Extreme selfishness, or just good shopping? Not passing judgment, but definitely confused.
I understand the use of coupons. I love to use them. But, on things I need and buy regularly. Not 15 bottles of antacids, 72 packages of diapers (with no baby to wear them), 24 packages of floss, 1000 tubes of toothpaste, etc. If I had coupons for some of the stuff to get it free, or practically free, then I would buy it and donate it to a food bank or church, or give away to friends if I knew they could use some of the stuff.
But, to just stockpile it and have it in a room, closet, basement, garage, etc. so I could LOOK at it just blows my mind.
I have not mastered saving tons of money using coupons, although some of the gals I work with use duplicates of coupons to buy more stuff. I even know one person who set up fake email addresses just so she could get the extra dollars off on items that were discounted when a new account was created. (Now, this I think is just dishonest.)
I don't have 15-20 hours a week to devote to tracking store sales or finding the inserts that contain the coupons. A lot of the coupons that I see are for things that I cannot use (too high in sodium or potassium or something that Ron can't have). I just wouldn't buy this even if it ended up being very low cost. If I only have $100 in my budget for groceries, I'm not going to spend it on things that I can't use.
I wish I knew how to do it better to benefit "my" family. That would save us a bundle.
9 comments:
I'm so with you on this Teresa. If I don't use it, it's not a savings is it? Only buy what you need and if you happen to have a coupon for that item great! How's Ron today?
Years ago when couponing first became all the rage there as a store that tripled coupons only on one day of the week. I was always disappointed to find the shelves nearly empty when I would arrive ater the children went to school. One week I decided to go at midnight. I figured they would have the items that I had coupons for and I would be ahead of the game the next day with my shopping out of the way. I was surprised that the store wasn't filled with customers, since I figured everyone was shopping at night and clearing the shelves. It was just a few people. One woman got $700 worth of merchandise for only $19! She was handling two carts and her husband was handling two carts. While she was loading all the stuff on belt at the check out counter he went to back the trailer up to the store to load it! She confessed that they had had to buy two storage sheds. One to hold all the excess crap she had and one to hold the labels and receipts for refunds and rebates. She was doing both and making money. Like you, though, I could not get past the greed aspect. She had 6 coupons for a free box of All detergent. Since the store as tripeling, she had all but wiped out the boxes on the shelf. She was a middle agedwoman wth no children at home and was simply stock piling all this stuff. It made me a little sick just thinking of all the people she could have shared this with. Instead she had gone out and bought a shed in which to store it! Sorry, I a little long winded tonight ......
I have watched that show and I also watch Hoarding.
It seems to me as I watch the couponers show off enough toothpaste and deoterant for their family for 120 years (at which time it would have expired and been quite useless and ineffective) and yet clearing the shelf saying with a chuckle "why buy one when you can get 40?"
And I wonder--how much did the storage space and shelving cost? How many groceries could those shelves have purchased?
Now, I am not saying that having some extra on hand--even a few months or a year's worth for your family is wrong, but at some point, doesn't it just become hoarding???
I do not get it either if it is something you need and will use then great but just stock piling for the sake of stock piling is just creedy. We do not have couponing here in Australia like you do.
Seems as if people only bought what they NEEDED, they'd save a ton...How can more consumption mean saving anything? I just think it's ridiculous on all counts.
I cut out a coupon here and there....and end up leaving it at home!
My cousin does this extreme couponing and will go and buy 15 bottles of shampoo for $2.00 and then sells them at a yard sale or something. I don't have the patience for that kinda crap, but I guess it is better than just storing it?
Good post Teresa -I certainly dont get it either! Seems pretty stupid to me. Guess these poor people get addicted with it all. There's nowt so queer as folk as we say over here in England!!
I've been wondering how this is done. Not that I would need that much, but more help at the store would be so nice. I can't decide if it's easier to stop at the store every day for the specials on items that are just about to turn bad, or teach myself the art of couponing. If you find out how, please share it with us!
Post a Comment