TV Show Has Ruined Couponing!

I have not blogged much lately about my couponing due to several reasons.  One, I get so tired of everyone telling me to "share that stuff" and "get me those deals". To that I say, I worked hard to find that deal.  I put in the time, money and effort to make it happen.  It's not like I just clipped a coupon, walked into the store and BAM!  Deal made...it's not that easy.  The show "Extreme Couponing" has made using coupons very difficult.  It is not realistic to think you can walk into a store and do what is done on that show.  I have had some GREAT deals, don't get me wrong, but nothing at all like they portray.  It's just not possible.  

The second reason for not blogging about it as much is I simply have not had a lot of time. I have made some great deals, but I have had to revamp the entire way I think and do it. I second guess every purchase before I buy it.  I ask myself these questions: 1. Will I or someone else use this?  2. Can I use it before the expiration date.  3. Is it truly a deal?  By all of those questions my meaning is simple.  Is it something my family can use?  If not, if it's free or a heck of a deal can someone or a charity use it?  I am known for never passing up a free item.  I don't care if I don't need it, someone will need it! Right?  Not always, so I think a little more about it before I buy it.  And the problem I have had lately, all of the really good deals seem to be items that will expire soon.  So, if I can't use them before that time, I have just wasted my money, time and effort.  And lastly, is it really a deal?   I mean some stores will make something sound so incredible that by the time you are finished with your entire purchase, you bought things you might not really need to just to get a deal on something else.

I was once new to couponing and had to learn mostly on my own.  But by no means did I rock the boat to ruin the couponing system in my area.  Of course I made mistakes, held up lines and pissed off store managers, (I still do the last 2!), but by no means am I out there taking coupons from people who paid for them.  That has been the latest thing.  Heck, some are evening stolen out of driveways.  There is nothing worse than buying your papers only to get home and realize someone has removed the inserts already. At that point you are screwed.  You don't get refunds for that.  I have gone as far as to check recycling bins for discarded inserts, and that right there is illegal I guess, lol.  They do post to not "enter" the bin. :)

I am not trying to create a stockpile to last through the zombie apocalypse, the next world war or a great famine.  I am just trying to get great deals on things that my family uses and donate things from time to time to the community.  It's like a game or puzzle to me.  I have to figure out how to make a great deal work and I get better at it all time.  It's all about reading the fine print, searching for the coupons and scouring the ads, internet and stores for what we need.  It's hard work, it doesn't always work out and we occasionally get a deal good enough to brag about.  I will admit that it has slightly addictive qualities. I do get that nervous feeling when I see any of my cleaning products level running low, lol. I have paid no more than mere pennies for dish soap for the longest time.  And I know it will hurt if and when I have to pay more for it.  There is a rush I get when I find a surprise deal or one that works out better than expected.

My point is, I enjoy couponing.  To be honest, the money and time I spend on it did replace something big in my life.  I have been smoke free for 2 years.  I started couponing about the time I quit.  It gave me an outlet to keep my mind off of smoking and my cigarette money went to good use.  I turned an ugly habit into a good one.  But there are some people who are making couponing ugly.  I will admit that I have probably gotten some better deals than they were intended to be due a nice cashier.  Sometimes I don't realize it until I am home and looking over my receipts.  But I try to keep as honest as possible.  

So, just a few words to the wise if you know someone who likes to coupon...first and most important: DON'T tell them to share their great deals.  That's like saying, "Give me one of those $20 bills from your wallet".  They have worked hard for what they have couponed and it's like you just want to give away your money, right?  Besides, most of them that I know offer up stuff all of the time.  And as for me, I give extra away all the time.  I sometimes even buy them for the purpose of donation.  Couponers are not stingy if they don't share with you.  

