Money and cleanliness

I have become nearly obsessed with saving money in small ways. Jewel sends these coupons every month or so that give you $6 off a purchase of $60 or more. Today I fell nearly a dollar short of 60 bucks (tax doesn't count) and it just about ruined my day.

The line was too long to go back and get something I needed, and plucking random candy or magazines I don't need from the "impulse" rack completely defeats the purpose of saving money. Which is why I don't really pay attention to coupons for specific items. Almost always they're for stuff I don't ever buy, which is the whole purpose behind them -- getting people to buy more, not save more.

But these general "save $x off $xx purchase" coupons are great. CVS does them, too. The register spits out these coupons that give you $4 off a $20 purchase. That's 20%! So I try to group all my drug store purchases into $20 trips, and I walk up and down the aisles trying to find that next thing to take me over the threshold. But not too far. It also bugs me when I end up getting $28 worth of stuff, which not only makes my percentage discount lower but also means I could have grouped an item or two into my next bulk purchase. 

Anyway, I find it all strangely satisfying. 

On the cleanliness front, my awesome new quiet and gay upstairs neighbors seem to vacuum their place at LEAST three times a week (from what I hear), and it's making me feel like a total slob. I would actually love vacuuming if I had no furniture or rugs. As it is, though, it's a pain in the ass, and I only do it when dust bunnies start appearing.