Extreme Couponing

[Teg]

Has anyone else seen this show on TLC? Amazing the amount folks can save with a bit of work, though I would hate to work a register or be behind them in line at checkout. ;) :).

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/extreme-couponing

[Southerngirl]

I have made this my new FAVORITE show! lol... it amazes me each time I see them pull it off. I have started printing coupons, getting the Sunday paper (which I have to say has been quite disappointing as I remember when I was younger they offered better coupons)... so I'm trying super hard to figure out how they do it. I have used a few coupons at the store, nothing to cause a difference in my bill as we buy tons of other stuff... but I want to learn and I've made it "one of" my passions to try to help take care of my family. Anyone else know how they get all those coupons?
Are you going to give it a try Teg?

[Southerngirl]

Thanks for the link Teg, just went to it and see many of my questions might just get answered there. I had not went to the site yet, just watched the show. I have started doing a search for each item we buy, the manufacturer and find that many times they give coupons if you sign up to their site, which just means receiving their emails.
This site looks like it will be my "top visited" sites for the next couple of weeks! Thanks! :)

[AlchemyAcres]

I can't find very many coupons for anything worth buying!? :confused:


~Martin

[Teg]

Are you going to give it a try Teg?

I do plan on giving it a try, I've been working at getting my wife on board, I think I can win her over. :)

[Teg]

I can't find very many coupons for anything worth buying!? :confused:


~Martin

That can be true at times, just takes some work to get started. Now if you have no use for pre-packaged products, it might not pan out so well. ;) :)

[BonnyLake]

Some stores won't take coupons that were printed on-line, even their own! You have to check each store's policy each time you go BIG because they may have changed what they will do, some won't allow double coupons per item and they ration the sale items.

Some people pay to have coupons clipped and sent to them - it's gonna be big business, but like Martin said, not too much of what I buy has coupons for decent amounts either.

[Teg]

I don't plan on going that crazy with it, but I am hoping that once I move out of the big city, we can carry it on to keep the pantry stocked. The show is pretty wild to watch, one guy started with a $700 or $800 grocery bill and left the store paying absolutely zero after coupons, he was a bit extreme and doing it for a charity, but it was still something to see.

[MollyPitcher]

I've never seen the program, because I don't have cable or satellite tv, just old fashioned 'over the air waves' tv. I have heard about it though, and about people who go crazy with coupons.

I use very few, because I don't buy much pre packaged convenience foods. The amount and quality of food you get when buying convenience foods is far less than you get buying whole, unprocessed or minimally processed foods. I can buy a bag of potatoes for about $2, or grow my own even cheaper, or I can buy a little package of Bob Evan's frozen mashed potatoes for something like $4.00. Nope, can't throw money away like that, even with coupons that would let me buy it for next to nothing. I don't eat that kind of food, so getting it for a few cents is worthless to me.

The majority of coupons I see are for items I don't buy--convenience foods as mentioned, sugary cereals, cosmetics and hair dye, overpriced hygiene products, and soft drinks. I don't know if some areas have better coupons than others, but I very seldom see coupons for basic items like flour, sugar, coffee, meat, vegetables, & etc. Even then they are usually something like "Buy Two Bags of Gold Medal Flour and get .45 cents off". For that, I'll buy a cheaper brand on sale somewhere.

For stocking up, I really watch the sale papers. There are three grocery stores in my general area and while I may not buy every week, I try to budget some money so that when really good sale items come along I can buy multiples. I do better that way than I ever could with using coupons. Example is when Kroger has it's 'buy 10 items' sale and you get $5 off at the register and they have really cheap sale prices like name brand pasta for .38 cents a package and other similar items. I buy 10 really cheap items to fulfill the $5 off requirement, which is another price break on top of the low sales price. And I also shop at a little scratch and dent grocery store that gets it's items as misdirected freight or damaged freight. I've never gotten anything that was inedible from there, and I can usually save at least 50% or more by shopping there. They routinely have the bricks of coffee there for $1.29. Toilet paper there is $1.50 a roll for commercial Scott 2 ply, 1600 linear ft. per roll. I buy it by the case for a huge savings.

I think that if you regularly buy and use items that are covered by coupons, you could do really well and be able to stock up quite a bit with some effort and diligence. But for some like me, they just aren't worth bothering with.

[cinok]

The only coupons that we really ever use are for personal supplies such as toothpaste, deodorant and they are few and far between. Most coupons are for stuff we dont buy. In order to get the big savings you see in the show the stores need to double or triple coupons and also have to allow for multiple discounts on the same item. When I lived in NJ most stores did this but in OK/AR where I live now I dont think I have ever seen double coupons.

[iowasue]

I use very few, because I don't buy much pre packaged convenience foods. The amount and quality of food you get when buying convenience foods is far less than you get buying whole, unprocessed or minimally processed foods. I can buy a bag of potatoes for about $2, or grow my own even cheaper, or I can buy a little package of Bob Evan's frozen mashed potatoes for something like $4.00. Nope, can't throw money away like that, even with coupons that would let me buy it for next to nothing. I don't eat that kind of food, so getting it for a few cents is worthless to me.

