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So I am sick and tired of people judging me for my "couponing". Yes, I haven't posted about it much because I really don't go looking to convert people or looking for their opinions either. For about 2 years I have carried my "coupon binder" EVERYWHERE.
I am not one who prints out online coupons because I don't buy enough stuff to justify the ink but I do clip newspaper coupons from the Sunday paper and only shop what's on sale. For groceries, I actually only shop at one store. So right away you can see I'm not as militant as some, but I save a respectable amount averaging about 30%. It's about the equivalent of my family's cell phone bill - and that's just on groceries.
Here's the part that kills me - there's always 1 person (or 100) that feel the need to tell me that they would use coupons if it wasn't all for junk. Junk? Where exactly is my junk? I don't buy frozen dinners or SPAM or have 2000 Hot Pockets in my freezer... what I do have are things that make my life easier. Yes, I buy store bought bread, yogurt, cheese sticks, occasionally granola bars and oodles of boxes of cereal, so sue me for not being out there milking my own cow every morning or baking bread every stinking day (although if I have the time I find it therapeutic and appreciated by my kids). There are plenty of ways to save money on real things that real parents need to run an actual household with busy people that live there!
None of these "comments" I get, either from strangers or from people I know, are solicited. They feel the need to justify themselves for some reason when they see me next to them with my binder, an actual pencil and paper and a calculator. (The fun part is that I usually have my kids with me so there goes their excuse #1 for not being able to do it :)
Interesting thing though... I never have any meat or vegetables in my cart. That's because I actually buy my meat in bulk when it is seasonally available from a local farm, and I grow my own vegetables and freeze or can them for use in the winter. So what "appears" to be a chick who only feeds her kids cereal and yogurt and cheese sticks and lunch snacks is actually someone supplementing the quality stuff that comes from local farmers and her own hard work the best way she can at this time. Anyone filling their cart with tomatoes from Mexico or oranges from South Africa has no business judging me for buying granola bars made in only-God-knows-where.
If you know me, you know that although I garden and do my part to educate myself and others about food quality and local farming - I also do not subscribe to the hipster drivel. While some people are busy dumping their whole paycheck at Whole Foods, more concerned with what kind of trendy "market bag" they have to carry at the Farmer's Market and have their noses stuck in the latest crunchy parenting magazine - I am busy. I am a stay at home mom of a deployed service member on a limited budget with 2 boys. I do the best I can with what we have. Haters are welcome to walk in my shoes for a month… successfully.
Tonight, I encountered a person who commented that she would cut coupons "if it was for stuff she used", and commented "I ain't got time for that" (really).… I later saw her with an assortment of crap that I would never use AND she was paying with an EBT card. Whoa.
I am going to post a photo here of my grocery trip tonight. It was a small one, but I only bought things I had coupons for and took advantage of a sale of gift cards that I could use for Christmas shopping. I seriously ask you if these are things you would never buy? Be honest!
I needed to pick up just a couple of things, but ended up getting some good deals - this wouldn't happen if I didn't ALWAYS have my coupon binder with me. Of note: some of these were FREE. Eggs, 2 of the bags of pretzels, and 4 cans of potatoes. Of course I can live my life without canned potatoes but they are not junk and I repeat: FREE.
I ask you seriously, do you not EVER buy these things? If you don't ever eat this stuff I am in awe of you, but really - you are just weird :)
See the gift cards there? Buy $100 of gift cards and get $20 off next grocery visit. The fact that I can buy them before cyber Monday? - I'm sold! That's like getting $100 of Amazon crap for $80 before I even include the sales on Amazon.
Here is a closeup of an average receipt showing my coupons for the above photo, this trip was just for a short trip tonight. You should see my quarterly big trips when I'm actually trying!
