Living better, spending less.
I went back out shopping tonight and am happy to report that my drugstore shopping for the week is adequately completed. If possible, I will hit at least one or two more Rite Aids, time and weather and circumstances permitting, but if I can’t, then I will not fret too greatly about it. When I first started couponing, Walgreens was my favorite, followed by CVS and then Rite Aid. The deals were usually lackluster and the store clerks hated me (unfairly!). Now I pretty much hate Walgreens and find myself in Rite Aid several times a week. I guess the deal love comes and goes.
Anyway, at Rite Aid tonight, I received a lovely comment that I took as a compliment. One of the cashiers kindly remarked, holding the huge stack of coupons that I had used, that this shopping trip must have taken me hours. I was pleased by that because you know what? IT DID. Compiling that many coupons and making notes on that many deals takes time, not even counting the time it takes me while I’m at the stores themselves. We had a short conversation about how useful a saving-money hobby is compared to other hobbies that I’ve had, and then I waved goodbye and headed out the door.
It was later, in the car, that I realized that I actually appreciated that an outsider recognized just how much time and effort that I spend on couponing. I enjoy it–less than I did at first but it’s still like a giant game to me. There’s often a bit of implied “you must have so much free time on your hands if you can do this because I just don’t have time to fool with coupons” vibe when people talk to me about couponing that drives me crazy. It’s in part to the way that I shop that I am still able to staying home with my child. I spend maybe ten hours a week on it, averaged–more this week but less last week. It evens out. But hey, compared to working 40 hours a week (or 37.5… hey, I worked for the state) I figure it’s a bargain at twice the price. ;)
When I became a stay-at-home-mom, I promised I could save our family money by shopping sales and maybe even using a few coupons. I had no idea what I was getting into. These days, I am on a first-name basis with the cashiers at the local drugstores, I haven't paid for toothpaste or shampoo in over a year and I spend my free time here, helping others do the same. So please, make yourself at home while you learn how to save, and when to spend!
kelly
February 1st, 2011 at 7:37 am
I hate that “vibe”. I also find that people think we’re poor. lol. We aren’t rich, but we certainly aren’t needy! And I find myself explaining to people that I’m not really cheap, but that I just don’t want to pay for something if I can get it free. or why pay $10 when I can pay $2? I don’t get excited about it like I did when we first met. I find myself wishing we were closer so we would motivate each other more! My nearest rite aid is 45 minutes away and since they stopped the $5/25 coupons, I just can’t justify the trip! I did have my first exciting trip to DG last week, though! They periodically are puting out those $5/25 that are my favorites…
Kisha
February 1st, 2011 at 7:57 am
I know! Why would you want to pay for something you can get for free, no matter how much money you have? i have been stocking up on Stayfree at RA this week because… I mean, they don’t expire, they’re free and I have storage. What’s not to love? I still have coupons left so I’m still going to try to buy more, if I can. I do still wish you lived closer! I always shop alone, which is okay because no one enjoys shopping with me when I do the couponing thing so they’re dragging around the store looking bored when they do go, but I have been wishing that we could go together again! I had a long period, especially following The Wags Incident, that I had no enthusiasm for shopping but I’m happy to report that it has returned somewhat. It’s still more of a chore than it was at first, but it’s at least something that I enjoy again. I haven’t really done the DG thing because I heard that the $25 was after coupons. What’d ya use it on? :)
I was just saying to M the other day that when RA stopped putting out the $5/$25s, I was thinking that I would probably stop going as much, but I’ve found that the deals are good enough to justify the love even when I don’t have one. I mean, of course I’d prefer to have additional money off my order, but it’s also somewhat relieving to just buy everything in one or two transactions and not have to count up how much I’m spending on each transaction or worry about the cashier balking at using more than one or talking about you behind your back or whatever. But of course I have two in town (I’m no longer boycotting one of them..haha) and so I don’t have to worry about the drive. That’s the same as me driving to Lexington and I know I only make a special trip there for a deal if it’s a really GOOD deal, or if I have plenty of other shopping to do!