Reactions from friends Re: Couponing
I know several people that are really really struggling financially, and when I tell them about my couponing experience these past several months, many of them look at me like I'm crazy, or they just blow me off and say, "I don't have time for that", or "I just shop at Aldi".
I am trying to give you some tools to save more than half on your monthly grocery budget and you think *I'm* Crazy? I don't get it!
Does anyone else have these kind of reactions from friends? I had a casual acquaintance give me Jill's website info and I could kiss her every time I see her!
It also amazes me that the people that I think need this program the most are not interested or claim they don't have time. This includes some neighbors and family members who are struggling financially due to job loss, significant debt, etc.
One way to look at this super couponing program is to consider how much extra income it would take to equate to the savings you can generate. We have only been doing this program for about 6 weeks and have started to see savings of over $150 per week versus what we were spending before. That's $600 per month savings after-tax. For someone in the 28% tax bracket, this works out to $10,000 annual gross income that you'd have to earn to equal these savings.
I don't know many people that are looking at $10,000 raises this year. For a few hours per week, you can look at this as a great part-time job. And it's a lot more fun than most of our regular jobs!
One friend who recommended Jill's site to me is shocked at the deals that I could do. She says she does not have time. How do you recommend a site for which you do not have time?
My aunt who just does not get it tries to be supportive. Check out this email she just sent to me. (See below) How do you respond? Too funny.
Hi, Just wanted to let you know....If you like kellege's Pop's cereal it's on sale for $1.88. Inside the cereal I found 4 coupons, one of which is a dollar off any 2 boxes of pops, fruit loops or apple jacks. So If I go back to Jewel at breaktime, I can get 2 more boxes and with the coupon it will only costs me 2.76 plus tax for the 2 boxes. cool. That's 1.40 a box.
"...wait until 3/19 and get a free gallon of milk for every 3 Kellogg's you buy too."
or,
"If you do what I do, you could buy SIX boxes of cereal for $1.40."
"If you do what I do, you could buy SIX boxes of cereal for $1.40."
I can practically already hear the response:
"Why would I buy 6 boxes of cereal? I can;t eat that much this week!"
Ha!
I am a nurse and I got quite a few of my co-workers supercouponing after I told them of the great deals I was getting. During our break we always talk of the deals we made and what deals are out there. When we see each other in between shifts and there are great sales going on, you can see the glimmer in our eyes. We get very excited when our shift is ending because it's time to go to Jewel, Walgreens and/or CVS(it's been Jewel lately). When we bring snacks to work,we recognize where it came from. If you bring something not familiar, somebody's going to ask you where you got it and what's the deal with it. Our job is tiresome and we work hard for our paycheck so we want our money to go as far as it can(from Suave to Ragu to Nesquick to bread and eggs to Pepsi to Conagra to P&G to Chill....). The nicest thing is we are enjoying doing this and laughing at all the hits and misses we make on our deals and which cashier/CS person is great or mean and how we try to eyeball the different cashiers to choose whom to go to if we are not doing self checkout. This is a long post but I just want to thank Jill for your website and everyone who post their great finds here. You are a household name at our hospital. My family is enjoying the variety of what I bring home and the savings I'm making. I got my relatives doing this too and I get calls from them regarding deals they are trying to do. My husband jokingly tells me I should get consultation fee for the calls I get. Again thnaks Jill for all you do.
Aha! Maybe you have some suggestions for those blood glucose meters we've all been accumulating? I still have six and have been unable to find one location here in the western suburbs to take them. Nursing homes, pantries, etc. here all say they don't take anything medically related (even something like Poligrip!). Prior meters have gone to clinics in Mexico, but the next trip is not planned until fall (not my trips).
Are you serious? At the hospital, we are actually saving certain items from discharged patients that can be cleaned and recycled to be sent with Medical missions done regularly in third world countries.They recently went to the Philippines. You think you can donate your glucose meters? I will talk to those in charge of collecting these items now that you give me this great idea.
