You Don’t Have to Be Extreme to Be a Couponer!

You Don’t Have to Be Extreme to Be a Couponer!

This is something I’ve wanted to talk about for a long time. I think so many people feel pressure to be an extreme couponer or nothing at all. That’s not the case…
I know it seems hard to believe, but you really don’t need to be extreme to be considered a couponer! I feel that a lot of people are scared to use coupons. I wish it wasn’t that way! Coupons are there for us to save money! So many are not being used – so go out now and get yourself some coupons! Haha!! 🙂

“Extreme Couponing is the act of engaging in really dramatic “above-and-beyond” coupon activities”

Before all the hype and publicity of Extreme Couponing, others have been couponing for years upon years. Now a days you can see couponers and their big ol binders everywhere! We have seen stores have become more strict with their coupon policies, and people have a prejudged opinion on what a couponer is like.

Now I have been couponing on my own for over 8 years now. I have been around couponing my whole life! My mom has always couponed. And not just the few coupons here and there. My mom has always shopped using tons and tons of coupons. For as long as I can remember I used to tag along for long shopping trips, separated orders, catalinas, and more. I think everyone should use coupons and shop sales.

Here is what most of my shopping trips using coupons will look like. Above, I got all these items free at one point combining sales and coupons.

To me now to buy 100 of something just because there was a coupon to get it free, seems silly. I am all for free items, believe me! But when you are getting way more than you or your family can possibly go through in a reasonable time, I honestly think it is a bit much. And believe me, I know the feeling! I still have feminine pads I got free when I first started couponing! But the difference is that I stopped buying that item now (even if I have coupons to get them free!). I know I don’t have to stock up like crazy for everything every time there is a good deal. Why? Well because the great thing about coupons is the sales and coupons usually cycle and come again!

Above are some of my old pictures of accumulated items – food and non food items. 

Do you have a stockpile?? What does yours look like? I do have a stockpile of bath & body products, and even a little on food items. You don’t need to have a stockpile to be considered a real couponer! I typically only have a top of 10 of the same items at a time.  With a couple exceptions of a couple products we use all the time. I personally look at pictures of huge stockpiles and think….those shelves cost some money! (LOL…just how I think!) I do have shelves, but only a couple. They are the cheapest kind (of course, do you know me?!) and I toss things in re used boxes.

A lot of us are simple and buy items our family uses every day! Not everyone is extreme, and if you are – that’s okay too! I just see so many people that seem afraid to coupon or that it is so much work. To be honest, couponing can be hard work! But, to save your family some money each week at stores doesn’t have to be! Even if you are using a couple coupons that is more money saved than you would have not using that coupon!

A BIG key note – Don’t compare your shopping to others!! I do this all the time, even when I know not to! It’s hard to be online and see all these hauls shared and great deals everyone is getting and not be jealous. There are some awesome savings going on. Truth is that now a days I just don’t have the time to go and do multiple transactions having two young kids (one I’m now homeschooling) and everything else in life. I don’t even print coupons off all of my computers! I’m still saving on average 40-50% on my household groceries, and of course more on non food items (I feel you can always do better on those items then we can on food). I rarely ever order coupons either. So what I have is what I get. I mostly use printable coupons anyway.

You can even see some of my stockpile pictures through out the years in my Facebook Page Album. 

If you want to coupon but do not know where to start – you can head on over to our coupon beginners guide. It has all the EASY tips I’ve shared over the years on couponing.