First Transaction of the Year

Ok, so 2009 has not really started but I am starting my record keeping now---hey, it's my blog, deal with it. At the end of each week I'll post what I spent, what I saved, what I earned, and what I got and how long I spent doing it.

Before I started couponing I was skeptical. I though either you couldn't save enough to make it worth your time, or you ended up with stuff you wouldn't have bought otherwise. The first assumption proved to be just wrong. The second has some truth to it. To be totally honest if you really want to make couponing pay off you will in truth buy some stuff you don't NEED. Now it may turn out to be useful. But for example, here's what I'm talking about. Today I bought 5 bottles of cough medicine. My family is rarely sick and I'm allergic to the stuff. So IF we need them they will last all year and we might not even ever use all of them. So why buy them???

First, you never know when you're going to get sick and the last thing you want to do is run to the store so having them on hand isn't all bad. Second, if I don't end up needing them they would make a cute gift basket idea. Tie up a bottle with a can of chicken noodle soup in a mug and give to a sick friend. Or make up a basket of "pharmacy-stuff" as a wedding/baby/birthday gift. Not really exciting but let's be honest---probably one of the most practical gifts!

Of course the real reason I bought them is because of the price. They were on sale 5 bottles for $20. When you bought them you got back $20 in RR. So they were free. But wait. I didn't even spend 20 on them. I spent $10 because I used 5 $2/1 manufacturer coupons. Also I used my Wags gift card from last months rebates. So I didn't even use my money. Basically Wags paid me $10 to carry the bottles out of the store. True I can't spend that money anywhere else but I can buy plenty we need: milk, eggs, cheese or garbage bags, cleaning supplies, whatever. So YES Virginia, there may be a Santa Claus and yes, sometimes you will buy things when you don't NEED them right now.

Things I've Learned the Hard Way

December 22,2008
1. Good deals only get better once you've used all your coupons
2. The better the deal the less likely it will work for you
3. Whatever "regional" deal is going on won't be for your region

and last but not least

4. If I can learn to do this ANYBODY can!