Extreme Couponing show...... I don't get it!!

[lttlmc3]

I don't think it's bad if you really will use the amount of products, but doing it just to do it seems silly to me.

 

[hereyago]

On one show a woman was talking about she would be going into menapause before her femine products ran out, um TMI and if you know you have enough to last for sometime, don't get anymore unless you are going to donate something.

And one lady made a comment if her supplies somehow disappeared, it would be like one of her family missing, or something to that affect, CRAZY!!!!!!!!!! you need to stop and spend some time with your REAL family, play some parchessi, wii, etc. cause you can't do that with 3 years of supplies.

 

[PatsMom]

I must confess that I have a closet that my nieces refer to as my mini-Walmart. They regularly shop there as do my two sisters in law and my step daughter. I like to be able to help out the family and it doesn't cost me much to do it. There is no excuse for poor personal hygiene in my family!

I don't buy a hundred bottles of anything just because I wouldn't have that many coupons. I don't buy from "clipping services". I have my own, two sets from my mother's two Sunday papers, my sister in law's, and my grandmothers. So usually about five is my maximum.

I periodically rearrange my closet to check expiration dates and stuff that is getting near its date is donated. I also donate when I get something free or with an overage that I won't use. And sometimes I even pay a bit for what I donate. I like the idea of helping someone out for very little cost.

I don't spend a ton of time on my coupons - I clip while watching TV which is wasted time anyhow. Saturday night I make my shopping list and Sunday morning I spend a few hours sorting through coupons, discarding expired ones, etc. I think the amount of time I invest is well worth the savings.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I hav enever seen the show, but I did see the article this morning about the filming of the first few episodes and them "allowing" these women to scam for the purpose of making the show what it is.

I would just love to have access to a fraction of the items I have heard about them purchasing. There are things we never get coupons for here. Some of that maybe that I am a brand snob when it comes to a few things, like my feminine products and my toothpaste, but I hardly ever have a coupon for ketchup (I was thinking about that last night when I was clipping what few coupons came in our paper and there was one for mustard).

I am able to shop at the Commissary, so most items are a fraction of what they are at regular stores, but still nothing compared to what these women do. Also, they get coupons to attach to the shelves at the Commissary that I can use if it is a product I am going to buy. I average on about $25 savings each time I shop, which is about twice a month. I think that is pretty good, and I usually spend less than $200 at the first of the month and $130 later in the month.

I would hardly ever have more than $1.00 at Walmart, because they never have the products I have coupons for. I think one day I had $10, that was impressive, I still spent well over $200. No more Walmart for me.

I trade coupons with friends and then I send any expired coupons overseas to other military wives.

 

[lttlmc3]

I must confess that I have a closet that my nieces refer to as my mini-Walmart. They regularly shop there as do my two sisters in law and my step daughter. I like to be able to help out the family and it doesn't cost me much to do it. There is no excuse for poor personal hygiene in my family!

I don't buy a hundred bottles of anything just because I wouldn't have that many coupons. I don't buy from "clipping services". I have my own, two sets from my mother's two Sunday papers, my sister in law's, and my grandmothers. So usually about five is my maximum.

I periodically rearrange my closet to check expiration dates and stuff that is getting near its date is donated. I also donate when I get something free or with an overage that I won't use. And sometimes I even pay a bit for what I donate. I like the idea of helping someone out for very little cost.

I don't spend a ton of time on my coupons - I clip while watching TV which is wasted time anyhow. Saturday night I make my shopping list and Sunday morning I spend a few hours sorting through coupons, discarding expired ones, etc. I think the amount of time I invest is well worth the savings.

Can I have some of your free stuff??? LOL

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I must confess that I have a closet that my nieces refer to as my mini-Walmart. They regularly shop there as do my two sisters in law and my step daughter. I like to be able to help out the family and it doesn't cost me much to do it. There is no excuse for poor personal hygiene in my family!

I don't buy a hundred bottles of anything just because I wouldn't have that many coupons. I don't buy from "clipping services". I have my own, two sets from my mother's two Sunday papers, my sister in law's, and my grandmothers. So usually about five is my maximum.

