Extreme Couponing

[KellyNY]

Hi everyone,

I watched the other day episode of Extreme Couponing and got all excited about what those people were able to do. Got me thinking how much money I waste. Granted what they do is really extreme and would not work for me as I cannot possibly get so many coupons and I do not have any storage space to fill it with something I will need much later. Anyway, I decided to try to do at least something. So, I picked papers they leave in our building with all the inserts and found one coupon I may use later. I accidentally came across Coca Cola coupon book right in a store and got a very neat deal when I had to buy one diet cola product and one Panteen product and get $1.50 off. So since I was buying conditioner anyway, I grabbed the cheapest diet cola bottle which was $1.09 plus deposit and it worked. So basically I got free soda and about 40c off my shampoo, cool. I know it is practically nothing but I felt like I won a lottery. I did use coupons before but I never hunted them and I never calculated combinations. Problem is what I noticed on many coupons that they can only be used one per transaction or household and as far as I know PathMart(where I usually shop) does not allow double couponing or whatever it called.
So was anyone ever was able to succeed in extreme couponing and what are your secrets. I am from NY(Brooklyn), but do not mind to drive to NJ to Walmart if I get savings covering me driving there, any stores you know that allow to double? Which sites you use to get coupons? Any stores allow negative balance to be used as credit, that was the most exciting about the show.
Please share your wisdom.

 

[gillenkl]

I'm not an extreme couponer but I try my best to always save what I can. I have 3 stores I shop at and in time have come to know what is a good deal and what isn't. I spend one night a week going to these 3 stores and buying the "deals".

This site may be helpful www.hotcouponworld.com - they have forums for all stores including Walmart and list the coupon policies.

Some people use a price book which can help you when determining the best price for an item - if you do a google search you can find directions on how to set one up.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I do couponing but don't consider what I do extreme couponing. I get my coupons from the sunday newspaper, couponmom.com mostly.

There are no stores in my area that double coupons or allow you to use a negative balance as a credit.

I shop alot at Publix, Walmart and Walgreens. For Publix, I keep an eye out for their BOGO deals and combine a coupon with that whenever I can. They do have a limit of how many deals you can buy at one time. Last May, I was still able to buy enough Spaghetti Sauce and El Paso taco stuff really cheap that lasted through the whole summer.

For Walgreens, I look through their sale papers, combine my coupons with their coupons and try to get register rewards too. That really helps save some money.

Keep in mind the Extreme Couponing show were showing alot of things that don't work in real life.

 

[princessmom29]

My question is:
How many hours a week does doing this and running to 3 or 4 stores a week to cash in take, and how much gas are you burning? Are you SAHM's or do you work full time? Do you live in a big city?

I say a poster up thiread say she goes to 3 stores and devoted 3 nights a week to doing so. There is NO WAY I could do that and take care of my family. I work full time and there is no way 3 nights a week could go to running from store to store. It would take a lONG time becuase all of the storse are spread over a large area. It is several miles one way to the closest store. so a "quick trip" usually takes at least an hour to complete.

 

[Marionnette]

Hi everyone,

I watched the other day episode of Extreme Couponing and got all excited about what those people were able to do. Got me thinking how much money I waste. Granted what they do is really extreme and would not work for me as I cannot possibly get so many coupons and I do not have any storage space to fill it with something I will need much later. Anyway, I decided to try to do at least something. So, I picked papers they leave in our building with all the inserts and found one coupon I may use later. I accidentally came across Coca Cola coupon book right in a store and got a very neat deal when I had to buy one diet cola product and one Panteen product and get $1.50 off. So since I was buying conditioner anyway, I grabbed the cheapest diet cola bottle which was $1.09 plus deposit and it worked. So basically I got free soda and about 40c off my shampoo, cool. I know it is practically nothing but I felt like I won a lottery. I did use coupons before but I never hunted them and I never calculated combinations. Problem is what I noticed on many coupons that they can only be used one per transaction or household and as far as I know PathMart(where I usually shop) does not allow double couponing or whatever it called.
So was anyone ever was able to succeed in extreme couponing and what are your secrets. I am from NY(Brooklyn), but do not mind to drive to NJ to Walmart if I get savings covering me driving there, any stores you know that allow to double? Which sites you use to get coupons? Any stores allow negative balance to be used as credit, that was the most exciting about the show.
Please share your wisdom.

Try livingrichwithcoupons.com. The blogger (Cindy) is from Jersey and the deals that she posts are for the NY/NJ/Philly area. She breaks it down by stores and matches their sales with coupons that are available in the inserts or online.

