couponing 2010

[tammymv]

Have you considered cutting back on couponing in 2010 & living off of your stockpile for awhile so you can save the extra $$ to put towards savings or bills ? I'm considering trying this for the whole year, just to see how low I can keep our grocery bill. I will continue to coupon, especially for items free or almost free, but seriously how many H&B items does any one house need ??(not complaining... just saying). What are your thoughts on this?

[gctattoo]

I've been kinda doing this already for the past few months. Although I don't have a food stockpile, I do have a pretty big stockpile of HBA items. And I decided that it was really time to just use up the majority of it without adding to it. I still get some things if it's a really great deal, but there are things I simply don't need or want more of so I don't get those-- shampoo, body wash, feminine hygiene.

You can try it and see how it goes. I would just be mindful of when your stockpile is getting pretty low so you don't get stuck in the situation your stockpiling was made to prevent-- spending more for something in a pinch instead of having the ability to choose your price with sales and coupons. HTH!

[lmagee]

I only spend between $30 and $40 a month now couponing. I'm afraid if I stop, I'll miss a deal that will be an item that I would run out of. That said, I am truly out of room. I continuously have to donate items year round to leave room in my house for me and my family. Even so, I almost never "buy" anything unless it's a mm, free, or about 90% off (HBA products MUST be free or MM).

[hellokittygirl]

You should check out the Living Off Your Stockpile challenges each month. Other members are doing this.

http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums...e-1-2-way.html

[bourneheather]

Great post and questions!

I stopped doing Walgreens (and have never done CVS) when my gift card balance got to $0.00 in September and it is a relief to be done! I always felt so much pressure to use the RR and sometimes found that I was purchasing things I didn't need.

I have a good stockpile of HBA and am able to keep it stocked through Rite Aid Single Check Rebate program. If you have a Rite Aid near you, I highly recommend the SCR Program. I like it because I can pay for items out of my checking account and then put the $$ back in there within two months (when I receive the check).

Here are two ways I cut back on couponing:
1. I stopped getting the Sunday paper. If there is a deal I can't pass up, I will order coupons through a clipping service or ask family members if I can use their coupon for this item. I have asked family members for a few coupons, but have not ordered from a clipping service since the summer.
2. I took down the extra computer in my den and just have one to print coupons for deals.

Both of these things have really helped me keep myself in check. I do miss out on some great deals, but am able to find enough deals to build my stockpile a little. It is also a great feeling to use items in my house and clear out some clutter!

[shannon1189]

No I will continue to coupon because I am new to all of this. I do not have a big stock pile yet. I have a good bit but not nearly enought to live on.

[434Teresa]

I live on it now as I buy different things to add to it..I dont buy personal or such unless it s almost free or free now so the only things i have most of is food items and it seems that i rotate them out as to what I have the most of to the lowest amount of becasue of the way they put coupons out for things..I dont have room to just keep buying tons of stuff each week or month so say I have 10 boxes of fruit loops we eat on that 10 boxes until it gets to say 2/3 boxes while I stock something up then when at 2/3 boxes I look for coupons and great sales on that item to restock it. I do the same thing on personal stuff like shampoo and body wash, unless I find some that is free or almost free before I need to restock.
I dont have the room to have boxes and boxes of shampoo and stuff like that stacked up that could last me for years and not use it and just to keep buying so 10 to 15 is about the most of anything I have at one time. So I rotate the stuff out as I stock up,you may not think I save much this way but I do plus the dates dont get away from me as easy..some things date dont matter so much on but others it dose...

[anaj06]

I have found that I do what you are saying in certain areas but not others.

For instance HBA items have to be absolutely free or a MM or I don't buy them...I have been living off that stockpile forever it seems.

Food -- it depends on what it is and how much we consume. I won't let a price go that I know is the best I can do unless I have enough to last me to the next sale.

That being said, I don't buy the paper anymore...which has saved me a lot of time. If I need something I will trade or buy it the coupons. I tend to just get whatever I have coupons handy for and let the rest go these days as opposed to buying Qs....unless its something we consume a lot of:)

[AJSN]

I kind of do that in a way, I mean I wont get hba unless they're free.

Certain foods, like knorr pasta sides, I'll wait until theyre free and not just .30 or so....

Meat of course I'll always take when there is a deal.

But when youre noticing you have more bags to put away and coupons to sort but no time b/c you need to run to the next deal its almost like you need an intervention from some hungry hubby and or kids lol to snap you out of it!

(God forbid they prepare it themselves)