Mashup Mom has a post - there is a nurse in Deerfield who is looking for glucose meters for a group of nurses who are going to Haiti to volunteer. Although it looks like she needs them by Monday:
Thanks, I knew about this, but don't live anywhere near Deerfield, which is why I was wondering about other health care professionals. You hear so much about people needing these items because they don't have health insurance, but when you actively seek out organizations to donate new items (at least in the western suburbs) you are told no medical items are taken. This includes even such ordinary items as denture adhesive and cleaner, which, honestly, I'd always assumed was for personal care.
From working in a hospital in the past, they consider dentures to be a "prosthetic" so those items fall under the category of medical items. I bet the food pantries would take the cleaners and adhesives though like they do toothpaste although I've never tried.
and it really doesnt (especially using this board, where Jill basically does all the work for you).
People will make fun of me for having so much of a certain item...but hey whos calling me asking if I have any extras to share...Hmmmmm...lol
I have alot of people learning how to do it now, not as many haters..lol
good to be true...and actually questionned if I was stealing from the stores. I bet a few think that without even asking. Keeping that in mind, that's why I showed the receipts to some of the friends and family who could benefit from it just in case that was their thoughts also.
We have plenty of friends struggling with one or both spouses out of work. How could you not have time? Why wouldn't you buy 6 boxes of cereal at once when they are a quarter each? Or $2 for 5 bottles of Wesson? You can split the order with someone! I will buy the 5 give away 2 or 3 and still feel like I got a great deal while helping others! People will ask and once you say you have to save the weekly inserts they say it is too much work! It is exhausting piling up the inserts every week!! We are hard workers!
PS: You might recognize my friends...their hair smells like Pantene!
I have a small 'following' now of 3 people, one of them being my son's teacher and another is one of his therapists (she's seen the Suave, Colgate and Dove body wash lined up on my staircase waiting to be put away! When I told her it was all free, she was hooked.) they are super excited about it. His teacher even went to Target with me one day to watch me "in the zone" as she said. It was fun! I also let her know when there are good snack deals, since she has a limited budget for providing the kids snack everyday.
However I also get the "how much time does it take?" question. My answer to that is "It takes time to make money and it takes time to save money" Then I often get the "well you're home all day" (which irks me to no end, but that's another topic!) I am home with my kids, and an extra since I babysit everyday, but they are my first priority especially my 4 year old who needs a bit extra attention. I really don't do much couponing during the day, I check here when I can but most of it is the few minutes between dinner, homework and bed when my DH can occupy them or after they're in bed.
I was at Dominicks yesterday, looking through their clearance meat. Great prices by the way! :)
I started talking to the lady next to me, she was getting some different meats as well. She told me she was actually feeding 2 families, since everybody is out of work, including herself.
I asked her if she ever uses coupons. "Well, not really" she said. I then told her "I can give you a website with lots of information about the best use of coupons and sales. I shop at Jewel and pay very little for tons of groceries."
She didn't even flinch. She showed no interest at all. I couldn't believe it, perhaps she thought I was joking. I don't know why people don't jump on ideas like these. I wasn't even out of work when I heard about Jill, but still jumped at the opportunity to hear and learn.
It's too bad, you can really save a lot by reading the posts here and collecting some coupons!!
I have a good friend and my sister who are totally on the SC bandwagon. My mom admires my savings and shops sales/uses coupons to a certain degree.
And then there are the "others." Those that give you that blank stare, don't really care to hear more, or find out how to do it themselves.
It escapes me! I went to my first class just over a year ago, and it is revolutionary.
I run into former co-workers and they ask if I'm "still couponing." How could I go back? I could win the megamillions (if I played) and still go to Dom's for 5 boxes of ceral and fruit snacks tomorrow.
It's a lifestyle, to be sure!
I don't remember for the life of me where I read this, but thought it was funny-"I need to win the lottery, so I have more time to coupon".
Times are tight for everyone. I am thankful that I don't NEED to super coupon (although, now that I do-I feel like I NEED to!). I view my super-couponing as a hobby that I greatly enjoy and one that's benefits my family, extended family, school and food pantry. However, if I HAD to super-coupon to put food on the table, I know I wouldn't enjoy it. I've tried to share info with people but have better luck just bringing a bag of food.
