Is that coupon taunting you? Yesterday without any trouble I tossed some coupons in the recycling bin because I knew I would never use them. Yet, there are still a couple of coupons that I am holding on to because they haven’t expired yet and I still might use them. The coupons that I am recycling I don’t know anyone who would use the product and don’t know where the product is even sold so the next time I went to the store I could put the coupons on the shelves near the time. That was too much work since I don’t know where to buy the product.

Coupons, like cash or credit cards can burn a hold into you pocket if you are not accustomed to them. Who really wants to pass up a great deal? If the item is free but you won’t use it, then why would you want to use a coupon promising you two of the same item for free with purchase?

Is it always wise to stock up?

I was having a conversation with a new acquaintance about Sam’s Club vs. Costco. I said that both had quantities that were too large for me for most items. Except things like toilet paper or paper towels.

Stocking up when items are cheap, a deal or a good price seems like a great thing to do, unless you don’t have enough space or won’t use the item. I have yet to meet a person who has regretted stocking up on toilet paper but have met many people who bought a larger quantity of an item that they couldn’t use.  If someone gave you something you don’t feel like you made as great a mistake with your money, but when you have spent your own money purchasing a product, it makes it difficult.

Non perishable items are the best to stock up on, within reason. A great del on stationery or wrapping paper that you will never use is not such a bargain. If you send a lot of thank you cards or wrap gifts for a large family then those items would come in handy.

When stocking up on items, you need to have space to store it. A 36-roll pack of toilet paper or an 18-roll of paper towels may not be easily stored in a studio apartment, but may be easily hidden in a larger apartment provided there is space.

Even if you have some items that you can freeze at the peak of freshness, overstuffing your freezer to the point where  you cannot put anything else in it is not wise. Filling a freezer until it’s brimming over doesn’t allow you to find things easily or add items that you need and can cause you to overpurchase, because you can’t find what you have.

People with school aged children, or even adult students themselves, might want to consider buying extra school supplies  – enough to last them throughout the school year. In several months, when paper, folders and other items are not on sale, using items from a personal stash will definitely save money.

Know what you will use and stock up on those items within reason.

Are there times when you still want to save some money but want to do it in style? Check out these banks at Oddee.com. Though according to Wallet Pop the piggy bank is a worthless piece of junk. Obviously, they haven’t found the right one yet and don’t realize that the concept of savings has to be taught as well.

The forecast for back to school shopping is looking bleak for retailers. This year, numbers are predicted to decrease by 7.7% for elementary and high school purchases.

According to the National Retail Federation’s 2009 Back to School Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, the average family with students in grades Kindergarten through 12 is expected to spend $548.72 on school merchandise, a decline of 7.7 percent from $594.24 in 2008. 

This year’s back-to-college and back-to-school spending combined will total $47.50 billion.

Is it any surprise that many people will shop the sales? Maybe not. This morning, I heard this information on the radio and a suggestion was made to buy school supplies at office supply stores instead of drug and discount stores. Buying school supplies at one place will not save you any money. Some stores are advertising “loss leaders” to get you in the store for a short while. Case in point, CVS offered two pocket folders for 5¢, limit 10 with your store card just for the first three days of the sale. After that, the folders would be 50¢ each. Target had Crayons on sale but the price wasn’t advertised.

Even if there is a list of school supplies, go through and see which things are optional and which you definitely need. Buying everything at one place was never an option when I was a child. We always shopped the sales. Now that people are using money more wisely, it is vital to bundle errands, have someone else (a relative or friend) buy some to get around purchase limits – unless you are buying alcohol children can make purchases as well.

Unless there is a sign that says no rainchecks – ask for one. Or if there is supposed to be a shipment coming in at another time, ask when the store will get the shipment and restock the shelves. Occasionally there are more items in back, stores may wait to put them out until after the sale has ended or only receive a small shipment. Go early when items are on sale (if you can) – don’t wait until Friday to shop for items listed in the Sunday circular, many products will already be sold out.

Hunting for back to school bargains will be more of a necessity this year than ever. Looking around and starting early will give you a greater chance of getting the best deals.

Do you hide money?

MSNBC  has an article today that discusses people who hide money and the problems that it can cause those who squirrel away the money. Many older people who hide money, may succumb to Alzheimer’s or die and relatives many not know about the hidden money. Also other people who live in the person’s home may not know about the hidden money and dispose of some of the hiding places such as tins, books or pieces of furniture.

Recently there was an Israeli woman who bought her mother a new mattress and tossed the old one. Inside was her mother’s life savings – $1,000,000.

Most of the money that is stashed in and around homes is for emergency purposes. Sometimes people forget where they have hidden money. Unlike when we were kids and would count our money daily, in order to save for that big purchase, some folks just put cash away and then forget it.

Who hasn’t found money in an old bag or jacket pocket just left there or money just in a drawer?

Hiding money in your home and forgetting about it isn’t a good thing. But if you choose to save money at home, buy a safe with a lock or a box with a lock and hide it. Tell someone you trust where you money is – just in case. My grandmother had money hiding places in her home when we sold it, that I knew about, but my mother didn’t. My father was recently shredding some old papers and found several hundred dollars in cash in a paper bag that he said he didn’t remember that he had.  The only reason he was going through the box was because my parents were sorting out some things from the garage for donation.

The small amount of interest that you can earn isn’t worth it to take to the bank for certain amounts. Many people have small amounts of cash that they save or even in the case of one episode of a woman on “How Clean Is Your House,” the lady just empties cash out of her pockets onto the floor or whatever surface when she came home. The cleaners found hundreds of dollars that they lady didn’t know she had.