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North Vancouver writer Elizabeth Sheridan
longs for the days when shopping was simple

I KNOW I shouldn't have
done it — 1] knew it was a mis-
take, but, — well, [ was ina
hurry.

By Elizabeth Sheridan

Contributing Writer

The helpful words of the cashier,

uttered quite innocently, threw me -

into an instant panic: “Did you
know that with the coupon you can
get another of these free?”

.No, no, what coupon? | haven't
had time to read the flyers, Where
was it, where can I get one?

There was glee on the faces of
the line-up behind me — they knew
I'd missed out again.

I tong for the days when grocery
shopping was simple, when you just
went shopping. No particular
thought required. You could go
empty-handed except for a purse
and, if you were organized, a list.

Now we have to pass Couponing
350 before we dare cross the super-
market thresholds.

We have to face the frustration
of needing that rarely purchased
item NOW and just knowing there
is a coupon for $2 off, lurking back

“at home in the kitchen drawer.
" ” We're all inundated daily with
“coupon clutter,” the favorite tool
: of the mass marketer, .

Try as I might 1 cannot bring
myself to throw them all away, so
they gradually build up and begin to

mike a “presence” in the house.

There are money-saving
coupons in magazines, in Gold
books, super-saver books, coupons
on the back of packets, inside pack-
ets and stuck to packets, the in-store
specials, the bonus points and travel
miles, bonuses with purchase.
coupons at point of saic. not forget-
ting the dollars off if you shop on a
special day. : ‘

But now comes the crunch —- do
you ever have one of these money-
savers with you when you need it
and, if you do, do you remember ta
use it?

} did — once.

{ think [ saved 50¢, only to walk
into another store the next day to
find { could have saved myself
$1.53 on an in-store promotion!

I have one of those thick, special
discount books. I've tried putting it
in my car, I’ve tried putting it in my
shopping bag I've tried tearing out
the coupons but I can never seem to
get them in the right place at the
right time.

Maybe I should try shopping
with my collection safely stowed in
a briefcase. ‘

Come on, guys, give us a break.
What happenned to everyday low
prices?

I’m tired of juggling paper. I
don’t have the time to check out all
the special deals.

Supermarket pricing has gone
crazy, cleverly confusing us so we
just stand back, surzender and say,
“Just give me the gonds I'll pay full

Vancouver

price rather than waste my valuable
time playing your games.”

PE suppose it’s the thrill of the
hunt that’s so addictive.

We live ina competitive society.
so why not perfect our rat-race
skifls in the shopping aisles ~~ that
Jast can of tomatoes is just wailing
lo be snapped up.

What can be more satisfying
than coming home after a hard day
collecting supplies and dazzling
your family with all these dollars
you have saved, not to mention the
satisfaction of gloating over fricads
who've paid full price? ;

In these tough economic times,
we can't afford not (o shop wisely.

Se, follow my tips — once a
weck (preferably before you go on
your weekly shop) spread all your
flyers, coupons, packets, books and
other miscellancous information
and money-off vouchers onto the
largest surface you have at home.

Make a comprehensive shopping
list, cross-reference it, revise it sd
that you're getting the best deals
possibie, highlight all the items for
which you have coupons some-
where. .

Fill the car up with pas. What
could be simpler?

Now, there’s an idea for a bud-
ding computer entrepreneur — feed
all this info into a computer, make a
weekly report showing al] the best

buys and where the corresponding.

coupons can be found.
I guarantee we'll buy it — as
long as it’s “on special,” of course.

WY: Be.
PRINTS

Shore News - 35

4 Rab ad Me

NEWS phote Mike Wakatietd

BECAUSE WE live In a competitive society, it just seems natur-
al that we take no prisoners when we shop. Coupon clipping
may be time consuming, but in the glass and stretched-con-
crete world of modern shopping, it sure pays oif. :

stock valued $9.98m|

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