Thursday, December 30, 2010

This year, I will not fail! This year will be different. This year, I resolve to…

Ok, who am I kidding? I have made both easy and hard New Year’s resolutions and I still can’t keep them. Last year, I was going to cut coupons. This is not a difficult resolution compared to someone who wants to quit smoking or lose 30 pounds. I have a Masters’ degree, printing out coupons and organizing them to save money isn’t rocket science. Professional coupon cutters swear the grocery stores end up giving them money back when they check out. There are websites devoted to this cause of coupon management. They tell me where to shop, which days, and what to buy, yet I still can’t make the system work for me. I end up having $.50 off toothpaste and forget to use it at checkout, or have $1.00 off eye solution, but it expired.
2011 is all about instant gratification and technology. Now a days, coupons on our phones, Groupons, Deals of the Day, facebook friends, grocery applications, and coupon emails are everywhere. In fact, you should facebook ChaChaBella to view her cyber sparkly deals.

If there is a coupon at the store in front of the crescent rolls that say “buy 3, save $.50 now” I do that. Most of the time, I even remember to peel the instant coupon off the can. I like Buy One, Get One Free deals. Organizing, compiling, having notebooks with tabs for frozen, health and beauty, paper goods, etc., sounds like me, but in reality that resolution just proved to be too ChaCha consuming.

Last year, the Miami Herald reported that the tradition of New Year’s Day resolutions dates back to the early Babylonians. They believed what a person does on the first day of the new year will affect what they do throughout the year. Statistics confirm that 97% of resolutions are never fulfilled (at least I am not alone) but still 40 to 45 percent of adults make resolutions and goals. I like the concept of making the goal and starting off 2011 with a goal and a purpose. Maybe my purpose should be to eat out more – I can cut coupons for restaurants. This I can do, I know it.

Now, when it comes to retail products like clothing, then I do always check for key codes before I order online or if I know I am going to the certain store, I will print out a coupon first. It must be something about saving $.25 on a food item verse 20% on sweater. I understand the financial dynamics that a bunch of quarters does equal 20% and if I was consistent and used my food coupons, I would save. This whole resolution just make me ChaCha coupon crazy and so I stopped.

But, this year, I will attempt again. ChaCha girls are no quitters and I will recommit to the cause of coupon cutting and saving money. My resolution is to make it to Valentines Day!
Let me know details if you have kept a New Year’s resolution to win a ChaCha ring. Contact Suzanne at s@chachabella.com.