The majority of coupons I see are for items I don't buy--convenience foods as mentioned, sugary cereals, cosmetics and hair dye, overpriced hygiene products, and soft drinks. I don't know if some areas have better coupons than others, but I very seldom see coupons for basic items like flour, sugar, coffee, meat, vegetables, & etc. Even then they are usually something like "Buy Two Bags of Gold Medal Flour and get .45 cents off". For that, I'll buy a cheaper brand on sale somewhere.

I think that if you regularly buy and use items that are covered by coupons, you could do really well and be able to stock up quite a bit with some effort and diligence. But for some like me, they just aren't worth bothering with.

Exactly!! I give my convenience food coupons away...I only use some store super coupons for basics like meat, produce and plain dairy.

[sewserious]

I hate that show. Gives those of us who use coupons in a limited way a bad name and may just lead to the end of being able to use coupons at all. I use this site, www.southernsavers.com and make a list each week from two of the stores that are closest to my house. Sometimes I use coupons, most things on my list I don't; they are either buy one/get one or store brands on sale. That said, I have bought pasta for nothing. B1/G1 at 1.00 for 2 boxes; use a coupon for 50 cents off on one box, have it doubled to $1 and voila; 2 free boxes of pasta!

I do the same for things like sour cream, sausage, bacon, cheese, etc. I only use a coupon for a brand name if I can get it cheaper than a good store brand/no name product. I have saved as much as 50% off my grocery bill by shopping the B1/G1 deals (they tell you on the receipt how much off regular price you saved) and using coupons.

There are coupons out there for flour, sugar, spices, coffee, and all sorts of things; I may or may not use them. I only print coupons ahead for things that I absolutely know I will use; like coffee, yeast, spices, baking powder, and a couple of other things (mostly health/beauty aid stuff). I usually only print them, if I don't already have one from the paper) when I need it. Printing costs add up fast if you are not careful.

Near the end of each month, I go through the coupons I have and see if there are any for B1/G1 or deep discounts on HBA and/or staples such as ketchup or what not that I haven't used yet and are about to expire. I take those and go to Wally World and check to see if using them is a good deal or not (lots of times I get free deodorant or razors, etc). I only do it if I am certain it is a really good price (WW is cheapest for those type of items when they are not on sale) and it is something that we need to stock up on. I usually walk out of there with about 50% off my bill and people are shocked!

[femmesteader]

Although I get so enthralled in that show, the laws must be different here in Canada…I mean I’ve never heard of using a coupon for something that is already on sale. On the show, if something is regular $2.00 and it’s on sale half price for $1.00 and you have a manufactures’ coupon for $1.00 off…technically, you can buy that item for nothing.
But here, regardless of what coupon you have…the stores won’t let you use it if the item is already on any sort of discount.
That’s been my experience in Canada…or…I’m a really bad coupon-er.


I do love that show though. J

[MollyPitcher]

I am seeing stores changing their coupon policy as a direct result of the way people use coupons. For example, the Kroger stores in Texas stopped doubling and tripling coupons, and will only redeem them at face value now.

The two local stores in my area that do double and triple have lowered the amount they will double/triple. Used to be something like double up to and including .50 cents, and triple up to/including .39 cents. Now it's much lower, but I can't remember what it is, just that it's a lot lower.

And very few will let you 'stack' a coupon anymore either---when you have a manufacturer coupon plus a store coupon. Most stores will only take the higher value coupon but not both. Someone said Target stores still stack, but as I don't have a Target anywhere near here, I don't know.

Another thing I noticed is that the two local stores will no longer accept computer printed manufacturer coupons now. Saw it posted at the customer service counter at both stores. They will take computer printed coupons that come from their own web sites, but not the manufacturer coupons.

Finally, I also read on the same poster at the customer service windows that the stores are limiting coupon purchases to 6 items, and each item must have it's own coupon. The manager told me this was to prevent 'shelf clearers'.

I am not a coupon expert, but these are the changes I have noticed in the past several months. My parents use some coupons and I would save certain ones for them, but my mother said that stores down where they live aren't accepting them the way they used to. I've read and heard arguments that coupons don't cost the stores or manufacturers because the cost of them is calculated into the cost of their products & etc., but obviously there is some reason stores are not accepting them the way they used to.

[Native87]

Can I join this "New BHM Extreme Coupon Group" LOL It is an interesting notion. :D

[mozarkian]

This couponing thing does intrigue me a little - kind of like a hobby sort of thing, I guess. I've watched a couple of the shows, but most of what they buy we don't (flavored waters, conv foods, etc). However, both my kids use these items in their homes, so I am starting to clip and save coupons that any of the three households might use.
This week, I asked our local Krogers for a copy of their coupon policy and was told they don't really have a written policy (??). Customer Service rep said they will accept valid coupons and will double them everyday up to and including 0.50 and for face value other than that. I didn't ask about stacking, but she did tell me about loading digital coupons on my store loyalty card as well.
I don't have any interest in going extreme with it, but I am thinking I might be able to save a few dollars, and add some items to my stash this way as well as saving the kids a few bucks here and there. And I think I might save a few bucks on some stuff bought at Wallyworld by using other store coupons there, which they will match.
Interesting thread.

