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

[hipchickie]

It depends what you think is the total population. A thread about psycho couponers isn't exactly a random sampling.

I would guess a budget board in general has a lot of people that know their way around a coupon....apparently there are still a few that can be baffled by the simplest things though

 

[momofrrr]

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.

Same here. I think we will see them on an intevention show next. "Help, I can't stop shopping"

 

[hipchickie]

i'm shaking

wha???

 

[merbobear]

Because stores are starting to change their policies on coupons since the show first aired, so the deals for things I do use are dwindling. It also effects me when I go to buy something I use that's on sale and someone before me cleared the shelves. Also, there's the trend of people stealing the coupons off items to save for later and not leaving any for someone else. So yes, in some way it not only effects me, but others.

I have never had an issue with any of the above. No store that I shop in (local or national chain) has changed their coupon acceptance policies, I rarely run into an out of stock issue, and I can always find products w/ the peelies coupons still attached. Coupons have been around for ages, and people have been using them to their advantage - stores don't lose money because they are reimbursed by manufacturers for their coupons - it would make no sense for a store to change its coupon policy, when their bottom line is only positively affected (by bringing in customers).

 

[merbobear]

AGain, maybe where you live, but you wont' get coupons for fruit and veggies here, and no one doubles. As far as fruit juice, I won't buy that stuff, not matter how much of a sale it is. I don't eat organic, but I hate processed stuff and that includes fruit juice, plus my kids don't like it. And no it isn't BS, I look very closely every Sunday, and there are no coupons for fruit or veggies, oh wait, yeah, that frozen stuff covered with cheese in a tiny box, Yep. I won't buy those.

Earthbound farms & olivia's organics are 2 examples of companies that almost always have coupons available for printing online. You can also sign up for their mailing lists and get coupons in your postal mail. So yes, it is BS when people say that there are no coupons available for produce.

 

[mhsjax]

Earthbound farms & olivia's organics are 2 examples of companies that almost always have coupons available for printing online. You can also sign up for their mailing lists and get coupons in your postal mail. So yes, it is BS when people say that there are no coupons available for produce.

I just went to Earthbound farms. They didn't have any coupons at this time, also, unless they are really great coupons, they won't make their produce any cheaper than buying regular produce. This is another example of coupons not working. Their stuff is twice as expensive as other produce in my store. However, thank you for the link, and I will keep my eye on it.

 

[maggiew]

I just went to Earthbound farms. They didn't have any coupons at this time, also, unless they are really great coupons, they won't make their produce any cheaper than buying regular produce. This is another example of coupons not working. Their stuff is twice as expensive as other produce in my store. However, thank you for the link, and I will keep my eye on it.

I just went to Earthbound farms and found this:
http://www.ebfarm.com/Products/FreeStuffandMore.aspx

It looks like you can "win a coupon" if you take the organic quiz. I don't know what the win rate is, though.

Here is the Olivia's Organics coupon:
http://www.oliviasorganics.org/coupon.html


The key is to watch for when these products go on sale and THEN use the coupon. Although I don't know Earthbound farms and what the sale schedule might be for them. But I am just talking in general that this is the technique that makes those coupons worth something. You can't really look at the everyday price of these items. You have to compare the price of what you can get a name brand item when its on sale and then use a coupon VS. generic brand non sale and non coupon.

Maggie

 

[java]

Quick check of the flyer shows me that I will get Land O lakes butter for 99 cents and Sorrento 16 0z block of mozzarella for .79. Turkey Hill gallon of ice cream for .99 (combining sales and coupons)

Once you get the binder going it's very easy to take the flyer and see if any of your favorites are on sale with a coupon.
I am not one of those trying to get out for free. I just try to save money on the items that we use and love.

 

[daughtersrus]

I didn't read all 10 pages of this thread so forgive me if this has already been asked and/or answered.

I watched the coupon shows yesterday. Some of these people were in the store for HOURS. What happens to all of the cold products (50 some yogurts) that were sitting out for so long before they got them home and back into the refrigerator/freezer?

 

[jacksmomma]

I just went to Earthbound farms. They didn't have any coupons at this time, also, unless they are really great coupons, they won't make their produce any cheaper than buying regular produce. This is another example of coupons not working. Their stuff is twice as expensive as other produce in my store. However, thank you for the link, and I will keep my eye on it.

It may not be cheaper than regular produce, but I am willing to pay more for fresher food that is free of chemicals. You cannot compare the prices of regular produce to organics. It is like comparing apples to oranges.

Their coupons will work if you are concerned about what is in your food and would buy organics anyway.

 

[DawnM]

I am feeling too that this is not a show I need to keep watching.

We are ditching Directv next week when our contract is up and I do see that Hulu doesn't have this show, so I will not be watching after this week. Good thing I won't miss it.

Dawn

 

[disneychrista]

I just don't get the HUGE stock piles of products. Are they ever going to use all that before it goes bad? And then they buy more?

Most things go on sale every 3 -4 months. So you never have to buy more than that. If you have 2 - 3 years worth of laundry detergent...you do not need to buy more.

