How much of a good thing is too much? Is there a limit?
When does stock piling or stashing items become hoarding? Is there a difference?
When does "Getting the good deal" feed a deeper issue than just trying to feed your family, and keep them and the house clean? (shopaholic? OCD?)
When does "getting the good deal" cost you more?
What about expiry dates and best before dates? Things like toothpaste can go bad.
I think these are questions you have to ask & answer for yourself. Each of us will have a different answer for each question - and that is o.k. I think that the problems come when we just shop and do not have limits and do not ask our selves the questions. One person could have a different answer 2 months from now too as their life situation changes. It's o.k. Life is about finding a balance that works for you.
When I watch some of the extreme coupon shows on YouTube (no cable in our house) I think wow excessive much? Do we really need 40 years worth of toilet paper in the house? Not likely, at least not here in North America where we have the convenience and privilege of a grocery store / department store or drug store on pretty much every corner. With each of those stores featuring something new on sale every week is there truly a NEED for such a stock pile? There comes a time when "being prepared" becomes being obsessed and neurotic. Sure in today's roller coaster economic situation it is good to be prepared, to look a head to save for a rainy day, but seriously, even the largest of families can not go through that much TP before things pick up or the next sale/coupon rolls around. I think that we need to be realistic, what does my family use? What does it really truly NEED? This too will be different for each family. I also very much realize and appreciate that these levels are different for different people and different family situations.
For example a family that lives a rural area far from decent stores will need a larger stash than a family like mine who has several shopping options within a 4 min drive.
People living in areas with threats of extreme weather ccertainly need to have more items on hand, especially in those extreme weather months.
A larger family will require much more "on hand" in an average month than my family of 5.
As with anything in this life the key balance. A balance that works well for your family. Balance that is not excessive and wasteful. I have a small stash, small for several reasons;
One I am limited by space.
Two I do not want to stock things my family will not use
Three I know the sale rotations of my local stores and know that the same product will be on sale again in 6 -9 weeks.
For me and my family my stash is limited to items we will use in the time before the next sale rolls around. OR the sale with coupons added is too good a deal to even consider passing up. Which means a 90 -100% savings. Even with coupon / sale combination I am considerate of the "shelf life" of the product. My major " stash" item would be feminine hygiene products.. with 4 girls in the house, that is pretty much obvious. With these items in my stash I have paid only taxes. Meaning that with coupons and sale combinations I have gotten them for FREE! Free is always good when I am going to pick them up and add them to the 'stash' Items like Shampoo, toothpaste, tooth brushes and deodorant are also items I will continually stock up on - simply because we go through them on a continuous basis. The other biggie in my stash is cleaning supplies, before I started couponing, and really watching sale prices cleaning supplies are one thing that I purchased sparingly, multi surface products that will do more than one job, not always the best job either, but it was a way of cutting corners. Now I find that there are tons of coupons out for cleaning supplies and I often can get them for next to nothing if not free (taxes only paid). So I have a 'collection' of cleaning supplies in my stash. I guess you could say that in the long run I have trouble spending money on things that literally go down the drain.
So what is it that you 'stash' and would hate to pay full price for?
Showing posts with label couponing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label couponing. Show all posts
Friday, March 25, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
10 things I will never pay full price for EVER
I'd like nothing better than to never pay full price for anything ever again. I know that this is not reality, I am however, committed to finding the best deal I can for the things my family needs. Anyone who uses coupons, or considers themselves a bargain hunter will appreciate that.
Since my girls were small we have always looked for used before new. Part of that was out of need, part of that was teaching them the value of a dollar, and the truth behind "one man's trash is another man's treasure." We have truly found some treasures, often finding new, not just new to us, in the second hand stores. The best was the time we found a brand new pair of $60.00 gap jeans for $1.99. That was just a week after seeing them at the mall and explaining to my soon to enter kindergarten daughter that paying $60.00 for a pair of jeans is insane for a 5 year old, that will out grow them in 6 months.
