Dear Readers: We received hundreds of comments about couponing, and I’m absolutely delighted to see that so many people use them. So many times, you might think, “Well, it’s only 25 cents,” but here are a couple of my readers who have some very interesting thoughts on coupons:
Dear Heloise: I don’t usually write in to things, but the letter from the woman who uses coupons, much to her husband’s embarrassment, hit a nerve. My husband (now retired) always goes through digital coupons online and clips the ones we use. Last time, we saved about $80! I love him for it. He is great at saving money while still buying what we need!
Just wanted to give a different perspective. Thanks.
— Pat D., An Avid Fan of “Hints From Heloise”
Dear Heloise: I was stunned when I read the letter from one of your readers who said her husband was mortified by her coupon-clipping habits.
I decided to see how much I saved one year by clipping coupons for the various items we use. My husband laughed at me, but when I showed him the amount we saved on New Year’s Day, he was shocked. It was just a little over $800!
Although we’re not rich or poor, it’s always nice to save $800 from shopping carefully with coupons.
P.S. I love reading your column. Thanks for all the great hints!
— Audrey N., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
UNSIGNED CHECK GETS CASHED
Dear Heloise: In the St. Louis Post Dispatch, we read a letter in your column about the woman who did not sign checks for her grandchildren’s gifts, which then got her a visit from them so that the grandchildren could get the checks signed. We had heard about this idea, and after five years with no response from an adult grandchild for his birthday gifts, we thought we would try it.
We made the check out with no signature, put it in the greeting card, and mailed it. When our bank statement came, we saw the check had been deposited to an ATM at the grandchild’s bank. Apparently, the check still cleared our grandchild’s bank and our bank without a problem.
Our bank then told us that we could protest the check and send it back to our grandchild’s bank. Our bank had a $30 fee for the protest, and the grandchild’s bank had a $35 fee for a returned deposit. Since the gift was $100, we did not protest the payment to avoid making the banks more money. Our next step is not to put any more checks in cards.
— William T., A Loyal Reader
William, I’m sorry your grandchild did not see fit to call or drop by to see you. Good manners are a social skill that is all too often neglected. Perhaps you might want to reconsider your generous gifts if the recipient does not acknowledge your kindness.
— Heloise
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