Chamber Works / Are you cool or just cheap?

How many of you have gone to the supermarket loaded with coupons you've clipped from the advertising section of the local newspaper? And when you get to the check-out counter, how many of you have forgotten to redeem the coupons you are hoarding?

I admit that I'm still an occasional "clipper," but as I get older, I've joined the ranks of those who never remember to hand them to the cashier at the appropriate time. Every six months or so, I remind myself to clean out the small, plastic bag in which I carry my coupons in order to rid myself of 95 percent of them that have expired.

When I was a young mother raising my four kids, not a day went by that I wasn't scanning the papers for some "super saver" coupon to be used on my next trip to the supermarket. I had an envelope in my purse the size of a three-drawer filing cabinet, filled with coupon deals that I couldn't possibly pass up.

With a family of six to feed, and a shopping list longer than my arm, I was even required to schlep one of my kids along to help push the second cart. In those days I wasn't averse to foregoing my favorite brand to buy a brand I never heard of but for which I had a coupon. Obviously, one cannot be brand conscious if addicted to coupons. You have to go with the flow to be a really big winner.

If I shopped on "Double Stamp Day," I got even more value for my money. Doubling the number of S&H green stamps obtained with my purchase meant I could get to the S&H Green Stamp Store even faster and, for free, get some gadget I couldn't live without.

Coupon use has not diminished. There has actually been a coupon renaissance. Entire sites are available where printable coupons can be found. Two examples that come to mid are www.Redplum.com and www.Coupons.com.

In the good old days, god forbid you would try to use Grand Union coupons at the A&P. You might as well be asking for jail time. Now, BJ's Wholesale Club will accept a manufacturer's coupon in addition to its own -- and BJ's is not alone.

Studies have shown that coupons have once again become a way of life, not only for those who can't afford to drink Starbucks lattes every day, but even the "Ladies Who Lunch" have jumped on the coupon bandwagon. Smart marketers have also devised a way for coupons to be accessed from a cellphone. What better way for a working mom to access coupons as she rides to work on Metro-North?

Some will say it's just a sign of the times. But if you are like me, you prefer alternate ways to discover bargains that have nothing to do with coupons or silver coins. (I now have a coin purse that weighs a pound because of all the silver coins I've collected from Big Y.) We have to scan the newspapers or the Internet, accumulate silver coins that we will never use, and basically jump through hoops in order to save money. It's just not fair.

Retailers are always coming up with interesting ways to entice you to buy their stuff. At least once a week I get a reminder in the mail that if I scratch the square, I can get anywhere from 10- to 30-percent savings at my local department store. Just for fun I scratch the square and, although I'm expecting 30 percent off, 10 pops up. This is a common "teaser" tactic, more likely to aggravate me than to get me excited about a discount. I need the 30 percent motivator.

How many of you have bought the "specials" -- the buy one, get three free deal. I for one do not need four gallons of ice cream sitting in the freezer when I'm trying to watch my weight. I no longer have a big family to feed -- it's just me and the cat now, and the two of us together would take a year to finish off so much ice-cream. I just want a pint of premium ice cream, one that fits my budget and is not pumped full of air.

I have a novel idea: Why not just lower the price of the goods! No coupons, no coins, no scratching off the square, no green stamps, no special two-fers, just not so much money. That way we can actually -- no kidding -- really save money on the things we want and need.

The following is a list of businesses that joined the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce in May:

"¢ Vada Image Consulting

Dianne Boras

P.O. Box 516, Fairfield

"¢ Entitle Direct Group

Aaron Jacobstein

281 Tresser Boulevard, 6th Floor, Stamford

"¢ Fairfield Patch

Jeff Williams

584 Broadway, Suite 1206, New York, N.Y.

"¢ Gigliotti & Walsh

Bette Gigliotti

1873 Post Road, Fairfield

"¢ Krazy Kool Creations

Shari L. O'Neill

111 Colony St., Fairfield

"¢ Confidant Solutions Inc.

Sandy Haviland Jr.

40 Richards Ave., No. 7, Norwalk

"¢ Freestyle Fitness

Fred Sesler, manager

1465 Post Road E., Westport

"¢ J & B Tree Stump Grinding LLC

Gerald Deicke

14 Candlewood Road, Fairfield

"¢ Kiraku Japanese & Asian Grill

Jimmy Pan

1795 Post Road, Fairfield

"¢ Lasse's Restaurant & Catering

Scott Rohrig

611 Bridgeport Ave., Milford

"¢ Red Baron Septic Services LLC

Attila Mogyoros

57 Bronson Road, Prospect

"¢ Roly Poly

Fortunato Suracs

1903 Post Road, Fairfield

Patricia Ritchie, the president and CEO of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, can be reached at patricia@FairfieldCTChamberct.com