[MollyPitcher]

When you buy a food item that is bad, either just poor quality or spoiled in some way, call or email the manufacturer and get a replacement coupon. I bought something frozen a while back, against my better judgement but like a dodo I bought it anyway. It. Was. Horrendous. And it wasn't cheap, either. I was really disappointed. I emailed the company and told them about it, and they sent a replacement coupon for similar items they manufactured. Same with some fabric softener I bought. Some kind of 'natural' crystals you put in at the beginning of the wash. I thought they would be good because I run my washing machine water out into the grass. The stuff reeked like cheap men's cologne, and it did nothing to soften the fabric (I line dry my clothes). They sent several coupons for free items and .50 cent off items.

So if you buy something and it's a disappointment, maybe you can get a coupon to get something else. Money is too hard to come by to throw it away on poor products.

[leera]

I have not commented on this topic as of yet,because I wanted to see where the conversation went.But here's my opinion:

I use coupons,I use coupon websites,and I use a local coupon blog to match up all the deals for me and save me some time on doing all the leg work myself.

I will say with total and complete honesty,that I HATE that show,period.

It's all set up for the show in advance so these people can look good on camera,but in reality,most of them are nothing more than hoarders taking advantage of a broken system,and in some cases possibly breaking the law too.

One episode that aired,the woman featured was quite possibly committing fraud(I can't say for sure,but you can read the following links and make your own opinion),it was caught on camera,and TLC still chose to air the show.

Those who depend on coupons to save money and make life more affordable will only suffer from this show.Even the CIC has voiced it's opinion on the show and strongly encouraged TLC to change it's programming.

Here's a couple of links you might find of interest:

http://www.couponinformationcenter.com/extremecoupon.php?st=5fe98


This one is from the website I use most often to do grocery match ups:
http://www.bargainstobounty.com/worth-reading-the-cic-speaks-on-extreme-couponing/

Here's one with a little more incite on the show,and if you read through the article,you can clearly see where coupons may have been used fraudulently.
http://www.jillcataldo.com/node/16258

Many manufacturers are already changing the way they print coupons,and more and more stores are changing their coupon acceptance policies,due to this show,and people thinking they can go into a store and do what's seen on the show.The honest coupon users are already suffering,and because of this show,it's getting harder and harder for those who use coupons within the guide lines of the law to shop and save money.

I would highly suggest people to stop watching the show and write to TLC and request the show be removed from their programming.

[Teg]

I doubt many of us (if any) planned to go to the lengths the folks on the show do, but it does give an idea of the savings that are available if you are willing to put some effort into it.

[kfander]

Some stores won't take coupons that were printed on-line, even their own!

I don't bother printing online coupons anymore because, more often than not, they are refused at the store or, at the very least, the cashier has to call the manager and, to save a few cents on something I probably didn't need anyhow, that's just not worth it.

Several years back, I clipped coupons obsessively for several months, even saving packages and filing them away for the money-back rebates that were the rage at the time. Between the money-off coupons and the rebates that I would receive in the mail, it seemed to be worth doing, but I still got tired of it after awhile.

Beyond looking at store coupons for things that I was going to buy anyhow, I don't do any of that anymore.

[leera]

When I shop with coupons I typically save between 50% and 70%,that's pretty good I think....However,I have set myself a personal goal for 2011 to reduce my dependence on grocery stores to the bare minimum....my buying in bulk,buying direct and by growing my own as much as possible.

So my current trips to the store are for items that either are not available locally,or I'm simply feeling too lazy to make myself(like pizza)....I'm looking for a local CSA to join,but most of them seem to be very far away from here,so until I find one,I'll still be buying some items at the store.

[BonnyLake]

... I'm looking for a local CSA to join,but most of them seem to be very far away from here,so until I find one,I'll still be buying some items at the store.

Here is a website that might be able to help you find local farms that have u-pick and CSA's >>

http://pickyourown.org/

~ I wish that there were more coupons available as incentives for buying in larger quantity sizes, the only ones that seem to add up are sugar-coated cereal giant boxes :bad:

[blackpowderbill]

Can I join this "New BHM Extreme Coupon Group" LOL It is an interesting notion. :D

Let me mknow if ya find coupon's for ammo,bullets,powder & primers?? LMAO With those I can get food and money.

[Catalpa]

I don't like what they do on that show...occasionally it's ok, when they get a lot of toiletry items and donate them to a city shelter or something, but really what I see is a lot of greed, and maybe even some mental issues. I haven't seen the show in a while now, but I do remember one lady getting box after box of cat treats - and she doesn't have a cat! And she stored them all in her home with no mention of donating them to an animal shelter or anything. There was also an entire closet full of mountain dew. I mean, really?

I agree with what's been said here, it seems that this greed will spoil it for the rest of us. I try to use coupons, but I must be doing it wrong, I only save maybe two or three dollars. I buy the Sunday paper sometimes but the coupons in there are mostly for processed convenience foods that I don't buy. I spotted a coupon for sugar the other day, but it was for about a dollar or two off after buying a bunch of other stuff, so it wasn't worth it.

