Super Coupon Guy

[moon]

It is a combination of sales cycles, pricing books or on-line service that tracks prices (like grocery game) and being able to figure out that this is the lowest this item is available.

Now, in Florida--I didn't have double couponing, but up here I do. It seems since I moved to Virginia, I spend much less while getting more b/c there is more competition up here.

I haven't gotten 6%, but I have had some trips that got down to 35%.

It was a combination of a catalina--a printed coupon from a prior order for money off next grocery purchase, manufacturers coupons, frequnt shopping sales, store coupons....get the right competition and you can get a great score.

I'm happy with tracking 50% off...my best month I spent 40% of retail.

In Florida, I could never get better than spending 75% of retail.

There are even different sales run per given geographical area (for the same chain!) and different coupons available in the Sunday paper. There is a true marketing scheme behind it.

But essentially--they save that much b/c they figure out what the loss leaders are.

I have had an item or two bought at CVS where I will make money after rebate--due to a combination of things. That doesn't happen often.

Sounds like there's a lot to study and learn! I'm in FL, so maybe that's why the savings never seemed that great to me; though 75% is still better than nothing, of course. I'd like to do it even if it's just for TP, paper towels and perhaps cleaning supplies. I just want to save some money where I can.

Thanks for the explanation!

 

[charming23]

I finally watched it this afternoon on the DVR ad=nd was amazed at what these people buy. Who needs 150 years worth of deodorant? Not me.

I coupon but not to that extent and I only stockpile what we use. We have a small downstairs pantry that I keep stocked with pasta, cereal, sauces, canned veggies, and other odds and ends. It usually needs to be restocked about every three months so nothing goes to waste. I did however score a few months ago on cereal and pasta. Our grocery had their brand of pasta on sale 20 for $10 so I bought 20 and gave ten to our food bank. I also got 10 boxes of cheerios in various flavors fro around $5 with coupons and sales and donated 5 of them as well.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Sounds like there's a lot to study and learn! I'm in FL, so maybe that's why the savings never seemed that great to me; though 75% is still better than nothing, of course. I'd like to do it even if it's just for TP, paper towels and perhaps cleaning supplies. I just want to save some money where I can.

Thanks for the explanation!

You are welcome.

B1G1 Free sales at Publix were the best. I never couponed though, but I did try to follow sales.

And CVS and their extra care bucks--that is a skill that helps. I've been trying to use them to my advantage to "stock up" on shampoos and what not. I have a moderate supply. But still want to increase my oil of olay...all I have is my current supply--but nothing extra.

I get the stuff free when I can, but my threshhold is if it is 50% off, then I will stock up.

 

[MouseLover]

Where do you obtain all of these coupons from?

This would never work as well in my area, even if I had all the coupons.
We have 1 local chain and Walmart.

The local chain will double coupons to 50 cents, but only on Wednesdays, and not on sale items.

On the show I saw Kroger and Safeway in some of the shots. I didn't know Safeway still existed.

 

[jenlynn0808]

Where do you obtain all of these coupons from?

This would never work as well in my area, even if I had all the coupons.
We have 1 local chain and Walmart.

The local chain will double coupons to 50 cents, but only on Wednesdays, and not on sale items.

On the show I saw Kroger and Safeway in some of the shots. I didn't know Safeway still existed.

I think Safeway is the west coast chain name. They own Vonn's too, which I think is the soutwest company name?

Some of the chains have several names under one umbrella. We moved from MI to WA a few years ago, Kroger is one of the lead chains in MI. There aren't any Kroger's in WA, but we have a chain called QFC. There are no QFC's in MI. We went into QFC on one of our first shopping trips here (comparing chains to find the one that fit us best) and all the sudden DD12 (10 then) shouts, "Mom! Look it's Kroger brand!" People on the aisle looked at us like we were nuts, but I knew exactly why DD was shocked (it was a bit of 'home'). I had to explain to her that QFC carried Kroger branded items because the are owned by the Kroger company.

 

[jenrose66]

I watched that last night. It was interesting. The first woman seemed like she had a problem, her house looked terrible. The second mom, had things organized but her husband said she spent hours couponing, how do you do that and take care of your kids? The lady from Philadelphia wasn't so bad, she got exercise while looking for coupons plus she had a "coupon ministry" going on while she was educating shoppers. The guy with the cereal kept his stockpile neat and I would guess his home is neat too.

I want to know where all these coupons come from. If they pay to buy them then that cuts into the savings. If you deduct from your "deals" what your time is worth and how much it costs to acquire that many coupons I wonder how much you're really saving.

I must admit though...I'd like free toilet paper and what not, times are tough, but with three young kids I couldn't make the time commitment, plus I have no storage space.

 

[Belle0101]

While I have read that Amanda and Nathan do indeed donate some of their stockpile, no mention of the percentage, I've also read that Nathan and one of the women, a name wasn't listed but I think they were referencing Amanda, hold garage sales from their stockpile.

I read this from a press release -
"Amanda is a full-time Storage Facility Manger in Cincinnati, OH who spends up to 70 hours a week researching in-store promotions, clipping coupons and surfing the internet for the latest and greatest deals."

24 hours in a day times 7 days a week minus 40 hours at a full-time job minus 70 hours for coupon related activities and she's left with 58 hours in her week. That's roughly 8 hours a day for sleeping, social time, getting ready for work, going to / from work, putting her deals away, taking things to donation sites, relaxing and whatever else life throws at a person.

70 hours a week is almost 2 more full-time jobs. (Presuming 40 hours to be full-time.)

I found this too (she also goes by "manders") -
"Manders is slightly different form the others though, her obsession with saving and stockpiling stems from her fears of Armageddon."

You can read the full article at the link below.

http://weeklyworldnews.com/headlines/26803/extreme-couponing

I really hope there isn't an Armageddon though. Scary times!

 

[Belle0101]

In case you missed it, it's being rebroadcast. It actually started a few minutes ago.

 

[Buckalew11]

It is on again at like midnight, I think. I'm Tivoing it.

I just came home from the store today with 3 packages of TP and 3 lrg packages of papertowels. I can't stand to run out of those two things, lol. So, while I had coupons and they were on sale, I stocked up.

My DD says I have enough tampons to last her to menopause. She exaggerates. lol But honestly, they were on sale at Kroger, I had a $$$ coupon and then an e-coupon. I got most of them for around 1.86 a box! And hey, they'll be used.

I've bought Colgate toothpaste that was on sale for $1.00 and had a $1.00 coupon in the newspaper. Free! And we'll use it. Plus my mom and MIL give me their Sunday coupons. So I always have multiples.

I have the nice ladies shaving cream that I normally would not purchase that I had coupons for and got it for about .46 a can. I won't be buying shaving cream in 2011, lol.

I don't think what I do it hoarding (yet, lol) because I only buy what we use. For instance, before Christmas, Kroger had Philly Cream Cheese for .99 and I had a coupon for "buy 5 Kraft products get $5 off." Needless to say I had a lot of CC! But I also made about 3 or 4 cheese cakes from thanksgiving until NYE. As long as I am going to use it, I'm OK with buying it on sale, just like Lisa Loves Pooh said, "Why pay more?"

Also buy shopping at Kroger we earn points for $ of gasoline. During the holidays I saved $1.00 a gallon twice by buying my GCs there. I was buying them anyway and for 2 weeks they had 4x the points! One 25.00 Target GC saved me 10 cents off a gallon. A 50.00 Disney card saved me 20 cents off so it added up fast.

I think what the show shows is way more than what I do---I hope, lol.