I realize that there are indeed people out there who would't buy these things, but are they at sporting practices/events 5 days a week and packing lunches for kids? And still finding time to grow their own veggies and keep a clean house and do yard work and help with homework and do laundry… ALONE with a deployed spouse? At the opposite end of the spectrum from the haters we have the awestruck "lazy people"… if you are a couponer you know who I'm talking about. "Oh wow! That is awesome! Let's get together and you can show me how to do that!" Um...NO. Learn it yourself the same way I did, it will stick with you longer. These people usually just want to chat for an hour OR have you do their shopping for them. "Ain't nobody got time for that".
I am not trying to begrudge anyone who can do better than this, I applaud you! BUT, I want to give a shout out to the other moms I see couponing who are doing the same thing I'm trying to do - work for my family the best way I can, without resorting to 2000 Hot Pockets in the cart. There is nothing wrong with what you are doing, and I stand with you! By the way this madness goes for everything… I do the rewards points at stores, coupon codes online, all of it. I even get .15 to .30 cents off per gallon of gas every time I fill up just from saving my grocery gas rewards and scanning them at the pump.
One of the reasons I do this:
Sports teams can get expensive! But who can say no to this face?
One more good thing about stocking up on the cheap - this year I noticed that I could assemble an entire traditional Thanksgiving dinner right down to the turkey just from what I already have in food storage and in the freezer. We will be having turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole - all the traditional trappings… right from what we already have. Another thing I noticed, this is the 2nd year in a row the hubs has missed Thanksgiving, ugh. More leftovers I guess.
Another cool score with a sale & coupon: I paid $3.00 for this new release the kids want for Christmas, and got a $5 gift card to use next visit.
Soooo, I'm done with my rant for now, and that sure felt good, even if it made no sense :) Thanks for hanging in there, if you are indeed still there!
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So where have I been? No, I haven't moved to Belize. Yet. I've been on Facebook for sure, but due to some of hubby's work/career stuff I have been laying low on the online blog presence thing… in case you haven't noticed I'm kind of opinionated and that's not always a good thing so I have to know when to go away for awhile :) Also, I have just been entering a "new season" in my life where I was having some trouble figuring out how to fit everything I used to do easily into a mere day - I can't seem to do it anymore with the boys getting older and busier. Then, there's that deployment thing...
Someone needs to tell me what to do about the Reader thing... what are you all using now? I probably went from 200 followers down to zero so I should stop now until I find out if anyone is left out there in blog-land...
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Coupon haters gonna be haters. Not sure why. Do what you need to / can do to save money. What's wrong with that?
ReplyDeleteDon't know what to say about the "reader" thing as I have no idea what you're talking about. Is it like clicking on the "follow" button?
Glad to see you're back. Was actually getting a bit concerned that you had, indeed, fallen off the face of the planet :)
I'm so happy to see your vent! I most certainly would buy all those things except canned potatoes. I have never seen canned potatoes before so no way could I buy them if they don't have them in my stores. People just love to make excuses for themselves and try to make others look bad while doing it. Like you are some kind of fool who has too much time on your hands for using coupons. Think of it this way, it says more about the people who make rude comments (lazy closet junk food eaters) than it does about you (perfectly brilliant mom feeding her kids healthy foods and the occasional snack all on a tight budget). If that makes sense?
ReplyDeleteAnyway it's great to see your post. I think I use Blogger Dashboard for my reader, if that's what you are talking about. If not then never mind, the answer is I have no idea. ;)
Feedly replaced Google reader for me, I've found a way that mainly works for me. It got me to your site, so that's good. I appreciated your thoughts about couponing. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteHey, how nice to see you. I thought maybe you were still looking for that strawberry patch. I use Mozilla Firefox for all my online stuff, and have been checking in now and then to see if you found your way back. I do miss your particular take on the world. Don't let the Grinches bother you, just do what works for you and let them grump on their own. Happy Holidays to you, and hopefully soon, those (deleted unkind words here) will get smart and end all those military excursions everywhere and let the soldiers come home....Hey! It could happen!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving from your gardening friend in Northern Indiana.
