How much stuff do you buy when there is a good sale on it?

[Couponlover24]

Just started couping and was wondering if there was a really good deal how many of the iteam will you buy? Is it worth buying 20 of the same iteam if there is a great deal? I am thinking about buying more papers so I can stockpile even more stuff. Thanks for everyone help this group has helped me out alot.

[MrsPinecone]

If you won't use it before it goes bad, nothing is a good deal.

If you know you will use it, then as many as you can get.

I usually get a year's supply of anything.

[seedlady]

depends on how many coupons i have.

[anaj06]

I buy whatever I have coupons for if it is a great deal and I know I will use it.

For instance the Huggies Pullup wipes $3/2 Q...I ordered 50 of them and I have been trading for smaller quantities as they come up. I have no doubt I can use 100+ packs of wipes so as many as I can get is perfect! I have one potty training now and one to start soon.

It depends on the item though. For instance toothpaste is always free, so I just buy whatever I have the coupons for at the time and don't order any extra coupons.

Also, be careful starting out....what you think is a good deal now will not look so great to you in 3 or 6 months. There is a steep learning curve with couponing.

[hellokittygirl]

Also, be careful starting out....what you think is a good deal now will not look so great to you in 3 or 6 months. There is a steep learning curve with couponing.

This statement is so true. I used to think that, for example, .50 was a good price for toothpaste. Um, it's not! Toothpaste is something you can always get for free! It really helped me to see what other people's "bottom line" prices are. http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/talk-up/137-its-all-about-bottom-line-what-your-best-price.html

I have to take into account space issues, too. I have a limited amount of space, so even if I want 100 rolls of toilet paper, it's just not plausible.
There are certain items I know I will ALWAYS use, so I look for free on those whenever possible and stock up, but I can't go overboard. I love Morningstar Farms stuff, and they are free at Publix this week, so I got 8. That may not seem like a ton, but as a college student sharing a fridge/freezer, it's all I can do right now.

Check out expiration dates. If it's going to expire before you can use it, then there is no need to buy it. Another deal will come along. I've learned that even if I miss out on a really good deal, there is always another one around the corner. You just have to be patient.

[nsbarlow]

I'm just buying a month's worth of stuff right now. Our tastes change, and I feel uncomfy spending more than a certain amount per month stockpiling. I also don't have a deep freeze yet.

I was just really excited about some toothpaste I got at $.50 haha. I only bought one though!

[Colinsgrandma]

If it's free I get as many as I have coupons for if I won't use it someone else will. If it's a good deal for something like laundry detergent or garbage bags that will keep indefinitely I will get a years supply. I've noticed things that were free a year ago are not now.

[mandi0808]

If it's free I get as many as I have coupons for if I won't use it someone else will. If it's a good deal for something like laundry detergent or garbage bags that will keep indefinitely I will get a years supply. I've noticed things that were free a year ago are not now.
I totally agree.
I also limit myself on perishables, since I have no deep freeze and my fridge and freezer are full.
If it has a long expiration and it's non perishable, depending on what it is, I will get as many as I can.
Betty Crocker potatoes, Hamburger Helper, and Knorr rice and pastas last for a while on the shelf, so I always stock up on those.
Health and beauty is something that I will get a ton of if I can get it really cheap or free. Most of those things are ok if they sit for a while.

Just think about what you get, how much you normally use, when it might expire, and where are you going to put it. That's the best way to determine how much of something you should get.

[tmsmalley]

What everyone else said, but also consider the boredom factor. If, for example, you get 15 boxes of Raisin Bran, is your family going to be bored to tears 4 boxes down the road? Perhaps. But, if you can get 10 boxes of Raisin Bran and 10 boxes of Cheerios and 10 boxes of Rice Chex, you can switch between the 3 indefinitely.

Also, if you've never tried a certain product before and don't know if you'll like it or not, that is not the time for 50 boxes! Try one or two and see how it goes. It WILL come up again.

Tess

[cblanchard76]

I stock up on whatever I can get my hands on. I love to shop. I can't keep myself out of stores. So I will buy stuff I can get for free just to fill the obsession. I don't though anything out. I check expiration dates and stock my cabinets based on them. I donate tons of stuff to Open Pantry, my daughters church, and friends and family. It makes me feel really good to give back. I'm not rich and I can't afford money at the moment and giving something is better than not giving at all.

