I am a part of a frugal Church based charity shopping group that shops deals for the sole purpose of donating to those in need. The coupons are donated by Church members, stored by date and clipped by volunteer shoppers just prior to the shopping trips. The goods are immediately passed on to charities. We are not alone. For example; so far this year Clip, Shop, Share has donated almost 43K in personal care products for just under $400.00. Nothing is wasted. These ongoing mission projects scattered in communities nationwide make givers out of those who had no money to spare and nullifies almost every single argument you have made. Just as Jersey Shore does not provide an example of every resident of that state, Extreme Couponing does not speak for the millions of frugal families nationwide saving every penny to stay afloat.
THANK YOU! You articulated everything that I've been thinking is wrong with this. I have been couponing for over 30 years, and I have consistently saved about 50% on our REGULAR grocery trips. This means that I have a small stockpile of things that we will use before they expire, or donate to our church pantry.
I spend about two hours every week clipping the coupons that match up with sale items (thank you, southernsavers.com!) and making a menu plan for the week. I admit, two hours is a lot of time, but I save about 50-60% on my groceries, which is worth it - that's about $50 in savings, or $25 an hour.
But I completely agree with you about "extreme" couponing. My rule of thumb is that I buy what I can use in 2 months, because it will go on sale again in that time period. I haven't seen the TV show, but I've heard a lot, including real life stories from my Publix manager about the shelf clearers. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to want to use my one or two coupons for the free baby food only to find out that someone cleared the shelf and the end cap and the stock room... I've learned to shop the morning of the first day of the sale or right after the truck comes over the weekend.
A simple solution, though, I think - impose limits of 5 or 10 items per visit (not transaction; that would make it more of a nightmare!)
As a partner to an extreme couponer, I want to comment on a few things from my perspective--that is not one myself but as a cart pusher and beneficiary.
First, know that the shows are always (at least so far) the shopper's biggest trip so far. It apparently makes for good shopping.
As for real life with an extreme couponer:
1. Not a full-time commitment. My partner fetches up coupons and organizes her shopping trips like other people watch tv/play bejeweled/play the sport of their choice
2. Stockpile a lot of stuff? No-not necessarily. We have a stockpile, relatively modest by most people's standards.
Upon viewing our toilet paper stockpile, we get many comments about how they have more toilet paper and are NOT stockpilers.
As for storage space--I suspect 99% of storage space in this country is devoted to things people don't need and won't ever use. Look at an average closet, garage--how much of that stuff is used regularly?
3. Huh? Yes, she digs the savings and probably gives her a rush. Does she wake up at night in a cold sweat? No. Does she fret over coupon opportunities gone by? no. That's an odd projection.
4. Hours? No. In fact our average shopping trip time has gone way down. Instead of wandering about hoping we have what we need for the store or following a list made from an arbitrary menu and general household needs--we know exactly what we are getting. (and know that because we just bought 10 cans of organic tomatoes and 10 cans of organic beans last week--we definitely won't run short in the middle of cooking if we don't buy more.)
5. Much, much, much more than you need. I grant you a half point on that one.
Shelf clearing makes me cringe as much as it makes you cringe. The mustard made me shake my head since I couldn't imagine what she was going to do with it since her husband didn't even eat mustard. But, again, that was tv and it made for a plot point in a skewed "reality" show.
Clearing a shelf never means the entire store is out of a "needed" item. Money makers are inevitably on a brand name item that no one in serious need of that particular type of medication would choose first, unless they were super brand name focused. A cleared shelf means you generally end up with a generic toilet paper, a generic pain reliever, an antacid that doesn't have the new and improved tutti-frutti flavor.
Yes, we have gotten money makers before--usually feminine care items, toothpaste, and yes, pain killers. You know where those go? Straight to agencies who need them. Do you know how much it means to your local women's shelter to get those very basic items? Did you realize that most extreme couponers give a large portion of their stockpile to those in need? Some of them shop entirely for those in need. Of course, the money "made" actually goes into things like produce, milk, tofu for our family--not into our pockets since rare is the store that actually gives cash out and some items have rarer coupons.
Hi!
Buying in bulk is just like buying anything-you have t read the fine print. Sometimes, it is not a deal. Buying in bulk in my favourite store (bulkbarn) makes sense for spices and herbs (make sure you label them first) and for deals on after Christmas baking supplies but not, for example, for pasta-pasta is cheaper to buy when it is on sale at the grocery store. One thing I do like about bulk is that you can try a new product you are unsure of and just buy what you need to see if you like it. If it is a success, score when it goes on sale and if it is not a hit-hey you just tried something new and you're not going to try to find a use for something you do not like. It really pays to keep a journal with the prices - you will be amazed at the things you thought were a deal but really were not.
