When Couponing Comforts

It has been a long, rough road for our family. My husband passed away last year and my eight-year-old grandson lost his battle with cancer last week. You can read his story (and how we plan to do acts of kindness in his name here)  Sunday afternoon, I was feeling overwhelmed with sadness.

So I went "coupon shopping."

You would have to understand just how important couponing has been in my life to know why that sentence makes sense. If you read my newly released Coupon Crazy: The Science, the Savings and the Stories Behind America's Extreme Obsession, (Familius, August 2013) you will know what I mean.

My children grew up with a mother who saved every label, clipped every coupon and didn't hesitate to dip her hand in a dumpster for stray coupon inserts or labels she would flatten and file in a room filled with empty boxes. My husband and I shared many a "date" that consisted of visiting a local recycling center or an afternoon of shopping strategically using coupons. Since his death, I've visited a Walgreens store only once or twice, and he and I used to hit one every week. I've bolted out of a Hy-Vee more than once after spotting a man drinking coffee and reading the newspaper in the deli. I can barely stand to navigate the peanut butter aisle. Suffice it to say, sans my favorite shopping partner, I don't do nearly as much couponing as I used to.

That said, time does heal and with my stockpile cupboards nearly bare, I'm doing more deal-shopping. While the majority of my "free spree" shopping has gone into baskets for drawings at my couponing workshops and book-signings, I'm beginning to look ahead to making some baskets up for my adult children this Christmas. 

Because of new stipulations on some coupons (Procter & Gamble and the Bic) I was only able to use four like coupons for each trip. The Gillette coupon was good for $6 off three razors or shaving prep (shaving cream!). Four coupons meant 12 cans of Gillette that retailed for $1.98 each (so free) and women's Bic razors, priced at $2.96, minus the $3 coupons (also free) My girls hate these so they will go in drawing baskets. The Bic pens, priced at 97-cents each, were free with my $1 coupons good on any Bic stationery items. The Lunchables were ringing up for $1 each and had $1 off 2 coupons right on them, so they were only 50-cents a box.One box is missing from the photo since I had a hungry child shopping with me. With tax, my total was less than $8 for all this.

And yes, I was smiling when I left the store.