I have been extreme couponing since long before there was a name for it. You know the type: obsessively clipping coupons, buying the items on sale in bulk and filling their pantry for a "raining day." That is why when I heard TLC was going to air a series called Extreme Couponing, I was very happy. Perhaps I could pick up some tips from others that I didn't already know. The series might help me save money.
I was wrong.
Instead, the show seems like some kind of twisted combination of "Hoarders" and "Supermarket Sweep." The Extreme Couponers gleefully show off their "stockpiles" and exclaim "I won't have to buy toothpaste for the rest of my life!"
I have used coupons for years as a way of stretching my food dollars, particularly when I was supporting an extended family when my oldest son and his wife lost their jobs and had to move in with me. Without the coupons, my grocery bill would have either been a lot higher than it was, or we may have had a tougher time putting food on the table.
Now, since "Extreme Couponing" has hit the airwaves, more people are "abusing the system." They are trying to emulate the Extreme Couponers and come up with ways of paying next to nothing for their groceries. They do this by combining printed coupons with the store's loyalty cards and sales. I have done this, too...but I know damn well I don't need 500 tubes of toothpaste. Some of these folks subscribe to coupon clipping services to get considerably more newspapers than they would ever possibly by just to stock up on the coupons. In one episode, a man purchased $4,000 worth of breakfast cereal for pennies on the dollar. Granted, he did donate the cereal to a food bank, but how likely is it that store will offer a similar deal in the future?
In my area, grocery stores and even some pharmacies, are wising up to the abuse. They are changing their coupon policies. At one grocery store chain where I live, they will still double coupons, but only on the first item. After that, they will only accept the face value of the coupon. Yes, they have indicated that the change in policy is due in large part to people employing the practices they have seen on "Extreme Couponing." Because of these gluttons, it is no longer possible for me to save as much money as I used to with coupons. No, I do not have a "stock pile."
Savvy Frugality, saving money, couponing....that's one thing. There is only one word for one person single-handedly clearing an entire shelf of underarm deodorant and paying for them with nothing more than a pile of clipped coupons: greed.
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I have always been a big fan of coupons...when they are used the right way. Some people say they save a lot of money using coupons, but the truth is they are using coupons to purchase things they would not otherwise buy. That is not the proper way to use coupons.
In short, coupons are like using "free money" when they are used to buy things you would normally put in your shopping cart. Combine the manufacturer's coupons with store coupons, buy items when they are on sale and use the coupons during the store's "double coupon" day, and you can get some great deals.
My wife is the "coupon queen" in our house. I have literally seen her buy $120 worth of groceries for about $15 using coupons. When we left the store, we felt like we had broken some kind of law, but of course we hadn't. She also gets some great deals with her CVS card and "extra value" bucks that are printed on the store receipts.
Coupon usage is up these days, which is no surprise considering the state of the economy. I used to clip coupons from the Sunday paper, but to be honest many of the coupons I find in there now are for things I would not otherwise buy. I now pick and choose my coupons online, and I make use of the coupons and discounts available through UPromise.com, which also puts money into my kid's college fund. There are also many sites where you can find coupon codes for making your online purchases.
In short, use these methods for proper couponing:
1. Combine manufacturer coupons with store coupons and sales for maximum saving.
2. Don't use coupons for things you would not normally buy.
3. Search for coupons online.
4. Don't forget coupon codes for online purchases.
5. Find out the sales days at your local supermarket. At my local supermarket, the sales always start on a Wednesday.
Later this month, shoppers around the country will take part in perhaps the biggest shopping day of the year: Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving. The day is known for its holiday shopping bargains. My wife is among those who brave the crowds (she once got into a near-fistfight over a Tickle-Me Elmo at K-Mart), but not me. I prefer to do my shopping online, in the comfort of my own home. What makes online shopping just as good as the Black Friday sales are the promotion and coupon codes which can award shoppers everything from free shipping to several percent off their purchase price. So, with that in mind, I am happy to do a review of FindSavings.com at their request.
Like a lot of coupon code sites, FindSavings.com features discount and promo codes for most of the major online stores, such as Overstock.com, Buy.com, Walmart.com and one that I use frequently around Mother's Day: 1800Flowers.com. Unlike a lot of coupon code sites, the layout of FindSavings.com is very user-friendly, with links arranged by shopping categories, store and coupon type. The coupon types available at the site include free shipping, dollars off, percent off, rebates, sales and free gifts. Depending upon what type of savings are most important for you, that is a big time-saver while you do your online shopping.
If you are looking for a specific item, there is also a search box on the site which will steer you not only to the best promo codes, but to the applicable online shopping sites so you don't have to spend a lot of time opening links and searching for the item.
