Gujarati Family Photo Album Just Coupons

Ankita Shah, 55, tenderly flips through the Shah family photo album, pointing out memories. “This one’s a good one,” she says, tapping a Firestone buy-three-tires-get-one-free coupon.

She and her husband, Parth, have been happily married for twenty-five years, with one daughter who recently graduated college. As Gujarati-Americans, they celebrate their cultural heritage by making sure that their family photo album is just filled with coupons.

“Hell yeah we’re cheap,” says Mrs. Shah. “We’re Gujarati.”

“You think the Patel Brothers don’t use coupons? Think again,” she said, fanning herself with a limited-edition Domino’s cardstock flyer.

The heavy hitters in the album include coupons from Victoria’s Secret (“Free Verrrrry SexXxY Sample Fragrance With Any Purchase”), Auntie Anne’s (“Buy Two Get Three Pretzels No One Likes”) and Subway (“Half Off Any Footlong As Long As You Don’t Bully Us Online”).

When the Shahs take out a coupon to use, they replace it with a new, unexpired coupon. “Or, you know, a photocopy with some alterations,” nods Mr. Shah. “Also, just a reminder: snitches get stitches.”

“Is it hard being the daughter of someone who’s locally known as ‘the woman who always tries to use Kohl’s Cash at JCPenney?’ Sure,” shrugs daughter Reena Shah. “Did saving fifteen percent on two bags of Halloween candy help pay my way through college? Probably not.”

“But do we have a wall-length stack of 18-pack water bottles in the garage because we scammed Meijer? Absolutely. And that’s how we bond.”

The family is considering adding actual photos to the album at some point, but unfortunately, incredible deals keep getting in the way. “We were so proud of our Reena when she graduated summa cum laude from Wesleyan. And we captured some incredible memories of our family on graduation day,” says Mr. Shah.

“But then we got a footlong CVS receipt, and well, rules are rules.”