Extreme couponing requires a lot of time and storage space. It does make it so much less expensive when you can stock up on things when they are on sale and then live off of them when they aren't. I'll buy 20 boxes of my husband's favorite cereal when it's $1/box with coupon so that I'm not paying $5/box later. But 20 boxes take up a lot of room!

Another thing that you have to remember is that it isn't a bargain if it's not something that you would have bought normally. So even though your Coke was technically "free", you might have done better if you used a $1/1 Pantene coupon on your conditioner if you don't normally purchase soda. But if you regularly buy Diet Coke, then you did good!

Overage (getting more back from coupons than the shelf price) is not permitted at every store. Some stores don't "truly double" which is doubling the face value of a coupon regardless of how high it is. Some will double a coupon up to $1, so a 75 cent off coupon will get another 25 cents off. A $1/1 coupon wouldn't get doubled at all. Some will "truly double" coupons with a face value up to 99 cents, so a 75 cent off coupon becomes $1.50 off. Get to know your store's coupon policies so that you can maximize your savings.

Watch for Catalinas (those printouts from the register), sometimes you will get $X off your next order (OYNO) Catalinas that can be used to pay for anything! Apply those to your produce, meat and deli items that rarely have coupons.

My best trip was a 92% savings on an order than was over $500. It was a lot of Catalinas and BOGO (buy 1 get 1) coupons, plus store sale items that were free after coupon. None of my stores give overage on coupons.

Oh, and that order - it contained a lot of meat and produce. The Catalinas paid for them.

 

[vicki_c]

(Sorry forgot to quote - this was in response to princess mom)

I thought that poster meant she takes one night a week to go to all 3 stores, not 1 per night.

We only do our coupon shopping one day a week, Sunday afternoons. It takes a few hours. We have multiple CVS, Walgreens, Giant, Food Lion, in our area all within 2-3 miles of one another. Plus Safeway, Whole Foods and Rite Aid, although I don't really coupon shop at those stores.

I have a FT job (40 or more hours per week) and so does DH. 2 kids, sports practices and all the rest.

 

[KellyNY]

My question is:
How many hours a week does doing this and running to 3 or 4 stores a week to cash in take, and how much gas are you burning? Are you SAHM's or do you work full time? Do you live in a big city?

I say a poster up thiread say she goes to 3 stores and devoted 3 nights a week to doing so. There is NO WAY I could do that and take care of my family. I work full time and there is no way 3 nights a week could go to running from store to store. It would take a lONG time becuase all of the storse are spread over a large area. It is several miles one way to the closest store. so a "quick trip" usually takes at least an hour to complete.

I guess it all depends on your area. We have few major stores in 2 miles radius from my home, so it is not that much gas, of course if I will not zigzag between stores back and forwards. Basically, since I get all those store papers right in my building once a week, I do not even need to go until I know there is something good there.

Gillenkl, thank you for site, just printed some coupons!

 

[maggiew]

Hi everyone,

I watched the other day episode of Extreme Couponing and got all excited about what those people were able to do. Got me thinking how much money I waste. Granted what they do is really extreme and would not work for me as I cannot possibly get so many coupons and I do not have any storage space to fill it with something I will need much later. Anyway, I decided to try to do at least something. So, I picked papers they leave in our building with all the inserts and found one coupon I may use later. I accidentally came across Coca Cola coupon book right in a store and got a very neat deal when I had to buy one diet cola product and one Panteen product and get $1.50 off. So since I was buying conditioner anyway, I grabbed the cheapest diet cola bottle which was $1.09 plus deposit and it worked. So basically I got free soda and about 40c off my shampoo, cool. I know it is practically nothing but I felt like I won a lottery. I did use coupons before but I never hunted them and I never calculated combinations. Problem is what I noticed on many coupons that they can only be used one per transaction or household and as far as I know PathMart(where I usually shop) does not allow double couponing or whatever it called.
So was anyone ever was able to succeed in extreme couponing and what are your secrets. I am from NY(Brooklyn), but do not mind to drive to NJ to Walmart if I get savings covering me driving there, any stores you know that allow to double? Which sites you use to get coupons? Any stores allow negative balance to be used as credit, that was the most exciting about the show.
Please share your wisdom.

Remember that "One per purchase" means one coupon per item purchased, not one per transaction. If they meant one per transaction, it would say that on there. So, if you have 2 shampoos and 2 coupons that say "One per purchase", you are ok to use them both.

Maggie

 

[KellyNY]

Try livingrichwithcoupons.com. The blogger (Cindy) is from Jersey and the deals that she posts are for the NY/NJ/Philly area. She breaks it down by stores and matches their sales with coupons that are available in the inserts or online.

