[Need2Save$]

Once, I was not feeling well at all and it was the last day of the sale and I haven't missed shopping weekly in months. It was getting late and I should've been in bed, and surprisingly, my DH offered to do the shopping for me. I was uncertain, unsure, concerned, paranoid, etc., but I thought this might be a good opportunity for him to see what hours of me couponing is all about. So, I had my list written out with specific sizes and quantities of each item and the envelope of coupons. I asked him nicely to please stick to the list as much as possible, but if he saw anything he really wanted/needed to pick it up.

So instead of laying in bed to rest, I was worrying if he'd remember to stick to the list, if he paid attention to the specific sizes that were on sale, if the cashier would give him problems, etc. I was worried it was a mistake sending him to do the shopping.

But when he came home, I was pleasantly surprised that he stuck 100% to the list and everything on sale was still available. (As we all know, many times the last day of the sale we need to ask for rainchecks.)

I was so proud of him and thanked him. And he was amazed he was able to save $30-$35 in sales and coupons for the items that he bought.

My DH is still getting used to me couponing. He sees me spend hours sorting, clipping, matching to sales, etc. and thinks I do it only for financial reasons. He tells me some day we won't need to clip coupons when we make more money, but I told him it's a hobby. I LIKE saving money and finding deals. If you're buying something, why not save money buying it? Even my kids get involved. Whenever they see a blinkie in the store, they get excited and grab me one. They also know that I buy things only when they're on sale and have a coupon. So, when they ask me to buy something, and I tell them it's not on sale but I'll buy it next time when it goes on sale, they don't nag me for it.

Sometimes I'll come home with a random new item and tell DH it was on sale and I had a coupon for it and only paid $.xx for it. It's a good way to try new products that we normally wouldn't try. If it goes well, then I'll make a mental note for next time to look out for the coupon and sale.

Like many of yours, my DH also feels that because we saved $30, that now we can splurge with that $30. I don't quite see it that way, however, I do believe we should be rewarded in someway. Like everyone has suggested, maybe saving that $ for a fun night out with the family. Or maybe surprising the family with something. I, myself, haven't "rewarded" ourselves with money saved by couponing, but after reading this thread, I think that is a great way to show the family how saving through couponing enables us to afford and enjoy other things.

OP, I feel your pain. I'm sure your DH will come around. Maybe your supermarket can still honor your coupons for the items your DH did buy. Once, after shopping for an hour and ready to go home, I wasn't paying 100% attention when I was getting rung up. I only gave the cashier half of my coupons. After driving all the way home, I looked at me receipt and knew I had coupons for certain items that weren't reflected on my receipt. I looked in my coupon folder and there they were, the balance of the coupons. I went back and customer service honored the rest of my coupons, like 12 of them, with no problems.