There's a lady on my block who does this then sells her surplus as a yard sale a few times each year, advertising "stockpile sale". It's no wonder that when I go into CVS or Walgreens or Kroger with my two or three coupons hoping to get two or three items very cheap or free and the shelves are cleared. So my efforts to save my family money are thwarted by those greedy people who feel the need to clear the shelves then hoard it half the year to have a yard sale.
I completely agree with the sentiment here, particularly your last point. I believe that all transactions should be win-win for both the consumer and the retailer. Now, extreme couponing shifts that balance completely in favor of the consumer.
We all like to save money, and I use coupons when I can. But cleaning out a store of ibuprofen to save some money is morally wrong in my opinion. What about the person who coming in later who really needs a bottle? They are penalized because of someone else's selfishness.
The retailers and manufacturers are partly to blame. Every coupon should have a limit of 2 or 3 per customer per day.
I don't know a lot about economics, but I do know that if practical necessities were more affordable or wages were more fairly distributed, this wouldn't be such a problem. Honestly, though, I can see where a lot of these extremists are coming from, and I can't blame them. They're hiding from their fear in the comfort of their coupons. Unfortunately, they're blinded to the repercussions of their actions, as are most addicts.
I agree with everyone of your points and I'd like to add on more. The amount of processed food that the extreme couponers buy. The piles of soup and frozen pizzas, where's the fresh vegetables and produce. How much sodium does and partially hydrogenated oils do one family need? I've only watched it a couple of times and most of the families that I saw didn't appear to be the healthiest.
Paul, we're not "extreme" enough for tv, but I'm pretty happy saving 50%. You're absolutely right, it gets to be a sickness. Yesterday I was sitting down with my laptop, paper, and coupons, and designing my week (which stores to hit, what was on sale, etc). And it gets to you - you have a fantastic coupon that will make this particular item almost free, but it's not a product you could use or donate. It's hard to check yourself. But I think most of us don't want to buy/store/watch decompose your 77 bottles of mustard.
Oh, and shelf-clearers are the bane of all of our existence.
Extreme couponing is a bit much. My wife recently decided be just little more pro-active about coupons though, looking through the paper and online as well as adjusting the day she went shopping and has been saving about 15-20% on average. I'd say she spends at most 30 minutes week on couponing and no additional time at the store. It seems worthwhile at that level - or at least gets the grocery expenses to be a little less inflated.
One of the reasons that people spend too much is that they don't have a clear path laid out between what they're doing now (which isn't working for them financially), and the lifestyle where their goals have been realized. Without that clear path, they write off the life of their dreams as just a wish.
Worse yet, they don't really know what the life of their dreams looks like, and they just accept that owning a home and being retired (two of the most common goals offered by personal finance tools) are the keys to financial freedom, and ultimately, happiness.
In reality, over-spending equates to giving up your ability to realize your goals.
I agree with all the points you laid out. And I completely agree that spending too much keeps your readers from obtaining these 17 benefits of wealth.
What I would encourage your readers to do is to write down what a lifestyle of financial freedom would look like to them. Put down on paper what they would do if they had the money to do it. And start making plans to realize those aspects of their ideal lifestyle.
Love the tips! Every so often I change up my computer chair or an exercise ball. This helps me greatly with my posture and changes things up so I get proper circulation throughout the lower half of my body.
I'm trying to make some whiskey and I guess I don't understand why make it from corn as opposed to just making it from sugar.
Wouldn't it be the same after distilling? Seems to me at the end you have 90-95% alcohol that doesn't taste like anything no matter what you use to make it.
I do buy in bulk but and very picky about what I choose to buy. String Cheese in the brand I like is at Sam's for a quarter a piece...way cheaper than the grocery store. I also buy my berries and greek yogurt at the bulk stores too. Lately, the grcery store has offered same or better price on the yogurt but if I don't need to grocery shop, I don't make the extra trip (gas savings!). I buy paper goods there too but have to admit, I haven't done my comparison with grocery store to make sure its a better deal.
I only buy bulk items that can be stored for long periods of time or items that I use every day. Since there are just two in my house, it doesn't make sense to buy bulk sandwich meat, for example, because it will go bad before we can use it all.
I am a part of a frugal Church based charity shopping group that shops deals for the sole purpose of donating to those in need. The coupons are donated by Church members, stored by date and clipped by volunteer shoppers just prior to the shopping trips. The goods are immediately passed on to charities. We are not alone. For example; so far this year Clip, Shop, Share has donated almost 43K in personal care products for just under $400.00. Nothing is wasted. These ongoing mission projects scattered in communities nationwide make givers out of those who had no money to spare and nullifies almost every single argument you have made. Just as Jersey Shore does not provide an example of every resident of that state, Extreme Couponing does not speak for the millions of frugal families nationwide saving every penny to stay afloat.
