Skip to main content

Mainstreet Credit Union, Lenexa, KS

  • Accounts & Services
    • Savings
    • Checking
    • Investments
    • Youth Accounts
    • ATM/Debit Card
    • Mobile & Online
    • Visa Gift & Reload Cards
    • Other Services
    • Rates
  • Loans
    • Vehicle Loans
    • Personal Loans
    • Student Loans
    • Credit Cards
    • Home Loans
    • Rates
  • Resource Center
    • My Mortgage
    • My MasterCard®
    • Reorder Checks
    • Advice
    • Auto Avenue
    • Financial Calculators
    • FAQs
    • Other Useful Links
  • Discover Mainstreet
    • About Us
    • Join Us
    • Careers
    • Community
    • The Credit Union Difference
    • Mainstreet Talk
    • Annual Report
    • Locations/ATMs & Hours
    • Contact Us









Routing Number: 301079183

Advice

  • Credit and Debt
    • Credit
    • Debt
  • Money Management
    • Banking
    • Budgeting
    • Saving
    • Spending
  • Family Finances
    • Life Events
    • Insurance
    • Identity Protection
    • Kids & Money
    • Financial Crisis
  • Workplace Finances
    • Employee Benefits
    • Paycheck Planning
    • Retirement Plans
  • Home Ownership
    • Buying a Home
    • Mortgage
    • Home Equity
    • Refinancing
  • Paying for College
    • Saving for College
    • Financing College
    • Repaying Student Loans
  • Retirement Planning
    • Saving for Retirement
    • Social Security
    • Living in Retirement

Don't Let Coupons Make You Spend More

Coupons can help save you money on things you already planned on buying. However, if you are not carefully clipping, they can cause you to spend more money than you intended as some retailers design coupons in such a way to encourage you to buy items that aren't on your shopping list or to buy more than you need.

Coupon Benefits

You can benefit from clipping coupons in many ways, including

  • Trying new products. Coupons are a great way for you to take advantage of trying new items. With coupons, you can try new foods without having to pay full price for things you later decide you do not like. So, if you find a coupon for that expensive box of cereal you always wanted to buy but couldn't afford, you just scored. Before you go shopping, decide on what new foods you would like to try, and check to see if there are any coupons for them. Do not forget to check out the manufacturers' website as well to see if they are offering coupons for the things you are looking for.
  • Stocking up. Coupons help you stock up on foods or other products you buy regularly. Boxed and canned foods have long shelf lives and therefore would be great options to use coupons with and stock up on.
  • Getting satisfaction. When you use coupons, you can feel like you are using your money wisely, smart, and responsible. You get satisfaction knowing that you are saving money for a vacation, home remodeling, retirement, college education, or a growing family.

How You Spend More

There are many reasons why you spend more with coupons.

  • Stores often raise their prices for coupon items. You notice a few coupons on some items you would like to get. You think you are going to save big time. Unfortunately, the retailer just hiked up their price on those items to full-retail value right before they released the coupons to the public.
  • Coupons are advertisements. Some coupons are nothing more than glorified advertisements, enticing you to buy products that you have a coupon for when there are potentially less expensive options available.
  • Coupons can lead to unhealthy choices. The practice of clipping coupons may result in other problems. You could compromise healthy eating by trying to save a few bucks. Although you may find some deals on organic vegetables or fruits, it is not likely you will find coupons for them. Instead, once you have them in hand, you might buy the less healthy processed food instead of fresh just to save money.

Finding a Balance

There is a happy balance to couponing.

  • Stick to your budget. Regardless of whether you have coupons or not, it is essential that when you shop, you stick to your budget. If you continue spending money on things simply because they seem like a good deal, you are not saving money. Before you shop, check the sale flyers and go through your coupons to help you stock up, but don't go over your budget.
  • Don't buy crazy amounts of items. Just because you have 15 coupons, doesn't mean you have to buy all 15 items. So, in addition to sticking to your budget, you also want to ensure you are not buying more things than you need.
  • Only buy things you need. That goes hand-in-hand with not buying crazy amounts of items just because you have coupons for them. Only buy products you need and regularly use, such as paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent, juice and coffee.

Although coupons can be an excellent way to save money on a few items here and there, they are only good if you planned on buying them in the first place. If you are spending money on things you hardly use just because you have coupons for it, you will end up spending more money than you planned. Buying things you do not need isn't a bargain.

Copyright

Related Content

Article

Curing Bad Overspending Habits
Standards for Tipping
The Best Time to Buy
The Pros and Cons of Retail Credit
Saving Big by Buying Used
Understanding Car Leases
Shopping Strategies for Holiday Deals
Purchasing a Vehicle
How Peer Pressure Can Destroy Your Finances
Categorizing and Tracking Your Expenses
Taking a 'Staycation'
Getting Out of a Car Lease
Comparing Products Online
Grocery Shopping Tips for Singles
Buying Your First Electric Car
Avoid These Car Leasing Mistakes
Don't Let DIY Projects Empty Your Wallet
Finding Online Coupons
Making a Major Purchase
Are You Maximizing Your 'Cash Back'?
Reading a Car Window Sticker
Hybrid, Electric or Gas?
The True Cost of Buying on Credit
Use Price Matching to Save Money
Shopping for Home Appliances
Maximize Your Car's Trade-In Value
Tracking what You Spend
Don't Let Coupons Make You Spend More
Are Clothing Subscription Boxes Worth It?
Buying or Leasing a Vehicle
Dealing with Dynamic Pricing
How Overspending Can Derail a Budget
Extended Warranties & Service Contracts
The Art of Splitting a Check
Do Grocery Delivery Subscriptions Make Sense?
Home Equity Loans vs Lines of Credit
Is Your Mobile Phone Bill Out of Control?
Are Food Delivery Services Right for Me?

Financial Quiz

Reducing Your Spending

Financial Tool

Gas Mileage Savings with a Fuel Efficient Vehicle
Vehicle Affordability by Loan Term
Purchase or Lease a Vehicle

Poll

Do you track your monthly spending?
Are you spending more or less than you were six months ago?
What's your spending weakness?
Do you use coupons at the grocery store?
What do you spend a week on groceries?
How frequently do you look to reduce your monthly expenses?
How much do you spend a week on dining out or take home?
Do you consider yourself a smart shopper?

Mainstreet Credit Union, Lenexa, KS


  • Careers
  • Security
  • Privacy & Disclosures
  • NMLS Lender ID#: 465931




©

Mainstreet Credit Union.

Equal Housing Lender


You will be linking to another website not owned or operated by Mainstreet CU. Mainstreet CU is not responsible for the availability or content of this website and does not represent either the linked website or you, should you enter into a transaction. We encourage you to review their privacy and security policies which may differ from Mainstreet CU.