What started as a way to save money for my family and make my husband happy quickly became my greedy little addiction. And with that came a very chaotic way of life.
I’ve always been somewhat of a bargain shopper. I’ve always shopped the clearance racks. I’ve always rummaged through thrift stores. And hitting springtime garage sales has always been one of my favorite pastimes.
And then in 2006, I decided to take it up a notch. If you’ve been reading awhile, then you know the story.
I learned how to get stuff for free. I learned how to get stuff for better than free. I learned how to play the money saving game so well that I no longer kept track of how much I was getting for next to nothing.
I set aside an entire day every week and literally shopped for seven hours. Sometimes I hit every CVS, Walgreens and Homeland in Edmond, not to mention Target, Crest Foods and Walmart. As if that weren’t enough, I went to Walgreens and CVS several more times during the week. I was running around while the kids were in school and then running out again at night after they were in bed.
I would sit for hours trying to figure out the best scenarios to get the most for the least, figuring multiple transactions until I had it down to a science.
I was stockpiling left and right. Even when I had no more room to store anything, I still bought more. I couldn’t walk away from a hot deal.
And then, one day God not so gently opened my eyes to the truth…I had an addiction… Amanda Brackney was addicted to deals and that addiction was fueled by greed!
So often I (we) view addiction as solely substance abuse. I associate greed with large amounts of money, big houses, fancy cars and designer clothing.
In fact, Webster’s dictionary defines addiction as “when a person surrenders habitually or compulsively to something“. It defines greed as “the desire to acquire more than one needs or deserves“.
TRUTH = I was habitually and compulsively shopping for deals (addiction) out of a desire to acquire much more than I needed (greed).
I’m not alone. Throughout the last several years, I’ve heard different variations of the same story.
The thing is, bargain hunting is a good thing. Being a wise steward with the money God has given us is a good thing. Stretching our resources so we have more to share with others is a good thing. Planning for the future (stockpiling) is a good thing. But so many times we allow the good in our lives to take over to the point of having no balance.
But there’s good news…I regained my balance.
You can regain yours. And if you haven’t slipped off the straight and narrow path yet, there are steps you can take to insure that you never do.
Does my story ring a bell? Is this something you struggle with? Then you won’t want to miss tomorrow’s post which is the first in my series, “Bargain Shopping Balance”.
Great Post Amanda. When I started this “deals until I die” phase two years ago, my thought was “If I can get it for free or cheap I should take the time to do it for others.” Reasoning that my time was more “godly spent” in providing for others rather than relaxing, shopping, anything else. At some point, I must have figured I was the only one in America providing the homeless with toothpaste and razors. Then, that same gentle nudge, the need for balance, became apparent. Now, I continue to stockpile for the needy, but only when it is part of my regular shopping routine. I’m fine with that, I think. Just don’t tell me that there is an increase in cavities among the poor!
Lynn, my dear friend, your sweet heart and sense of humor is such a blessing to me!
I am so glad that you wrote this. I just started couponing this past summer and still don’t have all the stores down to perfection yet. But just with Homeland and Crest alone I was starting to feel like I had a problem. Well, until 6 weeks ago. I was getting anxious at the thought that I might not make it to the stores that week or if there are really great deals I got anxious that I couldn’t go several times. I would rearrange my schedule at times to go to Crest because a friend told me of an awesome deal that I just had to have. Well, my hubby has been traveling a lot over the last 6 weeks and I have been required to just slow down going to the stores. I have 2 young kids, 4 and 2, and it is just plain difficult to take both of them couponing with me and more often than not I end up messing up deals because I am distracted. But I did have a good stock pile, which doesn’t even slightly compare to other’s I have seen, but it was enough to get us through while I was unable to go much. I love couponing and am so thankful that you have this site but I am so glad that God opened my eyes to the addiction of it before it consumed me. Thank you for your open honesty. I love your blog. Keep it going!!!
Miranda, God is good! I’m so glad He used your husband’s work to help slow you down a bit. I hope you enjoy the Bargain Shopping Balance series. Blessings to you!
It’s so nice to know I am not alone! I also started “super couponing” four years ago. I remember a time when I went to the store 17 times in one week. I was so excited because I had gotten so much free stuff and I felt so good about myself bringing it all to our church’s food pantry. And then I got home and realized I had neglected the house, my kids, dinner, my husband, and everyone was in a bad mood, including me! I met a friend during this time and she had just met me, and she said, “I know this is going to sound weird, but I feel like God is telling me to tell you to throw away the black book with all the little pieces of paper in it.” I was so mad, because of course she was referring to my coupon book! But I did it, and thank God I did. For three months I didn’t do coupons. But amazingly we stuck to our budget better than before, and we were able to use all of the bounty I had been stockpiling. God allowed me to go back to coupons and He faithfully taught me the art of balance. “Our God shall supply all of our needs according to His riches and glory!” He is so good! I am looking forward to your series 🙂
Oooohhh Tammy! I have often wondered how I would react if God told me to quite couponing altogether. YIKES! So far He hasn’t but there are a few things to which He’s said no. Like no workshops or speaking engagements during the summer. And no blogging conferences with the wonderful Christian bloggers I’d like to meet. At the time, His words came through my husband, and at the time, I was mad. But looking back, I am SO thankful I honored God by honoring my husband. He surely did supply!
Kudos to you for your obedience! And so glad you’re back in the game!
I do wonder at the balance or imbalance as it were with my couponing. When my husband was out of work I felt I had to put all these hours of couponing in(I’m including organizing my lists and coupons as well as shoppping). Just 2 weeks ago he started working and the disagreements have started about the shopping and how something’s got to give. Guess it’s worse with us because we only have the one car so we can only go on weekends or the evening. I do plan fun outings on Sat. like hiking or the pumpkin farm,etc. and Sun. is church day. But my hubby is finding he has no free time. I’ve been mainly going to Wags., 2 grocery stores,Target, and usually one other such as Kohl’s or Wal-mart depending on the week and what’s on sale. The thing is with hubby’s 2 1/2 year unemployment we have so much debt and his new job doesn’t pay great so I feel I still have to do this. Very much looking forward to the next part. The Lord did provide and will-that much I know.
Gina,
I’m praying for you right now. For wisdom and discernment. I so understand your dilemna, but the bottom line is that you honor your husband. If he’s asking you to cut back, then cut back you must. God will provide. You said it yourself.
On the other hand, you might consider carving out some time to sit down with your husband and prayerfully look at the situation together. Maybe you both can block some time where the car is yours. For example, maybe you could have one evening and a few hours on Saturday (or Sunday) to shop. He could have the car available to him the rest of the time barring a family obligation. I’m sure you could figure out an arrangement that works for you both.
Also, ask God to give you the words to express to your husband the desire you have not only to be a wise steward of God’s money, but also to not take for granted the income your husband works so hard for. He needs to know how much you appreciate and value his role in your marriage.
I hear ya friend. It’s like gambling. it’s freeing to know that you are still being a good steward even if you just go to the store once a week. I got burned out with the same habit so thanks for encouraging us to have balance. That’s always the key, isn’t it? LOL. Balance.