Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I do understand using coupons for purchases to save money and I have done so for many years. What I don't understand are the "Extreme Couponers". Why would anyone need to pay for and receive 150 newspapers on Sunday for coupons for items that they already have 700 of? That is the part I don't understand at all. Is it really necessary to have a "stock pile" of goods stored in your home that will last years?
I'm not saying this is wrong for anyone to do this however I just don't understand spending the money on those things if you are on a limited income and could use that money elsewhere in your budget instead of picking up that 750th package of toilet paper, paper towels or tube of toothpaste.
I do understand using coupons for purchases to save money and I have done so for many years. What I don't understand are the "Extreme Couponers". Why would anyone need to pay for and receive 150 newspapers on Sunday for coupons for items that they already have 700 of? That is the part I don't understand at all. Is it really necessary to have a "stock pile" of goods stored in your home that will last years?
I'm not saying this is wrong for anyone to do this however I just don't understand spending the money on those things if you are on a limited income and could use that money elsewhere in your budget instead of picking up that 750th package of toilet paper, paper towels or tube of toothpaste.
It's an alternate investment based upon an expectation of inflation exceeding other investments' rate of return of capital. It is a survivalist investment but that doesn't guarantee its success. The premier survival investment has been gold for the past ten years. Needless to say, in this sometimes volatile market it's necesssary to hedge with the appropriate derivatives.
The household products which extreme couponers purchase don't have the volatility of gold but rather enjoy a slow and steady appreciation. But disposing of the products at a later date will be a cumbersome business and warehousing will meantime take a good deal of space perhaps requiring climate control and definitely requiring dust control. It's a simple investment for simple people. Those of us who are more sophisticated can find better investment vehicles.
Last edited by Happy in Wyoming; 08-22-2012 at 12:16 AM..
Reason: typo
It's an alternate investment based upon an expectation of inflation exceeding other investments on rate of return of capital. It is a survivalist investment but that doesn't guarantee its success. The premier survival investment has been gold for the past ten years. Needless to say, in this sometimes volatile market it's necesssary to hedge with tthe appropriate derivatives.
The household products which extreme couponers purchase don't have the volatility of gold but rather enjoy a slow and steady appreciation. But disposing of the products at a later date will be a cumbersome business and warehousing will meantime take a good deal of space perhaps requiring climate control and definitely requiring dust control. It's a simple investment for simple people. Those of us who are more sophisticated can find better investment vehicles.
What would a better investment vehicle be for you or others like me who don't want all that stuff in their home because of the time needed to acquire it and the room needed to store it. I'm all for coupons but in a more moderate level like I use them, only as I need those items. So I am interested in any other savings or investment ideas in addition to the coupons I do use.
What would a better investment vehicle be for you or others like me who don't want all that stuff in their home because of the time needed to acquire it and the room needed to store it. I'm all for coupons but in a more moderate level like I use them, only as I need those items. So I am interested in any other savings or investment ideas in addition to the coupons I do use.
I've done very well with gold and still believe it has great potential to move up. For the ultimate in safety buy Swiss francs, either in an account or by buying banknotes. The Swiss franc has been rising slowly but steadily for more than forty years without falter. And don't overlook traditional stocks. I've appended a link for Swiss franc accounts in the US.
There's money to be made in the collectibles market but it's risky and requires knowledge of the subject. The world to the wise here is don't buy instant collectibles,
I do understand using coupons for purchases to save money and I have done so for many years. What I don't understand are the "Extreme Couponers". Why would anyone need to pay for and receive 150 newspapers on Sunday for coupons for items that they already have 700 of? That is the part I don't understand at all. Is it really necessary to have a "stock pile" of goods stored in your home that will last years?
I'm not saying this is wrong for anyone to do this however I just don't understand spending the money on those things if you are on a limited income and could use that money elsewhere in your budget instead of picking up that 750th package of toilet paper, paper towels or tube of toothpaste.
Most of the time you can get the inserts for free if you go down to the newpaper's distribution center early on Sunday morning. Or at least that's what I do.
Most of the time you can get the inserts for free if you go down to the newpaper's distribution center early on Sunday morning. Or at least that's what I do.
I don't even read the newspaper or any news online and I have no idea where the distribution center is where I live. Honestly, I live 20 miles from the nearest city in any direction so I go to the grocery a couple times a month and the coupons I get come in the mail. Thank you for the advice though, if I ever live in a bigger city I will keep it in mind.
Buy what you use and use what you buy its that simple. It you find coupons that will save you 50% percent on something you know you will use for the next couple of years and have the space to stock up why not. Example two years ago I got about 100 cans of hungryman campbells soup for 25 cents a can. I can't cook soup that cheap so I got them all. Just about done with that stock.
I think for many extreme couponers it is less about the stock pile and more about the "gaming" of it all. I recall seeing one extreme couponer on HGTV who was a male, and he had a stock pile of female hygiene products because he got them all for next to nothing. Also, it really is a science to a lot of these couponers. Literally a full time job for many of them.
I don't think you can rightly confuse couponers with preppers for these reasons. There may be some similarities, but for the most part, I think couponers do it as a pastime, which can also be said about some preppers, but for others it really is a matter of ensuring long-term survivability through a time of need. Couponers will stock up on products weather they need them or not while preppers tend to target specifically those items that fill a specific hole. A lot of couponers purchase items that are perishable. A large stock pile of perishable items is of little use to a prepper who is likely counting on not being able to puruse the Sunday paper for the next series of coupons.
I do recognize the value of stockpiling non-perishable and durable goods to beat inflation, but I agree that the "extreme couponers" don't seem to be even thinking about this. I think it starts off as a thrill, like gambling, and then becomes an actual addiction.
It's not "frugal" or "preparedness" when a person buys a ton of products he/she would not otherwise need or use, just to get a discount.
I don't drink soda, so even if I had coupons to get 50 cases of Coke for $5, it would not be worth anything to me. One couple on one of those couponers TV shows bought about 4 year's worth of diapers, and their last child was already about a year old. Great, now you have half a garage full of diapers, you won. I guess.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
