A Little Coupon Karma

I’m a big believer in karma. I’m not exactly sure when I began believing that the universe works in this magical fashion, but I certainly try my best to put kindness and compassion into the world on a daily basis.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m no saint. My brother should actually be nominated for that position as he volunteers with the homeless, various children’s groups and a whole host of other charities on a weekly basis. He does all of this while working a full time job and raising two small children.

No I’m definitely not a saint, but I do try my best to be a good person. I know a lot of people don’t believe in karma, but I certainly don’t think it hurts to be kind and good and if a little kindness and goodness is returned in my direction… well that’s not so bad either.

Sometimes the universe presents small opportunities to give to others. For example, I started clipping coupons and leaving them beside products in the grocery store. I primarily clip coupons for cat and dog food and for baby products.

I’ve also been known to glance in a fellow shopper’s cart and hand over coupons for items they are purchasing. This may be small, like a coupon for a $1 off a toothbrush or big like a coupon for a $10 gift card when filling a new prescription.

It’s such a small thing to do. A dollar here, a dollar there, it doesn’t add up to a ton, but it does make people really happy. I’ve been doing this for a few years now, but yesterday had to be one of my favorite coupon moments of all time.

I was waiting in line at the lingerie department at Macy’s when a young woman, (in her early thirties), struck up a conversation with me. We chatted for a bit, because the line was rather slow. As we started to reach the register I reached in my purse in search of coupons. I rifled through my bag and as I pulled them out she struck her hand on her forehead and said, “OH COUPONS!” She was visibly upset at the idea of paying for her items without one.

She told me she hadn’t received any coupons for Macy’s in awhile. She thought about putting the items on hold and then returning another time so she could go home in search of one, but she had two small children and she didn’t really want to put them back in the car to return another time.

The conversation turned to other things and off the topic of coupons, but when the woman reached the register, (she was in front of me in line), I stepped around her and handed the cashier my coupon and told her to use it on the woman’s transaction.

The woman in line nearly hugged me. She thanked me fifteen or twenty times and even offered to give me a certificate for a free pizza she had in the bottom of her purse, because she really wanted to do something nice for me. I thanked her but told her not to worry about it.

My coupon provided 20% off regular and sale merchandise and believe it or not the woman bought so many bras that it saved her $46!

When I stepped up to the front of the line the cashier said, “that was really nice of you. Most people wouldn’t do that for another customer.” I laughed and said, “it’s just a little coupon karma. You know it’s such a small gesture and who knew it would save her so much money.” “Still”, she said, “that was really nice of you. I hope the good karma comes back to you.”