Happy Friday: The Power of Small Gestures
Sent from reader, Sarah:
I was in CVS a few weeks ago when the $2.00 MM Zyrtec deal was going. When I got up to the counter the woman working told me her husband uses it all the time but it’s so expensive. I Normally give this type of stuff to my mom but she is always so helpful and friendly when I come in so I decided she needed it more and I told her she could have it for her husband. She was so thankful to me and I was happy to help her out.
I just went back in today because my whole family has been sick and she practically attacked me when I walked it!! She had saved up coupon inserts from the last month of newspapers and wanted to give them to me as a thank you for the Zyrtec. 11 inserts in all!! I was in shock! That was such a kind and helpful thing she could do for me. I am so grateful to her.
I wanted to share this with you because sometimes we go through our days never thinking of anyone else and what their circumstances are. Sometimes all it takes is a small gesture to make someone’s whole day. It is because of your website that I am able to give more to others now. And I do find that there is more happiness in giving than in receiving. Have a wonderful night! Thank you for your website. It has truly changed my life since I found it!
HAPPY FRIDAY! 
Do you have a funny, “Hip”, or unique photo to share?! Email us at happyfriday@hip2save(dot)com. Every Friday, I will post one photo, submitted by you and/or another Hip2Save reader, that gives us a glimpse into your frugal lifestyle or simply makes us smile. If your photo is published on Hip2Save, we’ll email you a $10 Amazon e-card!
** Check out all the previous Happy Friday pictures here.
That’s awesome. Thanks for sharing.
God Bless You….It does feel better to give than to receive….you rock!!! <3
Love it! It is always nice to find people to give freebie stuff to. 🙂
That is so nice .. A week ago my hubby went to food city to buy claritin..he forgot his food city card. The lady waiting in line lend her card so we save 2 bucks..
I love when people do that! At the Food Lion behind my house, before the cashiers just started swiping their own cards or a brand new card for people when the manager’s not looking, the cashier would just ask the person behind his/her current customer if they had one. I always thought it was pretty cool.
I work retail and the problem with our stores are the cashier can be fired for that. It’s a nice thing to do but at our store we get cash back every 3 months for 5% of what we spent. Cashiers were getting huge personal rebates back.
Yeah!! What goes around, comes around! I always do nice gestures, not expecting nothing back..Just because makes me feel so good! And sometimes the people apreciate so much!
That is wonderful gestures on both of your parts. I too find it is better to give than to recieve. That is why I have such a low stockpile! LOL. I just LOVE giving… all made easy by this website and coupons! I love your story and thank you for sharing.
Its so important to pay it forward. I don’t have much room in my budget for extras, but I am lucky that my husband has a good job and we are healthy and happy. A month ago the woman in front of me at walmart with a HUGE shopping cart full of food had used up everything on her SNAP (food stamps) card, and her bank card was declined. She was putting things back from the bags and I ended up buying the difference for her. No one should have to make the decision to buy juice for their child, or meat for dinner. It was only 7 bucks but I hope that it made her day better. Later that day, my friend was at Target and her card wouldn’t work due to some bank updates and the gentleman behind her bought her purchases for her. It really does come back around even if you aren’t the one directly to benefit from the karma!
Love this 🙂
🙂
You probably didn’t make her day; you made her week :).
That is so awesome! You’re a sweet person to do that for her! We need more people like you 🙂
That is so wonderful! 🙂
I love this story. 🙂
That story just made me feel good. This is why I LOVE couponing!
That is awesome. It is great to give. Collin’s Web site has helped me do that too.
Good story!
Sweet story. It does feel so much better to give than to receive.
I am a great believer in “paying it forward” – not just with coupons. Sometimes it is as mentioned above; someone needing a few dollars to feed their family, other times it may just be a simple helping hand – helping carry a package, holding a door open, and sometimes just a smile and hello to a perfect stranger. Thanks for sharing this with us! I hope it inspires others to just pay it forward!
yes! luv the opening a door, especially for people with strollers and kids!
I can honestly say that this website is in fact a blessing. What a great testimonial. I’ve always been a giver but now through this website I can do more. I’m so appreciative to everyone involved including other readers who report blessings like this.
Great story!
I also had an experience at Target last week when there was the toy sale going on. I noticed this mom and her son looking through the Star Wars toys. I had a whole bunch of coupons of Star Wars with me. I also noticed that her son just had a cleft lip surgery because I could see the stitches were still a little fresh (I could tell because my daughter was born with a cleft lip and palate) and he was was probably about 6 yrs old just like my daughter. I overheard the mom saying that the Star Wars toy he wanted was too expensive and that she can’t buy it for him. I politely approached her and told her that I have some Star Wars coupon that I can share with her for her son. She took the coupons and she couldn’t thank me enough. I could see her face lit up and her son’s. We talked for a bit about her son and my daughter who was actually also with me. It was so heartwarming to make a small gesture and made a little boy really happy. It really made my day and it made me feel good inside…. Collin, thanks for all the hardwork you do. I truly appreciate it. God bless and more power…
This makes my heart smile :).