Not all couponers are hoarders.  In fact, most are just people who trying to save money where ever they can.  If they buy 3 months worth of laundry soap for a great price now doesn't mean they are hoarding, it just means they won't have to go out and buy it as often or at full price. It's just being smart.  Who can't appreciate a great deal?  I personally have over 40 rolls of paper towels right now.  It wasn't on purpose to be that many, but the deals presented to me and I took them.  I use paper towels like crazy at my house. Plus they can be recycled, bonus!  My youngest one's school loves to get them and so does the women and children's shelter we donate to.

 

The Extreme Couponing show makes it look like those people buy all of their groceries for next to nothing.  It's NOT true!  If you notice it's usually large quantities of items such as bottled drinks and such.  And most of the time it's the same brands.  Gee, can we say A-D-V-E-R-T-I-S-I-N-G?  Those companies are putting their name out there, same with the store.  If everyone watching the show lives near there, they are more likely to shop there with the mindset that they too can get those deals.  Most of that show is STAGED...trust me. One a good note, you can learn some lessons from the couponers on there, but don't live with the expectations that you can duplicate what they have done.  

Realistically, you cannot go to the store for all of your families needs and save 95%.  On average I save about 30-40%, more so the lower end.  Some weeks I may only save around 10%.  It's unpredictable, a lot of work and worth it.  The longer you do it, the better you get, the less time it takes.  You have to be dovated, some what organized, (the more organized the better!), and pay attention to detail.  The details are what make or break you.  It's NOT a full time job, I have one of those, lol.  

With that being said, if you are still thinking about couponing just start small.  Find your nitch, your groove or whatever works for you.  Just because it works well this way for one doesn't mean it'll work that well for you.  It's easier to start if someone gives your pointers.  Look for local classes at community centers, libraries and such.  Search the internet for tips, just be careful to not believe everything you find on the good ol' web. And if you want, send me a message with your questions.  I will be happy to lead you in the right direction.  

Couponing isn't for everyone, but don't give up without giving it a fair shot.  You have to have some patience.  Try it for a couple of months, you will notice it gets easier and that is enough time to start to find your groove with organizing your coupon system. Learn the rules of your store, read your fine print and happy saving! :) 

Oops, I did it again!

This evening I had no intention of finding any deals at the store.  In fact, I just went to the store to buy a few items for Grandma's birthday dinner tomorrow.  I didn't even have my coupon book with me for crying out loud.  I have noticed that the store had a grocery cart full of Ken's Salad Dressing for $0.99 for about the past week.  It was 3 different flavors, all of which I like, but the expiration was around mid November, so I had no intention of stocking up.  Until tonight...

After seeing the cart, and starting to  turn away, the wall behind us caught my attention.  It was lined with tons of the salad dressing!  I saw a paper on a lot of the bottles and upon closer inspection I realized they were coupons.  $1 off coupons at that!  Making them FREE!  I grabbed up a ton of them, and I know we will never use them all.  But the Harvester's Food Collection barrels are at the exit of the store, I had it figured out! I am also going to give most away to co-workers, family and such.

I just happened to glance to the left of the Ken's dressing and saw an equally as large display of Sweet Baby Ray's, on sale for $1 with $1 off coupons on them!  I grabbed up 25.  The BBQ sauce doesn't expire for over a year, so we kept every bottle.  We like to BBQ!  In the picture you will notice the Bic Flame Discs.  I didn't get those tonight, but wanted to share with you the great deal, as they were also free!  I got them last week.  

As you can see on the receipt, I spent only $4.18 for the salad dressing and BBQ sauce.  With a total savings of $195.96 off of the regular price.  So, for not planning on getting any really great deals and being unarmed without my coupons, I would say I did pretty damn good! I love surprise bargains!  These were special coupons by the way.  They are sent to the store in the box with the products.  They never know when they will get them. It seemed to be a good way for the store to get rid of the older stock to make room for more.  They will get back exactly the price they were asking for it.  It was a win-win kind of deal!  

If any of you run across this kind of deal, I highly suggest taking advantage of it and to the extreme if no limit is stated by the store.  But PLEASE, do NOT hoard!  Pass on the good fortune of your couponing deals to others.  Pay it forward, and more good deals will come your way!

