Tag Archives: Basics

If you can get your hands on them, there are really some great benefits to using fake or fraudulent coupons. For example, the $8/1 Huggies coupon that is currently making it’s way around the internet is a GREAT way to get free diapers and no one gets hurt!

Ok, April Fools.  I had to give it a shot, right?  In all seriousness, knowingly using a fake or fraudulent coupon is the same as stealing but with much more severe consequences (shoplifting vs. fraud). This is just a friendly reminder to help stand up for ethical coupon usage. And here is a little video on how to spot a fake coupons (I had a cold while filming this so pardon my voice).:

And you can always check Coupon Information Center for updates on current fraudulent coupons.

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Some bloggers out there seem to have major fears that TLC’s show “Extreme Couponing” is going to severely damage the view manufacturers have towards couponers.  I have actually read multiple doomsayers blog posts that think that this show will destroy couponing as we know it.  Honestly, I find it hysterical.

Forgive me for my frankness but I truly believe it is naive to think that manufacturers are clueless as to how coupons are used and/or work. There have been couponers for decades and extreme couponing is nothing new. For example, the woman referred to as “the coupon diva” has been couponing for over 30 years!  I further believe that manufacturers could not care less what .0001% of the U.S. population (the percent that could possibly be counted as extreme couponers) are doing.

Anyway, I will get off my soap box and just sum up what I think by saying that couponing is nothing new.  Perhaps this show will motivate many people to start couponing.  I will be surprised if many stick with it although I think it would be great if they did.

I would also like to take a quick moment and lay one of the most recent rumors I heard to rest.  According to some, as a result of this show Catalina has already cracked down and is no longer offering the same or as many deals to customers.  This is entirely false.  Here is a press release from Catalina:

“Catalina Marketing Corporation’s manufacturer programs are continuing to be distributed in retail partner stores and printers as they have always been.  Shoppers will continue to find ‘Catalinas’ at their favorite retailers.”
Thank you,
PR representative for Catalina Marketing Corporation

So before you jump on the “arma-coupon-geddon” bandwagon (I will be eternally grateful for the invention of that hilarious term.  Thanks Joanie!), be sure you get the facts.  Thanks so much for reading my little rant and lets try to be coupon/ couponer lovers and not cranky haters who are jealous that we weren’t featured on the show!

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Tonight at 8 p.m. TLC is premiering “Extreme Couponing,” a reality show about four avid couponers.

It is funny to me how much controversy there has already been about this show from pieces with “relationship experts” on Good Morning America to dozens of other frugal bloggers criticizing the featured couponers.  Here are my thoughts based on the commercials and previews:

• We need to keep in mind that this show is about 4 different people and while they are all “extreme” in their own way, we need to remember that they are different.  While one person may be hoarding or clearing shelves because they are addicted to the thrill, the others may not be.  I just think we need to watch the show with an open mind and not judge others too harshly.
• On that note, we should also remember that this is a reality show so not only are they going to encourage these people to act crazier than normal, they will also show the extremes of couponing.  My friend, Joanie from The Krazy Coupon Lady is one of the four featured couponers and I can assure you that is isn’t quite as insane as they are going to portray her .
• I, for one, am excited to see what the 4 people are able to accomplish with coupons and deals.  However, it will likely just make me envious of those living in the lower 48 where there are so many more good deals and opportunities to get items for next to nothing!
• I am excited to see the show and hopefully learn a few more tricks.  I will also be able to give more of an opinion once I watch the show and see how they portray them.  Are they making it sound as if all couponers are nuts? (I admit I am!) And how crazy are they making us appear?  Regardless, I think it will be a fun show and hopefully it can inspire those who watch it to take control of their spending and stop throwing money away at the grocery store.

Extreme Couponing premiers tonight on TLC at 8:00. (Check your local times to be sure).  Please leave a comment and let us know, are you going to watch? Have you developed any thoughts on the show yet?

