I love my coupons. They save me money, but only if I am smart about using them. I thought my couponing days would be over when I no longer had kids at home. I could be carefree about my grocery shopping and flitter into a grocery store, buy what caught my eye and shuffle out carrying bags of goodies that pulsated my palate.

The years passed and the thrill of carefree grocery shopping has waned. I find myself trying to save money any way I can. I decided I needed to buy groceries the way I used to when I had kids at home. I would buy when things were on sale, not when I needed them at the spur of the moment, and I would always use a coupon.

I renewed my serious journey with money-saving coupons a few weeks ago. I clipped every paper coupon I could find with items that I usually use. I waited until the item was on sale in the store and then I made my list. As I entered the store I could feel my body tingle with excitement at the idea I was back at my game.

Carefully, I made my way around the store, checking off my list and pulling out my coupons. I held myself in check, not putting unneeded and not-on-the-list items into my cart. I took my time enjoying the feeling of being in control of my grocery bill once again.

I pulled my cart up to the register. I handed the coupons to the clerk. She looked at the coupons, she looked at me, she shook her head and said, “I have never had anyone with this many coupons before.” I smiled, not wanting to tell her what was to come.

One by one she rang up my items. It was time to ring up the coupons. I smiled knowing from past experience what was going to happen. The coupons scanned in until the register would not take any coupons. The clerk looked at me and told me the coupon was out of date. I knew what the problem was and told her what the date was and what the coupon date was. I said, “You’ve reached the limit, you need to call your manager.”

She looked at the coupon date and read what was in her register, picked up her intercom and called the manager. The manager came over and manually entered the rest of my coupons. You might be thinking that I had a high total like the people on television and my groceries would be free. I am good, but not that good.

I walked out of the store saving $16 on my grocery bill. I had three bags of groceries.   It felt good to be back in the swing of things again. And it did not take that much to clip the coupons and make my grocery list. I am going to add digital coupons to my shopping,  and if I go on Senior Citizens Day I would save more.

I also must thank the lady who was in line behind me. She was so patient. She waited. I apologized to her for taking so much time, and she told me she enjoyed watching to see how much money I saved.

Coupons are not always a good deal. If we are not careful, they make us spend money on things we don’t use. But I must say, I have tried some grocery items I normally would not have bought but have fallen in love with after buying them with a coupon.

I have a stack of coupon mailings from department stores. I don’t use those as much unless I am in need of something. That means I really need it, I don’t just think I need it. Those coupons aren’t always a good deal because they entice you to buy more. You may receive a free $10, but it’s only free if you stop at the $10 for the coupon and don’t add on something cute that caught your eye.

Coupons draw us in, entice us to buy and occasionally save us some money if we are focused on how we spend them. The thought occurs to me that maybe churches, schools and other volunteer establishments could use coupons to lure us to attend their activities.

I can see it now, one coupon for a free prayer on Sunday at We Save You Church, a free pass for a smile for volunteering at the local food shelf or a coupon for two hot chocolate drinks at the city rake-a-thon. You get the drift. We thrive on coupons. Maybe we should find more creative ways to use them for the benefit of helping others.

“The best things in life are never rationed. Friendship, loyalty, love, do not require coupons.”

— Author unknown from Thinkexist.com

 

Wells resident Julie Seedorf’s column appears every Monday. Send email to her at hermionyvidaliabooks@gmail.com. Her Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/julie.