Coupon Craze
I'll be the first to admit, I love a good coupon. Who doesn't get a little thrill when they save money, especially when buying something you need? Until the other day I thought I was a pretty savvy shopper. No, it's not what you are thinking. I didn't pay $3.54 for $985 worth of groceries like some of my friends. Actually, I declined to use my coupons. And that is how I knew I was REALLY a savvy shopper.
I'm sure you are totally confused by now or you just don't care because you were hoping for new pictures of Stafford or a yummy recipe. But I realized the other day that the more coupons I get the more I think I need to use them. Very few coupons are just for "free" items. There is always a catch. Don't get me wrong, sometimes the "catch" is worth it. But I sat here at the computer this weekend with a 30% off coupon for Gymboree and then another 20% off after that. I mean, that is a pretty good deal don't you think? But the thing is, I didn't really see anything that I wanted for Stafford at the time. There were a couple of cute things, but nothing I wanted to pay for. I was looking at summer clothes but we are still a couple months away from that!
I stared at the screen for a while and finally I closed the browser. And I didn't use a coupon. And guess what? I saved more than 30% and another 20% on top of that. I spent zero. Nothing. Nada.
I still love coupons. And I still look at deals that come everyday through Groupon and other stores. But I don't feel like I have to use them.
Peter and I are BIG Dave Ramsey lovers. We love him. A lot! A few years ago my parents paid me to read his book. Ironic huh? Anyway we listen to his radio show whenever we can and he often brings up a study that shows that the brain actually register pain when we shop with plastic. He suggests cash all the time. We don't do that, but I totally see what he means. Coupons are my plastic. They make me think I NEED to shop.
I'd love to hear how you've conquered coupons!!
I'm sure you are totally confused by now or you just don't care because you were hoping for new pictures of Stafford or a yummy recipe. But I realized the other day that the more coupons I get the more I think I need to use them. Very few coupons are just for "free" items. There is always a catch. Don't get me wrong, sometimes the "catch" is worth it. But I sat here at the computer this weekend with a 30% off coupon for Gymboree and then another 20% off after that. I mean, that is a pretty good deal don't you think? But the thing is, I didn't really see anything that I wanted for Stafford at the time. There were a couple of cute things, but nothing I wanted to pay for. I was looking at summer clothes but we are still a couple months away from that!
I stared at the screen for a while and finally I closed the browser. And I didn't use a coupon. And guess what? I saved more than 30% and another 20% on top of that. I spent zero. Nothing. Nada.
I still love coupons. And I still look at deals that come everyday through Groupon and other stores. But I don't feel like I have to use them.
Peter and I are BIG Dave Ramsey lovers. We love him. A lot! A few years ago my parents paid me to read his book. Ironic huh? Anyway we listen to his radio show whenever we can and he often brings up a study that shows that the brain actually register pain when we shop with plastic. He suggests cash all the time. We don't do that, but I totally see what he means. Coupons are my plastic. They make me think I NEED to shop.
I'd love to hear how you've conquered coupons!!
I love this post! I love a good coupon, too, and have to be careful not to get "sucked in" to buying something that we don't need just because it's cheap. That being said, coupons are a GREAT way to help us "live like no one else, so that later we can LIVE like no one else!". :)
ReplyDeleteI hear ya, girl! I am a big internet couponer (I print them for groceries or use them to buy everything else online) but I've been noticing lately that the best deals for groceries? Target brand! They are cheaper than brand name WITH the coupon!
ReplyDeleteI am always tempted to unsubscribe to the kids' store emails with those coupon codes because they are so tempting ... still considering it, especially after the clarity this post brought to me!
P.S. LOVE LOVE LOVE DR.