I have all these money-saving coupons, but do I use them? The answer is “rarely.” More than not shopping trips are spur-of-the-moment happenings. I’m out; I need something for dinner or milk or bread. So I stop at the grocery store without even a passing thought to the large file of nicely organized coupons stored in the cabinet in my office. The “quick stop” for a few items usually turns into a major shopping trip costing big bucks. It’s not until the next Sunday when I am filing my newly cut coupons that I realize that I could have saved had I used coupons on my recent trip to the grocery store. That’s when I discover that I had coupons for most of the items that I bought. Next time! That’s what I tell myself as I file the new coupons.

The “next time” is usually another shopping trip minus the coupons. Or, if I do have coupons, they are for new food items that I want to try—items that are way-too-expensive for my food budget and still way-too expensive even with a coupon! I just can’t win.

Then I read or watch news accounts of savvy women who save thousands of dollars a year on groceries by using coupons. It’s when I learn about these women that I renew my enthusiasm for being a really good coupon user. I tell myself that I, too, can save thousands of dollars. But I don’t! What I do do is continue to clip coupons and continue not to use them. There must be something better to do with my time on Sunday evenings!