Author Topic: Couponer Fail  (Read 19676 times)

jdoolin

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Couponer Fail
« on: February 09, 2014, 07:06:32 PM »
A former co-worker of mine has, in the last couple years, gotten into extreme couponing.  She's very proud of her accomplishments, posts them to facebook and has even started a facebook group and a local class where she teaches others how to coupon.   People reply to her posts, lauding her efforts and commending her for how much money she saves.

A few months ago she proudly posted the photo of her husband's birthday present: a big, giganto-truck (my word for ludicrously oversized pickup trucks).  Apparently, "He deserved it."

Yesterday she posts that she's going car shopping.  I quickly reply that my only advice is to not buy new.

She bought new.  BUT SHE GOT A REBATE!

dragoncar

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2014, 09:07:35 PM »
I'd be impressed if she got the truck free after rebate.

Jamesqf

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2014, 10:42:09 PM »
A few months ago she proudly posted the photo of her husband's birthday present: a big, giganto-truck (my word for ludicrously oversized pickup trucks).  Apparently, "He deserved it."

Poor guy!  Because IMHO the guys who drive those giganto-trucks do so in order to compensate for certain... well, shall we say SHORTcomings :-)

Reminds me of my former rich neighbor, who had two Hummers.  Used to be a running joke about his poor wife... though she wound up with the horse ranch in the eventual divorce.

ncornilsen

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2014, 08:17:42 AM »
Yeah, I drive a good sized pickup since, on a regular basis, I need to make up for shortcomings in towing capacity or ground clearance on rough terrain.  Otherwise I drive the civic.

Sounds like a guy who drove a big truck stole a girl of yours, James...

It's a pet peave of mine when a dealer says "Save $2000 on on 2014 blah-blah!" when the actual sales price is negotiable...

Insanity

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2014, 08:57:44 AM »
One of the things about couponer's - and it is something I see in my wife some of the time, though she is getting better at it now (probably because of my sarcastic comments -- which has probably tied into our other issues)..  They spend when they see a deal regardless of need.

My wife would buy things and I'd usually say: we aren't going to use that or we don't need that.  She'd respond with: but it was free (or $0.25)..

And my response was usually something along the lines of:  If rat poison was free to consume, would you consume it?


Yeah, I know.. I need to find nicer ways sometimes :)

Jamesqf

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2014, 12:06:32 PM »
Yeah, I drive a good sized pickup since, on a regular basis, I need to make up for shortcomings in towing capacity or ground clearance on rough terrain.  Otherwise I drive the civic.

Sounds like you use your 'good-sized' pickup as a tool, not as an ego-enhancing way to commute to your office job.  Same like driving an 18-wheeler for a living, or maybe one of these: http://www.cat.com/en_US/products/new/equipment/off-highway-trucks/mining-trucks.html  They have their purpose - doing a job - but as a daily driver?

jdoolin

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2014, 07:55:20 PM »
Yeah, I drive a good sized pickup since, on a regular basis, I need to make up for shortcomings in towing capacity or ground clearance on rough terrain.  Otherwise I drive the civic.

Sounds like you use your 'good-sized' pickup as a tool, not as an ego-enhancing way to commute to your office job.  Same like driving an 18-wheeler for a living, or maybe one of these: http://www.cat.com/en_US/products/new/equipment/off-highway-trucks/mining-trucks.html  They have their purpose - doing a job - but as a daily driver?

Exactly.  There are always going to be exceptions.  I know a few people who use big trucks on a daily basis for their designed purpose.  But that's maybe one out of every 10... hell, maybe even 20 people I know who own one of those giganto-trucks (they are super popular around here... so is water cooler talk about how Obama and welfare recipients are taking all their money).

In fact, I'm going to go so far as to say that NONE of the people I know who use their truck as a tool have theirs lifted 5 feet with smoke stack exhausts and pretend testicles hanging from the unused tow-hitch.    No, those things are in pristine condition and are used as commuters and to fetch groceries.  Maybe once or twice per year are they used for hauling anything and most of those loads could be handled by MMM's mini-van or a hatchback.

This particular individual I posted about originally?  Yeah.  Commuter vehicle.  The only thing he hauls is his wife around to a zillion stores to go use coupons.  I'm pretty sure you don't need a lifted Doge Ram to carry home a bunch of almost free junk food, razor blades, shampoo and swiffer pads. 

Jamesqf

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2014, 09:46:38 PM »
In fact, I'm going to go so far as to say that NONE of the people I know who use their truck as a tool have theirs lifted 5 feet with smoke stack exhausts and pretend testicles hanging from the unused tow-hitch.    No, those things are in pristine condition and are used as commuters and to fetch groceries.  Maybe once or twice per year are they used for hauling anything and most of those loads could be handled by MMM's mini-van or a hatchback.

