The things I wish I would have know a year ago

[legacykeeper]

I have been couponing for one year now and I thought I would share some of the lessons I learned over the last year. These are the questions I had when I first started couponing. I hope these help out a few people. I know I had a lot of questions and was often too shy to ask.

1.) There will always be another sale - For the first several months I thought I HAD to hit EVERY sale. Three months ago life threw me a curve and I did not have the time to shop like I used to. I soon realized it was ok to miss a sale, another one was just a week away.

2.) Couponing can become addicting - The high I would get from a great deal was like nothing else. I would walk out of store so proud of myself I would be beaming. Then, when I couldn't hit every sale I literally had panic attacks. I was jonesing for a shopping fix. I soon learned that my family was not starving to death and the world did not stop spinning. The panic attacks went away.

3.) When does stockpiling become hording? - Of coarse, the answer to this question is different for everyone. I began to feel I had a problem when my shelves were so stocked there wasn't room for all my new purchases (this was after I had already purchased 3 new shelving units). When my 20 boxes of Kraft Mac & Cheese crackers were one month from expiring and I knew there was no way my family would eat them all. I knew it was time to reign myself in. I took a realistic look at what my family would eat and what I could afford to donate and changed my buying habits. Now instead of buying twenty boxes I only buy ten. I donate 5 and keep 5. Let's face after a while the kids get tired of the same brand of crackers.

4.) Check your expiration dates - This kind of ties into the previous. When purchasing I always check dates. If it something that doesn't expire for two years I will purchase more of that product than I may normally. It is also very important to keep an eye on your stock pile. I go through my stockpile every two months. If a product is going to expire in the next two months I figure how much I actually need and donate what we won't use. Once it is expired the food banks won't take it.

5.) Coupons are seasonal - Purchase those canned veggies and soups in the winter because you won't see a coupon for them in the summer. The same goes for caprisuns, baked beans and some condiments in the summer. I am sure others whom have been couponing longer than I have can give you a better list. I wish I would have realized this. My canned northern beans did not last the summer.

6.) The best coupons come out when the product is new The best example I can give is for the Purex 3 in 1 sheets. The product hit the stores and a high dollar(I think it was $3.00 off) coupon came out. I was able to get 8 packs for less than a dollar each at a bogo sale. Since then the best coupon out there is for $1.00 off. These are kind of pricey and to me a $1.00 q just isn't enough to make it a good deal.

Keep in mind I am a pretty normal person with slight addictive personality. I have never been a "keeper" I am the first one to donate or throw something away but I have to admit couponing had taken control. Remember this is suppose to be something that is fun and a way to save money not an obsession. I am not accusing others of being obsessed I am just saying I became obsessive.

Enjoy and Happy Couponing!!!

[IndianaMom]

This is so well written, I could not have said it better!

[redscarlet02@yahoo.com]

I agree, well said!

[AlInAz]

Well organized and well put! I would add that what I originally thought of as a good deal may or may not interest me any more. For example, I was excited about $1 toothpaste early on. Now, it doesn't even tempt me because I know I can get it for free, if not this week then next.

Thanks for post
Allison

[mnm'z]

Excellent!! {{hands clapping}}

I'd like to add that really, REALLY low grocery bills do not happen the first time out, or the second... the only way to get to that point is to have a stockpile in place, whatever that is for you... it may take 3-6 months, so you're doing nothing wrong if you're saving 35-50% during the first few months of couponing. Just stick with it and one day you'll notice that there isn't anything on sale you need and you might just need some weekly items, ie bread, milk, produce, etc...

[saverintraining]

Originally Posted by AlInAz

Well organized and well put! I would add that what I originally thought of as a good deal may or may not interest me any more. For example, I was excited about $1 toothpaste early on. Now, it doesn't even tempt me because I know I can get it for free, if not this week then next.

Thanks for post
Allison

I agree with this quote! I'll start planning a CVS or Wags run based just on EB's or RR's and then I sit back and think "Do I really, really need this stuff or am I just getting caught up in the thrill???" More often than not I just don't go since I still have 5 or more of the item that I was planning to buy...and those were from last year!! I learned my lesson after a few months when I was overstockpiled with air fresheners(they were free) and my DH detests the things in our home...why did I buy them??? Needless to say I haven't bought any since,lol. I do make exceptions for grocery items that we use constantly but I never have enough MC's to get too many ahead, which is good. We all have to decide what our limits our with stockpiles,lol

[nerdycoupongirl]

Fantastic!

We definitely learn things by trial and error a lot of the time.

My personal additions would be:
start shopping for Christmas stuff December 26th
check over your receipts any time you think there is an error
buy lots of papers when there will be "hot" coupons in inserts

[coloradosaver]

Great post!! It has been one year for me as well and I don't even want to think about how much money I would have wasted by paying full price for everything. Couponmom has been a Godsend in our home, and in our finances!

[tiffinpa]

Wonderfully written!!
I've been couponing since about April of this year and already have experienced everything you described. I just recently had to take a step back and reevaluate things. The 'high' feeling is like nothing else! I have to agree with that. At first I was so scared the item would never be on sale again I would go a little overbored but now I realize most of the same items go on sale over and over again. Now that I have a pretty good stockpile going, I no longer feel the 'need' to get an item if it's a great deal and at the same time I don't need as many of that item. I guess it's all part of the cycle- learning as we go along.

[twinsplus14me]

Very well written! It's my one year anniversary too. I was lurking long before I posted. I only have one thing to add:

I can now afford to give to others. Last year my family received several gifts. It feels really good to be able to pass it on and brighten someone else's day.