Who Cares What People Think?
How do you feel about a person ahead of you in a store checkout line who is using coupons? Do you think to yourself, "Now there's a smart shopper"? Or do you think, "What a cheapskate"? The New York Times reported on a study in which people using low-value coupons (50 cents off on a $4 item, for example) were perceived as cheap by people further back in the line. And not only that, but the poor shopper immediately behind the coupon-user was perceived as cheap as well. How's that for a negative halo effect?
Matt's View
I have to believe that in our current economy this tide will soon turn--that coupon users will be seen as the wise ones.
Speaking of coupons, several readers pointed out an error in the last issue of Matt About Money. I described how you could get extra discounts on Restaurant.com coupons and noted that you'd be able to get a $25 meal for $3. It turns out that participating restaurants require that you spend $35 or more in order to use a coupon. So, I should have said you can get a $35 meal for $13. The savings are still good--just not quite as good as I thought.
This article filed in: Entertainment , Spending
Managing Money by The Book
- "I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." - Psalm 119:16
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