How do you handle non-couponers snide remarks?

[collegejunkie]

it's really weird to me that people even get mad about coupons. i live in a good area, and even here everyone loves coupons. it's just saving money while purchasing things instead of putting it directly into a bank account. it's more convenient.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Don't let it bother you. If she wants to learn she will ask. You just need to take pride in walking away from the store with extra money in your pocket. I don't let others in line bother me. I focus on the register and seeing all the coupons ring up and seeing the final savings total.

 

[Poohforyou]

Seriously, I really don't care what others think of me....esp. when they whine about all their debt!

I don't have debt and I don't use coupons on a regular basis since there rarely are any for the products we use. It doesn't have to be one way or the other.

 

[horseshowmom]

I recently handed my cashier at Kroger about 20 coupons when checking out. I got a big sigh and eye roll. She said, "Oh great. this going to take forever."

I replied, "its a good thing you get paid by the hour. Now, unless you want to pay for my groceries, do your job."

Needless to say, I did not make a friend. And I'm just witchy enough that when I have a bunch of coupons, I always go thru her lane--and give her a big smile. Funny, she never smiles back.

I probably would have reported her to the manager. She would be the LAST one that I would want running a cash register in my store.

I actually seldom use a coupon, but if and when I do, I don't care whether somebody else likes it, and I SURE don't expect a store employee to give me a hard time about it.

 

[cm8]

I wouldn't bring it up again. Her husband is pushing her to do it, she doesn't want to do it, and you don't want to get in the middle of that. If he asks you to teach her, tell him "I'm here if she'd like to ask me any questions" and let her come to you if/when she changes her mind.

Agreed

 

[kimara]

Quote:We have a couple at church we are friends with and my husband was talking about my couponing so the husband told me he wanted my help in teaching his wife to coupon, but it was going to be hard because
Uh, why can't the husband clip coupons and take them to the store? His wife isn't into it. No biggee. HE can take the time to do it to save some money.

 

[PHXscuba]

I try to coupon with a smile and joke about how my kids are eating me out of house and home (which they are). I actually use the self-checkout when I can so I don't hold up a line and can go at my own pace without the dirty looks and rolled eyes. I also spend a couple minuets BEFORE I ever get to the check-out to make sure all of my coupons or price matches are in order. The cashiers know I'm organized and try to be pleasant, so I think I get a lot less grief from them.

I really don't care whether other people use coupons or not; if they seem interested I tell them it does take time but that it's worth it to me when I saw more than 50 percent. But I tend to be friends with people who like to brag about how much we save rather than how much we spent.

One of my local money-saving bloggers referred to herself as a "super couponer" rather than an "extreme couponer," which I like better. Makes it sound more like a skill and less like a thrill sport.

PHXscuba

 

[jjant72]

I recently handed my cashier at Kroger about 20 coupons when checking out. I got a big sigh and eye roll. She said, "Oh great. this going to take forever."

I replied, "its a good thing you get paid by the hour. Now, unless you want to pay for my groceries, do your job."

Needless to say, I did not make a friend. And I'm just witchy enough that when I have a bunch of coupons, I always go thru her lane--and give her a big smile. Funny, she never smiles back.

I would have stopped with "its a good thing you get paid by the hour" since that is funny...saying the rest of it made you sound like a jerk.

 

[phred52]

I use coupons every now and again. It's the time issue for me. I will say, at the end of the day, I'd MUCH rather that dime or $0.50 or $2 I saved
be in MY pocket than in the store's cash drawer!

 

[GinnyEmma]

I would have stopped with "its a good thing you get paid by the hour" since that is funny...saying the rest of it made you sound like a jerk.

Yep. The extreme people earn their own reputation.

 

[EclecticWAHM]

I've never noticed snide remarks or cashiers with attitude when it comes to my coupon use. I wouldn't care anyway - it doesn't matter to me what people think of how I use coupons. Why should anyone care what anyone else says or thinks about it? If people don't like it, it's their problem. Save your money and be happy about it. Ignore the haters - they aren't worth anyone's time or concern.

 

[DawnM]

I was specifically talking about those folks who do make negative comments, not everyone not using coupons.

Dawn

I don't have debt and I don't use coupons on a regular basis since there rarely are any for the products we use. It doesn't have to be one way or the other.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

And leave it at that.

I agree with this post! "Well, if you decide you're interested, you know where to find me."



I dont really use coupons much b/c it takes time to clip and organize them and remember to use them b4 they expireand so on...but they are great for people that do. I wish I was more organized to do it ....but it s just not my thing. But why in the world would anyone criticize someone who did? People are crazy!

 

[DawnM]

I am very thankful for sites like southern savers that does the work for me.


I just file whole inserts by date and clip only what they tell me to clip!

Dawn

I agree with this post! "Well, if you decide you're interested, you know where to find me."



I dont really use coupons much b/c it takes time to clip and organize them and remember to use them b4 they expireand so on...but they are great for people that do. I wish I was more organized to do it ....but it s just not my thing. But why in the world would anyone criticize someone who did? People are crazy!

 

[MinnieForMe]

I'm sorry people were rude to you. That is lousy. I've been very fortunate and people have been impressed rather than rude. I've even had two marriage proposals. I love it when men say "I wish you could teach my wife how to shop like that or your husband's a lucky man" because I agree with them. LOL.