Thank you. This is why when I go to the store for the ONE bottle of mustard a year I need the shelf it empty. These people are creepy.
here, hear. absolutely spot on.
THANK YOU! You articulated everything that I've been thinking is wrong with this. I have been couponing for over 30 years, and I have consistently saved about 50% on our REGULAR grocery trips. This means that I have a small stockpile of things that we will use before they expire, or donate to our church pantry.
I spend about two hours every week clipping the coupons that match up with sale items (thank you, southernsavers.com!) and making a menu plan for the week. I admit, two hours is a lot of time, but I save about 50-60% on my groceries, which is worth it - that's about $50 in savings, or $25 an hour.
But I completely agree with you about "extreme" couponing. My rule of thumb is that I buy what I can use in 2 months, because it will go on sale again in that time period. I haven't seen the TV show, but I've heard a lot, including real life stories from my Publix manager about the shelf clearers. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to want to use my one or two coupons for the free baby food only to find out that someone cleared the shelf and the end cap and the stock room... I've learned to shop the morning of the first day of the sale or right after the truck comes over the weekend.
A simple solution, though, I think - impose limits of 5 or 10 items per visit (not transaction; that would make it more of a nightmare!)
As a partner to an extreme couponer, I want to comment on a few things from my perspective--that is not one myself but as a cart pusher and beneficiary.
First, know that the shows are always (at least so far) the shopper's biggest trip so far. It apparently makes for good shopping.
As for real life with an extreme couponer:
1. Not a full-time commitment. My partner fetches up coupons and organizes her shopping trips like other people watch tv/play bejeweled/play the sport of their choice
2. Stockpile a lot of stuff? No-not necessarily. We have a stockpile, relatively modest by most people's standards.
Upon viewing our toilet paper stockpile, we get many comments about how they have more toilet paper and are NOT stockpilers.
As for storage space--I suspect 99% of storage space in this country is devoted to things people don't need and won't ever use. Look at an average closet, garage--how much of that stuff is used regularly?
3. Huh? Yes, she digs the savings and probably gives her a rush. Does she wake up at night in a cold sweat? No. Does she fret over coupon opportunities gone by? no. That's an odd projection.
4. Hours? No. In fact our average shopping trip time has gone way down. Instead of wandering about hoping we have what we need for the store or following a list made from an arbitrary menu and general household needs--we know exactly what we are getting. (and know that because we just bought 10 cans of organic tomatoes and 10 cans of organic beans last week--we definitely won't run short in the middle of cooking if we don't buy more.)
5. Much, much, much more than you need. I grant you a half point on that one.
Shelf clearing makes me cringe as much as it makes you cringe. The mustard made me shake my head since I couldn't imagine what she was going to do with it since her husband didn't even eat mustard. But, again, that was tv and it made for a plot point in a skewed "reality" show.
Clearing a shelf never means the entire store is out of a "needed" item. Money makers are inevitably on a brand name item that no one in serious need of that particular type of medication would choose first, unless they were super brand name focused. A cleared shelf means you generally end up with a generic toilet paper, a generic pain reliever, an antacid that doesn't have the new and improved tutti-frutti flavor.
Yes, we have gotten money makers before--usually feminine care items, toothpaste, and yes, pain killers. You know where those go? Straight to agencies who need them. Do you know how much it means to your local women's shelter to get those very basic items? Did you realize that most extreme couponers give a large portion of their stockpile to those in need? Some of them shop entirely for those in need. Of course, the money "made" actually goes into things like produce, milk, tofu for our family--not into our pockets since rare is the store that actually gives cash out and some items have rarer coupons.
Hi!
Buying in bulk is just like buying anything-you have t read the fine print. Sometimes, it is not a deal. Buying in bulk in my favourite store (bulkbarn) makes sense for spices and herbs (make sure you label them first) and for deals on after Christmas baking supplies but not, for example, for pasta-pasta is cheaper to buy when it is on sale at the grocery store. One thing I do like about bulk is that you can try a new product you are unsure of and just buy what you need to see if you like it. If it is a success, score when it goes on sale and if it is not a hit-hey you just tried something new and you're not going to try to find a use for something you do not like. It really pays to keep a journal with the prices - you will be amazed at the things you thought were a deal but really were not.
Thanks for the tips! Mrs. SPF and I are going to try our first every garage sale this summer and we hope to get the street involved!
