Extreme Couponing 101: Step Seven: Build up that stockpile!

Step Seven: Build up that stockpile!

Building up a stockpile is essential to being a successful couponer. I have heard people say “I want to start couponing, but I don’t want to have a stockpile or I don’t have room to have a stockpile.” I say to them “well then I guess you won’t be very successful at couponing.” It may sound harsh, so please let me explain.
Couponing works by holding onto your coupons in anticipation of a great sale. Once that sale comes along, you need to use your coupons with the sale to buy the product at its “rock bottom price”. You need to buy as many of that product as you will need to last you until the next sale.
For example, your favorite toothpaste usually costs $2.99 a tube. This week your grocery store has it on sale 10/$10. You have a coupon for .75 cents off so you will be able to score it for .25 cents! You need to buy enough to last you and your family until the next sale comes along (sale cycles are usually every 3 months or so). If you buy five tubes you will pay $1.25, saving $13.70!
So that is what a stockpile is…items your family are always using and things that are constantly being rotated. It seems people have a misconception that couponers are just filling their homes with products their family will never, ever use, but that is not correct! ONLY stockpile things you will use…anything else is just taking up space.
The size and amount of things in your stockpile depends entirely on you. Don’t feel like you have to have 25 bottles of laundry detergent and 78 boxes of cereal in your stockpile because that is what you have seen on TV. If your family is constantly eating oatmeal instead of cereal, stock up on oatmeal! If you go through a pack of diapers every couple days, then 15 packs of diapers may look like a lot to an outsider, but you know those would last you a little over a month! WHY NOT stock up on your favorite things when you can? Once you begin to coupon, you will learn fast that it doesn’t take long for your stockpile to grow.
If you live in tight quarters, you may need to get creative with where you store your stockpile. Not everyone has a huge basement or garage they can devote to their stockpiles, and that is 100% okay! You may need to look at spots in your home in a new light. Under beds, or in linen closets may be the perfect place to store extra paper products or toiletries. When it comes to having to decide to clear out that junk in your closet or paying full price for something…which would you prefer?

And stay tuned for the final step in Extreme Couponing 101:Step Eight: Keep things in perspective.