googletag.pubads().setTargeting('subcat', []).setTargeting('category', ['savings']); Advertiser Disclosure: The credit card and banking offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies and banks from which MoneyCrashers.com receives compensation. There are a few rare paper coupons that do not have an expiration date (I’ve seen this with 3M products), but these usually are legit. A new season of Extreme Couponingaired yesterday and like I expected, I am still disgusted by it. Coupons.com sent their savings expert, Jeanette Pavini on a real world shipping trip consisting of a seven day meal plan for a family of four. During the program Extreme Couponing, the couponers were shown in various stages of collecting coupons, including dumpster diving and going to their neighbors' to collect the newspaper weekly coupon inserts.Then they would casually cut piles (and I mean piles!) Time. Some of their techniques are not only unrealistic, they’re downright wrong. At the end of the day, it’s really about saving money and shopping smarter. 10 National chains that allow you to use coupon stacking for huge savings. I love coupons, but I am far too lazy to search for them. She lives in Utah with her husband, three kids, and an overzealous springer spaniel named Penelope. It is also pretty clear that such scams happen often, as numerous articles have appeared in mainstream news outlets about coupon abuse. © 2021 Money Crashers, LLC. References to products, offers, and rates from third party sites often change. Extreme Couponing - Wikipedia. TV shows like TLC’s “Extreme Couponing” make saving an astounding amount of money at the checkout line with coupons look easy. If you’re a reality TV junkie like me, you’ve probably seen the TLC show “Extreme Couponing.” In the show, devout couponers score major deals, procuring items for as much as a full 100% discount. Here are five reasons why extreme couponing is wrong and you'll never see me doing it. I used to be an extreme couponer. How do I know all of this? My understanding is that this is still a mostly free country where a store can accept a roll of toilet paper in exchange for $50 worth of groceries if they are willing. Real extreme couponing only requires a blend of common sense, shopping savvy and organization. There’s an ethical difference between grateful couponers and extreme couponers. It's also shot in the US, where couponing is a whole different ball game - stores there have really embraced the idea to … I had dinner with family friends last night who had recently started extreme couponing. However, the fact is that someone, somewhere, may get in trouble or have to pay for your improper use of a coupon. 10 Best Self Driving Car & Autonomous Vehicle Stocks of 2021, 10 Best Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy in 2021, 9 Best Electric Vehicle (EV) Stocks to Buy in 2021, 11 Best Mobile Coupon Apps to Save Money Shopping With Your Smartphone, 26 Best New Bank Account Promotions & Offers – April 2021, 14 Ways to Spring Clean Your Finances This Year, What Is Supplemental Security Income – Benefits & How to Apply, 18 Great Career Fields for the Future (Next 10 Years), extreme couponing is definitely not for everyone, 6 Reasons Why I Stopped Extreme Couponing, Extreme Couponing Tips - Using Discount Coupons for Free Groceries, Extreme Couponing 101: How to Extreme Coupon and Save 84%+ on Groceries, SavingsAngel Review - Save on Groceries by Matching Sales to Coupons, Best Printable Coupon Websites for Groceries - Our Real-World Test, How to Save Up to $1,465 per Year Shopping Online With Coupon Codes. That doesn’t mean you can’t save money, it just means you need to be a little more savvy about it. The mere mortal who shops with coupons definitely shouldn’t expect the same treatment. We may have financial relationships with some of the companies mentioned on this website. But, this is just one reason for their success. Men can go to the gym for years and see little to no results at all. To get the amazing, free deals, it seems like you need A LOT of time, which is a main reason why I don’t coupon. However, the goal wasn’t just to buy products – the goal was to use the coupons to get products for free. I personally feel like if people were really doing this and I know some who are, the stores are going to limit coupons. However, I may be reading too much into this question! It may not be made as apparent on each television show where extreme couponers are featured but if you listen closely, those who are saving hundreds on their shopping bills also spend more time during the week looking for and organizing coupons than most of us work in a … It is technically stealing if you have a thousand dollar order and you get it for ten dollars. I readily admit that couponing doesn’t appeal to me. While I don’t do that anymore, I do watch extreme couponing shows occasionally. Advertiser partners include American Express, Chase, U.S. Bank, and Barclaycard, among others. The people on “Extreme Couponing” might purchase hundreds of the same product for