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Why TLC’s next TV Series Should be called “Extreme Couponing Etiquette”

August 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Sigh. Today was my first Sunday back in the swing of things after moving. I got my paper delivered on Saturday and scanned through the ads. I didn’t see much that I needed this week since every item I own is fresh in my mind after moving. But there was 1 thing I wanted to get at Walgreens. So I got up early and made it to the store around 9 (this particular store opened at 8).

Bare shelves for the item I needed.

Sigh.

Walgreens #2. Same scenario

Walgreens #3. Same scenario.

Now I”m downright pissed. Seriously?

I finally make it to Walgreens #5 and find what I need. But that was only because  they have a policy for one transaction per person. Thank goodness, this was the last store I was going to, I was just going to give up!

But really, I have to go to 5 different Walgreens the first morning of a sale to find what I’m looking for? Say it ain’t so! TLC, take these “extreme couponers’ you’ve created and sit them down and explain to them how real couponing works! Those of us that have been doing it FOR YEARS, before it was cool, know the rules. We were all able to play quite nicely with each other before your show came along.

If TLC were to come up with a show on coupon etiquette for all those “extreme couponers” out there, this would be my topic list:

TLC’s Extreme Couponing Etiquette Show Topic List:

  • Don’t clear the shelves! If you want more than one item that has a reigster rewards, ECB etc, GO TO DIFFERENT STORES like the rest of us!
  • Don’t stand in the aisle with your coupon binder, 5 kids and husband with coupons pouring out of your fists. Get out of the way and let the rest of us look. You rolled your eyes at us years ago when we did it, now we see you do it and it’s not cool. Move over please.
  • Don’t clear the shelves! Yes this concept needs reinforced because it applies to each and every one of you who don’t think it applies to you. You won’t get on the show. Just buy what you need and let the rest of us get our share too.
  • Don’t ask to do multiple transactions at the same store on a Sunday morning with or without a crowd in the store. Not only is it annoying but you are missing the point of getting a deal. The point is not to piss of Walgreens employees so you are not put out by going to different stores. Use the deal as it’s intended.
  • DON’T CLEAR THE SHELVES!!!!

A few months ago, I wrote about  this As A Former Extreme Couponer, Even I Get Annoyed With The Big Binders and Multiple Transactions but today just really pissed me off. I couldn’t get ONE item today because the shelves had been cleared!

While I am happy people are finally catching on to coupons, too many people are taking advantage of it and ruining it for the rest of us. If you could tell TLC to do a show on coupon etiquette, what would your topic list be?




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As A Former Extreme Couponer, Even I Get Annoyed With The Big Binders and Multiple Transactions

May 9, 2011 By 11 Comments

Well it looks like TLC’s Extreme Couponing show has hit a nerve lately. Never have I seen so many coupon binders proudly displayed in shopping carts. I used to feel like an idiot when I had my binder out! People would just stare at me with a look of “what is wrong with HER” on their face! Now it seems like everyone has one.

{Warning! The rest of this post consists of a rant about coupons! Be prepared to be offended (haha not really)}

I went to Walgreens yesterday morning, as usual, making my Sunday coupon run. I generally try to get there around 9 or 10 in the morning but I was running late.  On top of that it was Mother’s Day so it was extremely crowded with last minute shoppers. Ugh! My worst nightmare!

{Sidenote: If you don’t know me that well I hate crowds and will do almost anything to avoid them! Especially at Walgreens!}

So I’m going along with my short list of items (4 things) and every thing I go to get is out. Ok this is annoying, considering it’s the first day of the sale and only about 3 hours after the store has opened. That usually means someone has came in and cleared out the shelves. MY PET PEEVE! Leave some for the rest of us why don’t you!

Even when I was at my extreme couponing peak, I never cleared the shelves of an item. If I had 10 coupons and there were 10 items, I’d still leave some for the others!

So I’m going back through Walgreens and looking for my last item hoping to at least get one thing on my list.

And then I encounter it.

The woman standing in the aisle I am trying to get to, with her family, trying to organize her binder, look for items and talking to her kids/husband/and on the cell phone! The kids were screaming the whole time “are we going to get our filler item?!” (for those that don’t know Walgreens slang, that’s a small item you add to your purchase so your coupons equal the number of items you have and the deal will go through).

OMG.

I was so beyond annoyed at this point. I looked at this lady’s cart and it was FILLED to the brim with all the sale items for the week. Ok it’s one thing to get a deal, but to come in and clear out the shelves 3 hours after the store open is just down right rude!

