A pandemic is a pretty good excuse to start saving money.
COVID-19 has created a new normal, where conditions can change in the blink of an eye, meaning things like finances can be left hanging in the balance.
Spending habits are also changing, as food prices increase across Atlantic Canada and many people find themselves without work.
Thinking about money can feel like a huge source of stress, but what if planning how to spend and when to make purchases were as simple as watching for coupon boards or browsing money-saving websites?
Celia Glover says anyone, anywhere, can save a significant amount of money if they know how to do it.
“It’s good to decide what you want. Do you want to save a few dollars or put in work and have a stockpile? You’ve got to decide right away which approach you want to take,” she says.
Start simple
Glover began couponing at age 15 after a family member, who had been his household’s sole income earner, had to stop working following open-heart surgery. Glover has since shared her passion for saving with more than 15,000 people who follow her Money Saving Mama Facebook page and group.
The Mount Pearl, N.L. resident says that while it may seem daunting, anyone can start saving by browsing flyers to begin their search for deals. She recommends beginners create a list of items to prioritize.
“If you make a list of stuff you use the most, you can take that shopping and go through the list and search for those coupons. Keeping this organized is as simple as using a wallet or binder to keep the coupons in one spot, and in order,” she says.
Glover tells her followers that coupons can regularly be sourced on boards in-store and also online via resources like Save.ca, Websaver.ca, and P&G Everyday.
It’s an approach that’s also recommended by fellow saver Lisa Rose, who also began the practice after receiving a tough medical diagnosis. Rose began searching for ways to save money after learning she had cancer 11 years ago when she was her household’s sole income earner.
Rose co-founded Annapolis Valley Frugal Moms, a page where more than 4,500 followers learn how to source cheap groceries using apps like Flashfood, where the Atlantic Superstore posts food markdowns of 50 per cent or greater.
“I get more green and red peppers than I ever had the ability to buy before,” says Rose.
Time worth investing
Rose and her fellow frugal moms who run the Facebook page also advise their followers to be aware of other money-saving methods, like watching for the regular six- to eight-week sales cycles. Rose says this can indicate when items will go on sale. For example, if shampoo is on sale now, it will be again in six to eight weeks.
Both Rose and Glover agree that the practice can be time-consuming and that people can expect to devote anywhere from half a day to a full day per week to the practice, dividing time between in-store and flyer deals.
“My motto is this: I work hard for my money, so I’m going to work hard to save it,” says Rose.
Rose’s own savings from shopping sales has allowed her to pay off a car, a credit card, and put a down payment on a house since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Glover, meanwhile, says while her savings are sometimes only a couple of dollars per week, it adds up to thousands each year.
She says the practice is one more people should consider, given the serious savings to be had. And for anyone feeling self-conscious about holding up a shopping line as they use coupons, Glover says to just remember how good it’ll feel when you see those savings add up.
“There are so many people who need these savings, especially now, and the more they use coupons, the more comfortable they’ll feel. I’ve had people huff and puff in line behind me when I use coupons, but I just laugh that off now because I’m saving so much money,” says Glover.
