Tips for the Overwhelmed

When you first start, it can be hard to know what to do and where to go. If you're overwhelmed, use these top tips from a Shopping Expert to help you.

• Move away from buying based on need.  When your list is consistently need items, it’s difficult to save. You buy regardless of price. Change your mindset to stocking up and deal-watching. When something is cheap, don’t pass on it just because you don’t need it “this week”. If you’ll ever use it, grab it. Then, when you do need it – it’s already there, at a fraction of the cost.

• Stick to one store at first. Conquer the system you use, get a win or two under your belt. Trying to go multiple places the first week or two can be daunting.

• Spend a little time to save a lot of money.  Learning a whole new way of shopping will take some time. Do not become discouraged. Getting used to a system, getting situated for coupon printing, organizing your newspaper coupons… all are necessary to saving big. Once organized, preparing to shop speeds up tremendously.

• If time is a major factor -  divide up shopping preparation tasks. Make your list one day, gather your coupons the next, finalize your list the third. Then shop.

• Play the waiting game.  If an item you want is not on sale, but you could get by without it, wait. You never know what the price may be next week. Waiting often pays off.

• Don’t go “deal crazy” on non-food items.   It’s easy to get swept away by the incredible deals you now realize you’ve been missing. Be careful not to blow your grocery budget on too many non-food items when starting out. Use moderation so you can still buy food. Things will go on sale again, don't worry.

• Never Give Up!   Resetting your shopping mindset is not easy. What is easy is to make no permanent changes. Easy – but financial death. If you didn’t need to save – you wouldn’t bother. But you do. Shopping with coupons, buying the deals, stocking up – works. Rejoice in small victories – and know it is a process. Just like no one would expect to drop 100 pounds in one week, don’t quit if you do not save hundreds the first time out. It will work for you.

• Ready to shop at multiple stores but worried about gas prices? Most couponers shop where there's a major grocery store, and maybe Walmart or Target, and/or a drug store close enough to each other to go all in one day. Plan your route carefully, bearing in mind purchases (such as frozen foods) and the weather. You will still save more than you spend on gas.

• Find space to store all of your great deals:  If you are short on space or don’t have an adequate pantry, you can still stock up and save money. Canned goods and non-perishable items can be stored just about anywhere – under beds, in closets, a shed, garage, the basement. Be creative! Where there’s a will to save, there’s a way to store it. A freezer will increase your capacity for savings as well.