Since starting on this coupon journey, my eyes have been opened to a whole new list of things that I will never pay full price for again, heck, even just a sale price is not good enough for this girl on these items. Anyone who coupons has a list of things they will never again pull pay full price for. For me it is those things that literally either get flushed down the toilet, washed down the drain OR tossed in the trash.
10) Tooth paste
9) Shampoo / Conditioner
8) Deodorant
7) Dish soap
6) Any cleaning product
5) Hair Colour
4) Dental Floss
3) Razors
2) Shaving cream
And the # one item in this house I will never buy at full price.
1) Feminine hygiene products (referred to in our house as girlie goodies) with 4 females in the house I am sure you can all understand this. The savings are huge on that one item alone for our family.
All of these items often have easily found coupons. When you combine coupons and sale prices the savings truly add up and fast. Knowing what the rock bottom price is on these will net you the best deal possible.
If I can not get these items free or close to free I will not buy them unless the combined coupon / sale savings is over 60%. That is just my personal challenge. There are a few exceptions, the main thing being dire need. I try never to be in dire need. Having a small stash helps that along with an inventory list of what is on the shelves. More on that later.
Here is a link to a coupon to help you save Expires June 2011.
What do you like to save on? I'd love to hear from you.
Happy savings to you all.
Since my girls were small we have always looked for used before new. Part of that was out of need, part of that was teaching them the value of a dollar, and the truth behind "one man's trash is another man's treasure." We have truly found some treasures, often finding new, not just new to us, in the second hand stores. The best was the time we found a brand new pair of $60.00 gap jeans for $1.99. That was just a week after seeing them at the mall and explaining to my soon to enter kindergarten daughter that paying $60.00 for a pair of jeans is insane for a 5 year old, that will out grow them in 6 months.
Since starting on this coupon journey, my eyes have been opened to a whole new list of things that I will never pay full price for again, heck, even just a sale price is not good enough for this girl on these items. Anyone who coupons has a list of things they will never again pull pay full price for. For me it is those things that literally either get flushed down the toilet, washed down the drain OR tossed in the trash.
10) Tooth paste
9) Shampoo / Conditioner
8) Deodorant
7) Dish soap
6) Any cleaning product
5) Hair Colour
4) Dental Floss
3) Razors
2) Shaving cream
And the # one item in this house I will never buy at full price.
1) Feminine hygiene products (referred to in our house as girlie goodies) with 4 females in the house I am sure you can all understand this. The savings are huge on that one item alone for our family.
All of these items often have easily found coupons. When you combine coupons and sale prices the savings truly add up and fast. Knowing what the rock bottom price is on these will net you the best deal possible.
If I can not get these items free or close to free I will not buy them unless the combined coupon / sale savings is over 60%. That is just my personal challenge. There are a few exceptions, the main thing being dire need. I try never to be in dire need. Having a small stash helps that along with an inventory list of what is on the shelves. More on that later.
Here is a link to a coupon to help you save Expires June 2011.
What do you like to save on? I'd love to hear from you.
Happy savings to you all.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Deal of the day (well yesterday)
Available to March 11, 2011 Top row, third from the right.
Use this coupon ( I found mine at Shoppers right by the product in one store, and also at my local Safeway) Happy Hunting!
To get this product
At your local Shoppers Drug Mart. FOR FREE (you will have to pay the tax - which is still free enough for me!)
Do not forget your Shoppers Optimum card. There is a 1000 point bonus on this product as well.
Use this coupon ( I found mine at Shoppers right by the product in one store, and also at my local Safeway) Happy Hunting!
To get this product
At your local Shoppers Drug Mart. FOR FREE (you will have to pay the tax - which is still free enough for me!)
Do not forget your Shoppers Optimum card. There is a 1000 point bonus on this product as well.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Time... it is a ticking BUT it is well spent.
Yes, clipping coupons takes time.
Now that my system is in place and it is working for me it takes me a couple of hours a week to clip / sort / file. In the beginning it certainly took much more time as I was setting up my system and just getting used to it all. ( 8 to 10 hours is not unrealistic when you are first setting up, to get it all figured out, sorted, keep in mind you only want to be doing this once)
I spend about 30 - 45 min weekly checking the coupon sites on-line to make sure I have all the up-to date ones coming to me or that they are printed for the next time I go shopping.
