[MariaMaria]

Just a bit, bargoo? It's like watching Hoarders.

[bargoo]

Originally Posted by MariaMaria

Just a bit, bargoo? It's like watching Hoarders.

I do think they are just better organized Hoarders.

[ckatgo]

All the tips in this thread is great! I just this weekend started looking into coupons and it really is addicting! But I consider myself a 'strategic shopper' and not a stockpiler. There is only two in our house and I don't see the sense in having 100 bottles of ketchup. Now to give that to a food bank is a good idea and would be worth the effort. But I agree with most on the thread, it looks like what they buy is crap food, and they buy it just to buy it. Like the women on one show bought frozen cinnamon rolls, cleared the shelf, saying she was going to give that to her kids for breakfast. I was like, "wheres the vitamins in that?" Her freezer was full of frozen pizza and just junk. Seriously, not good.

I do plan on looking at the sales and using my coupons (which my little stash is growing) for good stuff. Like agave nectar is now on sale, I have one for frozen veggies.

I see no sense in paying for coupons. None what so ever!

[mandalinn82]

I see no sense in paying for coupons. None what so ever!

It's worth it if there's a really good sale on something that you use a lot. But I definitely take what I spent into consideration when I calculate what I saved.

I suppose it's like any other hobby - some people do it to obsession, some people do it to the detriment of their health and living conditions...but for every one of those, there are probably a hundred people using coupons regularly and yes, even stockpiling choice items in order to save money, but not crowding themselves out of their home or buying unhealthy items that they wouldn't buy anyway.

It's like Black Friday shoppers. Some people get up at 8am and go to a few stores, a smaller number camp out for days in line, and an even smaller number cut in line, pepper spray people, or otherwise do things that harm anyone else or themselves.

My mom noticed that on these shows that most of the people stockpile a lot of crap food. She complained that you can't go all extreme couponer to buy fresh, non-processed things.

You can sometimes find deals on produce (we've had several "Get $5 off your next produce purchase of $10 or more" coupons, and the packaged salad/spinach/greens companies like Earthbound Farms and Fresh Express do put out coupons regularly. Unless you're truly not eating anything packaged, you can translate savings on grocery items (mustard, yogurt, breads or tortillas, dairy or dairy subs like almond milk, etc) into a bigger, more flexible produce budget.

[bargoo]

I'm not against couponing, I like to save any way I can. However, buying to extremes, things you can't or shouldn't use is not saving. One extreme couponer, among other things bought 133 bags of candy. I see tooth decay and weight problems on the horizon for this family. What would you do with hunreds of antiacid tablets, ? I couldn't use those in my lifetime. Hot sauce by the dozens, and soft drinks , enough for a few years. Crazy !