Coupon Craziness

Last week I decided I was going to start using coupons. I was so proud because I managed to: 1) Buy a Sunday paper. 2) Review the coupon section. 3) Clip the appropriate coupons that I might use. 4) Save the coupons. 5) Keep the stash of coupons in my purse. 6) Bring the purse with the coupons to the grocery store. 7) Notice in the store which coupons were applicable to what I was buying. 8) Hand the coupons to the clerk. I was getting ready to proceed to step 9 (brag to Husband about all the money we saved), when I looked over my receipt in the car on the way home. That’s when I realized that the clerk put the coupons near the cash register, but she forgot to scan them. I immediately vented to Husband: “The coupons! She forgot to scan the coupons!” Husband then asked, “How much would you have saved?” I did some quick math in my head. “$1.40,” I answered. “You really want $1.40? I’ll reach into my pocket right now and give it to you.” I explained that it’s just not the same as the thrill of saving the money with coupons. I actually considered going to the customer service desk on my next trip to the store, but I decided that I just didn’t want to be that cheap or crazy. (“Um, hi. I left $1.40 worth of coupons here. Did someone turn them in?”) This week I decided that I’m going to take a break from coupons.