Sunday afternoon when all the new fliers have landed in front of my door, I spend about an hour perusing them to see what is on sale, what I have coupons for and what I need. This is when I make my shopping list.
I do think that it is worth every minute, and I am saving $$ not pennies.
My goal is to save 100's a month and I think it is realistic.
Here are some things that I do to make the best use of my time.
I have one area I put the coupons when the arrive at the house so I am not spending time looking for them when I sit down to clip / sort / file. In this same place I also have scissors, paper clips, ruler, pen paper so I do not have to go looking for them.
I clip / sort / file when watching a movie or TV - this is time I was spending anyways, now I am productive when I am watching.
I enlist able bodied children when they are willing and watching. My youngest will clip and sort, while I file.
When I have multiples of the same flyer I cut them or tear them in sets of the same pages.
When I stared to think again about clipping coupons back in May as a way to save money I wondered if it would actually be worth it, I have found that it certainly is. Last week's coupon savings was over 50.00 for around 2 hours of time invested (not including the actual shopping) that would be like getting paid $25.00 per hour - that is not too shabby I'd say.
Now that my system is in place and it is working for me it takes me a couple of hours a week to clip / sort / file. In the beginning it certainly took much more time as I was setting up my system and just getting used to it all. ( 8 to 10 hours is not unrealistic when you are first setting up, to get it all figured out, sorted, keep in mind you only want to be doing this once)
I spend about 30 - 45 min weekly checking the coupon sites on-line to make sure I have all the up-to date ones coming to me or that they are printed for the next time I go shopping.
Sunday afternoon when all the new fliers have landed in front of my door, I spend about an hour perusing them to see what is on sale, what I have coupons for and what I need. This is when I make my shopping list.
I do think that it is worth every minute, and I am saving $$ not pennies.
My goal is to save 100's a month and I think it is realistic.
Here are some things that I do to make the best use of my time.
I have one area I put the coupons when the arrive at the house so I am not spending time looking for them when I sit down to clip / sort / file. In this same place I also have scissors, paper clips, ruler, pen paper so I do not have to go looking for them.
I clip / sort / file when watching a movie or TV - this is time I was spending anyways, now I am productive when I am watching.
I enlist able bodied children when they are willing and watching. My youngest will clip and sort, while I file.
When I have multiples of the same flyer I cut them or tear them in sets of the same pages.
When I stared to think again about clipping coupons back in May as a way to save money I wondered if it would actually be worth it, I have found that it certainly is. Last week's coupon savings was over 50.00 for around 2 hours of time invested (not including the actual shopping) that would be like getting paid $25.00 per hour - that is not too shabby I'd say.
Frugal is not a dirty word... neither is it CHEAP...
Is there a difference between being FRUGAL, and being CHEAP... I think there is a HUGE difference.
Frugal = 1) Economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or not wasteful
2) Entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager; scanty
3) Practicing economy.
Synonyms - Thrifty, provident, careful, economical
Cheap = 1) Costing very little, relatively low in price, inexpensive.
2) of little account of small value, mean, shoddy, poor workmanship
Synonyms - Miserly, tightwad, stingy
Cheap often implies inferior quality, or unwillingness to part with ones money, possessions or time. To me it is a self serving inward looking way of living.
Frugal on the other hand implies wisdom and wise use of money, time and possessions, looking for the best value before spending.
I aim to be of the latter.
Often when saving money is discussed, people think you are saving for a big purchase item, fancy holiday or retirement. When you tell them you use coupons on a regular basis to save money, they think that you scrimp because you can not afford to spend. Which may be the case for many, me included at times. There are many things in this life that I would like to enjoy but can not afford, but there are many things that I can and do afford in my life that many could never dream of. Living in Canada, statistically speaking that puts me in the top 4% of the worlds wealth - that means that 96% of the worlds population live at a lesser level than my family and I. I know that even if there have been times "statistically speaking" we have lived below the poverty line we have never been with out the things that we truly need... Sustenance, Shelter and clothing. It certainly may have been difficult to make ends meet, but it was never impossible, for many it is nearly impossible. Perspective is powerful , I have found that couponing can be quite the challenge, and a fun one at that. Bring it on, I am ready for the challenge.