:wavehi::wavehi:

[Trish6103]

I get whatever I can, whenever I can.

I once paid my aunt for babysitting with dishwasher soap, toothpaste and some other stockpile thing I had tons of. Worked for both of us.
Nothing is ever "too much" for me because I can give anything I have extras of to my MIL and every once in a while I send my mom in Florida a package with HBA stuff. None of my family or my husband's family have a lot of money, so they always appreciate anything I give them.

[kittensqueak]

Sorry, I'm in a snappy mood. ALOT.

But really - I buy as much as I can use before it expires. If that is 1-100 (or as many as I have coupons for) up to the amount I (or my family) can use before it expires...

:)

[TBEventer2002]

It really depends on how you want to look at the whole shopping experience.

You can buy enough to last you a certain time period.
ie, Get enough cans of soup to last you 5 months.

Or you can buy however many you have coupons for.
ie, I have six coupons for pasta sauce, so I will get six jars.

Or you can buy enough to keep you within your budget.
ie, I have $10 to spend for this week. I can get three jars of applesauce, two air fresheners, and four boxes of cereal.

I vary between the three depending on what the item is. The only exception is if something is free, I always get however many I have coupons for. I also have a goal of how much of certain things we always have on hand, such as pasta and milk.

[nsbarlow]

Oh my golly, I am in sticker shock today and it reminded me of this thread. Meat was on sale to half price so now my freezer is packed, but woah, that was a tough pill to swallow. I got 10 pounds of hamburger, 10 pounds of chicken, a pack of pork chops, and 4 steaks..

I also got some Ragu at about $1 a bottle. My family loves it and I usually pay way more than that, so I bought 10. This was my first time finding a coupon matchup since I started couponing so I was really excited. We will use it all before it goes bad, but I better spend less next week to even out this shopping trip.

I feel this way everytime I get out of BJs. You know you got a good value, but I can never get out of BJs for less than $100.

[YouPdWhat]

This thread contains helpful info so :bump93: ing it up for new members! :wavehi:

[LearningToSaveFl]

For the people who say they buy 50-100 things at a time. How do you get that many coupons? Im assuming maybe a coupon clippign service but store sales are only about a week so how do you have enough time to view the ad when the sale starts order from the clipping service and recieve your coupons in the mail by the time the week/sale ends

[OneHotMomma]

I found one in my state so it only takes 2-3 days to get the coupons in hand. Also, always get a raincheck if the store is out so you have some extra time to gather youe q's. I think there's a clipper in FL. Send me a PM and I'll check for you.

[TiggerToo]

You can also look on this site. If you go to here: Hot Coupon World Coupon Clipping Sites (http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/view.php?pg=coupon_clipping_sites)This is a list on HCW (sites HCW is affiliated with) under the Resources tab (up at the top) that you may be able to find a coupon clipping site in your state. HTH

[LearningToSaveFl]

You can also look on this site. If you go to here: Hot Coupon World Coupon Clipping Sites (http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/view.php?pg=coupon_clipping_sites)This is a list on HCW (sites HCW is affiliated with) under the Resources tab (up at the top) that you may be able to find a coupon clipping site in your state. HTH



I just took a peek and 3 of them are in Florida so thats good.

[Niddi]

When I started 2 years ago I was so excited about all the great deals that I was trying to get in on all I could find and had coupons for. It's easy to overdo when you start. I ended up with lots of things to give away before I could use them (I've learned I don't really need 20 bottles of BBQ sauce, 20 bottles of mustard or 20 bottles of salad dressing).
I now buy based on what my needs and likes are and what I can give to family (based on their likes) as well as having an ongoing stash of donation items for the food drives. I still love the thrill of the free stuff but will not get extra coupons for it unless it's someting we use on a regular basis.
I'm fully stocked on hba and cleaning items for at least a year so no more, even free, because I still have to pay tax on that. I have enough of most staples to last about 6 months and my freezer is full so it's time to cut the budget for the next few months and get only what I really need and what is free or almost free in the way of food items.
It may take you a little while to learn your needs and your storage space and how much time and money you want to spend.
I love to see pictures of people stockpile rooms and what a great job they've done but I don't have the space and that type of stockpiling just isn't feasible for just my husband and me.
It may take a little while to learn what's right for you, just remember the deals come around again and you can't and shouldn't try to get in on every deal you read about.