by Kristen Sullivan | May 3, 2009
I never thought about using coupons…until recently. With all the depressing economic news I’ve become a more careful shopper. I hate to make a purchase unless I’m getting a “deal.” It seems I’m not the only one who feels this way.
Coupons are all the rage. The phrase “coupon” has become one of the hottest Google search terms this spring. Coupon sites like retailmenot.com and couponmom.com have seen their traffic grow over the last year. Suddenly, frugality is chic. So are coupons.
Maybe they’re a mere fad. Once the recession recedes (when do you think that will happen?) coupons may go the way of Luke Perry, 0% down mortgages, and crocs.
But I’ve been known to hold onto fads past their glory days (yes, I kept wearing my cowboy boots even when they had holes in their soles). I’m planning to keep coupons in my life for a long time.
For one thing, I think coupons should be a standard part of the shopping process. Retailers should reward me for being a loyal, repeat customer. They should give me a little somethin’ somethin’ for choosing them. Secondly, coupons are getting easier and easier to use. Long gone are the days of snipping and tearing and folding. It hardly takes any time to find or use a coupon code online – and coupon technology continues to improve.
What do you think? Are coupons a fad? Are you using them now? Will you keep using them when the economy improves? Let us know.
Image Credit: Flickr
