Comments on: Guest Post: Five Mistakes I Made as a Newbie Couponer

By: CTAX123

CTAX123 — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 00:16:11 +0000

Thank you, Angela, for your honesty. I needed this because I just began my “adventure” and it really hit home. Your post remains relevant even two yrs later.

By: 5 mistakes i made as coupon newbie «

5 mistakes i made as coupon newbie « — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:53:37 +0000

[...] 5 mistakes i made as coupon newbie 2009 November 8 by ????? ????? “When I first realized I could be saving a lot of money by matching coupons up with store sales and promotions, I got excited. I mean REALLY excited. I sent countless emails to friends with my finds. I “scouted out” the local Kmart a couple weeks before the rumored double coupon event to strategize. I’d fall asleep piecing together Walgreens scenarios in my head. I began seeing barcodes everywhere I looked.” get full article here [...]

By: Angela

Angela — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:44:38 +0000

Kari, when I started out my intention on getting the freebies was to either: 1) donate them and/or 2) make a profit off them (i.e., when the rebate/sale/coupon exceeded what I pay) and/or 3) just use them as part of my stockpile.

I have since changed my tune and take a much more common-sense approach to couponing now. I target only deals for items that make sense to me and my family and leave the other freebies for folks who truly need/want them. My goal is to achieve true frugality – and I perceive that as being wise with ALL my resources – time, money, and space. Do I stockpile? Sure. Do I need 200 bottles of shampoo? Absolutely not.

Do others sell the freebies? Perhaps so, but I would wager that it’s a slim minority. Of all my friends, contacts, family that coupon (and there are a LOT) I know NO one that does this. While it’s quite possible you’re finding those freebies online, that is never something I have done or would advocate to my readers. I do personally feel this borders on dishonest.

What most couponers will tell you is that these items get donated to local food pantries, churches, and others that need it. In my own experience, this is what I’ve seen to be the case. However, in general I don’t do freebie deals just to donate them any more. I do freebie deals that build my family’s stockpile. It’s really that simple.

By: Kari

Kari — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:57:56 +0000

I have a question. Will anyone give me an honest answer? Seriously, what does everyone do with all that stuff? Is this how those people on e-bay can sell things for .99? I looked around e-bay and guess what I saw. All the free stuff from Walgreens. Is that capitalism or dishonesty?

By: A few really fab posts…

A few really fab posts… — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:24:21 +0000

[...] :: Here is a good one: have you ever planned grocery store scenarios in your sleep? Or, better yet, been certain that you went to the grocery store and got some FAB deals, only to wake up and find out it was ALL A DREAM? No? Oh… may-be that’s just me {blush}. Well, I’ll give you this one anyway – an awesome guest post on Common Sense with Money on 5 Mistakes I Made as a Newbie Couponer. [...]

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:15:08 +0000

I am a ‘fairly new’ couponer. I still try to get EVERY deal I can use, and feel I must get all the freebies – even if it is just so I can donate them. I have “bought” countless monitors in order to get the overage or freebie that goes with them (RRs, ECBs, toothpaste). I feel like I am getting PAID to do good deeds! I love the fact that I have been able to make fantastic donations to a local crisis pregnancy resource center, church ministry outreach programs, etc. When I need a filler, I try to get things I need, like distilled water (my coffee maker requires it otherwise everything brewed tastes horrible!) or a candy bar. I guess that last one is a want, not a need, lol! I have tried hard to let go of the feeling of loss when missing a deal. I have often found a better deal (or just as good) a couple weeks or months later – especially when dealing with WAGS and CVS! Thanks so much for posting this to help keep it in perspective! I may need to reel it in a bit….right after I get my free stuff from Kohl’s tomorrow!

By: Maria

Maria — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:54:48 +0000

very nice post! Well said! i am also a newbie and i have not abused my trips to the store or bought a glucose monitor yet! our budget is very tight so i buy what we need and will use for that week. but i am working on my stoke pile of pads, toothpaste, razors, etc. But i have stress myself out and stress my hubby because he has to hear me talk and talk about my scenarios lol its very exciting to save so much! Cant wait to be able to save enough in order to be able to donate!!

By: Tashena Lynette Gonzales

Tashena Lynette Gonzales — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:26:28 +0000

LOL I’m a newbie. I have went shopping at 6 stores this week, two of them twice and I was really depressed that my Target did not have all the deals listed on a website and was thinking about hitting the Super Target to get the rest.

I too am a firstborn perfectionist with a slightly obsessive personality. I will definitely keep these tips in mind.

By: Amy @ Amy Loves It!

Amy @ Amy Loves It! — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:58:02 +0000

Oh, and I thought I was the only one who planned scenarios in my sleep. I actually woke up one morning looking for items I’d “purchased” in my sleep. Oh, the things coupons can do to the mind…

By: Andi

Andi — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:53:04 +0000

I started couponing in Feb, I was SO excited. I bought things I would never use, made five trips a week to get the “good deal” and I stressed myself out to the point I had to quit and re-evaluate. I’m back to couponing but only one trip to the grocery store with CVS and WAGS are on a only NEED basis.

Great post, thank you.

By: Angela

Angela — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:25:05 +0000

Hi Catwoman: Angela here again. Just to clarify #5, I DO think it’s great to share your goodies at shelters and at church, etc. I do myself all the time. However, when I started out couponing, I was finding that a good percentage of my time and energy ended up going to deals that really didn’t make an impact to my family’s bottom line. It was great to have all this stuff to donate, but I missed the point in that I really wasn’t saving my family a lot in our grocery budget each month. Does that make sense?