I do like the ten for ten sales, I can stock up on lots of pasta and toilet paper that way. I just wish I had time, or was smart enough, to figure out where to get better coupons and how to hunt down the bargins. My shopping is less a planned event than a quick stop after a softball game to pick up milk, where I end up grabbing some yogurt, peanut butter, and assorted other stuff since I'm there already. No planning ahead, and no coupons.

I have learned more about bulk buying; there's new Mennonite store nearby where I can get some great deals, though I have to watch closely. Sometimes the great deals are cheek by jowl with higher prices. I've also joined a local buying co-op and I can get good quality cheese for two dollars a pound, vs five at the grocery store.

Now if I could find a way to get a deep discount on the $32.00/50 lb. sugar at the Mennonite store, that would be really great!

[Teg]

The ones that do it for charity or that have really big families are my favorites, that is an effective use. Though it's always good to have a stockpile, but you have to figure out when you have enough sometimes.

The more I watch the show, the less I think I can get into it like the hardcore folks do, I have spent less time planning a Combat Patrol than some of them do planning a shopping trip. :)

[lunghd]

Sounds crazy but I've bought coupons from Coupon Clippers... and come out ahead!
http://thecouponclippers.com

[leera]

I've learned to shop carefully,you can stock up on pasta if you're not brand loyal,other things like flour and baking supplies,keep a coupon stash,and during the fall when all that stuff is on sale you can stock up for the netter part of a year.

I do not buy frozen processed foods,boxed processed foods or a lot of the junk food that many coupons are for,maybe that's why I don't save as much money as the people on tv,but I also have ethics and moral standards that I go by.

If I can get something that's on the food bank's wish list for free,I will do so and donate it to them.BUT quite often a food bank can purchase the food items much cheaper than we can buy it for,so if you're going to donate,donate the cash you would have spent shopping yourself.

I follow the rules of whatever store I'm shopping at.I do stock up,and sometimes I will shop at a store more than once during a good sale,but I have never done any of the things these people featured on the show do.

[patience]

I have seldom been able to do any good with coupons.

-I don't buy most of the products they are promoting because I have alternatives.
-I don't buy the BRANDS they are promoting because I can buy a generic and do better.
-It takes far too much time to collect the coupons, since we don't have a daily newspaper, I'm not interested in finding them online, and I can make a lot more money doing other things.


Example: One grocery we use sent a coupon for milk, $1/gallon WITH A $10 PURCHASE. I might use this, or might not, because they probably don't have $10 worth of stuff I want this month. Their idea, of course, is to get you in the store to buy 10 bucks worth of whatever and make their money back on the "loss leader". This game is as old as the grocery store concept. I will do it only if I can do enough "cherry picking" their cheaper items to come out well overall.

This reminds me of a BLONDIE cartoon from long ago. Blondie came in with armloads of boxes from the department store and said, "Look how much money I saved at Tudbury's today!" Dagwood looked morose as he commented that, "If you save much more money, we are going to be broke."

Gotta look at the overall picture and decide if this is working for you.

[Southerngirl]

Well I am on my 3rd shopping attempt with coupons. Did fair the first two times, but I see where the show is misleading and I will go back on what I said in the beginning of this post and scratch the comment of "this is my new favorite show"... it does show SOME of the possibilities, but I don't agree with going to the store and buying 100 of something, nor will I do it! My limit???? 5 or 6 if it's a really good deal, and even with that I feel a little guilty in my tummy.
For another thing the show doesn't show about real life. They go shopping for the coupon items only. Well with an infant... and 2 other young children, that isn't going to work! I buy 4-5 formulas at a time costing $22 each... so there is a quick $100 bill!!!!
Then add 2 boxes of diapers at almost $25 each, BAM... another $50!!!!
The fresh fruits, the meat dept... BAM.. another $100 G-O-N-E!!!
So I saved $78 with coupons the first trip, but still wrote the grocery check for just under $400.
Couponing "to the extreme" is time consuming and costly. Printer ink and paper mostly if you print your own at home, which if you are going to get the good deals, you are gonna have to. I can see how I need to work this to come out ahead.. just going to take me some time.. I'm not giving up, because my garden was a BUST this summer so I have to get food in the house somehow...
Oh and one more observation with couponing... I was in the grocery store (and this was a small stack of coupons trip) FOR 2 HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With a 6 month old, a 4 year old, and a 7 year old... UGH!!! I'm never doing that again... plus the frustration of trying to figure out this "coupon thing".. just too much!
Planning on a big trip the end of July.. getting coupons ready and it's going to be "just for coupon items".. so the kids aren't allowed to go! LOL... ;)

[Southerngirl]

Oh, I forgot to mention about the stores. We do have several grocery stores around here that will double coupons 50 cents and less. So a 50 cent coupon would double to $1 off!
Just have to look and see what the original price is and see if it's worth it, and waiting on the items to go on sale don't always go within the time frame of your expiration date on the coupon I have found out..
Target, which is an hour from here, will stack coupons, so if there is a Target coupon for an item and you have a manufacturer coupon for the same item, you can use both! I haven't tried this yet, but it's on my big shopping trip at the end of this month.
Walmart, I am learning about their "price matching" but they don't double coupons, so I'm not sure if it will pay off or not.
Many of the store coupon policies you can get online. From what I am reading Walgreens is a pain in the rear on coupons, so not sure I'm even going to try there.

