Coupon Burnout: Overcoming the Guilt of NOT Couponing

In addition to people who hate couponers, there’s a segment of shoppers who feel guilty that they don’t coupon. What to do if you have a bad case of Coupon Burnout.

I’m part of a lovely book group, and many of the women were in my January coupon workshops. Last night was a get-together and when a couple of the women who I haven’t seen in a while saw me, they told me they fell off the coupon bandwagon, or that they just can’t do it, or that they just can’t shop like I do. The guilt was palpable and it made me uncomfortable.

If you hop from store to store and feel your heart racing when you find products for free with coupon, you are heading for Coupon Burnout. Then, you’ll quit couponing and the guilt will set in. Stop the silly cycle of burnout and guilt. Take it slow! (Photo credit: Hotcouponworld.com)

I am not sure if they still think I’m an extreme couponer (I’m so not). When I told them that I don’t use coupons every time I shop, they were shocked! I only use coupons when I see a great deal that’s on sale that matches my coupons (i.e.: free containers of Wet Ones wipes at ShopRite this week–we use them all summer on our boat and at the beach so of course I’ll grab four to eight of them!). But folks…there’s no need to feel guilty if you DON’T use coupons, for heaven’s sake! If not couponing works for you, then that’s completely okay!

The guilt is going to set in soon since a new season of TLC’s “Extreme Couponing” show begins end of May. Inevitably, more people will ask me how to coupon, more people will go nuts with coupons, and then they stop couponing. Just like the women who went to my workshops. They have a case of Coupon Burnout. The trick is not to use every coupon you see in every store you shop. It’s a matter of what you need, what you want, what’s on sale, and if you have the coupons to stock a few of the same product (so you don’t have to go out and get one full price).

A bit of guilt is normal after going gangbusters on couponing. But that phase should last a short time. Just enjoy coupons, enjoy what you buy, and stop feeling guilty every time you see me :–)

~Marilyn, TFF

Related articles

• Extreme Couponing Myths (savings.com)

Two Frugal Fairfielders Invited to Present at Fairfield Public Library’s “Reinvent Your Financial Future” Workshop Series

The Fairfield Public Library has been awarded a $50,000 “Smart investing @ your library®” grant from the FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) Investor Education Foundation and the American Library Association. One of 16 libraries nationwide to receive this grant in the latest round of funding, the Library will use the funds to administer its own “Smart Investor” program. Library Director Karen Ronald said, “Library usage continues to grow significantly as people borrow materials and attend programs without stressing their budgets. This grant provides us with an opportunity to help our patrons during this tough economic time and increase awareness of personal finance through new resources and new programs.”

The Fairfield Public Library was given a grant by FINRA, resulting in a great new, free workshop series called "Reinvent Your Finances," and we will be there! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The 21-session series runs through July, and TFF will present three sessions in June. Here’s our schedule, but please, sign up for all of the sessions. (Click here for the full schedule of great workshops.) The library has a “Bonus Bucks” program where the more sessions you attend, the more you earn for a gift–I’ll update this post when I find out more about what’s available.

Session 7 of 21: Shopping Smart – Online Couponing Register now

Explore the new world of online couponing. Attend this hands-on workshop and learn about Coupons.com, and a host of other online couponing sites such as Groupon, Living Social, Retail-Me-Not, Amazon’s Subscribe-and-Save and Fairfield Coupon. Discover the savings benefits and pitfalls of using each site. Learn about the “Bonus Bucks” program offered throughout this new series.

Saturday, June 2, 11:00 am

Rotary Room
Presenter: Marilyn Zelinsky-Syarto, Journalist /Consumer Expert and Amanda Doerr of Fairfield Coupon

Session 15 of 21: Shopping Smart – Advanced Couponing Register now

Sort out some of the confusion of most beginner couponers. Learn how to put deals together, coupon at retail outlets, dollar stores, and discount retailers. Find out how to take advantage of the holiday seasons. Apply your new knowledge and find out how to set up a coupon exchange and a coupon train. Learn about the “Bonus Bucks” program offered throughout this new series.

