I like saving money but I am not really one for coupons. Not that I have anything against them, its just that I get so confused.
Like I have to buy 4 of one things to get 20 cents off another thing so that I can save 50 cents later and get a free item. What?
Why can’t I just buy one of the thing that I need and go home?
So that is usually what I do.
But sometimes things catch me off guard. I was in Walgreens to quickly pick up some diapers for my children who refuse to potty train and when I was checking out the clerk, asked me if I want to buy a tube of toothpaste for $3.50 and then get a coupon for $3.50 off my next order.
It was a really long day and I just wanted to get home and get into my wine so I said yes. She then told me that she would need to ring up two orders so that I could use the coupon. Sure, fine, whatever, I just wanted her to hurry up.
The transaction went off without a hitch and then the second transaction took place and I was out the door with my diapers and toothpaste. But when I got to the car and actually thought about what just took place, I wondered, “Did I just pay $3.50 to save $3.50 and get a tube of toothpaste that I didn’t need?”
What just happened here?
Wouldn’t I have spent the same amount of money if I just skipped the toothpaste and the coupon and just bought the diapers I needed?
I don’t know, math is hard.
Why can’t they have deals where you buy one bottle of wine and then get three bottles free? Now, that is a deal that I totally understand.
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{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
haha! I’m with you! I tried the coupon thing for a while and just ended up with a bunch of food that I didn’t like so then I had to go and spend more to get stuff I actually liked.
.-= Emily´s last blog ..Disney-mania =-.
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I am a big crazy coupon person but I am with ya sometimes it can be really confusing, I stick to the easy ones.
But I really like your wine idea I would totally go for that one
.-= Joy´s last blog ..Back from vacation and no one is happy about it =-.
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LOL that is too funny. Sounds like something I would fall for….haha!
.-= Megan´s last blog ..GTKY Sunday with 2 of my own questions! Awesome! =-.
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I am a big couponer but I would be at the store EVERY single day is they had wine or beer coupons!!!
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Ok, I admit. Sometimes it’s too much work or for stuff you’re not going to use. But what “couponers” (a group I don’t include myself in) totally get thrilled with, is “You got FREE toothpaste!!!!”
I (me) wouldn’t be too picky about toothpaste, though I am about other stuff, and it’s cool the cashier let you do it that way, cuz they’re not supposed to do that (and usually don’t). So unless you’re particular about your toothpaste brand, it’s fun to get free stuff. I have a friend who is pretty into it, does the whole combine sales and coupons and register rewards. That’s too much work for me. I got 4 kids I have to drag along on this adventure, so it’s not that fun.
.-= Kelly B(elly)´s last blog ..Obvious =-.
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Damn it to hell! I think you need to set the standard for free stuff from now on.
.-= liz´s last blog ..From Womb to World- Madelyn Rose =-.
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hee hee hee
say what?
And, I don’t get all the mommy bloggers who love wine so much. I’m all about the Miller Lite! Woot Woot!
Are you, by ANY chance, going to the Austin Bloggy Boot Camp?
.-= Texan Mama´s last blog ..Move Over Rachel Ray =-.
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The only place I do coupons is BJs. And that’s only because they send me a little booklet of them and for the most part its just $3 off of this and $4 off of that. Easy peasy. But when it’s combining stuff and saving money on future purchases, no way jose.
.-= Carabee´s last blog ..Lost and Found =-.
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Jen Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
I don’t know what the store BJ’s is but I do know what a ‘bj’ is and the fact that you use coupons for/at BJ’s is cracking me up.
Sorry, immature I know.
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Carabee Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Ha! Although coupons might not be a bad idea. (BJs is like Costco or Sams Club.)
.-= Carabee´s last blog ..Lost and Found =-.
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Hahahaha!!! Now the wine idea is an excellent one! I do like the Costco coupons. They are for idiots. $3.50 off a box of Cheerios. I can handle that.
.-= Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation´s last blog ..The Next Alicia Keys…or not =-.
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You are totally right about the wine. Any deal involving 3 free bottles of wine sounds like a deal to me!
.-= Mary Ellen´s last blog ..Happy Birthday Joey =-.
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I am so with you. Sometimes, I get in the mood and think “I should totally cut and use coupons!” but then I realize I just buy things because I have coupons for them… and then, what’s the point?
I do use coupons for BJs… they come in the mail. And they are perforated so no cutting is necessary… and I never pay full price for diapers, but anything else I either buy what is on sale or generic.
I really admire the gals who blog about coupons and deals and sales and what not… I just don’t have the time or energy to deal.
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I totally agree! Free wine for everyone!
.-= Sarahviz´s last blog ..Whine And Then WINE! And Then a Sports Bra for Wine! =-.
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And I quote: “It was a really long day and I just wanted to get home and get into my wine.” Oh, how I can relate.