I periodically rearrange my closet to check expiration dates and stuff that is getting near its date is donated. I also donate when I get something free or with an overage that I won't use. And sometimes I even pay a bit for what I donate. I like the idea of helping someone out for very little cost.

I don't spend a ton of time on my coupons - I clip while watching TV which is wasted time anyhow. Saturday night I make my shopping list and Sunday morning I spend a few hours sorting through coupons, discarding expired ones, etc. I think the amount of time I invest is well worth the savings.

Please don't discard expired coupons, I would be happy to take them off your hands or give you an address to an organization that sends them to military families overseas, they don't have access to coupons and can only shop at the Commissary and with the difference in the value of the dollar, they don't get much for their money. They can use coupons that are up to 6 months expired. And it is very reasonable to mail them.

 

[hereyago]

Please don't discard expired coupons, I would be happy to take them off your hands or give you an address to an organization that sends them to military families overseas, they don't have access to coupons and can only shop at the Commissary and with the difference in the value of the dollar, they don't get much for their money. They can use coupons that are up to 6 months expired. And it is very reasonable to mail them.

I just learned about this in past few months and now I send my expired ones, so that way it's not wasted, plus my DF was former military, so I am still a supporter of our troops and families.

 

[PatsMom]

Please don't discard expired coupons, I would be happy to take them off your hands or give you an address to an organization that sends them to military families overseas, they don't have access to coupons and can only shop at the Commissary and with the difference in the value of the dollar, they don't get much for their money. They can use coupons that are up to 6 months expired. And it is very reasonable to mail them.

PM me the address of the organization and I'll pass on my coupons gladly. I hate to see them go to waste! I didn't realize that overseas military could use expired coupons. Back when I was stationed overseas I was singled and didn't bother with stuff like that. But I do remember how much you could save at the commisary between the prices and using coupons!

 

[PatsMom]

Can I have some of your free stuff??? LOL

Sure, but you have to come visit me to get it! Although one of my nieces just moved to Alaska. I gave her basic CVS training since she would no longer shop in my closet but then we found out there is no CVS in Anchorage! So now she wants me to mail her the "care packages"!

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

Sure, but you have to come visit me to get it! Although one of my nieces just moved to Alaska. I gave her basic CVS training since she would no longer shop in my closet but then we found out there is no CVS in Anchorage! So now she wants me to mail her the "care packages"!

They have Walgreens though. We're moving to Anchorage next year and I've been trying to make sure I shop at stores that are up there too.

 

[PatsMom]

You should have called the cops; that is stealing unless she paid for each of those papers.

The thing that pisses me off most about these type of people is that they buy entire shelves of items leaving nothing for everyone else; I think that is quite selfish to think you are the only person deserving of that deal. I think this show is going to lead to stores putting stricter limitations on coupon use.

If you are using Proctor and Gamble coupons, they already restrict you to four of the same per shopping visit.

Instead of getting annoyed at the couponers, I get annoyed at the stores that don't adequately stock for a good sale. They know when something is cheap and there are coupons around.

 

[sdzman]

I love how the exterme couponers justify their addiction by saying they donate items to a food bank or church. If they just put a fraction of the time they spend on cutting coupons actually working at the food banks it would be much more helpful.

 

[PatsMom]

They have Walgreens though. We're moving to Anchorage next year and I've been trying to make sure I shop at stores that are up there too.

I may have to figure out Walgreen's. I don't shop there but I suppose I can start figuring out their system! Do they have Rite Aid? I know there is a Wal-Mart because I checked before buying the kids their going away gift card!

It is gorgeous around Anchorage - she has sent pictures.

 

[PatsMom]

I love how the exterme couponers justify their addiction by saying they donate items to a food bank or church. If they just put a fraction of the time they spend on cutting coupons actually working at the food banks it would be much more helpful.

Actually between the Community Clothing Shop (free clothing) and the food pantry, I probably spend twice as much time as I do couponing. And my mother volunteers more. That is how I know that they have dire need of toiletry items and things that cannot be purchased with food stamps. And we don't care where those items come from - someone wiping out the shelves at CVS is just fine with us if it provides us with product for our clients.

 

[okeydokey]

Many extreme couponers have the same kind of mental illness that the hoarders have. I actually feel sorry for them.

