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| photo from Discovery.com |
Guest post by Rebecca at Coupon Phenomenon
Don’t you just love the rush you get when you finally roll your cart up to the register and see that total start soaring only to plummet all the way back down. I know I do. I love that rush that comes from couponing. That’s why when I was asked to appear on TLC’s Extreme Couponing, I jumped at the chance. For the past several years I have been couponing and saving more money than I ever thought I could. I have been able to buy a house, go on vacations and keep a nice lifestyle, all with the use of coupons.
Hi, I’m St Louis’ Extreme Couponer, Rebecca. I am your typical 25 year-old, I like to go out, play sports, work a full-time job, and I coupon! I decided to be on TLC’s extreme couponing because I wanted to show how coupons could change someone’s life and how it has changed mine for the better. I wanted to be able to show that it was possible to coupon on a small budget with limited time. I hope that with this show I was able to accomplish all of that. And I hope that when you watch it you will see that as well.
After seeing how people in other cities were able save with double coupons, it was a bit inspiring. St Louis grocery stores double coupons but not as much as the stores featured on Extreme Couponing. But what wasn’t featured was Shop n Save’s wonderful “no coupon Thursday.” I love the Thursdays when Shop N Save is offering $10 of $50, it just makes my week! That $10 off $50 gives me more wiggle room in my budget which I am able to get fresh produce and meat, milk and eggs! Double coupons can’t give you that!
I hope you all will Tune in this Wednesday, April 6th at 8/8:30 pm at check-out TLC’s new series Extreme Couponing. My trip to Shop N Save where I was able to get $542 of groceries down to $25, including beer, will be featured on the 8:30 pm episode. You will also be able to hear more about the show and a few of my couponing tips the next morning on FOX’s morning news broadcast.
After watching the show head on over to Coupon Phenomenon Facebook page, CouponPhenomenon.com or follow me on Twitter @CouponPhenom.
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Mmmmm.....this one is a little tricky for me since I am a major couponer. I went on and read her blog and her facebook post and I have to say that if I wasn't in the coupon world I would say she needs to get some professional help. But I have to say I don't ever get any kind of rush like she does. When I get to the check out I just pray that nothing goes wrong with all of the coupons that I have and I get the rrs or catalinas that I am supposed to.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling all these episodes of Extreme Couponing are going to negatively impact the couponers out there. It stores realize they're giving stuff away, they're going to change things. I'm not looking forward to the episode since I do all my grocery shopping at SNS. :(
ReplyDeleteI am excited for the show! Congratulations on your appearance and I'm looking forward to reading your blog in the future, as well. Positive vibes... :)!
ReplyDeleteI guess my problem with Extreme Couponing is that I'm not willing to just buy anything because I can get it for free or super cheap. I eat only all natural foods, and over 50% organic, so there's just no way I can get the same deals on those foods. If I had to tighten my budget, I would most surely cut out the organic, but I will never cut out the all natural foods, even if I can get 17 boxes of Lucky Charms for $2, ya know?
ReplyDeleteThat said, I DO stack coupons at Whole Foods and get amazing deals on organic items! It is somewhat of a rush to get a good deal and I totally understand that. I'm just not willing to sacrifice quality of food just because I have a lot of coupons for an item.
and yes, congrats on your show appearance! that is exciting.
ReplyDeleteI agree -I'm so afraid that companies will limit or take away coupons, or stores will stop honoring them etc.
ReplyDeleteI think it's important to realize that even the "extreme couponers" do not shop all the time like it's portrayed on the show. Most of those large purchases were planned in advance just for the show. Stores have nothing to fear from most customers who use coupons responsibly.
ReplyDeleteHi All - I'm axiously waiting to see how TLC protrays couponers tonight. The promos are quite sensational, but I'm hoping they will show how everyone can save money - even the heatlhy food shoppers.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure this show will have a negative impact on couponers. Yes, there might be more talk within retail oraganizations and vendors about coupons, but hopefully that will make all of them more knowledgable.
If eveyone starts using coupons, those vendors who never issue a coupon will start. Retailes will have consistant coupon policies and train their employees better. I think in the long run - very positive things will come out of this show.
Even if the only thing retailers realise is that shelf clearers hurt there buisness.
The stores don't lose money though, at least not on manufacturer coupons - they get reimbursed. And you know people have been doing this for years, so if anything is going to change, it's going to be restrictions printed on the coupons to prevent couponers from getting these kinds of savings.
ReplyDeleteI don't get why people who eat organic are so quick to dimiss couponing. My family eats organic and ZERO processed foods yet we still need paper towels, detergent, cleaning supplies, diapers, make-up etc. There are soooo many things you can save on not just food. I've already saved my family of 3 $2900 YTD. And the people who think these shows will negetively impact coupons only proves that they think negetively and have a negetive outlook on life- change your attitude!
ReplyDeleteHi Mama Rizzo - I wish Extreme Couponing would take more of an educational approach. When you think about it, coupons are more profitable for a retailer than credit/debit cards. With coupons they get paid a handling fee, but with credit/debit cards they pay money for the transaction to be processed.
ReplyDeleteHi Healhty Shopper - I wish they would follow a couponer to Whole Foods. Jennifer at Healthy Life Deals saves a ton of money shopping for organic.
And I agree with the household/personal products. TLC sure likes to show the huge stockpiles of Toliet Paper, Paper Towel, cleaning product, and health & beauty itmes, but you don't see many of those itmes in the shoppers carts on the show.
This is disgusting. I was stuck behind a 'coupon-er' at the store the other day. I promptly left my cart in line and went elsewhere. American gluttony at its worst. Nothing like seeing carts of unhealthy crap.
ReplyDeleteTo the last post...I hope you pay full price for everything you buy, because you don't deserve to save money with an attitude like that. I live in the STL area and I use coupons regularly. My family saves money like crazy thanks to coupons. I don't want to know how much your food budget is for a month. This is not gluttony in any way shape or form. This is a way for people to get out of debt, stay out of debt, or both. The amount of money we are saving just by using coupons is helping our households thrive in this poor economy. How are you holding up?
ReplyDeleteI HAVE NOTICED ON QUITE A FEW EPISODES THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE WERE USING STORE 'LOYALTY CARDS' AND WAS SAVING HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY WITH JUST THAT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS WHAT STORES IS ST LOUIS HAVE THE LOYALTY CARDS? I KNOW SNS DOESNT SINCE THATS WHERE I DO MY SHOPPING.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous - No grocery store in St Louis has loyalty cards.
ReplyDeleteWhat we see on Extreme Couponing looks some misleading. From what I understand, at grocery stores that issue loyalty cards, you only get the sale price when you card is scanned. Everything rings up regular price. I don't think it makes the deals better than what we get.
Now, if our stores (Schnucks & Dierbergs) would double more than $0.40 coupon - that would make a difference.
Thanks Jeri! Yea that would make a HUGE difference.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteThere is a store just outside St. Louis called Price Chopper that does great sales and has the loyalty card program
What community is Price Chopper in?
ReplyDeleteWhy the large quantities? Is it possible to get the savings without buying so much? I wouldn't know what to do with 100 boxes of tissues!
ReplyDelete