What was YOUR couponing mistake?

[HeatherWake]

Hopefully we can get this thread going.

I'm still a newbie couponer, have only been doing it since the end of April/13...so 3 months. I already have a HUGE stockpile of useable items, and have taken on TWO "proteges", girls who were behind me at WM and chased me down in the parking lot to teach them! (2 separate occasions)!

ANYWAY, I'm wondering what YOUR newbie mistake was? Something you learned from and will caution others? Here is mine....

Free ISN'T always best!!
Example. I had a million of the $1.00 Scope mouthwash coupons that had no size restriction. So I was like WOOHOO FREE mouthwash, the baby travel sized bottles!! Only need to pay $0.13 per bottle for the tax! Yesssss!! So I proceeded to buy probably 80 wee bottles of the mouthwash over a couple weeks. All told, I estimate around $10.40 spent on the taxes. When you think about it, it would take 44 of those little bottles to fill up one 1L big bottle. The big bottles are about $4.50! Add up 44 little bottles, x 13cents tax, and I paid about $5.72 for a big bottle.
So I SHOULD have just bought 2 BIG bottles, used two of the $1 off coups, and paid like $7 for TWO. Instead I paid way more, ...PLUS used up so much space in the recycling with all those little plastic bottles. UGH!
So lesson learned: You need to keep in mind size value! Free isnt always best!

I cant wait to read YOUR mistakes!!

[cheekysaver]

I hate to tell you this but that was only a mistake if you count it as one! LOL put 2 or 3 in gift baskets at christmas and send off extras to family members. Keeping some for guests when they sleep over is great also... i like to do a little basket of personal items like mouthwash and tooth paste and tooth brushes with deodorants and travel size shampoo and conditioners with free bought razors and shaving creams... that way if they have forgot something I have taken away the worry. These also make GREAT hospital packs! If someone is in the hospital and you bring them a pack like this they will love you forever!

We all make mistakes and over purchase freebies on occasion... finding ways to put them to use and ways that save you some $ is the next step.

[FLA]

Very insteresting point!. Yeah, we need to do some math when using coupons

[mcon]

yup the tax will get you.

not really a mistake because i havnt bought them yet but....

i was thinking/doing math for crest coupons, and at first i was thinking pricematching for 1.67 toothpastes, instead of 1.99 so clearly ill spend less money right? but if i did that i wouldnt be able to use 1 coupon, and that would mean i spend money + tax, which would equal more then just getting 1.99 toothpastes and using all the coupons, and paying tax only

[MrsSunshine]

prolly not reading the expiry date correctly, losing out on a great coupon or even FPC.

[mandy403]

Just an idea try to find coupons for products that give you overage to pay for the taxes. That's what I did for the $1 oral toothbrushes and the mouth washes which made them completely free 5% tax here in Alberta. The Chapmans ice cream goes on sale lots and there is a $5 off coupon which can be used for overage at Walmart if it's cheap enough.

I made a big mistake not reading the coupon for $3 on any zantac or asking prior to trading for them if they had restrictions. Wow I felt so bad after purchases more then 20 in a transaction although the CSM gave the go a head. I didn't even know till I bragged about it on here. They said "One coupon per customer" Lessen learned 1 coupon per transaction unless hubby is with me. Plus my parents buy zantac like it's candy for heartburn and stomach upsets so they are being put to good use.

A lot of coupons state the Gst is included in the face value and at first when I started couponing I never really knew what that meant till I did my research. I use to always pay tax on items that I didn't have to pay for. Another lesson learned everyone penny counts now a days and it's definitely worth it to make sure the cashier hits total on a item after scanning so that it will show the taxes so they can minus that if it's included in coupon value. If you don't then you will end up paying the taxes.

[jezz]

My biggest mistake when I first started was NOT organizing my emails and addresses (and don't give me flak...we all have multiple accounts...I'm just admitting it!). I have a couple girls I mentor and the first thing I tell them after learning the price of the things they buy is to organize which email address's and names go with which real address.

Once you have your "master list" then start signing up for Websaver, save.ca, brandsaver... extra. Also, you can use this same list for your MIRs. I was sooo excited to start ordering coupons that I never thought about organizing this and I wish that I had...my list is still a mess but it's getting better.

Good luck!

J

[CanadianCouponCollector]

... #1. Always. Bring. Your. Binder. #2. Never go into a store without a list, having made sure you'll be buying your items at the lowest possible price around. Thought I was getting a good deal on cheese in the beginning- paid $1 more than I could've had I price-matched, and didn't remember that I also had a coupon for it sitting at home.

[mcon]

My biggest mistake when I first started was NOT organizing my emails and addresses (and don't give me flak...we all have multiple accounts...I'm just admitting it!). I have a couple girls I mentor and the first thing I tell them after learning the price of the things they buy is to organize which email address's and names go with which real address.

Once you have your "master list" then start signing up for Websaver, save.ca, brandsaver... extra. Also, you can use this same list for your MIRs. I was sooo excited to start ordering coupons that I never thought about organizing this and I wish that I had...my list is still a mess but it's getting better.

Good luck!

J

how many people are letting you use their address' that you need to make a list to keep track ???

[jezz]

how many people are letting you use their address' that you need to make a list to keep track ???

Haha...it's only 4...but I found that when I started signing up for all the different websites I couldn't remember which email went with which address (but maybe that's just me...call it mommy-mushbrain). I had different addresses for Websaver, save.ca and brandsaver so I never knew where the coupon was going to show up! And then I started doing MIR's and FB coupons...and I realized it need to keep better track.

It's just a suggestion...and I do believe it will make your couponing experience better once you start doing ALL the different types of coupon deals.

J

[froogalism.com]

One mistake that I seem to keep making is not using my Superbucks coupons when I go to No Frills. You get a Superbucks coupon when you buy gas a Loblaws At The Pumps (a Loblaws gas station). They currently give you a coupon at the rate of 2 cents per liter. It is a tiny little coupon that gets printed off with your receipt and you can use it to buy groceries.

I get all of my Superbucks coupons ready before entering No Frills and have every intention of using them when I cash out. I even think about which items in my shopping cart I will be getting for 'free' as I am doing my shopping. When I get to the cash, however, I have a difficult time remembering to use them. I have begun to carry the coupons in my hand instead of putting them in my wallet and this has helped me to remember.

[HeatherWake]

Iv never heard of super bucks OR seen a gas station at loblaws!!

[HeatherWake]

Im suuuure you veterans out there have SOME mistake youd like to share??

[SavvyLady]

My biggest mistake when I started was buying things that I didn't need because I had a coupon or it was cheap!! I'm more careful, I still have a pretty big stockpile, but I'm aware of expiry dates, give a lot away to my son (moved out recently), parents, food bank, make gift baskets for birthdays and holidays. Also i used to throw out coupons when they expired (such a waste), now about a week before the coupons are going to expire, if I'm not going to use them, I make a couple of piles and give them to a few cashiers that I know, they always appreciate it and if they don't use them they told me they put them in the employee kitchen so anyone can use them....

[MillieH]

My biggest mistake was to buy things I wouldnt normally have in the house because its free.. I have people that I share with so its mostly ok but when its junk food I tend to get into it.. Now I trade these coupons away for something else because my reality is if there are crackers or chips in the house, sooner or later I will get into them.