Every year now for almost ten years, our group of friends has a Christmas gift exchange. Traditionally the spending limit has been around twenty dollars, and it’s not unusual for hubby and I to complemplate this year’s gift choices months in advance.
In that spirit, just now I got a chuckle thinking about what kind of gift package I could put together for a twenty dollars out-of-pocket limit. How about forty boxes of cereal? Or forty boxes of granola bars? Sixty boxes of brand-name baby wipes?
Over the last several months I have begun using coupons, sales, etc., to stockpile household necessities for rock-bottom prices (sometimes, free). Never did I imagine I would want forty boxes of cereal in my basement… but then again, I never realized I could get good, healthy, yummy, brand-name cereal for 50 cents per box (give or take). Or “fancy” Secret deodorant for 29 cents each….or men’s shampoo or body wash (brand-name) for 50 cents each or even free.
Often I run into people who are amazed at the deals that I get, but these same people are resistant to the idea of stockpiling. Now, I’m not saying that someone new to couponing needs to run out and buy forty boxes of cereal ASAP. But for me at least, if I am going to put the time and effort into deal-shopping, I want to be able to buy five or ten of a given item when I find a screamin’ deal, not just ONE item.
It does take a bit of effort to find a good way to store the extras, but to me it is well worth it. Not one dime will come out of our household budget for peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, laundry detergent, toothpaste, shampoo, razors, bodywash, baby wash, baby wipes, flushable wipes, or toothbrushes… or even, perhaps, for a gift exchange gift …. for many months to come.
The Honest Mommy 
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