 

[AmandaRG]

You should have called the cops; that is stealing unless she paid for each of those papers.

The thing that pisses me off most about these type of people is that they buy entire shelves of items leaving nothing for everyone else; I think that is quite selfish to think you are the only person deserving of that deal. I think this show is going to lead to stores putting stricter limitations on coupon use.

Stores here already had limitations on coupon use as did most of the stores that filmed the show. They violated their own policies to get the show filmed there. Now it is even worse, and it makes it hard at times for someone just shopping for a family!

If you are using Proctor and Gamble coupons, they already restrict you to four of the same per shopping visit.

Instead of getting annoyed at the couponers, I get annoyed at the stores that don't adequately stock for a good sale. They know when something is cheap and there are coupons around.

Absolutely! Even if there aren't couponers buying a product it is a great buy and they don't have enough! Add in the savings from coupons and it is empty-shelves everywhere!

 

[wubbogirl]

Only one of the ladies was accused of fraud. The others were doing things legitimately.

Maggie

jamie kirlew don't befriend her don't even look at her blog. She's a cheat and I don't trust her. Desirae and Nathan are the best.

 

[MrsPooh]

I love how the exterme couponers justify their addiction by saying they donate items to a food bank or church. If they just put a fraction of the time they spend on cutting coupons actually working at the food banks it would be much more helpful.

Actually when I was an extreme couponer I was also very involved in several community groups, including being on the Board of Directors for one local food pantry and also helping at another, larger food panty. My couponing did not take me away from my family since I could clip coupons, check ads, and make shopping lists while watching the kids at the pool or after they went to bed. Usually they went shopping with me. If I was volunteering I could not do that with them. And, FYI, I did donate HUGE quantities to the food pantry. I was able, during one trip, to purchase over 80 boxes of cereal and made money on each purchase. I kept what we could reasonably use, shared with my parents and sister and donated the remaining boxes to the pantry. I also donated over 100 bags of refried beans. They cost me about $2 in sales tax but the original value was $500. Since our food pantry provides food to nearly 200 families a week that was not even enough for each family to get a bag.

When I was an extreme couponer I did devote alot of time to it but at the time I worked a job where I answered phones and we were usually very slow so I could read, play on the computer or clip coupons. I chose the activity that was most profitable. I often had 30 of each coupon section because the paper delivery person left full Sunday papers stacked at the recycle center for anyone to take. I took the coupons and recycled the papers.

That crazy stockpile that I had got my family through some very lean times recently. We had laundry soap to last for two years. Even with three females we had enough feminine products to last three years. I just purchased razors for the first time in nearly ten years - ten years worth of free razors for a household that includes four shavers - now that is a valuable stockpile. Even before lean times we shared with others at the food pantry, with family, and we donated tons of snacks to events at school.

I no longer have access to so many coupons for free. The store that used to "super double" three times year has stopped. I'm very busy and at a different point in my life. Would I love to have a huge stockpile again? Yes, but I make the choice not to.

Just because these people have lots on their shelves does not mean they are crazy. Heck, it is a super fun hobby and much less expensive than nearly any other hobby I know of.

 

[sdzman]

Mrs Pooh and Patsmom,

I applaud you both for "putting your money where your mouth is". My post was definitely not directed to either one of you.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I just read an article about how those people 'cheat' for the show. The stores allow to double more coupons than normal and they accept coupons for wrong items quite often. It is part of the sell of the show. It wouldn't be as fun to watch if they only saved 50%

This. I used to work in a grocery store, and our limit was ten of any like coupon, per household, per day. The stuff that goes on in the show would've never been allowed at my store, and if it had happened, it would've been stopped quickly.

IN an effort to make sure I don't TRY to be like those crazies, I've drawn the line at 6 tubes of unopened toothpaste in the house at once. 3 men's deoderants and 3 women's deoderants. 3 bottles of bodywash. 6 boxes of cereal. 4 bottles of any one specific condiments. 3 bags of coffee. I do get more canned veggies, but ONLY green beans, tomatoes and corn. We don't use enough of anything else for me to benefit much from keeping it on hand.

I have similar personal limits. It's the only way I can keep my cabinets organized.