dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jun 29, 2011 17:13:36 GMT -5
Next week I actually am going to CVS. I haven't in a couple of weeks. the Oral B pulsars and manual, , which I need, are $5.99 and $3 and I have a couple of $3 and B1G1F coupons and they are giving out $3 $1 ECB's repectively. I have ECB's in my wallet to pay for everything but the tax so that is as close to free as it gets for me. ;D Truthfully I really don't buy a lot of anything. It does make it easier to just wait till something is at a price I like. I do like having a few extra manual Toothbrushes around for when my kid's friends sleep over. It is nice to have a couple of new ones to give them to use. Ya, it sure beats giving them used ones. YUK!!
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Jun 29, 2011 17:15:58 GMT -5
Next week I actually am going to CVS. I haven't in a couple of weeks. the Oral B pulsars and manual, , which I need, are $5.99 and $3 and I have a couple of $3 and B1G1F coupons and they are giving out $3 $1 ECB's repectively. I have ECB's in my wallet to pay for everything but the tax so that is as close to free as it gets for me. ;D Truthfully I really don't buy a lot of anything. It does make it easier to just wait till something is at a price I like. I do like having a few extra manual Toothbrushes around for when my kid's friends sleep over. It is nice to have a couple of new ones to give them to use. Ya, it sure beats giving them used ones. YUK!! Most of the time they actually say it doesn't matter if they don't brush for one day.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jun 29, 2011 18:13:36 GMT -5
Ya, it sure beats giving them used ones. YUK!! Most of the time they actually say it doesn't matter if they don't brush for one day. Eew, double YUK!!
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mizbear
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Post by mizbear on Jun 29, 2011 19:46:31 GMT -5
I have a stockpile- it is all bought freap- coupons and sales. Just so you have an idea of my space- I live in a a small one bedroom apartment. I put up a set of industrial 4ft by 6ft shelves to make a pantry in a nook by the bar, put shelves for the towels in the bathroom to create additional storage space in the linen closet, and bought wire under the counter baskets to help create under the sink storage. Plus I use those sweater shelves that hang from the closet bar.
My stockpile: Food: Bagged and canned beans and lentils Canned tomato products Canned mushrooms Pasta Frozen veggies Pasta Sauce
HBA: Toothbrushes (1 year supply) Toothpaste Deodorant Razors Bunny rabbits Bath poufs Body wash Shampoo Dish soap Dishwasher Detergent Hand Soap (1 Bulk refill bottle) Antibacterial Wipes White Vinegar Bleach Toilet Paper Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Sometimes there is more or less- for instance- I also try to keep batteries and lightbulbs in my stockpile, as well as a few extra food items.
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leanna
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Post by leanna on Jun 29, 2011 21:31:33 GMT -5
I have a nice stockpile - all items were free in terms of purchase price. It did cost in terms of my time and car expense. This is what I have stockpiled:
Shampoo & Conditioner Bodywash Toothpaste Toothbrushes Lotion Veet wax strips Beauty tools (ie nail clippers, tweezers, etc.) Make-up Razors Deodorant
I'm very familiar with JIT and Kaizen - having practiced both in the workplace. I agree about JIT for items that have no discount. Although, I have to say, with the lousy interest rates currently, I can't say it makes much of difference for my household currently. In fact, I could probably make an argument, that with the inflation we are seeing with grocery and household items, it might be more prudent to buy now to hedge off inflation.
I don't really stockpile food items, because of many of the issues others have cited - spoilage, personal tastes changing, etc. However, many people do successfully stockpile food. It really depends on your diet whether that is feasible or not.
I don't over-use items, just because I have extra. I actually wondered if other people do that and posed that question on the Grocery Challenge board awhile back. I believe in good stewardship and I found that my fellow Grocery Challengers are very similar. We all know that just because we found something free this week or month, doesn't mean it'll be free again. So I would venture to say most of us treat our free goods with care.
PS to Phil - would love to know what investments you are referring to that are getting 5-10% returns? Are you referring to the stock market or real estate investments or other?
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mizbear
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Post by mizbear on Jun 29, 2011 22:17:37 GMT -5
I think one of the biggest thing with stockpiling is something we have been over a bazillion and a half times on the grocery challenge- Each person's stockpile will vary based on their individual needs, space, and finances (etc).
