Loose Ends
Coupon compulsion
Susan Nienow

They're in my purse, tucked down between the front seats of my car and stacked next to my desk with the old newspapers, magazines and catalogs I haven't gotten to yet. I tear coupons out of the newspaper and clip them out of the ads I get in the mail. I get them in e-mails and in personal mail with my name on the envelope just above "or current resident."

For years I filed coupons in a folder and made out my grocery list according to the goods found in each aisle. Now I clip the coupons for my other half and put them with the grocery list. (He does the cooking so in the interests of world peace, he does the shopping, too.)

A subsection of our unspoken peace accord involving turf rights over the kitchen, and grocery shopping requires that the coupon clipper never ask if the coupons are actually used. I remember him muttering about the amount of work involved in saving 40 cents.

I can't help myself - the satisfaction of saving that 40 cents far outweighs any time spent clipping. But I have gone on to bigger thrills. Now I head for the "spend $25 and save $5" deals. My other half likes to remind me that it is only a 20 percent discount and involves spending $20, but I know I have $5 more than I would have if I hadn't used the coupon.

Now I am earning points every time I buy at certain shops. The more I spend, the quicker I get to the magic number that causes the retailer to spit out a "gift certificate" for $20 or $25. This deal sends my other half into a fit of logic. "The cheapest thing to do is tear it up," he said. "It's really just a discount - only you get it later."

He also said I always spend more than the "certificate," but I decided not to hear that.

I know when I go to spend my "free" money, I might find something else I need. And that starts my other half on another whole topic - our different definitions of "need."

I think "need" is when I spot a t-shirt in that perfect pear color. It will go nicely with my capris. And the purse that is a wonderful butter yellow will give me that cheery summer purse I've been looking for - and it is on sale.

There's nothing like a deal to make my day. So my coupon nets me a "free" t-shirt, that "go with everything" purse and a need for a new jacket to go with the new tee and purse.

The coupons for the home goods stores come out regularly, and I save them all - just in case I have a towel emergency. I live in a state of anxiety that I might have a retail crisis and no coupon. In fact, yesterday I found one that had slipped down behind my bookcase. It expired last November.