I realized tonight why I don’t use coupons. It was an eye-opening moment, finally figuring out why, why, why.
I’ve been like Amy Dacyczyn (Tightwad Gazette) in some ways regarding coupon use. I felt that by cooking from scratch and buying bulk and buying generic and buying low cost items I had a very reasonable grocery budget. I was like that for years. Then, from being at the SavingAdvice site, I became intrigued by the idea of using coupons. Some people were savings serious amounts of money, and not just on junky convenience food. I won a batch of coupons from Flash, and I signed up for a Coupon Train.
I got the packet, and opened it up, and did not get excited. I felt overwhelmed. There were a ton of excellent coupons in there, but I just didn’t get into it. I pulled older coupons like I was supposed to, filled it with the ones I got from Flash and a few I had been savings ($5 Citrucel, the like) and sent it off. And didn’t use a single one.
I was puzzled. Here I am all into savings, and frugal activities, and I just couldn’t get into coupons. I forgave myself and moved on. I decided that coupons were an excellent way to save money for many people, but that I was fine with my grocery bill (average $96 a month) and made peace with not using coupons, though I was still puzzled as to why.
Tonight I was getting into my bath and I brought a Costco booklet with me. The booklet contained a ton of manufacturer’s coupons….and they all say how much off but don’t say the actual cost. And I realized that’s why I have been unable to get into coupons. I need to know the price I am paying. The amount off doesn’t really matter.
If I skip the majority of items in the booklet which I’d never buy (facial tissues, fabric softener, paper napkins, DVDs, vitamin water, instant oatmeal, Pringles, Folgers) and look at the items I might buy, I see things like “$3 off Playtex 88 count.” The $3 means nothing to me. I know my bottom line is that I prefer paying a dime apiece or less for tampons; $4 a forty pack. (Yeah, this might be too much information, but dagnabbit, there’s not much I would buy from these coupons.) So I need to know whether, after coupon, the box will be $8.80 or less. Without that information, the coupon means nothing to me.
Now there are super organized people who can keep these organized and go to Costco and be able to quickly check and use the coupon if it is a savings. But this isn’t a skill I am interested in gaining. When I find tampons at the right price I can stock up and call it good. I do other frugal activities I enjoy more.
It makes sense now that I do look at Safeway Club card mailers or any inserts that refer to loss leaders. I am on the look out for good deals- it’s not that I am uninterested in getting the best deal; it's that for me, I need the bottom line to have it make sense. If the flyer says “2 for $3” I know the item is $1.50, and can decide, sitting in my chair at home, if it’s a good deal. With the cents off coupons, I have to take the coupon to the store to know how much I could potentially save, and even then, the savings could be nothing for a particular coupon.
It’s just nice to finally understand what my block was. I’m still at peace with not using coupons, but now I clearer on why.
An "Aha!" Moment
January 9th, 2007 at 04:28 am
January 9th, 2007 at 04:35 am 1168317353
January 9th, 2007 at 04:50 am 1168318255
I don't think we shop like most people is my bottom line. I can go for ages before I run across something I write down on the grocery list.
So, I ended up passing on the coupon bit...........and didn't notice a change in the grocery bill at all............but did save some time.
January 9th, 2007 at 06:18 am 1168323514
January 9th, 2007 at 07:14 am 1168326867
January 9th, 2007 at 12:34 pm 1168346060
I too pass on the coupons.
January 9th, 2007 at 01:40 pm 1168350021
January 11th, 2007 at 01:13 am 1168477988
Another reason I don't like coupons -- sometimes I forget to use them for the item I've chosen! D'OH!!!
February 13th, 2007 at 01:53 am 1171331599