Grocery Shopping: 8/21 – 8/29

Ralphs – 8/21 – $34

Coupon Items:
2 x Tree Top Juice – $1.00 (retail: $6.00)
5 x Lean Cuisine Frozen Crap – $6.35 (retail: $15.00)
Jose Ole Frozen Skillet Meal – $2.99 (retail: $7.59)
Degree Deodorant – $0.50 (retail: $4.49)

The Ethics of Couponing

When I decided to get hardcore about clipping coupons, I inevitably ended up consider coupon ethics. I also started using words like “hardcore” to describe couponing. When I first start getting back in the game – the hardcore coupon game – I ran across an article on coupon ethics. It covered the basics: don’t use expired coupons unless your store has a policy of accepting them, don’t try to get coupons scanned that you didn’t actually buy a product for, and when there are restrictions on size or quantity adhere to them. This is all ethical child’s play.

I was more concerned about the big picture – the implications of my calculated, excessive, coupon usage.

Guilty Pleasures, Pt. 1: Couponing

Part of the “Living Large on Hobo Change” series. Clipping coupons is traditionally associated with middle-aged women, but anyone can realize massive savings through obsessive couponing, brand disloyalty, and a minor hit to dignity. That last one is a personal thing; I have no problem living cheap, but I always feel awkward handing over a fistful of coupons. On the plus side, several nice old ladies have commended me on my frugality. All we need is a Great Depression and some war rationing for the younger ladies to be impressed by my wily couponing ways.