As I was making a purchase in Kohl’s last week, I had a coupon and was thrilled with my discounts. A lady came up to the cashier and asked how much the senior citizen’s discount was. The cashier said 15%.

The lady became indignant and said IS THAT ALL?

The cashier turned back to me and he said some people are never satisfied.

Getting deals for items or buying things that are sale is great especially when you can take advantage of discounts but have we become too accustomed to the discount and sales?

It would be nice to have lower prices for items and not have to worry about coupons to get “reasonable” prices but that isn’t happening so using a coupon to buy an item that you need frees up money to buy things that you want.

Is that coupon taunting you? Yesterday without any trouble I tossed some coupons in the recycling bin because I knew I would never use them. Yet, there are still a couple of coupons that I am holding on to because they haven’t expired yet and I still might use them. The coupons that I am recycling I don’t know anyone who would use the product and don’t know where the product is even sold so the next time I went to the store I could put the coupons on the shelves near the time. That was too much work since I don’t know where to buy the product.

Coupons, like cash or credit cards can burn a hold into you pocket if you are not accustomed to them. Who really wants to pass up a great deal? If the item is free but you won’t use it, then why would you want to use a coupon promising you two of the same item for free with purchase?

When I went to the bank to take a fist full of dollars to the bank in exchange for a savings bond I was chatting with the teller who was looking at me askance since I had so many singles. I told her that I took them out of my wallet whenever I got some, because they didn’t fit in my wallet well. Her response was “ I always though about doing that but I always use my debit card so I never have any cash.”

Hmmmm… I wonder how many people are in the same boat if they use their debit cards more than using cash for everyday purchases. It may make me seem like a Luddite, but by using cash for daily purchases I am able to keep track of what I am spending. I know my limits and when I use a credit card or debit card sometimes I can lose track of purchases.

Back to the bank teller, I told her that by using cash and putting my dollars away that it was basically like free money and an easy way to save.

Saving is one thing but what is the purpose of saving money? Is the goal to reallocate for another purpose or saving money to actually put aside for short term or long term goals? Saving money on a haircut in order to afford that extra coffee isn’t allowing you to get ahead. Though I have never proscribed to the put the money aside that you have saved by using a coupon or by buying on sale theory, it could work for someone. Coupons and sale items makes your money go farther yet spending less on some items and pocketing the extra cash for unnecessary items can lead to unhealthy habits.

“Coupon clipping for the millennium isn’t just for detergent and cereal. Retailers of all stripes, from Walgreens to Neiman Marcus, have latched onto the coupon to entice consumers to spend. And the Internet and mobile devices are making coupons more widely available.”

Coupons to some have seemed gauche as though by using one they couldn’t afford an item without it. What if someone couldn’t afford an item without a coupon. IF it’s a big ticket item then that makes a difference. For something that is less expensive, such as personal hygiene products and household goods why not save money on items you regularly buy.

The coupon curmudgeons will say that they don’t have enough time to clip coupons, but ask the same person if he/she would pass by a $10 bill lying on the ground. Most wouldn’t pass by a 10 dollars. Using multiple coupons could save you that much if not more depending on the type of purchase you are making.

If you don’t have to spend an extraordinary amount of time getting coupons or are searching hours and hours finding a usable coupon then it is definitely worth it. I scan through neighborhood mailers and see if there are coupons for places that I would actually use, otherwise, if it is something that I definitely won’t use, the coupon is deleted or goes into the recycling bin.

Though coupons had fallen out of favor over the past decade and a half, for some truly frugal, using coupons has been a part of their regular shopping and money management.

Did you survive Cyber Monday and Black Friday? If you were like many who avoided the madness, it’s time to check out aggregate sites and just type in the name of online stores you frequent. Want coupons? Sign up with a store and you will get more than you probably wanted. Free shipping is generally offered with a minimum purchase but there are many discounts to be had without much effort.

If you remember the old telephone commercial – “phone first before you go.” That adage has been replaced by “search first.” Most stores with an online presence will let you know if an item is in stock so you don’t have to go traipsing around blindly. If the store doesn’t have what you are looking for, you can call to make sure. Stores still call from location to location to see if items are available. Some places may let you put an item on hold without a credit card.