[Mommy23]

I JUST started using coupons. Last week was my first week to use them and ads at Walmart and saved $8. Today I saved $13 and I was SOOOO thrilled. When I got home to tell my husband his comments were: "Dont we already have bars of soap?" and "Didnt I just buy batteries?" "You spent all that time just for that?"

OK, Im a bit ticked. Im trying hard to save money where I can since gas prices are absolutely crazy. His comments made me feel like all my work was pointless.

Not sure if anyone elses spouse feels the same. He did congratulate me on my FREE baby yogurt. Hes really so great but just doesnt understand the whole coupon thing.

Im just a little frustrated and needed to vent. Sorry it was to all you guys especially since Im new.

[princesspsu57]

Sometimes it takes a little while for anyone to get the big picture...like the next time DH needs batteries, neither of you will have to run out and pay full price, they'll be right there in your own house! My DH kind of thought I was crazy at first, but he gets it now....just hang in there, it'll get better!

[Willowlynn]

My DH thought I was crazy until he finally needed something and it was at the house. He realized it saved time and gas money.

He also got a better hang of it when I sent him a few times with coupons to get things and didn't have to pay much oop.

[kristieboyd]

I agree with pp. It takes DHs a while to "get it". I've been doing this hard core for 6 months now and DH is finally starting to appreciate what I do. Where he used to complain when I demanded a few hours on my own Sunday to do my deals while he watched the kids, now he spends Sunday mornings going through sales papers with me and pointing out deals (usually not the really GOOD deals....but he tries!) He's usually excited when I get home and wants to see what all I got and guesses how much I spent. He still doesn't like going with me, though!

[angelger28]

"Now we have more razors and shaving cream than I can use it a YEAR."
This is the last comment DH made before the lightbulb appeared over his head
when I responded, "Yes, and we also have all the male family members Christmas stockings done." (Well, almost...... It's not like I'm gonna stop any time soon. )

[lhart24]

I think giving him some time... ... as you said this week was your first week... so he hasnt seen the long term savings or affects of your work.. in his mind he didnt need the batteries as he said he just bought them.. in your mind .. hey we know have enough batteries for awhile and I didnt have to pay an arm and a leg...

Check out the steals and deals sheet for walmart (under the resources tool bar)... look at it before you go next time.. there may be a few other things you can get for free and rub in his face.. i mean politely comment on when you walk in the door with 4 bags of walmart stuff...

Just hang in there.....

[savndough]

My husband is still a goob about it all, but we've been married for 26 yrs. so I have to keep him. He was amazed when I traded the guy at the store free razors and stuff for gas though.

[akajb2]

My DH didn't really understand until he was with me one day for a CVS trip. I got about $100 worth of stuff for $30. He was stunned. Ever since then, when I get home he asks how much I saved. It takes a while before they really grasp the concept of buying stuff on sale, even if you don't need it, because when you need it, it might not be on sale. That's what we call stockpiling!!

[latrice0723]

I agree it will take sometime for DH to come around. My DH use to tell me if it was going to take up so much of our time he would rather we not coupon. Now that I'm stocked on a lot of things we use I don't spend as much time trying to hunt down deals.

[chasindeals]

I feel your pain. My husband just asked me yesterday "Why can't we just buy toothbrushes next time they are on sale since we have so many already." I am like " um, Free, Free, Free" What don't you get?

[schatz]

its not my dh its my sister........

[dfed913]

My DH thought I was crazy at first too. He didn't bat an eye. He became a TRUE believer and my greatest spokesman the day that I brought home my first receipt where I spent approximately $75.00 and paid about .27 OOP.

What I do that I think helps is I SHOW him the receipt.

He now goes to my bedroom closet for razors, toothpaste and shave cream ANY time he needs it....And he hasn't had to BUY ANY since June of last year. No kidding.

In fact, we started getting low at one point and he said "So, when you gonna start that couponing thing again?" LOL

He still hates to go with me though....we are working on that.

[luv2sav]

Give him time...My husband wasn't too sure about my new CVS'ing habit until he did a few deals with me. Then I had him take a good look at my stockpile boxes and had him guess how much cash I had spent on it. When I told him less than twenty, he was quite proud of me. That, combined with the fact that in over two months, I have put less than $50 on my credit card(internet purchases and clipper service) he is thrilled! He no longer cringes when I tell him I'm going shopping. He likes for me to wait until he comes home to put my stuff away so he can see all that I got. He wants me to teach his mother how to deal shop as well. SO, give him time...

[twilcn]

don't let him discourage you. Just keep at it...and you will see your pocket book growing as well as your stockpile. Dh would say the same as yours did,but now he realizes what I do with them. I share my stockpile with many people and don't mind trying to help someone else and not feeling the pain out of pocket.
I think my dh realizes what I do after I got him a year's supply of photo batteries for his camera for FREE..these cost around $20.00 a battery. Soo when they need something they'll appericate it alot more when the shoe is on the other foot.

