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PSA: Coupon books made my spending worse, not better | Budgeting Wins - Freelance Forum - The Community for Independent Professionals

west.rowan•7mo ago

PSA: Coupon books made my spending worse, not better

I used to think couponing was the key to good budgeting. It turns out I just bought more junk because it was on sale. Now I ignore discounts and only get what I need. My grocery costs dropped by half. I call that a real win.

4 comments

6 Comments

the_rose7mo ago

I switched to a strict list, same result.

hannah_craig7mo ago

Doubt it's as bad as all that. People make strict lists for stuff like a week of meal prep, not a life or death thing. You're still basically fine, right? This feels like turning a small hassle into a huge deal when the world is full of actual problems.

aaronl937mo ago

When you say 'same result', it makes me wonder if the problem is deeper than just the list. Maybe there's something else getting in the way that a list can't fix.

sethm586mo ago

Yeah, the "same result" part really sticks out. I read something about how strict lists can backfire if the real issue is mental energy, not organization. Like, your brain might just be too tired to follow any system, even a perfect one. The article said forcing it when you're drained just makes you feel worse for failing. Maybe the list isn't the tool that's broken, it's the fuel you're trying to run on. So the fix might be about rest, not a better planner.

uma6596mo ago

Wait, is this really a big deal? It's just a shopping list. @aaronl93 has a point about something deeper maybe, but come on, we all forget stuff sometimes. You didn't waste a ton of money, you just had to make an extra trip. Calling it a "same result" failure sounds way too serious for a minor annoyance.

taylorhall5mo ago

I think the main issue is that discounts sometimes change buying behavior. Many people end up purchasing extra things simply because they look like good deals, even when they are not actually needed. Smart budgeting is probably less about chasing every offer and more about buying intentionally.

That said, comparing prices and checking trusted deal stores like SavingSays before making planned purchases can still help people save money without overspending.