Comments on: Lessons from the Mama: So Many Deals…So Little Time http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/2010/04/lessons-from-the-mama-so-many-deals-so-little-time/ Extreme Couponing With Class Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:56:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tracie http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/2010/04/lessons-from-the-mama-so-many-deals-so-little-time/comment-page-1/#comment-1784 Tracie Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:38:17 +0000 http://pennypinchinmom.com/?p=7332#comment-1784 I'm blushing over here. I’m blushing over here.

]]> By: Sarah Eliza http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/2010/04/lessons-from-the-mama-so-many-deals-so-little-time/comment-page-1/#comment-1776 Sarah Eliza Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:37:51 +0000 http://pennypinchinmom.com/?p=7332#comment-1776 Preach it sister! ;P I think you are SO dead on, and I don't think I'm even out of the woods with that mindset yet. It's gotten a lot better though! It shouldn't make me feel threatened if I have to pay full-price for something every now and then. Haha, I refuse to be held hostage to the deals!! Thanks for being awesome! Preach it sister! ;P I think you are SO dead on, and I don’t think I’m even out of the woods with that mindset yet. It’s gotten a lot better though! It shouldn’t make me feel threatened if I have to pay full-price for something every now and then. Haha, I refuse to be held hostage to the deals!!

Thanks for being awesome!

]]> By: Tracie http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/2010/04/lessons-from-the-mama-so-many-deals-so-little-time/comment-page-1/#comment-1764 Tracie Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:59:10 +0000 http://pennypinchinmom.com/?p=7332#comment-1764 This is good to know -- it can certainly help others who just can't get to the store to use those ECBs. However, keep in mind that some stores still MAY not allow you to use them. But it sounds like some of them do! This is good to know — it can certainly help others who just can’t get to the store to use those ECBs. However, keep in mind that some stores still MAY not allow you to use them. But it sounds like some of them do!

]]> By: sandy http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/2010/04/lessons-from-the-mama-so-many-deals-so-little-time/comment-page-1/#comment-1760 sandy Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:43:20 +0000 http://pennypinchinmom.com/?p=7332#comment-1760 I have been told on a number of occassions that ECB's at CVS do not expire. I have used a ECB expired date 3/22/10 on 4/1/10- I wasn't hasseled or anything. The cashier pushed a couple extra buttons and that is it. I was one that had to run out on the last day to make sure my ecb didn't expire and after being told a couple of times they would ALWAYS take the ECB I learned to let go (obviously! since I used a ECB after it had been expired a week and a half!). I'm not sure other stores will be so lienent- but this has happened at 3 CVS's in the Northland. I have been told on a number of occassions that ECB’s at CVS do not expire. I have used a ECB expired date 3/22/10 on 4/1/10- I wasn’t hasseled or anything. The cashier pushed a couple extra buttons and that is it.
I was one that had to run out on the last day to make sure my ecb didn’t expire and after being told a couple of times they would ALWAYS take the ECB I learned to let go (obviously! since I used a ECB after it had been expired a week and a half!).

I’m not sure other stores will be so lienent- but this has happened at 3 CVS’s in the Northland.

]]> By: Trish http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/2010/04/lessons-from-the-mama-so-many-deals-so-little-time/comment-page-1/#comment-1758 Trish Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:54:52 +0000 http://pennypinchinmom.com/?p=7332#comment-1758 That is exactly what happened to me. I stated couponing in Nov of 2008 and became obsessed. I couponed hard for all of 2009, chasing every deal that came up. I spent way too much time working on coupons. I was able to give out 10 huge bags of goodies to my family for Christmas but come Jan 2010 I decided it was time for a break. We are using the stockpile and have hardly made a dent in it and I am enjoying doing more things with my kids and husband. That is exactly what happened to me. I stated couponing in Nov of 2008 and became obsessed. I couponed hard for all of 2009, chasing every deal that came up. I spent way too much time working on coupons. I was able to give out 10 huge bags of goodies to my family for Christmas but come Jan 2010 I decided it was time for a break. We are using the stockpile and have hardly made a dent in it and I am enjoying doing more things with my kids and husband.