Yeah, I think I know the type.  Meanwhile, my '88 Toyota goes just about anywhere (including places I've seen Jeeps get high-centered), hauls big loads of firewood, hay, horse manure, or what have you, gets washed whenever it rains...

jdoolin

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2014, 09:49:40 PM »
In fact, I'm going to go so far as to say that NONE of the people I know who use their truck as a tool have theirs lifted 5 feet with smoke stack exhausts and pretend testicles hanging from the unused tow-hitch.    No, those things are in pristine condition and are used as commuters and to fetch groceries.  Maybe once or twice per year are they used for hauling anything and most of those loads could be handled by MMM's mini-van or a hatchback.

Yeah, I think I know the type.  Meanwhile, my '88 Toyota goes just about anywhere (including places I've seen Jeeps get high-centered), hauls big loads of firewood, hay, horse manure, or what have you, gets washed whenever it rains...

An '88 Toyota?  Those things will survive the apocalypse.  The survivors will all be driving them around deserts looking for fuel and Mel Gibson.

golden1

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #9 on: February 11, 2014, 05:43:00 AM »
I think a lot of extreme couponers are in it for the rush of getting free stuff.  They accumulate more than they can possibly use.  The one girl I follow on FB who extreme coupons donates most of it to charity.  I am always amazed by her frequent stories of how she shuts down registers, confuses the poor store clerks, and brings managers over to argue her deals...I am relatively non-confrontational and that would be excruciating for me. 

jba302

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #10 on: February 11, 2014, 12:12:48 PM »
Sounds like you use your 'good-sized' pickup as a tool, not as an ego-enhancing way to commute to your office job.  Same like driving an 18-wheeler for a living, or maybe one of these: http://www.cat.com/en_US/products/new/equipment/off-highway-trucks/mining-trucks.html  They have their purpose - doing a job - but as a daily driver?

Liability coverage on that thing would be awful. "Hey Geico, it's me. No, 6 this time. WELL HOW DO YOU SUGGEST I GET MY GROCERIES???"

CommonCents

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2014, 12:20:22 PM »
I think a lot of extreme couponers are in it for the rush of getting free stuff.  They accumulate more than they can possibly use.  The one girl I follow on FB who extreme coupons donates most of it to charity.  I am always amazed by her frequent stories of how she shuts down registers, confuses the poor store clerks, and brings managers over to argue her deals...I am relatively non-confrontational and that would be excruciating for me.

You're right, the rush of the deal can be a little addicting.  I'm not nearly up to her level - I used to coupon a lot, but I've cut back and haven't really done so in ages because:
1) It's can be time consuming to work out the deals (even looking at sites for suggestions)
2) I have a huge stash, even after also giving away a lot of stuff to friends and family.  That stash is large enough to keep me for a while and it's cluttering up my home in a way.  I have been trying to work through my canned food stock for a while now (expired cans...) and I have too much bath/medical stuff too.
3) It can be stressful to need to educate those working the register, reworking deals when items you want to buy aren't available or finding out you bought something uber close to the deal item but not actually it so you just wasted money bc the deal didn't work out unless you return it.

Part of the issue is that I found I had to regularly go to places like CVS (harder to get to now in my new house) and buy things to "roll" my free dollars there, and I'd be buying things I didn't need, albeit for free.

On the positive side, despite not couponing hard core for almost a year, I still have a stash of free dish detergent, laundry detergent, toothpaste, floss, bandaids, contact solution, etc.  Saves a good bit of money.  And my husband's gotten to expect it in groceries such that he's horrified by the register amount when we don't save 40-50% on them and we're paying full price.

Insanity

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #12 on: February 12, 2014, 12:23:50 PM »
I think a lot of extreme couponers are in it for the rush of getting free stuff.  They accumulate more than they can possibly use.  The one girl I follow on FB who extreme coupons donates most of it to charity.  I am always amazed by her frequent stories of how she shuts down registers, confuses the poor store clerks, and brings managers over to argue her deals...I am relatively non-confrontational and that would be excruciating for me.

You're right, the rush of the deal can be a little addicting.  I'm not nearly up to her level - I used to coupon a lot, but I've cut back and haven't really done so in ages because:
1) It's can be time consuming to work out the deals (even looking at sites for suggestions)
2) I have a huge stash, even after also giving away a lot of stuff to friends and family.  That stash is large enough to keep me for a while and it's cluttering up my home in a way.  I have been trying to work through my canned food stock for a while now (expired cans...) and I have too much bath/medical stuff too.
3) It can be stressful to need to educate those working the register, reworking deals when items you want to buy aren't available or finding out you bought something uber close to the deal item but not actually it so you just wasted money bc the deal didn't work out unless you return it.

Part of the issue is that I found I had to regularly go to places like CVS (harder to get to now in my new house) and buy things to "roll" my free dollars there, and I'd be buying things I didn't need, albeit for free.

On the positive side, despite not couponing hard core for almost a year, I still have a stash of free dish detergent, laundry detergent, toothpaste, floss, bandaids, contact solution, etc.  Saves a good bit of money.  And my husband's gotten to expect it in groceries such that he's horrified by the register amount when we don't save 40-50% on them and we're paying full price.

