Welcome to the ABCs of Savings! Each day we’ll be discussing another money saving topic, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. Be sure to subscribe via RSS or email so you don’t miss any steps along the way. You can read the full alphabet of posts here (updated as they are posted).
U: Undo Old Habits
Old habits die hard. That little saying is oh-so true when it comes to learning how to save the most with coupons. I’ve had to retrain myself to NOT do some of the things I used to do when I shopped.
The hardest habit for me to give up was buying the largest size of a product in order to get the cheapest price per ounce. True, if you’re not using coupons, this might be the way to go. But if you’re using coupons (and especially if your store doubles coupons), you may want to check out the smaller size. You can often get the smaller size free or close-to-free with a coupon.
I’ve also had to change my meal planning strategies. Instead of planning meals around what’s on sale, I now plan meals around what’s on hand. I check the pantry, fridge, and freezer to see what we already have. Then I figure out what I can make with those items plus a few odds and ends from the grocery store.
The way I shop has also changed. While I used to believe that Walmart was the cheapest place to shop for personal care items, I would always end up spending $100 whenever I walked through the door! Now I shop for personal care items at CVS and Rite Aid. I snatch them up when I can get them free or almost-free with coupons and rewards. Now when I run out of shampoo, I can stop by my own cupboard to grab another one that I paid pennies for. Now that’s my kind of shopping!
I could go on and on about how our habits have changed since I started making the most of coupons. It’s taken a bit of time, but I’ve retrained myself to save as much as possible.