In the last few months I have noticed something strange.
The looks that I have received from other customers at the grocery stores seemed to have changed from looks of annoyance to looks of pity when they see my stack of coupons.
I recently misplaced my wallet while shopping at Acme. In a stroke of luck, not only was it turned in 16 hours later (I had left it in my cart, the carts were gathered & stacked together and it wasn't found until someone grabbed that cart), but not a penny was missing. When I thanked the Customer Service Manager profusely, she replied
"That's ok....we know you need the money!"
I just laughed it off. Let them think that we are dirt poor! I do most of my couponing at Acme and if they think that my coupons are the only thing standing between me feeding my family Alpo Stroganoff, they likely won't give me any or as many problems with using them.
But then the strangest thing happened yesterday. I was viewed (and all but referred to) as poor by an semi-anonymous stranger on an etiquette-related message board! I can only think that it was based on the fact that I link to this site in my Signature on that board, because nothing about money had been mentioned in the previous 7 pages of discussion in the thread that I had started.
I'm still scratching my head over that one.
For the most part, I don't really care what strangers think of me. I'm not one of those people who feels the need to "fly under the radar" with my couponing. I know that many are forced to, due to their local stores not being coupon-friendly....but that's not a problem at my local stores. I flop my huge coupon binder right up on the cart and go shopping!
I may notice, but I don't really care.
But are we the new People For Whom Others Must Have Pity? In the late 80s Phil Collins sang about homeless people and Bruce Springstein championed factory workers. In the 90s, Elton John sang about Dead Blonde Celebrities/Royalty. Will the 2000s see a song about the Couponers?
And does it bother you?
Leah
I'm not going to lie...I find it terribly annoying and some what hilarious that please kinda look at me like I must be poor in order to be using coupons...splitting up my deals at CVS in order to roll my extra care bucks...ect.
Annoying because "how dare you judge me based on that" and Hilarious because "if they knew how 'not poor' I was they would think I was insane for wasting my time on coupons."
I decided about 2 months ago to learn how to be fugal BEFORE I needed to be. I have been watching a lot of people loose their homes, have job changes, ect and I want to be prepared for anything! My husband and I BOTH work on commission which can be a scary thing in this economy BUT God has taken very good care of us thru this economy. I just want to be smart with what I have!
Leahs last blog post..Walgreens Paid me $2.24 to take this stuff today! 🙂
midlife mommy
When I was younger, it did bother me to use coupons. I had a friend who was awesome at using them, but I wasn't interested in learning from her (she literally saved $70 off a $100 grocery bill once). As I've gotten older, and hopefully wiser, I can see that it's just silly to pay full price for things. I'm not Donald Trump, so I don't have unlimited funds. I would much rather spend my money on things that I want than things that I need, if I have the option.
midlife mommys last blog post..Another Meme
Shannon
Isn't it funny how they think your poor and uneducated to boot. I am looked at like some poor vagabond who wouldn't eat if it wasn't for a coupon. How very far from the truth! I don't care though, if only they knew I was wearing Christian Louboutin shoes while shopping in their store, purchased with the money I save by couponing!
M
It does bother me, I'll admit that. My husband is military, so people can look at my ID card and know how much he makes. I see how people in his same pay-grade live - it's a ::pretty:: life.
I just hate being wasteful! Why should I pay $3 for a tube of toothpaste when I know I can get it for pennies?
I just try not to think about it. Maybe that why all my military friends are several pay-grades below us. I'm just so not into that scene of keeping up appearances.
Heidi
It doesn't bother me. There are much bigger things that people do based on looks that bother me, but money isn't one of them.
Heidis last blog post..Commentary on Day to Day Life
Sarina
LOL that's funny, I don't get "you must be poor" yet but more a, "you must be an obsessive freak". My trip to Walgreens yesterday resulted in a chat with the cashier where she commented on the fact that she just couldn't handle dealing with all those coupons. I smiled and pointed out that on my first transaction with her I spent 6 bucks and saved 22. After my second transaction rung up 16 dollars and saved me 37 she said "You're one of those people that get up at 3am on black friday aren't you?" "Nah I LIKE my sleep".
I think that if people are nicer to you because they think you are "needy" then that's an added bonus. I guess there is a bit of pride/ego involved in having people think you are NOT poor, but I don't have it. I'm sure I will probably come off as "poor" one of these days but honestly I am so uninterested in what people think of me that I probably take it too far. I am who I am..deal with it.
Sarinas last blog post..Why I coupon...
CharmingDriver
What people think of me and my coupons isn't my business because all that matters, to me, is saving money. I even google for pizza coupons if we order out - Even on frivolities I never want to pay full price.
CharmingDrivers last blog post..But Why Mommy Interview
Daisy
No Mindi - it doesn't bother me one single bit. Mind you, for reasons stated previously, I do not "do" coupons - not like you (although I would love to and maybe someday I can find a way to make it happen). I DO shop at Aldi (like 90% of my groceries are purchased there now) and I buy a LOT of clothes at Goodwill and thrift stores. When I am wearing an Jones New York Dress and a Harve Bernard blazer both purchased under $20 total - Sorry, I am the one laughing.
It isn't about being cheap. It is about having money to spend but not having money to waste. When you pay more than you HAVE TO on items you are wasting money. It is that simple. I am too smart for that.
Daisys last blog post..When an Ear is a Tooth
Devilish Southern Belle
I'm still very much a novice coupon-er, but I don't think it will bother me one bit to whip out coupons and use them. Even if I was much better off than I actually am, I still can't understand the concept of paying more for something when you don't HAVE to. The only reason I don't do it more regularly now is because I lack the know-how to pair them with sales and plan with them...though I have the cutting them part down!
Devilish Southern Belles last blog post..It’s going to be an early night for me, folks.
Steph
I never felt that people thought I was poor because I use coupons, maybe cheap but not poor. I look at it this way:
"Poor" people use food stamps and don't generally use coupons because they have no incentive to.
Because I'm "cheap" I don't have to work behind the cash register for minimum wage.
I can use the money I save with coupons and sales for other needs or wants.
JessicaB
I never really thought that people would think I'm poor. Annoying maybe because they have to wait in line behind me or the cashier has problems getting one to scan.
If people think I'm poor that is fine. I know I'm just being smart and resourceful.
This makes me think of my SIL. She and her husband are extremely frugal. BIL really has a knack for buying something and turning a profit. Well, last week they fell into an awesome deal on a Lexus. The owner really had to sell and like my BIL so they got a great deal. Well SIL is a little embarrassed to drive the car (it is gorgeous by the way). She is afraid that people will think they are loaded and boastful. She is a worry wart. If I had gotten a Lexus at a bargain I would drive it with pride.
JessicaBs last blog post..Snack Day and other successes
Jessica
Like a few others have said, I take the spin that I am just smarter and more resourceful than some others who don't coupon or sale shop.
After all, it does take some brain power to know how to best shop for the lowest prices. Why give more money to a store than I have to? I'd rather keep it and spend it on something else that I want. Or, why pay for something that you know will be free sooner than later?
Sharon
I have been couponing for about a year and have saved a bunch of money. I don't buy something "just because" and usually use coupons with sales for the stuff my family already likes. I've also been CVSing for about a year and have yet to pay more than 50 cents for a tube of toothpaste 😉 Most people I meet in the checkout line or in the store shopping ask me where I got my organizer and where they can get one too 🙂 Thankfully in my small town I have not had many negative comments or looks.