Free Breakfast
My local grocery store gives me a bazillion coupons every time I check out and pay. I guess they want me to feel like I won the lottery, hoping I’ll come back and spend even more the next time. With savings! Of course.
The coupons are usually for products I never buy, or stuff I don’t want, and I just chuck them in the trash. But two weeks ago, the market gave me coupons worth keeping.
Free breakfast.
We’re talking a dozen eggs, a pound of bacon, a carton of orange juice, and a loaf of bread. Free. The only catch was that I had to use the coupons this past weekend.
“I can’t wait to get this free breakfast,” I told my son.
“Aren’t we at mom’s that weekend?” he asked.
Sure enough, my ex had custody. Oh, well. Too bad for my kids. Sometimes in a two-house divorced family, things don’t quite work out the way you’d like. It wouldn’t stop me from getting my free breakfast.
When the weekend came, I went to the grocery with my coupons and picked up a dozen eggs, a pound of bacon, a carton of orange juice, and a loaf of bread. I got into the express check-out line.
“Sorry, you can’t use these coupons for this,” the checkout guy said.
“Why not?” I asked. The coupons clearly said free. They listed the specific products. I was there on the right day.
The check-out guy pointed at the fine print, and told it to me straight: “You have to buy fifty-dollars worth of groceries.”
Sigh. There’s always a catch. No way was I going to spend my weekend morning shopping for $50 worth of food supplies. Especially when my kids weren’t at my house.
I went home empty-handed. Thank goodness for frozen waffles.
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Comment by Paula
| November 11th, 2009
I don’t use a lot of coupons because they’re usually for processed food, but when I do use them, I wait until the product is on sale, or buy one get on free. Last week I got free toothpaste and a bottle of asprin for 51 cents. Gotta be careful w/ coupon, and, yeah, read the small print!
Comment by Big City Dad
| November 11th, 2009
Too funny Dave. You are to be commended for your frugal-ness. I COLLECT coupons. Doesn’t mean I actually use them, but I have a fantastic assortment on the bulletin board in my kitchen. A step at a time I suppose.
Big City Dad´s last blog ..In The Beginning…
Comment by Rob
| November 11th, 2009
LOL. You must be speaking about Safeway. I saw the same coupons but realized we didn’t need to go food shopping so I couldn’t see spending $50 that I didn’t need to just to get some free breakfast items. As with most grocery stores and coupons like that there is a catch. It sucks!
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Comment by Ginger Magnolia
| November 11th, 2009
Bummer!
Ginger Magnolia´s last blog ..Losing
Comment by Leigh-Ann
| November 11th, 2009
Ha, ha…. that is sooo funny. So typical we always forget to read the FINE print. I’m sure you enjoyed your waffles :)
Leigh-Ann´s last blog ..Little Imperfections
Comment by Nicki
| November 11th, 2009
Awwww. As a foodie, I feel your pain. As a mom who has to plan her big breakfasts and grocery excursions around when the kids will be around to enjoy it…I echo it. Better luck next time.
Nicki´s last blog ..March of Dimes…Premie Awareness Month…
Comment by T
| November 11th, 2009
And this is why I’m always skeptical of the word, “Free”.
Oh well. Waffles are good too! Especially with warm maple syrup. Yum…
T´s last blog ..Yoga for the Heroes
Comment by Andrea
| November 11th, 2009
Ah yes, bait and switch isn’t it? The Target near me just spent a ton of money adding a ‘fresh food’ section (which is somewhat of a joke, a plastic wrapped potato is not ‘fresh food’). I was there buying papertowels or something and the register spit out a coupon for $5 off a $50 purchase in their new ‘food’ section. Are you joking? I tried shopping from their new grocery area. All I ended up doing was having to make a second stop at Acme to get essentials like fresh fruit, vegetables, etc. when Target didn’t have what I needed. A completely wasted effort. Though I have to admit, at Target it wouldn’t take long to hit the $50 bucks!
Andrea´s last blog ..Random Tuesday Thoughts : Punkin Chunkin Edition
Comment by Mindy/Single Mom Says...
| November 11th, 2009
Aw, bummer! And exacty why I am not a coupon user. Not that I haven’t tried but it usually turns out somehting like your experience. Or I spend the time collecting them and then forget to use them.
Mindy/Single Mom Says…´s last blog ..A Bar Full of Opportunity
Comment by Danielle
| November 11th, 2009
There is always a catch, but enjoy the waffles!
Danielle´s last blog ..
Comment by Honey
| November 11th, 2009
I got some great coupons in the mail from my grocery store for free food…no minimum purchase! Just free stuff. And some other really excellent coupons for stuff I buy all the time (yay for creating an account on their website and linking it to my shopper card!). And some additional coupons for $10 off $80 or more. I got $150 of groceries for $96 the other day.
Honey´s last blog ..A Typical Date With Lance and Why Intimacy Matters on First Dates
Comment by Senorita
| November 11th, 2009
Oooh, that irks me.
I do love waffles though, I wish I could have a waffle maker.
Senorita´s last blog ..Hump Day Hotness
Comment by BigLittleWolf
| November 11th, 2009
One of those life lessons, again (dontcha hate those?) – always read the fine print.
BigLittleWolf´s last blog ..Nifty neighbor, Prez that puckers, Next logical steps
Comment by Vinomom
| November 11th, 2009
I am horrible at using coupons. I find it too frustrating in the store to try and figure out which brand has the coupon and how many I have to buy and the rest of it.
But theres always the fine print! You know you can’t get something for nothing. :)
Comment by Ryan
| November 11th, 2009
I had nearly the same experience with a recent grocery store trip for free food. Turns out you had to spend $40, I bit the bullet and did it though. Score one for the bad guys.
Ryan´s last blog ..30 Stones for 10 Bones
Comment by Kristy
| November 11th, 2009
$50 at the grocery store really takes 5 minutes to pick up nowadayas…that’s like not that much food. 3 bags maybe? c’mon. A free breakfast….was worth it. You blew it.
Comment by Abby Carter
| November 11th, 2009
Two steaks and a bottle of wine would have done it…
Oh well, your cholesterol is thanking you.
Abby Carter´s last blog ..The "Why Bother" Syndrome
Comment by Mark
| November 11th, 2009
Well you tried! At least you didn’t fall for the marketing ploy which was to get you to spend money that you didn’t plan on spending.
Mark´s last blog ..Will Do Windows
Comment by Cathouse Teri
| November 12th, 2009
Sad story, that. :)
Cathouse Teri´s last blog ..From Andy Rooney?
Comment by Sandy
| November 22nd, 2009
Spend your morning to spend $50 on groceries? With the price of food now that should take you about 5 minutes and you’d still be able to go through the express lane.
Sandy´s last blog ..Please Mr. Postman