Comments on: Extremely-Frugal Couponing: Do Some People Go Too Far?

By: Annette Keachie

Annette Keachie — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:12:45 +0000

I have watched this show a few times, and I think some people go way over board with this, when you have to order a freight to get all your stuff out of the store or have 20 shopping carts full of food, and other goods.. In Canada we have a rule about this, and limit the quantities taken; because we think of other people, and not just ourselves… It just goes to show you how selfish people can be, like what about other shoppers in the store….? Selfish pigs… I can understand tight circumstances, but when you buy out the whole store you really need to consider other people who may be wanting or needing those items too…..

By: kpieczyn

kpieczyn — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 10:55:23 +0000

My two cents. Yes, I think the jello example is extreme. I, myself, have always had two freezers because I live 30 miles from the closes supermarket. I use coupons more now that I ever did, but I only use it on things I’m going to use.
I do think extreme couponing costs some money: takes time to plan, schedule, and manage your travels and coupons. I also find it costs more to travel to the stores, that I may not normally go to just to get a couple items on sale.

By: Spendwisemom

Spendwisemom — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 01:54:32 +0000

I think people should only get what they can reasonable use before the expiration date. If they want to get more and donate, and consider using the time as helping others than that is great. There are many people who can benefit from their coupon shopping. But, to keep so much that you can never use in a reasonable time yourself boarders on hoarding or greed, even if it is free. If you get so much that you end up wasting the food, then you shouldn’t get that much in the first place, free or not. It is always good to be wise and moderate and not excessive in whatever we do.

By: LisaB

LisaB — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:38:40 +0000

I’m the same way…I buy what is cheapest which is usually a store brand. If I have a coupon and it is for a name brand, it’s got to be cheaper than the store brand for it to be of any interest to me. Couponing can be time consuming…and if you watched the show, many of the couponers actually paid coupon services to clip and send coupons and/or spent hours clipping and planning the shopping trip…that and they subscribe to many issues of the same newspaper each week and/made bought shelving towers, refrigerators, freezers, and other storage to hold all the products. I suppose if you are single without a spouse, children, and/or have a lot of free time it can be done, but I’d rather spend my time enjoying life with my family and saving money by stocking up when a product is on sale and using the occassional coupon …oh and buying healthier food options!

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:06:22 +0000

I spend $400 a month for a family of 7 with special items needed to be bought for medical reasons. It is tight but I make it work.

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:03:46 +0000

Wow seeing everyone’s comments can be overwhelming. I wish I could be saving more on my grocery bull by adding more coupons, but I usually buy what’s cheapest anyway and which is usually the store brand and there is no coupons for that, but if I can get another brand on sale and use a coupon for something we will use I certainly go for it. My grocery bill is about $400 a month for a family of 7 and with needing to buy special items for some for medical needs. It is very tight but I make it work.

By: LisaB

LisaB — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:00:23 +0000

I am surprised to see little mention of the food products that people are actually getting with these deals. Did anyone else notice that the couponers on the TLC special were stocking up on nearly the same items…Maruchan Yakisoba noodles, soda pop, candies, canned pasta sauce, pasta noodles, and other junk food? One guy bought a ton of Total cereal to donate and another bought a chicken, but the carts primarily consisted of junk. And, it was no surprise that all but one of the couponers were overweight…wonder why? Don’t get me wrong, I am a little overweight and like a good deal too, but I’m not going to buy sodium packed noodles and feed it to my family for the sake of saving a buck!

By: Ann

Ann — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:02:40 +0000

I think it’s awesome. I always look at coupons as being only for the most expensive items and some you cannot combine with so many. These people have it down to a science. I commend them however im not going to stockpile enough to last me years. Some things like toothpaste and other items that dont go bad i say im all for it. We are always running out of toilet paper, laundrey det, shampoo and other things. Im gonna look into these sites online and start collecting coupons from people i know. I think some take it to the extreme however i would be happy just to get free shampoo.

By: Carol Linnell

Carol Linnell — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 06:54:09 +0000

I saw the show, too, and couldn’t believe my eyes. I would like to give this a try. Currently in the news they are warning of high food prices for .2011. Very scary! I hope it’s possible to cut my bills, since I live in Alaska and are food prices are off the hook! I think being prepared by having food stored is very smart, especially if you live in a are prone to earthquakes or weather extremes. This makes being prepared affordable!!

By: Patricia

Patricia — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 22:12:03 +0000

Let me say this.

I was just watching the Ellen Degeneres Show and saw a woman who’d bought several hundreds of dollars of groceries for mere dollars. I’ve heard of these kinds of savings before; it’s not *new* news. But just like recycling and managing our finances in general, it’s not about doing what someone else is doing but what we can fit into our lives best.

Growing up, my parents always had a separate freezer for meat, vegetables and other items that would perish otherwise. With today’s Energy Star appliances, you can run these appliances for much less than previously. So yes, for me, it makes great sense to stock up, especially in the winter so that I don’t have to run out last minute when I’m having dinner guests or want a steak but don’t wanna shovel out the car.

It’s also a matter of time. As a single woman, I’m not interested in spending several hours clipping and organizing coupons, but I am very much swaying toward beginning a more disciplined clipping routine. For me, it’s not even about the products themselves, but what else I can do with the money I don’t spend in those areas. I consider saved money a free tank of gas, a new coat, a pedicure or a cell phone bill. When you put it in those terms, who wouldn’t be willing to spend maybe an hour or so a month to have something else you really want or need?

I’m clippin’!