I hate coupons and this is why!

Some people think coupons are brilliant. They are the bees knees, even better then fresh seafood straight off the boat. I do not! I hate them. And, many say, but how you could you, a frugal, hate something so fantastic as coupons. The answer is easy. They do not save me money. They do not save me time. They do not make my life easier. And, I don't think they make anyone's lives easier, either. The only people who really benefit from coupons are the companies who commission them. EVERYONE ELSE, LOSES!

But, that is impossible I hear you cry. No it is not. Coupons are there for one reason. They make retailers lots of money. Yes, you can most certainly pick up the odd bargain if you are very, very careful. But, the amount of time it took you to save you that money meant you weren't able to make real savings elsewhere. For example, you had to buy takeaway because you didn't have time to cook dinner because you spent two hours putting your coupons together and then taking them to the store. OR, your had to buy veggies because you didn't have time plant a garden.

But, that isn't the real reason why I hate coupons. The real reason is they turn otherwise brilliant people into donkeys. Gasp! I am calling you a donkey? Possibly, but the more important question is whether or not you think you have allowed yourself to be a donkey after you have read the next two paragraphs.

You see, marketers use coupons like cart drivers used to dangle carrots in front of donkeys. If the cart driver wanted the donkey to go left, he held the carrot left, if the marketer wants you to spend money at Walmart they offer you a discount on one or two items to lead you into Walmart. They also use discounts to get you to try new items, such as stupidly fancy razors and junk food no one should be eating.

Marketers use coupons to lead humans, the way cart drivers used carrots to lead donkeys. If you have ever bought or used something you would not have done otherwise because it was in a coupon. Then you have allowed yourself to be led, just like the donkey.

Pick up your jaw off the floor.There is a solution. If you want to save money, and I mean really SAVE money. Then you are going to have to stop buying things. You have reduce the amount you consume. If you want to learn how to do this on food. Borrow our book The $21 Challenge from your local library or get it on Amazon. If you want to learn how to stop buying everything else then follow these eight steps. We call them the Eight Steps to Happiness.

Step 1 - Stop yourself!

Step 1- Guard your wallet

Before you reach for your cash, before you grab your credit card, before you pick the item up of the sales rack, pause for just a minute. Stop yourself and start your brain thinking about whether or not you are about to make a good or a bad decision. A marketer or salesperson's job is to make you think you need something that five minutes earlier you didn't know existed. Find a way to trigger your internal alarm bell, so you can STOP and move on to Step 2.

Step 2 - Are you hungry?

If your belly is empty then your decision making is impaired. Our bodies get confused between the desire for food and inedible objects. So if you are hungry, go away eat something, then wait for fifteen minutes before moving on to Step 3.

Step 3 - Is there something else?

There are so many other things you could buy. Is this item really the one you want to spend your hard-earned money on? There are so many other things you could achieve with this money. Will you be limiting yourself by making the purchase? If you have decided that this is the only thing you want, go to Step 4.

Step 4 - Is it worth the effort?

Every time you reach for your cash, ask yourself if it is really worth the effort. Every $15 you spend is an hour you are going to have to work. Is it really worth the bother? Just leave your money in your wallet - it's so much easier than having to earn extra money! Now, if you have decided the purchase is really is worth the bother, move on to Step 5.

Step 5 - What will you gain?

Now, work out what you or your family will gain by buying the item. What are the long-term consequences? Will it improve your health and happiness or genuinely give you more free time? How? If you cannot answer these questions positively, then leave your money in your wallet. It is important that you are really skeptical. Now move on to Step 6.

Step 6 - What will you lose?

Step 5 - What will you loss?

Every time you buy an item, you both gain something and lose something. If you are lucky, the only thing you lose is cash, and the time it took you to earn that money. But this is not always the case. A great example of this is a computer game. You gain entertainment, but you lose quality time with your family. Once you are certain you have worked out everything you will lose, move on to Step 7.

Step 7 - Is there a better way?

Step 5 - Is there a better way?

Now it is time to shop around for a good price and work out the smartest way to buy it. How can you get the best value for your dollar in the minimum time possible? Occasionally, working it out for yourself will take more time than you save, but you will get satisfaction in knowing that you have NOT been tricked and are doing the best for your family. Once you have researched your purchase and found the best way to buy it, move on to Step 8.

Step 8 - Do you have the spare cash?

Most of the time, buying things on credit is stupid. So if you don't have the cash, remain free, walk away and live happily ever after. Nothing is worth burdening yourself with debt for. This means you should avoid credit cards, lay aways, interest free loans, mortgage refinancing facilities, etc. Only buy something if you have the spare cash - and if you don't, go home and save until you do.