Comments on: Contrary to Popular Belief I Am Not An Extreme Couponer

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 14:22:52 +0000

I live in Canada where the kind of deals that allow you to get things FREE via coupons are just not permitted by law. Sigh.

BUT, although I agree that it is greedy, cluttering and downright silly to collect stuf you don't need simply because it's free, I wonder whether you could think about homeless shelters when offered more than you need or want. It won't apply to all products I'm sure, but for toiletries like soap, toothpaste and shampoo, I know that shelters really value donations of these products...

By: One Frugal Girl

One Frugal Girl — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 04:07:17 +0000

@Sense - Thanks for all the coupon clipping kudos.

@me in millions - I don't know about you, but I wouldn't be a bargain hunter without those blogs. Thankfully with them I save a small fortune.

@Donna - No worries on providing the link I really enjoyed reading your post. I love giving away the extra products I don't need!

By: Donna Freedman

Donna Freedman — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:38:20 +0000

I use coupon/rebate deals to get toiletries, OTC meds, vitamins and other products free or nearly so.
I give away whatever I don't need. Previous/current recipients include family members, a struggling grad student, a tent city encampment, a social services agency and families for whom I anonymously buy Christmas presents (you can fill in the corners in the flat-rate shipping box with toothbrushes, deodorant, etc.).
I'm not extreme. I think of it as stretching my dollars in a way that, you note, is not only perfecting legal but initiated by the store.
I agree with Sense: Coupons are available to everyone. What we are doing is not against the law or even vaguely shady. Manufacturers wouldn't offer coupons if they lost money on the deal.
I wrote a piece about coupon attitudes called "Don't hate the payer, hate the game." If it's kosher to post URLs, here it is:
http://www.donnafreedman.com/2010/06/30/dont-hate-the-payer-hate-the-game/

By: me in millions

me in millions — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:10:40 +0000

I agree. I use coupons and have gotten quite a bit of stuff for free, but I don't consider myself an extreme couponer either. I definitely pass over plenty of deals and I take someone else's work (love the blogs!) to find most of them. I really don't feel like I do a ton of work to coupon. And I like saving the money! It's such a rush 🙂

By: Sense

Sense — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:02:08 +0000

I don't think you could be categorized as an 'extreme couponer,' --what is the definition of that, even?!--but even if you were, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, what on Earth is so wrong with it? it boggles my mind that you'd even have to defend yourself like this!

The stores and manufacturers would discontinue the programs if they didn't turn a profit from it somehow--making money is their number one priority, after all. It isn't illegal, it isn't 'gaming the system', it is being smart about using your money. coupons are available to EVERYONE, they are not a secret.

Using coupons certainly doesn't give anyone the right to be rude to a someone, or bash someone who is being smarter about how they use their money. And employees of these stores should be expected to know the policies of their store and follow them, therefore easing the time spent dealing with any issues that arise. I don't think that couponers should just 'suck it up' when the employee (and sometimes, the store) is the one at fault, either. Yes, couponers are getting items for free, in exchange for matching up items and spending ~30 min. a week or so looking at the deals. THAT THE STORE OFFERED. it's not a five finger discount, yo! You can do that, too, so what, exactly, is the problem here?!

there. that's my 2 cents, with 2 more for free. :)
p.s. not a couponer as i live in NZ, but i have gotten a free toothbrush or two back when i lived in the US.