their “stash” or to divvy up for various causes. Do you live in Florida and want to start Couponing? Yes, they get it for free, but does that mean that they absolutely need to get it? After experiencing success in early 2011 with its reality show Extreme Couponing, ... Of course, it's worth noting that selling body parts is illegal. Extreme coupon shopping typically goes hand-in-hand with stockpiling, which is the purchasing of a large quantity of a single item when combining coupons with a store sale to make the item free or significantly reduced in price. It also depicts the subjects embroiled in some serious ethical issues, all for the sake of building their “stash.” Sure, sometimes the shoppers are purchasing items for an upcoming church supper, the homeless shelter, and stationed troops – but this is not the norm. Introduce yourself, explain which coupons you’d like to use, and the amount of products you want. (5 days ago) Extreme Couponing Printable Coupons - Best Coupon Codes. Using coupons is a popular and easy way for shoppers to cut the cost of groceries, personal care items and other household products, but couponing is not without its rules and regulations.It is important for couponers to understand the guidelines and stay within the legal … I asked Cupler for his best extreme-couponing tips for beginners. CODES (7 days ago) Coupon Industry Fights Illegal Extreme Couponing (4 days ago) Although Extreme Couponing might be unrealistic for the average person, the coupon industry does want you to save money. If your coupon prints without a barcode, this is usually a sign that there is an issue with java on your computer. The practice creates another problem: You may find yourself compromising healthy eating. When an entire shelf of a product I need is gone, or if I’m stuck in line for an hour while a couponer price checks and ad matches, my blood begins to boil. And more often than not i usually end up forgetting to take them with me to the grocery store. I couldn’t wait for people to see just how much couponing can help you to save money. How to Start Extreme Couponing. This meant buying things like diabetes monitors, toothpaste, and cold medicine. We appreciate you taking the time to read it. You Have a Real Job. Well in my view Extreme Couponing – the TV show – is just that a TV show, made for entertainment. Because of the way the show is, I no longer watch Extreme Couponing – and you shouldn’t either. On “Extreme Couponing,” it’s common practice to purchase entire palettes or cases of free or cheap products. Extreme Couponing Drove Her to Ruin. However, extreme couponing doesn’t have to go too far — either for good or bad. While using a coupon or two to buy a product you would buy anyway can be a good way to save money, extreme couponing is often a hobby that yields little except aggravation and the annoyed looks of other shoppers in the stores. But the cameras don’t show the hours of drudgery and driving that go into making those savings happen, especially during the learning curve and early years — that’s right, years. And extreme coupon shopping is a sport that encourages mass consumption for the sake of supposedly “saving” a few dollars. It was the show that got me to see you really could save with coupons. Then I price matched at Walmart. Why does the site say Print Limit Reached when I have not printed the coupon yet? window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; It generally doesn’t make us feel comfortable, but when we sat down and examined it, we wanted to answer one question: Is selling your stockpile even legal? Couponing also feels overwhelming. Extreme couponers always seem to know where to shop to get the cheapest price, and some of the best deals occur when a store doubles coupons. Think about it – getting a bottle of ketchup for $0.50 is a great deal, but if that great deal entices you to purchase 30 bottles, you’ve just spend $15 on more ketchup that you may not use before the expiration date. It’s important to remember that these cashiers have been coached for this televised transaction. “Store coupons” If a coupon has the words “store coupon” at the top, it’s issued by a particular store and can only be used at that retailer. Extreme Couponing Tip: Why Photocopyi... One of the first rules a couponer learns is that photocopying ANY coupon is illegal and is punishable by fines and imprisonment. CODES (2 days ago) Extreme couponing is an activity that combines shopping skills with couponing in an attempt to save as much money as possible while accumulating the most groceries. I’ll admit that I’ve blamed overzealous and inconsiderate couponers for causing me inconveniences. Extreme couponing is an activity that combines shopping skills with couponing in an attempt to save as much money as possible while accumulating the most groceries. For example, bargain hunters push large purchases from the supermarkets with goods worth hundreds of dollars for which the coupon experts have not even paid 10 dollars. When Extreme Couponing first aired back in December 