How to Use Coupons…By NOT Using Them – Part 2!

In case you haven’t read part 1 as to how to use coupons – by NOT using them – check it out over here!

5. You are driven by the “total saved” info at the bottom of the receipt without considering that NOT buying = savings!

I’ll admit that I just love seeing the “total” in my savings summary being sky high!  But don’t get caught in the trap of using a coupon just to increase that number.  Be sure that the store brand, or even another name brand item isn’t cheaper if you don’t use the coupon!  The savings summary doesn’t account for what you wisely left on the shelves!

6.  You get some “free deals” at drug stores because of the rewards (RR’s, ECB’s or + Up Rewards depending on the store) but fail to return to the store to use your rewards before they expire.

If this has happened to you a few times, then maybe come up with a long term shopping plan of when you know you will be able to return to your favorite drug store to use up your rewards.  These rewards are a smart marketing ploy from these stores to get you back in their store! Or even better for them if you forget to use them!  If your schedule is swamped, and you miss a week that in turn makes you lose your reward money, then take a break and ignore the drug store deals for a few weeks/months!

7.  Your day is ruined and your mood turns sour if you didn’t come home with your perfect deal.

There really can be a “coupon high” that you get from coming home with dirt cheap/free items that should have cost you a fortune.  But that can be a problem if your anxiety/anger level sky rockets if you didn’t get that deal because either the item wasn’t in stock, or a certain coupon just didn’t work.   Don’t let that ruin your day!!  Reality:  You won’t be able to get every freebie/deal that exists!  It’s just stuff!

As a deal blogger, I had to learn early on that I can’t post about every good deal or freebie that exists!  And that is, in fact…ok!

8.  You turn into a rude customer when its time to checkout.

Are you panicky that not all the coupons will go throuh?  If a coupon doesn’t work, do you turn into a rude customer demanding your deal?  Do you get overly agitated at a cashier who either doesn’t understand the coupon policy, or accuses you of breaking store rules?  Take a deep breath!  Smile!  Do everything you can to not be that rude customer that gives the rest of us couponers the bad rap for being crazy.  🙂

Bonus reason to not use coupons:  You are dreaming about coupons!

I find it ironic that I’m writing this today, when I had a crazy coupon dream last night.  The dream was that I was at the sub shop at Wegmans, and there was a bundle of Wegmans coupons you could buy for $2.  I was thinking that I couldn’t believe I didn’t know about it sooner and that I had to buy and run home and make an exciting post about my find!

Uh Oh Maura – this could be a scary sign!  I’m trying to use less coupons  in recent days (as you’ll read why in Part 1) – but my sub-conscience is telling me to use more!  🙂

So what about you?  What are your boundaries on how to use coupons (or not using them) and getting great deals just isn’t worth your time/money/or budget??

Find more Frugal Tips over here!