Confessions of a Coupon Mom Series: How to reduce mistakes at the register

Stockpiling is very joyous for me, but can also be very tiring. That's why I suggest that you stockpile for 3 months out of the year, to last you for the next 12 months. I plan on spending about $300 total (I have spent half of that since starting on March 31st). $300 is $25/month for 12 months. This includes all household paper and toiletry needs. I will do a seperate posts about the science of stockpiling,  and how to gear it around you and your family needs. ( The: What, When, Where, How, and Why) Today I wanted to deal with the mental preparedness of stockpiling, and how to decrease/avoid setbacks.

Sometimes the deals that you choose don't always work perfectly once you get to the store for multiple reasons, but don't let that discourage you. Especially if you're new to this. I've been doing it for years, and still mess up sometimes.
Here are some tips to help you avoid making mistakes at the register:

1. Know your store's coupon policy. There's nothing worse than getting to the register and hearing " I'm sorry ma'am, we can't take this coupon".

2. Make a list, and check it twice. It's always good to bring a list with you in order to keep you on track and on budget. With Couponing and deals, it's real easy to go bananas in the store, and pick up things, you didn't have a desire for initially.

3. Have your coupons ready to go. Seperate the coupons you will be using for this trip away from your general coupon folder. There is nothing more embarrassing than going through 300 coupons at the register to find that one .50 cent off coupon. It can make you anxious, and when you get anxious you can make mistakes.

4. Make sure to match the size of the item you're purchasing,  with the deal in the sales ad. This is a simple mistake to make. The 16.9oz item is on sale, but you mistakenly grab the 16oz. Just by overlooking that .9oz. you can throw your calculations off with your deal. All couponers know that missing out on a .50 cent savings can ruin your mood after shopping.

5. Try to do your deals at a low volume traffic time. It can be a little nerve racking when you're trying to do your deals, and there is 10 people in the line behind you. Going at a time when there's less traffic in the store can help ease that feeling. This time can be different for different stores. Early mornings and late afternoons are not the best times, as people are going to work or getting off from work and trying to make a "quick" run into the store.

6. Lastly, make sure to check your receipt before you leave the store. That way any mistake, oversight, or unused coupon can be handled right then and there. Leaving the store can change the dynamics of your purchase that may not be able to be fixed.

Okay guys, that's all I have today. My stockpile is coming along great, and I look forward to sharing the upcoming deals that I find with you. Below you can see what I have so far. Share any pics that you have of your stockpile as well. Until next time, signing off, OSM

Confessions of a Coupon Mom: The Tiny Stockpile Haul

Stockpiling and Couponing is a passion of mine that its hard to explain to people that don't share this passion. But for those of you who do, here is a mini haul that I did today.

If you can remember the last time I was in CVS, I received a $5 carebuck that I didn't use. Well I decided to put it into good use today. I decided to get 1 Speed Stick deodorant for my son (on sale for $4, and I had a $2 off coupon), 2 Ajax dish detergents (on sale totally for $1.76, and I had 2 coupons totaling .64 cents), and 2 fruit granola bars( on sale 2/$2, and i had a .50 cent off of 2 coupon). That brought my total to $4.62, and I used my $5 carebuck to pay for it, and it cost me .07 cents out of pocket in tax (how that happened, I'm not sure)  Also, I received a $2 carebuck in return for the deodorant, and a $1 carebuck for the granola bars.

Then in a 2nd transaction,  I purchased a 9 double roll of Scott tissue, it was on sale for $4.99, and I had a $2 CVS coupon and a $1 manufacturer coupon. This brought my total down to $1.99. I used my $2 carebuck received in the previous transaction, and in some strange way tax was reduced, and I had a .70 cent credit, which caused me to get (2) .33 cent caramel candies to clear my total out at $0. So I paid nothing out of pocket.

Score for the Coupon Mom!!!! Also, I still have my $1 carebuck to use for later. 

I also wanted to bring up one other thing while om talking about couponing. I have never tasted these fruit granola bars that i bought, but when things are on sale and you have a coupon for them, you should give a new item a try. The sale I received was basically getting 2 for .50 cent, so I'll try one, and if I don't like it, I can give the second one with a homeless person or someone else who may enjoy this item. When Couponing you may not have a need in your household for every deal that you see, but think of those around you. How can you benefit someone else in need with your Couponing gift? I'm not suggesting that you spend a large amount on things you won't use, but if you see a deal, that may benefit someone else, and it won't cost you that much out of pocket, go for it!

Well thats all I have for now, so until next time guys, I'm signing off, OSM

Confessions of a Coupon Mom

Today started off as any other day. I wanted to go to Walgreens to check out the Dial Hand Soap that was on sale for $6.99 and then they were BOGO free, and I had a $1 coupon when you buy 2.

Little did I know that my early morning trip would take an unexpected turn. I saw that Walgreens had the Arm and Hammer deodorants on sale for .99 cent, so I snagged  up 3.

Then I saw that the Shea Moisture had their soap on sale for $3.99, and guess who had a $2 coupon? Me, that's who! So I snagged 1 of those. 

I was a little disappointed though, the hand soap that I went in there for, they only had 1 bottle left....how am I going to utilize a BOGO free if there is only 1 bottle???? Just when I was about to get upset, I looked up and saw that the Dial and Tone body washes were also BOGO free, and I remembered that I had $1.50 off of 1 coupons at home. 2 to be exact.

In true Coupon Mom fashion, I went home and located my 2 coupons, and added them to my coupon book for later.

Once it was time for my lunch break I headed out to a different Walgreens,  and sure enough, I was able to get my Dial Hand Soap,  and I got 2 Tone body washes.  I bought (4) 52 ounce refill bottles of Dial Hand Soaps, used both of my $1 off of 2 coupons, and paid $12. I also used both of my $1.50 off of 1 body was coupons, and bought 2 Tone bodywashes, and paid $2 for it.

Then I headed over to CVS, they had a deal that you get a $5 Extra Care Buck when you bought 2 Nivea body washes. I had a coupon for $3 off of 2 bodywashes, and I had a store coupon for $2 off of any body wash $6 or more.  Needless to say, I spent $7 on the bodywashes and received a $5 carebuck!

Today was a great stockpiling day, all in all I spent $28 out of pocket, and I walked away with a $5 CVS Care Buck for next time!