2010, I was really excited. googletag.cmd.push(function() { You probably also won’t hear about the fact that a lot of the “savings” come from buying products that aren’t needed, wanted, and that probably should not be purchased. You may have noticed some of the couponing “rules” are a little different inFlorida. Plenty of hardcore bargain shoppers purchase extra copies of the newspaper to ensure that they have multiples of each and every coupon, and the cost of newspapers can add up over time. Jacqueline Curtis writes about edtech, finance, marketing, and small business strategy. I was shocked to find that it was a growing trend and took notes. To truly experience significant savings, you can’t have just a coupon or two – you need to get the coupon inserts every week. Many extreme coupon shoppers carry entire binders full of coupons. So let’s take a dose of reality. The first diary I see when I logged on this morning was about extreme couponing (apparently banned as spam). She and her husband and two dogs split their time between Florida and Pennsylvania. On “Extreme Couponing,” it’s common practice to purchase entire palettes or cases of free or cheap products. A new season of Extreme Couponing aired yesterday and like I expected, I am still disgusted by it.. That’s not smart. Turns out, they’re not that extreme, so put aside your reality-show notions of getting $2,000 worth of groceries for a penny. Extreme coupon shopping typically involves combining store sales with manufacturer coupons to get items for free or very cheaply. This used to be a big issue for CVS, as the company would send out $4 coupons to new customers, who would then share the coupons on Internet forums to be used by countless people each week. It doesn’t have to become an obsession that controls a portion of your life. Sure, I’ll redeem a coupon for $10 off a $40 purchase at a department store every now and then, but otherwise I turn to comparison shopping and sales to save money. Watch Queue Queue And though clipping coupons from the newspaper and downloading coupons … The coupon craze created an incentive to buy unnecessary goods. Buying multiple papers, organizing the coupons, reading up on the deals, making shopping lists, going to multiple stores, and checking out while using 100 or more coupons can take huge amounts of time. Store managers are well within their rights to change store policies as they see fit, but you might be caught by surprise when you try to get a deal that doesn’t pan out. Multiple your deals exponentially! The idea that you can use a store’s BOGO coupon, then take another 10% off from a… Extreme Couponing Often Leads to Stockpiling and Hoarding. Honestly, if you aren’t seeing results after working your ass off for years on end, why would you continue? When I was a coupon shopper, the goal was always to get enough into an order to use a money-off coupon. To be a real extreme couponer, you need to have a ton of time, a large investment, and very thick skin. Just remember that the stores featured on television might offer promotions during filming only – you probably won’t get the same deal. The Myths of TLC's "Extreme Couponing" - How Couponing Really Works, Extreme Couponing Tips - Using Discount Coupons for Free Groceries, Extreme Couponing 101: How to Extreme Coupon and Save 84%+ on Groceries, SavingsAngel Review - Save on Groceries by Matching Sales to Coupons, 6 Unique Tips On Where To Find Discount Store and Online Coupons, How to Save Up to $1,465 per Year Shopping Online With Coupon Codes. Extreme Couponing is TV entertainment, remember, so it focuses on the most dedicated couponers you'll ever see, who take the art of couponing to the nth degree. Next, you need to consider your gas costs. To ensure that that you don’t take couponing too far and save big here’s an introductory guide on extreme couponing to get you started. Often, I’d shop at drugstores like CVS, Rite-Aid, and Walgreens, which are prime retailers for extreme coupon shoppers. There are many ways to use coupons improperly, from photocopying Internet coupons, to using a coupon for a different product than it’s intended, to sharing coupons that are not supposed to be shared. Do not buy coupons online on sites such as eBay. That dress hanging in the back of … These printable coupons are still tracked with unique numbers and have legal usage limits. I watched it at a friend's house, who actually has cable. I had envelopes of CVS receipts showing totals of $0.00 for people who didn’t believe me. MoneyCrashers.com does not include all banks, credit card companies or all available credit card offers, although best efforts are made to include a comprehensive list of offers regardless of compensation. Extreme couponing is not the only way to save money on groceries, and here’s why it’s killing your budget. Should you need such advice, consult a licensed financial or tax advisor. That definitely cuts into your savings, doesn’t it? IT’S A WASTE OF MONEY & TIME. The government should not care if it was a gift to you. It was a time-sucker. Try