Extreme Couponing
Lately I’ve been hearing the phrase “extreme couponing” being thrown out in everyday conversations. This is mainly due to TLC’s show Extreme Couponing that follows shoppers as they plan and plot their way to incredible savings. Admittedly, I have not seen the show and prior to today the term “stockpile” meant nothing to me. If the clip below is any measure of what the show is like, I probably won’t be tuning in often. The people in this particular video seem very friendly; however, I found that this type of program could definitely be a trigger of my OCD. The stockpiles freak me out…seriously! Plus, I wonder how cost effective this level of couponing can be when you are constantly spending money, just because you have coupons, on items that you already own in bulk. Is this just another form of saving that I have yet to master? Or, does this type of shopping generate a similar high I can get from the purchase of a fly pair of shoes?
Savings or Waste? You be the judge as you check out the stockpile of Amanda from TLC’s Extreme Couponing!
If this is your cup of tea, TLC.com has launched the companion site http://tlc.com/extremecouponing, and a Facebook fan site is available at http://www.facebook.com/ExtremeCouponingTLC.
The average person will not need to go to the “Extreme”. However I did learn a few lessons and the series opened my eyes to a different approach to shopping.
1)Purchasing items when they are on sale as opposed to when you need them. If you are a woman you will need tampons. Purchase them when they are BOGO and combine with your coupons just makes cents
You may have 6 boxes under your sink but it is [almost] not doubt they will get used.
2)Coordinate your coupons with store promotions. Most stores do this regularly. Purchase two Sunday Papers (The First Sunday of the month has the most and best coupons). The double coupons are well worth the $3 price and there may be an interesting article in the paper.
3) The retailer with the Lowest initial price may not have the best deal. If Walmart has BBQ Sauce for $2.98 ea and Winn Dixie has the same sauce $3.59 at Buy One get One Free. Winn Dixie has the best deal. You have saved $2.37 on WD BOGO vs purchasing 2 at $2.98 from Wally-World
4)You can use double coupons on BOGO items. You have technically purchased 2 items. If you have 2 coupons each for $1.00 off the BBQ Sauce, you can use both coupons. So you actually pay $1.59 for 2 bottles of BBQ Sauce.
I hadnt really shopped at Winn Dixie in a while. Just the occasional in and out run. However with their Fuel perks promotions and BOGO, they will more than likely be my grocerie retailer of choice. My Coworker recently saved $1.10/gallon on gas. Now you do have to use these fuel perks at specific gas stations but at $1.10 in savings you still won’t be able to find a better deal.
It is a new way of approaching shopping. I don’t have a stock pile but I do see the logic in saving on what you can so that when you need to purchase fresh produce at regular cost you still have the savings.
SAVING IS EXCITING!!!
I watched the show last night and I don’t think the way they coupon would benefit me and my tastes.
#1- I like fresh produce, and nobody every offers coupons off of fresh fruits and veggies! I don’t wanna eat spaghetti-os (sp) forever just cause I got a good deal on them.
#2- I like variety and those folks seem to have stock rooms full of the same thing- 100 bottles of Dove deodorant and 50 bottles of Suave body wash. What if I develop an allergy to those products? Do I really want to use a 8 year old deodorant, because that’s how long it would take me to get to bottle 100 if I have a stockpile full of the stuff.
#3- Seeing their pantries look like store shelves made me uncomfortable. It made me think of how greedy Americans are and our exorbitant consumerism. Why does having a crap load of STUFF make us feel secure? There is a such thing as having too much stuff and I think most of it goes to waste and I hate being wasteful!
#4- I like my time! Those people spend HOURs preparing for 1 shopping trip! I’d rather be hanging out with my boo, my dog, or doing something productive. I don’t wanna be scouring the net obsessing over a trip that will only last 30 minutes.
Now, I do cut coupons and usually save $10-$15 on average per shopping trip and I get super psyched whenever that happens! I only use them to purchase things I regulary use and I buy one or two items of each, not 50. I sometimes use them to try out a new product and that way I feel like I didn’t lose money if I end up not loving it.
I liked the guy that bought things in bulk in order to put them in care packages for the troops and I learned a good tip about using coupons on trial size and travel size items because then you basically get them for free, but other than that I will not become an extreme couponer!
Like having your own personal store, also like a full time job (or obsession).