Do You “Coupon”?
I know “to coupon” is not a verb, but if we’re using Googling and scrapbooking as such, we might as well speak of “couponing”, too. Some people use coupons religiously, some occasionally, and some just can’t be bothered at all. Check out this story about an Ontario couple who held on to a coupon for 15 years:
CANTON, Ohio (AP) - A Canadian couple finally took a restaurant up on an offer that arrived 15 years ago - by balloon. For its 1993 grand opening, Nicky’s Restaurant in Canton released balloons with attached cards good for a free dinner for two.
One of the balloons made it across Lake Erie and into the backyard of Margaret and Ken Savory in Waterford, Ontario. They were treated to pork chop dinners Tuesday night when they presented the card at Nicky’s.
Owner Nick Augoustinos says he was shocked that they’d held on to the coupon for so long.
Health problems had kept the couple from coming sooner, Margaret Savory said, adding: “I think that in back of my mind I was hoping that one day I would feel well enough to see if the place was here.”
I probably would have kept that coupon as well, although after fifteen years, I’m not so sure I would have been able to produce it readily. I’m organized, but not THAT organized.
I frequently use coupons, but usually only if they were printed in the store’s flyer or if they are really worth my while, like “buy one, get one free”. If it’s save 5% or 10%, I can’t be bothered, unless it’s a big ticket item - it’s worth hanging on to a coupon like that if your savings total $50, not so much if you save 50 cents.
Do you “coupon”? Do you know anyone who is obsessed with them? What’s the best coupon you’ve ever come across? Let us know by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link at the bottom. Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is COUPONING. But hurry - it’s expiration date is August 23rd!
P.S. Which way do you prefer to pronounce it “coo-pon” or “cue-pon”? I say the former.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:11 pm
On the Danforth, right across the road from my old apartment there is a restaurant that offers up $10 off coupons (I go with ‘cue-pon’) if there are two customers. It was a sweet deal and they make awesome Souvlaki Dinners.
But generally no, I don’t do the cupon thing.
-S.B.
Carly’s Note: That sounds like 25-50% off, so definitely worthwhile.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:31 pm
I say it “coo-pon.” I actually just checked dictionary.com to see whether there was a right pronunciation, and “coo-pon” was listed a couple times and “Q-pon” or “kyoo-pon” was there once. Dictionary.com is great because you can actually hear how words are supposed to be pronounced just by clicking on the “speaker” icon.
As for coupons, I use them once in a while (I used those Toronto Star Medallion thingies at the Ex yesterday in the Food Building) and the best one I got was for a free air freshener. You don’t usually see coupons for free anything anymore.
Carly’s Note: I don’t know much about dictionary.com, but I do know that British versus American sources can give you conflicting information. What we need is a Canadian dictionary that combines both (although “route” will always rhyme with “boot” to me and not with “out”).
August 21st, 2008 at 2:39 pm
coo-pon and yes I use them almost every shopping trip.
hit the Wal mart, and I love to take back as many $ as I can, so I use them a ton for expensive stuff, like over 10$ items.
Best ones are the get one free type, like the auto shower sprayer I scored a few coupons for.
With 3 bathrooms, it’s needed, and I refill them with the low price once a day shower spray, not the expensive refills they sell. Groceries, only the items I generally buy, not the try this for 50c off stuff, and sometimes even the $3 off ones are of no use, as the thing is $15 and worth $5.
I wish there was a coupn shsring thing that worked Canada wide, like scan them and reprint to use.
Hmm.. buisness opportunity or not worth the ink?
PLAY!
Carly’s Note: I do love those “buy one, get one free” offers, although sometimes they can be discriminatory toward single people. I can only eat one meal at a time, you know? That’s why I really appreciate places that offer 50% off.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:40 pm
coo-pon
Carly’s Note: I’m with you!
August 21st, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Hi Carly
I guess i say coo-pon and yes I cut them out of those mailer things that come with the saturday star. If I use the product I’ll cut the coupon. Do I always remember to use them No But i cut them out
Went to a skating show at the ACC last year and they had Europes Best Fruit and Vegetable coupons for $1.00 off and no expiry date. After the show I went and collected about 30 of them as people left them on their seats. I still use them today. Thats a good coupon though.
I also try and use those Cash for Kids coupons that come at certain times of the year and if theres a demo of a product at the grocery store and i like it i usually pick up the coupon and then buy the product at no frills where its cheaper and use the coupon.
Happy couponing.
Carly’s Note: Thanks for sharing your strategies!
August 21st, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Carly, I use the latter pronunciation. Just what I grew up with.
The older couple with the 15 yr old coupon were not only lucky that the coupon was honoured, but that the original owner was still there to honour it. Good for them.
The ratio of my using coupons vs the amount that I collect (most of which expire on me) is probably 1:50. I have good intentions of saving the money, but all too frequently forget to either bring them with me, or to use them at the check-out…sigh. Although, I’m talking about grocery store coupons - I use air miles coupons at certain locations on a regular basis (eg. A&P & Shell). Someday when I’m 90…I’ll have enough air miles to travel for free…LOL
Carly’s Note: Aeroplan is threatening to delete my miles because I haven’t accumulated any new ones in almost a year. I hate that. Why should the fact that I their miles aren’t available where I currently shop negate previous shopping I’ve done to earn them? It seems like a cheap tactic.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:04 pm
me too. I say coo-pon. Do you say schedule or shedule? I say the former…issue or issyoo…I could go on! But I won’t (imagine that!)
Carly’s Note: Skedule and ish-yoo.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Hi Carly,
Interesting topic, hope you can also do one on scrapbooking.