Frugal = 1) Economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or not wasteful
2) Entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager; scanty
3) Practicing economy.
Synonyms - Thrifty, provident, careful, economical
Cheap = 1) Costing very little, relatively low in price, inexpensive.
2) of little account of small value, mean, shoddy, poor workmanship
Synonyms - Miserly, tightwad, stingy
Cheap often implies inferior quality, or unwillingness to part with ones money, possessions or time. To me it is a self serving inward looking way of living.
Frugal on the other hand implies wisdom and wise use of money, time and possessions, looking for the best value before spending.
I aim to be of the latter.
Often when saving money is discussed, people think you are saving for a big purchase item, fancy holiday or retirement. When you tell them you use coupons on a regular basis to save money, they think that you scrimp because you can not afford to spend. Which may be the case for many, me included at times. There are many things in this life that I would like to enjoy but can not afford, but there are many things that I can and do afford in my life that many could never dream of. Living in Canada, statistically speaking that puts me in the top 4% of the worlds wealth - that means that 96% of the worlds population live at a lesser level than my family and I. I know that even if there have been times "statistically speaking" we have lived below the poverty line we have never been with out the things that we truly need... Sustenance, Shelter and clothing. It certainly may have been difficult to make ends meet, but it was never impossible, for many it is nearly impossible. Perspective is powerful , I have found that couponing can be quite the challenge, and a fun one at that. Bring it on, I am ready for the challenge.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Way back when....
in 1988 when we first said I Do a new life was ahead of us. A life of promise, a life of hope, a new adventure. Like every newlywed couple, we were going to do things right. A budget was set up, envelopes were labled, life would be paid for on a cash basis where ever possible, when the envelope was empty it was empty! We purchased a freezer with our wedding gift money, some of the wisest $$ ever spent. Debt was going to be eliminated and we would have a nice next egg one day.
This is how things looked...
Combinded Take home pay 1600.00
Giving 180.00
Car loan: 225.05
Home expeses: 41.00
(hydro, phone etc.)
Debt reduction: 60.00
(credit card, wedding etc)
Groceries: 150.00
(including paper & cleaing products etc.)
(including paper & cleaing products etc.)
Gas: 45.00
(Oh how the 2011 version of me wishes!)
Running car 295.00 (Oh how the 2011 version of me wishes!)
(insurance, repair nest egg)
Entertainment 175.00
(Sports, crafts, eating out, gifts, and long term holidays & vacation savings. Only $50.00 was put into the envelope)
Which left 33.95 at the end that was tagged for savings, sometimes it made it others it did not.
We went shopping together,(date nights were exciting here) calculator & list in hand, coupons ready - we knew with in a few dollars exactly what our total would be when we reached the check out. It worked
!
! Then life got away from us, hubby went school, we were a single income family, kids arrived thankfully after college graduation - shopping together stopped, calulator gave way to speed shoping, list was made but rarely followed. Our cash envelopes went by the way side as we tried groceries on credit card to gain air miles, then debit card. And the budget... well for lack of a better term, went to hell in a hand basket, Sigh.. not totally but it was certainly not as well laid out, bills were paid, there was food on the table, and a roof over our head.
Fast froward to 2010 and I realized that I needed to get our 700.00 plus dollars a month grocery spending under control. I thought it was skyrocketing food prices and feeding 3 growing girls - in truth it was lack of planning on several levels. I started looking into saving money on groceries, I knew something would be changing and SOON. Google was my friend, I found sites like save.ca, and websaver.ca I ordered coupons, and waited. Then a friend invited me to a Mrs. Smith class on couponing. It was just the kick start I needed to motivate me.
So here we are in 2011, a family of 5, driving one car, looking towards college/university educations, living on one full time, and a smattering of other random incomes, in a suburb of the second largest city in Canada trying to make ends meet as best we can. This blog is a journey of what we are learning, the changes we are making and a way of sharing some of it. Thank you for joining in the fun... Let the blogging begin.
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