We’ve just finished breakfast together. I’ve pulled out my laptop and Becky’s pulled out a small file folder.
“You know what’s awesome?” Becky asks.
“Showering together,” I say.
“At Publix I can use their coupons and manufacturer coupons together,” she says. “I can stack ’em.”
Apparently, one of us does not know what’s awesome.
Texas in Africa says:
That’s what’s awesome about Target, too.
Well, that and that they don’t set the industry standard for keeping prices so low that suppliers are almost forced to hire children and others for very low wages to work in substandard conditions or that migrant workers work 14 hour days with no benefits and no job security so I can buy cheap stuff at Wal-Mart. ๐
Shaun Groves says:
Really? http://bit.ly/AEFj9
john says:
If you grade on the curve (the only way to grade!) that gives Target an A-. A- is a very good score Shaun.
On a side note, have you considered making Becky coupons offering a couples shower? Perhaps you could make two different coupons and tell her you allow stacking?
Texas in Africa says:
Oh, I know Target’s still bad. But Wal-Mart sets the industry standard. They developed and perfected these policies, which forces most of their competitors to do the same given that otherwise they can’t compete.
Danny Bixby says:
Pfft, women.
AMIRITE!?!?!
Karen says:
Seriously? We are moving to Huntsville, AL in 2 months, and the closest grocery store is a Publix. (Never been in one of those before.) Schweet! Maybe I won’t always have to go to the commissary on Redstone Arsenal to shop.
But your answer is good, too.
Kaye says:
I honestly just had to stop what I was doing and call my husband to read this to him. I think this same conversation could have easily occurred at our house!
Thanks for the laugh (and the reminder that we’re not alone!).
Cindy says:
Do all men think the exact same thoughts? Can’t one of them be original? ๐
Kristie says:
You know what they say: Publix is where shopping is a pleasure! ๐ This very fact about coupon stacking has made me smile over and over for the last several months! Shaun, has she already discovered http://www.southernsavers.com?
If not, you can REALLY make her day by pointing her in that direction (and then maybe suggest a shower or whatever if it’ll make you feel better)…the lady at the southern savers blog takes each week’s publix ad and lets you know what is going to be on sale–and WHERE YOU CAN GET COUPONS FOR EACH ITEM! It’s an awesome way to plan your shopping trip!
Becky should also check to see if your local Publix will allow further stacking with competitor coupons…we can even use our target coupons @ Publix here…and we print and take mulitiple copies of this little puppy with us for every Publix trip, too: http://offers.riteportal.com/760/ecoup_S525.pdf (a coupon for $5 off each purchase of $25 or more at Rite Aid). Our town’s very creative coupon shoppers were breaking down their groceries into approximatel.y $25 increments and making multiple trips through the line to use several Rite Aid Coupons (AT PUBLIX!)…so now our local Publix takes 1 Rite Aid Coupon per $25 left in your grocery bill after all other coupons are used. That means, for us locally, if we use that Rite Aid Coupn on an “after all other coupons” grocery bill of $150 at Publix, then we can pretty much sponsor a Compassion kid with just that amount of savings! YES….at Publix, shopping IS a pleasure! ๐
Ron says:
I was totally unprepared for this blog. That’s why I love it so darn much.
dubdynomite says:
As men, we bear the biological burden for the furtherance of the human species. We should not have to apologize for our seeming single-mindedness. ๐
The real issue here is the perceived meaning of the word awesome. Sure, stacking coupons may be ‘nice’, saving money (a few dollars) is ‘good’, but it hardly qualifies as ‘awesome’. That word should be reserved for things that are worthy of it’s inference. (e.g. Showering together, or any other activity that a husband and wife can enjoy together ‘au natural’.)
I’m sure there are other things that can qualify as ‘awesome’, but none come to mind right away……..
Jason says:
Your wife and my wife need to get together some time. A few weeks ago she brought home $140 in groceries for under $30 with coupons, sales and knowing which store multiplied which coupon. She’s obsessed with it (but it does help the family budget.)
Kristie says:
I’ve been accused of being obsessed about it, too. I finally told hubs that since I’m blessed enough that he lets me stay home while he goes out to earn some money, I feel that spending it wisely is the least I can to do show my gratitude. So, when I get $150 in groceries for just $60, I get a rush similar to the one he gets when his boss says, “Congratulations, you’ve earned yourself a raise!”
