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**Did you miss the first posts in this series? You can find them here: How to Start Saving.**

One of the struggles I had when I first began couponing was to know what on earth to do with all of the coupons I knew I’d never use.

It’s a bit senseless to have a coupon organizer full of coupons for things you’ll never buy. You may also find that you are more tempted to purchase compromise foods or items that you normally wouldn’t buy, simply because you have the coupons and you know that you can get the item free or very cheap.

I initially had lovely altruistic thoughts of using coupons to get products that our family wouldn’t use to donate to those in need.

(Yes, I would rather be able to donate real food and non-toxic products, but the reality is that many people would still choose the conventional products over the healthier ones, even if they were given to them, because it’s what they’re used to. For those people, receiving conventional items would be a blessing, even if I would rather bless them with something better for their bodies.)

Thinking this way I initially began clipping some coupons for things we never, ever use: regular fluoride toothpaste, chemical cleaning supplies, boxed cereals, antiperspirant (we stick to natural, deodorant-only brands), etc.

What happened, though, was that I was getting bogged down by having so many coupons as a newbie, as well as occasionally feeling tempted to buy something for us that I really didn’t need or want. That’s actually a waste of money, not a savings.

I’ve since tempered myself and learned a few things in my real food, natural living couponing adventures:

• Learn to use coupons well for your own family, before you start trying to use them for giving to others. I think that this can and will come with time, but it’s best to first become really comfortable with them yourself.
• Expect to have and use less coupons than others and be ok with it.
• Clipping only what I need saves time organizing and dealing with my coupons.
• I buy only things that we truly need and would normally buy when those are the only coupons I keep around.

There are a few exceptions to this:

1. Money makers

I know that in the US, there are often money making deals. Here’s an example. These don’t really exist in Canada so it isn’t an issue for me. For those who want to have the ability to do these deals, and perhaps donate the items that they buy to someone who will use them, you may want to only clip the coupons you will actually use, but keep your coupon inserts tucked away somewhere so that you can access a coupon if a particular deal comes up that you would like to do.

2. Collecting coupons for friends

I have a few other friends who also coupon, and who use some conventional products which I do not use. When I happen to see those coupons available, I grab them for my friends. It blesses them to get something that will save their family money, whether it is something that I would use or not.

3. Coupons that may work together

One of the exceptions to my rule is when I know that certain companies put out coupons that work together when you buy multiple products.

One example is that Charmin toilet paper coupons often work in conjunction with Bounty paper towels and Puffs tissue (neither of which I buy, but I will buy Charmin). Another is that Gillette has deals where it sometimes works out cheapest to buy razors/razor blades in addition to shaving cream (which I can often get free with coupons). I don’t buy shaving cream (we just use natural soap lather) but I do buy razors and blades. So, I save my Bounty, Puffs and all Gillette coupons. If I end up with a product I won’t use, I donate it to the Food Bank or a friend.

What’s your strategy? How do you deal with coupons for products that you won’t use?

Image by BigBeaks