Day 7: Couponing Pitfalls

(Before reading any farther make sure you started with my Beginners Guide to Couponing) Now that you have had a chance to try couponing and actually put your efforts together into a shopping trip you may be questioning if this is actually worth it. Instead of going into another part of couponing I thought I would take the time to discuss some of the pitfalls that newbie couponers find themselves experiencing and give you some advice on how to avoid them. *~* Dont know where to start? Overwhelmed?This is definitely a normal feeling to have when you start couponing. You are learning an entirely different way of shopping, and learning anything new takes time and practice. Start small and build up. Only focus on saving money on a few items until you have learned your store.  *~* Dont buy it unless you need it!Couponing can save you money, but one of the biggest pitfalls to new couponers is buying items they dont need just because they are on sale. You will end up spending more money if you buy everything that is on sale. (If you feel the need to get the deal always keep in mind who does need the item --- donate!) *~* I am not saving any money!You do not need to use every coupon that you clip, or get every deal at every store. Take into consideration your time and gas. You do not need to go shopping every day. Try to plan ahead and make 1 or 2 shopping trips a week.  *~* My store does NOT double!If your grocery stores does not double coupons, don't worry, you can still save a lot of money. As long as your store accepts coupons you are good! Many stores, like Walmart, do not double, but they do offer price matching. Also, you can save a lot of money by shopping at drugstores because many of them stack coupons, so focus on the stores you have even if they don't double coupons.  Day 8: Be Realistic