10 Things I Hate About Coupons

ah, COUPONS. So, I can save money by offering a piece of paper to my cashier? Well that's fantastic! YES, YES IT IS FANTASTIC. Now that we've talked about where you can find those printed coupon booklets [HERE], here's an introduction to how I feel about, and use, coupons.

10 Things I HATE About Coupons

10. Having to really SEARCH for coupons for items I normally buy
  9. Coupons that require I purchase more than one. If I'm buying a thing for the first time [and there's a chance I may not like/use it], I just want one.  
  8. Fake coupons. Have you ever felt a bit set up when you've made it to the aisle with your "coupon," to find that all you had to do to get the deal was buy the item?  
  7. Coupons worth less than $1.00
  6. Coupons that require an account/a subscription, and a printer
  5. The extra work they create.  Finding, printing, clipping, organizing, and then remembering to use them [before they expire].
  4. Expiration dates
  3. Fine print  

"Wait a minute, what's all that small print there
at the bottom?"

WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

  

I understand the need for a few words. Perhaps a short phrase [or two], but HALF of the coupon? Literally, half. Is that "fine print" or a small contract??
  2. Paying a price I'm not normally willing to pay, AFTER the discount. If we're on a [tight] budget we hope a coupon will stretch our dollar, or make an expensive item we've been eyeing [more] affordable. But, we likely don't know the end price of the item until we're standing in front of it - and after all we will have invested by that point, jaw clenched, we'll often pay the higher price.
  1.  Vague "Exclusions."  After all that we go through to get a coupon to the register, JUST LET US HAVE IT. How are we to know that our one item [exclusively purchased by women with babies] doesn't actually qualify as a "baby item"?? In my humble opinion, the number of items/brands excluded should NEVER exceed the number of items to which you can apply the coupon.

fan·tas·tic  so extreme as to challenge belief

MERRIAM-WEBSTER

Now that you know how I feel about them, you should also know that I STILL watch for coupons that will be worth the trouble. And, in that rare combination of circumstances when I find one and remember to use it before it expires, I will use them.   BUT, COUPONS SHOULD BE THE CHERRY ON TOP, and not the way we feel we have to shop to plan satisfying meals on our budget. 

I'm after the best prices - the real deals - without the hassle of  

stacked coupons, store cards, and points 

I may never redeem. 

WHAT MAKES A COUPON "WORTH THE TROUBLE?"

the link is coming soon!

Grocery coupons: printed coupon booklets

Let us all be KIND, to ourselves...

...it's only the 11th!  

We're not even two weeks into the new year!

My nativity scene is still out, and a spare laundry basket loaded with Christmas decor is sitting on my kitchen table, right now.  Hubby has returned to work and school, and at present that's just how we're rollin'!  Late nights.  Early mornings. Long days.  

Even so, amid this storm and recent events in the news, I must say that above all I'm grateful for the health of my family; for my Hubby; and for my two babies. From our experience comes great ideas for the new year, and opportunities for...adventure.

And on that note, we'll take a baby-step toward the world of coupons and "couponing" with where to find those printed coupon booklets.  What I like about these is that I can get one with little to no effort on my part---one comes to me free in the mail, and the other can be had for the price of a newspaper.  They become quite valuable when you can use them on a discounted or sale item, or on double-coupon day.

In Salt Lake County [UT] I'm aware of two printed coupon booklets:  RedPlum and P&GbrandSAVER®.

}  RedPlum coupons arrive in the mail on Wednesdays [based on my experience].

}  P&GbrandSAVER® coupons are included in the Sunday edition of The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News newspapers.  See a list of P&G [Procter & Gamble] brands HERE.   

. . . . .

"I don't live in SALT LAKE COUNTY [UT].  Where can I find 

P&GbrandSAVER® coupons for my area?"

Here, on their site... 

. . . . . . .

A note about

THE PRINTED COUPON BOOKLET versus THE WEBSITE:

It seems to me that upon visiting either the RedPlum or the P&G website, you enter the realm of online coupons,where you're prompted to create an account and to sign in.  Be sure to Follow by Email at the bottom of our page for updates on the benefits and disadvantages of online coupons and printed coupons---I suspect the topic of online coupons may require a series of posts all its own!  

Also, each printed coupon booklet contains just a few of the many offers available on the website, but you also won't find the current version of your local booklet online. 

And with that, you'd probably like to start celebrating the weekend!

Happy FRIDAY everyone...  

...please drive safely! 

. . . . .

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