We Do the Math on Coupon Clipping PUT DOWN THE SCISSORS AND STEP AWAY FROM THE NEWSPAPER
You don’t get paid enough to afford all the groceries you’d like. In fact, if it wasn’t for coupons, you wouldn’t be able to get everything you need, right? Coupon
hunger and pleasure) also loves a screaming good deal. It can be hard to resist the allure, and that means you often spend money on things that you normally wouldn’t, because you have a coupon. It’s tough, but stick to the staples — like rice, beans, oats, and salt — that you’ll use eventually and that won’t go bad. Of course, if you’ve wanted something for a long time and it goes on sale, it makes sense to buy. But don’t let the coupon section dictate your desires! The second question is, “How much is my time worth, and how much of that time do I spend hunting down the best deals and clipping coupons?”We’re not trained to think of our time as valuable when we aren’t working, but time is the one thing you can’t get back. If you’re saving $25 a week on stuff you actually need, but it takes 4 hours a week to get that savings, you’re losing money even if you make minimum wage. That’s time you could be spending with family, picking up a half-shift at work, or finding innovative ways to make money. We won’t deny that there are great deals out there — deals that are now more available than ever thanks to apps like Groupon. But don’t mistake coupons for anything but what they really are: businesses trying to trick your brain into buying more stuff. Use them wisely, but don’t let them rule you.
clipping is a time-honored way of saving money and a source of pride amongst many of us who need those paychecks to go as far as possible. But there are two ways to look at it: as a way to put food on the table that
you otherwise couldn’t afford, or as a way to trick money-conscious consumers into buying stuff they normally wouldn’t. Which takeaway describes your situation? To find out, you have to answer two questions. The first question is, “Do I need — and will I use — everything that I buy with coupons?” Here’s the thing: Coupons are designed to affect you psychologically. It turns out that the same part of your brain that governs basic instincts (like
Kenny H. Kenny H. worked as an iron worker, welder, fabricator, and lead worker/ shop foreman. A mere six weeks before his 40th birthday, Kenny was riding a DynaPak when it hit a hole and jerked the steering wheel. The machine flipped over and he jumped off onto his right leg, feeling it pop three times. Many knee surgeries followed, including two ACL repairs. After successfully returning to work for a couple years, Kenny developed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and a blood clot that was lodged in his lung. His doctors confirmed this resulted from his surgeries and required additional allowance hearings before they could implant a vena cava filter with a thoracotomy and wedge resection of Kenny’s lower lung lobe. He subsequently developed cellulitis and abscesses on his left arm, which required more treatment. Twice denied permanent total disability, Kenny attempted vocational rehabilitation, but the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and Industrial Commission of Ohio determined he was not a suitable candidate in 2008. He reapplied and successfully completed vocational training services, including job-seeking-skills training in 2011, but his case was closed that year as his job search was unsuccessful. His DVT continued
to cause problems, and he underwent extensive surgery, including angioplasty of five veins, in 2011.
Kenny’s inability to work and ongoing health problems plunged him into depression, but fortunately, we were successful in obtaining treatment for his condition under his claim to help him cope and improve his quality of life. The third time was the charm, and Kenny was granted permanent total disability nearly 19 years after his injury. After all this time together, Kenny and his wife have become like family to us, and we are honored to represent them.
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