I spent some time browsing some of my usual online shopping haunts, including Target.com (which features free shipping on some appliances), Borders.com (25 percent off one item), and of course 1800Flowers.com (free shipping, this will come in handy for my wife's upcoming birthday).
In the coupon section, I found a great deal at Restaurant.com: save 60 percent on a $25 restaurant gift certificate, plus receive a free $10 gift certificate. Price? Four dollars. That certainly makes eating out much more affordable, especially this time of year.
I did notice that there are some discount codes which have long since expired, but this is something I have noticed at most other coupon and promo code sites. Just make sure that the promo code you are trying to use is current and up-to-date.
Online shopping is not only a way of beating the holiday crowds at the mall, but it's a good way to save money as well. FindSavings.com helps make that a bit easier.
Like of lot of folks practicing Savvy Frugality, I keep eating out at restaurants and going out to a minimum, but my family does still enjoy a good meal out once in awhile. I have a wife and two sons, and while we keep a lot of our entertaining close to home, there are occasions when we want to have a night out on the town. My son's recent high school graduation was one of those occasions. But how do you go out and stay frugal at the same time?
I recently took advantage of a current sale of the Entertainment Book. In the interest of full disclosure, the Entertainment Book is an advertiser at Savvy Frugality, but it is one which I use and recommend. I purchased the book online (yes, there is a banner on SavvyFrugality.com) for just $9.99, and it has already more than paid for itself.
There are coupons for restaurants, local amusement parks, bowling alleys and movie theaters. I like the restaurant coupons because many of them allow me to save 20 percent or more when my family goes out to eat. There are also coupons for rental cars, airfare, and other travel expenses.
Personally, I like a good burger once in awhile, and I have "buy one, get one free" coupons at McDonald's. I took my youngest son to McDonald's recently, used a coupon, and saved about $4 during that one trip. I purchased a Big Mac. He had a Quarter Pounder with Cheese (which cost me nothing after the coupon). That already took care of nearly half the cost of the Entertainment Book.
Also, the book comes with a plastic Entertainment card which I can use at participating merchants for deals which don't require a coupon. When I travel for business or on vacation, I can also check out the Entertainment deals for the cities I'm traveling to and print coupons right from the Entertainment web site.
Some of the coupons do expire in November, but I have already saved more than I spent on the Entertainment Book. Personally, I usually try to get FREE coupons I find online, but if you like to go out and eat and be entertained (moderation is the key here), then the coupons in your local Entertainment Book are definitely worth the $9.99 investment.
If you are looking for a way of stretching your food budget that doesn't involve clipping coupons, look into Angel Food Ministries. Angel Food Ministries distributes low-cost food once a month, regardless of your income. The way it works is this:
1. You order a package of food make a payment and put down a $4 deposit on a plastic container for the food. (some locations just ask you to bring a large box to pick up your order)
2. On "Angel Food day", you go to the distribution center (usually a church or community center) and pick up the plastic tub.
3. When you reach the next order day, return the plastic tub and place the next order.
Each order of food costs $25 - $30, but there are "add-ons" you can include, such as extra orders of meat items. Purchasing the same items at the grocery store would cost twice as much. I find it is a good supplement to my family's groceries and it does save us quite a bit of money on our food bill.
Here is a sample monthly menu from Angel Food Ministries:
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ALL THIS FOR THE LOW COST OF JUST $25
** One or more specials available only with the purchase of a regular unit. **
(2 lb. Thick Cut Pork Chops (6 ct.), 2 lb. Beef Ribs, 1 lb. Rib Eye Steaks (2 x 8 oz.), 1 lb. Lean Beef Patties (4 x 4 oz.), 1 lb. Italian Sausage)
((8) 8-oz. Choice Sirloin Strips)
(10 lb. Breaded Chicken Tenders)
(Each Assorted Box Contains: (5) Ruby Red Grapefruit, (6) Tangerines, (4) Golden Delicious Apples, (4) Blush Pears, (4) Red Delicious Apples, (4) Rome Apples, (6) Florida Oranges, (4) Navel Oranges, (6) Tangelos)
(Each Gift Box Contains: (1) 9 oz. Beef Sausage, (1) 9 oz. Beef Salami, (1) 9 oz. Beef Summer Sausage, (3) 7 oz. Cheese (Cheddar, Smokey Cheddar, Pepper Jack))
(Each Box Contains: (1) 12 oz. House Blend, (1) 12 oz. Hazelnut Cream, (1) 12 oz. Guatemala Antiquate)
There are distribution sites in 35 states, so check to see if there is one near you.
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