I’ve been couponing for 12 years & have saved $50K, here’s how you can do it

I’ve been couponing for 12 years & have saved $50K, here’s how you can do it

SUCCESSFUL couponing not only means being able to save money on the spot and making the most of your salary, but it actually means being able to save for the long run, whether that’ for family vacations or retirement.

A Reddit user revealed how in just 12 years she able to save more than $50,000 that she would have otherwise spent on everyday necessities, and has reaped the benefits in other areas of her life.

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The Reddit user shared her amazing story on the social media platform as a way to inspire others to start couponing and give a few pointers.

“I started couponing at the age of 22, fresh out of college and starting a demanding graduate program,” she revealed.

“I needed to stretch my $20K/year living stipend as far as it could go, so I started a coupon savings spreadsheet in August 2009, started watching sale flyers and clipping coupons, and logged every purchase where I received discounted or free items.”

She explained how in 2009, she began her journey as an extreme couponer by simply cutting out coupons from the newspaper and store flyers.

However, she’s now upgraded to using phone apps that let her save more money, such as Rakuten and Ibotta, as well as digital coupons from the stores’ apps.

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Thanks to her couponing, she was able to indulge in other aspects of her life.

She revealed she was “able to cover several thousand dollars in (often unexpected) pet healthcare expenses,” “start saving for retirement in my mid-20s despite making $20K/year,” “be generous and help out some close family/friends with purchases they need but can’t afford, without asking for any repayment,” and even better, she was able to afford a 20 percent payment on a home.

The Reddit user opened up about the different things she learned throughout the journey and she’s sharing them with those who want to coupon successfully.

Quality over quantity

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“The cheapest item isn’t always the best,” she first said.

“Sometimes it’s worth it to spend a little (or a lot) more on quality for an item that you’re going to use a lot.

“Back in 2009 I bought the cheapest cooking items I could find –cheap cooking utensils, cheap pots and pans, a $1 plastic colander.

“With the exception of the $1 colander (which is cracked but still functions) and a spaghetti serving spoon, everything else has broken/worn out years ago.

“When an item wore out, I replaced it with something of better quality.”

Don’t buy them if you don’t have to

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“Just because you can get five bottles of shampoo (or whatever other item) for free after coupons/sales, you shouldn’t buy five bottles of shampoo if you aren’t going to use them all in a reasonable time frame,” she explained.

Still buy quality items even if you can’t save on them

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“It’s extremely rare to get fruits and vegetables for free or cheap at the grocery store with coupons and sales,” she began.

“Still, they’re worth buying. I cringe thinking back to 22-year-old me who rarely bought any vegetables and would only spring for the $1 bags of iceberg lettuce, and would eat at least half of her meals from the frozen foods section since they went on sale regularly and were low-effort to prepare.

“In my 30s (with a better-paying job) I’ve discovered a love of cooking and now really enjoy preparing meals from predominantly fresh ingredients.

“My weekly grocery bill is a lot higher but it’s so worth it. But I’m still trying to undo the consequences of a decade of poor diet, which is a lot harder to do in your mid-30s than your early-20s.”

Money isn’t the end all be all

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“Money can’t buy happiness, but it can by things that improve your quality of life,” she said.

“I used to be so anxious about money that any purchase more than $10 would have to be internally debated and agonized over.

“I would feel guilty for buying or even wanting to buy certain things. Now, with maturity and a better salary, I don’t feel guilty for planned splurges.

“I have an allowance-based system that works really well for me where doing things I need to do but don’t enjoy (scooping cat litter, exercising) earns me money I can spend guilt-free on whatever I want – which lately have been things like getting takeout (since I very rarely eat out), paying for experiences (museum tickets, etc.) and buying fun items like yarn for crocheting, cute decor for my home, and makeup.”

Published at Fri, 25 Jun 2021 18:11:54 +0000