I’ve always been happy to use coupons when they fit products that we normally use—especially when stores double or triple them! However, coupons are offered by the manufacturer as a marketing tool to get you to buy their product—whether you need it or not. If it’s not something you and your family would use or can afford, a coupon will generally not be a good deal.
Sometimes I clip coupons that I might use if the need arises or the sale is good enough but I have to make sure my husband understands this when he shops while I’m away. In his rationale, I wouldn’t have the coupon if I didn’t intend to use it but I’m just continuing in the tradition of Girl Scouts—being prepared. Now that printable digital coupons are available, I’m a lot less likely to print them unless I know that I’ll use them since ink and paper cost me money. However, I’ve never had a store turn down my printable coupons because I’ve used the least expensive “draft” and “black & white” settings on my printer or paper that has something else printed on the back.
I’ve been excitedly reading library books about “super-couponing” but after spending hours upon hours hunting and scrolling online, I’ve netted only a few coupons I could use. Many manufacturers want to know practically everything about you before they will give you a one-time “sign-up” coupon; I’m not sure it’s worth it. However, I’ve discovered (through the books) a site that will send a link to the coupons—all in one place, to my inbox: http://www.couponmom.com
My current thinking is that I might do better with the coupons in the Sunday paper—if we can remember to buy one. Trading coupons you don’t want with friends and family can even out the cost of the paper. Remember to look for them in the pages of the paper too—not just in the inserts.
Please let me know about your experiences in couponing. I’ve made the comment process as simple as possible.
Insights on stretching your money & your outlook—surviving difficult economic times & helping others *from one who’s been there*
My husband and I have faced many lay-offs in the past twenty years; each time we hoped to learn something new so that we could help others in the future. Now is that time. As my we worked to “stay afloat” (the opposite of “going under”!) during lean times, I read every money-saving book and magazine on our library’s shelf--some things I’ve worked out for myself. Now that my husband has a steady job, we’ve continued many of these practices as a part of responsible living. In my posts, I’ll include ideas for different levels of need—stretching dollars when you still have some income and stretching even further (when you think you can’t) when the income is gone in hope of helping you hang on until you get some income. I’ll also address things we learned about attitudes—ours and those around us.
I invite you to comment with your money-saving ideas and accounts of what has worked for you, since community is one of our greatest resources. While I’m writing as an American in the framework of the American economy, I also invite those of you from other nations/peoples to share what you’ve learned about stretching resources since many things can be applied anywhere. (Do know that I will delete any comment that’s derogatory or has foul language.) Please share this blog with others who are stretching and help them keep from “breaking”.
Friday, October 21, 2011
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