When you HAVE to super coupon to put food on the table, it is more rewarding than words can explain. There is a certain sense of accomplishment about it. You realize how blessed you are to have more than you need, when you have less than you ever had before to work with. After a couple of decades of being able to buy what I wanted when I wanted... I now reflect on the fact that I'm more like the mothers and grandmothers who came before. If you didn't have a mom or grandma like this, you might have known one. The kind who went into a kitchen cupboard which appeared to the untrained eye to be practically devoid of food. And yet out came a wonderful, large home cooked meal to feed anyone who might be hanging around come dinner time. It is kind of like that. You realize you can make a very big something out of a seemingly little nothing. THAT is the magic of super couponing!
I was a my bf parents at a 2 yr olds party... all the relatives were there..
one of the aunts says to me.. I hear you do this couponin thing..
As I am explaining it .. I hear the same things u guys do...
I shop at aldi, walmart , the dollar store..
Hey I tried..
funny thing, guess who called my bf and started asking him more questions about it this morning??
his sister.. and I thought she wasnt listening!
I am still to this day baffled over the last two years the friends and family members who struggle and are still at risk of losing their homes. And they say they don't have the time to review the options of couponing (keep in mind one of the spouses in each case doesn't even have a job and are home all day). I even spent hours (without trying to overload them with too much info) going over current and prior deals that are possible. I even went and did several deals and delivered a trunkful of items, showing the receipts and Cats I received so they can see the savings in black and white. Even offered to start collecting some coupons for them and all they had to do was give me a list of items and/or brands they most often purchase. Don't get me wrong, these families were very appreciative and we are close in our relationships.
Now if I go over some of the concepts of super-couponing with people who may inquire answer a few questions and just point blank ask them if they are interested in saving some money shopping for groceries and personal care items. And if they give me a blank stare and/or I don't know response, I move forward and don't even think about it again. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink it.
Many of my friends in dire need of a good way to cut expenses but couponing isn't their thing.....guess it's true that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. I now just do my own thing and concentrate on those few people who DO get interested enough that I'm not doing all the running around for them.
I am a closet couponer around my family. They roll their eyes when I tell them about my great deals and the sales coming up. My mom has started couponing more since her hours got cut at work. My sisters say they do not have time, but talk about how they spend hours on facebook each night! If only they would use one of those hours reading Jill's site instead! The good part about this is they are willing to pay me for things they need that I have gotten for free. They feel like they are getting a great deal and I am making more money!
From people I know who shop only at woodmans.First of all that is quite a hike for me to drive all the way there.And secondly there is no way they save as much as I do shopping at Jewel.With all the cat deals at jewel how can you beat the price.Some things are free or practically free.I used to shop at walmart because I thought I would save money.I wasn't.I just don't understand why people think that it takes so much time.I do not work outside of our house.But I am a very busy Mom if I have the time for this anyone can do it.Really the most it takes is 20 minutes a week.It is worth it to save so much money.
Now I just pull out my receipt and then just look at the bottom and seeing that is sometimes enough for them. But there are the others that say it takes too much time and all the other excuses. Well you can help everyone.
I try to tell my friends, and I guess my excitement makes them think I am crazy! Seriously free Ragu and Colgate etc, how do you not get excited? There is a Jewel 1 mile from work, and I go at lunch (dupage county vs cook where I live). They all make remarks about me going out. If they only knew I could get there frozen lunches for free.(even if it is only them and have no need for buying in bulk) I am so proud of myself when I get the deals right. I try to save them money, but if they want to pay full price then go right ahead.
I am saving for a vacation or whatever fun comes our way. I can't stop thinking deals, but I don't think that is bad thing. :)
I hate hearing that reason from people. What? you are only going to use one bottle of shampoo the rest of your life. My "bulk" is just less than say for a family of 4.