Hope someone else has a good shopping trip!

[Aamylf]

I've always used coupons where able, but this show just annoyed the snot out of me. Because of this show (yes, because of this show), NONE of our local groceries now double coupons and all have limits on what you can buy when it's on sale. I spoke with one manager who just happened to be out and about and he said it was because one or two shoppers would come in, clean out an entire inventory of sale product and the rest of the shoppers were just furious. With my coupons and my bogo or bogt, my grocery bill is 60% paid for and 40% for free. I figure that's pretty good when I put no more than an hour a week into it.

If you're in the south that Southern Savers site is GREAT. Thank you.

[lunghd]

What every happened to the stores posting "Limit X per purchase" in the sale flyers? Used to see limits posted in the flyers and in the stores. Dunno if they still do that - I buy very, very few products they put on sale any more since the local paper flyers only have coupons for pickle flavored shampoo or frozen tadpole lips. :D

If they're allowing someone to buy the entire inventory then it would appear that the chains are quite happy to have someone come in and clean completely them out of a sale item... It's the actual store managers who get to deal with 100 irate customers afterward who couldn't buy their 10/$10 Genuine Synthetic Sugar Coated All-Natural Caffeine Enhanced Organically Mined Uranium Crisped Wheat-like Chaff Bomb cereals.

[MollyPitcher]

The few stores here have changed their coupon policies. I very seldom use coupons for reasons stated earlier---most don't apply to what I buy. But it was interesting to see the changes stores are making. The main one is limiting coupon items. Asked the manager at one store and he said because of shelf-clearers.

[ScrubbieLady]

A couple of years ago, they had a local piece on a woman that saved so much money couponing. She took them through the store showing how she did things. One of the things she did, which they did NOT comment on, was to remove coupons attached to packages on the shelf that she did not buy. You know, the ones that say save so much on THIS package. She wasn't going to buy that much this day but would use the coupons later. This is another reason that stores stopped putting pads of rebate forms out. People would come, take everything but the cardboard and then trade the forms through newsletters.

[Laura]

I am a couponer. I have a 3 ring binder with 'baseball card sleeves' to separate my coupons. I have them sectioned off (meat / dairy / h&b / etc).
I go to the store with a list, and a copy of the stores ads.
I do this for my own OCD and so that I will not loose my train of thought.

SINCE the 'extreme coupon' show started airing on tv, in the last 4 months, every time I go to the store, someone comments on my coupon book.
Last week, I had a lady stop me and ask if I was going to get all my groceries for free. Mind you, my cart was full of meat, and fresh produce.
I said no, I was not an 'extreme couponer', that I just use the coupons for the items I would buy anyway.....
She went on to say that she" thinks extreme couponers are gluttons, and they "Say" they give it to food pantry's but they clearly show on tv their hoarding stockpiles in their basements, and that is just plain wrong."
Wow. Um, thanks for your comments, but really freak, move along (I didn't say that but I am SURE that was the look on my face)
People ask if I am "like those people on tv".....

I HATE the TV.
People sit in front of it like it's a 'magic 8 ball' with all the answers. They think what is on TV is really life. Used to be, TV was there to 'entertain you'. Now folks think it's gospel......it's "The Wizard". Guess what? TV is a bunch of folks, behind a curtain, tricking the masses.
OY VEY!!

[Southerngirl]

LOL... Laura, I agree with you on the tv subject! ;)
And I just started with the coupon thing, but the checker at my local grocery store too asked me if I was "an extreme couponer" and I replied "No! I'm just trying to help out a little around the house since I stay home with the children, the 3 children that we raise on our own from my husband working his butt off and us NEVER receiving ANY government assistance!" We buy our own formula for each of our little ones, we did not take part in the state assistance WIC.
Then when my total was done and I was writing the check for my groceries (writing it out for just under $400) I commented to the lady "well if I were an "extreme couponer" I would have done better than that" ;)

[maritimemama]

I have watched the show and it makes me sick, these women are now saving to help thier families, they have mental issues. I have OCD and so do both of my sons, believe me I recognize the symptoms. coupons are good if you can get them, we don't have the vareity of coupons in Canada so using coupons is rare. i save when I can on items I would buy anyhow but not is they still are more expensive then generic. anyhow who has the time to devote to this that they do? you can't work full time and still extreme coupon, you can't take care of a family at home and still extreme coupon and you can't homeschool and still extreme coupon. It is not realistic. In Canada we don't have sunday papers, we don't have alot of BOGOS, we don't have save 75 percent off, atleast not on staples which is what I primarily buy.

[leera]

"we don't have save 75 percent off, at least not on staples which is what I primarily buy"

Have you noticed that the majority of what these people buy is not staples? It's mostly condiments,health and beauty,and junk food.

I save on staples buy purchasing in bulk,or on sale when I do find a sale.

[Aamylf]

Lunghd -- GREAT line really did make me LOL, " It's the actual store managers who get to deal with 100 irate customers afterward who couldn't buy their 10/$10 Genuine Synthetic Sugar Coated All-Natural Caffeine Enhanced Organically Mined Uranium Crisped Wheat-like Chaff Bomb cereals" and so true.