I'm Baaaack!

Well, after taking a little break from couponing while we moved, I jumped back into it head first!  It has been about a month since I bought a newspaper, so most of my coupons were expired, (*sigh)...but last week was the perfect week to resume my coupon collecting!  I found some great coupons that I cashed in on this week, just check out the pic below:

I left the store with 30 packs of Bic pens, for FREE!  I got the coupon last week for $1 off 2 Bic Stationary products.  I was fairly certain with back to school sales I would be able to strike a good deal, and boy did I! I am sure that I have more than my family will ever need, but someone is always asking for something to write with around our house, now we're set! 



My next big score was Suave Deodorant, $0.15 each!  You read that right!  They offered 2 sizes, so I chose the smaller one which was $1.15.  Armed with my $0.50 coupons that doubled, I stocked up! These were not trial sizes and granted they do not last too long, but $0.15, it was well worth it! 

Franks Hot Sauce is always a good one, and something we will never run out of!  We usually get it for about $0.25 a bottle, (again, the little bottle). I have found a few new ways to use it, and need to work a few more.  I LOVE to coupons that do not have exclusions on them, but if they do it is usually a "no trial size" exclusion.  With that said, I had $0.50 off coupons for Band Aid Brand Adhesive Bandages.  The coupon stated no trial size.  I happen to find the travel pack size, at $0.99 each.  It's all in the wording, travel and trial are not the same thing and the store agreed with me, so I got a bunch for FREE! 

It's not always about the coupons, sometimes these great deals can happen without coupons, you just have to watch out for them!  It pays to research and read every ad!  I would normally never shop at some of these store I get ads for, but sometimes their deals are too amazing to pass up!  We took advantage of the sales that Office Depot had for school supplies.  I know they place these items all over the store to get you in and buy something else, but we were on a mission!  Armed with the ad and my husband, we both went after the limit on these products and this is what we each got:  

-3 packages of notebook paper, $0.25 ea

-3 bottles of school glue, $0.01 ea

-3 packs or 3 erasers, $0.25 ea

-3 pencil sharpeners, $0.25 ea

After taxes, we each paid $2.48...it was about a $10 savings! 

Out of all the products purchased during this shopping trip, the only thing I paid full price for were the 2 drinks we got at the checkout at the grocery store.  It was such a successful trip that it really made me feel like I had accomplished something BIG!  It peaked my interest into full swing again.  I felt weird this past month shopping without any coupons.  I still priced matched at Walmart, but I felt like I was missing something...it was SAVINGS!  I have my ears open and my eyes peeled for the next great deal.  It's time to build back up my reserve and get better at this whole couponing thing!  And this savings shown above is just how I do it!  

Where Are The Deals?

As much as I would love to say I saved soooo much money, it is just not the truth.  I tried, and did OK at one store.  My savings were 37%.  With Walmart, I think I saved more money with price matching.  I got some great deals though, so I am not totally disappointed.  My best bargain was the Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner I got for $1 a bottle after price matching and coupons.   Sure did beat paying $2.84 a bottle!  We also got a bargain on Soft Soap...the 1st store had some in their clearance section that was marked down 25% to 50%, then I used the $0.40 off coupons which the store doubled!  I don't think I paid more $0.50 a bottle.


There were a few more little bargains, but I can't help but to think I am missing something.  How in the heck do these other couponers do it?  How do they get those bargains every single trip and pay little to nothing?  I realize the show really exaggerates and spotlights the best ones, but they still have a knack and I want to know what it is!


I have found only one store (Walmart) in my metro area that will pay overage and with the surge in couponing use, the trial size money making deals are becoming far and few between.  Not that I am picky, but I do not like to buy much of my fresh meat from Walmart.  I just have standards and it is tough to get a good deal.  But I am willing to pay for a good product, I would just love to get it cheap! lol  


So, I picked up my papers today for the Sunday coupons.  There were not a lot of great ones, but enough to make it worth the trip.  I will search the Internet far and wide, possibly search some recycling dumpsters...all in the name to ave the all mighty dollar!  Stay tuned!!!!!

