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A guy at the grocery store said my coupon strategy was costing me more money
I was at the Food Lion near my place, stacking a bunch of paper coupons on top of a digital offer. This older guy behind me in line just said, 'You know, you're buying stuff you don't need just because you have a coupon for it.' I got a little defensive at first, but he was right. I was grabbing name-brand snacks and a fancy cleaner just because they were 'on sale' with the coupons, spending maybe $15 extra. Now, I only clip coupons for things I already have on my list. My weekly bill dropped by about $20 because I'm not adding junk. Has anyone else had someone point out a budget habit that was actually backfiring?
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matthew_hart256mo ago
My own coupon addiction once had me buying ten cans of artichoke hearts.
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henry6046mo ago
Ever wonder if the coupon itself changes how you feel about the food? Like, you're not even an artichoke person, but a 75% off sticker makes those cans taste like victory. I bet you ate more artichokes that month than a fancy restaurant uses in a year. The real cost is the cabinet space for all those weird impulse buys.
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ben2066mo ago
Spot on about the coupon changing how it tastes, @henry604. But it's not victory, it's obligation. That 75% off sticker makes you feel like you HAVE to eat them, so you choke down every weird can. My cabinet is full of fancy mustard I got for a dollar that I'll never actually use.
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