Are you really saving money?

[torontogal12]

Yes!

I put the date I open the package on some stuff to figure out how long it will last us!

Before anyone starts stockpiling they should set up some kind of spreadsheet to track how quickly they use things up, and what they use the most of, each month over a period of about 3 months.

Then you are licenced to shop lol

[trishka]

I agree with what most posters have said. When I first started couponing, for like three months, I was one of those who would buy something just because I had a coupon. It would sit there and not be used or it would go bad. I then realised that this was not actually saving money. I was actually spending more! Now, I look at what the coupon is for and the amount. I usually don't go coupon crazy unless it's something that I will actually use (or someone I know will use it) and something that is not perishable. I also only get what I can store. I have a small condo so only so much space to store things without becoming a hoarder. I also stopped requesting coupons for things that I know I will not need or use. I do not need any more home fragrance products like Glad and Airwick, so I stopped requesting those coupons.

I think oscarandme really hit the nail on the head. Whether you're saving money is relative to each person and each family. I personally do not find much use in snack product coupons, but my aunt who has two young grandchildren and also is a Girl Guide leader and involved in Sunday school at her church, saves a lot of money when using coupons on items she would've bought anyway.

I'm totally with Shwa Girl about food coupons. I have more than enough household and beauty products. I never need to buy shampoo ever again. I just wish there were more food coupons, then I would really save money. I go through a dozen eggs a week so I miss those egg coupons.

[cinpow]

does food bank take in shampoos?

[torontogal12]

Donno about the big ones but the small church food bank where I give stuff takes shampoos.

does food bank take in shampoos?

[emg]

Great thread, I find that we are saving money by not buying health and beauty products at regular price. My problem comes with food coupons only available for high sugary, artificial and high calorie content food. At the long run by eating like this our health gets compromised and maybe our pockets will be too.

[vesper]

I enjoy this thread very much. I'm just beginning my coupon experience, and while exploring what I buy often and what coupons are available, there isn't much. I'm actually learning that price matching and planning bulk purchases during sales is more effective for me.

I'm also finding that spending 2-3 hours coupon planning, might only result in a very modest savings for me (I have no kids, wife).

I'm so happy to learn from all y'alls experience, before I start, I don't think I want to stock up on stuff I won't use and should not buy.

Yahoo! Thanks.

[Bronwen]

I definitely agree to a point.

For instance, when those Vileda FPC's came out. I generally try to use the dishwasher, however you still need to wash the few odd dishes by hand. I always bought the Scott’s one. So instead, I gathered about 10 FPC's and instead got the Vileda ones. Did I save money? Yah, cause I'm using them. If I'd went out and used Glade FPC's, it would have even a waste of my time as i hate smellies and never use them.

However the thing to keep in mind is these people saving money on a sh*t ton of money and getting multiples of the same item for free often end up donating most of it, or helping their family and friends out by gracing them with free stuff!

For me, the trick was learning what deals not to get sucked into. There are tons of coupons out there that are "hot" and I'd start thinking, "Well maybe I should use this product too". Often times it's stuff my family and I don't even need. So I have really learned how to just walk away from the "hot" coupons if they're coupons for products that won't be "hot" in my household lol.

On the other hand, I have managed to make some moderations to what we eat and use in order to be able to use a coupon when the change doesn't matter. Like Black Diamond cheese, for instance. We used to always buy Cracker Barrel. Now it's always BD (except for that period last year where Ziplock had cheese coupons!!).

[MrsSunshine]

for our family.. its more about the PM'ing to save money than coupons..although I do sometimes have coupons on hand i'll use, mostly for stockpile items like toilet paper, kleenex.. and our 'stockpile' consists of one or two of them.. i just don't have the space anywhere for more than that.. as I said.. I find pricematching the stores in my area, Food basics, Freshco, RCSS even Metro and few others occasionally.. im lucky enough my store will also accept phone flyer pics.. ie foodland.. as our family mostly eats 'from scratch' items... i do all the cooking and i never cook from a box .. its always veggies and meats etc that i PM for.. i can easily save alot of money $10-$50 a trip doing that alone.. esp. in the summer.
although i don't 'shop' for coupons like i used to.. im able to acquire the ones i do need through flyers, packages, friends etc.. (swaps too )..
the biggest bonus for me.. is I even have my Mom doing it now.. she thought i was crazy before.. now she's like oh you can't have my flyers or papers.. im using them to PM! woohoo..
every penny counts in our family!

