"Extreme Couponing" or Ho"arders- Grocery Edition"

[JENOS]

to clarify, we are currently clearing out our freezer by using what we have, not throwing things away so our weekly budget was less then what we normally spend. I don't buy things that we don't use or keep things in the house that we won't use in a timely manner, that's why couponing does work for us.
I think many people on here are trying to stretch their hard earned money and couponing is one of the ways they are doing that. To say "coupons IMO do not work 90% of the time", maybe they don't work for you, but for many it helps with our budgets!

I still don’t understand what part of 90% wasn’t I clear on; if it works for you then YOU are part of the 10%

90% of people don’t stack coupons or buy the Sunday paper and clip coupons into their little binders.
Most people who use coupons (this is the 90% in case you are not clear on it yet) buy 2 items even though they would otherwise only buy one so it doesn’t work if you are spending more money.

Why you are explaining to me that people use coupons to stretch their budget is irrelevant to my opinon

YOU = 10%
ME = 90%

 

[java]

I still don’t understand what part of 90% wasn’t I clear on; if it works for you then YOU are part of the 10%

90% of people don’t stack coupons or buy the Sunday paper and clip coupons into their little binders.
Most people who use coupons (this is the 90% in case you are not clear on it yet) buy 2 items even though they would otherwise only buy one so it doesn’t work if you are spending more money.

Why you are explaining to me that people use coupons to stretch their budget is irrelevant to my opinon

Put me into that 10% then. I clip every Sunday from 3 papers I get from my Dad. I put them into my three ring binder filled with baseball card holders. And I buy what we need, not more, so far from extreme.

 

[SunnyP4Disney]

Put me into that 10% then. I clip every Sunday from 3 papers I get from my Dad. I put them into my three ring binder filled with baseball card holders. And I buy what we need, not more, so far from extreme.

I also have a binder, I only cut out the coupons for stuff we actually use and I do not stockpile. I couldn't imagine buying 200 toothbrushes. A lot of coupons I cut out are for Tide, cleaning products, yogurts, shampoos, body washes, etc. Not junk and nothing goes to waste. We try to curb our HFCS intake and eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies and lean proteins.

Those coupons do work with minimal effort. It's basically free money, why not use it to your advantage?

 

[mhsjax]

Well, I am over it. Unless I know 100% that it is a product that my family will eat. My store had Great Grain cereal on sale, BOGO. Then I had a coupon. I was so excited. I got it home, my DS opened it up and tasted it and made an ugly face. Note: He is not a picky kid and eats just about anything, so just how did this save me money. IT DIDN'T. AGain, coupons will encourage you to buy things that you normally don't, and now, I have wasted money. BTW, I agree with him, that stuff is nasty.

 

[ilovejack02]

I'm finally getting around to watching both episodes . Hysterical , the Jamie chick is killing me . All the stuff in her shower almost made me break out in hives lol . I like to coupon a bit , saved almost $40 today , but I cant stand stuff stacked up . Guess I'm OCD the other way lol . I couldn't live with all that stuff in that bathroom .... Nor that wallpaper lol.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

The thing that annoyed me the most was the gal who said something along the lines of "I've saved us almost 40 thousand dollars in a year so far, I look at that as a full time job!"



How can you possibly believe you've SAVED 40k? Who the heck spends 40k a year in groceries a year to begin with? NO ONE that's who!

I feel the only way someone will convince me they "saved" money is to ask them one question:

Were you planning on buying 675 packages of (insert item) WITHOUT a coupon this month? NO? Then it doesn't count as savings in my book. I don't care if you got it for free...it's not SAVING you anything so you can't count it as savings!

And honestly...I may get some flames for this one, but realistically...be serious people...if the manufacturer is going to PAY YOU to take it out of the store is that something you really want or need? Things that come free in this world (from a business) are probably worth what you're paying. Just my opinion.

exactly - the woman buying the 62 bottles of mustard was PAYING 14 cents per bottle. Yes good deal but honestly why is she paying for that much mustard? I can see buying 4 tops at that price. Then again we're not huge mustard users and 4 would probably last us 2 years.

 

[Gillennj]

Yes, most of those featured are crazy, and I don't get the first couple and their $35,000 insurance on their stuff. Most of them are hoarders that should give the stuff away.

DW and I do love the rush of finding a great deal, and DW sometimes can go a bit too far, but mostly it's stuff we need, or someone we know needs, or stuff we sell on CL or eBay.

Anyone else notice most of the stores were Kroger, or one of the Kroger "family" of stores? Is that a coincidence?

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I just finished watching the first show from last night. I had hoped to learn something.

All I learned is that I don't need to watch this show again.

 

[Sandy61]

I have gotten some good deals lately but nothing like that show. I got 6 2-liters of pop free, free body wash etc. Here are some helpful hints...

I buy coupons on ebay. I buy Iams dog food coupons, each set of coupons is around $8 and there are usually 8 or so of them altho you can buy bigger sets. The dog food is about $11. So I am spending $3 for each bag after the initial $8 I spend. Usually free shipping.

Hy-Vee has a policy that if it rings up wrong from the shelf or ad price then you get the item free. A bottle of bbq sauce rang up wrong last week so I got it free. Watch your receipts even if store doesn't have this policy.

Go to a coupon/store matchup website. I go to www.moneysavingmom.com and match that week's ad to the coupons in Sunday's newspaper or to online printable coupons. Keep your coupon inserts for months until they expire.

