Staying (& Getting) Motivated to Save

This is a topic that has been on my mind lately. I think it is easy to get lazy, get discouraged, get overwhelmed, and all sorts of other things that distract from couponing or saving money. 

We get busy with work. 

We get "busy" with relaxing.

We get discouraged with a lack of deals. 

We forget the coupon binder at home. 

We get that craving for fast food...

I've been guilty of all these, and personally for me they seem to do a snowball effect of happening together and one after the other. Some weeks I can be super good and a super dedicated saver, and then some weeks I just give up and buy the pre-made dinners and order pizza for dinner without a sale or coupon in sight. 

So how can you re-motivate yourself? For me, the best way has been to get "safe" results. 

-use a coupon. It doesn't matter for what, just use a coupon on something. That usually gets the ball rolling 

-request coupons and send feedback to companies. When I get those high value "thank you" coupons in the mail, it kinda feels like Christmas and re-motivates me to try and do a great savings shopping trip. 

-take inventory of what I have and need, then take that to the Flipp flyer search app to see which of those items are on sale

-browse the blogs and Facebook pages for the deals posted by them. There will usually be at least one item that has been posted that I can go out and get 

Another great way to stay motivated for me is to not stop. Literally, don't take a hiatus from couponing and just keep doing a sprinkling of items at every shopping trip. Or simply actively searching the rebate apps and the front page flyer specials usually keeps me motivated enough to continue every week - wondering when I can score the next big deal! I also keep motivated and active by spending my lunches entering contests and requesting free samples. Not a lot of effort and when items come in the mail, they spark me on to continue. 

Something I kinda wish I had to keep me motivated? A support team! A team of couponing crazies that will share and mentor and suggest the great deal they found that week. I think that's why I write in this blog, just to feel like I am mentoring myself a little. I enjoy the social media couponing blogs and Facebook deal pages I hop on a few times a day, as in an odd way they feel kinda feel like they're talking to me to keep me going. 

Im open to suggestions and thoughts of how you staying in the "saving mindset" too. There's lots of ways and certainly every person is different, so feel free to share!