Conversation with hubby today...

[$Saving!]

It's a phenomena with coupon using households I think

A little over a year ago, I taught a neighbor in need how to use coupons to fill her bare cupboards. Her husband had been out of work going on two years, she has MS and can no longer work in her field of nursing and they had three teens in the house! She shopped without coupons at Food Lion and WalMart.

After she and hubby filled the cupboards and freezers for less than they had been spending, it wasn't long before the kids were saying that often heard phrase, "There's nothing to eat" - meaning "I'm looking for something I don't see"

We laughed about how happy they were with the myriad of choices the first few months, then they got spoiled and demanded more.

Kind of like society in a microcosm - always wanting more, comfortable and grateful then grow weary and seek more.

[XUfan]

Similar, but not exactly the same thing happened here. (I tend to fire warning shots before we totally run out of something! LOL!)

Grandson (just home from school): I'm going to have a pack of pop tarts.
Me: Just letting you know that we're down to the last three boxes. I put them in the pop tart basket.
Grandson: They still have them at the stores, you know.
Me: Yep, and they'll stay there until I can get them for less than a dollar a box with a sale and a coupon.
Grandson: So...can I have pop tarts for a snack or not?
Me: Sure you can. But when we're out...we're out!
Grandson (chewing): ok

**I should add that this was all done in fun. He knows about the coupons, and we were both laughing as we were saying all of this!

[$Saving!]

Similar, but not exactly the same thing happened here. (I tend to fire warning shots before we totally run out of something! LOL!)

Grandson (just home from school): I'm going to have a pack of pop tarts.
Me: Just letting you know that we're down to the last three boxes. I put them in the pop tart basket.
Grandson: They still have them at the stores, you know.
Me: Yep, and they'll stay there until I can get them for less than a dollar a box with a sale and a coupon.
Grandson: So...can I have pop tarts for a snack or not?
Me: Sure you can. But when we're out...we're out!
Grandson (chewing): ok

**I should add that this was all done in fun. He knows about the coupons, and we were both laughing as we were saying all of this!

Kids will adapt so easily! I've been couponing so long, it was before I got pregnant with my now mid-20's kids. And when they did go with me to the grocery store as toddlers and elementary age kids - they never questioned why we couldn't get something they saw and wanted. Instead they would ask "Mom, do you have a coupon for this?" If I said no, that was the end of the questions or requests.

To this day I seriously believe they thought the store would not sell it to me if I didn't have a coupon - which worked out well for me

So even now, if they want something they pose the question, "Hey Mom, if you find a deal on XXXX, will you grab some for me?" Or they brag about a deal they got on the fly. Love it!

[snafu4me]

i always get the 89c bag of oyster crackers @ walmart

[everprincess]

This is a funny thread. It is always what you have don't have that they want to eat. Same in my house no coupons not buying it. Especially things we don't "need" like crackers, cookies or some cereal we are out of. DS begged for mini-wheats awhile back and I told him I'm not paying $4 bucks a box. Then they went to sale the next week and I stocked up.

[jennsvs]

This is a funny thread. It is always what you have don't have that they want to eat. Same in my house no coupons not buying it. Especially things we don't "need" like crackers, cookies or some cereal we are out of. DS begged for mini-wheats awhile back and I told him I'm not paying $4 bucks a box. Then they went to sale the next week and I stocked up.

Did he suddenly not want them anymore after you stocked up? My son did this a few months back. He begged and pleaded for mini-wheats. As soon as I got them, he ate one bowl and that was it.

[everprincess]

No he eats them like no tommorrow. Cereal is a big stockpile item for me. But I will only pay $1.00 or less a box so I don't care what the brand is if it's $1.00 or less you will eat it!

[mom2jessi]

Yeah, I noticed how my daughter has adapted to couponing... she'll say 'mom do you have a coupon for XXX' and she KNOWS there is absolutely no smoothie unless I have a coupon for b1g1 at Smoothie King so she'll casually ask when we are near one if I have a coupon.

Just rememebered... she has been begging for those Nilla Wafers. At $3 a box I won't budge. They go on sale for b1g1 and I have a $1/2 coupon so I come home with two boxes and she just smiles and say's 'mom found a coupon!'

[XUfan]

No he eats them like no tommorrow. Cereal is a big stockpile item for me. But I will only pay $1.00 or less a box so I don't care what the brand is if it's $1.00 or less you will eat it!

That's my stock up price too! A dollar or less...and it doesn't matter what brand or flavor it is. Someone will eat it!! As a matter of fact, the 15 year old doesn't focus too well as soon as she gets out of bed, so I just pour her a bowl of cereal right after I wake her up. I just give her whatever is open...and she eats it. I also think that's why my grandson was ok with the fact that we're almost out of pop tarts. He knows there's always something else! And he loves to eat cereal when he gets home from school.