 

[hipchickie]

TOTALLY I just said the same thing today....they are hoarders but with better organization skills


BTW, count me in the 10% too....awful lot of people around for 10%

 

[Sandy61]

Oh yeah I almost forgot...I also go to a website that shows free samples. I have gotten great free samples. Razors (really expensive ones), deodorant, bags of Tide and Gain, dog and cat treats, bag of Uncle Ben's rice, candy bars and all kinds of things. I may never have to buy deodorant or razors again. I check it every day because sometimes the free samples run out. I just got a small carryall bag from target with lip balm, coupons, hand lotion, shampoo etc!

 

[threecrazykids]

Could I ask that some of you link to these sites you find these deals on?

I read "well I printed off a coupon online for a free X and I see those all the time"...where?

If you are printing off coupons online for free meat (and sorry no Buddig or hot dogs plz...real meat), produce, that is NOT store specific (just to keep the playing field even) I'd like to see them.

Also...coupons where I don't have to buy 3 of something just to save the .35...just a straight "buy 1 bag of apples and save $1.00" not one where I have to buy the caramel dip that's $5.00 to get the dollar off the apples.

I'm really not trying to be snarky...I just simply NEVER see these coupons so I'm almost wondering if they really exist...show me...prove me wrong!

 

[GinnyEmma]

I just finished watching the first show from last night. I had hoped to learn something.

All I learned is that I don't need to watch this show again.

It is a show that exploits people with serious mental health issues. I won't watch it again.

 

[Disneyluvr]

Oh yeah I almost forgot...I also go to a website that shows free samples. I have gotten great free samples. Razors (really expensive ones), deodorant, bags of Tide and Gain, dog and cat treats, bag of Uncle Ben's rice, candy bars and all kinds of things. I may never have to buy deodorant or razors again. I check it every day because sometimes the free samples run out. I just got a small carryall bag from target with lip balm, coupons, hand lotion, shampoo etc!

SHare, share! What site is this?

 

[mhsjax]

Could I ask that some of you link to these sites you find these deals on?

I read "well I printed off a coupon online for a free X and I see those all the time"...where?

If you are printing off coupons online for free meat (and sorry no Buddig or hot dogs plz...real meat), produce, that is NOT store specific (just to keep the playing field even) I'd like to see them.

Also...coupons where I don't have to buy 3 of something just to save the .35...just a straight "buy 1 bag of apples and save $1.00" not one where I have to buy the caramel dip that's $5.00 to get the dollar off the apples.

I'm really not trying to be snarky...I just simply NEVER see these coupons so I'm almost wondering if they really exist...show me...prove me wrong!

I am so 100% right there with you. All of the examples you listed are what I see. I would love to be proven wrong, but I won't be spending money on something I don't use to get money off something I do use. My store don't double, or triple ever. None of them do here. Sure you may be able to stack, but I don't see where that is very often because I rarely find a coupon for a product I use. OH yeah, I get tons of Pillsbury bread items, stuff my family doesn't need and DH and I can't have. Have you ever seen the calories on that stuff.

 

[myheartlivesatwdw]

it is a show that exploits people with serious mental health issues. I won't watch it again.

ita.

 

[java]

Could I ask that some of you link to these sites you find these deals on?

I read "well I printed off a coupon online for a free X and I see those all the time"...where?

If you are printing off coupons online for free meat (and sorry no Buddig or hot dogs plz...real meat), produce, that is NOT store specific (just to keep the playing field even) I'd like to see them.

Also...coupons where I don't have to buy 3 of something just to save the .35...just a straight "buy 1 bag of apples and save $1.00" not one where I have to buy the caramel dip that's $5.00 to get the dollar off the apples.

I'm really not trying to be snarky...I just simply NEVER see these coupons so I'm almost wondering if they really exist...show me...prove me wrong!

Organics here
http://www.coupons.com/Couponweb/Offers.aspx?pid=15046&nid=10&zid=uw18
These are just 2 of the ones in my binder now I don't know why they are mirror imaged but they were both found in the sunday paper

 

[usnuzuloose]

I do not watch these shows. How ever I do have a question, not sure if anyone knows the answer. Are these people being paid to be on this show? And is the show also paying for the groceries they are purchasing?

 

[Marionnette]

I still don’t understand what part of 90% wasn’t I clear on; if it works for you then YOU are part of the 10%

90% of people don’t stack coupons or buy the Sunday paper and clip coupons into their little binders.
Most people who use coupons (this is the 90% in case you are not clear on it yet) buy 2 items even though they would otherwise only buy one so it doesn’t work if you are spending more money.

Why you are explaining to me that people use coupons to stretch their budget is irrelevant to my opinon

YOU = 10%
ME = 90%

Why are you stating that coupons do not work 90% of the time as if it is a fact and not merely your opinion? Do you have some sort of statistical analysis by an independent study that supports your theory? Or should we all accept it as fact just because you believe it to be so?

 

[canopynut66]

I'm all for saving money but some of this seems like hoarding. When the couple that spent 6 hours in the store got home and I saw the groceries everywhere, it looked like an episode of Hoarders. Granted some of the others seemed organized but really could you use most of that before it went bad. "150 years worth of deodorant" Really!?!

Honestly, I wonder how long before these extreme people change coupon policies.

Agree how would one use it all themselves But maybe they do donate. I do coupons just to donate as I do not need that many groceries anymore. Will take a day and take coupons and try and see how many things can get for nothing and then just take the direct to food bank. Like the deodorant and soaps and toothpaste all go to shelters. Is relaxing and fun way to spend a day and often take Grand daughter with me so she has gotten into the spirt and now cuts her own coupons at 12 years old--she trying to see if she can end up with more free things than Grand Ma