Part of the return on my investment with my stockpile is that I often have enough of the main items that I can go in between the lowest cost sales (or close to rock bottom) that I am saving money on the product in the meantime.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jun 29, 2011 23:14:22 GMT -5
In fact, I could probably make an argument, that with the inflation we are seeing with grocery and household items, it might be more prudent to buy now to hedge off inflation. I don't over-use items, just because I have extra. I actually wondered if other people do that and posed that question on the Grocery Challenge board awhile back. I believe in good stewardship and I found that my fellow Grocery Challengers are very similar. We all know that just because we found something free this week or month, doesn't mean it'll be free again. So I would venture to say most of us treat our free goods with care. leanna: I totally agree. I believe that most of the gals on the Grocery Challenge are good stewards of the products that they "purchase" even though most of us now know the ropes and get most of our non-perishables for free. It just doesn't make sense to be wasteful. I also agree with your point about inflation. This week (or maybe it was last) Safeway has their generic paper towels on sale for $8.99 with in-ad coupon; a couple of years ago, I used to see them on ad all the time for $4.99 - a $4 increase in price!! Thank goodness I have the same size of Bounty in my stockpile that I got for FREE. I will not be dropping $8.99 for paper towels for quite some time. ;D I am beginning to think that I am out of touch when it comes to the regular prices that most people pay for the stuff that they use.
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Clever Username
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Post by Clever Username on Jun 30, 2011 9:35:24 GMT -5
What makes you think that your life is so superior that you can address what you think are MY regrets? the hourly wage for being a SAHM is $0. I spent 10 hours a week searching the internet which I didn't I just sit around watching soap operas and eating bonbons. See, here's the regret that I was trying to avoid. Either that or you've got a backass passive aggressive method of expressing yourself. Scroll up to my original post. It was darnned clear there that anyone's time/effort/skills, even those of a stay at home parent have worth. Even leisure time is important. I just watched the honey badger video again, HI-larious, he's craaaazy.
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mizbear
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Post by mizbear on Jun 30, 2011 10:30:18 GMT -5
I don't believe anyone is saying that anyone else's time is worth less than anyone else's- however- some people choose to spend more time looking up deals/chasing deals than others. Anyone familiar with the GC thread knows that we hold a high level of disdain for EC. Although there are some couponers on the thread who do pick up items for their local shelters/food pantries, they are not clearing off the store shelves and buying 40 of this and 100 of that. The EC show is causing a lot of problems for real couponers who use their coupons to stretch their budgets for whatever reason. It's also causing a lot of had feelings outside of the coupon community where people are now looking down their noses at every couponer thinking we are all crackpots!
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leanna
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Post by leanna on Jun 30, 2011 12:55:30 GMT -5
Dancin, you seem hell bent on your conclusion, that's not a good mindset for analysis. But if you need numbers, back calculate you cost of acquisition of this stockpile. The same way the business example would include costs for the purchasing agent to buy the stuff, put a dollar on your own head. You seem quite skilled at this, what would you charge hourly if TLC decided to contract you our as a coupon consultant? I'd guestimate $10 to $20 per hour. Now, how long does it take to buy the way you buy? I put little effort towards coupon culture and I yield little returns. You don't get things free by magic. I also get all my groceries all at once, all at one store pretty much. Some of the resources I've seen hinted at seem pretty automated, so your costs might be pretty low, but you can't argue that there are no costs. Just for fun, be sure to add in the "lifestyle costs" involved. This thread amusingly shows that you're willing to spend your time and effort to fight like a honey badger to promote the lifestyle you've chosen. CleverUserName - I'm an analytical person myself, so I definitely get where you are coming from, in terms of the desire to figure out the true cost of couponing vs the benefit. However, here is the problem - my anecdotal experience is that most heavy coupon users are not in the workplace full-time. (There are exceptions - I'm making a generalization here.) Some are out of the workplace long-term by choice ( DancinMama) and others have lost their job, their income has been lowered or their business that they owned went under. Couponing is something that has a very low barrier to entry. One only needs to purchase a Sunday paper or go on-line to print coupons. One doesn't need to obtain an additional (ie expensive) degree or have the start-up funds to start a new business or investment venture. The concept that couponers have an alternate means available to them to earn money is probably not true. Women who have left the workplace to raise children have a high level of difficulty in returning at anywhere near their prior salary. The reality for most women trying to return to the workplace are positions with low pay. $8 an hour less taxes and work expenses nets very little. There is also the freedom that comes with couponing, in that it can be done around other things, on ones own schedule. Since your initial "discussion" was with DancinMama, I will point out that DancinMama also handles the investments for her family, and is very knowledgeable about financial matters. So, according to your theory, instead of doing her family's financial planning, she