This story gave me chills. That was so kind of you.
It’s always better to give than receive. In walgreens a few weeks ago the machine put a coupon out for 3.00 off some expensive lipstick that happened to be on sale. The nice older lady at the register was telling how great it was and how she loved it. I turned around and gave it to her. The coupon with her discount and sale gave her a new lipstick. She still thanked me again for it today when I saw her. And she had it on. It wasn’t much but I think it made her day and she was smiling. That’s all that mattered
What a nice story!
The way we live biblically should allow us to always give to others. I haven’t had the oppurtunity to pay for some-ones groceries but I sent all my coupons expired or not to the military base some time back I read a post here on a military wife that was indicating that were she was at she was unable to get coupons and financially there were really hurting. I replied to her comment she gave me an address and I shipped her all of mine and others. She was so greatful for that.
With my sister in law in the military I know how it can be financially and stressful for them. Everytime I get free stuff I send it her way. Other times I sent her all my oexcesses of shampoos and makeups for her and her female team.
At church we had a couple that was unable to meet their needs financially, I asked what they needed I was unsure how I could help. But they said they needed money. I didn’t have any, we are one household check. I did get all of my extra bins of shampoos, lotions, deo, cleaning supplies and more stuff and sent it there way. I never said anything till now. But now when I coupon I think of others and I buy extra just in case some one needs something I will always have it ready to give away.
Since I have had this approach my bins are always full and I always get free coupons for stuff from other people that don’t need them or use them. Im a huge supporter the military and there families. I married into one and have seen some pretty debiliting things happen. So I try to send and give as much as possilbe.
Thank you for sharing. Bless your heart.
wonderful on both parts!
It pays to bless others!
I was at dunkin donuts last fall and I had a coupon I wasn’t going to use. I gave it to the man ahead of me because he ordered donuts. It feels good to help others out.
I like these stories of people helping others with their coupons. This is so unlike “Exrtreme Couponing” where they just stock pile loads of stuff they can’t possibly use. If they would donate some of that toothpaste & etc to shelters I would respect them more. From the above stories you can see it dosen’t take much to help out a person in need or just as a kind gesture to a stranger.
Thanks for sharing! I wish there was more of this in the world today! 🙂
Thanks for sharing Sarah. Sometimes it’s the little things that matter and really have an impact on others. You are awesome.
I also send extra coupons to the military. A few weeks ago my paper carrier left my 5 Sunday papers and 2 extra “papers”. They weren’t extra papers but 2 sleeves of over 85 coupon inserts!! I clipped for hours and shared as many as I could, used as many as I could for the 2 soldiers I adopted, and then sent the rest to the military. I love sharing extra coupons and find that paying it forward is so rewarding. And quite often when I share someone shares back to me! A lady insisted on paying for my a soft drink because of the coupons I gave her after that clipping spree!!
wow..so nice..
just leaving a coupon behind, can make someone’s day, I have left a couple and picked up a couple, had the same opportunity with the target toy and a transformers deal, I overheard a couple planning an Easter basket, had a few things for a single mom that literally asked for a broom, salt and a shovel for Christmas a few of our coupon friends, gave her our extras and she had a few hundred dollars in day to day things, used my card in line, and because of you an another websight, we have gotten to be coupon fairies….Thank you and hats off to all of you
Cathy
That’s awesome! A few weeks ago when they had the Craig Mp3 players at CVS for $9.99 with a $10 ECB I went in and bought 4 of them (for my kids’ Easter baskets). There was still 6 left and the cashier had said she’d like to get one for her son. Well the lady behind me bought all 6 of them. I only have 3 kiddos so I ended up going back in and giving the cashier one of mine! Before this she had always given me a hard time about coupons, etc… but now after talking to her she is so sweet and was so grateful that I gave her one for her son. She even tried to pay me for it but I refused!
Zyrtec is super expensive, but Sam’s Club has a Member’s Mark brand. I know several people that said they switched to it and do even better (usually around animals) than they did on the Zyrtec. With 3 family members taking it, we now save lots of money on the Member’s Mark. They have 350 for $17.50 or 400 for $17.99. If you don’t have a membership, it is worth the 10% markup to use a one day pass and get it or check with friends and family to see if any of them have a membership. So thankful we found out about it.