Not to mention store policies when it comes to coupons can be so different.  My wife would call ahead sometimes when stores would have their triple coupon days to verify exactly what and how much each order can have in terms of coupons.

our kids bathroom vanity is still stocked with toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, body washes and all sorts of other stuff that will probably last four years.

CommonCents

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #13 on: February 12, 2014, 12:28:23 PM »
Not to mention store policies when it comes to coupons can be so different.  My wife would call ahead sometimes when stores would have their triple coupon days to verify exactly what and how much each order can have in terms of coupons.

Oh yes!  I'd carry copies of the policies at some stores even, to pull out when needed.  A lot of store clerks wouldn't know that their own store permited say, one store coupon plus one manufacturing coupon.  (Not all do, just an example.)  I wouldn't do Walgreens, for example, because I found it too confusing and too much education of store clerks, for example.  CVS was easiest, best policies, and best trained clerks so I started going solely there of the drug stores, or Target/Walmart or my grocery stores.

Triple coupon days, what are those?  ;)  Here in NE they barely double, and our coupons are a lower value with higher priced items too.

Insanity

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #14 on: February 12, 2014, 12:33:13 PM »
Not to mention store policies when it comes to coupons can be so different.  My wife would call ahead sometimes when stores would have their triple coupon days to verify exactly what and how much each order can have in terms of coupons.

Oh yes!  I'd carry copies of the policies at some stores even, to pull out when needed.  A lot of store clerks wouldn't know that their own store permited say, one store coupon plus one manufacturing coupon.  (Not all do, just an example.)  I wouldn't do Walgreens, for example, because I found it too confusing and too much education of store clerks, for example.  CVS was easiest, best policies, and best trained clerks so I started going solely there of the drug stores, or Target/Walmart or my grocery stores.

Triple coupon days, what are those?  ;)  Here in NE they barely double, and our coupons are a lower value with higher priced items too.

Some of the stores here in Philly have had them (ShopRite still does them occasionally still).  Giant usually does a double almost all the time.


CommonCents

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #15 on: February 12, 2014, 12:35:50 PM »
Not to mention store policies when it comes to coupons can be so different.  My wife would call ahead sometimes when stores would have their triple coupon days to verify exactly what and how much each order can have in terms of coupons.

Oh yes!  I'd carry copies of the policies at some stores even, to pull out when needed.  A lot of store clerks wouldn't know that their own store permited say, one store coupon plus one manufacturing coupon.  (Not all do, just an example.)  I wouldn't do Walgreens, for example, because I found it too confusing and too much education of store clerks, for example.  CVS was easiest, best policies, and best trained clerks so I started going solely there of the drug stores, or Target/Walmart or my grocery stores.

Triple coupon days, what are those?  ;)  Here in NE they barely double, and our coupons are a lower value with higher priced items too.

Some of the stores here in Philly have had them (ShopRite still does them occasionally still).  Giant usually does a double almost all the time.

Too bad it didn't occur to me to coupon back when I was living in Philly in 2004-2007.  Only picked it up in Boston around 2009-2010.

ginastarke

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #16 on: February 12, 2014, 02:26:20 PM »
Where did you get your coupons? Many couponers have multiple newspaper subscriptions, which doesn't seem very mustashian.

CommonCents

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #17 on: February 12, 2014, 02:33:02 PM »
Where did you get your coupons? Many couponers have multiple newspaper subscriptions, which doesn't seem very mustashian.

It's not.  I never settled on a good method but somethings I did:
- Buy one newspaper subscription on super good sale, and "hold" it every week that there wouldn't be inserts (holidays usually).  I did this for one year, but got pissed off that despite an hour conversation with 3 different people, the Boston Globe did not properly cancel & credit refunds to me for the holds.  (I got some, but ended up one shy.)  I was mostly very upset a woman full on lied to me on the phone at the end when she said she was issuing a refund for X but it was approximately $3.50 less than that.  Debated writing to complain and suggest they review those tapes to give her training/reprimand and decided I already spent enough time with their poor customer service.
- Subscribe to the savers put out by the newspaper
- Pick out the inserts out of newspapers at public coffee shops/hotels etc when I visited (note, they often did not have full inserts)
- Collected from a friend whose parents refused to coupon, seeing it as beneath them or something.
- Printed out from online (tread carefully and don't overprint, not always worth the ink)

Insanity

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #18 on: February 12, 2014, 03:08:33 PM »
Where did you get your coupons? Many couponers have multiple newspaper subscriptions, which doesn't seem very mustashian.

It depends on whether you go to places that stack coupons or not or how well you time things.  Some of those couponers still come out ahead.

But, as CommonCents points out, there's other ways -- dumpster diving/neighbors recycle pile, friends bringing their coupons over, on-line coupons, reward cards, etc. 

Some stores will advertise they are planning on coupon multiplier deals and at that point coupons will subscribe to papers or services because it more than pays for itself with the massive haul that they take in.  And then there's the fact that some couponers will donate a large haul and take the tax deduction (however questionable that may be :) )

warfreak2

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #19 on: February 12, 2014, 03:44:03 PM »
If you're going through dumpsters anyway, why not just take the perfectly good food in the ones at the back of the supermarket?