 

[scrapquitler]

I don't do a lot of couponing, so I've never run into this sort of situation, but one of my rules in general is that I don't worry one little bit about what people I do not know think about me. If I heard someone making a snide comment about me, I'd ignore it.

As for the woman whose husband wants you to teach her how to use the coupons, I'd just say something like "Let me know if you change your mind and would like some tips". Then leave it at that. I'd definitely not want to get involved in what might be a marital conflict.

For the rude cashiers: smile and ignore their comments. Follow up with a nice "Thank you" at the end of the transaction.

 

[sk!mom]

We have a couple at church we are friends with and my husband was talking about my couponing so the husband told me he wanted my help in teaching his wife to coupon, but it was going to be hard because she looked at using coupoons the same way she looks a using food stamps.

Here's an idea, how about teaching the husband to coupon since he's the one interested. Honestly, I feel sorry for your friend. Her DH is pressuring her to coupon and then she runs into you and you kind of put her on the spot. Couponing is time consuming and not everyone wants to spend the time.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

IMHO--you don't.

If you are comfortable with what you are doing, then do it. Laugh all the way to the bank.

If people don't want to use coupons, they don't have to. It seems that there is plenty of smack in towards non-couponers as well. Almost that they must be "stupid" if they don't use them.

I flip back and forth between them. I can't quite get organized, right and I lose patience. I may get back to it, I may not. I try to get my grocery budget to a place that makes me happy. I don't owe anyone an explanation for how I didn't get my $1200 for $1.99.

And you don't owe them an explanation either. Just laugh all the way to the bank and be proud of what you have been able to accomplish for your family.


Sub out--"how to do deluxe disney for value pricing" or "how to buy a half a million dollar home for $99,999 and the same judgement occurs.

You won't be able to change people's perceptions of what you do, you can only change how you perceive others.



I remember when I was a kid, I could never figure out how the cashiers knew how much we saved if they didn't know how much cash my mom had left in her purse. I always though the "savings" was the money you had left over after the purchase. Almost like they were fortune telling or something.

ETA: And my husband's philosophy is that we save more if we don't buy it in the first place.

 

[mhsjax]

IMHO--you don't.

If you are comfortable with what you are doing, then do it. Laugh all the way to the bank.

If people don't want to use coupons, they don't have to. It seems that there is plenty of smack in towards non-couponers as well. Almost that they must be "stupid" if they don't use them.

I flip back and forth between them. I can't quite get organized, right and I lose patience. I may get back to it, I may not. I try to get my grocery budget to a place that makes me happy. I don't owe anyone an explanation for how I didn't get my $1200 for $1.99.

And you don't owe them an explanation either. Just laugh all the way to the bank and be proud of what you have been able to accomplish for your family.


Sub out--"how to do deluxe disney for value pricing" or "how to buy a half a million dollar home for $99,999 and the same judgement occurs.

You won't be able to change people's perceptions of what you do, you can only change how you perceive others.



I remember when I was a kid, I could never figure out how the cashiers knew how much we saved if they didn't know how much cash my mom had left in her purse. I always though the "savings" was the money you had left over after the purchase. Almost like they were fortune telling or something.

ETA: And my husband's philosophy is that we save more if we don't buy it in the first place.

I agree with your hubby. Friends will tell me how much they saved on something or that they bought something because it was such a good deal. I tell them I could save you more. Don't buy it.
Unless I 100% use it or I use that particular brand, I won't buy something with a coupon. My kids aren't picky eaters, but they are pretty brand picky and so am I. I haven't saved if I try something new with a coupon and have to through it away, because they don't like it.

FWIW, someone said something about people complaining about coupons and being in debt. My mom didn't have the time for them either and they owned everything, not a debt to their name. She was a carful shopper though, she was a depression baby and she knew the price of everything she bought and wouldn't pay more than a certain amount for something.

 

[NYCDiane]

I recently handed my cashier at Kroger about 20 coupons when checking out. I got a big sigh and eye roll. She said, "Oh great. this going to take forever."

I replied, "its a good thing you get paid by the hour. Now, unless you want to pay for my groceries, do your job."

Needless to say, I did not make a friend. And I'm just witchy enough that when I have a bunch of coupons, I always go thru her lane--and give her a big smile. Funny, she never smiles back.

I can't even imagine what a pain in the neck it can be to be a cashier --- people trying to use coupons for stuff they don't have, using expired coupons, etc --- so I always try to be cheery with the cashier and "do her a favor" by putting the B1G1 or "free" coupons on the bottom and make sure those items were at the end of the belt and rung up last so she can easily find them when she has to key in the price. I also hand them to her one at a time so we can "tick" the items. For example, here's one for the Whiskas. This way, we're kind of "working together" to make sure I have the correct items for the coupons. I don't know why, but the cashiers seem to appreciate it.

I've never had a negative comment from a cashier. To the contrary, I've had cashiers say "great job!" or "wow! you did great today!" and things like that, even from the young guy cashiers. One even told me that his mom should use coupons!

On the other hand, I have had the "sighs", foot stamping, and rolling eyes from people on line behind me. To those people, I just smile and make sure I say to the cashier "wow, I really DID do great! $55 in coupons! Woo Hoo!"