If you so desire, iheartsavingmoney.com makes it pretty easy to figure out the whole coupon thing. She essentially does all the work for you.
.-= Susan @ Sassafrassery´s last blog ..The Randomness that is Tuesday =-.
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I always end up buying crap that wasn’t on my original list because I HAD A COUPON!
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Like Sponges I Tell You =-.
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I’m trying to get into coupons, but really? Store brands are almost ALWAYS cheaper than any coupon. I end up cutting out coupons, sorting them, standing in the store comparing prices, grabbing the generic brand, laying the coupon down in front of whatever it was good for, and walking away.
Coupons aren’t some big favor from manufacturers. They’re marketing gimics.
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Math is definitely hardest when you are 1) at the checkout 2) buying diapers 3) and accompanied by children. And I agree, forget the Buy 1 Get 2 Free sacks of potatoes. What about the Cabarnet?
.-= Jen@ Momalom´s last blog ..On my mind last week =-.
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I think you got snookered my friend!
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma, What’s For Dinner
http://www.mawhats4dinner.com
.-= Ma, What’s For Dinner´s last blog ..MAma Mia Meatballs!!!! =-.
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I totally agree! It always winds up that the coupon doesn’t work for some reason, like it’s expired or the store doesn’t take internet coupons. Target’s ever-changing coupon policy has driven me to pull out clumps of hair in the past. I find it better to just buy the cheapest one of whatever I need and get the heck out of there as fast as possible.
.-= Mrs.Mayhem´s last blog ..Three Cheers for Creativity =-.
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I go back and forth on coupons…usually only for diapers and wipes! Sounds like you got a free tube of toothpaste the next time you use that coupon (if you don’t lose it and if you remember to use it).
I’d like a free bottle of wine, too!
.-= Krystyn´s last blog ..It’s a random kind of day =-.
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Oh that coupon thing is just a chore for me. The heck with saving on some food – let’s just head for the wine!
.-= Tina @ Ride On Toys´s last blog ..The Ezy Roller Riding Toy Is Unbelievably Unique =-.
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I am with you. I watch all of these coupon divas on TV who save like 12,000 per month on groceries with 187 coupons per check-out and I’m like, “I can’t even figure out Bingo. How the hell am I going to do this?” Seems to me if I spend 9 hours a day clipping coupons while my kids run loose in the world, I may have bigger issues than expensive chuck roast. Just sayin.
So I shop at Aldi. Nuff said.
.-= Crystal´s last blog ..Now I Know- Im an Idiot =-.
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Jen Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
I get jealous of those coupon saving TV ladies too. I just don’t understand how they do it. Do they have something else to do all day?
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I am with you. I watch all of these coupon divas on TV who save like 12,000 per month on groceries with 187 coupons per check-out and I’m like, “I can’t even figure out Bingo. How the hell am I going to do this?” Seems to me if I spend 9 hours a day clipping coupons while my kids run loose in the world, I may have bigger issues than expensive chuck roast.
So I shop at Aldi. Nuff said.
.-= Crystal´s last blog ..Now I Know- Im an Idiot =-.
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Coupons *are* confusing, I’m so glad someone else lacks the ability to understand them. Though I also suffer from extreme laziness, making me incapable of having the dedication to cut them out or bring them into stores or hand them to cashiers.
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I am a huge couponer and Walgreens confuses me. Now if you had a coupon for that toothpaste and got it for less than $3.50 that would be a good deal. Though $3.50 for toothpaste is a horrible price.
.-= Emmy´s last blog ..Im Onto You =-.
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Jen Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
I thought the same thing after I bought. I was like, ‘why the heck did I just spend that much money on toothpaste?’
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Ha ha ha! Coupons are stressful. Plus, they make you feel guilty if you forget to use them. I have enough guilt and stress in my life so coupons have had to go.
.-= Megan @ Twinsomnia´s last blog ..The Magic Warble Review and Giveaway! =-.
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Oh me too! I’d like that deal.
.-= cat@juggling act´s last blog ..Cape Town day 2 =-.
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I used to love coupons but lately it just seems like all the coupons I end up with are for things I really don’t want. I like saving money but not to buy things I don’t really want.
.-= Catherine @ Evolving Mommy´s last blog ..Kid Friendly Lunch – Chicken Toasts and Tomato Soup =-.
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Coupons are confusing to me too. My wife handles all that. One item coupons are good. Everything else seems like a scam. Now the wind idea is genius if I could only get it for beer instead.
.-= Otter´s last blog ..Whats Your Favorite Animal =-.
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Totally! I also hate when I have a coupon for $25 off a $50 purchase or $50 off a $75 etc, and they try to get me to go get more stuff to get up to the next level. I shouldn’t be buying things I don’t want/need just to make a better coupon deal! It’s crazy!
.-= Rachael´s last blog ..10 things that are just NOT okay =-.
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