Coupons. Using them can be time consuming, confusing, house-cluttering, and frustrating. But for me and for the thousands of other people that use them, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. The obvious benefit to using coupons is simply to save money. But there are so many more underlying reasons to use coupons. Here are a few of my top reasons for using coupons...maybe one of them will inspire you to clip your first coupon today!
1. REALLOCATE. So saving $.40 on a tub of butter may not seem like a big deal. And by itself, it is not. But multiply that by hundreds of coupons and you can really save big on groceries and other household items. And when you don't spend that money on groceries, you can save it for other things. Like vacations or big ticket items or for more boring, but important, things like your child's college tuition or retirement. Using coupons allows my family to have more money for the things we truly want and need rather than spending it all on shampoo and pretzels. I have been saving some of the leftover money out of our grocery budget and from other things like Shop At Home and Ebates and we are going to be able to use that money for a night at Coco Key over spring break. That is something we wouldn't have the budget to do without using coupons and shopping savvy.
2. CHALLENGE. To really make the most of coupons, you essentially are playing a game. Researching the deals, planning your purchases and what coupons you will need for that shopping trip, combining coupons and sales and rewards programs, adding up the price per unit and what size of what product gives you the best deal...it can get really complicated! But that is what makes it FUN for me. The fact that I can use my knowledge of how coupons work and how I can best use them to my advantage is really challenging and exciting for me. There is a certain thrill in getting something for free or at a fraction of its retail price that gets me motivated to clip those coupons and scour the circulars. I feel like I'm winning a contest when I can get the lowest price for an item and who doesn't like to win?
3. KEEP WHAT'S YOURS. Why give money to retailers when you can keep it for yourself? I am just so mad when I think of the years that I spent paying so much more than I needed to for groceries before I started using coupons. It makes me sick, honestly! All of that hard earned money...down the drain! Sure, it is a lot easier to walk in the store, buy what you want, and not worry about the price tag. But that is YOUR money you are parting with and why not keep as much as you can?
So what are your reasons for using coupons? Do you like the challenge of the game? Do you do it so your family can stay out of debt? Whatever your reasons...keep up the good work and enjoy keeping those $$ in your own pocket!