Extreme Couponing
 

I'm watching extreme couponing on TLC. Well, I recorded it because I'm thinking about using coupons more than I usually have done in the past. I use them now, but rarely. Only like if I'm going in for one item and I happen to have a coupon for that particular item. I would take time to cut them out, it's just that when I do my grocery shopping, I miss a lot of the fine print. When I'm done shopping, I get to the cashier, and if I'm using a stack of let's say 10 coupons, I get like half of them back because, I either forgot to put those items on my grocery list or I missed the "buy two" fine print. It got really annoying so I don't use them as much. I'm watching TLC to see how people on here do it to make it easier. Does anyone else use coupons a lot? Do you save a lot?

I don't use them a lot, but I try. I do know that what they do on that show isn't always allowed. If you look, some of them say "Only X number Per order." I try to use them when things are on sale so you get more bang for your buck. I also only try to buy stuff that I use. Although in a lot of cases, Costco is just as cheap without all the headaches ;)

PS: That show kinda freaks me out. Seriously, who needs a Wall-of-Toothpaste? They also buy a lot of junk food/packaged junk and very little actual vegetables. The work they put into all that is astonishing too!

lol
Yep. Some lady just bought a ton of toothbrushes.

I just don't like looking for the exact match. It almost makes it not worth it when I'm being lazy. That happened to me a few times with milk. The cashier was like, "you picked the wrong one so you can't use this coupon."

I have noticed that, too- the people on that show end up with tons of unhealthy stuff that no one needs. I use coupons, and I do save with them. However, I only use them for items that I actually need. I have had good luck saving money by shopping anywhere other than the traditional So. Cal. grocery chains. Super Wal-Mart, Trader Joe's, Sprouts, Target- all offer great prices. Also, in the greater LA area, there are ethnic markets that are really reasonable, too.

Costco, also, as another poster pointed out. They have good meats.

TWSS lol

I'm a coupon junkie, but not a hoarder. check out www.southernsavers.com for coupon matchups with sales. There's a section on the website called tutorial which will show you how to make the best deal of your coupons without becoming one of those freaks on that tv show.

When we have coupons, we use them. My hubby and I are brand-specific for anything that touches our skin due to skin sensitivities - soap, laundry detergent, makeup (me), powder, lotions - so it wouldn't matter how cheap the regular detergent went on sale for or how big a coupon.

At the grocery store, with our store rewards and sales, we usually save at least 15-25%. We have had regular, non-doubling coupons bring our total bill down up to about 50%, but it's rare. For example, boneless chicken breasts go on sale for $1.99 (50% off) a pound about every 5-7 weeks, so when it does, I get several large packages.

At Target, where we get most of our cleaning, paper, personal hygiene, first aid, prescriptions, and some food items like cereal and pretzels, we have a store-brand Visa card that gives us 5% off everything we buy plus we get an additional 5% off coupon for any one-day per month. On top of sales and Target-brand coupons, we get good deals. We do sometimes wait to get certain types of things until we have a coupon for it or they go on sale. A buck or two off or BOGO can save a lot of money.

In some years, we've shopped at Costco or BJs for things, but we've become very frugal, and go can't go in there for "just one thing". It's not worth the cost of the membership.

My best use of coupons and sales is at clothing stores. For example, I shop at NY&Co, and in addition to $35 off $70 coupons (joined their online rewards club), you get amazing sales like BOGO. I've walked out with $200 worth of clothes for $60. They are always sending me coupons. They also work great at the holidays, being able to buy $45 gifts for $12.50.

All that crazy (and often illegal) couponing would drive me crazy. Grocery shopping doesn't need to take 5 hours and cause an ulcer.

We've started seriously using coupons due to necessity, in the last year. And it's amazing what you can save. We do everything within the law and rules. Last week for example, I was able to get 4 tubes of Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste for $0.50. It's also allowed us to make some great donations to the local animal shelter.

The meds for my basset hound with cancer are over $400 a month, not counting vet bills, cardiology appointments, etc. Using coupons has allowed us to be able to get him the open heart surgery he needed, the chemo, and now treat the heart disease that was caused by the chemo. It's been a life saver! :)

I use coupons pretty regularly when I'm at school because our grocery store doubles them.
I don't go out of my way to buy something I don't use enough or care for though, just because I have a coupon. I'm in no ways like the people on the show. I don't understand stockpiling 50 bottles of ketchup... keep like 4 and donate the rest...

There is a guy I work with here that does it, and he left work the other day with a baggie full of coupons he found or other coworkers gave him. He says he has 60 bottles of bbq sauce, but he plans to donate a good bit of them when the little league team does some fundraiser.

I think if you're going to extreme coupon like on that show, you should be making charitable donations because there is simply no way you're going to use all of that stuff before the next time you decide to buy 60 more of the same thing

I do use coupons regularly, and store rewards cards are great, because they hardly require any effort.
I never get any ridiculous amounts though, most I ever got of something were 4 or 5.

None of my stores around here multiply coupons. Is it more common in different regions of the country? Or is it more by chain/ownership?

Buffy was on a medication that would have cost $350/month if I bought it at the vet's. His vet gave me a pet pharmacy in Arizona (DiamondBack Pharmacy) which made up pet meds themselves - the same med was $29.79/month including postage! I'll look for the address for you when I'm home.

I was always taught that if I got a BOGO, to set one aside for a food bank (we had to do that with clothes, too). But times have changed, and I see nothing wrong to keep a couple, but I still have a food bank shelf.

Not only have most (if not all) of the stores around here stopped multiplying coupons but when I was doing couponing, I realized that the same coupons were coming out every two weeks and most of the stuff was still more expensive with the coupon than buying the equivalent generic brand was.

I do shop sales and do well that way. I don't see the point in stock piling enough ketchup to last me a lifetime (I think I buy ketchup twice a year) unless I'm going to donate it. I just don't get it.

Ok that is the coolest childhood lesson I've ever heard! What a great lesson :) I don't have kids, but don't think I'm not telling my sister and in-laws :cool: