Coupon Craze Returns: A Man's Perspective from the Passenger Seat of the Family Car

"If we save a dollar, it is a whole dollar. If we generate a dollar in revenue, it is only forty two cents" - Saad A. Mikhail, CFO, Memorial Medical Center

Those words have echoed in my head for some time, and they are true. Think about working. Let's say someone makes minimum wage. Not only are they giving a cut of their check to the government before they even see it, but they also had to get to work, be dressed and presentable, have a lunch, have some snacks and drinks, all to earn those wages for the day. Suddenly that almost six dollars an hour has been torn to shreds without even a thought.

Let's say that same person went to the fast food place to pick up lunch, the gas there and back also eating on their paycheck. When they place their order they have a coupon for a dollar off. When their total pops up they saved that whole dollar, plus taxes on that dollar. Sweet, huh?

So where do these coupons come from? Big city newspapers, by and large, are the main source of these money-saving blessings from manufacturers. The next best source are at stores themselves, handing out "In-Store Coupons". A third source is the Internet, though not as utilized as the other two.

The boss has an incredible filing system for coupons here. I'm just a sidekick here. When we hit the store, I'm just along for the ride. She scans the sales fliers and plans her attack. A sale on a few items catches her eye, she tells me an item is on sale at Store X, so we get ready and go. The sale just doesn't seem worth the trip, but she has a plan. When the cashier rings up the total it nears thirty-five dollars. I sigh at the total and begin to reach for my wallet. She hands the cashier some clipped pieces of paper while my hand rests on my billfold. In a matter of minutes a new total is displayed. Less than two dollars! I move my hand from my back pocket to the front one and cheer, in a manly way.

How did it happen? First off, there was a sale price reducing the item by about 20%. Then the manufacturer's coupon knocked it down some more. Finally, an In-Store coupon dealt the finishing blow and the item was whacked to nearly nothing as far as price goes. There are two keys here. First, despite what you think you are allowed to stack one manufacturer's and one in-store coupon on the same item. Just as important, if you watch advertised sale prices and match them up to your coupons, you are able to maximize your savings, or minimize your out of pocket expense.

It's all about saving that dollar, after all. Mr Mikhail, if you are reading this, I was paying attention after all.