Reader Sarah left a really good question on Facebook in the MyLitter Best Deals Group (If you want to join that group just ask HERE and I will get you approved). I thought it was really smart to plan ahead like she is and have the forethought to have a get started plan.
From Sarah: “I want to take a break from couponing. (Maybe 3 months) I have a stock pile already. My question is do I continue to buy the paper? So when I do decide to start again I will have coupons. Any thoughts?”
Personally, I have taken breaks from “couponing” for different reasons in the past few years. Mostly it was when I have had a new baby and I knew that some things were going to just have to wait. Also, most of you have heard me talk about the Christmas where all 7 kids had the chicken pox. That wasn’t a planned break, but I took one!!
What I would do is stop the paper and then about 4 weeks before you want to start again, just go back to getting at least one a week. That way you have some coupons to get started. I would also just go to printing coupons during the break.
What do you think?? Any advice?!
Marie says
We are going to be moving out of state soon so I have not been using as many coupons but still getting at least 1 paper each Sunday if the coupons I see on the coupon preview look like they at least pay for the paper and then some. I had a decent stockpile if you will and we have been using that in Jan. and this month. I am only buying what we need and plan on using as much as possible before our move. Everyone needs to take a break I think every so often because like anything you do on a almost constant basis, you need to recharge yourself. Almost like a vacation. So I think in a way that is what I’m doing myself. But will still use coupons during this process whether from a paper or printed from a computer.
jessica says
I would think you would still want to keep getting the paper…at least one…so that if there are any FREE deals you can snag them up. If anything you could donate them. I have a hard time passing up FREE items just because I know that when my stock pile starts to dwindle, that item is not going to be free anymore. I always have enough toiletries to last a life time it seems but it has been so nice to be able to help friends and family by letting them come “shop” at my house. I even gave everyone (all the adults) a toiletry goody bag for Christmas.
Nettie says
I recently took a break from couponing. I was only getting the weekend paper delivered. When I came back to it, every coupon in my binder was expired and there wasn’t much I could do with one paper. I’d suggest maybe cutting down to 2 papers in case a sale comes up. I found some sales that required 2 coupons and I had to spend more because I only had 1. It’s always nice to take a break. I call couponing my part-time job.
amy says
I have taken breaks in the past and have always kept getting the paper. I get 2 Sunday papers delivered . As soon as I get the paper, I just file the entire insert. When I am ready to shop, that is when I make my list and clip.
I have always kept getting the paper so when I start back I will still have some of the coupons .. some may have expired, but there are still some that are useable.