There's a lady on my block who does this then sells her surplus as a yard sale a few times each year, advertising "stockpile sale". It's no wonder that when I go into CVS or Walgreens or Kroger with my two or three coupons hoping to get two or three items very cheap or free and the shelves are cleared. So my efforts to save my family money are thwarted by those greedy people who feel the need to clear the shelves then hoard it half the year to have a yard sale.
I completely agree with the sentiment here, particularly your last point. I believe that all transactions should be win-win for both the consumer and the retailer. Now, extreme couponing shifts that balance completely in favor of the consumer.
We all like to save money, and I use coupons when I can. But cleaning out a store of ibuprofen to save some money is morally wrong in my opinion. What about the person who coming in later who really needs a bottle? They are penalized because of someone else's selfishness.
The retailers and manufacturers are partly to blame. Every coupon should have a limit of 2 or 3 per customer per day.
I don't know a lot about economics, but I do know that if practical necessities were more affordable or wages were more fairly distributed, this wouldn't be such a problem. Honestly, though, I can see where a lot of these extremists are coming from, and I can't blame them. They're hiding from their fear in the comfort of their coupons. Unfortunately, they're blinded to the repercussions of their actions, as are most addicts.
I agree with everyone of your points and I'd like to add on more. The amount of processed food that the extreme couponers buy. The piles of soup and frozen pizzas, where's the fresh vegetables and produce. How much sodium does and partially hydrogenated oils do one family need? I've only watched it a couple of times and most of the families that I saw didn't appear to be the healthiest.
Paul, we're not "extreme" enough for tv, but I'm pretty happy saving 50%. You're absolutely right, it gets to be a sickness. Yesterday I was sitting down with my laptop, paper, and coupons, and designing my week (which stores to hit, what was on sale, etc). And it gets to you - you have a fantastic coupon that will make this particular item almost free, but it's not a product you could use or donate. It's hard to check yourself. But I think most of us don't want to buy/store/watch decompose your 77 bottles of mustard.
Oh, and shelf-clearers are the bane of all of our existence.
Extreme couponing is a bit much. My wife recently decided be just little more pro-active about coupons though, looking through the paper and online as well as adjusting the day she went shopping and has been saving about 15-20% on average. I'd say she spends at most 30 minutes week on couponing and no additional time at the store. It seems worthwhile at that level - or at least gets the grocery expenses to be a little less inflated.
One of the reasons that people spend too much is that they don't have a clear path laid out between what they're doing now (which isn't working for them financially), and the lifestyle where their goals have been realized. Without that clear path, they write off the life of their dreams as just a wish.
Worse yet, they don't really know what the life of their dreams looks like, and they just accept that owning a home and being retired (two of the most common goals offered by personal finance tools) are the keys to financial freedom, and ultimately, happiness.
In reality, over-spending equates to giving up your ability to realize your goals.
I agree with all the points you laid out. And I completely agree that spending too much keeps your readers from obtaining these 17 benefits of wealth.
What I would encourage your readers to do is to write down what a lifestyle of financial freedom would look like to them. Put down on paper what they would do if they had the money to do it. And start making plans to realize those aspects of their ideal lifestyle.
Thank you very much. I had an interview lately were I were asked many questions listed here, I wish I saw them earlier would change a lot.
I don't usually buy in bulk because i find that I can usually get a better deal on smaller amounts with coupons.
Remember the prison break series, well i did what the old man did !
get it down to $ 1.85 at the pump!! it can be done they need to just do IT!!!!
Love the tips! Every so often I change up my computer chair or an exercise ball. This helps me greatly with my posture and changes things up so I get proper circulation throughout the lower half of my body.
Ok I have a question.
I'm trying to make some whiskey and I guess I don't understand why make it from corn as opposed to just making it from sugar.
Wouldn't it be the same after distilling? Seems to me at the end you have 90-95% alcohol that doesn't taste like anything no matter what you use to make it.
I do buy in bulk but and very picky about what I choose to buy. String Cheese in the brand I like is at Sam's for a quarter a piece...way cheaper than the grocery store. I also buy my berries and greek yogurt at the bulk stores too. Lately, the grcery store has offered same or better price on the yogurt but if I don't need to grocery shop, I don't make the extra trip (gas savings!). I buy paper goods there too but have to admit, I haven't done my comparison with grocery store to make sure its a better deal.
I like mine sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.
I only buy bulk items that can be stored for long periods of time or items that I use every day. Since there are just two in my house, it doesn't make sense to buy bulk sandwich meat, for example, because it will go bad before we can use it all.
I buy Whole Foods Organic Apple Juice in the 1 gallon container in bulk, which is 6 at a time...I get a 10% discount when I do this.