The BEST coupons are when, not only do you get the item
for free, but the store actually PAYS you to buy it. That’s
happened to me many times, in fact only last week when
I got two boxes of Kellogg’s snack bars and the store paid me
$0.06 to take them off their hands. (The trick here is to combine
good coupons with sale items). Yeah, I use them, and
sort through them often in order to eliminate expired ones,
organize them by category, and refresh my memory as to what
I have. It doesn’t take alot of time, I just combine that with
reading the grocery flyers. and making my lists.
(BTW I certainly don’t need to use coupons, it’s just a shopping
habit.)
Carly’s Note: You’ll have to explain how the store owed you money. I have heard of that, but have never seen it in action. As for “needing” to use coupons, why pay more than you have to? You’re going to get ripped off in some other aspect of your shopping life (like pretty much any time you buy gas), so you might as well save money where you can. For some of us, getting a good deal is almost addictive.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Carley,
I say “coo-pon” and yes, my husband calls me the Coupon
Queen. I figure better the money in my pocket than in their’s and they print them so that you use them after all. I only use them when the item is on sale so I save even more! I wouldn’t call it an obsession, but it’s a game to me! I just recently received a coupon for a free toothpaste. When I got to the cash, it was worth $5.29….now that’s a deal. Ciao for now!
Carly’s Note: I, too, am addicted to getting a good deal!
August 21st, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Hi Carly,
I pronounce it both ways, (weird eh?)vand yes, I use them and get the ones you can order online from “SAVE” as they send them to you in the mail, and they always have Downy and Tide coupons which is expensive enough so I always use them. Unfortunately, the coupons that are printed from the computer I have tried to use at grocery stores and they DO NOT ACCEPT THEM, why, I do not know, but I’ve fought them over it, and no go!! The ones that I get from companies who’s mailing lists I’m on are different, they accept them, i.e. Cotton Ginny 50-70% off, Rogers Video coupons every 2 weeks delievered right into your inbox for rent one, get 1 free etc. and other retail stores do take ones that have been printed off of your computer, so why the grocery stores won’t accept them, I don’t know?? I’ve saved hundred’s of dollars over the years with my coupons and even if they’ve expired, I let them check it out, as I have so many that if they go through, great, if not, no problem!!
Carly’s Note: Good to know about SAVE. I don’t get many coupons emailed to me, but I am on an Yves Rocher mailing list and for September, their coupon is spend $42 on a spa facial and receive the equivalent value in skin care products for free, so it’s kind of like a 2 for 1.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:05 am
Hi Carly
No, I don’t coo-pon habitually.
If there is a sale on, I may partake.
But usually, what I need I buy on a daily basis.
If it is on sale all the better, but if not, so be it.
I see so many people buy things they don’t need because it is on sale or I have a coo-pon and it never gets used.
Better to use what you have…thats my philosophy.
Have a greet weekend Carly.
I have been listening on stream in Newfoundland…so nice to be able to connect.
Gary
Carly’s Note: Thanks for listening from the Rock. I see both sides of the coo-pon debate. Some might be inclined to purchase more because of the coupon, but you can also save a lot of money throughout the year if you stock up when something is on sale or when you have a coupon.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:26 am
Hi Carly,
I always have good intentions to use coo-pons, but for some reason they always end up in the bottom of my purse and expired. I had a major purse cleaning last week and found several. I like to go online and get free stuff when I get the chance though. The best was this year for my birthday, I went out for dinner with my family. My manager asked me where we were going and she just happened to have a 2 for 1 coupon for the restaurant we were going to. When I got there they said I ate for free cause it was my birthday. Savings all around!!
Carly’s Note: Eat Free on Your Birthday is always a great present.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I say po-tah-toe.
Carly’s Note: And to-mah-toe, I trust.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Hmmm… my birthday is in 3 weeks from today and I want to go to the Outback Steakhouse. I wonder if I’ll eat free. I’m sure they’ll at least give me a free dessert, since that’s what happened with my aunt last Monday, even though her birthday is actually today.
And speaking of free dessert, Al Widmar, one of the former coaches of the Jays who passed away a few years ago, always used to preface his dinner orders with “…well, since it’s my birthday, I’ll have…” and he almost always used to get a free dessert. They probably didn’t ask for any ID from him, and they didn’t ask my aunt, so if you really want a dessert, you can try this trick as well. LOL
Carly’s Note: Free dinner at Casey’s on your birthday (with proof) and free piece of ice cream cake at Zellers restaurants on your birthday (they didn’t ask my grandmother for proof, but she was turning 90!).
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 pm
For those of you who like to eat for free (or close to free), on your birthday, you can join: Tony Roma’s birthday list and get a coupon for $18.99, Boston Pizza if you join their website and birthday club, one radio station gives a free dinner a Lucy’s seafood, Mother Tucker’s is a free dinner, and most of all of them if you tell them it’s your birthday, will give you dessert for free for sure, so basically you can eat like a pig for the week of your birthday and gain a ton of weight, just make sure you work it off afterwards!!!
Carly’s Note: Thanks for sharing the info. Good to know!
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:05 pm
coo-pon.. and yes, I use them religiously. Particularly for baby stuff. We had our first child last year and diapers, wipes, etc. really add up! Last time my mom was visiting and we went shopping together, she noticed that my coupons were all disorganized all througout my purse, so she bought me a coupon wallet. I didn’t know such a thing existed and thought it was a bit over the top. I have to say, though, it’s a good way to keep them organized and in one place. (okay, it’s finally happened, i’ve turned into my mother)
Carly’s Note: Next you’ll be getting the weekly hairdo and carrying a rain bonnet in your purse.