more into the house. It can be easy to go 'oh my gosh I can get all this for $3!' Well, if you won't be going through it in 10 years spend $2 of that on something more immediate or build up a different portion. I don't want things to overrun living spaces. Although I've shoved bottled water, paper towels, and bulk items like that under bed, but I don't really consider that living space haha

 

I was out of work for 6 months so I totally understand that concern. I did not have to worry about those normal day to day expenses. Other than things like bread or milk I was able to chug along with no visits to the store and no money coming out of pocket on everyday items. I could worry about the monthly bills and NOT the fact that we have no food or toothpaste.

 Karen, I think we may be two peas in a pod because this is JUST LIKE MY HOUSE!!!!

I tend to not use coupons merely because they are not for items I tend to buy or I can buy an alternative product for less, even with the coupon discount.

For instance, once we no longer had a local egg source, I started buying better store-bought eggs again. My family won't tolerate eating the cheaper eggs. They're spoiled after eating the locally raised eggs we got from friends who had chickens. Anyway, I was so excited when I found a coupon for $1 off of a carton of Eggland's Best. I went to the store and found I could buy a local egg brand for far less than Eggland's Best with the coupon. I chose the local eggs
 

With coupons, be careful to not just look at how much money you saved. Look at how much money you paid. If you bought eggs for $3.50 a carton with a $1 off carton but could have bought a different brand for $2 a carton, you really spent 50-cents too much. Always price compare with coupons!

Another problem with coupons that I've found is that they are often for products that really don't result in a meal. I could easily go to the grocery store, spend $50 and save tons of money with coupons and still come home with nothing to eat!

If unemployment is looming and you need to stockpile, I recommend getting items that aren't available at food banks or through food stamps: TP, laundry detergent and toothpaste are big hitters. Don't worry about things like lotions, shampoo, conditioner, dishwashing detergent or "luxury items" like cosmetics. On all these items, stockpile some but not more than 6-months to a year. Cash is king! Don't tie up your money in toilet paper when you really might need that money to pay the electric bill.

I'm much the same!  I make an effort to get started and it just gets lost in everything else I have to do;)  I also find they either aren't very good or I can buy store brand and get it cheaper, so why put all the effort into it?  I could probably still find some good deals with the sale ads and compare, but the coupons seem to mostly be for cosmetics, hygiene items, pet stuff, or junk food.  This doesn't go along well with our family's trying to eat healthier and "cleaner."