I thank you all for sharing your stories. So beautiful. I was at Jiffy Lube last week getting an oil change with a $10 off coupon. As I was sitting in the waiting room, I looked down at my coupon and realized it was actually two separate coupons. I felt a little silly, but one by one I went around to the customers in the waiting room to see if anyone would like to have my extra coupon. I did finally give it to a woman. I think she was really surprised by it, and didn’t seem at all grateful, but in my heart I knew I did the right thing by sharing. Since joining this site 6 months ago, I have learned so much from all of you, and I thank you that this is such a loving and caring community. I’m so grateful to all of you.
lovely story and def. worth sharing….yes it does make you more wary about the people who need the extra touch and attention that we do not seem to have time for anymore…couponing or not couponing we should still do this…
I’m a young latina mom in a mostly white area and I had a lot of ppl look down on me for being a young mother and then are started couponing and ppl would give me weird looks because of that too. I would always be upset after shopping because ppl wouldnt help, they wouldnt hold the door for not just me but for anyone. So I started to think how this world is going to be poo if ppl stop helping one another and after reading everyone’s stories it has shown me that there are still good ppl out there.
My family lives on one income and with that I stretch every penny to feed and cloth both my girls, my husband and I. And on top of all that I buy my younger sisters groceries because she makes enough to live but just not enough for all her food. Thank Collin for making this website and teaching us how to spend wisely and thank you to everyone that helps someone else just a little.
Ladies, in my line of work, I see all types of negative things. Reading your stories made my heart smile. Thank you. BTW, I agree. I love “paying it forward”. Makes me feel good. Because of couponing, I am actually able to do that now. 🙂
thats awesome! 🙂 soo sweet of that lady to do that for
Good Job!
I love this story!
Not to put a damper on a wonderful story – but I just wanted to share that a generic bottle of zyrtec is $17 dollars for an ENTIRE YEAR’s worth. I have a membership to Costco simply because of that. The difference in price pretty much makes up the entire membership fee. Anything else I save on there is gravy.
It is nice to hear all these comments. I was talking to my husband about leaving coupons at stores. (of all people). And also going up to people when you have an extra coupon you don’t need. My husband finally asked me if I would turn down coupons. Since I wouldn’t I started giving them to people.
The nicest one I liked so far was an elderly man getting cereal. He kept picking up honey bunches of oats and generic cereal. He kept reading the price tags. That’s when I saw the sale price when you buy 2 on hbo cereal. With my coupons he could get 2 boxes for one box of generic. I finally went up to him with my coupons told him how to get the deal. Gave him my coupons and he instantly put back the generic. He said that would be his treat for the month. He was on limited income and wouldn’t afford it otherwise
I believe that when you are kind to other people and give to others that it all comes back to you! good for you for being so kind! =)
Way to go Sarah!!! This site does allow us to help others. Not only are we doing good, but we’re enriching other lives as well.
I love giving people coupons in the store when I see them buying something I dont and have that coupon. Some of them just look at me like i’m crazy when I ask if they want a coupon for it and others just can’t believe I’d share with them!
I have gotten that before, they look of I just came from a crazy house because I offer them a coupon.
Last night I was at the grocery store and the man in front of me seemed to not have enough money, took something off his bill, then he was counting his change, so I started reaching into my purse to give the amount he was missing but he came up with the exact amount. Afterward I thought I should have offered my Safeway Club card so he could get the discounts, because I heard the cashier tell him to come back if he found the card and they would give him the money back.
Five minutes after reading this, my husband came home from work and told me him and two coworkers were eating lunch today at a restaurant when the couple next to them got up and left. The waiter told my husband’s group that the couple paid for their meal. 🙂
I loved reading all of these stories. I have several similar stores about sharing and enjoying saving from Collin’s site. While price matching one day at Wal-Mart. I helped a man in front of me save a lot with my Aldi ad on the vegetables he was buying and a great butter deal. I felt so proud of myself for how much I saved him on his order. It was fun to share savings with a stranger. He couldn’t believe how easy it was.
We went to Lowe’s Home Improvement a few weeks ago to buy outdoor lights and I had searched for a coupon before we left but couldn’t find one. While we stood in the light isle trying to decide, a woman asked us if we could use her two coupons that were about to expire. One was for a purchase of $50 or more and one was for a purchase of $250 or more.
We thanked her profusely and gave the larger one to an elderly couple down the isle, they said they might be spending that much. I was so relieved now that I hate buying anything without coupons 🙂
I love all these stories. Makes my heart smile to see how many good people their are in the world. I was at the grocery store the other day and u have to pay a quarter to get a cart outside. I walked in and this lady had 3 kids and the youngest was having a fit on the floor and the lady kept saying we r gonna go outside and get a cart. But the child would not stop screaming on the floor and would not get up. So I said she could have my cart and I would get another. She was so happy! She even gave me another 25 cents to get another. And she kept saying Thank you! Made my day to just to know I helped.
I am lucky to be able to breastfeed, but I still receive all the checks for the formula. Thanks to this website and another, I use those checks with coupons to purchase formula to donate to my church and moms that need it. My sister and I were at Target one day, picking up some items, and I noticed this gentleman looking at the cans of formula. He was about to leave, and I asked him which brand he was buying. I happen to have those checks and I handed them over. He thanked me so many times, saying that his wife had run out of the checks but they needed more formula. My sister, who is starting to coupon with me, was like, “We love to help out!” It makes my day to help someone, and being on a limited income, this is the way we can do it!