Coupons an Embarassment?

[Topper]

Ii's snobs like her that are prob. so in debt or spend way over their means and can't save a dime! Dont give her and her credit card lovin tush a second thought! I am trying so hard to save money with coupons but just cant seem to get it down. Any suggestions from someone like you who knows their stuff would be a godsend! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

How do we determine from the OP's post that:

1) the lady was a snob

2) they are in debt/spend over their means/can't save a dime

3) that she is a credit card lovin tush

 

[Jakesmom1]

I am a coupon nut, and I love it.

When I get the supermarket sale pamphlets in my newspaper, I sit down and make my list for groceries for the week, then I look at all the sales and see who has what on sale that match my list, then I go thru my coupons to see what matches, It takes about a half of an hour and I can save at least $20-$30 a week off my groceries. If something is on sale and its not on my list, it would have to be a really good deal for me to buy it.

Now I would love to save 75%, how do you do it?

And as for that lady behind you in line, she doesnt know what she's missing, more money saved in groceries is more money for Disney and other fun things.

 

[Nina1]

I once had an incident when a cashier couldn't get my coupon to work. She just put it aside. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "well, its only a dollar". And I told her to give me a two dollars out of her pocket then because the coupon was supposed to be doubled. She figured out a way to scan that coupon really quick!

LOVE THIS!!! Great comeback!

 

[Nina1]

You are my hero! I saved $40 tonight and thought I saved alot, that is, until I read your post. I'm a SAHM and I use coupons religiously. Every little bit helps and I always feel great when I save some of our hard-earned money (even though my husband is the one who technically earns the paycheck, the money is ours). And, I feel even better when we're using some of that saved money at WDW. You keep on using your coupons and be proud of yourself.

As for the woman behind you, I'd have sweetly offered her a coupon for Elmer's Glue so she could glue her mouth shut.

 

[Juliet25]

I feel guilty if I do not have a coupon for an item even if it is on sale!

Me too.

I never feel embarrassed using coupons. I remember taking my youngest to Target last summer when she was a baby. I had a bunch of coupons to use and, of course, the cashier had to question every last one of them. The lady behind me was pushing her baby in a shiny new Bugaboo (stroller costing upwards of $800 ) and looked pretty peeved. Oh well, not everyone is born with a silver spoon in their mouth.

 

[Juliet25]

I use coupons although not as much as I used to. With all my kids an hectic life, I am lucky enough to remember to food shop sometimes

This is a true coupon story. One afternoon a few years back my DH and I went to a matinee showing of The Green Mile. Of course I had some coupons for snacks and my DH just was rolling his eyes because he was"embarassed". Well this couple in fron of us at the snack counter were dressed to the nines, she in a full length mink. They ordered and were about to pay when the man says wait, I have a coupon for popcorn. The voice was familiar and I looked up to see it was Geraldo Rivera and his wife My Dh has never been embarssed by a coupon again

Awesome.

 

[sorul82?]

Ok, ok...here's what really happened: Prior to the rude comments, the husband most likely said the following:

"what a smart shopper and caring wife, just look how she is getting the most of her family resources...I sure wish my wife was like that" only he didn't realize that he said it out loud thus the response from his wife.

Yep, I'm pretty sure that is what happened.

 

[gracie1]

I am jealous when I see people with more coupons than me!!

The way of thinking that the lady (I use that term loosely) was expressing is the same attitude that has America in so much trouble financially, now. We are supposedly the richest nation on earth, but look at our debt- that is not rich.

I am so sorry you had to listen to a rude comment, but please know that you are not alone. There are a lot of smart people here on the budget board.

lol! I am way jealous of people that have all the coupons too I wish I were coupon savy like the rest of you.

 

[mhf]

I LUV coupons and will make sure I go to the stores that help me use them. For example, I needed 2 sheers and 2 poles at Bed Bath and Beyond, took all of my coupons in and asked which one I could use...the lady picked them up and said "1 per item." WOW!!! I was expecting 1 per transaction. Went back the next week to get the shower caddy...with my coupon...

Took my Sunday clippin' coupons to Tar-jay as they seem to be a bit cheaper than the grocery on things like mouthwash. No problem!

COUPONS RULE! I learned this from my mother 30 years ago.

I bow to your Coupon-Clipping Queenness.

Melissa

 

[joha]

Too bad there isn't a coupon for tact and manners.

