What has couponing taught you??

[Colinsgrandma]

Check expiration dates and be sure to donate anything I'm not able to use.

[neesie03]

Couponing has taught me that I can have control over how much I spend on groceries. What a wonderful feeling.

[navybrat]

Using coupons has taught me that for some stores intelligence is not a job requirement.

[thickbluebug]

Every one has posted some great ones.
1.
Sales come back around, so just don't use a coupon cause it's hot - yep that 1/1 downy comes out every year, that free mustard happens every year,

2.
Don't try to stock pile too fast, because the prices you have now aren't as good as they will be later
LOL, I really wished I had that money I spent my first year hard core couponing.
Yep, the money I thought was a good price. Right before I read the stockpile sales cycles threads

3.
Don't take the whole tear pad, bogo, freebie or money maker, leave one

This one was a goodie, so I had to do 4

4. Brand loyalty isn't smart. Most of the things we have tried that were free after coupons.....we liked better than our "old" brands. Yep, we were a picky bunch!

[hotcouponmama]

1. Couponing is a lifestyle choice, and it isn't for everyone, as much as it pains me to watch people pay full price, right after you offered them a coupon for the item and they refused.

2. Couponing and stockpiling isn't just about food, HBA, and cleaners. I mean come on, I can't be the only person on the board that stockpiles cheap DVD players at Black Friday because my kids break them and I don't mind quite as much when I only paid $15 for the them.

3. Sales cycles are really a critical part of what we do. Knowledge here = the power to save. So for me, staying on top of them is very important so I can impart that knowledge to others.

4. The coupon buying principals and tactics don't just apply to the store, but real life. If I can negotiate a swingin' deal on hamburger meat at the store, why can't I negotiate for a better - salary, general contractor, car, education, anything really.

5. Couponing has really opened me up to giving back to others. If you feel flush in the pocket personally, it's easy to give. I get to do that here on the site, at our local foodbank, or with people who are just going through a rough patch and need a leg up. Sometimes, a $75 check to someone makes all the difference in the world that week. More in my personal budget means I have more I can share with others.

[jen276here]

I am cracking up on these and thinking how similar we all must feel about it all! Thanks for responding!!!

[faeryedark]

Originally Posted by hotcouponmama 1. Couponing is a lifestyle choice, and it isn't for everyone, as much as it pains me to watch people pay full price, right after you offered them a coupon for the item and they refused. 2. Couponing and stockpiling isn't just about food, HBA, and cleaners. I mean come on, I can't be the only person on the board that stockpiles cheap DVD players at Black Friday because my kids break them and I don't mind quite as much when I only paid $15 for the them. 3. Sales cycles are really a critical part of what we do. Knowledge here = the power to save. So for me, staying on top of them is very important so I can impart that knowledge to others. 4. The coupon buying principals and tactics don't just apply to the store, but real life. If I can negotiate a swingin' deal on hamburger meat at the store, why can't I negotiate for a better - salary, general contractor, car, education, anything really. 5. Couponing has really opened me up to giving back to others. If you feel flush in the pocket personally, it's easy to give. I get to do that here on the site, at our local foodbank, or with people who are just going through a rough patch and need a leg up. Sometimes, a $75 check to someone makes all the difference in the world that week. More in my personal budget means I have more I can share with others.

Amen!!!!

[Coriander]

Just because I have 20 boxes of cereal stockpiled doesn't mean I have enough.

I agree with trying different brands(loyalty not always the best brand), and trying new products.

Paying more attention to what we use most of and stockpiling that product so we don't run out, it saves on those last minute trips to the store.

Not everyone gets as excited as I do about this.

[seedlady]

as your hands are open to give things away, they are open to receive more blessings.

if you grasp and clench what you have, the blessings poured out for you bounce off your hands.

that's a visual one- try shaping your hands to give, and to hang onto something like grim death, and i think you will see what i mean.


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secondly, there IS such a thing as a free lunch !

[cupunlvr]

Once you begin to save on groceries and HBAs using coupons, it spills over into other areas of your life, you begin to examine every purchase for ways to pay less.

You realize you as the consumer hold the dice. You expect good customer service and aren't afraid to let corporate know when they don't meet your expectations.