Shaun Groves says:
Sure, I get that. Fantastic. But there’s no nudity.
We must find a way to combine the nudity with the coupons. The future of marriage itself hinges upon this.
Hmmm.
Kristie says:
If you make sure she stacks coupons for hot fudge or whipped topping…you can then get that shower. Just make sure she waits until they go Buy One Get One Free to get the best deal!
Shaun Groves says:
I’m blushing, Kristie.
YOU, my friend, should be a marriage counselor. You’re gifted. Truly.
Pete Wilson says:
Now that is funny!!!!!
Beth says:
I need to take shopping lessons!
Beth
Jill Foley says:
This is too funny!
I agree that this conversation could have also taken place at my house. What’s really funny is that our new rental house has a shower that’s insanely large (3 shower heads)…my husband thinks it’s much cooler than I do because my thought was “why would I want to share my shower with anyone else?” and his first thought was…well, you can imagine his first thought.
Anyway….missed you, Shaun at the Compassion Advocates Conference. Thought I would finally get to meet you, but maybe next time.
Shaun Groves says:
I missed you guys too.
Maybe next year? (I hope.)
By then maybe we’ll both have forgotten about this post and we can meet without blushing ; )
Kristie says:
Yeah…at this point, I’m thinking it’ll be a miracle if you ever return to Thomasville, GA. ๐
Dawn~Canada says:
tee hee hee. But I do tend to agree with your wife, stacking coupons is a rare thing these days. We make our kids “buy” their own lunch at McDonalds (I know, I know…) when the coupons come out. APPARENTLY one coupon per customer at the till means just that. Sad. But stacking…well that’s just wow.
Brian Seay says:
Shaun – if you were still on a label you would be in so much trouble right. In fact, your Mom might count as the “label” in your life and she’s probably already called you.
Jason – I’m sure you are an incredibly nice guy but your picture makes me afraid of you and makes me think you don’t use coupons – you just steal the food.
As a coupon apprentice of Becky’s I will say that “stacking” is a pretty impressive thing but the showering still wins.
Shaun Groves says:
Mom called last night.
misty says:
Okay, I am just going to go ahead and admit it…I have NO idea what ‘stacking coupons’ means. I keep telling my husband I need to start collecting coupons. Please explain ‘stacking’ to me. ๐
Jill, I am SO completely jealous of your huge shower with 3 heads! My husband won’t take a shower with me b/c our shower is small. I can’t understand why that would matter to him….but, it does. ๐
Jill Foley says:
“stacking” coupons means you can use a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon for the same item. So if Target offers $1 off something, and you have another coupon from the manufacturer for $2 off, you actually get $3 off the item. But it only works in the store that issues the store coupon.
Meredith says:
I feel like I need counseling.
NancyTyler says:
Oh man. I was going to recommend this blog to my church class studying ministry and community through social media. Think maybe I’ll wait on that. Not sure this post would go over so well. ๐
Shaun Groves says:
Of course that TOO is part of combining ministry and social media.
NancyTyler says:
Not sure what you mean.
Shaun Groves says:
Communicating so often and to so many virtually insures that something I say will not “go over so well” with someone.
It’s a real mind bender for me, as you know. How much me is appropriate to share? Should I only share thoughts I can be certain will be understood as I intend them? If I’d tell you a joke, should I tell everyone? And lots more boring questions of the neurotic.
Combining ministry and anything (money, politics, fame, position, the web) is dangerous, messy, and we’re sure to screw it up. I mean, mess it up ; )
I do.
But even the mess-ups are potentially beautiful things. Gives people the chance to extend grace, to lovingly correct me, to sharpen, to laugh even…or to get angry, preach, throw some guilt across my back and leave in a huff.
If you guys are looking at the intersection of ministry and social media, I think it’s wise to look at the good and the bad of it. Maybe this post qualifies as a little of both.
NancyTyler says:
We could probably spend an entire class doing a case study of your blogging. And that would be a good thing.
Thanks.
misty says:
I think it is awesome that you talk about things that may not ‘go over too well’ with others. This is ‘real life’ and not to mention HILARIOUS!
I usually recommend your blog to someone on a weekly basis. ๐