Amen. There are things that money can't buy...class and manners being two of them.
Don't be ashamed.
I wonder if the people that make this derrogatory comments find a dollar on the floor...do they pick it up. I want to say yes..

To me coupons are like found money.

 

[Jennifer in MI]

Ok, ok...here's what really happened: Prior to the rude comments, the husband most likely said the following:

"what a smart shopper and caring wife, just look how she is getting the most of her family resources...I sure wish my wife was like that" only he didn't realize that he said it out loud thus the response from his wife.

Yep, I'm pretty sure that is what happened.

I live in a really nice area. There are people who live near me who have more money than God, I think. SO many of them use coupons!!! I LOVE it when I'm in the store and there are people there who are dressed beautifully and they have a handful of coupons and a shopping list. It happens a LOT!!!

That woman was rude!!!

 

[mrsstats]

The woman was rude. I don't use coupons as much as I should when I grocery shop but I do use them when we eat out. There is no embarassment in using them. I even return my cans and bottles when most people I know just throw them in the trash. To me that is just like throwing money in the trash. We are frugal and can take 2 vacations a year. Perhaps because we use coupons and return cans?

 

[JGoin]

Regarding the Tar-Jay coupon clipping shopper (Target!)... You can print coupons for Target online OR at their kiosks where the registrations can be printed!

Just go to the kiosk, choose Target.com, go to the bottom of that page, and in one of the colums on the bottom, under "Target Stores", click "Grocery Coupons"... Print them in seconds on their paper and ink!

Many on the Target savings thread use them, and get FREE or NEXT TO FREE ITEMS! I'm thinking that you can even stack manufacturer's coupons in addition to these store coupons! Have fun, and relish the moment when the onlookers stand in awe of how LITTLE you are paying!

 

[MagiKitty]

Wow! What a great tip about printing Target coupons at their kiosks! For some reason, my printer doesn't print bar codes on coupons really well. Now I can get in on all those great deals that combine deals with coupons! Thanks!

 

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

Are you kidding me? You are much more reserved than I! At least you didn't stick one of your coupons up her.... ahem... sorry got carried away there!

I usually save about 60% or more on my grocery bill. I spend about an hour per week clipping/organizing/etc. I only go to the stores once a month and I take my whole box of coupons with me. I usually hit Giant Eagle, Walmart, Target and BJS club. The best in BJs... if you buy a four pack of shampoo for example, you can use four coupons!

The only thing I will pay full price for is meat, milk, produce, bread, eggs and a few other things. The rest... if I don't have a coupon I don't buy it... simple as that. We plan our meals around what is on sale and what I can use a coupon on (plus, when theres a bj's store coupon or target coupon I can stack on top of the manufacturers coupon.. that rocks!). I am feeding a family of five on about $400 a month, and we eat steaks, have dessert every night and buy alot of fresh produce! It's easy if you put your mind to it.

I usually get funny looks in the store, but that's before I bust out the coupons. I usuallly have 3-4 carts worth of groceries. So once we ring everything up, it's typically between $700-$1000, depending on what sales are going on. After coupons, we're usually around $350-500. It usually takes just as long to ring in the coupons than to ring up the items themselves. So by this time, I have a pretty intense stink eye from the people behind me, but I always get an awesome cashier who will belt out "Holy crap! You just saved over $300!!!". And then I will shoot them a returning stink eye and say "Boy, it sure pays to have patience!".

Look at it this way... coupons are literally money in your pocket!! If you are using coupons and it takes you an hour a week to clip them, match the sales and then hand them in at the check out, and it saves you, say $60 at the end of the week. You just got paid $60 an hour. Now, you tell me how many people you know who make than in an hour. Don't worry, I'll wait...

I take pride in the fact that I save incredible amounts of money at the grocery store and feed my family very well! YOU should, too! It's money in the bank... and it's taking me to Disney!!!


"Top 10 Reasons NOT To Get Behind Me In Line at the Supermarket"
10) I have OCD: Obsessive Coupon Disorder
9) I'm the crazy coupon lady you've heard about. Really.
8) I save $59.22 on a $60 order. I'm trying to beat my record.
7) If patience isn't your virtue, change lines. Seriously.
6) I'm protected under the Right-to-Coupon Act.
5) "Price Check"
4) Five separate receipts should do it. Maybe six.
3) I may be slow, but my groceries are free.
2) I have coupons, and I know how to use them.
1) This hobby is paying for my next trip to Disney!

