coupon burn out

We have been couponing since about February. And a few weeks ago I think I experienced coupon burn out. I had stopped looking at the coupon blogs, I had stopped using coupons, I had even stopped clipping coupons. (we take 5 papers each Sunday, one week there were only 2 inserts and one week there were 4, you do the math. that was a lot of coupons.) But I had just had enough. I think it started to happen around the time I was starting to plan our school year. I was getting our schedules worked out, trying to see how to fit it all in and trying to figure out what to do with the baby. And couponing was the last thing I wanted to do.

I had read a post on a blog that talked about dealing with burn out, which come to find out most couponers deal with at one time or another. But she had some great suggestions...

1) Don't try to hit every store and get every deal. (check)

2) Price match at Walmart to save time. (check)

3) Take a break. (check)

and the one that got me

4) Look for only the really great deals.

I found on the same blog a great cereal deal. I was able to price match at Walmart cereal that was on sale for $.97, and I had a coupon for $5 off 5 boxes. That would make them free, well free plus 3 cents overage! And... I had 4 coupons. Yes, that would be 20 boxes for free, plus the overage. But wait. I had more coupons, not quite as good but still pretty good, I guess. I was able to get 20 boxes for 25 cents each. (for those of you following along at home, that make it 40 boxes of cereal! for $4.) Now if that is not going to get me back in the game then nothing will.

It did. I hit Walmart once again for double coupon Tuesday. Got free nexcare bandages, a free post-it note, a 2 pack of dry erase markers for $.47, and was able to price match some great deals on produce. It feels good to be back.

I have to learn how to make this work with our life. Even tonight during America's Got Talent I will be clipping coupons. My goal is to be caught up on the clipping before Sunday. I enjoy couponing, my mom would be so proud of the deals that I am getting. In fact our last conversation was about couponing. I was just getting into it and told her and she was excited for me. She was big couponer when I was young, so it must be in my blood.