I think my hubby finally "gets" couponing...

Hey all, Anje here. I know it's been awhile since I've dropped a few lines here, life has been crazy with summer activities, vacation and swim schedules...anyhoo...I hope you missed me (slightly) and are happy to see me back!

I have to share with you HOW my DH (dear husband) is beginning to "get" couponing...well...not entirely..but check this out:

Last weekend we went away to Cherokee, NC. He had been to Vegas twice this year with work, ah hemm... and anyway, he was told (by someone other than me, gasp!) how he could sign up for Harrah's Total Rewards program and earn free food and hotel rooms while playing their casino games. No cost to him - just present his Rewards card to the table attendant (dealer, etc.) and/or when playing slot machines, swipe his card. It's similar to our Bilo BonusCard and tracks data too - just like our frequent buyer cards do.

So, now he's on this mailing list for Harrah's and they send out coupons for drawings (must be present to win) at any of their several casinos. So one of the coupons was for a free nights stay, another for $$ off of food purchased at the casino (they have a Paula Deen's and a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse to name a couple) and $$ free to play in a slot machine. So off we went.

We arrived Saturday afternoon, checked into our fantastic room (holy, moly, sweetness!) and made our dinner reservation for Ruth's Chris. We played a few table games (they have table attendants but don't start dealing live cards until August 16th) but the digital cards were kind to me :)

After dinner we played some more, slept well and had a "too-die-for" breakfast at Paula Deen's. One of his coupons had to be presented after 12 noon, so we played a few more games and then used that coupon for him to earn more points. All in all, we were up (shock) in winnings and with the coupons, we paid very little out of pocket for any of the food, drink or gambling. Since he wasn't thinking that these were "coupons" (I think they may call them Play, Food, or Room "Vouchers" it opened up a great conversation for the ride home.

He hasn't been a real believer in my coupon savings, so when I likened it to these Harrah Vouchers, I think a light bulb came on for him! :o) Yay me...and as with most men I know, painting a verbal picture is far more effective than a simple explanation...

If you've been to a SiS Coupon Class, you've heard me tell you that when i first started couponing, I'd calculate my coupon savings and get cash back when I paid using my debit card. I'd save that money in an "Anje Fund" and buy myself designer jeans or pay for a mani/pedi from my coupon savings. It was how I paid myself for "doing a little part" to save the family budget when I didn't have support or "reason" to coupon. After the Anje Fund grew, I shared my success with DH and although he still claimed that I over-bought and/or bought items we didn't need, he was beginning to "get it".

Now thanks to Harrah's...and my super-duper couponing skills too...dear hubz just may have "it"...

Comments? I'd love to hear from you..and thanks for reading!