could be doing that for others. But, honestly, that's unrealistic, unless she obtains the certification necessary to go with it. And then there's the very real barrier of age discrimination that women face, so she could jump through all the hoops and find herself still without employment. Like I said, I get where you are coming from in your desire to see the hard numbers. For you, you would have to analyze the gains you would make from couponing against the losses you would take from either working less or from the pleasure of your free time. In DancinMama's situation, the choice has already been made - her family chose for her to be the at-home person, taking care of the children and managing the household financial affairs. Couponing is one piece of that and can't really be isolated. DancinMama didn't leave a professional career to be a couponer. Frankly, that would be silly and odd. Couponing is one piece of what she brings to the table for her family. P.S. DancinMama - hope you don't mind that I am rambling on about you here. If I've misspoken in any way, please feel free to correct anything I've said. Thank you!
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jun 30, 2011 12:58:58 GMT -5
It isn't the show that made me think that.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2011 14:09:08 GMT -5
It isn't the show that made me think that. Thyme, what is crazy about spending 5-10 minutes planning my meals and 5-10 minutes getting a few extra coupons? Especially since doing those things saves me an extra $20-30 a week?
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jun 30, 2011 16:27:38 GMT -5
Dancin, you seem hell bent on your conclusion, that's not a good mindset for analysis. But if you need numbers, back calculate you cost of acquisition of this stockpile. The same way the business example would include costs for the purchasing agent to buy the stuff, put a dollar on your own head. You seem quite skilled at this, what would you charge hourly if TLC decided to contract you our as a coupon consultant? I'd guestimate $10 to $20 per hour. Now, how long does it take to buy the way you buy? I put little effort towards coupon culture and I yield little returns. You don't get things free by magic. I also get all my groceries all at once, all at one store pretty much. Some of the resources I've seen hinted at seem pretty automated, so your costs might be pretty low, but you can't argue that there are no costs. Just for fun, be sure to add in the "lifestyle costs" involved. This thread amusingly shows that you're willing to spend your time and effort to fight like a honey badger to promote the lifestyle you've chosen. CleverUserName - I'm an analytical person myself, so I definitely get where you are coming from, in terms of the desire to figure out the true cost of couponing vs the benefit. However, here is the problem - my anecdotal experience is that most heavy coupon users are not in the workplace full-time. (There are exceptions - I'm making a generalization here.) Some are out of the workplace long-term by choice ( DancinMama) and others have lost their job, their income has been lowered or their business that they owned went under. Couponing is something that has a very low barrier to entry. One only needs to purchase a Sunday paper or go on-line to print coupons. One doesn't need to obtain an additional (ie expensive) degree or have the start-up funds to start a new business or investment venture. The concept that couponers have an alternate means available to them to earn money is probably not true. Women who have left the workplace to raise children have a high level of difficulty in returning at anywhere near their prior salary. The reality for most women trying to return to the workplace are positions with low pay. $8 an hour less taxes and work expenses nets very little. There is also the freedom that comes with couponing, in that it can be done around other things, on ones own schedule. Since your initial "discussion" was with DancinMama, I will point out that DancinMama also handles the investments for her family, and is very knowledgeable about financial matters. So, according to your theory, instead of doing her family's financial planning, she could be doing that for others. But, honestly, that's unrealistic, unless she obtains the certification necessary to go with it. And then there's the very real barrier of age discrimination that women face, so she could jump through all the hoops and find herself still without employment. Like I said, I get where you are coming from in your desire to see the hard numbers. For you, you would have to analyze the gains you would make from couponing against the losses you would take from either working less or from the pleasure of your free time. In DancinMama's situation, the choice has already been made - her family chose for her to be the at-home person, taking care of the children and managing the household financial affairs. Couponing is one piece of that and can't really be isolated. DancinMama didn't leave a professional career to be a couponer. Frankly, that would be silly and odd. Couponing is one piece of what she brings to the table for her family. P.S. DancinMama - hope you don't mind that I am rambling on about you here. If I've misspoken in any way, please feel free to correct anything I've said. Thank you! leanna: Nope, I don't mind cuz you hit the nail on the head. We both made contributions on the path to becoming financially independent. DH made the money and I made the money make money. Clipping coupons was the main tool that I used to keep our monthly expenses low so that we could do things like max out DH's 401k and pay off home mortgages. DH says that I took the ECONOMICS in "home economics" to a whole new level. Gotta love that guy.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jun 30, 2011 16:29:42 GMT -5
It isn't the show that made me think that. Thyme, what is crazy about spending 5-10 minutes planning my meals and 5-10 minutes getting a few extra coupons? Especially since doing those things saves me an extra $20-30 a week? gin: You'll never convince them that it's not a full-time job or that it has any real worth.