Right now I have some coupons ready to go to the store -- canned soup, cheese and V8 which my husband loves and I just do not have time to make. I make a lot of soups, but my husband likes some I don't make, so when on sale, I buy ahead.

The only good thing, IMHO, to come out of this show is that some people who had never thought of ever using a coupon, now do. I have employees who live on the processed stuff and if they can get $$ off on it, better for them. I'm not going to move them from processed to grinding their own grain, but maybe they can make their dollars go further.

[maritimemama]

there is never coupons on staples, bread, milk, potatoes, produce, meat, dairy (well occasionally) dairy. I will be buying in bulk when our new costco opens but I have an apartment size freezer and teeny tiny pantry and no closets or usuable garages so I don't know where it will be stored.

[Txanne]

As a senior--there is so much I dont buy--

Tissue--Paper towels--dog food( I always use coupons.)

I do look for aspirin etc type coupons.

One store here in Tx,triples coupons--but their prices are so high to begin with
and I think that is the key--a food store that has steady prices--not just coupons on things that be out of code shortly.

We have Sams--but the membership has gotten out of my reach.
While visiting here in Wash.St. I have been to Costco--love their prices--
wish we had one.

Wally world is just a big china mart anymore--paper goods and dog food are about all I buy there--and use my coupons.

Most of the public doesnt realize--when these coupons are released--the stores knows know it and raise prices temporarily to counter that.

So thats why I generally stay with one store--so I know the price of things and can budget accordingly.

Meat rarely has coupons--and I have one store that every 2 months has a meat sale--on thursday--I am there and buy accordingly.

Just some thoughts.

annie

[maritimemama]

our meat gets marked down occasionally if it is near the expiry date. same with produce but it often isn't worth buying.

[Aamylf]

Most of the public doesnt realize--when these coupons are released--the stores knows know it and raise prices temporarily to counter that.

annie


I haven't noticed that here and I'm not sure why they would do that? The manufacturer reimburses the store for any discount or at least they did when I worked BRIEFLY at a grocery years ago.

You really do have to know your prices, though. I was in a store that's big on 10 for $10 and they had tuna on 'sale' for $1 which I can buy for $.87 all day long at another store.

I'm fortunate that meat, seafood and poultry are all bogo at one of our stores here. I buy and freeze or can.

[boatchick18]

I agree with the above posters - the extreme couponing show has ruined it for people who have used coupons for years.

For me, I shop at Kroger and at Sams; this way I know prices and I have created and maintained a price book that I carry with me to know what a normal price is for a product. For example, I know what paper towels cost me at Sams on any given day. On a rare occasion, Kroger will have a sale and there will also be a coupon to use that will make it a better deal.

You can also get coupons for basic products by contacting the manufacturer. I have had success sending emails or calling companies and simply stating I would like to try their products and do they have any coupons they can send me. Some send printable coupons through e-mail, (which works for me because my Kroger takes them) but several have mailed them to me fairly quickly through snail mail.

Another place to look for some great deals is pharmacy stores, like Rite Aid, Walgreens and CVS. More and more people are reaching the age of taking prescriptions every day so they know people will travel to their stores at least once a month. A lot of these stores will allow you to stack coupons so you can get some great deals. My Walgreens was having a close out on some first aid items (the boxes were bent etc) and there were store coupons as well as manufacturer coupons. I was able to make up some great Christmas presents as well as stock up my own kit.

I am by no means an extreme couponer but if anyone is interested in some ideas, please let me know. Someone taught me what to look for so I am always willing to help someone else.

[leera]

Maritimemama.When we lived in the trailer in the trailer park,we used a spare room.

However,could you possibly use a closet,or under a bed,places like that?

I store all my dry goods in glass gallon jars,and a few plastic ones..

[reconbyfire]

That can be true at times, just takes some work to get started. Now if you have no use for pre-packaged products, it might not pan out so well. ;) :)

This is my issue. I rarely buy packaged foods.

[Wyobuckaroo]

There was a news story the other day about people stealing 100s of newspapers from stores and such just for the coupons.

This was down south somewhere. Didn't catch the town.

Don't know if they were in a "coupon club" or some other coupon exchange organization.

Anyone know details ?

Wyo

[leera]

Wyo,it's more common than you would think....the store I work at,our Sunday papers have been getting stolen nearly every week,so much so that the store manage is discontinuing to sell papers,period.

[9er]

Wyo,it's more common than you would think....the store I work at,our Sunday papers have been getting stolen nearly every week,so much so that the store manage is discontinuing to sell papers,period.

I've also noticed people rooting through the papers, stealing coupons. I know check to make sure they are there.

[crunchycon]

There was a news story the other day about people stealing 100s of newspapers from stores and such just for the coupons.

This was down south somewhere. Didn't catch the town.

Don't know if they were in a "coupon club" or some other coupon exchange organization.

Anyone know details ?

