Do you ever by-pass a great sale? I do. The best way for me to stretch our dollars is to NOT spend them. Do I love a great sale? Absolutely! When CVS had a great moneymaker on makeup, I chose not to shop.

Why? Here are my reasons:

1. Did not need any of the sale or “free” items that week.

2. Decided not to take time to scan the sales ads. The weather that week was beautiful. I spent lots of time outside at the playground and taking walks with my children. For me, this was time wisely spent.

3. My Extra Bucks did not expire during that week. I did not lose out by not shopping the sales.

4. Enjoyed taking a week off from matching up coupons and searching for items in stock.

5. Kept some extra money in the budget for when a great deal on diapers comes around.

Do you give yourself a week off? I’m thankful for all the sales I have been able to claim which has kept our cabinets stocked with personal items and cleaning supplies. When the week passes me by and I choose not to shop, I can relax and spend time with family without regret.