Comments on: Wife Swap and Couponing Gone Wrong

By: karla (threadbndr)

karla (threadbndr) — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Momma – thanks for the tip. I don’t coupon a huge amount, because I don’t use a ton of pre-prepared or convience foods. But using those coupons to get things for the food bank is something that I will do in the future.

Also, I tend to shop the discount stores – Aldi in particular – and they don’t coupon.

By: Bugaboo

Bugaboo — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Couponing can definitely work to your advantage if you don’t let it consume your life. I usually go grocery shopping once a week or so, and some things can really be a bargain. For example, this past weekend Poptarts and Yogos were on sale 2/$1. Not a bad price, but I had a $1 off 2 coupon for both. Had these been the only good deals at the store however, I would not have driven out there. They had other sales as well that I wanted to take advantage of, therefore making my trip worth it. I make general lists of thing on sale at different stores, then evaluate which store (possibly 2) to go to that week. It’s a good system for us and we’re happy when a reciept tells us we’ve saved 64% (that was last week).

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I *was* a big spender not too long ago, and through a dare, I became a couponer. It actually has become a bonding experience with my friends, and it has opened us up to be alot more honest with one another about our lifestyle, and frankly, how dishonest we all were about the way we lived “before.” I spend around three hours a week clipping, and I enjoy going shopping and seeing what I can get for free or ridiculously cheap. We have had triple coupons this weekend at our local grocery and 1) it’s amazing what you can get for $100 — $400 worth of stuff, 2) it’s amazing how much you can give away to local food banks who are suffering right now.

By: Lorie

Lorie — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I LOVE to shop with coupons for items that are on sale. I have to be very careful not to buy things that I wouldn’t buy normally & I don’t stock up too much (mainly because we don’t have space for it. It gives me a rush to see how little I can spend for an item.

By: Ravi

Ravi — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Hi…
I don’t spend a lot of time on it. I have one store that I usually shop with my coupons.

By: Jesse Bouche

Jesse Bouche — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Seriously, if you’re buying something just because it’s on sale, you’re not saving money – you’re wasting it.

By: PT

PT — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

That’s a great idea about donating things, Momma. I’d bet someone could almost start a not-for-profit that literally searched for freebies and giveaways that would all go towards a charity of some sort. Gaming the system for a good cause.

By: Lynnae

Lynnae — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I coupon, but I don’t spend a lot of time on it. I have one store that I usually shop with my coupons. And about once a month I make the rounds and hit the stores with good free-after-rebate deals.

You’re absolutely right about stockpiling a bunch of stuff you’ll never use. Like Momma, I like to donate anything I pick up free/cheap that I won’t use. And I think people need to realize that sales & coupons go in cycles. You only need a three month supply of something to last until the next time you’ll get a great deal.

By: Momma @ 3princessesmomma.com

Momma @ 3princessesmomma.com — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I definitely am a couponing Momma. I have even developed a Coupon Management System and written an ebook with all of my strategies for saving money. However, I don’t stockpile stuff that I won’t use. I DO buy things (well, only if I can get them free with a coupon) that we won’t use. But whatever we get that we won’t use goes into a donation box that we share with family, friends, and local homeless and abuse shelters. Nothing goes to waste, we feel good about helping, and my inability to pass up a great deal is justified (ok… to myself anyway!). You’re right, though. There is nothing frugal about filling a basement full of crap you won’t use …no matter how much you saved on it.

By: john

john — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Like anything else, it needs to be done in moderation. You need to find a balance between being frugal and being, frankly, quite insane.

I like clipping and using coupons for items that we normally purchase. It’s like found money. I’ve even gone shopping on double-coupon day just to save a little more.

But I’m not going to go all crazy about it.