I just keep my couponing to myself...and my mom, she is happy seeing me NOT spend $$ but still being able to eat. And one friend knows about the couponing and stockpiling....and no negative comments from him as he usually benefits from my overflow :) In fact, he is getting all my Suave shampoo, I don't really like the stuff. My number one rule though if I have company.....never show them the stockpile, unless you really want some weird looks from people.
My husband and I owned our own business for awhile. Similar situation. We thought it was a great way to make money. When we shared it with people (we were excited!! Like I am about supercouponing now!!) some people got it, and others "poo-poo"d it.
Some people will want it, others aren't at all interested, and for others the timing is just not right. My mom and some of my coworkers (and facebook friends!) think I'm crazy and give the "I'm too busy" (my response: it really doesn't take that much time) or "I don't have enough space" (my response: I thought so too, until I got free groceries, and then I FOUND ROOM!!!) or "WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH 7 BAGS OF CHEESE??" (my response: eat it, cook with it, share with family, freeze what I'm not using until I do need it!)
But one of my managers at work and 2 coworkers are super excited about it. 2 of them are going to one of Jill's classes in April.
You kind of learn how to read people. If they are complaining/whining about the cost of groceries, you could offer to help them through Jill's website. If people really are in dire need they will probably take you up on it. These people are willing to make a change in their life (they are not LAZY!!!)
But some people? They just like to whine and complain but refuse to do anything about it. (My hubby even has to remind me when I vent sometimes: "so are you going to do anything about it? If not, quit complaining") Those people just want something for nothing.
You can always offer to help and maybe it'll make a big difference in someone's life! If they're just complainers, oh well. You found a way to strengthen YOUR family financially and thank God for that!
It took me an hour and a half to plan my shopping trip to Jewel where I saved $140. You don't count the time you are shopping b/c I am more efficient when it is planned out and you are going to shop anyway . . .
NOBODY is paying me around $94 per hour to do ANYTHING right now, so how can I not have time? Is it worth it, it's so hard, and man are you crazy!!!!! Nobody's job is as easy as going online, looking up deals, printing qs, going through some filed inserts . . . anyone out there make $94 per hour?? Okay, I know there may be some doctors or lawyers . . . just not something that SAHMs run into a lot.
A neighborhood gal replied that she has too many to feed (4 kids) and so she doesn't have a choice but to buy the bulk products at Meijer. Oh Lord. I only have 2 kids but when I tried to give her one example of something I saved on and could feed 4 kids on for a long period, her reply was that her kids didn't eat that stuff. I told her it was an example and there are more products than just that one. Some people are just sold on the way they already do things and they aren't starving, so what can you do?
Does anyone know if you can use coupons at the Dollar Store?
yes you can use coupons at dollar general.
Dollar Tree does not take them
I've learned to keep my mouth shut with certain friends of mine about the great deals I'm getting. The reaction: I just don't have the time to stop at the store, can you get it for me? After I noticed that pattern, I finally quit talking about it to most people. They all say the same thing: I don't have the time to clip coupons, what's the point in buying so much at one time, etc... I don't mind helping people from time to time, but I'm not your errand girl - just because I am a shopaholic!
I really wish I could keep my mouth shut, but I am just so excited about the deals I ahve a hard time not sharing it! But really, from these people who look at me funny, say they don't have the time, etc etc, I should just keep it to myself! I really get giddy looking at my stockpile! I Love It! And if others don't want to learn, that's more time for me to shop (since I won't have to be teaching them!)
From my friends and coworkers. They will ask me to pick them up some $2 ALL? I give away a lot of deals and will ask friends if they want me to pick them up something. I usually don't end up recouping my cost. I don't talk about coupons anymore!
I get ridiculed at work all the time for using coupons (I work in the construction field). My response every time is, "I bet I save as much as you spend on groceries..." That keeps them quiet until next time.... :)
Preasabro, great comeback!!! If you don't mind, I would love to use this as my comeback too!!