 

[lisalis]

The show was fun to watch, but it gave me a creepy feeling to see those stockpiles of products. It was like they were addicted to getting the bargain and not just getting things they need and would use. I'm not sure I'd watch again, except my 13 year old missed it and wants to watch it. He has a teacher at school who is a big couponer and shares his deals with the students. Maybe I should put my 13 year old son in charge of finding the coupons and deals for me

I do shop with the same basic concept- use coupons when the item is on a good sale at the store, but not to that extreme. We also do not have double or triple couponing in Iowa, so you can't get those kind of deals on a regular basis - maybe one or two items per store per week.

 

[ilovemk76]

I just watched it on the DVR.

The lady from Philadelphia was practical but the rest are hoarders.

60 hand soaps still cost him $18.

This will definitely change the way you are allowed to get and use coupons in the future.

I noticed they never include the cost of the coupons they bought in their order total.

 

[RockAndRollBallerina]

Its one thing to have a 1 year stockpile of items, on things like laundry detergent, dish soap, feminine protection items, body wash, conditioner, shampoo, razors, shave gel/cream, deodorant, toilet paper, paper towels. But these people have stockpiles that easily can last them 2-3 years, yet they still continue to shop even though most of them are running out of room to put things. These people get an extreme high out of getting things for free, and knocking an insane grocery bill down to a couple dollars.

 

[talulabelle]

OK - I loved the lady from Philly. She was just too cute, walking through the neighborhood and having neighbors save the circulars for her. At least, she gets to be social and visit friends when she is preparing for her shopping trip. She was very practical, and gets in and out of the store to just gets what she will use and doesn't bother to take things for free that she doesn't need and waste all that time. I also loved that she was trying to share her knowedge with everyone else and help them.

Everyone else was JUST. PLAIN. CRAZY. All about themselves and their stockpiles and free stuff whether they needed it or not. I just sat there thinking - ok great, so it took 2 of you 6 hours to save $x but how much money could you 2 have been making if you both spent that 6 hours (plus God know how many hours of preparation time) at a real job doing something productive?

 

[talulabelle]

my problem is that my couponing is directly proportional to my weight... the more I coupon the fatter I get??? cause I am eating the "free " stuff I get... and its usually the stuff thats bad for u.... Im trying to approach couponing a little differently.... and use the money I saved on toiletries, Paper goods etc to be able to buy the healthier foods

the mustard had me shaking my head too!!! and all the cans of soup with the high sodium content....

The soup! She had that expensive customized rack for storing it that rotated the stash. How much money did she waste on that space sucking rack? I bet she didn't have coupon for it.

 

[GinnyEmma]

The soup! She had that expensive customized rack for storing it that rotated the stash. How much money did she waste on that space sucking rack? I bet she didn't have coupon for it.

Lol, ya think?

 

[MEM]

Somehow I managed to miss the re-run with Nathan and Joanie but I did catch the new episodes with J'aime, Tiffany et al. Someone referred to TLC shows as "Freak of the Week" and that's how they presented the extreme couponers. I was very disappointed but I guess I didn't expect the shows to be instructional. I found by searching for Krazy Coupon Lady on youtube that I get useful videos, including how to create a coupon binder, how to shop at CVS, Wags and RA.

 

[momof2intx]

I love this thread but I just can't read the 11 pages right now....I did see the post where it was asked "where are the meat, veggies and fruit?" I'm so sorry if someone else already posted something.

Most stockpilers stockpile meat when it is on sale too. Like right now the Kroger near me is having their mega meat sale and a family size package of chicken tenders is only around $2.50. That is the time to stock up. Same with veggies, although a very short fridge "life" I'm assuming these couponers buy what is on sale that week and plan meals around it. I get the Sprouts circular every Wed and their sale prices on produce are great so I head there for those items to include in my dinners for the week.

I coupon religiously and have a pretty solid stockpile of household and personal items. Most of which I got for free or close to it. As far as food goes....I have a growing 12 yr old, 5'5", 155lb boy, a 10 yr old daughter (shes tiny) and my 6'3", 220 lb husband who together do not give my food groceries a fighting chance! So even with a fairly good size food stockpile for basic cooking items and commonly used staples, I do have to go back every week to get things like veggies, milk, chips, soda etc... Even with all that I only spend about $50 a week and we never miss a meal.

Before using coupons I spent close to around $200 every time I went shopping. A friend showed me what I could be saving and now it is a no brainer. I am lucky enough to be able to get free coupons from my workplace (because they just get thrown away) but even when I had to buy my papers I would buy only 4 of them and get extras from friends and family who didn't want them.

The savings are incredible, really. It does take a lot of time and effort but it is really worth it.

I do agree that this show is VERY extreme. The lady with the mustard just blew me away. And when I see a couple with no kids stockpiling like a family of 12....well it makes me mad because when I go to the store with my coupons to buy something I really use....a lot of the time the shelf is bare for that sale item. Then if I'm working on like a 10 for 10 sale....or a buy 5 items get $x.xx off....then it really messes up my count. Plus I leave with a raincheck instead of the item I needed! Seriously, those people I just don't understand!

I can say that if I were still spending $200 a week on groceries I definitely would not be going to Disney in 2 months!