I'm glad to see you're back! You shouldn't worry about people offering "advice" or comments that were unsolicited. In the big picture, these people will probably never cross your path again, so why waste any kind of energy on them? To each their own! Hats of to you for holding down the fort while your hubby is deployed! I remember what it was like for us (and we only had a 6 month old at the time) and you have my deepest respect!! Have a happy Thanksgiving!!
ReplyDeleteYay! So glad to hear from you. I figured you were probably crazy busy with all you do and with your hubby deployed. And I would SO buy all the stuff you got with your coupons if I were organized enough. I tend to cut out coupons and leave them in odd places until they expire. I love your idea of a binder. Y'all have a very happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteOMG! You just made my Thanksgiving a lot brighter! Do you know how I've missed you? I don't Facebook hardly at all, so I didn't even know you were there.
ReplyDeleteAnyway....you tell 'em, girl. I'll be thinking of you as I prepare my instant mashed potatoes and open my packages of turkey gravy mix today. Hey, I made the cranberry sauce from scratch! But I didn't raise my own turkey. Gotta go now, my daughter is here with her casserole of Stove Top Stuffing :-) Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and welcome back. Love ya!
PS: I just put everyone I follow in a blog list on the sidebar, and set it to show the most recent posts. It's easy to just run down the list each day and give 'em a click.
DeleteI love canned potatoes! So easy to add to a quick stew, or delicious sliced and fried in butter.
Oh dear, you are too funny! Glad to hear you are alive and kicking. I buy most of the same stuff but I do get my eggs from a friend (most of the time). I go through phases where I coupon and then I don't. Right now I'm not. Just can't summon the mental energy most days (maybe when both kids are in school all day), but I do shop sales and stock up when there is a good deal. I'm going to have to look around for that gift card deal. I'm doing most of my shopping through Amazon this year because most of what I want to get the kids isn't available in the stores and Toys R Us gives me hives. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for your post.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say that canned potatoes with parsley and butter on a camping trip are the bomb! I'd like to can my own this year. I live in the Pacific NW so potatoes are pretty easy to grow here.
ReplyDeleteSo, so good to see a post from you. I don't do Facebook at all so continually have to pester Chicken Mama as to whether she's seen or heard anything from you there.
ReplyDeleteSome of the most irritating people out there are the ones who judge. No one has the right to judge anyone else. Most of the time detractors are just trying to build themselves up by tearing others down. They're not happy people. Nor are they productive, organized or willing to do work that takes effort or gets the hands dirty.
You go above and beyond to take care of your family in the very best possible way you can. And you're doing an outstanding job of it! Just don't forget to take care of yourself during this rough/tough time. You are the glue in your family.
Sending love and hugs to all of you!
Welcome back! I've missed your posts. It's your place here and on Facebook. Print what you want!!! Especially you, who has a husband defending that right!!! He is not only defending that right, so are you. You are raising two fine young men and are doing it rather well. Live your life the way you need to live your life. It seems to be working for you and yours. To he double toothpicks with the rest of us! Post when you can. I love hearing from you. I rarely comment, but I'm always here. I don't do Facebook.
ReplyDeleteHey Erin,
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see you back on the site. I, too, have missed your posts. I can't relate to the whole "spouse deployed"....although on some levels I can relate as a single mom of two busy boys. You hit the nail on the head...as they get older and busier, it gets harder to juggle it all. AND, those that say your kids need you less as they get older, well, I just plain disagree with that. I actually think I was less busier when they were young. I need to be engaged and present now more that ever. You go girl. I love reading your posts, hearing of your journeys...and feel a little bit of kindred spirit in the whole 'mom of boys' thing. Thanks for sharing your journey and life stories. Happy holiday season!
You go girl! I've missed your posts too, and I've been there, done that too, with the coupons - I LOVE seeing my receipt at the end when I've saved a ton of money. As for readers, I just found Feedreader online, so I'm trying it out. Would love to find a browser toolbar/button I could just add so it would be there to click (I really miss google reader). Didn't know you were on Facebook - I'll have to search for you there.