By this point, I can’t get out of the store fast enough.

I circle around waiting for them to leave and end up finding 1 item on my list (put in the wrong spot, I just happen to see it) so I go up to the register to pay. Of course at the same time, here comes the shelf clearer and starts piling her items up on the counter, asking for multiple transactions! Her kids are still screaming, the store is so crowded and the line to check out was stretched out 10 people long!

I love coupons and finding a great deal, but there are times I get downright mad when people take advantage of the way it works. It’s just plain rude to come in and clear out the shelves first thing in the morning, then ask for multiple transactions while the store is packed! Use common sense people!

When I volunteered to help with storm clean up, I talked to some Walgreens managers who I just happened to be in line next to. They told me they don’t mind people using coupons but when you come in, demanding multiple transactions after they clear the shelves, they get a little mad. Well, I’m here to tell you, I do to!

If you use coupons, use common sense and be courteous to other shoppers. Instead of clearing the shelves at one store, why don’t spread your spending around and go to multiple stores so the rest of us can get the 1 item we came in to get!

People!

Ok and that’s my rant for today lol…….

What about you, do you have an experience with an extreme couponer who was just down right ridiculous?! Leave a comment and let me know!

Photo Credit: Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net




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Reader Input: Do You Search for Discount Codes Before Buying Online?

April 25, 2011 By 3 Comments

Before I order anything online, I always search for a promotional code to see if I can get some additional savings. In the past, taking a few minutes to do this,  has saved me a lot of money.

I’ve been able to get an exercise dvd set for 1/2 price just because I searched for a coupon code. Many times I am able to get free shipping and a few times I have gotten some extra “freebies” by typing in a promotional code.

How do you search for promotional codes?

I have a set of terms I usually try when I’m looking for promo codes. These terms include:

  • promotional code {insert store name}
  • promo code {insert store name}
  • coupon code {insert store name}
  • discount code {insert store name}

So what about you, do you take a few minutes to find promo codes before you shop online? If so, how has it benefited you?

Interested in finding more coupon codes online? Check out http://www.shopkortingscode.nl/ for more great coupon codes.

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Do You Use The Grocery Store Ads To Save Money? If Not, Here’s How To Start

January 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Shopping for groceries can be expensive. It’s even more expensive if you don’t pay attention to the cost of what you are buying. There are ways to save money on the groceries you purchase. All it takes is a little time and some organization and you will be on your way to big savings.

Shopping the sale ads is an easy way to start cutting your grocery bill, as long as you need what you are buying! Here is a list of ways you can save money at the grocery store by shopping the sale ads each week:

1.Save the junk mail- Start by getting the sale flyers from each of the grocery stores in your area. In most areas, these flyers come every week in the mail. You may have thrown this out in the past and thought it was junk mail. Be sure to start saving them because you will need to do some prep work before you get to the grocery store.

2. Get your list- When you have gathered all the flyers, start going through them one at a time. Take a sheet of notebook paper and make a list of the items you see that are on sale that you need from the sale flyers. Include both the item name (including brand) in one column and the price in a second column. That way when you get to the store, you will know the specific brand to look for as well as what the price should be. If you find something at the store that isn’t marked with the sale price, be sure to have the cashier do a price check before you buy the item.

3. Are you out? If you are out of something, but don’t see it on sale, decide if you can wait another week to see if it goes on sale again or if you want to purchase it now. If it is not on sale but you need it, consider buying another cheaper brand or the generic version.

4. Get your total – Once you have your list made for each store, add up the total for each store. Is the total of these numbers within your budget? If not, remove some items that you don’t need this week until you are within your budget.

5. What to do when you are short on time- If you do not have time or don’t want to shop at multiple stores, look for the store that has the best prices on the most items you know you will use and plan to shop at that store for the week.

6. Just say no! Don’t just buy something because it’s on sale! If you don’t like it, it will just end up going to waste and even though it was on sale, you didn’t really save anything if it gets thrown out.

Remember that most sales rotate every 3 months or so, depending on the store. I find it helpful to keep a list of things I am out of as I use them up so I can use that list when I’m looking at the sales flyers. That way I don’t forget things I’m out of and have to pay full price for it later.

If you want to take that savings one step further, match the grocery sale ads each week to coupons. This is where you really will start to see big savings. Check out my coupon resource page for more information on how to get started with coupons!

Filed Under: Blog, Coupons, Personal Finance, Saving Tagged With: , , ,
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