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Post by maryjanemanolos on Jun 30, 2011 17:07:21 GMT -5
I don't get the point of coming on a message board full of people who have a positive experience doing something that benefits their families, and trying to convince them that it has no benefit despite the fact that you've never done it. THAT is a waste of time to me. Seems like someone's not taking into consideration the opportunity costs, here...you could be doing something much more productive elsewhere... ETA: Not trying to be snarky, meant to be silly but sounded snarky upon second read. Sorry 'about that, heh.
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murphath
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Post by murphath on Jun 30, 2011 18:07:07 GMT -5
I probably spend a couple hours a week getting organized and browsing the various sites. For me, it's become a hobby. I don't know if I would have been able to do it when I was working full time and the kids were little. I still used store loyalty cards and coupons back then, but not as strategically as now. And, yes, I do get things for free or near free all the time. It has helped the bottom line but is also fun! I also work out everyday, garden, cook, read, work a part time job etc. so it hasn't taken over my life at all. I just look on my garage shelf (runs along one side of garage) to see what we're low on and wait for it to go on sale, find the coupon and stock up (using the drug stores "rebate/scrip" I receive from prior purchases).
I was in line at Safeway a few months ago and it was pretty busy. I struck up a conversation with the guy in front of me. His cart was loaded up. He saw the coupons I had in my hand and said "oh, you're one of those!" I said, "if you mean, I'm one of those people that likes to save money, then yes, I am." His response was, "I never can find any coupons for what I'm buying." My reply: "That's too bad because I'm looking at your cart, and I'm seeing a bunch a stuff where I could save you some money. Let me see what I've got (I don't carry every coupon under the sun with me, but I do have a small pocket folding thing)." I handed him about 17 coupons which saved him a total of $12.75. Now that may not be a lot of money to you, but multiplied over the course of a year, it can be a good amount. It was fun to be the coupon fairy. I'm sure the guy will still not use coupons, but he did thank me! I'll give him credit for that.
The point is this: you don't have to use coupons or stockpile if you don't want to. It doesn't bother me. So I don't see why you have to be so nasty to those of us that do use coupons. To each his own.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jun 30, 2011 18:28:32 GMT -5
What makes you think that your life is so superior that you can address what you think are MY regrets? the hourly wage for being a SAHM is $0. I spent 10 hours a week searching the internet which I didn't I just sit around watching soap operas and eating bonbons. See, here's the regret that I was trying to avoid. Either that or you've got a backass passive aggressive method of expressing yourself. Scroll up to my original post. It was darnned clear there that anyone's time/effort/skills, even those of a stay at home parent have worth. Even leisure time is important. I just watched the honey badger video again, HI-larious, he's craaaazy. I was stating fact. The hourly wage for a SAHM is $0/hr. The last time I checked, a wage is what someone is actually paid to do a job. I NEVER said that what a SAHM does has no value, regardless of how much as you are trying to imply that I did. The watching soap operas and eating bonbons was in reference to an old sterotype of SAHMs (that they did nothing all day long). I referenced it to make a point: the value of clipping coupons vs the value of the sterotypical SAHM. The truth is that after I left work to raise our DS, I developed a new "career" for myself in personal money management because it provided challenges beyond making sure that the laundry came out white. At the same time, I got to experience all the joys associated with watching your child go through all the great stages of growing up on a full-time basis. Personally, I think I got the best of both worlds. ;D
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mizbear
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Post by mizbear on Jun 30, 2011 19:09:19 GMT -5
maryjane- I think you hit the nail on the head!
