I know, I know, I need to get a real problem. But Steven recently overhead someone (who will remain nameless) talk about all the money she saved with couponing so he has decided that I should try it. He has been very discontent with our Walmart bill as of late, and so I agreed to at least look at the websites and see. I know people save a lot of money doing this but I am just not convinced that it is for me....and here are my reasons....
1. I shop at Walmart and Food Lion, which I have heard that neither of these places double or triple coupons. The closest Harris Teeter is 20 minutes and I don't even know where to find Kroger and BiLo.
2. I don't buy very much of the food that is in the coupon fliers, the yogurt and diapers that I do buy I use coupons for. Everything else, for me, is cheaper to buy generic at Walmart.
3. I have 3 children that make a very simple grocery store run quite exhausting, I can't imagine spending even more time looking for the exact brand, size, and quantity of items that (I have heard) are often sold out of if it's a really good deal.
Ok, so those are my reasons, but....I will give it a good ole college try, for Steven's sake. Or maybe I should make him do it. Just reading the SouthernSavers website has made me tired. I will say, I am growing fond of Aldi's. I shopped there today with Eli and David and thought I was prepared. I had my quarter for the buggy and bags for the food (last trip there I was 8 months pregnant, carrying everything, with Sadie and Eli running around). I was feeling quite smug until I finished checking out and was reminded they take only debit or cash (who carries cash these days?), and I haven't used my debit card in so long I had forgotten my pin. It was quite embarrasing, but thankfully the lady at the bank was familiar with Aldi's and kindly reset my password right there so I could use my debit card. Lesson learned.
Eli is quite the handful these days. I think age 2 is the cutest but also the most trying age (I say that, but I don't currently have a 3 year old - so I might retract this statement next year). He constantly says things like "I a big boy" and "I wanna do it by mydelf" but just as quickly whines like a baby when he can't get his shoe on or spills syrup on his shirt. He has so many funny things he says, I'll try to list a few: pee-cool (preschool), dunday cool (sunday school), yo-rick (yogurt), pampakes (pancakes), and tousins (cousins). Of course right now I can't think of anymore, how is that possible when he talks all day long? I'll ask him if I should coupon. I'm sure he'll have an answer for me. Comments are welcome, as well, on the issue. Goodnight!
Sallie, this is a VERY funny post. And, I say you DON'T coupon. Other than the old "obey" your husband thing, I think you have enough on your plate. I think you are doing good to use coupons for yogurt and diapers. Maybe find a few more items that you ALWAYS get, that are kind of high price, like laundry detergent, and look for coupons for them! Start small. Keep it SIMPLE!
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with ya! If you have the time (which you don't) you can save alot. Before I was a mama I would many weeks save as much as I spent. Now a days i end up at the register with expired coupons....boo! I think you are doing a great job just to make a list and get home with the items and with your 3 kiddos!! would love to catch up soon!
ReplyDeleteOh my word! Steven Harrell...I love you, but PLEASE! My take on couponing; I've done it hard core and I've done it lackadaisical...which is where I am now. It takes a TON of a time. The only way to really save a TON is to print off coupons...and if you do that, you better have an old computer around that you don't care about crashing. My couponing saved us a lot of money, but it also crashed my laptop...so ask Steven if he is willing to fork over the money for new computer every few years. Ed made me STOP couponing except for getting them out of the paper...and you don't save a ton of money with those. I still get a paper every now and then, and sometimes save a few bucks. Tell Steven with the amount of time you would spend couponing, you could work an extra hour of PRN and make a LOT more money. Also, of COURSE your grocery bill has increased...you just added another set of diapers and wipes...and grocery prices continue to skyrocket. Even couponer's grocery bills have increased!
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