When I first started saving serious money at the grocery store, Chandler always wanted to know how much I’d shaved off my total bill. I’d excitedly tell him how much I’d saved, how long my receipt was (the longer, the better), and whether or not a manager had to approve my purchase (which happens only when you save so much money that the computer thinks you might be defrauding the grocery store!).
But after a few trips, the savings felt less exciting. Saving 30%, 50% or more seemed mundane. He stopped asking about my receipts, and I stopped regaling him with my grocery adventures.
Little did I know that he was taking mental notes about how to save money, even after we stopped analyzing every trip.
Wearing the pants in the family
Chandler has his own home repair/remodeling business. He wears Carhartt carpenter jeans exclusively for work and often, to my annoyance, dress wear. He’s hard on these pants, especially when he’s tiling or doing a lot of work on his knees. They are subjected to paint, drywall dust, power tools and grease.
We bought a stack of these jeans about three years ago at what Chandler simply calls “The Store” — Farm and Fleet. Since then, he’s patched the knees in each pair twice and has repaired several small rips and tears. (Have I mentioned he’s also good with a needle and thread?) The color has worn away. They’re stretched out and baggy on his lean frame.
About two weeks ago, he finally decided he needed some new pants. He’d gotten a few coupons from his favorite discount online retailer, Sierra Trading Post, but the last one had just expired. He decided to wait for another coupon. His patience paid off.
Last weekend, he got an e-coupon for 25% his entire order — the best coupon he’s seen this year. He bought four pairs of Carhartts plus a pair of polarized sunglasses. Instead of spending about $45/pair of pants, he spent just $20/pair — a savings of about 56%. Considering he’ll wear these pants every day for at least another three years, that’s a fantastic deal. This purchase also fits well into our monthly budget for clothes.
A family challenge
It goes to show that a little patience and shopping around can pay off in a big way. And it proves that couponing isn’t just for women!
If your family is like mine and the husband leaves the deal-finding and money-saving to the wife, pose a challenge. The next time he wants to buy something (a gadget, something for his shop, a shirt), ask him to shop around and find a coupon or good deal before he buys it.
Or you could up the ante even more: Challenge him to a deal-off. Have him shop around and find the best price on what he wants. Then you do it, too. See who can find the right item for the best price. Buy the lower-priced item and put the money you save into your checking or high-yield savings account. Everybody wins!
