In the last year or so, people have become obsessed with “coupon spending”- a movement led by websites like www.grabone.co.nz, and www.treatme.co.nz. These sites offer major discounts at restaurants, day spas, hairdressers, stores (including Mischief Shoes) and much more.
I am always looking for a way to save a bit of cash, but am known for splashing out on silly things like novelty chopsticks or pot plants that hang upside down (that then later die due to me not watering them).
After browsing through today’s treats online, I decided to see if I could spend my entire weekend restricting myself to eating and shopping at places I had vouchers for only.
Friday: After finishing work, I met up with my partner for a three course meal at Voodoo – a restaurant on Manners mall. We used a voucher which cost us $49, and we ate about $120 worth of food- BARGAIN! And the food was amazing; we were unable to move after we got home.
Saturday: I got up early and drank three coffees with my voucher I purchased for Café Neo (12 coffees for $25). Caffeined up to the eyeballs, I made my way out to Lower Hutt to get a wax and eyebrow shape at Ataahua Beauty Spa for $35 (44% off the usual price!). So feeling all beautified and (very) awake, I made my way back to the city, pumping my car with petrol with a Pak’n Save voucher, saving 4 cents per litre (wooo).
When I arrived home I had lost all my energy and went and hired a movie with a coupon off the back of a supermarket receipt - (three weekly hires for $10) and ordered 2 large pizzas from Dominos for $25.
Sunday: After downing three coffees at Neo (I didn’t learn my lesson) my partner and I went for a wind surfing lesson, which cost us $60 for the two of us, which is a 50% saving. We have both established that wind surfing is not the sport for us and that we would have been better sleeping (not that we’d be able to with the amount of coffee in our systems).
So, how was the coupon spending? Well all up, I saved myself around $200 this weekend, and did things I had never done before, which was great.
HOWEVER
I spent $250 this weekend, when usually I would only go through around $50. My recommendation is to only purchase vouchers on things and places you already do and shop at. I will now spend the remainder of the week eating two minute noodles and cutting “the good bits” off my block of Edam.