Coupons are great

Coupons are great.  I use them for a lot of things. It’s a bonus if you get a coupon for something already on sale. I get my paper on Sunday and look at the ads. I get my coupon magazine and scissors in hand, scope the ads and coordinate them with the sales.  Rebates are great also. It doesn’t matter if it’s an in store rebate or just cash back, it gets used. Buy one get one free is most always used. They are awesome.

I plan our meals around what’s on sale. Weekly menu is always in mind when I go to the grocery store. Life can be unpredictable though and sometimes I am not able to start dinner on time, so I go out to a fast food place to get hamburgers or whatever.  You guessed it, there’s a coupon for that also.

We don’t do extreme couponing, only things we need. That would be wasteful to have too much in inventory. The C.O. would have serious issues.  Waste not wants not is one of his mottos.

We also have gas cards that give back 1% on the gas we buy; I know that’s not much, but every penny counts.  I use coupons along with my gas card. We get a flier once a month with gas coupons they range from 5 to 10 cents off. My main grocery store even has a rewards card. Every $50 you spend in groceries you get 5 cents off gas at their designated gas station. Hey $50 at the grocery store is nothing these days. 

Now, I believed I was thrifty before I meet the C.O. he has put a new definition on thrifty for me.  Heavens forbid I do anything without checking the ads for deals.  There will be no impulsive buying in this house. If by chance, you get home with your new purchase Ads are scoped again and if new purchase is found to be a better deal elsewhere, you should be able to take it back in and have the retailer match that price. If they are unable to do that, you need to return item and purchase is made at better deal retailer.  I have to ask though about the use of gas for this procedure.

One day I was out doing some errands and I needed gas, I always have a 5 cent gas coupon in my wallet, so I used that. I got home and the C.O. saw that I had gotten gas. Did you use a coupon? “Yes” I said. “How much of a coupon was it” asked the C.O.?” A 5 cent one” I answered.   “We have a 10 cent one here at home, why didn’t you use that one.” I just lifted my eye brows tightened my lips and went on with my day.

Now that I have said all that, the big question here is. Does this make us smart savvy shoppers or lab rats running on our treadmills to survive the environment we are given?