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Clever Username
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Post by Clever Username on Jul 1, 2011 12:21:54 GMT -5
maryjane- I think you hit the nail on the head! 100% The question was how to mathmatically determine the answer. The formula to calculate if stockpiling is worth it was posted in #45. From there to me it became more a question of why she wouldn't do the math suggested.
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startsmart
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Post by startsmart on Jul 1, 2011 13:31:32 GMT -5
I don't get the point of coming on a message board full of people who have a positive experience doing something that benefits their families, and trying to convince them that it has no benefit despite the fact that you've never done it. THAT is a waste of time to me. karma for you! thank you! this is why I've prefaced my earlier post on page 1 with "I've tried both ways" because there are a ton of assumptions. The only way I could figure out if coupons were worth the cost to me was to try it. I didn't go into debt, I didn't spend 100 hours/week, I didn't end up with 70 cartons of mustard. for the original question 'do you stockpile' and the unasked 'if so, why' here's what I can conclude: I prefer having a small stock in my house. It prevents last minute rushes to the store, enables me to work more fluently, the stock is not cluttered nor do I need a bigger house for it all and I can be generous with the excess. Some people will never use a coupon, others write blogs about it. The system wouldn't work if everyone got free toothpaste all the time so stop complaining about people on the other side of the issues. This isn't a religion, you really don't need to convert either. I like these boards when they remain civil and basically cover 'here's what I do and why', clarifying if questions come up.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jul 1, 2011 14:45:26 GMT -5
maryjane- I think you hit the nail on the head! 100% The question was how to mathmatically determine the answer. The formula to calculate if stockpiling is worth it was posted in #45. From there to me it became more a question of why she wouldn't do the math suggested. Because there is no mathematical formula that can be applied that will give you a consistent result. The value of the time spent depends on the value of the product(s) being "purchased". The time invested in going to the store, putting the product(s) in my cart, purchasing the product(s), and bringing it/them home is the same whether the product is worth $5 or $20. Some weeks I save $100 and some weeks I save $10 and some weeks I save $50 and make $25 in cash. I can tell you, however, that MOST of what I "buy" via couponing are NON-PERISHABLES that are FREE or foods that have a long shelf life/freezer life. Each person picks and chooses from the weekly ads and decides what is worth the time/effort for them. Toothbrushes are free next week. I'll take a pass because I don't need them; but if I did, the time/effort required might be worth it. I will tell you that most of what I have stocked up on was free after sales/coupons/store promotions so most of the cost to me was my time and the cost of gas. And I would NEVER consider driving across town to save $1. Most of the stores where I shop are three minutes from my home. As I posted on the GC, I KNOW ahead of time when I post on these threads that someone is going to come on (who by the way usually has never learned to use coupons efficiently) and flame me. That's okay with me. IF I encourage one person to TRY it and it works FOR THEM and helps them save a boatload of money, money that can then be applied to paying off debt or saving for retirement - great. If not, they haven't really lost anything except a little time in giving it a try.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2011 14:47:50 GMT -5
100% The question was how to mathmatically determine the answer. The formula to calculate if stockpiling is worth it was posted in #45. From there to me it became more a question of why she wouldn't do the math suggested. Because there is no mathematical formula that can be applied that will give you a consistent result. The value of the time spent depends on the value of the product(s) being "purchased". The time invested in going to the store, putting the product(s) in my cart, purchasing the product(s), and bringing it/them home is the same whether the product is worth $5 or $20. Some weeks I save $100 and some weeks I save $10 and some weeks I save $50 and make $25 in cash. I can tell you, however, that MOST of what I "buy" via couponing are NON-PERISHABLES that are FREE or foods that have a long shelf life/freezer life. Each person picks and chooses from the weekly ads and decides what is worth the time/effort for them. Toothbrushes are free next week. I'll take a pass because I don't need them; but if I did, the time/effort required might be worth it. I will tell you that most of what I have stocked up on was free after sales/coupons/store promotions so most of the cost to me was my time and the cost of gas. And I would NEVER consider driving across town to save $1. Most of the stores where I shop are three minutes from my home. As I posted on the GC, I KNOW ahead of time when I post on these threads that someone is going to come on (who by the way usually has never learned to use coupons efficiently) and flame me. That's okay with me. IF I encourage one person to TRY it and it works FOR THEM and helps them save a boatload of money, money that can then be applied to paying off debt or saving for retirement - great. If not, they haven't really lost anything except a little time in giving it a try. Where are those free toothbrushes?
