Extreme Couponing

SarahPLiz

LEAH! I miss you

SD3194

I'll admit it...I'm a coupon whore. I didn't watch that show but she sounds like a hoarder weirdo. The coupon thing is pretty easy once you get the hang of it, some lady on Oprah showed me how. You're supposed to match your coupons with store specials, it's called strategic shopping, that's how you start getting free stuff. There's some things I always manage to get for free like toilet paper and laundry detergent. I keep record of how much I save on each shopping trip. In 2010 I saved around $8500.

Okay, that's enough nerd talk for one post.

SarahPLiz

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_extreme-couponing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:4b2f26e2-a5a1-4a28-ab80-5cf2fe066a4aPost:be23765a-78d7-462a-a377-b5d0158c179f">Re: Extreme Couponing</a>:
[QUOTE]I'll admit it...I'm a coupon whore. I didn't watch that show but she sounds like a hoarder weirdo. The coupon thing is pretty easy once you get the hang of it, some lady on Oprah showed me how. You're supposed to match your coupons with store specials, it's called strategic shopping, that's how you start getting free stuff. There's some things I always manage to get for free like toilet paper and laundry detergent. I keep record of how much I save on each shopping trip. In 2010 I saved around $8500. Okay, that's enough nerd talk for one post. :)
Posted by SD3194[/QUOTE]

<div>That's pretty cool if its stuff that you will actually use in a timely manner. </div>

K Byte

A FB friend of mine runs or helps to run a couponing blog and she's always talking about these great deals she gets for her family, but a lot of it is for diapers and toys and childrens stuff. I agree you can do pretty well if you shop at the cheap stores and combine store coupons with manufacturer's coupons, but some people go crazy overboard with it. I know there are people who get a bunch of free laundry detergent or whatever through coupons and then re-sell it to others.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I find that coupons are often for brand name items, like Kleenex or Kraft mac and cheese. And I can usually get the generic for cheaper than the coupon price, anyway. 

I also shop at the farmer's market, Trader Joes and Whole Foods - 3 places I can't really use coupons. 

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_extreme-couponing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:4b2f26e2-a5a1-4a28-ab80-5cf2fe066a4aPost:fbfb493e-1ed5-4188-8914-db2e036a5173">Re: Extreme Couponing</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't use them in the grocery store but I do use them online. I use retailmenot.com to find deals for random websites. I also deal shop for most things I buy beyond the usual household items. If it's a big purchase I make sure I get the best deal.
Posted by Y I Oughta[/QUOTE]

<div>I always google/look at retailmenot when I buy something online. And I buy stuff on groupon, too.</div>

staceytaylor0704

Okay, I haven't seen this show BUT I don't like that they are calling it extreme couponing. .. these people sound greedy (minus the guy who donates a lot of his items).
Seriously, why do you need 20 years worth of toilet paper? I also have grievances with people who clear shelves just because its a good deal. Thats one of my pet peeves while shopping. SAVE SOME FOR OTHER PEOPLE!!

Anyways, I do "extreme couponing" but not like this show is portraying. I usually shop CVS for toiletry items. If you know their system, that store is a gold mine.
Publix is my grocery place. Shopping sales and combining coupons makes for some excellent deals (WAY cheaper than Wal-Mart, and on name brand items usually). Believe it or not, there ARE actually coupons for produce, etc. but it takes some initiative to search those out from the companies most of the time.
I have a nice stockpile, mostly of toiletry items, but I also donate a lot. It was nice to be able to give donations to the homebound elderly for Christmas out of my stockpile.. and the animal shelter. I donate to the homeless men's program here a couple times a year too. I also give things to relatives just to save them some extra cash. (thats not a brag, its just an attempt to say that I am NOT a crazy coupon lady! haha) I enjoy helping out, and its great that it costs me next to nothing.

I also always use coupon codes online, and shop through ebates to get cash back (link in bio if interested!)

Anyways. Reality TV just wants to make people watch. There are people who use coupons and aren't hoarders.