Momspirational Life

This post is part of the Surrendering Stewardship series, where I share the practical and spiritual journey God has been leading me through as I learn to steward our family’s resources more intentionally. In this series, I talk about everything from spending habits and emotional shopping to couponing, planning ahead, and learning simple habits that help reduce unnecessary spending. My hope is that these posts encourage you and offer practical ideas that you can apply in your own home as you steward what God has entrusted to you.

Couponing Isn’t About Buying Everything

I love couponing. I have probably been couponing for about seventeen years, give or take. I remember going to a coupon workshop at my childhood church to listen to the “OG” of couponing behind the “Southern Savers” blog almost twenty years ago.

I genuinely enjoy finding a good deal, watching store sales, and seeing how much money I can save on items my family uses. But over the years, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that just because something is on sale doesn’t mean I need to buy it.

There was a time when I felt like every coupon had to be used before it expired. If I missed a sale, I felt like I had somehow missed an opportunity.

Now, I see things differently.

One of the most freeing lessons I’ve learned is that not every coupon is meant to be used, and not every sale deserves a place in my shopping cart- in person or online. Stewardship isn’t about buying more because something is inexpensive. It’s about buying wisely because it serves your family’s actual needs.

Building a Stockpile With Purpose

One of the questions I get asked most often is why I build a household stockpile. The answer is actually pretty simple. I don’t build one so I can have shelves overflowing with products or because I enjoy collecting things. I build one to create a little margin for our family.

Life happens.
Someone gets sick.
Unexpected expenses come up.
Finances become tighter during certain seasons.

Having everyday necessities already on hand gives our family peace of mind during those moments.

That being said, I also believe there should be wisdom in how we stockpile.

I don’t believe in clearing store shelves or buying large quantities simply because something is on sale, especially if it prevents someone else from purchasing what they need. Instead, I slowly build our household supply over time as good opportunities come along. For me, stewardship means preparing wisely, not purchasing impulsively.

Buy What Your Family Will Actually Use

One of the biggest differences between strategic couponing and extreme couponing is intentionality. I make a list of the products our family consistently uses throughout the year. Things like toothpaste, deodorant, bar soap, razors, and other personal care items are always on that list.

Because I have gradually built a small stockpile over time, I honestly don’t need to buy many of those items for quite a while. At the time I’m writing this, we probably have enough toothpaste, deodorant, soap, and razors to last our family well over a year.

That didn’t happen overnight.

It happened by purchasing extras when they were deeply discounted and then simply stopping. I don’t continue buying them just because another sale comes along. The same idea applies to other products with long shelf lives or non-perishable foods. If we know we’ll use them and the timing is right, I may purchase a few extra. Otherwise, I let the deal pass.

A coupon doesn’t determine whether something is a good purchase. Your family’s actual needs do.

Sometimes the Best Deal Is the One You Skip

This lesson took me several years to learn. Sales are cyclical. Many grocery and drugstore sales tend to repeat every six to eight weeks. That amazing deal you missed? There’s a good chance you’ll see something very similar or the same exact deal again.

Realizing that has helped me become much more intentional. Instead of feeling pressured to buy everything while it’s on sale, I’ve learned that it’s okay to wait. It’s also okay to let a coupon expire.

If I know I won’t use a good coupon, I would much rather give it to someone who would benefit from it. Stewardship isn’t only about saving money. Sometimes it’s about blessing someone else.

Couponing Has Helped Me Shop Less

One unexpected benefit of strategic couponing is that it has actually helped me spend less time shopping. Over the past couple of months, I intentionally stepped away from many shopping trips altogether (that was a challenge in itself as I love shopping).

Because we already had a pantry, freezer, and household supply to work from, I focused on using what we already had instead of constantly adding more. That season challenged me to become more creative in the kitchen. Rather than making another trip to the grocery store, I started asking, “What can I make with what we already have?”

One of our family’s favorite discoveries was homemade tortillas. They were simple to make, used ingredients already in my pantry, and quickly became a favorite with my husband and son. I rarely buy loaves of bread from the store because I taught myself how to make sourdough bread (and other goods). Moments like that reminded me that stewardship isn’t always about finding another deal. Sometimes it’s about making good use of what God has already provided.

Learn Your Stores

Another habit that has helped me over the years is learning which stores consistently offer the best value for the products our family buys. I regularly shop stores like military Commissaries, Kroger, CVS, Walgreens, Dollar General, and Sam’s Club, but each one serves a different purpose. Rather than driving all over town trying to save a few cents, I simply pay attention to where I usually find the best prices for the items we already purchase.

I also take advantage of digital coupons, personalized coupons that Kroger (my main go-to store) mails based on previous purchases, manufacturer coupons, store coupons, fuel rewards, and receipt apps like Fetch and Ibotta whenever they fit into my shopping plan. I check my email regularly for the stores I frequent as they often provide “you” specific deals for future use.

Giving Yourself Grace While Learning Stewardship

If couponing feels overwhelming, start small. You don’t have to master every coupon app, memorize every sales cycle, or shop every weekly ad. 

I certainly haven’t.

Even though I’m writing about surrendering stewardship, this is still an area where God continues to teach me. I still miss deals. I still forget coupons at home. I still occasionally pay full price for something because life gets busy. And, that’s okay.

Stewardship isn’t about perfection. It’s about growing in wisdom, making thoughtful decisions, and faithfully using what God has entrusted to us one step at a time.

Looking Ahead in This Series

Saving money at the store is only one piece of stewardship. What has probably made an even bigger difference for our family is learning to plan ahead before we ever leave the house. In the next post, I’ll share some of the simple planning habits that have helped me spend less, waste less, and steward our resources more intentionally.

Part of the Surrendering Stewardship Series

Part 1: How God Changed My Heart About Spending and Saving (read here)
Part 2: From Emotional Spending to Intentional Planning (read here)
Part 3: Learning to Steward What Is Already in Front of Us (read here)
Part 4: How I Coupon Strategically Without Extreme Couponing (this post)
Part 5: Planning Ahead to Steward Well (coming next)

With Love,
Tabitha