Guilt over couponing...??? Am I the only one...

[eyor44]

People behind me in line used to bother me, until one day a lady and her DD got in line. I had a full buggy and warned her I had coupons (she had two items, but we had already started) She sighed, she mumbled and then the coupons came out. Oh my goodness the way she acted. When the cashier was through with the coupons she said very loudly "Gosh, you ONLY saved $27 this week." The ladies DD looked at her and said "Mom, I thought you said coupons were a huge waste of time?"

Now I just calmly warn whomever gets in line behind me that I have a lot of coupons. If they stay, I ignore the grumbles.

 

[Caitsmama]

That's funny! Honestly, if i were behind someone like yourself in line -- i would beg you at the end to teach me how to do that!!! I would be VERY VERY impressed!! LOL

 

[disneymom3]

I too felt guilty at first but it soon wore off.

Think of all the money that people who do not coupon, are actually throwing away! At the end of my shopping trip I leave the store excited about the amount of money I have just saved.

There was a lady near me in the grocery store and we were looking over the strawberries. She got one pack. We had been chatting a bit so I pointed out that in the store ad there was a coupon for B1G1 free. She said, "Oh, I don't want that many." I swear I almost told her I would meet her at the check out and take them off her hands.

 

[littlefoots]

I just started on the serious coupon treck. I have been clipping since I was the designated coupon cutter at 4. LOL Hey .. mom says it was free labor and helped me with dexterity. LOL

I now have my friend addicted ever since I got her 5 Listerines for $1..and we now go together. I had an incident with a grumpy grampa this past weekend..I stood my ground and said loud enough.. yay!! I saved 103.00. He almost broke his neck trying to look at the screen... LOL

 

[goofyforgoofytoo]

Heck no!! No Guilt here over using them> I Love coupons. I am able to get a large number of inserts weekly and put the coupons up for auctions on ebay. Let's just say that visiting the mouse this year will be Fully paid by coupons.(as well as some Dental work not covered by Insurance) Even after ebay fees, paypal fees and taxes it is very profitable. Right now I am getting as many Free movies tickets as I can from Kroger getting what I can cheap after coupons, I am upto 15 now.

I just smile everytime I hear someone say that coupons are a waste of time.

 

[*BTMRR*]

I thought that this thread was going to be about people like me who feel guilty because we don't coupon like we should.

These stories are great, and inspiring! I need to get into the coupon habit.

 

[mickeylovermomof3boy]

absolutly do not feel guilty!!! the stores get pd for the value of the coupon plus shipping and a little extra for doing it. dont worry about what people thing, they are just being jealious they are not saving. I totally went to target today with my coupons and did a awesome job, I saved 116.93$ spent $10.70 and earned 4 $5 target gift cards. best part is i got lots of new stuff i never even know exist! my house is much cleaner since i started seriously couponing. I have a great time a kmart last week, double coupoon week, got lots of toilet paper, i get to wipe for free!!!

that is your money, dont worry about what other people think, unless they want to pay for your things for you.

 

[mickeylovermomof3boy]

i should add, i starting using a zip binder with baseball card pages to sort my coupons and i get so many compliments about how organized i am and so many men tell me they wish thier wives would do this. keep saving that money!!!

 

[r1lissa]

I went to our local HEB grocery store today without any of my own coupons. I only bought things that were "buy something, get something free"- they call them "Meal Deals".
I had 33 items in my cart including a whole deli chicken, two boxes of Kraft macaroni, Ms. Bairds bread, Kraft shredded and sliced cheese, Oscar Mayer hot dogs and sliced ham, Eckrich sausage, Lipton tea, Kool Aid Jammers, Honey Bunches of Oats cereal, etc. So, definately not all store brand stuff.

Total before coupons, $72.61
Total after their in-store coupons, $42.06

 

[pennydlane72]

I work at a Super Walmart as a cashier and I love coupons! I use them myself and get really excited for those people who use them and save lots of money! I have a very organized coupon file that I keep at my register and if I have a coupon for something the customer is buying I will gladly give it to them! I figure we are all in the same boat here trying to make ends meet and get ahead where we can! Why not help each other out!

 

[ShiPooOwner]

I work at a Super Walmart as a cashier and I love coupons! I use them myself and get really excited for those people who use them and save lots of money! I have a very organized coupon file that I keep at my register and if I have a coupon for something the customer is buying I will gladly give it to them! I figure we are all in the same boat here trying to make ends meet and get ahead where we can! Why not help each other out!

I cashiers like you that understand and are happy for those of us that coupons! You are much appreciated!!

 

[erinmomof2]

I used my coupons today and saved about $20. Not too bad. It was all on stuff I needed too. I love shopping and when I can save money doing it that's even better!