CommonCents

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #20 on: February 12, 2014, 04:01:52 PM »
If you're going through dumpsters anyway, why not just take the perfectly good food in the ones at the back of the supermarket?

I've never dumpster dived though I've seen on TV people that have.

chucklesmcgee

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #21 on: February 14, 2014, 10:43:13 AM »
Where did you get your coupons? Many couponers have multiple newspaper subscriptions, which doesn't seem very mustashian.

Couponing in general isn't very mustachian. The overwhelming majority of coupons are for processed, name-brand junk food you don't even need in the first place.

CommonCents

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #22 on: February 14, 2014, 10:56:19 AM »
Where did you get your coupons? Many couponers have multiple newspaper subscriptions, which doesn't seem very mustashian.

Couponing in general isn't very mustachian. The overwhelming majority of coupons are for processed, name-brand junk food you don't even need in the first place.

I think this is a vast overgeneralization.  Yes, there are more coupons for processed food than veggies for example.  But there are still coupons for veggies (a lot of salads actually, although I've got store coupons for things like carrots, potatoes, onions, etc).  There are coupons for items to make food - like yeast and flour, which I've made into bread.  Then are coupons for canned items like soup or beans or ketchup (sure, you can make your own but these are very cheap to free and a great timesaver when you are working.)  And then there are items which by nature are processed or packaged - like toothpaste, dental floss, shampoo/conditioner, feminine products.  (Yes you can make your own but even in the MMM world few do it.)

That said, I agree it is important to check prices and not buy the brand item *just because you have a coupon*.  Most couponers recommend this.  You buy it because it is cheapest (that is still good food), ideally pairing a sale and a coupon that is doubled.

ginastarke

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #23 on: February 15, 2014, 12:23:58 AM »
Where did you get your coupons? Many couponers have multiple newspaper subscriptions, which doesn't seem very mustashian.

Couponing in general isn't very mustachian. The overwhelming majority of coupons are for processed, name-brand junk food you don't even need in the first place.

I was thinking of focusing on non-food, like  better  shampoo than I can get at the dollar store , toilet paper, etc.  I can nail down the grocery budget by  shopping at  restaurant supply  store, the discount grocery, and the  ethnic produce market, but haven't quite mastered the non food category.I'm not looking forward to the day the Tresseme runs out and I have to settle for "Acid Rain" from the dollar store.

Wanderer

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #24 on: February 15, 2014, 06:54:13 AM »
Yeah, I drive a good sized pickup since, on a regular basis, I need to make up for shortcomings in towing capacity or ground clearance on rough terrain.  Otherwise I drive the civic.

Sounds like you use your 'good-sized' pickup as a tool, not as an ego-enhancing way to commute to your office job.  Same like driving an 18-wheeler for a living, or maybe one of these: http://www.cat.com/en_US/products/new/equipment/off-highway-trucks/mining-trucks.html  They have their purpose - doing a job - but as a daily driver?

Exactly.  There are always going to be exceptions.  I know a few people who use big trucks on a daily basis for their designed purpose.  But that's maybe one out of every 10... hell, maybe even 20 people I know who own one of those giganto-trucks (they are super popular around here... so is water cooler talk about how Obama and welfare recipients are taking all their money).

In fact, I'm going to go so far as to say that NONE of the people I know who use their truck as a tool have theirs lifted 5 feet with smoke stack exhausts and pretend testicles hanging from the unused tow-hitch.    No, those things are in pristine condition and are used as commuters and to fetch groceries.  Maybe once or twice per year are they used for hauling anything and most of those loads could be handled by MMM's mini-van or a hatchback.

This particular individual I posted about originally?  Yeah.  Commuter vehicle.  The only thing he hauls is his wife around to a zillion stores to go use coupons.  I'm pretty sure you don't need a lifted Doge Ram to carry home a bunch of almost free junk food, razor blades, shampoo and swiffer pads.

Going on three years ago I got a phone call from my sister saying that the doctor thought that the "flu" that she'd had for the past month was leukemia.  I drove down right away, and had to stop to get gas and coffee on the way.  I parked next to this frickin' huge pickup truck with a fancy shmancy cherry-red paint job.  When I was on my way out I opened the door and bumped the pickup's side mirror, on account of it sticking like a foot and a half into my parking spot. 

Well the owner was coming out and yelled, "Hey!" at me, and immediately started going into how he'd just spent some horrific amount, I think $45k, on this fucking truck and I could scratch it and I should be more careful.  All I was thinking was, "Why did you buy a pickup truck if you care about your car's paint job?" (and "if you care about your fucking huge pickup's paint job that much, why don't you double park like all the other assholes?")  I didn't say anything at all, just looked at the mirror, saw it had nothing at all wrong with it, got in my car, and left.  I had more important things on my mind.  But if he had pushed it too much further he would have had a hysterical woman screaming at him. 

My sister's in remission right now.  He probably still owes $25k on that truck, and I'm sure it has a few scratches. 

