Extreme Couponing? a good thing, or over the top?

Question

I'm all for saving money, and I do use coupons on occasion (mostly on diapers) but that TLC show extreme couponing kind of blows my mind. I mean, these people are buying 200+ boxes of pasta just because its .22 a box. Who needs 200 boxes of anything? Its seems like some sort of a cross between ocd and hoarding.

yeah, a lot of these people donate stuff, but isn't this somehow damaging to the stores/companies? is it truly worth it? I personally don't have room to stockpile a mini safeway in my basement, and even if I did, I would feel like a jerk, clearing off shelves and holding up lines.

what is your opinion on it? Do you want to try it, or does it kinda freak you out?

Answer 1

"A good thing, or over the top?" A little bit of both.



I can see why people do it because they save a lot of money that way, but then again, it's a bit extreme. The whole process is very time consuming according to most of them. Also, things expire, and in turn, can be wasted. I don't know how anyone could just stock pile their house like that. One person even turned their basement into a makeshift mini-mart for family and friends. lol The funniest thing I've seen on there was a guy with maxi pads in his cart.



I don't think I would ever try it. For one, I don't have that kind of time, and two, like you said, I would feel crazy for holding up the line and pushing multiple carts around the store with like 80 of the same item in them. It's just not my forte.

Answer 2

Stores offer coupons to attract people to the business. They also anticipate that not all the coupons will be used. Grocery stores have a VERY SMALL margin for profit (around 1%), so many coupons may actually cause the store to lose money, but also have the greater effect of making money to compensate for the OTHER items the customer buys, and the future trips the customer makes to the store.



It's damaging to the stores and companies to the extent of that person. It might cause other people to catch on to "couponing," but in a not so eccentric manner. Also, it might be a hassle for the others around you. Meaning that other customers don't REALLY care about how much money you're saving if it's holding them up. What it's "worth" is difficult to define. If you save $50 by gathering coupons for a couple hours a week, having a stockpile of certain items, and possibly annoying others around you, then it's worth it.



I personally would rather not try it, as I would rather spend my time doing something else - even if it means not saving as much money. There are other things to be concerned about in life. Maybe it's different for you. Hope this helps a lot!

Answer 3

First to the person who said stores only make 1%: Ha! Never worked in retail have you? I have. Markup was closer to 50%. Stores will charge what ever the local market will bare.



Last time I checked there was more than one check out lane.



Companies reimburse the store for the price of the coupons + extra. Many times it is the companies themselves that initiate the sale of their product in the first place.



Those boxes of pasta for .22 cents means they will have to spend less on other items for their meals. You buy 200 boxes so they will last until the next batch of coupons comes around. They have a very long shelf life.



As far as clearing shelves goes, that's what rain checks are for.



Come Tuesday I will be visiting my local store to buy 12 bottles of ketchup and 15 bottles of barbecue sauce. We use lots of ketchup and the barbecue sauce will be long gone before summer is. With my coupons it will be $27 in savings.



Ask yourself why you would want to pay $27 more than you had to.



Anytime you get an overage on an item you buy as many as you can. The extra money goes to pay for the rest of the items on your bill that you don't have coupons for. On one trip two months ago I got $113 in overage. I used it for $110 worth of steaks. Wouldn't you like free steaks?



If you would rather pay full price then go for it. Your savings account won't thank you for it though.

Answer 4

its a bit overdramatic and you have to remember that tv shows can blow things out of proportion too. however, the people on this show do go overboard just a tad bit. people do use coupons and price-matching and stuff like that but people who are really concerned about the money they spent may feel like its worth their time and effort to do all this research and calculation. everyone wants to save money but there are some that just really want to get good deals - everyone does but these people, for one reason or another, really want to pay nothing. don't think many people are up to trying it because it's just easier to pay whatever price rather than go through thousands of coupons and calculate the optimal amount to buy to maximize savings. as for holding up lines, the couponers don't care as long as they get the deal but other customers will get frustrated. if they buy 200 boxes of something, they won't need to buy it again for a long time so thats a plus but either way, it's still a little too much. if they have the room, they'll do it. if the time spent gathering the coupons is worth the savings they get, then they are smart people but most people just don't have the time or don't care enough to do it.

Answer 5

I think its amazing! My mom is on her way to becoming a super couponer, but we've both agreed that there is a fine line between what is okay, and an excessive amount. Like you said with the pasta, who could possibly eat that much pasta before it expires? I think its great that you can spend your time to find sales, and coupons to get stuff at that price, but there is no need to buy 100+ of that item.

Answer 6

Extreme couponing is not about having a huge stockpile in your garage. Extreme couponing is about getting items extremely cheap or even free through couponing.



Different people have their own personal definition of "extreme couponing". Some people see extreme couponing as having a hugh stockpile in their home and other people including myself see extreme couponing is about getting items extremely cheap or even free through couponing.



I have through couponing got a "free" 2 liter bottle of pop by using a $1.50/2 coupon that stated you have to get two particular products which had any product specified on coupon that you had to get for second product, a "free"package of oleo sticks by using a $1/2 coupon stated you had to get 2 oleo products which had any size option, and a "free" bottle of ketchup (catsup) using a $1/2 coupon that stated you have to get two bottles of ketchup (catsup) which had any size option.



Even though on a technical basis I was still paying for all of the "free" items, the any size option and the any product specified option and the couponing tip of "Downsize to smallest size" resulted in me getting some "free" grocery items. The discounts on the coupons "completely paid" for the second items that I had to buy to get the discounts on the coupons.



I have also through couponing have brought a gallon of whole milk for 19 cents (tax not included).

Answer 7

Personally, it's just entertaining to watch. I do have moments where I feel like I wanna try it, but all the time/dedication/patience? I would never last lol.



Keeping a stock is a GREAT idea, but only depending on your situation (do you have a job? family? are you in poverty? do you have room/time? etc.)



And with the store/company thing, they want you to spend at their store (coz yeah, that earns them money), but sometimes it ticks them off how they have to keep re-stocking, holding up lines, etc.



So yeahh, I wanna say 'kudos' to the people who do extreme couponing successfully, but I don't think I would ever try it myself. XD

Answer 8

you should really try it , i love watching those episodes and youll save up tons of money .