to update java on your computer to see if that helps. Often, when you hear about people getting $500 worth of stuff for a few dollars, they are buying whatever is free without concern for whether the products are useful. Of course, an episode is only 30 minutes in length. This is a bit of a lengthy post, but as you can tell, these are some things we Fabs feel strongly about. If you haven't seen this show, then let me break it down for you really quickly. You need to buy multiple newspapers to have enough coupons to get several items for free, and you need to organize all of those coupons so you can access them when you need them. Some people find that time is better spent earning money as opposed to saving money grocery shopping. Lastly, if you print your coupons at home, you’ll probably go through at least one ink cartridge per month, which costs around $30. Well, not exactly. As for the show Extreme Couponing I have mixed feelings about it. All Rights Reserved. Is it even possible to shop like that all the time? One of the ways that extreme couponing can save you so much cash is finding and using high value coupons. Have you ever watched Extreme Couponing and wondered if the people on that show are crazy?. Another major problem with extreme coupon shopping is that to maximize your savings, you are limited to buying items that are on sale or that coupons are available for. Why do my coupons print without a barcode? Most couponers happily bargain shop by driving around to several stores in one day, but if you drive a gas guzzler, that will eat up your fuel budget – perhaps by as much as $50 per month. For instance, when a pasta sauce sale lines up with an available coupon, you might buy 10 jars of the pasta sauce. googletag.cmd.push(function() { They just know how to combine them effectively to maximize their savings. If you’ve ever wondered why, check out the reasoning below. It pays to do the math. If you give something that has monetary value, you should be able legally to claim that value. The problem is usually, “Is it worth it?”. googletag.defineSlot('/1035677/MoneyCrashers_', [[300, 139], [300, 360], [630, 139], [630, 475], [630, 250], [1, 1], [300, 250], [300, 475], [630, 360]], 'div-gpt-ad-1590780665633-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); I spent hours scouring sales papers, company websites, and handfuls of coupon books to match deals. Much of the time, the best deals are for processed foods, condiments, and toiletries. Some of these laws are really going to make you scratch your head and wonder why the law was established in the first place. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); CODES (19 days ago) Extreme Couponing - Wikipedia. 30% off Offer Details: (11 days ago) Legal Sites Have extreme couponing printable coupons. Truth is, the majority of these men have low testosterone. Because I was an extreme coupon shopper myself from 2007 to 2010 – but I haven’t cut a coupon since. Extreme couponers get their coupons from a number of different sources, from coupon apps to websites, newspaper inserts, stores, and many other places. © 2021 Money Crashers, LLC. I think what you are asking is that if you have bought many goods with coupons and have "stockpiled" these goods, is it legal to sell them at the normal retail price. Almost any hardcore bargain shopper can easily tell you about his or her best score; specifically, how much was bought and how much was saved. You could do the same, right? If we are … Extreme couponing is about going that one step further and I just don’t have time to dedicate to collecting discounted bits of paper. When you buy this stuff all the time instead of healthier foods, your health takes a backseat to saving money at the grocery store. Extreme Couponing is TV entertainment, remember, so it focuses on the most dedicated couponers you'll ever see, who take the art of couponing to the nth degree. Hold up, hear me out on this one. Lastly, a major problem with couponing is that it can become a time-consuming obsession. However, if you’re planning a big shopping trip during which you expect to purchase a large quantity of the same item, or if you plan to save more than 50% off your total bill by using coupons, it’s best to call ahead. While these sellers just charge a “clipping fee,” it still is illegal … The New York Times not only said "the traffic is legal" regarding selling airline discount coupons, but wrote "check the commercial notices column in The New York Times or the classified advertising section under 'Miscellaneous') in The Wall Street Journal. Before you grab your coupon binder and a ton of newspaper inserts, make sure that you get all the facts about hardcore couponing and what it could mean for your shopping habits. After watching a number of episodes, I began to wonder whether “Extreme Couponing” is even close to depicting “reality.”