As with everything in life, one must start somewhere.....
Saving money is something most people wish they could do a lot more of......and that they'd started doing so a long time ago (for some of us) or a couple of years ago or last week even! It's never too late and as today is the first day of the rest of your life it's as good time as any to begin!
Saving money is something most people wish they could do a lot more of......and that they'd started doing so a long time ago (for some of us) or a couple of years ago or last week even! It's never too late and as today is the first day of the rest of your life it's as good time as any to begin!
A COUPON IS.......By definition via Wikipedia is..
.a coupon is a ticket or document that can be exchanged for a financial discount or rebate when purchasing a product. Discount, rebate, free, save.....are a few of the words that indicate the result of using coupons to reduce regular, daily necessary living expenses.
Like anyone who ever watches TV, I too have seen a few episodes of the 'Extreme Couponing' show. My initial reaction was not favorable. My first thought was 'they'll' never use all that stuff! .' I stand corrected, for the most part anyways. That thought was followed quickly by...'I want to save that much!' and 'Omgosh, look where I live! How can I? In reality...one cannot save quite that much here in Canada - BUT one can save a lot! And....saving with, or without coupons for that matter, in our local but remote area is without a doubt challenging - BUT it can be done! I know this to be true because I've done it and continue to do it. I don't think of myself as an 'extreme couponer'. I prefer to use the term 'avid', despite some definitions contain the word 'greedy', along with strong enthusiasm or desire; having a strong interest, etc. I initially found the word 'greedy' offensive. After pondering it for awhile I had to ask myself if I wasn't 'greedy' with where my money went, or actively took more control over where it went, who was? It's a great feeling to slowly but steadily take possession of that control. It has given me the freedom to spend MY money either where it really needed to go - debt - or to spend it where I wanted it to go - such as on my grandchildren!
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MYTHS......... I too had to go through a few self-attitude adjustments once I had a better understanding of the financial benefits of what I term as 'avid but responsible couponing.
During this process, I can tell you I have SAVED HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of dollars on everything from soup to nuts!! If you or anyone you know has ever assumed these types of thoughts or voiced them, I'm happy to be able to dispel them!
To put couponing into a prospective that all 'redneck-&-proud-of-it-pick-up-driving Albertan's can relate to.... You're in the market for a new truck involving a significant amount of money and not a decision to be made lightly. After checking prices, researching, test driving, etc., you've finally narrowed it down to 2 units comparable in options and price - let's say around the $50,000 mark. Better yet, they're both on sale right now!! Mere dollars apart. You have a coupon worth $15,000 for only one of them....... ....which one are YOU going to buy!!
It won't be because your cheap. Chances are;
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WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, HOW...... The moral of truck purchase tale is, of course the uncomplicated mathematical formula upon which The Art of Couponing is built upon.
$Sale Price - Coupon = Savings!!$ * According to various Canadian Coupon Sites, savings of 30% off your grocery bill is considered minimum. Generally I save on average closer to 50% & have saved close to 80%!! I'll be the first to admit experiencing emotions ranging from confusion, frustration & of course making mistakes, to even exasperation and I think what could possibly be described as anger at times! The confusion/frustration came when I first seriously began couponing just over a year ago. The mistakes still happen, albeit not quite so often! I now approach shopping in a far calmer mind set. I actually enjoy shopping now and come home with a feeling of personal and financial accomplishment! These positive attributes were only achievable through a two step process of:
Those who've lived in the area for any length of time are sure to relate!! But DON'T despair. I lived through it - with money in my pocket - and so will you!! To learn more about the awesome money saving opportunities available, not just in Canada but more specifically to those of us in the Sundre, Olds, Didsbury areas please click here!! |
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