Comments on: Coupon Poll Results

By: ABT

ABT — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:54:26 +0000

I see stealing daily. I work in a grocery store. I want to add my 2 cents, if I may…..

I rarely see food items stolen that one would think are just for people “struggling”. Almost daily we see steaks stolen. Steaks are the most expensive meat in our store (and most others) People either steal it to sell or are poor (personal responsibility anyone?) and/or greedy. The truly poor starve. the “poor” who are so by their own choices steal stuff that is the most expensive and/or name brand. Does that tell you anything?

With the holidays approaching I see spices etc. (all name brand) pinched.

Its easy to say or think that the big fat cat corporations arent effected….thats sort ot true. THEY arent…The stores themselves are. Theft makes each individual stores inventory bad. Bad inventory = individual store cuts. Be it supplies, raises or hours scheduled per week. So by stealing people are hurting people that are sturgling just as hard as they are (maybe) to survive.

The truly poor have avenues to get food and supplies. There really is no excuse or justification to grocery stealing.

By: Dana

Dana — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 02:06:22 +0000

Seconded that getting wild edibles isn’t stealing. In fact, even if you get it off someone else’s lot, depending on what it is they will probably consider you as doing them a favor. For instance, although she generally doesn’t eat them, I let my little girl pick dandelion flowers out of people’s yards, especially the yellow ones, because that cuts back on that person’s “weeds.” Other folks consider mulberries a nuisance because they make messes all over the driveway or on people’s cars. Nutty, since they’re edible (and my little girl loves them!), but there you go.

As for hands cut off for stealing, that’s actually a requirement in Islam, BUT, Islamic scholars generally agree that with every requirement in Islam there is an accompanying right, and the reason most Muslim countries don’t actually cut off hands now is that they recognize they are not providing for all the people’s basic survival needs. They reason that only in a society in which all those survival needs are met can you honestly punish someone for stealing, say, a loaf of bread. FWIW.

By: Allison

Allison — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:52:48 +0000

I don’t clip coupons but I do pay attention to club cards and store specials. As a result, I may buy a bunch of frozen spinach all at once when its BOGOF. Canned beans, legumes, pasta, frozen veggies frequently and often go on sale. While I don’t eat heavily processed foods much at all, I do need basics. For me, coupon clipping, shopping and whether or not to buy a convenience food is all about balancing the cost of time. I’m exceptionally blessed to be able to choose to be frugal – its not a necessity – but I do need to make sure I’m not spending oodles of time to save $1.50 at the store when I could have spent that hour on something comparatively more productive.

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:51:05 +0000

Like Harry, I generally don’t buy anything pre-packaged or pre-made either. The only exceptions tend to be cereal, soy milk, pasta, and condiments (dijon, sriracha sauce, etc). Everything else we make ourselves including bread and pasta sauces.. the majority of our purchased food is produce or raw ingredients.

We used coupons much more when we did buy processed foods, but now it’s just the occasional coupon for General Mills cereal, or $1 off a certain brand of pasta. Whole Foods has these great coupon books now though, and we use those much more frequently than the coupons that come in the Sunday paper.

By: micki bowers

micki bowers — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:41:19 +0000

Wild edibles and dumpster diving aren’t stealing. If no one is using them, how is it stealing? Stealing is taking something from someone that they value, that costs them something. Dumpster diving might be illegal in some areas, that’s different. However, as an experienced dumpster diver, there’s lots of good stuff that people throw away. The Black walnuts that fall on the roadway from the tree on the church property are being driven over by cars. Might as well pick them up and use them (leave some for the squirrels. they like the ones that have turned black anyway and those are not much good for humans at that point). Find the nut trees in your neighborhood (walnuts are easy, no leaves, big round green fruit hanging from branches) and offer to clean up the nuts from the homeowner’s yard. Many people who have black walnut or other nuts in their yard will thank you for it! (ever hit one with a lawn mower? deadly). I know lots of people who never use the fruits/nuts that grow in their yard and they are amenable to someone asking if they can pick them.
I don’t condone stealing, either, but like I stated, picking up stuff that is thrown away or not being utilized before it rots is not stealing!

By: Cristina

Cristina — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:49:43 +0000

Just want to tell you that I love your site! You are a great writer and your posts are very informative! I especially like when you write 3 dollars or less recipes….keep it up!

By: New Commentor

New Commentor — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:49:52 +0000

[quote]“I mean, if you walk in to an El Pollo Loco and go up to the salsa bar, fill up several containers, and leave – I guess that seems like stealing to me. However, if you buy a 99 cent side salad and then fill up 25 containers of salsa – is that technically “stealing”? If I jump into the dumpster at the Big Lots and pick out packaged food items past the date they’ve thrown away, is that technically “stealing”?”[/quote]

Taking thrown away food? I wouldn’t consider it stealing, I mean if it’s in the dumpster, it’s considered something a person doesn’t want so if someone else wants it, it’s free to take(usually) so I wouldn’t consider it stealing.

El Pollo Loco – Well, it depends if they have any rules in the restaurant. I never really go to El Pollo Loco, so I don’t know if they have any rules on that.

I guess you could ask one of the employees at the place “Can I take 25 containers of salsa?”, probably best to ask the manager or something.

On an unrelated note – Is a Little Caesars near where you live? They have $5 large pizzas which could be a good review for cheapeats.