99centqueen

Whenever you go and look in your local newspaper you find a couple of things, the latest news, local reviews in entertainment, sports, finance, and oh….something that we usually separate from our daily reading…coupons.  What are those coupons anyways?  Do they really help when you go shopping? Are they of some value?  And if creamer at this time costs $4.30 cents for half a gallon, what is a .25 cent coupon going to help with anyways?  I know that some people think this way but I believe it is the wrong way of thinking.  You can’t just look at ONE coupon as saving you money….you have to look at the overall picture of what coupons (and I mean coupons) can do for you and your budget over a period of time. I dare you to change your way of looking at the paper and those “useless shoved off to the bottom of your recycle bin for the Monday trash pick up” paper and really find some value.  There are three things that can help you towards changing your mind about using coupons and how to save for them.

1. Imagine the coupon as just that…. as physical money and/or change.  When I look at a coupon and find that is says .35 cents or .50 cents, or even (if I get lucky) .75 cents off on a certain item, I actually visualize it as change not just a piece of paper.  This helps me to actually look at is as the manufacture or seller as physically putting change in my hand and telling me they are going to help me purchase their product. They are so called giving me an “incentive” to buy their product by throwing a couple of pennies, nickles and dimes at me to help me purchase their item.

2. Look for coupons for your favorite items: This will actually encourage you to start looking through the paper every week for the coupons.  You don’t just want to cut coupons for foot cream just because it is in there and if you buy two the second one is free? Make sure to clip coupons that you are GOING to use.  That actually going to make the find a little exciting. Especially if they are for items that you like to purchase for you and your family.

3.  Make sure that you organize your coupons so when you go to the store you have them with you: The worst thing that you can do is look for coupons, clip them out, then just stick them in a drawer and forget that you clipped them, then go to the grocery store and don’t even use them.  Make sure to keep your coupons in some type of organized envelop/ and or coupon book (you can make your own or purchase one on eBay or your local office supply store) and make sure to take this item with you.  Another good thing to do when you are organizing is to actually write down what you want to purchase before you go to the store with your coupons (so you don’t do any impulse buying …..but that is in another article and will go through that later).

If nothing else, this should be a couple of things that you can do to help you get on your way to looking, organizing and using coupons. On a later date, I will let you know that you can do double by learning how the favorite store and/or stores that you go to purchase your items use coupons that can save you even more money.

So now, take the time to condition yourself to look at coupons differently…..you will reap the benefits in the long run.

Hello and welcome to my first post.  I am very happy to have the opportunity to blog about this subject.  I named my blog 99centqueen because I am cheap….yes…I said it.  I am cheap and proud of it.  You can call me all kinds of names…penny saver, penny pincher, miser but don’t call my stingy.  I love to clip coupons, discounts, free items, and anything that helps me to save money.  I love the way I live when it comes to spending what I have.  It has taken me quite a while to build this type of lifestyle to it has all been worth it.  This year I have taken a great leap of faith and started to work at home (and how that has been a wonderful help with finances) Now I down have to pay a babysitter, drive to work ( and you know how gas prices have been and will be going up in the future) , buy office clothes,  eat out for lunch,  use my gas to drive back home and pick up other kids from home and then start my other part of my day fixing dinner (or buying it) and helping with homework.  It is all done here at home.  I guess since I have had the opportunity to build my home office, I have done a lot of research on money saving tips and use them.  I will be sharing all of my wonderful secrets (and quarks) that I hope will also help others to save money.  It may help someone to start saving for a vacation, car or even retirement.  My goal is to help people to save money for what they want and need.  To find out that yes, you already HAVE the money to buy or save what you want, you might need to change a couple of things to make that difference in your life that will get you what you want or where you want to go.  Please during this time let me know your goals and how you will save during towards the end of the year and this season.  God bless and hope to hear from you in the comments.