I know that many people wonder -- can you REALLY save that much using coupons? They see things like $0.25/2 and think that it isn't enough to add up. I am here to say -- you CAN and WILL save!!! But, before I start, it isn’t just about the store coupons – there is so much more I do to help my family save money!
I always head to the clearance aisles of my stores before I begin my regular shopping. I have found toys, clothes, diapers, toiletries, household cleaning products and even FOOD on clearance. For me though, the item has to be at least 50% off before I consider it a great deal. And, then, if I have a coupon I can save as much as 90%.
I never go shopping without my coupons. Sometimes, I have only 7 or 8 to use and there have been times I have had 30. It all depends on the timing of the coupons available and what I need for my family.
I always go on line after I have made my own shopping list to see if there is anything we need (that isn’t on sale), that I might be able to find a coupon for. I simply go to that manufacturer’s site and it can be surprising how many coupons you can find to increase your savings.
I never shop with my family. I find that if my children (or my husband for that matter) tag along, I end up with so many things that we normally would not have purchased. This in turn tends to increase my bill 10% or more.
I also make sure that I shop on a full stomach. If I am hungry, I toss things into my cart that I normally wouldn’t. Again, I always see my bill go up in proportion to the volume of my stomach reminding me that I have not yet had dinner.
I don’t clothing shop without searching for coupons either. I recently purchased my children’s Christmas outfits. Yes, it is early, but not only did I get exactly what I wanted (and in the correct size), but I also saved almost 50% on something that is rarely marked down.
Another great way I save on clothes is to shop off-season. If you look around stores, you will find spring and summer items being marked down. If you wait a little longer, you can find things as much as 75%, 80% or even 90% off! Because I know my children, I am pretty good at guessing what size they will be in the next season and can get some great deals. I’ll never forget the winter coat, pants, mittens and shoe cover deal that I purchased for the whopping price of $8.37!!!!
Lastly, we stick to a cash budget. We don’t use our debit card for anything but putting fuel into our vehicles. If we don’t have enough greenbacks to pay for something we don’t get it. Stay tuned and I’ll soon share our cash budgeting and envelope system with all of you.
Let me put this all in perspective for you. As of the date of this post, my family has saved over $4,300 in catching sales, deals and using coupons. So, let me ask you this – NOW do you think couponing is worth it? That’s what I thought!!