If you have been watching the show Extreme Couponing, you may have seen the people on that show saving 90% to 99% on their grocery bill and you are ready to start doing that yourself NOW. Perhaps you found this site in the hopes of doing just that.
There is just one problem...the show Extreme Couponing is not reality. Most people have noticed that their shopping carts are not filled with "weekly shopping items"...unless you DO feed your family 50 bottles of mustard, 100 bottles of pain reliever and $300 in makeup each week. So let's get past that whole "I'm going to save 95% each week" misconception right now, shall we? You WILL have shopping trips where you save 95% to 100%, but that is NOT the normal week (especially if you have any hopes of feeding your family semi-healthy foods). You need to learn how to save money on the things that you buy each week to feed your family....not get 75 things that you will never use for free!
What can you expect as a person new to using coupons? A gradual reduction in your grocery bill.
Yes - I said GRADUAL.
It takes time to collect the coupons. The coupons that I list in my weekly Grocery Store Matchups and Drug Store Matchups are often coupons that were in the Coupon Inserts 2 weeks, 4 weeks or even 2 months ago!
It takes time to learn how to do this. There are 3 major drug stores to learn. There is the policy at your local grocery stores to learn. Once you start learning, it gets easier...it's almost a "snowball effect". But you have to learn to crawl before you can walk.
How can you get started using coupons? Here is your first step:
Pick ONE store and get to know how their deals work. I know it is boring...you want to start saving the maximum NOW. But you will never master the art of couponing if you look for the "quick fix". I always recommend starting with the Drug Stores. Start getting your toothpaste, body wash, hair care products and razors for free (or super-cheap). Just a few free health & beauty items per week will start freeing up money in your budget. Once you master the drug stores, you can move on to mastering the grocery stores!
It's not sexy.....it's not going to get you on TV, but it's practical!
Linda Kwolek
Thank you for pointing out that the show is not reality....I couldn't agree more. I for one, do not watch the show due to this misconception.
Ruth
I'm glad that I'm not the only couponer who hates the show. I just can't watch it because it is just another reality show. It is exagerated and staged.
Gail K.
I think I have watched one episode to completion and went "What makes you think a food pantry needs 200 bottles of {insert brand name soda here} ?" Maybe I am in la-la land, but I think they need nutritious food to supply the people who use their service.
To each their own, but I will use coupons for the things I need, remembering that others may need it too and not to clear a shelf because I can.
Diane K.
Thanks for sharing. I have had many people ask me how do I do what I do. Now I know to tell them to just start small. I did not get here overnight. I have been couponing and shopping deals ever since I was living on my own. My mom taught me the basics, and I have taken it from there. I have yet to save 95% on a shopping trip, but I have saved my family lots of money over the years so I am pleased with my shopping success.
Tracie D
Couponing takes time....lots and lots of time.I hope the people that are jumping on the couponing bandwagon understand this!
Ruth
Great post. I actually have a personal shopping business with an office/store and I started it after my basement became full of items that I obtained through couponing. My customers have asked me to teach a class on how to do it. They also talk about the show Extreme Couponing and I told them the same thing. The shopping trips shown on the show are not the normal couponer shopping trip. The shopping trips on the show would be impossible for most couponers to do and it ios not practical.
Today at Acme, there was a couponer checking out before me. She had a cart full of items and the store was closing in 10 minutes. The manager had only one register open and had cashed out all the drawers. After the cashier scanned all the items, she had to go through a bunch of coupons to find the ones she needed for the order. It was obvious that she was a novice couponer and was very nervous because of all the people waiting in line and the store was closing in two minutes. The manager did get another drawer and opened another line. I felt bad for the woman but a good couponer need to have a good plan so that he/she doesn't cause the store and other customers undue harship. Couponing takes patience, time and common sense.
Catherine Darsey
Thank you! While I love to watch Extreme Couponing (actually the only "reality" tv show I have ever watched) it really is not applicable to most people. For one, in my part of the South, grocery stores don't run tripple & double coupons except maybe once a year and then only the first coupon is doubled or trippled and the rest are face value. Rain checks and rebates are far and few between. While I agree that everyone should have a small stockpile of items, it should really be something that you are going to use. I've noticed that all the shows I've watched seem to be filmed in Northern States. Here in the South we have weavels and no way could we stockpile a hundred boxes of cereal or flour and they actually be good to use a year from now.
susan cornwell
Thank you for telling the truth. Who needs 100 bottles od asprin or shampoo. I use coupons too and there is no way that i need that much. IF I qas too do that i would donate it. Not keep it locked in a room where it all won't be used. To me that is just selfish..
Jamie
Fred's doubles coupons on Saturdays up to .70cents & they have monthly sales...you can find their advertisment online & sign up to receive that ad in your email....hope this helps.....years ago they use to double up to $1.00 & I use to get all kind of items free like toothpaste, cleaning products & now most have a frozen section.
Happy shopping!!!!