Wyo

There was a story in Dayton, TN about a woman who drove past a Dollar General, scooped up all the Sunday papers, extracted all the coupons, and dropped the papers back off, sans coupons. When someone bought a couponless paper and complained, the store realized all the coupons had been ripped off. Thanks to surveillance video, the woman was caught. She said that she didn't realize that it was against the law to take coupons out of the paper.

[9er]

There was a story in Dayton, TN about a woman who drove past a Dollar General, scooped up all the Sunday papers, extracted all the coupons, and dropped the papers back off, sans coupons. When someone bought a couponless paper and complained, the store realized all the coupons had been ripped off. Thanks to surveillance video, the woman was caught. She said that she didn't realize that it was against the law to take coupons out of the paper.


She was trying the "ignorance as innocence" defense. Lame.

[Wyobuckaroo]

There was a local station "talk tv show" from the Twin Cities on today.
They had a couple women who got there 15 minutes of fame by "power shopping" with coupons. You know, $300 in groceries etc. for $15 cash.

Problem I saw was they bought things they are likely never to use.............
In fact one of the women said, she didn't use that particular item that the other on did use, but she bought it bla, bla, % off coupon.

Seemed more of a "thrill of the hunt" or "feeding frenzy" than useful items to there households........

Shop wisely
Wyo

[MYellowRose]

I ran into a lady in the dog food aisle of the grocery store today who said she buys very little at that store anymore, she gets most of her stuff from CVS and Walgreen's. She even gave me the name "greg the dude", his blog is actually "extreme couponing with greg the dude", so I decided to check it out. His couponing 101 page is under construction so I couldn't see what he has to say about actually doing it. I bookmarked it because I'm curious to see if it ever gets done. Oh yes, she said she usually buys 15 papers, at $2 each that's $30 so I'm wondering about that, especially when she said she gets them where she works. My guess is she may be stealing them instead.
I then went to both the CVS and Walgreen's website's to check out the ads since I've already trashed the ones from last weeks paper. Neither one actually had anything I couldn't live without. The only bargain I saw was CVS had Gold Emblem honey 2/$4 but it doesn't state the size. Since I seldom use honey in hot weather, I use it almost exclusively for my hot tea, I have no need to buy it as I've already got at least one full bear bottle that will hold until this coming winter. None of the store's here, at least to my knowledge, double or triple coupons so I can't do that to get an extra savings. I'll stick to my standard of getting one paper and using and sharing the coupon supplements from it.
Aamylf I noticed in the CVS ad they have tuna 10/$10 and I wondered how many people will take advantage of that when it's actually a lot cheaper at the local grocery store. I spent $3.48 today on a quart of light mayo and got a can of tuna & an 8oz. jar of dill relish free which to me is a good deal. Many times the store will have coupons hanging by an item that are actually better than the ones in the supplement. I wanted cookies the other day and they had Keebler Fudge cookies buy one get a store brand box of Pita Poppers for free so I got 2 packages of cookies and 2 boxes of the Pita Poppers for about $6, not bad to my way of thinking. We did prefer the garlic Pita Poppers over the regular though & I would have gotten 2 garlic but there was only one on the shelf so I guess that deal was popular with shoppers.

[MYellowRose]

Tried my hand at extreme couponing today, or at least my version of it. I went through the coupon supplements and clipped out the coupons I wanted to use and filed them in my binder. Since I wanted to stock up on some toiletries I looked for what I considered good coupons and found a buy 2 get 1 free coupon for Suave Natural's body wash. Went to that section at WalMart and found the 12 oz. bottles for $1.93 each and was grabbing 3 different ones when I saw a larger bottle. I decided to see just how different & was glad I did. They were 18 oz. bottles for the same price so I put the 12 oz. bottles back and grabbed the 18 oz. ones instead, 1 each of 3 different kinds. The 12 oz. bottles would have cost me 10.722 cents per ounce whereas the18 oz. bottles cost just 7.148 per ounce. A good deal to my way of thinking, especially since I'm not all that picky at what type of body wash I use and I enjoy getting a bargain whenever I can. I also found some cheap boxes of 100 band-aids for 88 cents each, got 2 boxes, and 2 boxes of ladies feminine supplies at the same price. I put back the deodorants I had because I couldn't find the twin packs like I wanted. I read on one couponing website that if you keep your coupons the items in the circulars usually are put on sale about 3 weeks after the supplements are in the Sunday paper. I'll keep an eye out and see if that happens here, would be nice to get deodorant at a good price as it's gotten pretty pricey to my way of thinking. Anyone else had any luck couponing lately?

[epeterd1]

Don't those people frequently use more than one coupon per item? What stores allow you to do that? I don't have $30 to buy 15 papers on Sundays anyway.

[leera]

epeterd1 I can answer most of that for you.

1)Most extreme couponers do not even buy the paper....many dumpster dive for them,get them from friends,neighbors,etc who don't coupon shop.I have an aunt who volunteers at a recycling center just to get the coupons from the papers...lol...

2)At stores like Walgreens and CVS you can use a manufacturer's coupon along with a store coupon,but you can not use two manufacturer's coupons on one item.Many drug stores also have in store rewards like CVS has "extra bucks" Rite Aid has "+up rewards"....that get used just like cash at the checkout,pros will "roll" those rewards and use them to buy other sale items and get more rewards.