Anyways, people with giant toy trucks annoy me, sidetrack over. 

chucklesmcgee

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #25 on: February 19, 2014, 01:13:45 PM »
I was thinking of focusing on non-food, like  better  shampoo than I can get at the dollar store , toilet paper, etc.  I can nail down the grocery budget by  shopping at  restaurant supply  store, the discount grocery, and the  ethnic produce market, but haven't quite mastered the non food category.I'm not looking forward to the day the Tresseme runs out and I have to settle for "Acid Rain" from the dollar store.

Fair. I've found drug stores and grocery stores to be overpriced. I really like Amazon Subscribe and Save- if you have enough items added to a month's delivery, you get 20% off. Prices for a lot of items are really competitive, especially you when factor in the value of your time and gas savings.

Workinghard

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #26 on: February 19, 2014, 04:32:11 PM »
Okay, I use to be an extreme couponer a few years ago. I would "buy" $1000-$1500 a month of non food products. It was for a church ministry to help out people in the community. It was things that I could get free after rewards, coupons, and rebates. Because of the tax exempt status with the church, I didn't even have to pay sales tax. In some states, like MO, there's no sales tax if your balance is 0.00. I use to get 6 newspapers, and yes I had to pay for those. Plus I had 3-4 computers I could print coupons from. There would be a lot of items I would make money on. For example, Walgreens might have an item that was free after register rewards. A lot of times there would be a MQ coupon making the item free and you would still get the reward. Sometimes it was as much as $10.  I would then use the rewards on other deals like diapers and baby items getting those items free. It was a LOT of work but worth it to help people out.

However,  since I started working again (and it's just my husband and I) I no longer do extreme couponing. Having said that, there are some things I just can't bring myself to buy. Black Friday is a great time to stock up on things from Walgreens and coupons are not needed. You can google last year's ad, but free items included digestive advantage, Tums, Gelusil, sleep sheets, dream water, cepacol, shampoo, conditioner, maxi pads, restless leg stuff, dry shampoo, toothbrushes, blister, swisse multivitamins, scunci, toothpaste, protein water, opti-free solution, foot cream, and nasal spray.

Some of the items had peelie stickers on them thus I made a profit and used that money to but the coffee on sale. You just need some cash to start with. I usually start with a $50 Walgreens gift card. If a product costs $5 and gives a $5 register reward, you can then use that $5 register reward to buy another $5 item. Just go back and forth between them to avoid spending cash.

As far as other things, I NEVER buy computer paper. It's free after rebate all the time at Staples. So are batteries around Christmas times and numerous other things throughout the year. Back to school sales are a great time to stock up on office supplies. I'm still using free packing and scotch tape from a coup,e of years ago. I know there's a big push to make your own cleaning products, but when I can get Windex for 0.50 and Ajax for 0.20/can, it's kinda hard to mess with.  You just have to stock up on sales and I mean stock up. When SOBE came out, and was free, we bought a couple hundred bottles. Tuna at 0.39 a can might mean 50-100 cans.  Just check dates!

ginastarke

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #27 on: February 20, 2014, 03:08:16 AM »
Workinghard- are those "free after register rewards"  deals usually only on  Black Friday, or do they happen more often than that?

Oh and if you bought junk food- how did you keep your family out of the stash? If my husband knows there's  the candy he likes , he'll go through it all, and then complain his pants don't fit - I can only hide so much in the pressure cooker! ;-)

Workinghard

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #28 on: February 20, 2014, 03:51:48 AM »
Walgreens has "free after register rewards" deals throughout the year. The program is totally different from their balance rewards where you get points for buying an item. There are some caveats though. For instance, if you get a free item from P&G, you can't use that register reward to turn around and by the same item. Or if you do, you won't get another register reward.  If a register reward is even a penny more than the item you are buying, their cash registers won't accept it and they won't manually over ride it.

The best thing is to go to some coupon sites that explain the rules and learn how to do it before a big sale comes up. Looking online at Walgreens ad for this Sunday, the only free item is Mucinex allergy. It's just five count. It's free after coupon and mail in rebate.  The sma item is also posted in CVS's upcoming ad.

I do not clip coupons. We do get one newspaper a week and I put the date on the outside of the coupon flier. Coupon websites will tell you what flyer the coupon is in or where you can go to print one out.  If you're trying to find a random coupon, just go to coupontom.com. He has a database of online coupons and fliers.

CVS also has products that are free after extra care bucks (ECB).  Their program is a lot easier to use and has a lot less restrictions. However they put limits on the number of products you can buy and it's tracked on your card.  This week (until 2/22) Culturelle probiotic is $10 and you get a $10 ECB back. There was also a coupon available for $5.  You could've use that coupon and made five dollars on the one probiotic.  The coupon is no longer available. With CVS you can use their ECBs on anything else in the store. Both stores have expiration dates on their rewards.

I used to buy junk food when we had a teen who was always hungry, but I try to avoid it now. On the other hand, it worth buying sometimes, so my DH doesn't pay full price for something. After holidays, CVS will put sale items in a bin up by the cash register. Every week it goes down in price. I've seen items marked 75 to 90% off. My problem is I hate shopping. I literally have to force myself to go to a store. I'm sure that's tied in with my dislike of spending money. 

