Hello there!
My name is Cicily and I am here to help you save money.
There are no subscriptions or paid tutorials here. I genuinely just want to pass along the knowledge that I have learned over the years (sometimes the hard way) to help you in your search to save for a rainy day (or buy that pair of Louboutins you've been eyeing, no judgement!) ;)
In my blog we'll explore how to save on very specific items, how to save in more general terms, how and when to negotiate a better price if you are anti-confrontational and hate negotiating (like me, hi.), and how to make the most of in-store sales, coupons, seasonal specials, and more. And by all means, if you have a suggestion or a specific money-saving question, fire away!
So come along with me and let's go beyond the coupons!
Editorial note about the title:
I have nothing against coupons.
In fact, I love them. I have them in my house, in my car, in all the pockets of all the jackets, and I use them as much as I can. Why am I obsessed with going beyond coupons? Well, because I think they're amateur hour when it comes to saving money. Not to get too wistful, but couponing isn't what it once was. Did you ever see that TV show, Extreme Couponing? The show about the shoppers who took couponing to the literal extreme and matched store specials with liberal coupon policies, like no quantity limits, and "double coupon" days, to create MEGA STASHES in their basements of laundry detergent and canned goods for dayyyyysssssss.
Well, that show isn't on the air anymore. Why? Because, funny enough, when you brag and boast on a nationally broadcast TV show to viewers about how they too can get ALL THE THINGS for like 12 cents, the deal goes bust. Manufacturers realize that what was once a trick up the sleeve of a select few has been shared with the masses and soon items will be flying off the shelf at way below their production cost, so the fine print gets longer and limits are placed. Long gone are the days of double coupon days and unlimited quantities. (but if your store still has these limitless options for couponing, tell me differently. I live in a big(gish) city and I just know it's not a thing 'round my parts.)
Also, coupons were not created with you in mind. Not really, anyway.
We all know the deal, they show up in your inbox, your mail box, or your newspaper every day. They can save you $$ off very specific quantities of very specific items because the manufacturer wants you to buy the shiny new thing they just produced so that their first quarter sales of that item goes up. Or, in the case of store coupons, they get you in the door so you can head straight to that one item you need and... omg, look at this beautiful end cap display. I MUST HAVE this too.... etc. (I'm told a great sale is called a loss-leader in the retail biz. I think the name says it all regarding how the stores feel about it. It's the tool that gets you in the door, but they're depending on you doing the rest of your shopping--or better yet, browsing--while you're there).
I used to coupon a whole lot more than I do now and guess what? I spent a lot more money on my shopping trips because I was bedazzled by the shiny new item that I was told to buy. But I am very selective about my couponing now and almost exclusively limit it to keeping and using them on things I am buying anyway.
Bottom line: coupons are not created with the true intention of saving you money, which ends up being their number one problem. But we will talk about them, and we'll explore how you can still use them to your advantage, despite the silly fine print. I think that today's bargain shopper has to look beyond these pieces of money-saving paper to really get the best value out of buying all the things we want and need.
There, I made my peace.
I love coupons and they love me, but I want to see other people (sales) too.
My name is Cicily and I am here to help you save money.
There are no subscriptions or paid tutorials here. I genuinely just want to pass along the knowledge that I have learned over the years (sometimes the hard way) to help you in your search to save for a rainy day (or buy that pair of Louboutins you've been eyeing, no judgement!) ;)
In my blog we'll explore how to save on very specific items, how to save in more general terms, how and when to negotiate a better price if you are anti-confrontational and hate negotiating (like me, hi.), and how to make the most of in-store sales, coupons, seasonal specials, and more. And by all means, if you have a suggestion or a specific money-saving question, fire away!
So come along with me and let's go beyond the coupons!
Editorial note about the title:
I have nothing against coupons.
In fact, I love them. I have them in my house, in my car, in all the pockets of all the jackets, and I use them as much as I can. Why am I obsessed with going beyond coupons? Well, because I think they're amateur hour when it comes to saving money. Not to get too wistful, but couponing isn't what it once was. Did you ever see that TV show, Extreme Couponing? The show about the shoppers who took couponing to the literal extreme and matched store specials with liberal coupon policies, like no quantity limits, and "double coupon" days, to create MEGA STASHES in their basements of laundry detergent and canned goods for dayyyyysssssss.
Well, that show isn't on the air anymore. Why? Because, funny enough, when you brag and boast on a nationally broadcast TV show to viewers about how they too can get ALL THE THINGS for like 12 cents, the deal goes bust. Manufacturers realize that what was once a trick up the sleeve of a select few has been shared with the masses and soon items will be flying off the shelf at way below their production cost, so the fine print gets longer and limits are placed. Long gone are the days of double coupon days and unlimited quantities. (but if your store still has these limitless options for couponing, tell me differently. I live in a big(gish) city and I just know it's not a thing 'round my parts.)
Also, coupons were not created with you in mind. Not really, anyway.
We all know the deal, they show up in your inbox, your mail box, or your newspaper every day. They can save you $$ off very specific quantities of very specific items because the manufacturer wants you to buy the shiny new thing they just produced so that their first quarter sales of that item goes up. Or, in the case of store coupons, they get you in the door so you can head straight to that one item you need and... omg, look at this beautiful end cap display. I MUST HAVE this too.... etc. (I'm told a great sale is called a loss-leader in the retail biz. I think the name says it all regarding how the stores feel about it. It's the tool that gets you in the door, but they're depending on you doing the rest of your shopping--or better yet, browsing--while you're there).
I used to coupon a whole lot more than I do now and guess what? I spent a lot more money on my shopping trips because I was bedazzled by the shiny new item that I was told to buy. But I am very selective about my couponing now and almost exclusively limit it to keeping and using them on things I am buying anyway.
Bottom line: coupons are not created with the true intention of saving you money, which ends up being their number one problem. But we will talk about them, and we'll explore how you can still use them to your advantage, despite the silly fine print. I think that today's bargain shopper has to look beyond these pieces of money-saving paper to really get the best value out of buying all the things we want and need.
There, I made my peace.
I love coupons and they love me, but I want to see other people (sales) too.
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