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jul 1, 2011 20:44:53 GMT -5
Because there is no mathematical formula that can be applied that will give you a consistent result. The value of the time spent depends on the value of the product(s) being "purchased". The time invested in going to the store, putting the product(s) in my cart, purchasing the product(s), and bringing it/them home is the same whether the product is worth $5 or $20. Some weeks I save $100 and some weeks I save $10 and some weeks I save $50 and make $25 in cash. I can tell you, however, that MOST of what I "buy" via couponing are NON-PERISHABLES that are FREE or foods that have a long shelf life/freezer life. Each person picks and chooses from the weekly ads and decides what is worth the time/effort for them. Toothbrushes are free next week. I'll take a pass because I don't need them; but if I did, the time/effort required might be worth it. I will tell you that most of what I have stocked up on was free after sales/coupons/store promotions so most of the cost to me was my time and the cost of gas. And I would NEVER consider driving across town to save $1. Most of the stores where I shop are three minutes from my home. As I posted on the GC, I KNOW ahead of time when I post on these threads that someone is going to come on (who by the way usually has never learned to use coupons efficiently) and flame me. That's okay with me. IF I encourage one person to TRY it and it works FOR THEM and helps them save a boatload of money, money that can then be applied to paying off debt or saving for retirement - great. If not, they haven't really lost anything except a little time in giving it a try. Where are those free toothbrushes? gin: Hi there!! Here's the info from frugalsuz's blog: You can get (4) Oral-B for free at CVS:Oral-B Advantage or Cross Action Toothbrush $3, use $2 coupon (7/3 P&G) and get back $1 EB (Limit 2) = FREE Oral-B Pulsar Toothbrush (1 pk) $5.99, use $3 coupon (6/5 P&G) and get back $3 EB (Limit 2) = FREE Oral-B are also free at WAGs:Oral B Advantage Toothbrush $2.99, use $2 coupon (7/3 P&G) and get back $1 RR = FREE/$0.01 profit Oral B Indicator Toothbrush $1, buy two and use $2 off 2 coupon (7/3 P&G) = FREE and if you get All You magazine, Colgates are free at RA:Colgate 360 Surround Manual Toothbrush $2.99, use $1 coupon (July All You magazine) and get back $2 UP (Limit ?) = FREE/$0.01 profit Geez, is July dental health awareness month?!! As usual, happy hounding!! Clever: At CVS, that would be ONE trip for $18 in free toothbrushes. Not bad for someone who has NO toothbrushes - now they'd have FOUR.
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mizbear
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Post by mizbear on Jul 1, 2011 20:44:59 GMT -5
gin- How I have gotten a lot of my free toothbrushes is with CVS extra bucks. I buy something that gives back EBs that I need (in the past I have done BOGOs and coupon deals wherever I could) and then go back and pay for as much of my next trip with EBs. All of my major stores (CVS, WAGs, RA, Target, Wal-Mart and 4 major chain grocers- plus Family Dollar and Dollar Tree) are right in town so I don't have to worry about travel time. I can actually walk or bike in tolerant weather.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2011 20:56:08 GMT -5
Ah, that is why I did not know it. A lot of time the coupons in my area suck. I doubt I'll get the $2 off coupon.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jul 1, 2011 21:14:49 GMT -5
Ah, that is why I did not know it. A lot of time the coupons in my area suck. I doubt I'll get the $2 off coupon. gin: They'll be in the P&G Brand Saver this Sunday (the only insert that we will get). Although the values of SOME of the Qs in the P&G can vary, most are the same nationwide, so you might get lucky.