[bittacus]

I agree with everyone, sometimes it does take another person a while to catch on, but when they do the light goes off and they are in your corner!!

I used to coupon and refund 20 some years ago. I was to the point I never spent very much on the groceries and my family took a while but supported me after they got the hang of it. My mother is raising her grandson and still couponing at 78! She does GREAT!

I re-married 3 years ago and recently started couponing again (a whole new ballgame than 20years ago!) it took some convincing to show my DH how it all worked out in the long run. I had to explain to mine that we have 4 grown sons between us and times are really hard right now but this is a great way to help our children out when they are having trouble making ends meet I send them grocery shopping in our stockpiles to help them out.

I took my DH on a shopping spree with me yesterday and after totalling all the receipts I showed him we spent 148.85 before coupons and paid 34.10 after coupons. He was so thrilled! My son and DIL joined us for a while then ventured on their own and they saved close to as much as we did!

I have the kind folks on AFC to thank for all of this as they are the ones that helped me re-learn the current way to do things with coupons!

[TigerGirl1226]

Honestly, it took my DH time too!! About 3 months!! I found a couple things that "helped" him see the light...stock up on anything that is particularly his favorite like a special shaving cream or snack food. This one was a biggie for me...find a home for your stockpile. If I have stuff strewn about, he comments about it, but if I tell him I got a bunch of great stuff today and it's put away...no complaints.

[rach]

Don't worry about it OP! He will come around. It is hard to start out a stockpile....so hang in there and do what you have to do!

The BF loves that I do this as a hobby..he loves when I come home with heaping heaving bags and dumps it all on the floor and we play guess how much.....I love him!

[applerama]

Yeah I'm kind of in the same boat, my fiance is just starting to get it, but I think doesn't realize how much we're saving. maybe once we get married and I'll be using BOTH our money to coupon then he will appreciate. in the meantime we don't need to buy toothbrushes for like at like, a year!

[lwilsonide]

This was my DH when I first started! Then once we had a decent stockpile of everyday items he was gad he wasn't running out to the store all the time. He used to grocery shop & now I won't let him because he doesn't understand the whole picture. i.e. I sent him to Target to get Splashers, gave him the Target $1.50 Q + a $1.50 man q & he bought 2 packs! He didn't realize both Qs were for one pack! Duh!

[shereen329]

Don't get discouraged!! My husband used to make fun of me and joke abt it at first when i would sit there to take time to plan my deals and cut and organize qs. Now he BRAGS abt it!!! Just hang in there. When his friends are talking abt "Oh man all my wife does is spend our money..she thinks money grows on trees." And he'll be the one "Oh well my wife cuts our grocery bill in half and w/ the money we are saving we've been able to pay off misc debt" It'll come just wait

[arcosta81]

My mom is the one who doesn't get it. She makes fun of my coupons and binder all the time and asks me what on earth I am going to do with all that toothpaste and toothbrushes. My dad, however, loves it when I call him right after I leave a store and tell him how little I spent. He is always so encouraging.

[Mommy23]

Thanks to all of you for your encouraging words. Wish you all lived in Katy!

[irishgirl73]

I'm fairly new to the whole stockpiling thing. I've been using coupons for years but not in this magnitude. He does not understand why I need so many papers, coupons, inserts, etc. He enjoys having things on hand, but he doesn't get how much stuff I get with a few $2 newspapers. He also doesn't realize that my dad brings me 3 sets every week.

I ought to let him run out of TP and see how much he appreciates it then.

[Jess]

I totally understand where you are coming from.

I am new at this and so excited when I come home with loads of stuff for nothing. Ok here is a good example. Hamburger Helper and Suddenly Salad was on sale 15 for 10.00 (.66) per box. So, I had 15 coupons that varied in amount. Ended up spending about 3.25 on all the boxes. I was totally excited to tell him. His comment was, "Don't we have enough boxes already?" Oh, well I don't care...I am still pumped! I tell him it is my hobby, kinda like his fishing. That way in his eyes the spending more each week (not really, but that's what he says) is justified.

[patbruck]

Originally Posted by Jess

I totally understand where you are coming from.

I am new at this and so excited when I come home with loads of stuff for nothing. Ok here is a good example. Hamburger Helper and Suddenly Salad was on sale 15 for 10.00 (.66) per box. So, I had 15 coupons that varied in amount. Ended up spending about 3.25 on all the boxes. I was totally excited to tell him. His comment was, "Don't we have enough boxes already?" Oh, well I don't care...I am still pumped! I tell him it is my hobby, kinda like his fishing. That way in his eyes the spending more each week (not really, but that's what he says) is justified.

Agreed - it is my hobby! My DH has been begging me to "get a hobby" for quite some time now - prolly so he can sit and play on his computer without me getting so annoyed - and he is so happy that I finally have one! the best part is it doesn't cost him a lot of money

Plus now I can "ask" for big ticket things and he says, 'well you save this family enough money. I suppose it's okay'. guess who might get that dyson for her bday next month???