3.22.2009

"A" For Effort

You can't escape it, it's everywhere. The Today Show, even Oprah.
Budgeting. And in particular, couponing.
I said to myself, self, you can do this couponing thing. It can't be that hard. You just need to concentrate on remembering to buy the Sunday paper.
So last week, I did. And I clipped. Did I EVER clip. I had a huge stack of coupons.
I bought myself this cute little coupon folder at Big Lots and went to sorting.
Then, on Wednesday, I noticed my grocery store flier had four coupons which would double the value of manufacturers coupons.
This was serious. I was so excited. I grabbed my scissors and snipped away.
Today, when our house guests left, I gathered up my orange folder and made my way to the store. I even sat in the car for a few minutes to make sure I was sorted out.
As I pulled items from the shelf, I made sure I found the corresponding coupon and placed it in the basket next to the item.
Damn girl, I thought to myself, you are totally rocking this coupon business.
I even pulled out the double the manufacturers coupons coupon's and placed it in the basket so I'd have it handy.
Nearing the checkout stand I was actually giddy about all the money I was going to save.
I placed my items on the conveyor belt with their coupons and then I realized something had gone very wrong.
My big bad double coupon coupons were GONE.
As quickly as possible I scanned my cart - nothing. I dug through my purse - no luck. And I rifled through my little folder - not a freaking thing. I tried to remain calm and mentioned to the cashier I'd lost my coupons.
'Too bad.'
Uggghhhhh.
So close. So very close.

4 comments:

Melissa said...

Hey Heather, are you familiar with www.thegrocerygame.com? I've never used the site, but I know people who have. It seems like a site you'd enjoy. Good luck!

Unknown said...

Hey Heath- I have become a couponer but it's taken time and a lot of forgotten clippings. My system is to pull them from the big-lots divider thingy and place them with my cash in my purse when I get the item. That way they're safe and I will be sure to get them out when I go to pay. I have found the sunday paper is still the most reliable way to get them and it's now a fav part of my sunday routine to sit with my tea and scissors in hand:)
And as far as the location of the missing coupone, I bet someone stole em!

Andrea said...

Good for you. I tried a couple years ago and all the planning that went into shopping and meal planning around sale items put me over the edge. I did thegrocerygame at one point and it was worth it, but I just don't have the time anymore.

Karen said...

Hey Heather, thanks for stopping by my site through UBP. I'm not much of a couponer. I can never find god coupons for products that I use and I don't even have time to read the newspaper. Good luck to you!
http://www.ageorgiaangel.com/blog/?p=319