I just wanted to clarify – I certainly do not want to discourage anyone being benevolent. Goodness knows we need more of it given our current economic hardships. I do want to encourage folks to focus on their bottom line though. Make sure that in getting all the deals you working to find ways to save in areas that will benefit your family. In doing so, you will have even more resources available to help others. Is that stated better?

Thanks for giving back! Keep up the good work.

By: Catwoman

Catwoman — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:18:16 +0000

Great tips and I think we’ve all done one of these at some point. I have to disagree with number 5 though. We’re on a tight budget in my house, and it’s pained me the last few years that I just haven’t been able to help out charities like I want to. Collecting free toothpaste, deodorants, soaps, etc. for the local battered woman’s shelter fills me with a lot of joy that I’m getting everything for free or close to free (ever so often I’ll ‘splurge’ and get some 25 cent Crest toothpaste or deodorant) that I can donate to people who truly needed. Same thing with the blood glucose monitors. Sure, I don’t need them, but there’s a senior citizen’s center here that can. And I have no qualms spending the two minutes it takes me to grab them, since I’m there to buy my Sunday paper anyway.

There are some blogs that I read and I’m boggled, because they go to Walgreen’s five or six times a week to get the RR deals, and I think to myself, considering you have to get fillers and spend some money out of pocket, what ARE these people doing with all of this stuff?

Anyway, I just would love to see more couponers spread the love to a homeless shelter or a battered woman’s shelter in the area with some of their excess or by starting to get some excess. Spread the love, is all I’m saying!

Just my two cents!

By: chris

chris — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:44:59 +0000

THanks for helping with the learning curve.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:51:02 +0000

What a great post!
My husband and I are both disabled and on a fixed income. Our limited income forced us into the frugal lifestyle! Using coupons and looking for deals has helped me stretch the food budget a lot! I don’t have the money to spend on things we don’t use, so I couldn’t go crazy!

By: Charlie@PayLessForFood.com

Charlie@PayLessForFood.com — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:48:23 +0000

These are really great tips. I really can relate to the check expiration dates tip as it seems that many stores try to dump their products that are about to expire and have the nerve to call it a “sale.”

One of my great mistakes is doing all the work to cut the coupons, organize them, place them in and envelope and THEN LEAVE THEM ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER.

Several times I’ve entered a store only to realize that my coupons are at home. Now as soon as I’m done cutting and organizing my coupons I place them in car glove compartment.

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:24:34 +0000

I made so many of these myself! Glad to know I’m not the only one. THanks!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:25:30 +0000

I remember very well the desperate need to stop at CVS, Rite Aid, Walmart, Kroger, and Kmart to get ALL of the great deals that I saw posted online. While I quickly accumulated a great stockpile, I also spent a LOT of time getting these deals. Now that I have a healthy stockpile, my shopping trips are fewer! And I’ve also learned that deals come around on cycles. If I happen to miss something great this week, it will be back! Thanks for the great post!

By: Kellee

Kellee — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:08:19 +0000

Thank you for this post! After taking 6 reusable bags full of toiletries and 2 boxes full of food to TWO donation sites…I realized that I needed to take a step back!

So, I am doing my best to follow Number 1 and 5! I was going to WGs three times a week and CVS four times a week and for what?! Just so I can get some nail polish that I probably will use only once for a DOLLAR after RRs/ECBs?! I don’t think I’m going to WGs this week to get the Aquafresh deal since I already have 4 in my cabinet!

Yes and I was dreaming about coupons and deals too!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:33:12 +0000

Thanks, I could have used these tips about a year ago. It’s hard to control yourself when you are new and SO excited. I remember buying everything, no matter if I needed it, and thinking, why isn’t everyone snatching these up?

By: Guest Post: Five Mistakes I Made as a Newbie Couponer | Common … | Saving Money News

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:32:54 +0000

[...] the original post here: Guest Post: Five Mistakes I Made as a Newbie Couponer | Common … Share and [...]

By: Veronica

Veronica — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:45:23 +0000

I laughed so hard at this post. Thanks for the honesty. I feel like this a lot since I’m a newbie, but I’m proud for holding myself back. I had just gone and asked my husband, “Do we need two tubes of Aquafresh that I can get for free at Walgreens this week???” I’m thankful he’s willing to listen to all my scenarios and give me his input.

By: Angela

Angela — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:05:51 +0000

This is Angela, author of that post. Thanks everyone, for your comments! I decided it’d be worth it to be honest about past mistakes I’ve made if I could help promote a better way to coupon in the process. Thanks!

By: Sara Anders

Sara Anders — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:50:04 +0000

I’ve taken a self-imposed sabatical from CVS and Walgreens because I found myself doing a lot of these things, a lot of times. I have nearly gone through the collection of things that I had “purchased” and have either used them or given them away to someone who needed it more.

I did go into a WalGreens this week to get the reusable bags that were on sale and I bought some packing tape that was BOGO… but I was in need of both. I did not fall apart because I didn’t get all of the deals. I didn’t cringe (too badly) that there were a couple things that were on sale that I had coupons for sitting on my desk.

When I wrote up directions on how to coupon to give to my sister who lives in another state, I told her that no matter how good the deal may seem, if you don’t have room or money to get it, then it isn’t a good deal. And deals will come around again, if you miss it this time, wait a couple weeks, that toilet paper will be on sale again!

By: Gina

Gina — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:05:39 +0000

Thank you for saying #5, especially! I see people snapping up glucometers and Depends – that they certainly aren’t ready to use at this point in their lives and wonder “Why?” The response? “Because it’s FREE” I just don’t get that!

By: Molly

Molly — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:22:22 +0000

I love this post!! Everything she talked about was so true for me and sometimes I even find myself wanting to buy stuff because it’s free even though I’ll never use it!!! This was just great!