I HATE the show, Extreme Couponing.
Why, because they have ruined shopping for me.
What could I possible be talking about? They show the world how to buy LOTS for NOTHING, right?
I watched a few shows, they (the obsessive couponers that devoted their lives to saving a buck) mostly buy JUNK. When it comes to food they buy cookies, candy, sugary cereals, and chips. Maybe this is partly why Americans are getting heavier...
You should know that buying in bulk saves money but it also means that the NOT FRESH items out weight the fresh items. Buying prepackage meals and food that have a million ingredients is also contributing to Americans' weight problem.
I was the person that went to the store and could save $40 on my grocery bill. I DO NOT eat junk. I eat organic foods. I buy environmentally friendly cleaning products. I use a coupon and try to buy it on sale. This is getting harder almost impossible to do now that extreme couponing has aired.
Because of EXTREME COUPONING stores have really started to crack down on coupon usage. This is what they have changed:
#1 Coupons used to last for three months now they last for two weeks.
#2 There was coupons for any product made by that brand for .50 or.75 or 1.00 off- they have completely eliminated such a coupon.
#3 You can no longer combine two coupons for the same product
#4 Before I could find coupons for two dollars or more off a product but not anymore
Sometimes I could get away with using an expired coupon or a coupon for a different product made by the same brand. I know this is pushing it but if they took my coupon...
Just remember to save money, meal plan. I look at the weekly ads to see what is on sale and I clip coupons from the paper or print them from an online search. It can be time consuming, but once you understand that everything goes on sale every three months or you can use a coupon for it, the pennies really do start adding up.
I rarely buy anything for full price especially if I can get it on SALE!
This weeks bargain was from Ulta 3. They had a store coupon for $3 off a purchase of $10 or more. I had a coupon for lotion buy 2 get $3 off and $1 off mascara. Lotion $14, mascara $6, and I saved $7. A 35% savings. Look for those store coupons that offer dollars or percentages off!
And good luck couponing- it's NOW HARDER than ever!
I Heart Naptime
HOH
Karen - I totally agree - the girl who got 200 chocolate bars for free - omg - who needs that stuff ... I feel sorry for the kids that just get to live on spagetti & Prego Sauce and Sunny D because that's all that seems to be in the carts, oh, maybe some Ichiban Chinese Noodles and 2 cases of Soya Sauce ... I would like to see a show where they challenge them to shop by the Food Guide and see how they do instead of just seeing how much crap they can get for free and hoard like it's some pile of gold ...
ReplyDeleteI also try to shop smart and shop for items on sale and use a coupon every now and again, so on the surface the show makes me depressed to think I spend so much in groceries when these people get so much for so little ... but then when you really look at what they are getting I snap back to reality :)
While I see problems with the show, I don't look at it the same way. I believe in having food storage. There's no way to do this fresh. However, I do have quite a bit a dehydrated cans sitting in my garage. I would LOVE to have 20 boxes of cherios sitting on my shelves. I would love to be stock piled on toilet paper. I also love fresh fruits and vegetables and have found a co-op where I can get them for a fraction of the cost. I strongly believe in moderation in all things.
ReplyDeleteEverytime I look at coupons in the Sunday paper, online, etc the coupons are mostly for foods that have a lot of sugar, preservatives, fat, and more perservatives. I don't even eat organic, I eat healthy and find it next to impossible to use coupons to buy food for my list. Sure I get the occasional pistachio coupon but that is about it!
ReplyDeleteThis is why I have a hard time couponing. I don't feed my family most of the things there are coupons for. I do use my grocery coupons that come monthly for meat or produce and we use a CSA for fruit in the summer.
ReplyDeleteWhere we live, we can need food storage for something as simple as too many big snow storms in a row and no food coming in. I keep food storage, but I want quality food. I don't visualize feeding my entire family on PopTarts during an emergency or snow storm. You rarely see a coupon for rice, beans or wheat lol.
I tend to agree with you. After all -- look at the foods that the companies are peddling -- pre-made, boxed mixes loaded with fillers, sugar, fat and junk. Most of the time now it's just me and my hubby and I spend about 55.00/week. When our two college girls are home, that goes up to around 75.00/week. I plan my meals, make a list, shop mainly at Aldi's and get the rest at a local indep. grocer. Haven't been in a chain store in over a year! It takes planning and a bit more effort to cook and bake from scratch but it can be done!
ReplyDeleteOh and lest you think I live in some rural or inexpensive place, I live in a Chicago suburb where we have the highest gas prices and everything is expensive, including food :)
ReplyDeleteAmen!!! It's so frustrating that all the coupons you get in the Sunday paper are for CRAP food! Where are the coupons for dairy, produce, bread, REAL food!? So frustrating. Store brands are generally a much better deal even without a coupon anyway.
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