We've heard them all....all the reasons people choose not to coupon. But, those of us who do, they are myths or excuses that keep them from enjoying significant savings! So, with that said, here's my top 10 coupon myths and the reasons they are a farce:
- Coupons are for things I don't use. Now, while this CAN be the case, it's not the norm. For example, there are a lot of coupons for baby stuff (diapers, wipes, etc..) But, there are SO many coupons for the everyday stuff that my family and I do use.
- Coupons are only for convenience/junk food. Again, these coupons are in great supply, but there are also coupons in abundance for more healthier alternatives. For example, have you noticed how many different soy/milk alternatives there are...and the coupons for these items keep coming! There is also an abundance of coupons for bread, eggs, cheese...staple items that most everyone needs!
- I don't have the time to use coupons. When people in the store see me w/my binder, this is usually the first response I get. Granted, I do spend quite some time organizing, sorting and preparing to shop, it MORE than pays for the savings I get EVERY time I shop. I also need to point out here that I probably spend a little more time than the average coupon queen, simply because of my blog. I try to "stay on top" of the lastest sales and deals. With blogs like mine, it is possible for the every day person to simply take my info, clip only the coupons needed, and get great savings.
- I'm not an organized person. Who is?? Don't misunderstand me...I love to be organized. But, it's not something that comes naturally. I work at it. I find that when I'm not organized, I can get frustrated. For example, it drives me crazy when I KNOW I have a coupon, and I can't find it when I need it. For that reason, I try to keep up. But again, that's me...you don't have to be organized to be able to save. You simply need to know what's on sale, what coupons you need, and do it!!
- You really can't save money using coupons. What??? Are you kidding?? I've been couponing seriously for about 2 1/2 years. On average, I save about $500/month just in coupons alone...that's not including sales savings! So, here's one person to say YES you can!!
- You just buy things you really can't use or need. While this can be true, it's not the case here. I do buy things that my family doesn't use (ie. Glucose monitors) if they are free, but I donate them to our church's food pantry. There is always someone who needs items like these, and cannot afford to purchase them. So, I'd have to say that probably 99% of my purchases ARE for my family and I.
- Store brands are cheaper. This is what I USED to think. But, now, I rarely buy store brand, except for milk, eggs, etc.. With sales and a coupon to match, I can beat the store brand price by FAR!!!
- I don't have a store that doubles (or even triples), so what's the use? You can still save a lot of money using coupons, even if you shop at a store that doesn't double. For example, Walmart is a great place to get every day low prices. Use a coupon on top of that price, and you've saved even more! In my area, I'm blessed with an abundance of stores that doubles, so I usually only coupon shop at Walmart when I have a high value coupon (ie the recent Gain $3 coupon) to get it for FREE
- Couponing/Stock-piling borders on hoarding. Really? Well, now we all know that w/the recent Extreme Couponing show, that there are some extreme cases. But, not all couponers have a life-time supply of toilet paper, deodorant, or mustard. I'm not seeking to stock-pile items to last the rest of my life. I'm just getting enough until it goes on sale again (usually 4-6 weeks)
- All couponers are crazy and "out to beat the system". How wrong could you be? I might be a crazy coupon lady, but I'm not crazy! I'm simply trying to be a good steward of what God has blessed me with. The stores are NOT my enemy..and I'm not out to beat any system. I'm just shopping the sales, using coupons to the best I can, and doing ALL ethically and upright!!
Any others you've heard...leave a comment. This could get interesting!!