ReplyDeleteActually, I just found several browser toolbar buttons that work. I did a google search for toolbar RSS buttons, and got a whole list. I use google chrome, so I also went to the chrome store and was able to download two plug-ins for toolbar buttons, and they seem to work well, so try that.
DeleteWell, poop. I thought I WAS following your blog - and now I am! I am so glad you're back, rant and all. I think people have come to think of themselves as 'entitled' to comment on other people's doings. I think that couponers are awesome and I agree - let the naysayers walk a mile in your shoes and do what you do. I use coupons on occasion - especially for Midas auto repair... - but I neither have children or a deployed spouse, so I pretty much manage to grow/raise my food. I enjoy your outspoken-ness and have missed it. Welcome back!
ReplyDeleteErin, So glad to see you back. I am a tidewater gardner as well and love to follow local folks. We have lost several locals this year and I was afraid you were next. I know that when you are military it is some times not good to say everything you think. I work here on the base Nav Sty (35 years) and my big problem has always been saying just what I think Ha Ha. Happy that you are all well. I just got on facebook to follow my grandsons BMX racing so I know how much time team stuff takes. When you have time just post STILL HERE. I have asked Granny (AG) several times if she had heard from you. She has Email contact with most of the folks she follows as well. That way she at least can tell me everyone is ok. Love to follow your posts when you can find the time. Drop by Hampton BMX facebook some time.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe folks would be so snitty about couponing! They must have driven you to the edge. Before we started growing so much of our own food I couponed a lot. I figured out once that it gave me a month's free groceries every year. Who would complain about that!
ReplyDeleteBut, let me share my good news. My homesteading book is published! I'm so excited I want to tell the whole world. Please drop by my blog if you get a chance, to help me celebrate. :)
So glad to see you're back! Regarding couponing, years ago, another military mom published a book on frugality, and added to the family income before that by publishing a monthly newsletter detailing her secrets of raising six (?) children on not much money; couponing was also very important in her life. Her book was a compilation of her newsletters over the years and sold quite well. As for the naysayers you meet in life, the phrases "consider the source" and "this too shall pass" have stood me in good stead over the years in keeping my temper. And since I live near a college town with its share of political loons who think they know everything, I repeat these phrases a lot to myself! Write up an abridged version of the merits of couponing, print them out and hand them out to the busybodies at the store; if they're literate, they'll be so busy reading what you printed out that they'll keep silent for at least a little while. Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas season to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteI have always enjoyed following your blog and would most likely follow you on FB as well if I knew where to look. I even enjoyed and agree with your rant. My wife and I shop coupons when we can, Not as earnest as you but We are much more rural. Thanks for your sharing.
ReplyDeleteI am not much of a couponer because every time I clip coupons I always forget them at home and by the time I get to the store again the coupons are outdated. I think everyone should do what is best for their family and not worry about others. You seem to be doing a great job. It is tuff enough to raise a family with a spouse at home. Just keep up the good work and enjoy your family and not worry about what others think.
ReplyDeleteLike your blog! Totally admire the control you exert over the many multifaceted areas of your life. Kudos! I am a stay at home mommy now, my daughter is a year and a half; we just moved to a different state, where I am applying myself to learning to be more self sustaining. To that end, I spent most of the summer nurturing a massive sunflower garden that thrived, but failed with a sorry attempt at veggie container gardening. Regardless, I learned so much from my experiments, my excitement is carrying through this cold winter, and while baby plays and sleeps at night, I am amusing myself by steadfastly researching green alternatives for an awesome veggie and flower gardens this coming year! Once I get that situated, on to learning to can and save said food-hopefully enough to feed my family over next winter.Yay! I could go on and on, but I have to run and walk the dogs. Needless to say, you should be very proud of yourself! Having just barely crossed over to the green side, I have so much to learn, I am working on not having to scurry each day to accomplish even a quarter of the tasks you complete with ease. Congrats! Have a nice day!
ReplyDeleteMissing your posts. I hope you are all doing well thriving and busy with life.
ReplyDelete