Extreme Couponing and Priorities
When I first started extreme couponing it was all about what I could get for FREE. It didn’t matter where it was, or if I’d actually use it, it was FREE. It was all about the chase and the exhilaration of getting something for FREE. Then one day, while I was planning yet another trip to the store to get MORE of something I had plenty of, it dawned on me….I REALLY didn’t need any more and should just get to my son’s baseball game-ON TIME…
So this caused me to really ask myself: Is it really worth missing out on something else because you might miss the deal? The obvious answer is no.
The reality is, you need to prioritize when couponing: If you decide to go to your son’s ballgame, will there be nothing for dinner? Well, if the answer is yes, by all means, go shopping.
More often than not however, we extreme couponers are just adding to our stockpiles.
Here are some questions you should ask yourself before you drop everything to go out shopping.
- Do you need it?
- Will you use it?
- Is it really worth your time and gas?
- Do you really need to go to that drug store 10 miles away to get ONE free toothpaste?
If you answered no to any of these questions, then stop clipping and go play with your kids!
I mainly shop at Stop & Shop and CVS. The reasons I shop primarily at these two stores are because: I believe both to these stores have the best reward programs, gas points and ECB’s, good sales and they are convenient for me. That is the key. I work full time, have two kids and not a whole lot of extra time. That is not to say that I don’t to other stores, but it has to be worth my while.
Now I must go and run out to Shaw’s for my free Turkey bacon…
Carol Beane (aka cabeane)
-Full time mother, wife, worker, extreme couponer and moderator for Howtoshopforfree.net.
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