4 Reasons Using Coupons Decreases Stress

Guest post by: Kristeen Cherney  

Couponing: Alleviate Stress While Saving Money

At the end of the day, most of us use couponing to save money. Still, cutting out coupons and cashing them in at stores has an indisputable feel-good effect for many—so much so, that the process of couponing might help keep stress at bay.

The American Psychological Association (APA) estimates that about 60 percent of U.S. adults battle regular stress. Among the most common triggers are:

• money woes
• economic worries
• health concerns
• job-related concerns
• family problems

Whether you’re new to couponing, or you’re already a couponing pro, it’s worth investigating whether the process can alleviate common forms of stress.

Reducing Money Worries

One of the most common reasons why we start cutting coupons is to save money. At the same time, worries over finances and the economy are the top triggers of everyday stress.

Cutting out random coupons alone may not help you save money, but a strategic plan can. This is why setting up a budget is so crucial and why it can give you freedom!

Whether you’re shopping for pantry staples, or for a week’s worth of groceries, it’s important to make a list of the items you do need versus the coupons you can find. You may even find it worthwhile to make a meal out of items for the coupons you have rather than your previous plans.

As an added bonus, eating at home always saves money while helping your family build better connections. Time spent communicating without worrying about paying a hefty restaurant check is certainly more stress-free.

Making a Healthy Lifestyle More Affordable

It’s a common misconception that coupons are only available for unhealthy packaged foods. While packaged food coupons are indeed plentiful, many are still healthy staples that you can stock up on. Just some of the options include:

• canned vegetables (choose low-sodium versions or rinse before cooking)
• pasta and rice
• cereal, oats, and granola bars
• dried or canned fruit
• peanut butter

Saving money on packaged food coupons helps your bottom line. Also, the money you save on regular non-perishable items can free up your budget for fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and lean meats.

Eating healthy while saving money can immediately reduce stress over health-related concerns. If you find yourself worrying that you can’t afford to supply your family with healthy foods that can possibly decrease the long-term risks for chronic illnesses, consider how couponing can help.

Couponing as an Activity for Stress

Money and health are two common sources for stress that couponing can address. When it comes to other forms of stress, however, the link may not be so clear-cut. According to the Mayo Clinic, being more assertive can significantly reduce stress because it boosts your self-esteem while also gaining respect from others.

It’s easy to see how being assertive can fit into couponing: you refuse to waste money and insist on doing the most to save your bank account. Cashiers and other shoppers alike are often in awe of couponers’ ambitions and money-savviness. Such effects can undoubtedly make you feel good.

There’s also an adrenaline rush that many of us experience during couponing excursions. Just as exercise reduces anxiety, the process of couponing can create the same feel-good rush. (For an added bonus, you can walk swiftly and make couponing a good physical activity, too!)

Clipping to De-Stress

Couponing may very well indeed alleviate stress for a number of reasons. Not only can the results help solve everyday problems that cause anxiety, but the process alone can be a soothing escape from your troubles. Printing and clipping coupons can be relaxing!  Still, it’s important to treat couponing as a healthy defense against stress—not as your sole treatment plan. If you find that stress consumes your daily life despite this healthy activity, be sure to discuss your concerns with a professional.

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Resources

• Managing your stress in tough economic times. (2010, November). Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/economic-stress.aspx
• Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014, May 15). Being assertive: Reduce stress, communicate better. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/assertive/ART-20044644?p=1
• The impact of stress: 2012. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2012/impact.aspx

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