Saturday, June 23, 11:00 am

Rotary Room
Presenter: Marilyn Zelinsky-Syarto, Journalist /Consumer Expert

Session 17 of 21: Budgeting and Envelope System, Budgeting 101: Learning to Face Your Finances Register now

If you find yourself wondering, “Where did all my money go?” then you need a budget. Learn the no-nonsense reason why having a budget eliminates day-to-day worries. Find out about the three vital, simple budget documents that you’ll need to dig you out of your financial hole. Learn about the tried and true cash-only envelope system endorsed by popular personal finance authors Dave Ramsey and Gail Vaz Oxlade. Learn about the “Bonus Bucks” program offered throughout this new series.

Wednesday, June 27, 7:00 pm

Rotary Room
Presenter: Marilyn Zelinsky-Syarto, Journalist /Consumer Expert

Coupon Binder Pages and Pockets Now Sold at Staples

Imagine how surprised I was last night to find a stand-alone display of coupon pockets and binders at Staples. I’d never seen that display there before, right in the front of the store for all to see. They run about $2.99 to $3.99 a 10-pack (different than the store’s brand of trading card inserts because these inserts actually fit various size coupons). Now you know couponing is more accepted than ever now that an office supply store sells these items. So, for anyone who can’t find baseball card inserts for coupon binders, and you don’t want to order from Amazon (it has a great selection of coupon pockets), just head to Staples for these heavy-duty coupon pockets. (I use a box, not a binder, so I can’t tell you if they are decent quality or not.)

Related articles

• Reader Question: What Size Plastic Inserts Do You Use in Your Coupon Binders? (livingrichwithcoupons.com)
• Making a coupon binder. (couponsandcrafts.wordpress.com)

Couponers Find Stop & Shop and ShopRite Less Expensive Than PriceRite

The gap between food prices at PriceRite and ShopRite/Stop & Shop is quickly narrowing.

The other day during my coupon group exchange, I sat in and listened to one person say that she wanted to go to PriceRite instead of a store that accepts coupons. (PriceRite is the sister store to ShopRite—and PriceRite is a no-frills store that doesn’t accept coupons. Read more about how to shop at PriceRite here.) I agree, sometimes couponing is a hassle and it’s nice to just walk into a store that does not accept coupons and not feel the coupon-stress.

ShopRite's sales often beat the price of its budget store, PriceRite. (United States) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’ve written numerous posts about PriceRite and how much I love the store. There are certain items I will buy there (Italian breads, non-organic fruits, seltzer, some ice creams). But its prices are slowly going up, too. It’s not as inexpensive to shop there as it once was, and, if you are couponing, you will soon sadly realize PriceRite may not be the bargain basement of grocery stores anymore.

Here are a couple of quick comparisons this week (3-25th):

PriceRite:

-Pepperidge Farm Goldfish: $1.99

-Selter .39 cents each lowest

-Sugar free chocolate popsicles .99 cents a pkg

Versus

-Stop & Shop: Pepperidge Farm Goldfish on sale BOGO (no -coupon) $2.39 for 2 ($1.20 each)

-ShopRite: seltzer 3 for $1 (no coupon)

-ShopRite: Same sugar free chocolate popsicles .99 cents a pkg (no coupon)

The other week I noted many, many more deals at both Stop and Shop and ShopRite that cost less money than the fixed prices at PriceRite. As long as you study the circulars and use coupons on top of sales, you will usually come out spending less money at the mainstream stores than you will at PriceRite.

Marilyn, TFF

Trader Joe’s Accepts Coupons?

News to us! Trader Joe's accepts coupons. Trader Joe's in West Hartford, CT. Photo: Ragesoss/Wikipedia Commons Public Domain

So, ya learn something new every day.

I thought Trader Joe’s did not accept manufacturer’s coupons. It turns out…they do….?

After someone from my coupon class came up to me after the session and recommended the website, Living Rich With Coupons, I dipped into it, and lo-and-behold, match-ups for Trader Joe’s! So, the list isn’t long, because of TJ’s own products. And, it turns out there are many other sites that match up TJ with coupons, too, such as faithfulprovisions.com, forthemommas.com, and probably more local blogs, as well.

Coupon Giveaways at Coupon Class

If you’re from around Fairfield, CT, remember to sign up for the two Coupons 101 classes at Fairfield Woods Branch Library January 23rd and January 31st from 11-1. There are stacks and bins of excess coupons that will be distributed for free. Also note: WE ARE SETTING UP A PERMANENT COUPON EXCHANGE AT THE BRANCH LIBRARY! Ongoing source of coupons!