I think the image that comes to mind for most "I don't have the time" people is growing up and seeing their Mom clipping coupons and other inefficient things that took time and didn't seem to really save a lot. That's got to be one reason news shows showing couponing like the ones Jill has appeared on show the cart of groceries going up to the cashier, $115 appearing on the total then the methods are applied and it comes to $8.
Wal Mart is on to the "I'll just shop at Aldi" mentality with their recent string of commercials where they generically state you'll save $55 per month shopping there. People love the idea of just aiming their car at a different store's parking lot and coming out with savings while not doing a thing. Of course, here's the reality-
Supermarkets vs. Supercenters: A must-read!
http://www.jillcataldo.com/node/2738
P.S. I signed up for Aldi's e-mail newsletter and checked it week after week and the prices were higher on item after item compared to Jewel or Dom's.
I always laugh out loud at that Wal-Mart commercial. I think to myself geez I save at least that much EVERY time I shop! :)
Ditto. Same. exact. thing. Other than one friend who wants to learn but hasn't had time. I just don't understand.... I guess it's true what they say about Americans, we'll pay ANYTHING for convenience. Well not I!
I have the same responses. You do not want to know how many people's card I have loaded for the Your Bucks it takes 2 seconds and they always act like they have no time. Sure they have time to forward chain e-mails though.
It takes a small investment of your time to save a huge amount of money. I for one am willing to put the time in.
Oh I get people that say I should just shop for them. I can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. I may not be able to give you money but I can help you save money.
Same here - I e-mailed a bunch of people, some of whom are not exactly rich, and gave the explanations and website, even went into details on the YBs.
I did it because I thought it was the right thing to do and who cares what they thought of me - that was end of January 2010.
Well, 1 caught on, I think, and 1 was still getting rid of unused coupons last week, had not done the YB yet, missed out on all that free toothpaste.
Yes, everybody else does not have time or they ask me what I do with 8 jars of peanut butter for 30 cents each, answer, I slooooowly eat it.
To be honest my husband does not give me much satisfaction either, but I tell him to stay far away from grocery stores, which I only can handle now.
"they ask me what I do with 8 jars of peanut butter for 30 cents each"
not have to buy it when it's $3 a jar. It's just like drivers who get all excited and fill up when gas goes down a few cents but grocery shopping has that beat where you can actually get paid to take stuff.
If you can keep everything you save? ;0) Then in six months wonder out loud what you should do with that 500, 1,000, 3,000 dollars he'll get on the coupon caboose! lol
I am using the envelope system with $80 a week for all grocery spending. I just opened a seperate checking account (with Chase, got $125 from them for opening a new account) and I'm going to deposit everything I can save out of the $80 a week for a trip to Disney with my kids. My goal is to do the trip in 2 years. I think I can do it!
I have been trying to get a handle on this....I just started in January and have little charges here and there on my debit...some in cash. I was thinking of getting a gift card each week and only using that, but what about other stores I may shop for deals? Maybe an envelope would work. I always (no matter how prepared I am) get flustered when dealing with so many q's along with Cat's at the check out. I think I will invest in a separate change purse for my weekly shopping....along with my coupon wallet. Nice Bonus at Chase! Good Luck on your Goal and Thanks for the tip.
I went to Jill's class and one of the most useful things I learned was about how she keeps track of all the q's while she's shopping.
There is a small Q organizer at Target (in the office supply section) for about 4.50. It has 13 slots with sticker labels, plus a zippers pouch in the front, plus a little open slot in the front. Label each slot with a store name, one for cats, one for receipts, whatever other category you want. Put all of your week's q's in each store's slot (I include a post-it with my shopping list for that store, plus the cash I expect to spend). As you are shopping, pull the Q from the store's slot to the open slot in the front.
That way, you aren't fumbling around with Q's that you thought you'd use, but didn't, forgetten cat's, ect.
It has made my shopping soo much easier and now I don't get all flustered at the check out, because I'm totally organized.
Hope that helps!
Just wanted to wish you luck! I took my kids to Disney a year ago and had a wonderful time! Happy couponing!
Congrats! Just in case you haven't seen it Jill's saving on Disney post is a must read! :)
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