 

[JGoin]

Are you kidding me? You are much more reserved than I! At least you didn't stick one of your coupons up her.... ahem... sorry got carried away there!

I usually save about 60% or more on my grocery bill. I spend about an hour per week clipping/organizing/etc. I only go to the stores once a month and I take my whole box of coupons with me. I usually hit Giant Eagle, Walmart, Target and BJS club. The best in BJs... if you buy a four pack of shampoo for example, you can use four coupons!

The only thing I will pay full price for is meat, milk, produce, bread, eggs and a few other things. The rest... if I don't have a coupon I don't buy it... simple as that. We plan our meals around what is on sale and what I can use a coupon on (plus, when theres a bj's store coupon or target coupon I can stack on top of the manufacturers coupon.. that rocks!). I am feeding a family of five on about $400 a month, and we eat steaks, have dessert every night and buy alot of fresh produce! It's easy if you put your mind to it.

I usually get funny looks in the store, but that's before I bust out the coupons. I usuallly have 3-4 carts worth of groceries. So once we ring everything up, it's typically between $700-$1000, depending on what sales are going on. After coupons, we're usually around $350-500. It usually takes just as long to ring in the coupons than to ring up the items themselves. So by this time, I have a pretty intense stink eye from the people behind me, but I always get an awesome cashier who will belt out "Holy crap! You just saved over $300!!!". And then I will shoot them a returning stink eye and say "Boy, it sure pays to have patience!".

Look at it this way... coupons are literally money in your pocket!! If you are using coupons and it takes you an hour a week to clip them, match the sales and then hand them in at the check out, and it saves you, say $60 at the end of the week. You just got paid $60 an hour. Now, you tell me how many people you know who make than in an hour. Don't worry, I'll wait...

I take pride in the fact that I save incredible amounts of money at the grocery store and feed my family very well! YOU should, too! It's money in the bank... and it's taking me to Disney!!!


"Top 10 Reasons NOT To Get Behind Me In Line at the Supermarket"
10) I have OCD: Obsessive Coupon Disorder
9) I'm the crazy coupon lady you've heard about. Really.
8) I save $59.22 on a $60 order. I'm trying to beat my record.
7) If patience isn't your virtue, change lines. Seriously.
6) I'm protected under the Right-to-Coupon Act.
5) "Price Check"
4) Five separate receipts should do it. Maybe six.
3) I may be slow, but my groceries are free.
2) I have coupons, and I know how to use them.
1) This hobby is paying for my next trip to Disney!

OMG!!!! I am SO putting this on my facebook page... where everyone begs me to teach them how to get FREE groceries---- LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

 

[tngramma]

DS, 26, took me shopping one day and watched as I bought the items on my list and pulled each of my coupons out.

When we got up to check out I could tell he was embarrassed. He told cashier this is going to take a while she has coupons.

But you should have seen his face when I paid $10 and a few cents for over $70 worth of groceries. All of DS and DDIL's friends now hear how much Mom saves with coupons.

Made a believer out of him.

 

[minnie1928]

The kids need tucked in, so I only have a second. But for those that would like to get more/better coupons you should try out www.thecouponmasters.com to buy coupons for .10 or less (each coupon). I just bought $41 worth of coupons for about $4.50 the other day. I usually scope out the next week's ad for CVS and the grocery store and then place my order. I ordered on Sunday this week and got the coupons on Wed.

 

[sorul82?]

OMG!!!! I am SO putting this on my facebook page... where everyone begs me to teach them how to get FREE groceries---- LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

Hello fellow Tarheel!

 

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

The kids need tucked in, so I only have a second. But for those that would like to get more/better coupons you should try out www.thecouponmasters.com to buy coupons for .10 or less (each coupon). I just bought $41 worth of coupons for about $4.50 the other day. I usually scope out the next week's ad for CVS and the grocery store and then place my order. I ordered on Sunday this week and got the coupons on Wed.

And, unfortunately, the only was to be sure that we will be able to continue to use coupons in the future is if the manufacturers keep putting them out there for us. And they won't do that if we abuse coupon use.

Buying coupons is illegal.

If you want to get more coupons, get a few extra newspapers on Sundays or join a coupon train/swap with other people who use coupons. You'll have plenty of coupons, and won't need to try and "buy" them from somewhere else.

I have never, ever "bought" coupons and I have enough FREE toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, laundry soap and body wash stocked in my basement to last until Jesus comes back!