Using Coupons With Ethics

This might seem like a really odd statement to those that don't routinely use coupons / rebates. However it does exist.

And it makes those of us that use coupons in an honest manner look bad. And there ARE MANY of us that use coupons by the wording on the coupon rather than making some other interpretation about what we want it to read. Does that make sense?

Well let me give an example.

Let's say I have a coupon that expires tomorrow, for ummm .75 cents off 1(one) 20 ounce bottle Coke Zero product. However when I get to the store, there are no 20 ounce Coke Zero products left. For someone who adores coupons that's a kick in the teeth. Because if I don't go to another store to use this coupon, I have lost .75 cents. And in this economy .75 cents is a good amount to "lose".
You can NOT turn around and use or attempt to use that same coupon on a 1(one) 6 pack bottles of 20 ounce Coke Zero. It's NOT ethical.

This happens, and it happens alot, and that's why my ethical couponing friends, and I are often held up at the check out with a cashier reading every line of fine print while others behind us are pitching a fit about being in a rush.

While I'm on the subject something that absolutely irks me is when I have more than one coupon for a product ... lets say I have 3 coupons for toilet paper. I put 3 packages of toilet paper in, and my 3 toilet paper coupons. I get to check out and get DRILLED because the coupon says "one coupon per purchase".

HELLO! Would someone on planet earth PLEASE pass the word along that "one per purchase" means I can't use all 3 coupons on a single purchase of one pack of toilet paper? That I have one coupon per purchase if I have 3 packages of toilet paper, and 3 coupons.

If you are a cashier and don't believe me, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE go ask your manager or district manager.
Maybe it's just lack of information on the part of management for not teaching cashiers (young and old alike) how this works.

And why is it that cashiers dread seeing "a couponer" coming? What did we do that's so ugly? I have been a cashier so I do feel like I can express myself here. I never dreaded anyone with coupons. I LOVED watching the money come off their grocery bill.


Coupons, hand in hand with a good old fashioned garden is the way to go to living frugally. And for many it's a start. And it's a great start!

If you don't know how to garden, don't go buy a $20 book to tell you how. The best way in my opinion is to ask a neighbor. Many times a neighbor (or nearly anyone with a garden) would be PLEASED to tell you how to start your own! Not only might you learn something new from just asking, but it's very likely your conversation with your new gardening friend might end with a little something like this "Great! Let me know or just ask if you need any more help. I'd be happy to answer more questions or help you more."

If your too shy or unsure of asking a neighbor, then by all means, you do have the world wide web at your fingertips!

It seems that I veered off topic a tad this morning, so I'll leave you with this question ...

What will be the first thing you do to being using coupons to cut back your grocery bill? And if you already use coupons, how or when will you teach someone else to using coupons for their first time?