 

[Kahana-ri]

I clip and trade coupons ALL the time. Our work has a tray of 'community' coupons that we all contribute and browse through. I love finding the ones I use often. I'll use a coupon anywhere and fell no guilt. The fact is I am saving my money on products we use, so why not! I always feel great leaving knowing that I saved even two-bucks, every penny counts right now.

 

[Caitsmama]

I clip and trade coupons ALL the time. Our work has a tray of 'community' coupons that we all contribute and browse through. I love finding the ones I use often. I'll use a coupon anywhere and fell no guilt. The fact is I am saving my money on products we use, so why not! I always feel great leaving knowing that I saved even two-bucks, every penny counts right now.

This is a GREAT idea!! I may just have to start this at my work - ( i work at a church, so think of how this could reach lots of people!) .. thanks!!

BTW - i see you are a fellow RI'er!

 

[Sadie22]

Do you also sometimes find that the clerks will try and rush through, and then you go ahead and pay (after feeling guilty for holding the line up) to only look at your receipt and noticed that either 3 stuck together or she/he didn't scan 2 of your coupons? I noticed that happened at Target today. Fortunately I look at the receipt before leaving the counter, she counted the receipts before throwing them in the drawer, and then told me to go to customer service to get a refund for the coupons not taken off...? Guess I really need to pay attention at the register, too.

That just happened to me at a grocery store. I had a $10 off $100 purchase coupon. I was watching the scanner and saw that the final total was not $10 less than the subtotal. I asked the cashier to show me on the receipt tape where the $10 came off. He could not, but then he also had trouble finding my coupon where he had thrown it. He did finally find it and sent me to customer service where the assistant manager gave me $10 cash. The same cashier did not give me 3 cents per bag credit for bringing my own bags, but I didn't realize that until I was outside and didn't go back for the 12 cents.

 

[LynnTH]

I used to be one of those who thought couponing was not worth the time. Then I started reading the budget board and soon I was reading afullcup.com and hotcouponworld.com and took the plunge about 2 years ago.

I have got totes full of so much health & beauty item its scary. I make up goodie bags for some friends and relatives. I give some to our food shelf at church. But, I sell alot in my yearly garage sale. Last year was the 1st year I had so much stuff and I made $2000 - a lot was on stuff I got free or nearly free from couponing. I read the forums and when a really good deal comes out I order coupons. I have about 7 Walgreens near my and I get a good deal of the stuff there from their RR Program.

It has been alot of fun and the money is used towards our vacation fund. We have a city wide sale coming up next month so getting ready for that. People come from hours away and stay in hotels and bring trailers for this city's sales. So, I can't wait (we just moved here).

My DH always asks me where I'm going scamming today. He knows it's all legit but has to give me a hard time about it. He has come around to my side now since he has seen all the stuff I have gotten for free and so much stuff I actually make money on. It is a fun, addicting hobby.

 

[LadySiren]

LynnTH, that's so funny - DH always asks me which store I'm going to cheat when I head out to the store on a given day. Bah, it's not my fault I'm a smart coupon shopper.

 

[disneymom3]

Hmmm ... I didn't see any "attitude" on the thread . A couple of posters said that they don't use packaged foods often and cook from scratch so they thought that couponing was not for them. I happen to agree with them. I have tried couponing for a few times but many things hold me back from saving a lot of money. First and foremost, is that I also do not buy a lot of packaged foods. There goes the vast majority of coupons I see. Secondly, I am pretty particular about detergents and health & beauty products due to my allergies. Lastly, I do not have it in me to stockpile things. I forget I have them and go out and buy more when I think I have run out .

If you want to buy your canned soup and save 50% off with coupons ... knock yourself out! It's better than paying full price . Just don't take it personally when someone else says that they shop more of the perimeter of the store where coupons are far and few between than the center..

Just for the record, I was replying to an PP who had seemed to be struggling that she purchased some prepackaged items. My point was for her not to feel bad, that lots and lots of people do. NOr was I even referring to this thread, just people in general. And I definitely don't take it personally. I am pretty relaxed about what people think of me especially when I dont know them even in real life. No worries here. I LOVE using coupons!

 

[Poohbug]

Does anyone else hate how Target receipts show your coupons. Some are up by the products, some are at the bottom, some up by the products but not actually by the item that the coupon was for. I find it confusing to figure out if they actually did deduct all my coupons. It takes me a while to figure everything out and it is a pain because I always have at least one child with me and that makes it hard to watch what the cashier is doing.

 

[desert_starr_57]

Add me to the "couponing like crazy" list. I do it too. Sometimes I feel guilty, but only because it takes so long to do all my coupons and people are waiting. I NEVER feel guilty for using them. I have yet to get attitude from my cashier either.

I love them. I use them every chance I get. Grocery, Walmart, Drug stores, Bath and Body works! Bring on the coupons!!

DH is into it too now. He needed a domain name and he went to the retailmenot site first and actually found a code to get it for a dollar. He was so proud.