It's Not a Stockpile, It's an Insurance Policy!

One of the things people tend to believe about all couponers is that they are 'hoarders'. Buying things they don't need just because they have a coupon. This may be true in certain instances, but for most of us couponers, it most definitely is not. I do have a stockpile of goods that I use regularly, usually between a three month and six month supply.

In doing so, I am able to wait until there is a really good sale to use my coupons to maximize my savings. And it works. We're saving hundreds of dollars a month now.

And if something were to happen, like your husband has to go on strike, which mine did recently, you've got peace of mind knowing you'll be okay for awhile.

I wanted to show you the progression of my stockpile over the past few months. It doesn't happen all at once and it can be easy to become discouraged if you don't see results right away. Be patient. It's a work in progress.

July 11th, 2011

July 19th, 2011

July 28th, 2011

August 18th, 2011

September 5th, 2011

Evolution of a Couponer

One of the things I find most interesting about the couponing process, is how your view of prices changes so dramatically. Before coupons, I'd be happy just finding something on sale. For example, my favorite shampoo is Tresemme. It usually runs about $5.99 a bottle. Before I started couponing, I thought $4.99 was a fantastic deal. After I started couponing, I quickly learned that if I waited I could get it on sale for $3.77 or less. Then I found some $1 off coupons, combined them with a sale and got my Tresemme for $2.77.

Another example would be toilet paper. I used to never buy brand name toilet paper because it was too expensive. Once I started couponing I realized just how wrong this perception was! Using the store brand, I'd usually have to use eight-ten sheets per bathroom break. Using the brand name toilet paper, I can cut that down to four-six sheets. Often toilet paper goes on sale for $3.99 and I can usually apply a $1 off coupon. So I'm now getting toilet paper (THE GOOD KIND) for $.13/roll, whereas before I thought it was a great deal to get the store brand for $.17/roll.

Before you start trying to save money, you don't really pay attention to prices. If you see a sale sign, you'd likely be more likely to pick it up, not realizing that if you wait a week or two, you could see a dramatic decrease in the sale price. Even people who don't want to start using coupons could benefit from paying attention to what they are buying.

I never buy anything unless it is a really good sale now. For example:

Meat (hamburger, chicken breast, pork chops, etc.) $1.99/lb
Butter $2.99
Pop (case of 12) $2.99
Bread > $2
Soup > $.60

I save the most money from being attentive while shopping, not from the actual coupons I use.

To Coupon or Not to Coupon?

So for the past month or so I've been using coupons to see if we can cut down our costs at all while I am on Mat leave. I know a lot of people are skeptical about couponing. Most people think that it is a waste of time, that the only coupons out there are for junk food, that you end up spending more money then you used to and that you buy a lot of stuff you don't really need.

COUPONS ARE A WASTE OF TIME

$76.43 + $8.58 + $22.00 + $25.49= $132.59 in savings from coupons/rainchecks/mail in rebates just for the month of July. This does not count the savings that I got just from waiting for things to go on sale before I bought them. It only takes about five minutes to order coupons from each website I use ->

http://www.gocoupons.ca/
http://save.ca/
https://www.websaver.ca/en_ca/coupons/
http://www.pgeverydaysolutions.ca/

You can also print coupons from:

www.livingwell.ca/
www.smartsource.ca/


It takes another five minutes to check the Smart Canucks forum to see the best deals of the week and which of my coupons I can use ->

http://smartcanucks.ca/

Yes, it does take some time to clip and organize the coupons. However, even if I spend an hour or two a week with coupons, the savings I'm bringing in more than make up for it.

COUPONS ARE ONLY FOR JUNK FOOD

Not true! Many of my coupons are for whole grain products from companies like Kelloggs, Catelli, McCain, etc. I'm having a much harder time finding coupons for things like Pepsi or chips then I am for juice or fruit.

COUPONS MAKE YOU SPEND MORE MONEY

Also not true. My usual grocery bill for the week came in around $160. My grocery bill now comes in under $100. And with that $100 I am slowly building up a stockpile of extra goods so that if something is not on sale I don't have to buy it. which in turn lets me save even more money!

COUPONS MAKE YOU BUY THINGS YOU DON'T NEED

Yes. This is in fact true. I don't need six cans of shaving gel for the month. However, one of my first buys (at Walmart) was for Skintimate Shaving Gel, which was on sale for $1.50. I had 2 x $5 off when you buy 3 coupons. $1.50 x 6 = $9.00 - $10.00 in coupons = +$1.00. So not only did I get six cans of shaving gel for FREE, Walmart also paid me a dollar to take them out of the store.

Walmart is the only store here in Ontario that allows overages. So if you have a coupon worth five dollars, and find something on clearance for a dollar, they will pay you IN CASH if you so choose, FOUR DOLLARS! Now imagine you had five of those coupons. You would make TWENTY DOLLARS!

So yes, you can be sucked into buying things you don't need. But if they are free and making me money to spend on things I do need then I am sure I can find someone I can give the things I don't need away to.

I am more than happy to help if anyone wants to give this a try. It is well worth the time and the effort.