My Advice To Newbies

[Beginner101]

I'm new to this wonderful thing called strategic shopping. Does it make sense to spend money on something that you don't necessarily need to just get it free with ECB's, Mafu, or Rebates?

[M1014]

If its free i get it whether i use/need it or not. I've got a big family- if one of them cant use it i donate it. free is great.

[SoCalMom]

Originally Posted by worknmom

great advice. Thank you. I have a big problem trying to decide when to "play" my coupon. I have decided Free, really close to free or at least 70% off is my sign to go for it. I guess I just have to take the chance that I will use my coupon this week and it will be free next week.

Any suggestions?

Kay

that is EXACTLY my strategy... it must be 70% off or better for me to buy it. Unless it's something that rarely goes to 70%, but you know what those things are.

I refuse to pay .01 for toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, etc. I will only pay a buck or 2 for cosmetics... these are some of my benchmarks

[lucyrevenge]

Originally Posted by Beginner101

I'm new to this wonderful thing called strategic shopping. Does it make sense to spend money on something that you don't necessarily need to just get it free with ECB's, Mafu, or Rebates?

Makes sense to me. In reference to CVS, I started this week with $20 in ECBs. I now have $60 plus and I only spent $10 OOP. I also got items like bread and milk and dishsoap and Qtips etc etc that I would normally get and need but I also got stuff like RightGuard clinical deodorant which I will never use but I got a $7ECB back for it and since I have other Qs it made sense to get it and just roll my ECB up. I may used $5 ECBs in the transaction at the end but I got $10 back.

So, for me, it makes sense and I do it all the time. I especially hype up this time of year because I do alot of my Xmas shopping at CVS believe it or not so I like to have alot of ECBs to use.

[Beginner101]

Originally Posted by lucyrevenge

Makes sense to me. In reference to CVS, I started this week with $20 in ECBs. I now have $60 plus and I only spent $10 OOP. I also got items like bread and milk and dishsoap and Qtips etc etc that I would normally get and need but I also got stuff like RightGuard clinical deodorant which I will never use but I got a $7ECB back for it and since I have other Qs it made sense to get it and just roll my ECB up. I may used $5 ECBs in the transaction at the end but I got $10 back.

So, for me, it makes sense and I do it all the time. I especially hype up this time of year because I do alot of my Xmas shopping at CVS believe it or not so I like to have alot of ECBs to use.

What are your thoughts on buying coupons?

[lucyrevenge]

If its a good deal why not? If I can trade for them...even better.

I check out sales in advance and see if I can trade for what I want. If I cannot then I will buy them off Ebay.

[nerdycoupongirl]

It might not be something you need, but it could be a *want*, and if it's free, there's nothing wrong with getting that lip plumper. Or you could give it to someone else who would like it, or donate it depending on what it is.

I agree with lucyrevenge on buying coupons. I've had great success with that on eBay. Out of the 100 I get, I can always use about 10-15 and trade or donate the rest.

[rachiebaby18]

Originally Posted by SoCalMom

I refuse to pay .01 for toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, etc. I will only pay a buck or 2 for cosmetics... these are some of my benchmarks

on cosmetics i would only buy when i needed and i would buy whatever was on sale and be happy w/ that.... i would look at the drugstore ads to see who had a bogo cause usually 1 out of the 3 would have something (CVS, rite aid, wags)....

Now, I'm getting foundations for $1-$2 boggles my mind! and i already have 4 free toothpastes... that should last me the year..