I mean trust me, Im not buying hair gel...lol.
LOL Me either. I never pick up things I don't normally buy unless it works out to being free. But I stopped being brand faithful because it simply wasn't cutting it. I love my Tide but P&G are stingy with Tide coupons and if you do get them they're such a small face value that it makes little difference in the price. I don't have the same issue with other laundry soap, so my shelves are now full of other brands.
Last week I got 8 tubes of toothpaste completely free. Now I'm not going to walk away from a freebie even if I don't use it. My grandma would turn over in her grave. lol But those will be donated because I've already got a mountain of toothpaste that I got for free, I sure don't need more anytime soon. I've got toothbrushes for free too. I do at least use those, although I'd never normally pick them up so often. Today I got 4 pilot pens for free, and it spit me out a coupon, which was a nice surprise.
My rule of thumb is, if it's not something I'd normally use (same brand or not) it better be free or I try to pass on the coupon to someone else who can use it. That way I don't get caught up in the moment and pick up stuff I normally wouldn't and wind up spending money I don't have to spend. Freebies might get donated or used as xmas presents.
For the most part, I've even done this with the school supplies I bought katie's kids. The most expensive thing I picked up were book bags for 3.99, BUT I used rewards from walgreen's to pay for them, which made them free. The rest of their supplies.......well I think the highest ticket item was .50 cents. I KNOW I got just plain lucky there. Lord knows I never had luck like that when my 3 were in school. ugh
You'll see a change once your coupon stash is bigger, and with some practice. easy child and I have overspent several times and we've both been mad at ourselves for it. But it seems to be part of the territory. I know for me, it's just made me more careful. I make my list for each store. Then I find out from husband how much cash I have to work with after bills that week. Then I edit the list according to how much cash I have to work with.......like do I really need such and such, is it
really a good deal?, can I wait until the next sale type thing. Then? I walk away from it, come back to it some hours later and do the same thing, do I really want / need what is on that list, is it really a good deal or should I wait, and I might cut it down more before I ever walk out the door. Then, when we get to the store.......if there for some reason I don't feel like it's worth it, I still might not pick up certain items.
When I first started I printed out every coupon I came across with great excitement at my "finds". Now I don't print much. If it's not something I know I'm going to use, or someone I know is going to use, I leave it..........UNLESS it's a freebie item that week, then I'll print it if I didn't get it in the paper or something. Ink and paper was getting costly. When we first started I probably wasn't saving very much due to the cost of the ink and paper alone. Also, I'd have husband run out and get a stack of papers on sunday morning. Now? I cut that down too because really you don't need a stack of papers. So that cut down cost. Highest amt I get now is 4.
But I can't tell you how many free things of tampons (small boxes of course), panty liners, and even nursing pads I've picked up, which get passed on to Nichole who uses them. But if it's not free, I'll just give her the coupons and she can watch for deals with them. lol
I think though, it also helps if you've got good stores to work with. Ours aren't too bad. Nichole could really clean up where she is because she has a wider selection of stores. I'd kill to have Target or Meijer close enough. ugh