How to Coupon Series: Understanding the Fine Art of Stockpiling
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COUPONING 101: UNDERSTANDING THE FINE ART OF STOCKPILING
If you’ve ever watched the TLC TV show “Extreme Couponing,” you’ve no doubt seen extreme examples of stockpiling in action. Of course, I’m talking about people who have transformed their basement into apocalyptic reserves with 127 bottles of shampoo, 340 cans of tuna, and enough paper towels to last three lifetimes.
That’s not stockpiling, that’s hoarding, and I don’t recommend it.
The stockpiling I’m talking about is buying large quantities of items you’ll eventually use at rock-bottom prices, usually by combining a killer store sale with some great store and/or manufacturer coupons. Let’s take a closer look at stockpiling by breaking down the description I just provided.
- Buying large quantities of items – This doesn’t mean clearing the shelves of every bottle of BOGO ketchup you can fit in your cart. What this means is purchasing a sensible amount of an item – no more than you’d use before the item expires or you’d use in a year (which ever comes first).
- Items you’ll eventually use – If you purchase more of an item that you’ll eventually use, you’re not stock piling, you’re just wasting food and money. Also make sure it’s an item that your family actually enjoys. If you buy 10 boxes of Raisin Bran, but your family doesn’t eat Raisin Bran, you’re not doing anyone any favors (except maybe the makers of Raisin Bran).
- Rock-bottom prices – Even if your family loves Raisin Bran, a 25 cent savings on a $3 box of cereal is not a good enough excuse to buy a year’s supply. Wait until you’re able to buy the product at the absolute lowest price you’ve ever seen it and you can stack some coupons to make the deal even sweeter.
If you follow these rules, you should be well on your way to stockpiling responsibly and reaping the benefits of this wise couponing practice. Those benefits include never running out of the things you used the most, having plenty of meal options at all times, and the ability to skip a trip to the grocery store when you’re short on time or money. And I don’t know about you, but any time I can skip a trip to the grocery store, I’m one happy mama!
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