Okay, couponing friends: Maybe you're like me, and you've fallen off the couponing bandwagon for a few weeks. Or a few months. Or a year. Perhaps your expanding grocery/household budget is starting to be the tell-tale sign that you need to get back in the couponing saddle. I'm right there with you!
After some pretty major things in our family's life this spring ( the death of my husband's grandmother, a life-changing trip to India withInternational Princess Project, a 4,500-mile family road trip with a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old, and few roller-coaster months with my mom's battle with cancer, just to name a few!) I feel like I am finally beginning to dig out of the hole I've been in. For me, this means things like, oh, I'm actually mopping my floors again.
For you, dear Frugal Muse readers, this exit from my spring hibernation means that I am back to the world of couponing and blogging. My goal is to post at least one deal or coupon match-up per day, so check back often so you don't miss out on the best stuff!
Need some help getting motivated to get back into couponing? Here are three ideas:
1. Start Small
This is a method I often have to employ in my life. I may not be able to do it all, but I can do something. If you're staring at a pile of dozens of coupon inserts waiting to be clipped and sorted, it may not be best to try to clip and sort them all before you go shopping with your coupons again.
Instead, visit your favorite frugal blogs and find one store that has some good current coupon deals. Clip only those coupons and go getcha some deals. (Here's a tip: most blogs list the date of the coupon insert in which to find a particular coupon. Did you know that the date for each insert is found in tiny type on the spine of the insert? This can save you so much time! No more going through a bunch of inserts looking for one particular coupon!)
This immediate success will give you some more motivation to tackle your big pile little by little until you are back on track.
2. Make it Social
If you are ready to tackle that big pile of coupons, find a friend or two who is ready to do the same and get together for a little clipping party. Everything is better with friends! You can chat, clip and sort, and encourage each other to get back on track with your couponing!
3. Ten Minutes a Day
Carve out ten minutes each day to check a handful of frugal blogs to scan for deals that might be helpful to your family. Just a few minutes a day, and it can make a big difference in your family's budget. Often the best deals come and go quickly, so it's important to check each day to make sure to cash in on the best freebies!
Anybody have other tips for getting back in the couponing saddle? Let's get started again together, friends!
I'm so happy you're posting again :-). I have been busy as well and put couponing aside for a while, and am just now getting back into it. Great timing :-).
ReplyDelete