What sort of Mistakes have you made since couponing?

[buzzhappy]

i forget coupons all the time, , and I also let them expire before use them, but that's also why I am here to learn to get my stuff together!...lol

[scottiegazelle]

When I started couponing, I would exceed my grocery budget on stockpiling and miss out on bread and milk. I have since switched to a cash-based grocery budget, which keeps me on track. I also cut out produce. I have since found a produce stand that doesn't take wine tags but has great prices on produce and milk (we're talking 10 lbs of bananas for $1.75, consistantly). So I have to not stockpile as many razors and cereal but can get my kids some cheap grapes. Which is healthier than all the free chex mix in the world. In short, I <gasp> had to learn it was okay to spend money sometimes.

[ajproo]

Originally Posted by tupoi I have lost my entire coupon booklet (now I have a HUGE one, I can't lose) and I just lost my little pencil case with my ECB's in it. *sigh*

Oh my gosh!!! I am so sorry. I have had nightmares about losing my coupon books or being in the store and dropping them and everything flying out. Sometimes when I leave the stores I get so paranoid that I have left my book in the cart, that I will check my backseat 2 or 3 times while driving home.

[auntsashie]

I lost my coupons once a long time before I found HCW. If I lost this binder, I would really cry. I put it in my purse. Its a big purse.

[Colinsgrandma]

I learned that even 3 year olds only like so many fruit snacks, that if you buy too many bags of chex mix no one will ever eat it again they will be so sick of it, that if you jump in to this hobby too fast you will soon be drowning in coupons they will take over your car, purse, house. Don't ever let ECB's build up to $100 or so because that is when you will lose your coupon folder. Share some of the stuff with others, I think many people that get really sucked into this hobby have ocd [me] and like to see the nice rows of stuff in the pantry. I admire the young women on this board that are working so hard to make their families financially secure and I really wish I had something like this when I was a young stay at home mom.....of course they didn't have internet then.... I'm old. Although being old has some advantages...I can't think of any right now. Just kidding, I am Colin's grandma that is worth getting old for.

[Pebleshair]

This thread is great. I am learning so much here. I am a newbie and have also made some of the same mistakes. :blush:

[XplatinumXpixeyX]

Only thing I've done was got stuff I forgot or didn't know I had coupons for. The last time we went food shopping we had seen that Wal-mart had a Sale on Quakers Instant oatmeal. It was 2/$5 well when I got home and was going through my coupons to see what I had left I noticed I had a coupon for $1 on 2 I'm usually good with that, when I see something I alway double check my coupons just to make sure I don't have one.

One thing I do need to get better with that now I know is, I have to stop buying stuff just because I have a coupon for it. If it's not free or almost free it's not worth getting then.

[janiejane]

My first trip to CVS - I got $10 in ECBs, but forgot to give them my coupons. I was so flustered at it being a new store and all. I guess I'll get better!

[shelleyf]

I am still organizing my coupons, it seems like a never ending battle. lol I was mad the other day because I bought a few things without coupons(imagine that) and the got home and realized I could have saved 4 something extra. Not alot of money to some people, but to me that is alot of wasted money.

[lakenormanmom]

I agree...I have done this several times and kick myself when I get home!