CVS ~ Other: cvs---Telling all your friends...

[ladycat00]

Originally Posted by jake1951 Our local churches are putting together bags of groceries for a Thanksgiving meal for 200 families. The lists were very specific and the prices of the items were listed and were about $18. As the presentation was being made I was mentally adding up the items and I could have purchased the same items for $3-$4. This is why people have not because they coupon not. No way to buy anything without a coupon. I have preached couponing for over a year and no one wants to hear it. :sad:

That reminds me of something. In August I got a list of school supplies from a local church for a needy family. The list had been hand written by the mother of the needy family (who's identity was not revealed to me but I think I know who it was).

She had written prices next to each item for what that item would cost. It was obviously REGULAR prices and they were outrageously high. You know, like $3 or some such for a box of Crayola crayons (which I paid 25 cents for!) It occured to me that if this lady knew how to shop the sales she might not need the help.

Of course all the prices I paid for the items were a small fraction of what the prices were on the list.

[ladycat00]

Originally Posted by ladycat00 I share everyone's pain. My family all think I'm crazy. But of course they don't mind me helping them out when they hit a rough financial spot (and they all have WAY more money than me!!).

Originally Posted by rfspen Isn't that the truth-I save the pennies and they want my dollar:shrug7:

I hope I didnt leave the impression that I help them with money. I don't. I help them with big bags of groceries, and things like shampoo, laundry soap, etc etc.

[dduck]

My family thinks I'm nuts. My sister did couponing for a little while with me, but when her husband stopped working she stopped couponing when she needed to do it the most. She has asked me to help her get back into couponing and I told her I would help her out. I don't think it will last long but she is family.

My husband appreciates the money I save so he can do repairs to the house, but he thinks I spend to much time preparing to go to the stores. I have explained to him couponing is a hobby for me and the time I spend on it is the same amount of time you spend on your hobby.

[disabledvetswife]

I don't get why some people don't coupon either. I've even emailed or called them with ALL the details (including where the coupons are) - and they still don't go buy the stuff.

My dad is on food stamps and his gf is on disability. They have little income. I've mapped out deals (like the current Glade deal at Target) and explain they can get 5 Glade items for $1 + tax oop and get a $5 gc back that they could use to buy stuff their food stamps don't cover - but they don't bother.

My mom only gets a little Social Security money each month, so I've tried showing her...but she's stuck on buying generic - swearing it's cheaper. I've even showed her a deal where the brand would be free (or overage), but she still doesn't bother.

The main excuses I hear are: I don't have time to coupon, I clip the coupon then forget to take it with me, or I want to buy what I want to buy and not have to wait for a sale to get it.

The only person who "got it" and coupons is my SIL - Hi Kathy!!!

[ladycat00]

Originally Posted by disabledvetswife My mom only gets a little Social Security money each month, so I've tried showing her...but she's stuck on buying generic - swearing it's cheaper. I've even showed her a deal where the brand would be free (or overage), but she still doesn't bother.

That's one of the most common excuses I hear- it's cheaper just to buy the store brand. But we couponers know that's not true!!!!!! I would go broke buying store brands! I get name brands 50% to 90% cheaper than store brands!

[ekoury]

Originally Posted by hedgehog I only know one country with this same saying - Russia I do agree with everyone on this forum. Even my closest friends and family don't get my affection for couponing. Even though they do like to receive free stuff all the time Many say - it's a waste of time. Some say - rather than spending so much time on coupons, go and work - you'll make more money that way...

Well, hello there!!! And yes, I am Russian. Never knew growing up in the USSR that I would be couponing in the USA

[tbbucs03]

My BFF moved 9 hours away and I do miss her so much.When we do get a chance to visit,one complete day is set aside for shopping.We start by getting Dunken Donuts large coffees and head off with our lists and coupons. We hit all the stores and even a couple thrift shops for fun.We stop and reward ourselves with lunch and then back to more shopping usually until the sun goes down or the car can't hold anymore whichever comes first. I sure do miss her since she moved and would love to have a
coffee drinking,coupon cutting,deal seeking,thrift store loving,fun shopping buddy close by again. I live on the west coast of Florida.

[bubbahead]

Soon after finding this site and learning the ropes I began to bore any one with ears about my latest "deal". Yep, glazed over eyes.

My husband and grown son think it's great and brag about me to their friends.

My best friend has been cut to part time and can barely make ends meet. I have repeatedly suggested she log onto this site and READ. She doesn't have time......can't afford a Sunday paper.....doesn't need any laundry detergent right now......blah, blah, blah.

Whatever. Personally, I will drag my tired behind out of the car 10 times on the way home from work if it means getting a dozen eggs for less than .25 at each stop.

[christine2008]

What a great thread! I am over the euphoria of sharing my deals with people IRL. I have a few coupon buddies who get it and a few who pretend they are doing the deals, but really want me to read the forums and tell them exactly how to get deals, and I mean every deal. I only explain things to people who really want me to tell them because I decided that my time is worth more than that. Also, I look a little less crazy! It took a little time to figure out what worked for me, but now that I have a stockpile (I really think it is an amazing stockpile!;) I can pick and choose my deals. Sometimes I pass a deal up because I just don't have time to do it, but I'll keep doing it as long as it is fun. My DH and I have been able to pay off all of our credit cards, drive really nice cars, I can buy fabulous shoes, our house will be completely paid off within 5 years and we are able to made regular donations to food banks. Think couponing is funny? I don't mind if someone laughs at me 'cause I'm getting the last laugh! Stick with it and share with people on forums. I do hope that you eventually find a coupon buddy because it does help to be able to talk about couponing! BTW, my husband gets it and loves that I coupon!

[hellokittygirl]

I get people asking me to explain the coupon thing to them all the time. I try, but usually it's not something they will ever actually pick up on. They think it's great, and they envy my smart shopping, but they always fall back on excuses like "I don't have the time" or they just think couponing is uncool. Whatever floats your boat, I say. :shrug7: I've worked hard to get my deals, and with the help of this site, I've learned so much, but it did take a fair bit of dedication and motivation. Without the desire to coupon, don't expect the rewards.

It's alright, though. HCW is a great community where we can chat about deals and there is no eye rolling here! I love y'all. We're all addicted!