[pattysullivan3]

My husband is close to losing his job tomorrow is decision day.
I am new to couponing but have enjoyed saving $$. Any suggestions on where-what to stockpile? I have most stores close to me(Rainbow,Cub, SuperTarget,Walgreens,CVS & KMART) so I can try different avenues. ANY help suggestions would be greatly appreciated! THANKS!!!

[jeanettebr]

so sorry!
well I do know from experience that you can get things like toothpaste, toothbrushes, bodywash, shampoo/conditioner, mouthwash, soap etc etc....very little OOP at places like WAGS and CVS....so those things are easily covered and the deals pop up alot.

food is harder but it sounds like you have some good grocery stores...maybe try searching the Rainbow and Cub forums for ideas there....

do you have anything stockpiled so far? Just hang in there and read those forums...theres good deals at WAGS the next couple weeks!!

[pattysullivan3]

THANKS!! I will probably start with double coupon wednesday next week. I hope they have some good deals.

[brook6]

the key to stretching your dollars as far as possible it to combine Qs with sales...keep oop low as possible

[noellebrow]

Do you meal plan based on sales and items in pantry? One of the key things to saving money is to use the stockpile! Sounds silly, but it takes a little while to biuld up a stockpile, so in the meantime plan meals from sales flyers for the week and try a internet search for $5 meals and such. Once your stockpile is built up a little, you will have more ingredients on hand to have more variety without breaking the bank!
When I first started I felt the need to get tons of an item on sale. I soon realized I was spending too much money and that a similar sale would come around soon.
Also, be mindful of expiration dates or you'll be throwing away your money.
Sorry about your husband...hope things are looking up for you real soon.

[lovechelle27]

i would agree and say that the toiletries are easy to stockpile w/ lil oop, i have just started and have mouthwash, toothpaste, feminine stuff, and dish soap stocking up... find deals like albertsons doublers to get (free) stuff, i seem to get lots of snack items in the food dept. but can use them to make meals... i'm new so i still am figuring this out too... good luck w/ ur family and job situations!

[pattysullivan3]

THANKS! I don't know what the future holds for us but I want to be as prepared as I can. I do try to plan my meals with whats on sale or what I have already. I need to ger more organized & make a menu ahead of time. I don't have much of a stockpile yet. I now know that I need to go to the store & buy lots of 1 thing (cheap) & not a little bit of everything. Which has been my mistake in this. But I need to get MORE coupons in order to do that.

[couponRN]

Patty,
I agree with everyone here. Due to expiration dates, toiletries are the best to stockpile. When buying foods to stockpile be conscious of the dates. Sometimes stores will have special sales on foods that have very short shelf life dates. Do you have an extra freezer or closet or garage shelf to use for stockpiling. Get organized so you are aware of what you have and which sales to pass up. When you have 20 tubes of toothpaste, maybe you want to skip the next sale and use those coupons to trade for something you do need. Other stuff to stockpile are air fresheners, cleaners (including laundry), and gift ideas (candles, pens, etc.). I use 2 bathroom closets, 2 dresser drawers, a suitcase, 2 pantry closets, and the garage utility (sink) closet. I keep certain items in specific places. Keep organized to get the best value for your buck. And, remember that if you have (like me) 30+ bottles of shampoo in your house, list those free shampoo (with sale) coupons to trade for what you do need. If no one has what you want, maybe a donation to the local homeless shelter is the way to go (get a receipt each time for the tax write off).