Coupon zombies

[meems]

I was reading this as I was watchin Extreme Couponers (this is what brought me to the link.. I thought "what a coincidence!!") and your pal Nate is on

I am thinking couponing might not be a bad idea, but the people on this show make it looks so damned complicated. I love the people who buy diapers, just because, and they have no kids. 1oo containers of cleaning wipes and 200 bars of soap.. really? I wouldn't have the room for this stuff. I see them with their 1,000 rolls of toilet paper, but they break their back to go get 20 more rolls.. I guess I just don't understand.. I can't see spending $2 on something that my family doesn't use, even if it's dirt cheap, just to save the money

In fairness to them, TLC wanted EXTREME, so that's what they got...not necessarily a typical trip. It can be complicated, knowing what catalinas will print for what qty..etc..but the challenge makes it all the more fun!

Stockpiling is critical to couponing though, you buy enough of something when it's free, or nearly free to last you until the next sale cycle. I easily have 200 packs of TP stored...my DD hasn't bought TP in 3 years! I also give that (along w/ tons of other items) to my paper carriers in exchange for inserts.

 

[hairball]

I was reading this as I was watchin Extreme Couponers (this is what brought me to the link.. I thought "what a coincidence!!") and your pal Nate is on

I am thinking couponing might not be a bad idea, but the people on this show make it looks so damned complicated. I love the people who buy diapers, just because, and they have no kids. 1oo containers of cleaning wipes and 200 bars of soap.. really? I wouldn't have the room for this stuff. I see them with their 1,000 rolls of toilet paper, but they break their back to go get 20 more rolls.. I guess I just don't understand.. I can't see spending $2 on something that my family doesn't use, even if it's dirt cheap, just to save the money

I believe it's called hoarding. They need to be on the Hoarder show. I like couponing but these folks take it to the extreme. If it's something I would use, no problem but good grief I don't need 6 upright freezers full of food...my .... is fat enough...LOL.

 

[Lilacs212too]

what are some of the easiest things to find free or close to it.. no stores around here double or triple coupons, as far as I know.. this might be something I could try once or twice. But not to the hoarding point! I'd only buy stuff we need.. or at least need in the next month or so..

 

[daisyd]

I NEVER buy things my family WON'T use. I do buy things I maybe wouldn't if it wasn't on sale, but only if it's nearly free, and we'll use it.

 

[daisyd]

Never pay for toothpaste!

 

[meems]

what are some of the easiest things to find free or close to it.. no stores around here double or triple coupons, as far as I know.. this might be something I could try once or twice. But not to the hoarding point! I'd only buy stuff we need.. or at least need in the next month or so..

NEVER pay for toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, bodywash...those are all free on a regular basis. Shampoo deals come & go, so you stock up when they are on...

 

[Lilacs212too]

NEVER pay for toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, bodywash...those are all free on a regular basis. Shampoo deals come & go, so you stock up when they are on...

And I can just find these coupons in Sunday's paper and clip and go, or what..? can it be that easy?

 

[meems]

And I can just find these coupons in Sunday's paper and clip and go, or what..? can it be that easy?

Go to the two sites I posted earlier..either one, HCW is my preferred, but both are great..you can get a feel for what deals are going for YOUR stores, they have ads up often weeks in advance, if you don't have the coupons for it, you can trade for them or buy on ebay..there are coupon clippers too..the trick is to be prepared as far out as possible. What stores do you have?

 

[daisyd]

That's it. You get the coupons each week and file them. Then when things go on sale you have a coupon from say, two weeks ago for it. That's how stuff is free.

 

[Lilacs212too]

Go to the two sites I posted earlier..either one, HCW is my preferred, but both are great..you can get a feel for what deals are going for YOUR stores, they have ads up often weeks in advance, if you don't have the coupons for it, you can trade for them or buy on ebay..there are coupon clippers too..the trick is to be prepared as far out as possible. What stores do you have?

Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Rite Aide, Farm Fresh, Food Lion.. those are the main ones.

 

[meems]

kinda..but not always..CVS for example, free after Extra Care Bucks ECBs, so you pay for it, then you get a slip of paper that's good towards anything in the store (almost), the goal is to roll those ecb's into another deal for the lowest OOP (out of pocket). Walgreens uses register rewards RR's, they are a bit more complicated as you cannot roll into like item, you need filler items to use RR's so # of coupons & # of items match..Rite Aid is UPS rewards..