. With the boom of coupon and deals blogs and the production of TV shows like TLC’s Extreme Couponing, coupon clipping is more popular than ever.But is it realistic to expect to buy $300 worth of groceries for $1.89? In many cases, you can use not only store and manufacturer coupons, but “money-off” coupons as well (such as coupons that offer $5 off of a purchase of $20 or more). Why I Don’t Coupon 1. The idea that you can use a store’s BOGO coupon, then take another 10% off from a… Among other things, we may receive free products, services, and/or monetary compensation in exchange for featured placement of sponsored products or services. Extreme Couponing Tip: Why Photocopying Coupons Is Illegal One of the first rules a couponer learns is that photocopying ANY coupon is illegal and is punishable by fines and imprisonment… Some coupons now say “limit of 4 like coupons in same shopping trip.” Some also say, “Coupons not authorized if purchasing products for resale.” The problem is policing this, and remembering which coupon can’t be used for resale. The acquisition of these unwanted free items also made it seem like I was saving a lot more than I actually was. Since I get my shows from an antenna and from Netflix, I don't get many shows like this. I spent an average of 15 hours a week couponing, and this was below the average (hardcore couponers spend upwards of 30 hours a week couponing!). Some people claim to save hundreds or thousands of dollars – however, these savings sometimes come from buying 20 tubes of toothpaste or 15 boxes of Rice-a-Roni. One of my friends when I was younger, her mom would do the extreme couponing. This habit can quickly lead to a massive surplus of items in your home that must be rotated and organized so you can access them, and often, food products become spoiled and are wasted. 13 Best Cash-Back Credit Cards – Reviews & Comparison, 8 Best Low APR Interest Credit Cards – Reviews & Comparison, 19 Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards – Reviews & Comparison, 15 Best Hotel Rewards Credit Cards – Reviews & Comparison, 12 Best Gas Credit Cards – Reviews & Comparison, 12 Best Credit Cards for College Students – Reviews & Comparison, 26 Best Small Business Credit Cards – Reviews & Comparison, 10 Best Secured Credit Cards to Rebuild Credit – Reviews & Comparison. Is it possible to practically utilize coupons in California? extreme couponing is not only possible in Canada, it’s really fun. Make sure that you’re saving on stuff you’ll actually use and that your savings add up to more than the cost of couponing – otherwise, you could end up doing a lot of work for nothing. When the manufacturers create coupons or stores offer promotions, they’re hoping to attract more customers, not offer a single person free product. When TLC premiered the first episode of “Extreme Couponing” in 2011, coupon shoppers around the country took to the web to voice their concerns about the rampant coupon misuse and fraud depicted on the show. Each store has different policies on how many coupons are allowed for each item or each transaction, and you might be turned away when you try to redeem too many. Christy Rakoczy earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester and her Juris Doctorate from UCLA School of Law. Some of the show’s shoppers appeared to be using coupons for products they didn’t buy (and later admitted doing so) or used hundreds of coupons that are limited to one or four … While you may hear that you can get deals on produce or even organic fruits and vegetables, the reality is that these kinds of deals are few and far between and they don’t provide the thousands of dollars of savings that you so often hear about from extreme coupon shoppers. I have dabbled in the dark art of extreme couponing. We strive to write accurate and genuine reviews and articles, and all views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors. of course it takes an insane amount of time, skill, and patience. of coupons and make their grocery list to head to the stores. Time is also money. These items (especially diabetes monitors) often can be acquired for free with coupons – the monitors are free because the test strips are expensive, and the manufacturers want to get you hooked. But the couponers depicted on “Extreme Couponing” attack the task with ferocious intensity. Watch Queue Queue. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); Extreme couponers are individuals that take saving to a new level. Here are some tips on selling your stockpile. Extreme couponers display their store receipts like a badge of honor on the show, online, and in their homes. There are now limits on coupons at some grocers. Advertiser partners include American Express, Chase, U.S. Bank, and Barclaycard, among others. Do you envy those other people you see online that is posting all the fantastic savings they have achieved and the tons of FREE products they are receiving? I just did a major haul, and got several hundred cans of Campbells soup. But to get the kinds of deals that the couponers snag in a show, you’d have to devote hours each day to the pursuit of extreme couponing: gathering, clipping, surfing the Web for deals, and shopping. googletag.defineSlot('/1035677/MoneyCrashers_', [[300, 