One of my favorite things to do is couponing- even though I prefer to do it with my mom. She can work the deals out better than I can- I just don’t think my mind works that way lol. I know that I have even called her to consult about how to deals if she isn’t with me – including before I leave to go do a deal or even in the middle of the store /both depending on the situation! I tend to have the mentality that everything will go wrong , like say they don’t have an item I need to do the deal and then have to improvise or something like that.
We have had that happen with my mom and myself before. We have also had problems with places not wanting to stack coupons, not wanting to take a particular coupon for whatever reason and even really rude cashiers that just don’t like dealing with people who coupon (they act like the difference is coming out of their personal pockets sometimes!) Of course , at most places I coupon I know certain cashiers that are more friendly and helpful and understand about splitting transactions and things of that nature. I have a super friendly girl at CVS who even has told me to call and get her schedule if I want to coupon when she is there because she would be more than happy to help me any way that she can, because she can tell even when my mom and myself split transactions that I am so nervous that things are going to go wrong.
Honestly, I haven’t really had anything go TOTALLY wrong- one time I did have super rude guy up in town who was being nit picky about some stuff (I can’t even really remember what it was that was his problem and he was even a manager) when he wouldn’t do the deal- which was not even a different one than my mom had done earlier at a different location I was like fine, give me back my coupons- and it is amazing how when I said that he was more than willing to “make an exception” That is a piece of advice that I tell people too though – if you do have a transaction go wrong – be sure to get you coupons back, because you can use them somewhere else – I know that out of frustration it might not be something that you would think of right away!
The more I go couponing, especially in a row- or really close together the more things kind of “click” and I can think a little better on my feet and all of that sort of thing. I know that my mom has been super busy because of it being the spring and she has gardening/canning/selling berries/picking berries/honey selling that she does + then she had carpal tunnel surgery about 2 months ago as well (She had 5 of her 9 nerves compressed) so I haven’t got to go for a good while but with it being fall and what not I am hoping we can get back into it
I have done a couple “fly by the seat of my pants” deals in publix by doing a little bit of quick math in my head and stacking a publix coupon and a manufacturers coupon (Our publix does allow this, so please don’t come at me and tell me I am doing coupon fraud or anything. I have asked and reviewed their policy several times!) It is always good to check and make sure that stuff hasn’t changed before you get started , especially on a major deal – that way you don’t go through the whole store and work out a big huge deal and get to the register and have it fall apart in a big way!
I remember one of the first coupon deals that I ever did was at Bi Lo and we REALLY needed groceries and my mom had just started out couponing and I was like well I only have like $30 do you think we can do anything with that- because I didn’t want to ask my mom to buy my groceries (most of the time she does though.. just because it is generally easier for me to go with her to the store because of David’s schedule and what not- + I don’t actually have a debit card for the bank account, just my personal PayPal- just because again because with David’s schedule and having one card I can’t really get out there to get set up on the account- it doesn’t bother me though lol) and she was like yes, and I was very skeptical..but we did a darn good deal for under $30!
My mom always says that coupons are legal money that you can print at home. I totally thought she was crazy but then when I did that first deal with her and you are sitting there giving them coupons- you start viewing them as money – it just became real and it was the coolest feeling. When that price is way above and beyond what is in your wallet and you are sitting there waiting for the coupons to take the total down it is quite a rush! I mean after you get past any impending doom feelings you may have about things not working out 🙂
Of course, the best thing about couponing is if you get good enough at it you will be saving TONS of money , getting to try new things sometimes, and getting stuff for low cost and even for free. You can find out more about getting stuff for free from places like bath and body works here. The stores I have had the most luck with are CVS and Publix. I know that at CVS with extra bucks my mom and I are always splitting transactions
Most people will ask you where to get coupons at – I generally say there are a few really good ways: The Sunday Paper, Coupons. com or you can find out some more about places to get coupons by clicking here! These are the awesome people that when you post your hauls, really curious cashiers or people that are behind you in line that are impressed 🙂
I look forward to getting back into the swing of things with couponing soonest, I have really missed it! I know that another random fun thing that has happened to me because couponing is that I have put goodie bags together for my one and only real life friend Heather, who works at the tanning bed- we sometimes trade my couponing goodies for her lotions – that was pretty fun and it gave her some stuff she wanted and needed and me as well- and it was cheaper on me than having to buy lotion at the time so it was helpful for us both! I am hoping we might be able to do that again soon because I am low on lotion (and yes, tanning lotion is expensive – I don’t go for that walmart $10 for a gallon kind lol)
Of course, when I do coupon deals I do generally try to take a picture and write out some details and share them on here to mix things up so I am missing having that content as well. So watch for it, I am sure it is going to make a come back!
