Sometimes Life Just Takes Over

It's been three weeks.

Sorry.

I've been working like a crazy woman, going from one assignment to the next. Don't even let me get started on my own anxiety about the bar exam results on Friday. Either way, I don't really want to talk to anyone. Getting your bar exam results is such a public event (it's posted online) but it is at the same time one of the most private moments you will have in your entire life. If you've dreamed of becoming an attorney like so many of the bar exam takers, Friday is a day of reckoning.

I've been at my usual couponing game. Hunt, gather, clip, rinse, and repeat. I laugh every time I hear someone talk about coupons are a waste of time. This assertion is especially laughable when you take into consideration the predictions that staples in our food supply will skyrocket in price in the near future.  Articles such as this one HERE and HERE both show without a doubt that I wasn't a crazy lady for buying 13 jars of peanut butter. I've already used three of them in the last month.

So who's laughing now?

Me. A co-worker told me about a sale on peanut butter, apparently it was price at 2/$4.00. Well, for a non-couponer that's a great price. For someone who loves coupons, that is an awesome price when combined with a coupon. If it's the right coupon, I could very well get the peanut butter for 0.50 a jar.

#Winning!

Walmart Couponin'

Did I mention I LOATHE Wal-Mart?

Why, hello there!  I know, I know, I haven't posted in forever, but I wanted to check in to let you know about my strong distaste for all things Walmart.

When Walmart first opened in my neighborhood (I believe I was in high school) it was a pretty exciting event. My parents went gaga for Walmart and my Dad to this day goes out for a nightly Walmart trip. You would think this inconvenience would make him create a list of things he needs and stick to it, but alas this is not what my parents do. I think he does this on purpose just so he can have an excuse to get out of the house work.

Now that I coupon, I can tell you that I hate Walmart.  For non-couponers, Walmart often has better prices than other stores. They can go into the store rest assured that the prices are much lower than anyone else in town.

Couponers, however, hate Walmart for one reason and one reason only: the cashiers. I swear, if you have a pulse you can get a job there. Killed a few people? No problem, just be sure to sign the bottom line so we know who to pay at the end of the week. The problem with Walmart is their severe inability to train their employees. The turnover in the place must be so high that it's difficult to get any one person who actually knows what the hell is going on.  So instead of asking questions and getting the proper training, they just make stuff up.

I'm dead serious. I have had experiences in the past where a cashier told me something so stupid I thought I would have to jump over the register, grab my coupons and run out of the store (ex. a Kroger cashier told me they don't double coupons anymore, even though a sign at the entrance says "double up to 99 cents"). Well, that's what happens at Walmart.

Walmart has great policies, if you can take advantage of them. For one, if you can price match to any other store sales ad without having the ad with you.  Most of the cashiers take offense to the policy set by highly paid, business savvy professionals have asked them to implement. So be sure to take the ad, because you will get push back either way.  Just a few days ago I pulled out my ad and even before I could finish my sentence the cashier said "Oh no you won't!!". She eventually back peddled when she realized she made a mistake, but the message she gave was clear. You're kind aren't welcome in my store.

Overages. Walmart also has a great policy where if you end up redeeming a coupon that is worth more than the value of the item, then they will give you the money back in cash. Example, the hot deal right now is on Schick disposable razors. There was a $6.00/2 disposable razor coupon available online. The razors are only $1.97 each, so that means you get $2.09 back for every two packs you purchase.

No way in hell was I able to find those razors. After searching high and low, every Walmart within a 10 minute radius of my house was sold out.

So the moral of today's story? Be sure to bring your ad and coupon policy with you when you shop at Walmart. Chances are good that you will end up with a clueless cashier.

P. Manolos