Gin1984

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #29 on: February 22, 2014, 12:06:45 PM »
One of the things about couponer's - and it is something I see in my wife some of the time, though she is getting better at it now (probably because of my sarcastic comments -- which has probably tied into our other issues)..  They spend when they see a deal regardless of need.

My wife would buy things and I'd usually say: we aren't going to use that or we don't need that.  She'd respond with: but it was free (or $0.25)..

And my response was usually something along the lines of:  If rat poison was free to consume, would you consume it?


Yeah, I know.. I need to find nicer ways sometimes :)
The couponers that I know, would buy something for cheap or free if they will need it in the future or they could sell it for more.  The only time I "buy" something I don't need is if they pay me to walk out the door.  And, yes that has happened.

ginastarke

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #30 on: February 23, 2014, 02:24:54 AM »
Workinghard- Thank you so much for the mucinex tip!  Oregon=allergy hell. Not only that, but our  favorite deodorant is in this week's ad.  Now, I just have to stalk the newspaper guy so I can buy enough copies to be good for deodorant for the year.
« Last Edit: February 23, 2014, 02:32:23 AM by ginastarke »

Workinghard

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #31 on: February 23, 2014, 02:59:05 AM »
You're welcome, ginastarke.  Once you know what to look for it's amazing how much you can get free. New personal care items are almost always free as the manufacturer wants people to try their products.

Walgreens is more complicated but they don't have limits on register reward items--just their regular sales items. My dh uses nasal spray, and on Black Friday, I made $2 off of each one because there was a coupon and it was free after register rewards. They were small bottles, but that was okay.

I always get deodorant free but I don't care about brand or if it's stick. My husband, on the other hand, likes aerosol. It's rarely on sale. He's weaned off brand toilet paper and brand peanut butter (if it's chunky), so I have to give him some credit/latitude. He'll never be as frugal as I am, but that's okay.

You might want to ask family and friends for the coupons, if they get the Sunday paper, and save yourself some money.!

ginastarke

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #32 on: February 23, 2014, 04:45:39 AM »
Once I build a  1 year stockpile of my shortlist, (He needs his brand  of body wash, I absolutely HAVE to have Dawn for dishes, you get the  idea) I can play around looking for freebies. I'm just  trying to get my non-food  down to $20 a month, and  squeeze enough out of that once in a while for something girly - anything  not on the list had better be free or close to  it. I'm trying to not go too far overboard to start with, since printer cartridge ink seems to made from platinum  for what they charge for it.

Oh and for Portland, OR area folks, Plaid Pantry is a coupon playground. The ones in my city combine sales and coupons for you in advance. I'll be eating sunflower seeds for the next  6 months but hey, .17 a bag!

Workinghard

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #33 on: February 23, 2014, 08:57:01 AM »
I love sunflower seeds!

There are websites where you can trade or buy coupons. You can usually get Dawn, small bottles, for around 0.79-0.99 at drugstore with sales and coupons. Once in awhile even 0.49.

Gillette fusion razors--I stocked up when they first came out at 0.99 each with extra blades. Some things you need to just treat as disposables. That was hard for my husband. Razors are a good example. Companies will sell the razor cheap to get you to buy blades. It's cheaper to just buy the razors.

Our printer, a cheap brother for $50, uses toners. We get those off of eBay for around $22 and get 1000's of pages.

Since it's just my dh and me, and I'm not involved in ministry, things will last us a long time. I have lots of free shaving cream but I'm fine with just soap and water when it's gone. It's not worth the tax to me. I don't stockpile or do a lot of couponing like I use to. However, most things I refuse to pay full price for and if my dh wants certain things, he knows to tell me in advance.

Gin1984

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #34 on: February 23, 2014, 10:01:49 AM »
Workinghard- are those "free after register rewards"  deals usually only on  Black Friday, or do they happen more often than that?

Oh and if you bought junk food- how did you keep your family out of the stash? If my husband knows there's  the candy he likes , he'll go through it all, and then complain his pants don't fit - I can only hide so much in the pressure cooker! ;-)
CVS has free after EB (their version of free after register rewards) on average of every week though they are not always what I can use.  I also get better than free probably once a month (aka they pay me) with coupons, which I use as an overage for stuff I need.

Exprezchef

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #35 on: February 23, 2014, 10:03:40 AM »
I am not a hugh "couponer" but I do clip the ones I need from the Sunday paper and a few web sites I have bookmarked. On Friday I am doing my monthly shopping day at the local Walmart for my staple items and had about 15 coupons worth about $10.00 I wanted to use. The store is busy and the checkout lines long. I am checking out and present my coupons. There is a problem with the scanning of a few of them and the clerk needed the manager...this of course held up the line. The lady in line behind me with two full baskets of useless crap makes a comment to another customer behind her that she cannot believe that I am actually using coupons at Walmart. I just looked back at her and smiled stating; that's why I am a millionaire, are you??  She did not say a word. I finished my transaction and went on my way. As I am getting into my 14 year old paid-for-cash car, I see her across the parking lot loading her bags into a late model Infinity SUV.   

