by David Bakke
I think the concept of bundling your bills has become pretty much commonplace in today's marketplace. For instance, if you have your local telephone service through a particular company, more than likely, you can save money by "bundling" it with say, internet service along with TV. Insurance works much the same way. Getting your home owner's insurance and your car insurance from the same company more than likely will allow you to get some sort of discount. Hopefully, were all practicing this in some way, shape or form.
Then it occurred to me the other day that this concept could be applied to some of our purchases as well. Let me explain. I was opening my mail the other day, and I found a flyer from one of the more popular Big Box retailers. It was for $5 off the purchase of $25 or more. Usually, I dismiss these coupons because to me, it feels like an attempt to get me to buy something that I normally may not need. This particular Big Box retailer is one that I do shop at, but maybe about once every week or so.
Injurious time now, with a robber’s haste,
Crams his rich thievery up, he knows not how;
As many farewells as be stars in heaven,
With distinct breath and consigned kisses to them,
He fumbles up into a loose adieu,
And scants us with a single famished kiss,
Distasted with the salt of broken tears.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
So, I normally just toss this coupon. Don't get me wrong, I love coupons, but I usually try to stay with the ones to stores that I shop at all the time.
Then I got to thinking. I go to this store about once every ten days or so, and normally; it's not for purchases that are needed right at that moment (i.e. a toy for my son, some socks, and general items like this). Soooo, what if I made a list of these things that I was planning to buy, wait until I know I've met the $25 threshold, and then go ahead and use the coupon? Basically, what I am doing is "bundling" my purchases. Additionally, maybe I could eliminate a trip or two to the store and save some gas money as well.
I don't know, maybe this is a concept that millions of you out there are already using, but it just occurred to me. To bundle your purchases in the same way that you bundle your bills.
I believe in the brotherhood of man, all men, but I don’t believe in brotherhood with anybody who doesn’t want brotherhood with me. I believe in treating people right, but I’m not going to waste my time trying to treat somebody right who doesn’t know how to return the treatment.
—Malcolm X (1925–1965)
Of course, there are still going to be lots of trips to stores where you need some item right away (i.e. diapers) and this may not be possible to do all the time. But, for the time being, I have started to save all these coupons from these stores that I shop at from time to time, and I will now employ this "bundling" technique to my purchases. Would you like to learn more tips and strategies on how to impact and improve your personal economy? Visit me at my personal finance blog http://yourfinances101.com/blog. There you can check out my recently published book, "Don't Be A Mule: A Common-sense Guide to Saving More, Spending Less, and Generating Extra Income in Your Everyday Life."