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finnime
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Post by finnime on Jul 2, 2011 6:24:05 GMT -5
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jul 2, 2011 9:23:10 GMT -5
finnime: Thanks for posting that. Karma to you!! ;D It is an older article (2/2010), but the principles remain the same. A few excerpts: Clipping coupons hardly sounds like the subject of high finance–or even medium finance.
Save a dollar on cat food, some detergent or a couple of boxes of cereal. Who can be bothered? Who has the time?
A growing number of people, it turns out. And they're shrewder than it may at first appear.Being shrewd is the name of the game. You look for the sales (and they have them almost EVERY week at the drug chains), where you can combine a coupon with a sale and extra store promotion to get something for free that your family uses regularly - shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, Q-tips, paper products, and on and on and on. Trust me, the possibilities are endless. How long does it actually take to clip and use a coupon? Certainly the more you use, the less overall time you will spend per coupon, because so many of the costs–getting flyers, sorting coupons and so on–are generalized. Let's assume you spend a minute per coupon.
Saving $1.44 for a minute's effort is the equivalent of saving $14.40 for 10 minutes'.
Hourly rate: $86.40.In spite of the fact that I'm pretty darn good at what I do, I feel this is a bit of an exaggeration. The author fails to add any research time (which IS minimal, but still must be counted) or the time and gas that it takes to shop. Sometimes you will go to CVS or Walgreens specifically for a great deal they are having in a particular week. You might go when you're doing your regular weekly grocery shopping or on your way to or from work, but it still takes a little extra time. Furthermore, money saved comes with an additional benefit. Unlike the money you earn at work, it is tax free. No payroll taxes. No federal or state income tax.
If your marginal tax rate were, say, 20 percent, you would have to earn $108 before tax to take home $86.40. If your marginal tax rate were 30 percent, you'd have to earn $123. This is key to me. I can spend $1 that my DH earns to buy something or I can cut a $1 bill (a $1 coupon) out of the Sunday coupon inserts. If I use the coupon, that is a dollar that my DH does not have to earn which means no payroll or federal/state income taxes are paid on it. It also frees up that dollar that DH DID earn for other things (in our case fully funding his 401k and paying off high interest mortgages - think mid 80s to late 90s and rates of 7-12.75 %). Very few of us ever do this kind of math, because we tend to treat low finance differently from high finance, and small sums differently from big ones. EXACTLY CORRECT. People poo poo the value of using coupons on a regular basis because they THINK it's not worth the time and effort, because after all, you're only saving a buck or two. Well, that buck or two can REALLY add up. And the individual amounts of money may seem small, but they prove the old adage about tiny acorns and mighty oaks. Someone who saves $25 a week will save $100 a month, and $1,200 a year. Over a lifetime that can easily grow to $100,000 or more–even after accounting for inflation.I can attest to this from personal experience. I have been doing this for over 24 years on a fairly regular basis. During that time we have been a single income family (we decreased our income by 50% when I took the pregnancy route to "retirement" in early 1987). DH has always made good money, but it was not until late in 2005 that his salary hit six figures, at age 48. The savings that I got from using coupons insured that we were able to fully fund DH's 401k and helped to pay off over $200K in mortgage debt over a period of about 16 or 17 years. We relocated to a HCOLA in 2005 and bought our current home (and a pretty darn nice one, I might add) at the peak of the market. Despite that, DH is poised to be able to retire at age 55 next year. The next time you "look" at a $1 coupon, SEE a $1 bill. It will make all the difference in how you view them.
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Jul 2, 2011 9:28:19 GMT -5
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startsmart
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Post by startsmart on Jul 3, 2011 10:42:56 GMT -5
Dancinmama, do you read the site the frugal find? I ask because it's run by a friend I went to high school with and shes in her late 20s now. It might be of interest to write a guest post for her about the long term benefits of coupons because your perspective is really interesting, and I don't use coupons much myself! I know she writes to a high cost of living audience (SF bay area), so if you'd like the introduction PM me!
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