So, this week was a bust for my couponing...don't get me wrong, I used coupons, but it wasn't much!  To make it worse, I went to a store closer to my house and I am not very familiar with the layout yet, that might have kept me from finding a better bargain.  This weeks goal was to make a list, stick to the list and keep it cheap.  With the holidays, we needed to keep costs down as much as possible with no extras.  And it would make sense that coupons would help with that.  But actually when I am saving money, I am also spending it.  Are you lost yet?   


Let me explain...I have found the "golden ticket" of coupons several times now.  That is when I find a coupon that will make an item free or nearly free.  Or just down right cheap for that item.  That is when you want to find multiple coupons like that and stock up.  A couple of weeks ago it was like that for canned goods and frozen veggies.  I paid no more than $0.25 a can for the canned veggies and about $0.50 a bag for the frozen ones.  Veggies are now off of my shopping list for a while.  I also stocked up on canned fruit at $0.50 a can during that time.  So, in the long run I will save money by getting it that cheap, but I have to pay for it all up front.  Hence the spending money to save money.


We have done that with several things and are starting to get the hang of it, but it is not as easy as they make it look on TV! lol  We are learning that these product coupons come out in cycles, sometimes they are great ones, other times you wonder why they bothered to spend more on the paper than the coupon was worth.  It is a lot of work, time and effort to make this work but I am determined!  I dream of having a stock pile like some of the people of the show Extreme Couponing.  I would love to be able to go to my pantry and know I have tons of needed items.  


I have also noticed that when you get those coupons, and use it to stock up, the next time they come around the price has been raised or the coupon value is dramatically lower.  It slightly irks me to see them do that.  Just because we have figured out a way to use the coupons to their full advantage and get a great deal is no reason to make it harder.  If you do not want all of those coupons used, then do not publish that many...gezzzz!


So, with the start of the new year, I vow to to rule this couponing game and save my family some money while getting great deals!  I know this blog is a slow work in progress, but please check back frequently and I will keep you informed of the great deals I come across! 

                                            

Game on...

Couponing is nothing more than a game. There are so many rules to follow, and at times your supply can be limited. In order to win at the game, you have to use those rules to your advantage and go above and beyond the typical couponer. I will admit, I got into couponing after seeing the show Extreme Couponing. While I would love to be able to do what those people do, in reality I know I cannot possibly do that every week, (but of course I am going to try!)

Games can become addictive, and couponing is no exception. Although I do have my moments where I am not as much of a go-getter with coupons, there are other times I am so determined, you will find us at the recycling bins savaging for those thrown away, (occasionally we have lucked out and found a paper delivery route dumped). I have a few people I get their insert coupons from them, but most of them come from buying multiple papers. The amount purchased depends on the coupons in the papers that week. We average 8-12 papers on Sundays.

I have good and bad weeks with Internet coupons, and having multiple computers in the house usually gets me passed that 2 coupon print limit. I just hit every computer in our house and can get 10 of each needed coupon, (as long as there are no printer issues). I am still new to all of this, but I have a decent start, learning the ropes as we go. My husband is a HUGE help! He is right beside me at the dumpsters, helping on Sundays with the paper collections and searching the Internet far and wide for bargains, coupons and deals. He is also at the stores with me when help. It takes 2 to watch at the register and make sure things ring through like they are suppose to.

When I work hard at it, on average I am saving about 40%, which may not sound "extreme", but savings is savings, right?! It is time consuming and sometimes works my nerves! With every store having different coupon policies, you have to know how they play the game before you even walk into the store. You have to research those ads and decide your route ahead of time to save some time! We often spend several hours shopping, it pays off in the long run.

This blog is my way of passing on what I have learned to others. I admit I have much more to learn, and I hope that this blog helps some of you! So bear with me and check back often and let's see if we can find some deals!