In my work as an accountant for a non-profit, part of my day usually involves either making a purchase or giving the approval for someone else to do so. While every company needs to monitor closely how their money is spent, it is particularly important in the non-profit industry since we are mostly dependant on volatile revenue streams. Whenever a purchase is made, we need to make certain it is fiscally responsible – I need to ensure that my company is getting the best price on what they need. Naturally, this habit bleeds into every aspect of my life. Anytime I make a purchase I need to feel confident that it is a good deal and that the product will do as it says. I’m hoping I’m teaching my children the same.
My daughter wanted Tom’s. She, like so many others, saw the now infamous commercial…handsome man walks through an impoverished area, children run gleefully over toward him as he hands each child a pair of shoes. It’s a brilliant campaign. Think about it. Tom’s campaign of “buy one give one” enables one to feel good when they buy a pair of shoes! You can get a little retail therapy while at the same time helping a child in another part of the world. Starbuck’s needs to do this sort of thing – it would make me feel less guilty about purchasing a four dollar cup of coffee. Though I doubt children in these impoverished nations would benefit from an espresso shot.
But I digress…My daughter wanted those Tom’s…and wanted them badly. After researching them on-line to determine the cost (Between $38 and $58 a pair) and asking friends who wear the shoes about the comfort, I agreed to purchase her the shoes. Those who wear the shoes claim they are particularly comfortable and clean easily – a bonus for an eleven year old that will undoubtedly soil them within the first day.
I took her to a store in the mall to try on the shoes. As I lifted up the pair she had her eye on, I noticed the price tag – $64.99. I nearly had a heart attack. To make matters worse, the selection at this particular store was not extensive. My daughter had to choose between five or six styles. This limited selection in combination with the unexpected price increase made me decide that purchasing them on-line would be the better option. So, after trying on a pair to make sure of her size, we headed home.
Once there, I directed my daughter to the website where she was free to peruse the multitude of styles and colors. The shoes she selected were much more reasonably priced – $40.00 instead of the $65.00 at the store. Once her selection was made, we completed the order. I entered my credit card number and pertinent information.
Then, I stopped.
It occurred to me that many sites are in the business of obtaining coupons for public use. I simply opened a new tab and googled “Tom’s coupons.” Voila! A $5.00 coupon came up. I tabbed back to my Tom’s purchase and entered the code that took five dollars off my purchase price. Also note that in the store, I would have paid about 7% sales tax; online there is none. Total savings to my purchase? Nearly twenty dollars.
So, my daughter will have to wait until her package arrives before she can wear her new shoes, but mom saved some money…and that’s always a good thing.