[canadablue]

does food bank take in shampoos?

Absolutely! They love getting all kinds of toiletries, cleaning supplies, laundry stuff. Women's shelters and homeless shelters also really need them. Those things are often on the 'we need them' list.

I donate lots of my extra FPC toiletries/samples to food banks and shelters. I also tend to build care packages for friends that are out of work or on low income.

In terms of the OP, I try very hard not to stockpile anything that is perishable or that we won't use. Staples like toilet paper, laundry detergent, conditioner (ha, not shampoo since we all have curly hair), soap, deodorants -- that tends to be what I keep around. And only the truly non-perishable in any substantial amount. I've always regretted having too much of a perishable or pantry stuff because we don't go through it fast enough. If I have too much for my wee family then we give it to the food banks.

[Shwa Girl]

the biggest bonus for me.. is I even have my Mom doing it now.. she thought i was crazy before.. now she's like oh you can't have my flyers or papers.. im using them to PM! woohoo..
every penny counts in our family!

WTG recruiting your Mom!

[torontogal12]

+1 on the cracker barrel/black diamond thing.

Everyone has "hot" or not in their household. I also wonder and then walk away.

E.g. I see how the Christie cookies deals vanish in less than a day on Checkout 51...but I don't eat Christie cookies. Don't particularly like them so don't see what the fuss is about lol

I definitely agree to a point.

For instance, when those Vileda FPC's came out. I generally try to use the dishwasher, however you still need to wash the few odd dishes by hand. I always bought the Scott’s one. So instead, I gathered about 10 FPC's and instead got the Vileda ones. Did I save money? Yah, cause I'm using them. If I'd went out and used Glade FPC's, it would have even a waste of my time as i hate smellies and never use them.

However the thing to keep in mind is these people saving money on a sh*t ton of money and getting multiples of the same item for free often end up donating most of it, or helping their family and friends out by gracing them with free stuff!

For me, the trick was learning what deals not to get sucked into. There are tons of coupons out there that are "hot" and I'd start thinking, "Well maybe I should use this product too". Often times it's stuff my family and I don't even need. So I have really learned how to just walk away from the "hot" coupons if they're coupons for products that won't be "hot" in my household lol.

On the other hand, I have managed to make some moderations to what we eat and use in order to be able to use a coupon when the change doesn't matter. Like Black Diamond cheese, for instance. We used to always buy Cracker Barrel. Now it's always BD (except for that period last year where Ziplock had cheese coupons!!).

[jayne_a]

personally i only stock up a few months worth at a time. so i agree with you. what annoys me is when people buy stuff they can't use ( dog food and don't have a dog) just because they can get it cheap or free or get an overage. that is my only beef about couponing.

[nicolthepickle]

I totally agree with you. I would consider it quite a big savings if it was a good item though. We'll eat anything so finding a bunch of any kind of food on sale is good for me.

[Shwa Girl]

OP, what a great topic! Makes you stop and think.

Question: Are you really saving money?

Answer#1: Yes. When Loblaws had eggs on for 3/$5 and there was a coupon for $1 off when you buy 2 dozen eggs. Loved that time.

Answer#2: No. When the P&G Brandsaver has absolutely no coupons for food and no coupons for anything we need - only for things like toothpaste, deodorant, smellies. We have so many toothpastes, deodorants and smellies already.

Wish they would bring back the great food coupons like for

• bananas
• strawberries
• $1 worth of free apples
• lettuce
• milk
• free oatmeal
• Uncle Ben's rice
• POM almonds and pistachios
• Maple Leaf Prime chicken
• free yogurt
• free bread

Those were the days

Update: A great SC posted that Chatelaine has oatmeal coupons in the next issue. So, at least food coupons are making a comeback.

[cinpow]

personally i only stock up a few months worth at a time. so i agree with you. what annoys me is when people buy stuff they can't use ( dog food and don't have a dog) just because they can get it cheap or free or get an overage. that is my only beef about couponing.

that reminds me of one of the extreme couponing episode that one lady had tons of diapers that she got it free from coupons, but she don't even have a baby at home.