Chasing loss leaders....is it really worth it?

The number one objection I hear to couponing is...."my time is valuable, I'm not willing to waste it on this". I know that after all the time each one of you already put into organizing your coupons and cherry picking those deals, there are days when you ask yourself (and possibly your husband asks you), is it REALLY worth it?

Repeat after me: IT MOST CERTAINLY IS!

If you are a member of Hot Coupon World, then you may have already received their Tuesday Saver newsletter in your inbox, but here's what Julie Parrish shares:

"...small trips to the store really do add up. Here's why. If you can go in, get the loss leaders, maximize any doubles and coupons to go with them, you can get lots of little freebies/cheap items. Yesterday for example, we did the loss leaders, used the $3 worth of double coupons, and register printed receipt coupon on a trip. I was in, out, and done in about 10 minutes. Savings was about $19 and we spent $3. Looking back at July's receipts, chasing loss leaders over multiple trips saved me close to $500 with a very low out of pocket.

It does take time, and with all the hoops on some of them, you do have to be organized, but I more than paid for my gas and time with these savings. So as marketers are doing what they can to get you in the store, this is a good time to be chasing loss leader sales. Do avoid the "spend X amount ones" unless you really need to spend $20 in other shopping. A .99c box of pop tarts that's free after coupon but you had to spend $20 to use the coupon and you didn't need $20 of other groceries doesn't make that box of pop tarts such a great deal.

So be savvy about the loss leaders, and don't be afraid to invest time making multiple trips to chase small amounts of goods - it can really pay off in the long run by keeping your cash in your pocket."

I don't know how you feel, but $500 (and sometimes more) is worth it to me!

I look at it this way...if I worked a part-time job to make $500 a month after taxes, I would have to be away from my children, answer to someone else, work a schedule someone else dictated and still take care of my home responsibilities.

Couponing is like having that part-time job but I get to call the shots!

Not counting this blog but including my shopping time each week and shopping for Coupons for Christ, I probably spend about 8-10 hours per week on my own personal couponing. So 10 hours per week X 4.33 weeks in a month = 43.3 total hours. Do the math and that works out to about $11.55 per hour. (If you don't have a large family or a ministry you shop for, then you could quite easily spend less time and your hourly take is higher).

Plus I get a BONUS! I know that what I am doing for my family glorifies God because He calls me to wisely use ALL He has given me. I am also being a good steward of my husband's hard-earned money which honors him and strengthens our relationship.

So when you start to doubt, put things into perspective. Go back over the month, do the math and see where you stand. Then decide!