]]> By: Eric in OP (also KCJohnGalt at SD) http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/2010/04/lessons-from-the-mama-so-many-deals-so-little-time/comment-page-1/#comment-1756 Eric in OP (also KCJohnGalt at SD) Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:54:50 +0000 http://pennypinchinmom.com/?p=7332#comment-1756 When I got into doing deals, rebates and coupons in February of this year, having left mainframe computer consulting work in 2003 for an extended break which has more or less turned into retirement since I really don’t want to work any longer (lol), my plan was to use them to build a months-long supply of stuff I needed, and then taper off. But first I had to spend a lot of time coming up to speed with everything, learning as much as I could, so I’ve been pretty immersed in this. This actually is the first week where I’m beginning to wind down – the freezers, refrigerators and the pantries are fully stocked, and just about the only thing I’m hunting for now are free or nearly-free deals on non-perishables like dishwashing liquid, paper products, aluminum foil and similar items – hence the deal I did this week on the very cheap boxes of Hammermill printer paper which you eventually figured out how to make money on - lol! One time I did buy multiple copies of the KC Star to get multiple inserts, but for me I found it better to just get the one copy and order coupons online, as well as using printables like those you highlight on your site. I then do the matchups on the grocery store sales either myself on Tuesday (if/when I get the ads in the mail) or Wednesday morning using your Grocery Database and my own searching. I also created my own Excel spreadsheet to keep track of all my coupons including the inserts (that’s easy using cut-n-paste from the preview sites), so it’s quick work to see if I’ve got a coupon for an item, which saves a lot of time. I can certainly see this could turn into an obsession with a lot of people, and your points about how much free toothpaste do you need (answer: enough to use up before their expiration dates and no more) and that there’s ALWAYS another deal around the corner are good ones. I know that some people donate what they don’t need to charity, which is good of them, but sometimes there may come a time when they’re using that as a rationale in order to keep ‘scoring’ a deal. I wonder if there’s an addictive adrenalin rush involved like in gambling that drives some people into doing this? On the flip side, if you’re not letting it take a lot of your personal time you have better use for then it is definitely productive work and actually does make you money. Not working myself, it’s a good feeling knowing that when I score a cereal deal at 55 cents a box after taxes, a cereal I was going to buy anyway, I’m earning the difference in the same way that mowing my lawn myself earns me the fee I’d have to pay someone else to do it. And given the sorry state of this economy and where I believe it to be headed, every dollar saved is going to matter. I’m no expert on obsessiveness but if you’re getting anxious feelings about possibly missing out on a free toothpaste deal or you’re getting angry with your significant other over excessive shopping trips cutting into your personal time, then you probably are obsessed and would be wise to back off for a while and realize it isn’t even close to being as important as you currently feel. On that I agree with you for sure, Tracie. When I got into doing deals, rebates and coupons in February of this year, having left mainframe computer consulting work in 2003 for an extended break which has more or less turned into retirement since I really don’t want to work any longer (lol), my plan was to use them to build a months-long supply of stuff I needed, and then taper off. But first I had to spend a lot of time coming up to speed with everything, learning as much as I could, so I’ve been pretty immersed in this. This actually is the first week where I’m beginning to wind down – the freezers, refrigerators and the pantries are fully stocked, and just about the only thing I’m hunting for now are free or nearly-free deals on non-perishables like dishwashing liquid, paper products, aluminum foil and similar items – hence the deal I did this week on the very cheap boxes of Hammermill printer paper which you eventually figured out how to make money on – lol!

One time I did buy multiple copies of the KC Star to get multiple inserts, but for me I found it better to just get the one copy and order coupons online, as well as using printables like those you highlight on your site. I then do the matchups on the grocery store sales either myself on Tuesday (if/when I get the ads in the mail) or Wednesday morning using your Grocery Database and my own searching. I also created my own Excel spreadsheet to keep track of all my coupons including the inserts (that’s easy using cut-n-paste from the preview sites), so it’s quick work to see if I’ve got a coupon for an item, which saves a lot of time.

I can certainly see this could turn into an obsession with a lot of people, and your points about how much free toothpaste do you need (answer: enough to use up before their expiration dates and no more) and that there’s ALWAYS another deal around the corner are good ones. I know that some people donate what they don’t need to charity, which is good of them, but sometimes there may come a time when they’re using that as a rationale in order to keep ‘scoring’ a deal. I wonder if there’s an addictive adrenalin rush involved like in gambling that drives some people into doing this?

On the flip side, if you’re not letting it take a lot of your personal time you have better use for then it is definitely productive work and actually does make you money. Not working myself, it’s a good feeling knowing that when I score a cereal deal at 55 cents a box after taxes, a cereal I was going to buy anyway, I’m earning the difference in the same way that mowing my lawn myself earns me the fee I’d have to pay someone else to do it. And given the sorry state of this economy and where I believe it to be headed, every dollar saved is going to matter.

I’m no expert on obsessiveness but if you’re getting anxious feelings about possibly missing out on a free toothpaste deal or you’re getting angry with your significant other over excessive shopping trips cutting into your personal time, then you probably are obsessed and would be wise to back off for a while and realize it isn’t even close to being as important as you currently feel. On that I agree with you for sure, Tracie.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/2010/04/lessons-from-the-mama-so-many-deals-so-little-time/comment-page-1/#comment-1754 Michelle Tue, 20 Apr 2010 04:28:09 +0000 http://pennypinchinmom.com/?p=7332#comment-1754 Thanks for relieving the pressure and being so transparent. I know everyone has felt this anxiety on some level. What freedom there is to know that there will always be another deal and to prioritize what is really important. Thanks for relieving the pressure and being so transparent. I know everyone has felt this anxiety on some level. What freedom there is to know that there will always be another deal and to prioritize what is really important.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/2010/04/lessons-from-the-mama-so-many-deals-so-little-time/comment-page-1/#comment-1749 Michelle Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:29:35 +0000 http://pennypinchinmom.com/?p=7332#comment-1749 I can completely relate. I was obsessed in the beginning and I still sometimes fall back to my old ways. DSS is no joke! I can completely relate. I was obsessed in the beginning and I still sometimes fall back to my old ways. DSS is no joke!

]]> By: beth gormley http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/2010/04/lessons-from-the-mama-so-many-deals-so-little-time/comment-page-1/#comment-1745 beth gormley Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:20:19 +0000 http://pennypinchinmom.com/?p=7332#comment-1745 Thanks, I needed that..... Thanks, I needed that…..

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