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Health & Fitness

My Thoughts On 'Extreme Couponing'

Have you seen Extreme Couponing on TLC? I have an alternative way to save than being so extreme.

I hate to break the bad, sad news but I will not be appearing on the new show on TLC- Extreme Couponing. It is so over the top, not correct at all and yes, there have been some questions about how legit some people have been on the show.

Instead, I would like to introduce a new concept to TLC and everyone. Subtle Couponing. So what is that? Doing couponing on a different level that doesn't involve 100s of coupons, shelves in your garage, taking over your child's closet etc. And GASP- being able to go to bed without 1000 rolls of toilet paper in the pantry! BUT... I have everything, never run out of anything but most importantly I'm not paying full price EVER!

I follow a general rule of thumb- I buy 2 double papers each Sunday which gives me 4 sets of coupon inserts each week. I have 4 people in my household. Get my math? I may buy 3 doubles when I know the paper is really stacked with extra inserts but that only happens a couple times a year. So, I am only buying 4 of everything when I find the best price in the 9-12 weeks sale cycle for an item.

Can I brag I have 68 bottles of mustard. NO! I have 10 regular, a couple of spicy brown and some honey mustard. Do I need 10? NO! But, when VBS has hot dog dinner night- I am donating, when PTA has the Sock Hop- I'm on it in the mustard department and the rest will get us through the next year. Having more than 2 or 3 will just insure that with grocery prices changing- it's one less item to worry about when we need a new bottle.

I can take pictures to prove that we are fully stockpiled for a family of four. When I get low on something- even meat- I'm patient and an incredible deal comes along. We are not brand loyal but we still seem to get everything we need when we need it.

I can't brag that I am an Extreme Couponer but I can boast that I am a GREAT Couponer that realizes there are others out there that need the same deals I do, managers of stores that me being extreme could affect their performance reviews and just a really nice person that wants as many people interested to enjoy the game of coupons! I would take that status over being on TV any day! (and I've been on TV about couponing! LOL) I couldn't be Southern Coupon Belle if I wasn't polite and I am proud of that!

There is a median to couponing that will put you basically in the same position as those featured on TLC. Extreme Couponing equals an extreme amount of time, money spent on coupon sources that weren't mentioned, stores that wanted to be featured that would never allow that many coupons at once and people that are more interested (in my opinion) to contributing to a stockpile than saving money. True "savings sense" would realize that you can only use so many of an item in a reasonable amount of time that the little out of pocket and tax you are paying each "extreme" shopping trip do add up.

I would like anyone that is new to coupons and how it works- please contact me and I will show how to realistically do this. I promise you will be amazed at how much you reasonably bring home and stock up without taking over your house!

What do you think of the show?  Are you expecting stores to change their policies about coupons because of it?

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