Extreme couponing requires a lot of time and storage space. It does make it so much less expensive when you can stock up on things when they are on sale and then live off of them when they aren't. I'll buy 20 boxes of my husband's favorite cereal when it's $1/box with coupon so that I'm not paying $5/box later. But 20 boxes take up a lot of room!

Another thing that you have to remember is that it isn't a bargain if it's not something that you would have bought normally. So even though your Coke was technically "free", you might have done better if you used a $1/1 Pantene coupon on your conditioner if you don't normally purchase soda. But if you regularly buy Diet Coke, then you did good!

Overage (getting more back from coupons than the shelf price) is not permitted at every store. Some stores don't "truly double" which is doubling the face value of a coupon regardless of how high it is. Some will double a coupon up to $1, so a 75 cent off coupon will get another 25 cents off. A $1/1 coupon wouldn't get doubled at all. Some will "truly double" coupons with a face value up to 99 cents, so a 75 cent off coupon becomes $1.50 off. Get to know your store's coupon policies so that you can maximize your savings.

Watch for Catalinas (those printouts from the register), sometimes you will get $X off your next order (OYNO) Catalinas that can be used to pay for anything! Apply those to your produce, meat and deli items that rarely have coupons.

My best trip was a 92% savings on an order than was over $500. It was a lot of Catalinas and BOGO (buy 1 get 1) coupons, plus store sale items that were free after coupon. None of my stores give overage on coupons.

Oh, and that order - it contained a lot of meat and produce. The Catalinas paid for them.

Thank you so much for all the tips, site is amazing, learning right now about store policies!

 

[Juliet25]

I've been couponing for years, but I wouldn't consider myself an extreme couponer. I save money where I can, but I'm not going to go from store to store looking for the best deal. I buy a lot of my household essentials like toothpaste, cat food/litter, toilet paper, etc. at Target because you can combine a manu q qith a Target q and get 5% off if you have the Target debit or credit card.

Couponing--while fun and worthwhile--can be extremely time consuming. I'm a SAHM, but I rarely have the time to give it the attention it needs. Ironically, I was a better couponer as a WOHM. I would bring my coupons to work and spend my lunch hour researching the best deals. These days, the kids aren't apt to give me a whole hour of alone time. I also have no desire to take kids to multiple stores.

My advice is to find a store you frequent and get used to their prices and sale cycles. I can save more money at the fancy grocery store in town than I can at the bare bones store b/c I'm more familiar with their products and prices. If there's a product you like to use a lot, check eBay for coupons and stock up. I do this with yogurt for the kids--they go through it like water so a lack of storage space isn't an issue.

Oh, one more thing--I find I have better luck when I figure out a good savings trick on my own. If you see a deal posted on-line, realize that a whole bunch of people also have access to that deal. It's not unusual to go to a store and find the item you want wiped out b/c an extreme couponer or two cleared the shelves.

 

[MagiKitty]

Welcome to couponing! I totally agree with so much that has been posted out there. Just wanted to reassure you that couponing is only really hard in the beginning when you're learning different store policies and figuring out what coupons work for you.

If there's a particular brand that you really like, try "friending" them on Facebook for access to more coupons.

I live in a rural area so I limit my couponing to one grocery and one pharmacy (ShopRite and RiteAid). ShopRite doubles their coupons up to a $1. RiteAid will let you combine a manufacturer coupon with one of their own coupons, found either in their circular ad or on their website. Knowing these policies can really add to your savings!

I get my coupons on Sunday, which is a good tv night for me, so I sit and clip my coupons while watching tv. But I really only clip what I'm interested in. I have a friend who has small children, so I send her all the yougurt, diapers, and Ensure coupons. She in turn mails me her cat food coupons. Its a nice way to get extra coupons. I only subscibe to one paper, but if one Sunday there's a lot of good coupons, I head to the local Dollar Store and they carry extras...

I'm not as good as those extreme couponers, but if I can get money off of items that I would use anyway, like toiletries, dairy, soups, etc. then I'm happy. I also subscribe to some restaurant clubs (like Chilis, TGIFridays, and Outback) and I often get coupons for a lunch or dinner.

And check those receipts! A lot of time things run up incorrectly or there are special notices on the bottom like promotions or extra savings. Good luck and believe me, you can save a lot!

PS--I also wanted to add that as you get better at couponing, you'll be able to see sales for pennies for an item, or even free. Consider getting them and donating them to an organization that can use them. I have a teacher friend that I give extra tissues and cleaning items to for her kindergarten class and I donate excess toiletries to a local womens shelter...

