If so how long did you give it up? I've been so disappointed with the lack of sales and coupons in our area lately that I havent gotten any deals in a few weeks now. Its frustrating to say the least, the last deal I tried bought q's on ebay but they wouldnt scan at Rite Aid (our only drugstore in this area) and they wouldnt accept them so it was a bust. I'm thinking its time for me to take a break for a while and hope that the coupons improve. Unfortunately my stockpile contains no food, we rarely get any coupons for food here where I am unless its for pringles in the P&G or the occasional pillsbury canned bread item coupon. Even then we only have one grocery store that accepts coupons here which is save a lot and they usually dont have many name brand items.
The thought of using my stockpile of detergent pains me lol, but so does the thought of wasting time and money on trying to get deals that never seem to work anymore.

For those who have given up for a while how low did your stockpile get before you started back?

I have taken up to 3 months off and lived of the stockpile. I am currently in mini mode and only buying with coupons what I have to. I moved at the first of the year and have not gotten back into the swing of things full time yet

I also have taken a break but I am ashamed to say for the last 6 months but the odd thing is I still buy the sunday paper to get the coupons but have not been using them How strange is that?

yes, there are many times i take a break- but i always come back to it!

I would say, don't buy q's and just use what you get. There seems to be enough deals come around to build a stockpile without purchasing q's. I get one paper a week and over the course of a year have built up a nice HBA stockpile one q at a time

I don't have a lot of food q's here either and no stores that double. I used the $$$ I was saving on HBA items to purchase food when it was on sale here...which is very different that the average sale/deal price I read about on here, but for my area a good deal. I also use that $$$ to stock up on meat items.

I took about 3 months off over the winter and am now only q'ing for the free items if available from CVS and Walgreens. I have enough of most my HBA to last at least 6 months if not longer so I will no longer purchase any of those items unless absolutely free - and then only if I am going to town anyway (gotta figure in gas cost too) and then I immediately take to donate (I keep a donate bag in my car that I toss stuff in).

Whatever works for you is the way to go.

Kelly married tomother of

This - except 6 months. Now when I say this, I'm not including the occasional IP that comes out or tearpad deal that I come across. I use my stockpile, stay out of the stores and less time on the computer hunting deals. I have only bought papers 4 or 5 times this year - that should tell you how slow things are here for me.

I typically take a break around the holidays every year. I try to make sure I am stocked up on everything I need ahead of time so I only have to get produce and dairy products. This allows me time to plan for the holidays without feeling I have to be running around chasing deals! I have let my stockpile get pretty low, but pretty low to me is more than what a person who don't coupon has. Typially after a few weeks of no good deals, the deals pick up for a week or so. It don't seem like you have many options though. There is nothing wrong with taking a break though!

Mommy to 4 yr old and 3 yr old !!!! Girlfriend to ()!!

I've been couponing since 2008 and I've never taken a break from couponing, but I'm not what you would call an extreme couponer. I have a well established stockpile and I just cherry pick the sales and only buy to restock what we use or what we need. In other words, I'm not out chasing every sale, deal or coupon. Some weeks I may not go shopping at all.

I had to take a break over the last couple weeks because of work, family, and finances. So it was great that our stockpile held us over. I only went to the store once for milk and bread. We had everything else we needed. It is great to say go get it out of the pantry when we run out of something.

I even helped my sister-in-law over the last couple weeks with my stock pile -because they were low on money. It is a great feeling!

My sentiments exactly. havent really couponed in almost a year. Prior to that I used to be a diehard, hard cored, couponer. Financial issues have reared their ugly head, switched to very little processed food, and lack of decent coupons/deals around here since the BIG "EXTREME COUPONING" show and ...........zip, zilch, nada.


Now I keep my eyes out for good deals and some coupons but thats about it. Not much wiggle room in the budget for stocking up and its killing me!

Every penny that I don't spend in the store is another penny for my bank. I want it as FAT as can be. For once......FAT is IN!