8 Truths About Extreme Couponing

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you have never tried Couponing have you? If you haven't you shouldn't discourage it!!!! First of all you do not have to have a store that doubles coupons. For example- target just put there KC master Piece BBQ sauce on sale for .99 I had a $1.00 off coupon actually I had 20 $1.00 coupons. so guess what no doubling but i got 20 bottles for free and .20 cents off my dish washing detergent i was also purchasing. because of the penny left over for each bottle. And how did i get 20 coupons, no i dont have any subscriptions nor monthly fees.. that defeats the purpose. There are sources out there to make it way worth wile. It is time consuming but when you get the hang of it its really not. My husband and I have made it a hobby and enjoy it.. We are still rookies but have cabinets full of cake mixes icing bbq, toot paste soap razors.. all free.. and i dont think we had one coupon doubled nor had to carry a huge note book around.. you can save how ever much you want.. there are levels of the ext ream couponing. Not every thing is free but what you can get helps out on what does have to come out of your pocket. So I hope every one tries couponing saving money is smart and necessary as far as im concerned.

TS of AR 1:03PM June 28, 2011

Stockpile what your family will use in a certain time frame!
Rotate thru your stock so it doesn't go bad and get lost!
Give to charities, animal centers...
Share coupons and where to get the best deals!
It is fun to give and see people getting what they need!

yvonne of KY 6:49PM June 27, 2011

You DON'T need a store that doubles coupons -
Walmart price matches and gives coupon overage that then apply to other items. At Target you can stack Targets' store coupons with mfr coupons, also utilize those $5 Target Gift Card deals.
Grocery stores have Mix/Match Sales that you can use mfr coupons on, and Catalina offers that are like cash on your next transaction.
I get my best deals using Drugstore (CVS, Walgreens, and RiteAid) reward dollar programs along with sale prices and mfr coupons.
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You DON'T have to have a boatload of coupons - I would think most people will do fine with 5-10 like coupons. These can be found by free/discounted subscriptions and by asking friends/family
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You DON'T have to invest MUCH in order to save - Look for discounted subscriptions, ask friends and family. Print from internet (especially Facebook). Get a decent laser printer, buy paper/toner on sale, print in draft mode.
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You need SOME time - take 2 hours on Sunday to cut/file/plan. Spend an hour a day surfing for printables, reading blogs/matchups, signing up for samples, and maybe 3 hours for shopping per week.
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You must be A LITTLE OCD - it helps!
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You need nerves of steel - True, but it gets easier as you have more experience
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You must have eyes like a hawk - YES
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You need SOME space for “stockpiling” - What you see on TLC is set up for the TV show. Stockpiles take time to develop if you proceed at a "Normal" rather than an "Extreme" pace. Find some space in your pantry and bathroom, maybe a spare closet, or a space in the garage.
Consider practicing "Practical Couponing...nothing Extreme but the Savings!"
You'll still be able to save about 70%, and you won't be looked on as a sideshow! It's all about shopping smarter and doing smaller but multiple transactions.
-Gracie at AllThoseThingsILove.com-

AllThoseThingsILove! of CA 6:13PM June 27, 2011

Following the show this is exactly what they have been showing. I think its a rather poignant commentary on the show and what they are showing and how people are trying to follow their examples without thinking it through.

Angela Watts of ME 5:51PM June 27, 2011

... yes.
But to just save for your family... not so much.
Come learn how to Rock the Deals at The Couponing Rockstar:
http://www.facebook.com/qponrockstar

Mary Elliott of MI 5:48PM June 27, 2011

We don't have stores that double coupons...........Well, Fred's does on Saturdays and they double up to 70 cents...........so there's a good outlet...........but we have Walgreens that has fantastic deals and walmart takes printed coupons..........I don't save like extreme couponers but i do save at least 50-60 percent and have for years............i stock up on items that are on sale..............I never buy groceries like I used to.........maybe 5-6 items a week..................you learn to save however you can......................

Janis of MS 5:44PM June 27, 2011

You DONT need stores that double. Here in FL we are in the land of no doubles. You can still do very well with Walgreens, CVS, matching high value coupons to Publix BoGO sales, and of course, regularly shopping Walmart. They are VERY coupon friendly.
You DONT need a lot of time or to be completely OCD although you do need organization. I spend a lot of my down time doing routine organization of my coupons.
You DONT need to spend a lot of money. I never buy coupons. I buy several copies of the newspaper, often at a discount subscription. I also regularly visit the recycle center, along with a lot of other people in my depressed area who are looking for boxes and non recyclable discards that shouldnt have been dumped in the first place.
You DO need nerves of steel at the checkout, and a good sense of math, and to keep an eye on the register. You also need to carry the written coupon policy for the store you are shopping at and maybe even have their corporate headquarters phone number programmed into your cell phone. You also need to be polite no matter what - and many cashiers and store personnel are NOT polite. You should have the courage to report that responsibly.
You DONT need a lot of space for stockpiling - I live alone in a small apartment and it is amazing how creative you can be with small space.
Been doing this for over 30 years.

cmsvmom of FL 5:14PM June 27, 2011

You need a store that doubles coupons
You don't need a store that doubles inoreder to get savings. There is CVS, and Walgreens that give you point for your buys. You can turn around and us it as money. I am able with the use of my coupon and there point to walk out of the store pay very little.
You have to have a boatload of coupons
Not so. I keep a good supplie of coupons just by buying three news paper and some my friends give me.
You need a LOT of time
It dose take time but that is up to you on how much you want to save that week
You need nerves of steel You just need to be Organized at the check out
Every one can save by doing this even with just a little money

maria of TX 1:59PM June 27, 2011

Well this used to be the case for printable grocery coupons because you had to search numerous sites using completely different search mechanisms to find all that was out there. That has all changed because there is a new site called Valet Deals that gets all of them at once, and doesn't even require you to search for what you want, we actually deliver it! We create daily personalized coupon lists for you that are tailored to your shopping and brand interests and save you a huge amount of time! Go on and try it out at http://www.valetdeals.com .

valetdeals of NY 1:28PM June 27, 2011