Getting Husbands or Other Significant Others Excited About Couponing

I remember screaming when I saw the receipt: "You paid $60 for nachos?" If your husband or any significant other is like mine, he or she can buy ingredients to make one meal and spend the same amount of money that I spend for a week's worth of food for our family of three. How does this happen? Our life partners see us clipping coupons, see that we spend a long time at the store because of the price comparison time and surely see us perusing the sale ads in the Sunday paper. So why are we alone in trying to save money for our families? How can we get them to be our partners in preserving the family budget?

1. Start small. Does your husband get his hair cut at places like Great Clips or Fantastic Sams? Many of these places offer coupons for up to half off a haircut. Many spouses pay for haircuts themselves, so shove a coupon in his hand before he leaves the house. If he uses it, he'll notice more money in his wallet and get the hint that coupons can add up.
2. After he starts to see small savings, go bigger. Has he been complaining about needing new work pants or some new socks? Tell him to sit tight until the next coupon sale at your local department store. Many department store chains like Macy's and Kohl's have jumped on the coupon bandwagon. Sale prices and coupons can really make a difference and it may surprise him.
3. Make him do it. Go with him or send him by himself to purchase the items. Some husbands or significant others take it for granted that their wives or partners will just take care of the shopping and things will magically appear.
4. Make it challenging. Some significant others that work 14 hours days may not have the time for idle family grocery shopping. However, challenge him or her to a food buying duel for a simple meal or special party. For example, my husband was making nachos for a football party in the meal above. Why not make two batches for your next party and have the husband swing by the store first. Go to the store after him or at the same time and compare receipts. Whoever saves the most money gets a massage.
5. Get logical. For those of us with husbands that only speak the Excel spreadsheet language and numbers, why not make a spreadsheet just for him. Enter every regular price for everyday household items that are regularly in the family grocery list. Break it into columns showing name brand regular price, sale price, generic and any possible coupon savings. Tally each column or create a worst-case/best-case scenario. The savings in black and white showing coupon use, generic selection and sale price may make his eyes pop.
6. Save receipts. If spreadsheets aren't your thing, some stores may do it for you. Stores such as Target show a tally of savings at the bottom that reflects sale price, coupon and loyalty cards.