139], [300, 360], [630, 139], [630, 475], [630, 250], [1, 1], [300, 250], [300, 475], [630, 360]], 'div-gpt-ad-1590780665633-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); Multiple your deals exponentially! Seasoned couponers can tell you that it is possible to score great deals on healthy foods like produce, baking staples, and dairy, but it’s definitely not the norm. One Of The Most Powerful, Legal Options For Boosting TEST . The concept of "extreme couponers" was first mentioned by The Wall Street Journal on March 8, 2010 in an article entitled "Hard Times Turn Coupon Clipping Into the Newest Extreme Sport". While I am all for saving a dollar, I am also one to preserve my time. Find Everything you need to know about Extreme Couponing in California here. When I was an extreme coupon shopper, I would frequent forums and participate in discussions about the use of coupons. Some shoppers even work the system so they’re essentially paid to take the items from the store, receiving credits, points, and vouchers that exceed the value of the items they’ve purchased. One thing I’ve seen on these TV shows is that some people purposefully use coupons incorrectly. Here are some tips on how to extreme coupon in florida . But unless you can use the product before the expiration date and it’s something healthy for your family, leave it on the shelf. Unfortunately, what “Extreme Couponing” doesn’t show is exactly how these shoppers acquire such deals. COUPON (1 months ago) Extreme couponing. Extreme couponers can make money too! If that is the question asked: It is generally legal to sell personal property that you have acquired at a discount at market price. And I thought to myself “what a coincidence”. When Does It Make Sense to Hire a Tax Attorney? For example, in one episode, a woman wanted to buy bagged salad that cost $1. Coupons are made for the casual shopper, not the extreme type. From there I had to wait for a good sale on it. It’s actually why a lot of men give up. A mom says she lost her savings and her pregnancy fighting back against Target, which accused her of … Extreme Couponing Tip: Why Photocopyi... One of the first rules a couponer learns is that photocopying ANY coupon is illegal and is punishable by fines and imprisonment. However, if you’re planning a big shopping trip during which you expect to purchase a large quantity of the same item, or if you plan to save more than 50% off your total bill by using coupons, it’s best to call ahead. What do you think of “Extreme Couponing”?window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; While I never participated in these practices, I could see how it would be tempting to do so – especially when caught up in the couponing craze. Add it all up, and saving money could actually cost you $120 per month – or $1,440 per year! Instead, the vast majority of the coupons available are for junk food, ready-to-eat meals, frozen foods, and processed lunch meats. There are ways to coupon without “Extreme Couponing” and as someone else stated TLC’s Extreme Couponing is a show. Extreme Couponing Education: Shelf Clearing For Charity; Extreme Couponing Education: Don’t Be A Crazy Lady! }); The content on MoneyCrashers.com is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial advice. Does it seem weird that these people need a 1,000 bottles of Aspirin or 400 tubes of toothpaste? Extreme couponing was launched into the mainstream with a TLC show aptly called Extreme Couponing. And, we buy what we need for ourselves, our family and our donations without clearing shelves in the supermarket. While we continue to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, please take proper precautions or add them to your bucket list to see at a later date. FREE Extreme couponing has become a popular topic in recent years. YouTube. Extreme couponers are individuals that take saving to a new level. They are able to save 50%, sometimes even 70% off of their groceries! This is something nobody at the time knew what these extreme couponers were doing on the show. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. And getting started is easy. googletag.enableServices(); In the show “Extreme Couponing,” shoppers are always shown interacting with cheerful cashiers who are more than happy to scan hundreds of clipped coupons, even applauding when the final total is just pennies on the dollar. Tread carefully so you don’t completely lose your head, time, or money. If your Sunday paper costs $2.50 per copy and you purchase four for couponing purposes, it adds up $40 a month for the paper alone. There’s really no problem with using manufacturer’s coupons at the store. All Rights Reserved. You have attacked a whole group of people based on the actions of a few bad apples. Filter By Time All Past 24 hours Past Week Past Month. We are “EXTREME COUPONERS” because we can save an extreme amount of money by using legitimate couponing methods, keeping a conservative stockpile of items that can pack our pantry or fit onto an extra shelf or two.