With the beginning of the school year and my very busy schedule, a blogging friend, Kelly from Kansas City Mamas, reminded me that there are times when it is ok to not shop at all or slow down on the bargain shopping. Having a well stocked stockpile helps during these times!
- When you have a fully stocked stockpile and there aren’t any rock bottom deals, you really shouldn’t shop.
- When you start a new job or a new marriage, it is OK to be too busy to bargain shop as long as your budget allows.
- When you are out of money in your budget, you shouldn’t shop.
- When there is a new addition or other big change in your family, you might need to stay away from the stores for a while. Just live off that stockpile.
- When you are feeling burnt out, it is ok to take some time off.
- When you move to a new home whether across the street or across the country, you will be too busy to shop. Don’t feel to bad.
- When you are a teacher and start a new school year, it is OK to leave the coupons at home a time or two
. I need to convince myself!
Do you ever feel the need to not shop? Have you gone to the store without your coupons lately? How did you feel?
Do you have a Thrifty idea? Did you save a ton of money this week? Do you have a Thrifty deal you want to share?
If so, please leave a comment or link up below!
If possible, please leave a link back to Coupon Teacher so that we can all share ideas.
This is linked to Life as Mom and Madame Deals.
I disclose : There may be affiliate links in this post.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, it is okay to take a break! I use to feel bad about it but now I realize I can’t do everything. I have only shopped the drugstore deals a few times in the last 3 months. I just don’t have the time to run around and my health & beauty stockpile is out of control! I needed a break and I am okay with that!
That’s a good reminder. Sometimes I tend to forget that I don’t have to get every great deal out there.
Good luck with the new school year!
Totally agree! We moved this summer, and I took a while off from doing my own coupons. You gotta take care of your family and yourself first!
End of May I broke my toe and I did very little shopping and even less coupon shopping for the entire month of June, which meant I had plenty of food except produce and dairy for the month, but it meant I spent more in July and August making up for it! (Oh, and the back to school sales didn’t help the budget either!)
The other time I tend to leave my coupons at home, is when my husband comes for a quick pick up run to the grocery store. I enjoy his company and I take way too long with coupons, so I tend not to subject him to them. I also try very hard not to worry about what we are paying when he picks out stuff, as the point of couponing for me, is to save money on what I can, so we can have some things that I wouldn’t otherwise buy. IE it isn’t to save money per se, it is to save on what I can, so I can spend it elsewhere be it in the grocery budget or on something else. (Lately my husband has come to the store with more because when I started loosing weight, so did he, and he only weighed 130 pounds at 5 foot 9. He is now rather underweight and has been told to gain weight by a dietician. So he is picking up some unusual foods, nuts, sunflower seeds, avocados, etc.)
I tend to only buy basics if I do not have my coupons with me.
My stockpile is 100% better than it was 6 months ago so I have only been shopping the drugstore deals.
I have had to step away from couponing several times this summer. Mostly due to school work. I do look at deals and print coupons, but I haven’t cut or sorted in two weeks.
I do take my coupons with me. DS and I have been living off the our stockpile for the 45days while Dh has been away at training. I told him last night I have only spent maybe about $90 since he got paid last week! That is one of the lowest prices I have paid for groceries in a long time!
I have learned that I don’t have to go after every deal every week. There will be another sale (maybe better) coming down the line.
On a good week now, I (or DH) make it to Publix and one or (maybe) two drugstores (usually CVS or RiteAId). We’ve finally set a “reasonable” (for us!) grocery/household budget and are doing fairly well at sticking to it! (Huge accomplishment for us!)
Thanks for all of your help…and GL this year to you!
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