Can Coupons Reduce Your Stress Level?

Can Coupons Reduce Your Stress Level?

Have you ever left the grocery store without paying?  I have recently started doing just that (in fact I just left without paying $137.00...my biggest amount ever), but don't worry...it's perfectly legal.  My sister got me started.  Actually, my grandmother used to do it, too. Long before it was in vogue.  She was a woman before her time!

Yes, I'm talking about couponing!
While I've yet to reach the stealth-like coupon savvy finesse of  The Krazy Coupon Lady, both she and my sister have taught me a thing or two about how this all works in the course of the past month!  And I have been amazed at the results! AMAZED!

I share it with you here on the Spin-Doctor, because we are all about making life for parents and kids more enjoyable, less stressful and lots more FUN.  Seeing that financial concerns are one of biggest stress producers in people's lives, it goes to follow that reducing your spending will help reduce your stress in this area.

Make it Easy
 
I admit it, when I first tried this "couponing" thing, it wasn't my cup of tea.  The shopping took forever!  Finding the right coupons as I navigated the grocery aisles was painstaking.  After my first attempt, I called my sister and told her it was for the birds. My couponing days were numbered.  "No, no!  You're doing it all wrong," she assured me.  "You need a binder and some baseball card sleeves to organize it all...and it will be all good." 

I grabbed my fave binder and a beautiful relationship was born!

The back of my "Studio C" binder by Carolina Pad. Perfection!

I did as my sister suggested, and it was very good.
Very good, indeed.The baseball sleeves were perfect!
What a difference some organization makes!


 

The Real Deal

One of the biggest reasons people often cite for not using coupons is, "I don't have the time!"  The recent T.V. show featuring the coupon-craze tells about some couponers devoting up to 60 hours a week to couponing.  I'm not going to lie.  It does take a little bit of time to cut and organize the coupons (but kids are great at helping with this) and to plan out your shopping list (checking local flyers and matching up the sales and in-store coupons with the manufacturer coupons), but I don't spend more than 2 hours a week doing this.  I do run a business and contract with several agencies, manage Kidlutions, maintain a few blogs, and have 3 kids that are involved in every sport under the sun. I wouldn't have six, let alone 60, hours a week to spend on couponing.  Really, it can take as little or as much time as you would like. For some, it is a full time job.  For me, it's a means to an end.  Less money on groceries means more money for new baseball cleats, track shoes, hockey skates, helmets...you know the drill!  ,

Help for Newbies

Just getting started with couponing and have no idea how to cash in on the big savings?  You can find help here:

The Krazy Coupon Lady  - These gals will show you everything you need to know about getting the best deals.  You'll learn basic and advanced couponing...and will see your savings add up in no time!

Wild for Wags - The woman who runs this site has taken all of the guesswork out of shopping at Walgreen's. She'll show the best deals and how to combine coupons, rebates and register rewards...no guesswork on your part! 

One Closing Thought

Coupon shopping is very different from traditional grocery shopping.  You'll be shopping at your grocery store, but also scoring bargain-basement deals from your local drug and super-stores, as well.  It doesn't take long to catch on, and when you do, you'll see your savings grow exponentially!

What would you do with with an extra $30.00 or  $137.00 per shopping trip?  Do you coupon, too?  If you do, we'd love to hear your favorite tips!