Here is the final myth I believed:

Generic items are cheaper than brand name items.

This is a myth I believed for a long time.  And at certain times, this is definitely true.  The key to finding brand name items  for a lower price than generics is to wait until they are on sale and then use your coupons.  It seems like such a simple concept to me now — but I didn’t get it for the longest time!

I remember going to other people’s houses and seeing brand name items, and I just assumed they were not thrifty (what terrible thinking!!).  I thought you had to buy generic to be considered thrifty!!

But now I know better.  I have all kinds of brand name products in my house — and I paid less for them than the generic versions!  I don’t buy brand name items because I’m being snobby or spending my money excessively.  I buy them because I can get a better deal on them!

I remember going to Wal-Mart a few months after I started couponing.  I kept looking around and thinking to myself, “Wow!  I can get {product} a lot cheaper at the grocery store.  They call that a Rollback?”  I rarely shop at Wal-Mart now, simply because I find better deals at the grocery stores with my coupons (keep in mind that my grocery stores double coupons).

One caveat:  Maybe if your  stockpile runs out and you have to have a particular product right away, generics might be the way to go.  Or, if you have an Aldi’s close by, I’ve heard they have pretty inexpensive prices.  But if you’re keeping up on your stockpiling, very rarely will you have to buy generic items.  With the advent of all the deal/bargain blogs, you can easily find the coupon match-ups to save you the most!

Thanks for checking out my series:  How I Lost Thousands of Dollars (or Coupon Myths I Believed).  I hope I’ve been able to dispel some of the myths for you!  If not, send me an email!  I’d love to answer your questions!