Extreme Couponing; Really? March 14, 2016Expert BlogsOff

We have all seen those television shows where a woman buys $800 in groceries and when she hands over her coupons her bill totals a ridiculous amount like $2.10. Our first inclination is to start clipping coupons and save big bucks too.

Now ladies. as tempting as it all sounds let’s be realistic, we are talking “extreme” to the point of obsessive. Whether you work full time or are a stay home mom, who in the world has time to spend cutting deals out of the paper and magazines? As fantastic as the end result is in saving 100s of dollars of every month, 1000s in a year’s time it consumes the clipper’s every waking moment of the day.

There is a real system here with tons of ads, buy-one-get-one free, store sales, manufacturer coupons sprawled across the kitchen table. Sorting through such a mess takes an extremely organized person. Where do we start; by expiration date, alphabetical order or categories?

Then once the coupon queen fills her pocketbook with all the deals on grocery day, but not before she meticulously adds it all up on a calculator. Down to the penny, she knows exactly what her bill should add up to. Heading to the local market it will take a minimum of two shopping carts to complete the shopping list.

This can end up being an all-day affair at buying your grub for the week or month. With calculator in tow each aisle is carefully searched making sure not only is each item the right brand, price but the right size. Coupons are juggled around to coincide with surprise unannounced store sales too. It can really throw everything off in the calculated total if she is not careful.

She approaches the cashier with baited breath hoping that her figures were right once the bill is handed over to her. Can you even imagine the poor cashier? Seeing these 2 or more carts over flowing with products and a stack of coupons so thick it tops the total rung for the entire month!

How happy can the store manager be when his cashier has to spend 2 hours or more ringing this extremist up? Not to mention that the computerized register overloads with so many discounts and freebies the manager has to go in the back office and make adjustments to the system just so it can accept them all.

Oh, oh then the unthinkable happens, the total that she thinks should be precisely $2.10 actually turns out to be $4.20. The poor, poor cashier has to go through all the items and coupons all over again? Please, say it isn’t so ladies!

Of course the coupon clipper is never wrong in her calculation and once it is all sorted she heads to the car and needs a class on how to pack her compact car the most effectively with the 52 bags she has.

By the time she pulls in the drive-way 7 hours have gone by. Now it is time for part 2………carrying the bags in and putting all these items away. Let’s hope and pray no one lives on a second or third floor either. There always seems to be a separate room with floor to ceiling shelves. Each product is neatly arranged by category and is alphabetized. From start to finish it took all of 12 hours to accomplish their mission!

Sure saving loads of money can be a great accomplishment but is it worth your precious time in doing so? These extreme coupon clippers do deserve props and they are highly recognized for their dedicated achievements. It is feat the majority of the general public would never have the time nor patience to do.

Instead, if you are really looking for coupons deals how about these great finds:
Get one pedicure free when you purchase a manicure: https://www.groupon.com. Buy one dinner and get the second one free: http://classicpastas.maggianos.com/. $5 movie ticket night: https://www.marcustheatres.com/marcus-specials/value-pricing/reald-3d-tuesday-deal. Buy a pair of shoes and get the second pair FREE: http://www.heels.com/shoes-for/clearance-shoes.

Photo by Docent | Shutterstock

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