I am starting to feel guilty... but loving it!!

[freefreed]

First off SC is the best!! I have learnt so much, and saved more then I can imagine, in the last 6 weeks!

But I have an issues, I don't know when or how to stop! My first week of really couponing was 3 weeks ago... it started with LD's Anniversary Sale... and my new addition to Dove products....

Last week it was Greenworks.... 72 bottles in total

Now this week, and it isn't over with I have already added 36 more Greenworks to the collection! oh and don't forget the Gillette Deodorant, Old Spice Body Wash, Oral B Toothbrushes and Aveeno! So far I have spent less then $5 this week yet I feel like a shopaholic! I have yet to do my big Stacking shop for the week at London Drugs... but that trip will only add about $10 to this weeks spending!

Why wasn't I doing this before?
When do you decide enough is enough?
How do you control the impulse to go get the free/near free item?
Who do you turn to when the impulse is to big (hubby is encouraging my insanity!)
What do I do with it all? I do plan on donating... GiftBaskets are also catching my eyes. (I have always give Gift Baskets as Christmas gifts, so this is nothing new for me) We will us some, but there is no way I could use it all.

[BuggaBugga]

The novelty of getting so much so cheap wears off eventually for some. Donation is definitely a great route to go if you can afford it. Also try not to worry about buying 6 million of anything just because you can. There will always be more sales and more coupons.

[nancy_27]

Yeah I started couponing about the same time, and I'm having a good time and feeling saving and being able to give free items to family. I know they could use it, and I was able to spend a little time finding the coupons and now I can give them something for very little

[kevico2]

Luckily, most of the products that you got for free or near free, will last you a while! Things like makeup and (obviously) food items will go bad at some point! So, whether or not you decide to share, donate, sell (yard sales, kijiji) etc... is up to you! I think you're doing a wonderful job for a newbie! Keep up the good work and welcome to Smartcanucks! I just love, love, love this site!

[matrix82]

When I got to be spending a lot on the almost free items, that was when I needed to take a look at things and re-evaluate.

Now I order less coupons which means that I am less tempted.

I really realized things when I was moving back to my home province. We could only take what would fit in the trunk of the civic, so that meant I gave away most if not all of my stockpile from the year. Now I only get something if it free, or if it is something that I need and will use.

[kelley1980]

i only started really getting into this site a month or so ago.. and i can't believe i wasn't doing all this couponing before. i've gotten such good tips and deals on here! saved a lot of money and started my own little stockpile in my kitchen.. probably really tiny compared to some. my hubby thinks it's a little silly but i don't hear him complaining about all the money i've saved! plus it really helps while we are living on one income right now!

best info has been about the LD stacking.. had no idea about this one! i've only done it once so far, but i got a pack of huggies and wipes for 2.29 tax included. such a great feeling when i walked outta there

[sassypants]

Personally, I use large color coded rubbermade containers to hold my stash ... one for household products, one for scented products, one for feminine/beauty products (once the lids don't fit, I either have to rearrange the contents or stop purchasing items in these categories) ... then I have one for gift ideas as well as one for donations (when these get full I know to start donating/gifting) ... I find this helps because I have limited space - I do cheat a little and have a few tiny hidden areas with a few items I use more often ... othewise the novelty does wear off a bit.

I think there is a bit of a learning curve to the SC lifestyle, LOL!

[freefreed]

We are working on organize a holding space, and really only stocking up on items that don't expire. I am kinda glad that the novelty does wear off a bit... but I love it! lol

I received my first 2 trades today, and I almost fell out of my seat! What I got was amazing and will save use loads, as the items were all things we use regularly.

But this has been a life saver as after 19 unemployment, the money is running thin... so every penny right now counts... and this has allowed use to stretch those pennies.

[AryanasMommy]

When I joined a was saving alot, but probably spending just as much. I was buying things because I had a coupon, and wasn't getting the best deals. I have since refined my couponing and now have a generous stockpile which has cost me next to nothing. I stopped buying things out of impulse. My rule is if we won't use it in the next 4-6 months then don't buy it.

Things will come on sale again, new coupons will come out, the stores will always have stock! There's no need to buy sooo much that it consumes you!

Goodluck. It sounds like you're doing GREAT!

[kk008]

Yeah, I know know the feeling.....I just started stacking sometime beginning of the summer. It's a lot of work and there have been weeks that I just don't look at the file and be tempted to sort and go through again and go for deals. It's so tiring! Anyways, today I did get the Greenworks, Pantene, Tide and Bounce for next to nothing. Also, at Zellers, I bought an assortment of Rubbermaid containers with latched lids that are on sale for 60% off, with the intention of sorting through all my stockpile! Of course, I made sure I spent at least $50 before taxes to get the bonus 40,000 points using HBC Mstcd. (came to $51...what chance eh!)

[ninna]

Great thread.

Why didn't I do this before? Geez. I wish I could answer that for myself. If I could go back in a time machine to when the kids were in diapers, the new "smart me" (ie, the one who uses coupons) would smack "old me" upside the head with a big wad of pampers coupons, that's for sure.

When do you decide enough is enough and what do I do with it all? I think once I have to move out of my bedroom and sleep on the living room floor because the bedroom is being used for storage purposes I will realize I have enough.

Just kidding. What I can use in 6 months is my limit. Anything beyond that goes to family, friends, neighbors, donation bin, Christmas hampers etc.

How do I control the impulse? And...who do I turn to for help? This is a tough one because those darned Greenworks buys with coupons where you get more coupons just keeps going and going, kinda like the energizer bunny and it IS hard to stop. That being said, I just refuse to drive to the store. Sometimes it almost kills me!...or I give the coupons away so DH doesn't have to wrestle the keys from my hands and tie me up with the Greenworks wipes to keep me from buying more.

[sweetmomma]

Well, before I didn't have access to so many coupons or the actual sites to get them. I only used coupons occassionally when I could get my hands on some. Plus, it's a whole new world on here--but I love it! I just buy things I will use a lot of(ie/toilet paper) or things I know I will never find again at a really low price(if not free). I don't have much storage space so if |I have nowhere to store that is enough for me!

[theweave]

Okay you still have yet to top the 110 bottles of juice in one shot!!!!

My dad started questioning me when I kept coming home day after day with more Poise and Depends during the WM Anniversary Sale... He actually questioned the amount of money I was spending! I told him would you rather I buy one package at $10 and when you run out you go back to paying $19 a package???? Are you not going to need these anymore???? He thanked me after that!

We now have 10 bags of each... savings of $90!!! Not to mention enough Tide to last a while, 8 cases of Diet Coke, 7 cases of Root Beer!!!!! All stuff we will use eventually and is not going to go bad!

Keep it up!!!! This site is worse the crack... they need clinics for us addicts!

God help me if we get London Drugs and can stack! I will need a UHAUL!

[Perogie]

Well, I've been on here for over a year now and for me the giddyness of getting stuff for free hasn't worn off yet I swear it's like a high seeing what I can get for free each week Today I used 23 of the $5 Body Shop coupons and got a bunch of BodyPuffs, Exfoliating gloves, exfoliating cloths. During the $5 Toys R Us deal I think I used 50+ coupons and was shaking with the excitement The great coupons make me want to jump for joy, and sometimes I do. Just enjoy it!!!!!!

[MommyMelanie]

Try to use the coupons to get a loft christmas gifts. I stack and try to get candles and such free. Then when something comes up I can just go to the closet and grab something. Also family members love the free stuff and are happy to get that kind of stuff for gifts.

It is hard to know when to stop. If your family calls " hoarders" then you know its time to stop.