I find Wags to be the highest OOP...and it's harder to roll their RR's, as they seem to skip deals week to week so your RR's often expire before the next hot thing comes along.

 

[daisyd]

The pharmacy stores are the biggest deals, but the hardest to figure out. I still struggle with them. Mostly because stores tend to put me in zombie mode. I use Coupon Sense (I know meems, I know). It costs $15 per month, but it does all the figuring out for me. I just print out my shopping list and any internet coupons (linked right from my shopping list) and then cut the coupons I need for that trip and go. Then all I have to do is buy what's on my list and give the cashier all my coupons (I have a sorting thing with a file for each store, very small). I don't get the absolute most out of my oupons that way, but it works for me. I figured out a long time ago that if something is frustrating, I won't do it...

 

[meems]

daisy!!!!!!!!!

!!UGH!!

Seriously,HotCouponWorld.com - Coupon Forum, Database and Blog or Grocery Coupons & Deal Forums - A Full Cup - Coupons or if you want Nates site, WeUseCoupons.com

and bloggers..there are gazillions..hip to save is a great one...

find a good blog, it's emailed right to you, no fee! I use ohcherrypicker, but that's more area specific..though the pharmacy deals would be the same.

 

[meems]

oh cherry picker

just peek at that blog..you'll see how it's spelled out in detail..

 

[sensay]

accidently posted this in chit chat lol! I am a member of bzz agent. It is a site where they send you freebies and you share your thoughts and they give coupons for you to share with friends... anyway here is a free one night rental if you rent online through redbox for the first time

http://redbox.tellapal.com/a/clk/2Rkks

 

[Lilacs212too]

accidently posted this in chit chat lol! I am a member of bzz agent. It is a site where they send you freebies and you share your thoughts and they give coupons for you to share with friends... anyway here is a free one night rental if you rent online through redbox for the first time

redbox

Ahh now, see.. Redbox is one thing I already get free. If you sign up for their text thing, you get a free code every first Monday to use that day. Also a few other codes for them are.. BREAKROOM and DVDONME. both codes I've used and also hubs has, and they work fine So, have a movie night! There's three free movies right there

 

[daisyd]

To be fair, my plan is only to use coupon sense until I get the hang of the couponing thing (I do struggle to wrap my head around it). If I stay signed up until next month, then the person who reffered me gets her discount. After that I think I will cancel it. The biggest thing I've used with it is the advisor. I have called her from the store many times to clarify what I'm after for a coupon. I don't know what it is about shopping that makes me go brain dead, but it never fails.

 

[proudlion]

Every day I have less and less reason to go anywhere else on ECF.

Now if we could only order Pizza Delivery on ECF - I'd never have a reason to leave.

I'm a coupon person myself - and am glad this topic was created!

It's like a sport - just got back from Walmart and literally cut my bill by 50% - feels really good. Even used a $1 off Marlboro Snus

 

[pixiedust]

You can get good coupons on manufacturers websites. I saw that CVS has soft scrub spray cleaner on sale for $1.99, read a blog post about a $1.50 coupon for it on the softscrub website: Soft Scrub® - Soft Scrub® - Household Cleaners and Home Cleaning Products and register for the site you can get 2 $1.50 cent coupons for it, if you don't register, you can only get a coupon for 1/2 that amount. You can print 2 with the coupon printer, just let it start to print, then hit back until you see the animated print icon again and it will print out a second one. Also, you can print out more from other computers in your home. I will post more later or tomorrow but gotta run now...

 

[Darkwitless]

If you have a Rite-Aid, CVS, Walgreens - will get you free deodorant or nearly free and tooth paste etc. This week CVS has free colgate tooth paste after Extra Care Bucks (ECB's) which I used to get nearly free tampons (yeah guys, I said it) used $2 off clipped coupon plus the ecb's (you could do the tooth paste deal twice)


The hardest part is giving up brand loyalty for the best deal. If Degree is free - then I get it. When Right Guard is free, ditto.

I clip every coupon I MIGHT use and use a 3 ring binder with baseball card sleeves to hold my coupons. I refer to it as my other part time job. I can't imagine how I'd feed this clan without coupons. Well, I guess I can, but we wouldn't eat as well.

Just wish there were more coupons for organic foods and fresh produce, but as long as my shampoo and razors are cheap and deodorant and tooth past are free, I live with it.