What sort of Mistakes have you made since couponing?

[Jinxy]

Forgetting to get rainchecks and expired salad dressing. I don't buy as much dressing now for fear it will all expire (despite giving some away)


I don't know if this would count, but it seemed like it took me FOREVER to stand up for myself when a cashier would try to shut me down (when I am in the right). I am sooo glad I got over that and speak up for myself now and fight for what I know is right

[6months]

Originally Posted by bugface711

I used to underestimate how much to buy on EVERYTHING!! I forgot to factor in family coming over and saying OOOOHH can i have 1 of those.

Now I get as much as I can of everything because I have some family members that need some help here and there and I like having enough to be able to share.

Isn't that the truth?
When we went back home in April, I threw everything we didn't like into a box (and some things we DID like but had too much of) and packed it for the trip. I filled my newly married and totally broke little brother's pantry up with chili and beef stew and oatmeal and other stuff and he was like

[anishiap]

Not checking for the specific size/flavor/type for rebate and for coupons.
I bought Garnier Length and Strength when the rebate was specifically on Sleek and Shine. Obviously I did not get the rebate..

Price mistakes. Items ringing at wrong price. Taking the item back to the store will never happen.

Losing/misplacing rebate receipts.

Forgetting to buy before the rain check expire.

I have learned to take a minute after the BIG event, going through the check out, a look at my receipt see
a) if all rang at the right price,
b) is all the coupons accounted for.
c) Did I get rainchecks for the missing items.
d) Ask when the item will be re-stocked
e) Put my receipt in the right place in my binder, I have a special place for my rebate receipts.
f) Put the blinkies/unused coupons in the envelope to be filed later.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Ill be the first to admit that when I was a newbie I made copies of printables. I didnt know you couldn't do that! I thought it was free coupons for all.

Once I learned that lesson I moved on to asking everyone I knew to print legit coupons for me so then I had 20-30 coupons that would net me something free after coupon (Barilla Pasta) and I tried to hand over this big wad of printables. It didnt fly at my store and I summiarily got reemed out at FW by the "pros". That taught me to fly under the radar little (but not much since my stores don't pose limits on most items I get as many as I have cpns for...but I dont bring in more than 2 of any printable even if I have .3 computers and have 6 of them

I have bought some items that expired before we used them (not much) and have overbought item that my family doesnt like (certain flavors of quaker oatmeal comes to mind...that junk with the crunchies in it..yulk) I have collected coupons for a raincheck..then let the darn coupons expire (I JUST did this this week)

I have traded for winetags and let them expire (yikes)

Not watching the register when items are being rung up...

Even was short changed a return the other day. I paid $4.50 for something thinking it was going to give me a catalia and when I went to return it they only gave me $1.50 back and I didnt think twice about it.. Oh well!

[savingformykids]

I have gone completely overboard on free stuff. I bought 240 (I think) of the Kraft pudding packs when they were free. I gave so many away to family, that after a while they began refusing to take them!! I also got a ton of Quaker To Go bars when I was getting overage.

At first, my kids are like But after so long of having the same food, it's not so much of a treat anymore...and they are like . My children's teachers just thought that I was an overly generous mother sending in snacks for ALL of the kids in the class!! They didn't realize that I was cleaning out my cupboards!! All of the kids kept asking my kids, "Why does your mom keep sending in treats?!"

Hey kids, just be quiet and eat it...it's free after all!!!

So that has definately been my lesson learned...there CAN be too much of a good thing around my house!

[Mexi]

Well, for me it was not checking out Meijers coupon policy before I shopped there. I thought I was going to get a great deal on things but come to find out they have a limit of doubling two like coupons. I was so mad I cried! Not at the store but when I got into the car and realized what I had done. Now I know to only use two of the same coupon and do multiple transactions IF I can.

[bluedaisy]

The one that really hurt me lately was...I had a 20% off tear-out coupon for Gymboree..which is rare for that store. So I had read a bunch of my board-friends' advice on how to maximize that coupon. I strategized and finally nailed down what I wantd to buy w/ it...all combined with the coupon, the clothes would have been 50% off of the SALE price if I chose right with the current markdowns. I had $100 to spend.

Well, when I got to the store, they were out of some things and had some other stuff that DD loved, so.....it got all screwy.....and the sales lady didn't let me use it in combination w/ something else going on that day (yeah right) so I ended up only getting about 8 items for $100 instead of my planned 20 things. :(

NEXT TIME, I would rather just put the stuff back and come back some other time when the savings were bigger. I didn't HAVE to spend that 20% coupon that day! UG!

[momabrown3]

Originally Posted by savingformykids

I have gone completely overboard on free stuff. I bought 240 (I think) of the Kraft pudding packs when they were free. I gave so many away to family, that after a while they began refusing to take them!! I also got a ton of Quaker To Go bars when I was getting overage.

At first, my kids are like But after so long of having the same food, it's not so much of a treat anymore...and they are like . My children's teachers just thought that I was an overly generous mother sending in snacks for ALL of the kids in the class!! They didn't realize that I was cleaning out my cupboards!! All of the kids kept asking my kids, "Why does your mom keep sending in treats?!"

Hey kids, just be quiet and eat it...it's free after all!!!

So that has definately been my lesson learned...there CAN be too much of a good thing around my house!

Talking about sending alot of snacks to school.We did that last year for my son's class.His teacher thought I was a party & snack crazy person.Finally my son told his teacher :my mom don't buy anything without a coupon.

[powercat24]

For me, it has been spending too much on stockpiling and not enough on essentials. I see a good deal and I usually try to stock up but it doesn't help when you don't have bread or milk or $$ for the next few weeks. I went gung ho on what I thought were good deals and I guess and forgot my family's needs. Not good! I've learned!!

[patj4]

When watching that everything is rung up correctly at a fast scanning register, & especially if there's also a discussion about a coupon, I'll still sometimes forget getting a RC I wanted.