Coupon Puzzler of the Day: Possible to Buy More, But Pay Less?

Can Buying Two Items Really Equal

Paying Less Out Of Pocket 

Than Just Buying the Item You Really Needed?

Again, the Coupon Puzzle of the Day is about changing your couponing perspective.  It goes against the grain to see two items on sale and consider buying them both when you only need the one item. It seems like it goes against everything in you that is a couponer when this situation arises.  So, is it really better to buy more than just the item you need if it is on sale and you have a coupon? Can it really save you more money, out of pocket, than just buying the necessary item? 

YES. But, you have to pay attention and do the math. 

A year ago a friend of mine was looking for those "As seen on TV" bra strap clip things that let you clip your straps so they would not be visible when wearing a racer back tank, etc.  She found a deal on one for $9.99.  She had a coupon for $1.50 off that item. She was about to go to the drugstore to buy it when I called her on the phone and told her to STOP! The drugstore had a sale on those bra clip items and on a leg smoothing kit. Both were "As seen on TV" items. Both were priced $9.99.  The drugstore was running a BOGO deal on them, mix or match.  In the same paper my friend got the bra clip $1.50 off coupon, there was a coupon for the leg smoothing kit. Another $1.50 off.  Since the BOGO deal was a store deal, and the coupons were manuf, the store's policy would allow a coupon on each item, even though one item was free.  I told my friend to go buy BOTH items, and use BOTH coupons. That is $3 off the $9.99 because of the BOGO deal, instead of just buying the bra clip for $1.50.  I went over it and over it with my friend. It took some working to show her the math of why she should buy the other item she didn't want or need.  It made perfect financial sense to buy that extra item since it was free and would let her get another $1.50 off what she did need to buy.  Finally, I convinced her to just trust me and buy both items.  Then, she could put the leg smoother thing in a yard sale for like $1 and save even more off the original purchase of her bra clips... Or even, for that matter, give away or donate the extra item. She still made out better buying that item.  

This is a hard concept to grasp. It takes some rethinking.  You have to work the math and be careful so that you don't fall into a trap where you do pay more for more items when you consider these deals.

Let me give you another, perhaps easier, example.

Tonight, I went to Target.  I had a coupon for $4 off any 2 TGI Fridays Appetizers, 12oz or larger,  in the Frozen Foods Section.  I saw TGI Fridays Onion Rings. On Clearance. For $2.18 a box. (They were not dated to expire, just maybe a package redesign thing.)  The thing is that I am the only person in the house that likes onion rings. So I surely do NOT need another box of onion rings. But, this is a good price and I have been wanting to get some onion rings.  Here's the situation: I could buy one box and pay $2.18. OR, I could buy two boxes at $4.36, use the $4 off any two coupon, and PAY 36 CENTS for both boxes.  Why the heck would I pay $2.18 for one box when I could pay just 36 c total for two?!

Don't start the chorus of "but you don't need two boxes."  That is just foolishness. No, I don't need two boxes. I don't have the freezer space. AND I don't intend to eat two boxes worth.  

IF I bought two boxes, I would save a ridiculous amount off the purchase of just one box by using that coupon. At that point, I could buy two boxes and then throw one in the trash.  (GASP! Come on now, you know I am not going to throw food away while folks in this world are wanting for food...)   The point is there. The only way it makes financial sense is to buy two boxes. So, I did. Then, on the way home, I called a friend to see if her husband wanted the extra box of onion rings. He does. He is going to get them this week. So, relax! :) 

The point is, do not automatically shrug away from buying more than you need. Take a breath, do the math, and then make your decision. You can always stop by the soup kitchen on the way home and make a donation.