In the beginning I was really skeptical about couponing. On television, I watched these unbelievable and scary stories of couponers whose houses were full from ceiling to floor with items they had no use for. I assumed couponers were hoarders who bought unnecessary items.
In addition to not wanting my home to become a mini-Costco, I did not see the immediate benefit that couponing would provide to my family of four. Nor did I know if I would be able to sacrifice the time to master the skill and actually see the benefits of couponing. However, after being encouraged to attend a class, I was sold on the benefits.
In that course, I learned the techniques and process of couponing and I have not looked back since! What began as a test-run has turned into a way of life. Upon starting my couponing journey, I have seen the personal, professional, and community wide benefits. Moreover, couponing is actually fun once you learn the technique.
Couponing has allowed me to spend less on groceries and focus more on saving money and spending time with family. For example, with my husband, a teenage and pre-teen son, groceries can quickly become expensive. Through couponing, I have been able to save and reallocate the money I did not spend on groceries or household items towards fun activities with my family. We now have the money to enjoy a family vacation, afford after-school programs, provide my kids with bigger allowances, and add to our emergency fund. Couponing has allowed our household to spend more time together and save money in the process.
Beyond helping my immediate family, couponing has been a blessing to my extended family and community. My niece, who is in college, has yet to purchase toiletries for her dormitory. My Grandmother, who is on a fixed income, does not have to worry about purchasing meat, can goods, and other household items. Also, for the past thirty years, my family hosts a Thanksgiving dinner for the community on the east side of Downtown Charleston. I have annually participated in the event, but I am now able to do more as a result of my couponing. In addition to donating food for the dinner, for the past three years, I have also been able to provide groceries to 30 needy families in the neighborhood. This means a lot to me because I would certainly not be able to purchase or provide these families with supplies if it were not for my couponing.
Now that you know some of the benefits of couponing, I will provide you a few ways to begin: The easiest way to get started is by taking a class or asking a friend to help you get involved. But even before attending a class, you can collect coupon inserts from family or neighbors. Cut out the coupons you need to shop and plan your meals according to the sale of the week. The rule to remember is that it is best to shop with coupons while the product is on sale and stockpile while it is either free or cheap.
Submitted by Encounter, The Magazine