Hedge_87

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #36 on: February 23, 2014, 10:11:57 AM »
Yeah, I drive a good sized pickup since, on a regular basis, I need to make up for shortcomings in towing capacity or ground clearance on rough terrain.  Otherwise I drive the civic.

Sounds like you use your 'good-sized' pickup as a tool, not as an ego-enhancing way to commute to your office job.  Same like driving an 18-wheeler for a living, or maybe one of these: http://www.cat.com/en_US/products/new/equipment/off-highway-trucks/mining-trucks.html  They have their purpose - doing a job - but as a daily driver?

Exactly.  There are always going to be exceptions.  I know a few people who use big trucks on a daily basis for their designed purpose.  But that's maybe one out of every 10... hell, maybe even 20 people I know who own one of those giganto-trucks (they are super popular around here... so is water cooler talk about how Obama and welfare recipients are taking all their money).

In fact, I'm going to go so far as to say that NONE of the people I know who use their truck as a tool have theirs lifted 5 feet with smoke stack exhausts and pretend testicles hanging from the unused tow-hitch.    No, those things are in pristine condition and are used as commuters and to fetch groceries.  Maybe once or twice per year are they used for hauling anything and most of those loads could be handled by MMM's mini-van or a hatchback.

This particular individual I posted about originally?  Yeah.  Commuter vehicle.  The only thing he hauls is his wife around to a zillion stores to go use coupons.  I'm pretty sure you don't need a lifted Doge Ram to carry home a bunch of almost free junk food, razor blades, shampoo and swiffer pads.
I think we must live in the same town lol. everybody blaming obama and welfare for why they are broke. It cant be the fact they just bought a 2500 diesel pickup to haul their kids to ball games.

Workinghard

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #37 on: February 23, 2014, 03:29:24 PM »
Too funny. I would have liked to have seen her face but she probably didn't believe you.

I am not a hugh "couponer" but I do clip the ones I need from the Sunday paper and a few web sites I have bookmarked. On Friday I am doing my monthly shopping day at the local Walmart for my staple items and had about 15 coupons worth about $10.00 I wanted to use. The store is busy and the checkout lines long. I am checking out and present my coupons. There is a problem with the scanning of a few of them and the clerk needed the manager...this of course held up the line. The lady in line behind me with two full baskets of useless crap makes a comment to another customer behind her that she cannot believe that I am actually using coupons at Walmart. I just looked back at her and smiled stating; that's why I am a millionaire, are you??  She did not say a word. I finished my transaction and went on my way. As I am getting into my 14 year old paid-for-cash car, I see her across the parking lot loading her bags into a late model Infinity SUV.

Unionville

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #38 on: February 23, 2014, 07:48:23 PM »

I think we must live in the same town lol. everybody blaming obama and welfare for why they are broke. It cant be the fact they just bought a 2500 diesel pickup to haul their kids to ball games.

made me lol

lexie2000

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #39 on: February 24, 2014, 08:15:25 AM »
For some people, extreme couponing is a money-saving hobby.  I did it for several years and my strategy was to "buy" only when products were free (meaning I spent no money) with a focus on the non-perishables that we use regularly - toilet paper, laundry detergent, razors, shampoo, etc. - stuff that will not break down or go bad over the next few years.   I built a fairly healthy stash of products that we use conservatively so that they will last us a good, long while. 

jdoolin

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #40 on: February 24, 2014, 08:28:06 AM »

I think we must live in the same town lol. everybody blaming obama and welfare for why they are broke. It cant be the fact they just bought a 2500 diesel pickup to haul their kids to ball games.

made me lol

Me too. :-)

Workinghard

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #41 on: February 24, 2014, 11:35:42 AM »
For some people, extreme couponing is a money-saving hobby.  I did it for several years and my strategy was to "buy" only when products were free (meaning I spent no money) with a focus on the non-perishables that we use regularly - toilet paper, laundry detergent, razors, shampoo, etc. - stuff that will not break down or go bad over the next few years.   I built a fairly healthy stash of products that we use conservatively so that they will last us a good, long while.

I agree, Lexie. At the time I did it, it was fun and my brother set up an excel worksheet so I could track things. I never could understand what people do with a 100 boxes of cereal. What's the point of stockpiling that much unless you're giving it away.  It will go bad before you can use it. Six months ago, I did buy 60 cans of tuna at 0.39. However, the expiration dates are 2017-2018.

ginastarke

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #42 on: February 25, 2014, 01:57:50 AM »
I can't even think of the space you'd need to store it.  But when couponing and SHTF preparedness get together, that's comedy.

OHNOES! The Mayans (Now it's the Vikings)  say the world is GOING TO END!  Hoard the paper towells!

