I’ve mentioned before that I do love me some coupons. It’s coupons that first introduced me to Blogworld, so I sort of assume that most Blogworldians love them too. I very well may be wrong, though, as I’m learning that there are so many different varieties of blogs.
Anyway, I love coupons. They have totally changed my way of shopping in the last year and a half. I’m very thankful for the way they have made our grocery budget seem abundant instead of suffocating.
But, can a slob handle coupons?
I’ve read some organizational experts say that a slob should probably stay away from them. We tend to be “collectors” anyway and so it’s very easy to fall into the trap of overbuying and excessive stockpiling.
I get it. I get that this is a very real problem. And it was a big problem for me in the beginning.
Like most new couponers, I went crazy. I was learning all I could and chasing every deal. But now, I don’t. I’ve slowed down as I’ve learned that all deals come back around, and I really don’t need THAT much toothpaste.
But, how has it been positive? We now have shampoo, soap, and razors to last us at least a year. Yes, this is more than we need, but it’s soooo much better than going two weeks picking the deoderant out of the little holes and spreading it under my armpits with my finger because I can’t seem to remember to get deoderant while I’m at the store. Yes, I still often forget an important ingredient for a recipe I wanted to make, but now, I always have SOMETHING we can eat. I can put a week’s worth of meals together even if the week is so crazy that I never get to go to the store.
So, yes. Couponing can get out of hand. I did get too much of a lot of things when I first started, but I think this is true of all new couponers. As a scatterbrain, it is so nice to know that by having a good, solid stockpile of food and toiletries, my family is always provided for.
And hey, being a coupon fanatic isn’t what it was before the internet. I don’t have to be the one to figure it all out. I can benefit from the time and research and sharing of others. Moneysavingmom.com and commonsensewithmoney.com are my favorites.
When I first started, I did let it consume way too much time. I’ve always known it, but with this journey to order that I’m on, I’m really starting to grasp how much time management is directly related to keeping my house in order.
I think couponing is a good thing for our family, but I have to always be aware of where it falls on my priority list.
Free dog food is not worth having a home in chaos.
Check out lots of money saving tips at Frugal Friday on Lifeasmom.com
--Nony
Moms In Need Of Mercy says
came over from Frugal Fridays. I think you're a woman after my own heart!!
Mom2fur says
I'm a couponer/stockpiler, too! Isn't it funny that, when it comes to things we have in excess, everyone always mentions toothpaste?
What I have to do is to take inventory every few months to see what I have on hand. If I don't, I end up with those 75 tubes of toothpaste (just kidding) and no shampoo!
About the free dog food: hmmm….have to think of that one. Not dog food, but cat food. My snobby cats will eat ONLY Purina One, which is pricey and rarely has coupons. Would I let my home run into chaos to get a free bag? Well, maybe, once in a while…
UnfinishedMom says
I am right there with you. I am really a pack rat too. So, sometimes my couponing gets a bit out of control. But, I'm getting better and that's where I choose to concentrate.
Vickie's Michigan Garden (my backyard) says
I like how your stockpile it only makes sense to me.
vickie
Christie says
LOL And I read this as I’m planning on dedicating this Wednesday to chasing down super cheap dog food at HEB.
Nony says
Really? What’s the deal on dog food?
Christie says
Wednesday is the last day for the $3 Iams coupon. It is the first day of a spend $30 get $10 CAT P&G deal at HEB. The CAT won’t be valid right away, so no rolling.
Kristy K. James says
I’ve always wanted to do the whole coupon thing and, after watching some ‘extreme’ couponing videos on YouTube a year or so ago, I decided I was just going to jump right in and do it. Who wouldn’t like to get $100 worth of groceries for $20? I know I would. So I bought the file box and files, labeled everything, stopped at the gas station and bought 3 Sunday papers, and spent the afternoon clipping the ones I wanted.
I did this for maybe three weeks…before the paper decided to change their policies. If people wanted coupons, they had to subscribe for a minimum of three months home delivery. People buying them at the stores and stations were just tough out of luck. And me being me, I just said forget it. I never appreciate being backed into a corner, and I wasn’t going to be over this. So, alas, no couponing for me. 🙁
Dana White says
That is insane that they made that policy! I’ve never heard of anything like that!
Courtney says
I tried couponing. Bought the binder, bought the Sunday paper, followed couponing websites. What I learned is that the things that have coupons are often things I don’t buy. We go through toiletries a bit slow around here. There’s never coupons for fresh things unless they’re store specific. Those come about every quarter. The time I was investing & the money I was spending on papers weren’t being compensated by my coupon savings. My grandma was even sending me coupons from a different state to help me. I had to stop. I still have a drawer full of expired coupons that never got organized. I’d love to coupon again. I just need to find an efficient way to do it.
Crystal says
Just clicked your money saving links, to bookmark for another day. The first 2 saved with no problem. The third one however (mypennypile.com) popped up with the page title “hacked” and was in another language with weird music for my taste! I’m wondering if they changed the site name or maybe are no longer existing? I love my coupons, just as much as the next gal does so finding cool sites for deals really makes my day! 🙂
Dana White says
Thanks so much for letting me know, Crystal! I haven’t couponed in a long time, but My Penny Pile was my very fave for a while. I think she let it go though and started concentrating on photography instead of couponing.
Linda says
Old post, but I’m catching up. I stopped couponing until things get more under control. But I do use the free & 2-1, etc. ones to stock up for donating to shelters, food drives, soldiers’ boxes, etc. 🙂
Lila B. says
It IS hard to balance being a slob and a couponer! I should know – I’m BOTH. I agree with you 100% about finding the right balance. My husband used to work at a grocery store and has given me plenty of advice on how things work “behind the scenes” – but probably the best advice he’s ever given me is that “it will go on sale again”. I really had to drill that in my head when I first started because I just wanted to get every deal out there. Now, I’ve learned to see what we actually use – and if it’s free, but we don’t use it — it never comes out of the car – it goes straight to a donation place.