 

[sookie]

hi. "extreme couponing" is ruining it for the regular couponer.
honestly, i've stopped. i did it as a hobby / fun before. its not worth the hassle to me since that show went out.
i don't have the time to go to several different stores - which is basically what you need to do to do the big savings.

as for this thread...

 

[kimberlym322]

hi. "extreme couponing" is ruining it for the regular couponer.
honestly, i've stopped. i did it as a hobby / fun before. its not worth the hassle to me since that show went out.

You got that right. I wish they would take that show off. I only watch it when nothing else is on and I need a good laugh!!!

I have seen people in the store that stop me asking me about couponing because they seen the show the week before and wants to walk out of the store paying nothing. I tell them to read the coupon and the sales paper and walk away. I have also seen people where they see a coupon on say kraft mayo and take it to the store but dukes is on sale so they get that and try to use the coupon and get mad because they can't use it on the dukes mayo. Or the coupon will say XXX of 2 and they will get one and think they should use the coupon and get it off 1. I have seen people hold up the line fighting with the cashier about things like this. Or what I hate even more is when they go to self scan and hold that up for the same reason. And when the people don't get their way the storm off leaving the cashier to void the order and reshelf the stuff!!

Good luck with your couponing!!!

 

[KellyNY]

You got that right. I wish they would take that show off. I only watch it when nothing else is on and I need a good laugh!!!

I have seen people in the store that stop me asking me about couponing because they seen the show the week before and wants to walk out of the store paying nothing. I tell them to read the coupon and the sales paper and walk away. I have also seen people where they see a coupon on say kraft mayo and take it to the store but dukes is on sale so they get that and try to use the coupon and get mad because they can't use it on the dukes mayo. Or the coupon will say XXX of 2 and they will get one and think they should use the coupon and get it off 1. I have seen people hold up the line fighting with the cashier about things like this. Or what I hate even more is when they go to self scan and hold that up for the same reason. And when the people don't get their way the storm off leaving the cashier to void the order and reshelf the stuff!!

Good luck with your couponing!!!

That is why a lot of research and practice needed. I do not think it comes overnight and I personally do not expect cut my expenses to zero BUT because of the show I found out about some combinations I never even new exist and now that I know, I want to try it as well. Why not, every $$ saved in today economy counts.

 

[Promomx2]

I actually was able to walk out of Kroger paying nothing. I had coupons they had set me for free items and that's all I got. WooHoo. Saved $9.68. And today Target was $3.68 and after 2 coupons I paid $.98. That's about as extreme as I'm going to get, but at least it's something.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

Something to just keep in mind for the Extreme Couponing show a lot of stores waive or adjust their coupon policies. I read an article that Lowe's Foods for the NC shows regrets waiving their policies for the taping.

 

[hereyago]

I am not an extreme couponer. The show is both good and bad: Good because I have actually learned about coupons-I didn't even know about ecoupons and my store has apparentley had them for awhile. I learned how to better use them and get more out of them.

I don't go to several different stores or spend hours with coupons because my time doesn't allow me to.

However, there is a disclaimer at the beginning of the show stating that store policys differ. Unfortunately, some people are just idiots. People try to clear shelves, that isn't allowed at my store. Or as another poster wrote about someone trying to use a coupon with a product that wasn't affiliated with the coupon.

I have seen more people with binders, but they are more organized than I am, so I don't hate on them.

I have noticed that stores have buckled down more on their policy or even changed some of the policy and I do believe that is due to the "extreme coupon" show.

 

[rparmfamily]

I coupon when I come across a good coupon. Like when I'm catching up on FB, lots of deal sites post when a high dollar coupon is out. I just print right away (lets you print 2) and put it aside until I do my menu/couponing/grocery list. I am not organized enough to be into full time LOL. I don't spend a lot of time, but I do save every trip on items I would normally purchase. If a coupon makes it free, then I'll try just about anything (to use or donate LOL.) Friends sometimes laugh at me but I ask them if they saw a $1 on the floor, would they pick it up? If you were at a park and saw $.50 would you pick it up? I would LOL!!! To me, not using coupons is like throwing away money.

 

[AmandaRG]

Something to just keep in mind for the Extreme Couponing show a lot of stores waive or adjust their coupon policies. I read an article that Lowe's Foods for the NC shows regrets waiving their policies for the taping.

And in some, they have flat out committed fraud, just to make "good" tv by allowing coupons for items not bought. They need that to get SO much off.

On a regular basis I can save 50% off of my grocery list by combinging coupons and sales. That has made a huge difference, and we are able to save those $$ for vacation!