I am not extreme enough to buy 30 papers either,however I do buy three papers if I know the coupons will be worth it(the website I use lists a coupon preview the day before,so I know if I'm even going to bother buying a paper).Then I recycle the paper into mulch for the garden.lol

[Beaniemaster2]

I used to be an extreme couponer till most sources dryed up! No I never stole coupons, and no, I don't think that lady stole the papers, she said she bought them, why would you want to insult someone you don't even know by saying she stole them! And no, I never bought 50 bottles of BBQ sauce just because I had coupons and no, I never cleared the shelves! I spent 2-3 full days going to about 6 different stores to get the stuff for almost free! Don't get to shop like that anymore and thanks to that show, most of the stores now limit the amount of like kind coupons you can use to 2 or 3 max. Alot are also not accepting internet coupons and have a limit of 1 when they do take them. Most sites allows you to print 2 coupons though. I have one store in town, Kroger, that doubles coupons up to 50cents. Limit 3 of same item
I still match sales with coupons and I buy them when necessary, lots of sites sells coupons for a handling fee, google it.

I really get alot of stuff the way for our storage, yes most of it is process food but I will happily eat that need be. Like today, I got boxes of potatoes for 50 cents. I found these box mixes last years beyond their experation date if properly stored. I am eating Hamburger Helpers that expired in 2010 and they are still perfect!

Basicly, I just buy any good sale that we can use, especially if I have a double coupon! :)

[MYellowRose]

Beaniemaster2 I was wrong to say that the lady probably stole the papers and I admit it. I won't however buy coupons unless they come in my Sunday paper. I have been given the supplements from unsold papers as all that's required to be turned in here is the masthead and most places just trash the rest of the paper. In fact I may see if the man at the convenience store up the street where I get my pickle jars will save the supplements for me if he can. I know that they just trash the papers but I'm not up to digging through their dumpster. LOL!

[MYellowRose]

epeterd1 I sent you a PM, will be looking for a reply. Say hi to the family for me.

[Beaniemaster2]

Being on both ends of the stick, I felt I must comment. I used to get 300-400 coupon inserts a week (from the distributor) to clip and sell to coupon companys. Most coupon companys PAY for them! Since selling coupons is illegal, companys charge a 'handling fee' to clip and send them to you. These companys are legit or they wouldn't be operating. I only get one flyer in my paper here so if there are good coupons in one of the other flyers, I have to buy them. I generally pay about 8cents for a 50cent coupon that my store doubles to $1 so I still make out!!!
Having been an extreme couponer myself, I can say that the show totally ruined it for us! My store now limits use of coupons to 3 because of this but nothing stops me from shopping more than once during the sale.
There are alot of junk coupons out there I can't use but here is an example of what I bought last week!
After coupons I paid 75 cents a box for Hamburger Helpers, I paid 50 cents for boxes of BC Potatoes (Dehydrated potatoes), I paid $1.24 for boxes of Minute Rice, I got soups for 75 cents a can, most of these has an experation date of 2014. Perhaps it is all processed food but the price was right and when SHTF, I will gladly eat it!!!
PS: For those who 'dumpster dive' for coupons, more power to you, they can't recycle the shiny flyers anyway! Couponing takes alot of work but for me it has paid off!

[leera]

While I don't buy hamburger helper type stuff,I will buy BC potatoes if on sale with a coupon makes them super cheap...they are simply dehydrated potatoes...I like the hash browns...

I have found though that in the past couple of years,especially since we have actual garden space now,I don't buy nearly as much stuff as I used to.If I can grow it and make it myself,like ketchup or salsa...I don't bother buying it..

Yes,that show has ruined a lot for legit coupon shoppers....by bringing to the spotlight all the things you shouldn't do,but they do on TV, it's forced stores to create or enforce new coupon policies...

Did you know that when someone takes in 12 or more coupons for the same item,and they are all cut out the same(batch cut) the store,if they take them,will not get reimbursed for them? That's why they've put limits in place....

Instead of getting reimbursed,they get investigated for coupon fraud because they took coupons that were clearly batch cut(people will layer coupon pages together and then cut them out with a paper cutter)and never actually end up getting their money from the coupons.

Since I work in retail I get to see both sides of the fence so to speak.I've had people get mad at me because they cleared a shelf of all the sale items and expect me to actually let them do it....umm.....no....you have to leave some for other people...

I've had people try to get me to take coupons that were not for the correct item,expired coupons,etc,etc....I've seen most all of it.And no,you can not stack a buy one get one free coupon with a $1.00 off coupon....have had people do that too...

On the other hand if I get a customer that is clearly new at using coupons and not totally up to speed on how things work,I will gently guide them in the right direction,and often refer them to some of my favorite couponing and money saving websites...I can't allow people to improperly use coupons,but I can teach them,or help teach them how to use them properly.

[MYellowRose]

Went to Walmart today looking for the pack of coupon sleeve pages that I used in my binder only to find out they no longer carry them.Boo Hoo! Since I've got to go out tomorrow I'll get up and out early enough to see if the other two Walmart's I shop at have any. I think I kept the cover sheet that came in the package so if I can find it maybe I can order them directly from the company.