So with all the websites, books, and guide out there about couponing, where do you start? It can be overwhelming to start but don’t stress yourself out. Take small steps to get where you want. You may not have time to do 10 trips to CVS a week or drive out of town to go to the grocery once a week. However, even if you take small steps to save money, in the long run, it all adds up to more $$$$ in your pocket.
Don’t worry if you miss a great deal because there is always another great deal right around the corner!!!
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT COUPONING:
1. Using coupons makes me look like I don’t have any money. Fact: It makes you look like a SMART shopper with all of your savings. I will admit, at first, I was embarrassed to use coupons but once I started seeing my savings add up, I don’t care now. It doesn’t even bother my family anymore, they are right on board asking if I have a coupon for a particular item! If you see a woman with a designer purse and wonder WHY she is using coupons, her savings using coupons is probably the reason why she can afford the designer purse.
2. Using coupons takes too much time. FACT: In the beginning you can have some time in this trying to get your own personal system down pat but after a few weeks, you will become a coupon expert and know how to do it so it works for your lifestyle. I spend around 1-2 hours per week, planning, clipping, and organizing my coupons. However, I spend less time at the actual store because as I stockpile, my needs go down. So instead of making 10 trips to the store each week to pick up items I forgot or don’t have stockpiled, I only make a couple of PLANNED trips a week. The amount I save $100-200/week is WORTH 2 extra hours anyway!!! (I don’t make that much per hour in my job – do you???)
3. Coupons are only for the more expensive items, I can buy generic for the same cost without the effort. FACT: Using the best sale possible and your coupon, most of the brand name items cost LESS than the generic items. Even the generic boxes of cereal are around $2.00. I usually spend $1.25 or less on my name brand cereal!
4. I can shop at Wal-mart without all the effort and get just as good deals. FACT: Wal-mart does not offer double coupons like many of the more expensive grocery stores, which is very valuable when added with a deep discounted sale item! Wal-mart may have low prices on some items but if you ever look closely, some items are more expensive than other stores. You can shop at Wal-mart and get good deals but you will get BETTER deals from other stores. Plus, the atmosphere at other stores is usually nicer.