[lafischer]

I've used Q and have tried to follow all the examples i read but still i have questions.
1. what is a blinkie machine and what stores are they in?
2. What is the best way to get Qs?
3. What is the best way to trade with someone?
3. What is the best way to keep track of you savings?
OR
4. How do you track what you're doing?

My husband has seen me go and use 45 Qs and save 101.78 with a total of 12.74 out of pocket, but he tells me that maybe I'm doing it wrong. We ended up with a lot of mr. clean products that were close to free and about 20 boxes of kotex tampons and 20 boxes of liners. the liners free and the tampons close to it. He thinks that i might be just buying them because i can get them close to free and that maybe there is a better way of ....i'm not sure how to put it. I guess i just need more help getting organized!

If anyone can help it would be you guys i've followed you all for about a year and know that i'm dealing with the pros.

Thanks

[jessl]

Hi!
Blinkie machines are little things attached to the self that spit out a coupon. If you take it after a few seconds another one will spit out. Some of them have lights that blink on them, which is where the name comes from. I have seen them at grocery stores (Shaws, stop and shop in my case) as well as at CVS.

There are lots of ways to get coupons, its hard to say what the best is. You can get multiple papers, trade, order from the clippers, bid on auctions, look for tearpads...What is best depends on what you happen to need. If you use a lot of different coupons you may want to get multiple newspapers, but if you find yourself using 20 each of 5 different coupons it may make more sense to order from a clipper service.

If you are just getting started with trading, I would look in the "ISO" forum to see what coupons people are looking for, and if you have what they need send them a PM. Let them know what you are asking in return (wishlist coupons, paypal, etc.) You may want to set up a wishlist to make it easier. Then you can tell them you are looking for coupons from your wishlist instead of listing out what you are looking for each time.

Also you may want to consider joining a train. This is a good way to get started with getting extra coupons and passing on the ones you don't need.

I keep track of my savings in a spreadsheet. I just record the store, date, amount spent, amount saved and calculate the % savings.

It is very common when you start stockpiling for your husband to think you are crazy and question what you are doing. As long as you are in your budget and getting things you need you are doing great! Usually they come around eventually

[lafischer]

thanks

[brook6]

I am NOT a stockpiler, so consider that on this answer...

as an example... if you have 20 sets tampons/liners and you use one set for your 'monthly', that is 20 months supply

for me, that would mean I may pass up MANY opportunities to buy more...because there will always be another sale closer to the time I need more [maybe when I was down to 5 sets] and I don't want to spend tax to store more than 20

anyway, if you are stockpiling for resale or donations, that's fine
but if you are stockpiling just because there are deals out there, you may want to consider what are your limits or what else you can do with your money/time/space ...there will ALWAYS be deals out there

btw, I have nothing against stockpiling...just don't want to do it

[jessl]

Yes think about how much room you have to store stuff too. If you buy too many of one thing you won't have room for anything else.