Friday, November 5, 2010

how can i help others who are struggling when i am struggling myself?

We all know from the news and conversations with people around us that the economy is making things tight for everyone.  Maybe for some people it was tight even before things got bad.  We look around and want to help, but how do you help people when you’re not doing so well yourself?

I have a few tips for you.  First of all, as you continue learning couponing strategies and other ways of saving money, share them!  Even just teaching someone the simple trick of combining coupons with sales will start giving them a little wiggle room in their grocery budget. 

You might also consider coupon sharing.  At a place you often frequent, set up a bin of some sort (maybe an index card box or shoebox) for people to put coupons they aren’t using and to look for coupons they need.  You don’t have a cat, but you have a dog, so put your cat food coupons in, and find some extra dog food coupons for that great sale this week.  Just make sure you ask permission from whoever’s in charge before you place the box.  You could also try out a “coupon-train.”  Basically this is a group of people who all share coupons by mailing coupons to each other, taking out what they want and putting in what they don’t need.  This is a little more complicated because it takes a little more organization and people need to be on the ball so that coupons don’t set on someone’s counter too long. 

When you go to the store with your coupons and find that your coupon for “X” didn’t match up like you expected or wasn’t a good enough deal to compete with another brand, maybe you could leave the coupon there next to the product.  Chances are, someone who is brand-specific on that item will be excited to find that $.50 off their Cheerios or whatever.

Another great tip:  when you shop at the drug stores like Walgreens and CVS, there are sometimes some really good deals on toothpaste and other hygiene items.  If you find a particular brand of toothpaste is waiting on the shelf for you to take it away for nothing, or at least way cheaper than you ever expected to see toothpaste, but it’s not your brand, get it anyway.  Start a tub or box for those cheap or free items that you won’t make use of.  When it fills up, take it by a homeless shelter, domestic abuse shelter, or church food bank.  People need all kinds of things when there is no money, not just food.  You can help, and you’re really not hurting your own budget.  Just keep an eye out for those really good deals, even if you’re not going to use them, and give them to those who can.

And one last tip:  sometimes military bases will take expired coupons.  What does that mean for you, oh ye civilian?  Tell me, how many expired coupons do you throw away at the end of the month?!?  Check out the Overseas Coupon Program and this E-How article to learn how to mail your expired or nearly expired coupons to a military base. 

Even when money is tight, we can still find ways to join together and help each other weather the financial storm.  It just takes a little time and creativity.

No comments:

Post a Comment