If you think the world is going to end on (insert date here) You're going have a lot bigger problems than  a paper towel shortage.

lexie2000

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #43 on: February 25, 2014, 06:59:24 AM »
For some people, extreme couponing is a money-saving hobby.  I did it for several years and my strategy was to "buy" only when products were free (meaning I spent no money) with a focus on the non-perishables that we use regularly - toilet paper, laundry detergent, razors, shampoo, etc. - stuff that will not break down or go bad over the next few years.   I built a fairly healthy stash of products that we use conservatively so that they will last us a good, long while.

I agree, Lexie. At the time I did it, it was fun and my brother set up an excel worksheet so I could track things. I never could understand what people do with a 100 boxes of cereal. What's the point of stockpiling that much unless you're giving it away.  It will go bad before you can use it. Six months ago, I did buy 60 cans of tuna at 0.39. However, the expiration dates are 2017-2018.

I think some people just get carried away or they have large families or some do give it away by donating to food pantries.  Stocking up on food is much trickier unless you have a really good idea of what you use in a given period of time or it is something that can be frozen.  I did stock up a while back on bagged and vacuum sealed ground coffee @ $1.99/lb. and it is excellent!! 

lexie2000

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #44 on: February 25, 2014, 07:00:53 AM »
I can't even think of the space you'd need to store it.  But when couponing and SHTF preparedness get together, that's comedy.

OHNOES! The Mayans (Now it's the Vikings)  say the world is GOING TO END!  Hoard the paper towells!

If you think the world is going to end on (insert date here) You're going have a lot bigger problems than  a paper towel shortage.

Since we're not collectors of "stuff", I stored it in our empty cabinets and closets.  You'd be amazed at what you can fit into a given space.   

Hedge_87

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #45 on: February 25, 2014, 07:02:10 AM »
I can't even think of the space you'd need to store it.  But when couponing and SHTF preparedness get together, that's comedy.

OHNOES! The Mayans (Now it's the Vikings)  say the world is GOING TO END!  Hoard the paper towells!

If you think the world is going to end on (insert date here) You're going have a lot bigger problems than  a paper towel shortage.
Could you imagine being the only person in the end of days with toilet paper? You could be a king/queen lol. I have a few relatives that are SHTF preppers and it cracks me up. They live in only two rooms of their house because the rest is full of "supplies". Not to say none of this hasn't wore off on me though. I keep a months worth of stuff in a basement closet. Not enough to get me through the zombie outbreak but enough to get me through most natural disasters. I'm sure some of you will read this and think I'm crazy too lol.

rocksinmyhead

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #46 on: February 25, 2014, 07:50:37 AM »
I can't even think of the space you'd need to store it.  But when couponing and SHTF preparedness get together, that's comedy.

OHNOES! The Mayans (Now it's the Vikings)  say the world is GOING TO END!  Hoard the paper towells!

If you think the world is going to end on (insert date here) You're going have a lot bigger problems than  a paper towel shortage.
Could you imagine being the only person in the end of days with toilet paper? You could be a king/queen lol. I have a few relatives that are SHTF preppers and it cracks me up. They live in only two rooms of their house because the rest is full of "supplies". Not to say none of this hasn't wore off on me though. I keep a months worth of stuff in a basement closet. Not enough to get me through the zombie outbreak but enough to get me through most natural disasters. I'm sure some of you will read this and think I'm crazy too lol.

I actually don't think that a basement closet's worth of supplies is a bad idea at all, especially if you live somewhere prone to natural disasters (like Kansas). I should probably do that, but our basement is too full of other shit that we need to get rid of. but at least we have a basement and we could fit down there in the event of a tornado :)

lexie2000

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #47 on: February 25, 2014, 10:18:56 AM »
We're not zombie apocalypse types - just realized that the drug chains were in steep competition with each other and were offering promotions that allowed consumers to "buy" commonly used, non-perishable products for free and seized the opportunity while it was still available.

MicroRN

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #48 on: February 25, 2014, 11:04:21 AM »
I keep a months worth of stuff in a basement closet. Not enough to get me through the zombie outbreak but enough to get me through most natural disasters. I'm sure some of you will read this and think I'm crazy too lol.

I think that's just smart.  I can think of 4 times in the past 5 years that the places I lived had people out of power for 2 weeks or more - ice storms, hurricanes, snow storms.  I was never out for more than about 24 hours, but some folks nearby weren't so lucky.  We try to keep about 3-4 weeks supply of food, hygiene, water, and cooking capacity.

ginastarke

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Re: Couponer Fail
« Reply #49 on: February 25, 2014, 12:11:29 PM »
Hedge- those are exactly the kind of people I'm talking about - that give up a  major part of the square footage in their home for  a store's worth of  supplies. It's the difference between the basement closet and the whole basement. Personally I breathe a sigh of relief when my pantry is stocked.  and my freezer is full.

Natural disasters? That's not nuts. Those actually happen. I'd love to do more prep in that area other than emergency bags, but we're in a low lying area in an old building. The two most likely disasters (earthquake and flood) are ones I doubt this building would survive, or at least in a way that I'd want  to stay in afterwards.



« Last Edit: February 25, 2014, 12:25:14 PM by ginastarke »