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Photo Credits: TheCuttinEdge.org

Many avid couponers can tell you that one of the most important parts of couponing is building a stockpile. So what is a stockpile? According to Webster’s disctionary:

Definition of STOCKPILE

: a storage pile: as a : a reserve supply of something essential accumulated for use during a shortage b : a gradually accumulated reserve of something.

As a couponer, our goal is to find items we use at rock bottom prices and then to buy as much of that at a time as we can.  By doing this, we build up a stockpile of items need.  After enough time goes buy, we accumulate  a sufficient stockpile of all of our frequently used items so that we never have to run to the store and pay full price for those items. By doing this we can save some serious money.

There are other advantages to building up a stockpile as well.  If you ever have to deal with a job loss or loss of income, illness, unexpected expenses or food shortages of any type (which is a very real issue in Alaska and Hawaii) then you know that you will have what you need without spending additional money.  During our kitchen remodel, we had more money going out than usual so to compensate, we bought very few groceries for that month and mostly lived off of our stockpile.  I also tend to take advantage of drug store deals, such as freebies at Walgreens, for a few months at a time until I have built up a one to two year  supply of items like deodorant, shampoo and conditioners, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste and other toiletry items.  I then don’t have to worry about those items for the rest of the year.  As a result I am able to build up stockpiles of these items for free or close to it and save myself several hundreds of dollars a year but not having to go buy those things at full price when I run out.

Do you have a stockpile? What types of items to keep in yours?

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A gimme, maybe?!

Did you know your Costco membership comes with special member pricing for a whole bunch of things?

Go here to learn about some of their consumer services.

My favorite?  Costco Travel.  You can sometimes find some great deals using it!  Go here.

Their vision center offers EXCELLENT rates on your contacts and glasses, even if you don’t get the exam there.

Any other Costco benefits that you’ve used?

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When you’re shopping around for the best deals, sometimes it’s easy to forget that certain clubs/groups you are a part of may have special negotiated rates.  The company you work for may also have something like this – discounts for health clubs, certain car rental agencies, maybe even your wireless phone bills.  It’s a good idea to be informed about what’s available!

With that said, I’m going to do a series on places that provide you with member discounts.  If you have any favorites that you know of, please send us a note and share!  We’ll write it up!

Your “homework” for today?  Talk to your HR department, if you work, and find out if they have any deals negotiated for employees.  Never hurts to ask!

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I have decided that I may have a problem.  I get really stressed out when I see people not using coupons on things that they easily could.  I mentioned on Facebook a couple of weeks ago how much it shocked me to so so many people buy items from Old Navy during the Give and Get 30% off coupon event.  I couldn’t believe that people were dropping several hundred dollars on clothing there without using a coupon that would have saved them over $60. And then on Friday I went on a lunch date with my husband to Quiznos.  I love Quiznos’ food however my husband and I both commented on how over priced their food is and how we would never eat there without a coupon.  We each bought a regular meal and paid $10 total.  The people behind us  in line also purchased two regular meals and paid $20.  Yikes! I felt like turning around and asking them if they had signed up for Quiznos’ email list so they could have coupons sent to them, but I refrained.

So I am asking all of our readers to help us compile a list of places that a person should never shop at without a coupon because they are usually available.  Here is what I have so far:

Old Navy
JoAnn Fabric and Crafts
Micheal’s
Quiznos
Qdoba
Kohl’s
Fred Meyer for anything that isn’t food
Cold Stone (they usually but not always have some coupon)
JCPenny
Gap
Bed, Bath and Beyond
Lowe’s
Home Depot
Border’s
Red Box (You should never have to pay for a rental!)
Famous Footwear

Did you know that there were plentiful coupons for these places?  Feel free to leave comments adding to this list as I am sure that I missed many businesses.  And please share this list with your friends.  Friends don’t let friends pay retail!  If you are one of our regular readers then you know how easy it is to save money.  Please share this wisdom with your friends and invite them to follow our blog either on Facebook or by subscribing to our feed. Hopefully we will all be able to help people live a great quality of life while saving  money!

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