Help! Need to push couponing to next level!!

[savememore]

I've been couponing for 3-1/2 years now. I consistently save 55-60%, occasionally in the 70's% on purchases.

I want to get to that 90%+ mark that I see on Extreme Couponing. I try to glean something from each episode. I have specific questions on things I've seen others do, but don't know who to ask.

1. My store doesn't double coupons. There is a store that does, but it is the most expensive store in the city. Even though their regular prices are the same, perhaps their sale prices match those of the other stores. (I realize this wasn't a question...it is just something on my mind to ponder.)

2. Last night's episode had a woman with 5 computers in her house..print 10 Qs for each item...we have 4 comps, but I can still only print 2. All comps on same IP address. Does she pay for 5 different hook-ups? If so, that would be about $50.00 a month for each...not feasible for frugal. How does she do it?

3. I hear people talk about having Qs for free items. I've never seen one of these. I have seen BOGO, but never just "here's a free item, go get it.". Where do those come from?

Ok, I have tons more ????, but that'll do for a start.

Thank you,

[motherofmolly]

I've been couponing for 3-1/2 years now. I consistently save 55-60%, occasionally in the 70's% on purchases.

I want to get to that 90%+ mark that I see on Extreme Couponing. I try to glean something from each episode. I have specific questions on things I've seen others do, but don't know who to ask.

1. My store doesn't double coupons. There is a store that does, but it is the most expensive store in the city. Even though their regular prices are the same, perhaps their sale prices match those of the other stores. (I realize this wasn't a question...it is just something on my mind to ponder.)
i have found that my most expensive store that doubles, has really good sales and unadvertised sales. check them out and match your coupons to their sales. they are also the most coupon friendly.

2. Last night's episode had a woman with 5 computers in her house..print 10 Qs for each item...we have 4 comps, but I can still only print 2. All comps on same IP address. Does she pay for 5 different hook-ups? If so, that would be about $50.00 a month for each...not feasible for frugal. How does she do it? each computer should print 2 coupons. i have a wireless network and can print from main computer and my laptop. i dont know if the wireless makes a difference, but i dont think it should. pm me maybe we can figure that one out. i posted this in another post too, but dont forget friends, family, your work (if they allow it, some have firewalls that block certain types) or libaries (again some block certain ones...my library will not do bricks coupons)

3. I hear people talk about having Qs for free items. I've never seen one of these. I have seen BOGO, but never just "here's a free item, go get it.". Where do those come from? frees can come from facebook promotions. you can also get coupons from companies for sending them a praise or a complaints. my bread got moldy within 2 days of bringing it home. i emailed and complained and got 2 frees. find the home page of products you use, and then the "contact" page. tell them what you think and see how it goes.

Ok, I have tons more ????, but that'll do for a start.

Thank you,

remember too, extreme couponing is for "wow" value. you are doing a great job in saving. dont rule out certain stores just because you dont think it is a deal. i do a sunday morning grocery run. i have certain stores i go to. sunday i stopped in a store i havent been too since they changed hands. i found some really good deals on cheese and plan on going back on their $10/$50 thursdays to get in on this.

most of us do multiple stores to maximize. yes it takes a little more time, but is well worth it. we plan our trips and try to do a circuit so we dont use as much gas.

bring on the next quesitons!

[savememore]

THANK YOU SO MUCH MOM(mother of molly)!!!! I will PM you, have to figure out how....mostly I just watch on here....don't know the ins and outs.

[motherofmolly]

THANK YOU SO MUCH MOM(mother of molly)!!!! I will PM you, have to figure out how....mostly I just watch on here....don't know the ins and outs.

left click my screen name (top left) and then click on "pm" ....be careful because "email" is right under the pm

[gctattoo]

I don't have much to add except these:

If you have a router, you can have more than one computer in the house and it costs no more per month.

You can also find coupons for free items occasionally in the inserts. And get them from programs like Recyclebank (I just traded for some the other trader had gotten from there), Pssst...from General Mills, Vocal Point, etc.

[booklover]

I wish they would show "real" couponers on that show "Extreme Couponers." Seems like most of us save somewhere between 50-75% average, and once in awhile a sale and good coupons come out and we hit the 80-90% mark.

I live in the LOAND (land of almost no doubles). Two stores double, but only up to .40,but they are expensive. BUT both stores have weekly sales on loss leader items. And both stores have a clearance aisle. There are canned goods that are slightly dented, boxes of cereal that are dented. And markdowns on bakery goods at one store. Check your stores for any clearance items, and if you have a coupon for that item, you get it for super cheap.

I have a Target store near me that just added produce and meat to their grocery section. I have gotten $5/$50 purchase catalinas at Target, and a couple of $3/$30 purchase coupons.

And one store near me has $10/$50 purchase on some Thursdays, not every week, about every 3-4 weeks. And every once in awhile, I get a coupon from CVS for $4/$20 purchase. I shop with those coupons to get the most groceries for the least amount of money.

How do I get FREEs? I save up Coke points, and when I have enough, I cash them in and get coupons for FREE Coke products. I also trade with other traders here for them.

The FREE coupons help me get to that $50 mark or whatever without spending too much out of pocket. If I'm trying to hit $50, I try to spend only $50 or maybe just a little over. (Always keep a calculator with you.)Then I try to have a coupon for every single thing in the cart if possible. I match coupons with whatever is on sale that week to get the lowest total possible. I also see if I can stack or piggyback coupons to get the most for my money. Target allows you to use store coupons and manufacturer coupons together. And let's say I'm buying Kraft dressing that is on sale 3/$5. I have $1/2 coupon, plus I have a coupon that is $1 off produce wyb two Kraft dressings. I use those coupons together and get $1 off my produce that day. And I buy the produce that is also on sale.

My two recent trips that did well: I had a $5/$50 purchase coupon for Target, and I got $54.xx worth of items for only $23.xx. Keep in mind, I had three multipacks of Pediasure, and those cost $9.99 EACH. The other trip was on $10/$50 Thursday at Shop n' Save (does not double coupons at all). I had $67.xx worth of groceries, and paid $10.50.

Hope some of this helps!

[MrsPinecone]

Most people DON'T save 90% on anything resembling a consistent basis. Those shows are skewed and contrived.

Sure, I can save almost 100% on a particular, well-planned trip, but for day to day stuff like, oh, I don't know, meat, milk and fresh produce it just ain't gonna happen.

You can't eat 72 bottles of mustard with 200 boxes of pasta. I don't buy processed stuff most of the time and I am happy to hit the numbers that you are getting. I've been doing this a long time.

[abond0017]

Most people DON'T save 90% on anything resembling a consistent basis. Those shows are skewed and contrived.

Sure, I can save almost 100% on a particular, well-planned trip, but for day to day stuff like, oh, I don't know, meat, milk and fresh produce it just ain't gonna happen.

You can't eat 72 bottles of mustard with 200 boxes of pasta. I don't buy processed stuff most of the time and I am happy to hit the numbers that you are getting. I've been doing this a long time.

I agree. I think saving 50 - 60% consistently is very good. That is about what I save when I am trying. You may be able to save 90% occasionally, but likely it won't be more every time. The extreme couponers devote a tremendous amount of time to it and have perks like doubles, access to thousands of inserts, 10+ computers, and other things that a lot of us normal couponers just don't have...that is what enables them to do it.

You could probably increase your savings by about 10% regularly using some of the tips you have gotten already, but I wouldn't think more than that is realistic consistently for most people.


The only additional tips I have is to look for gift card promotions like they have at Target, email manufacturers for additional coupons, and also call them if you have ANY type of problem with one of their products you have purchased. I have gotten many free item coupons this way (in addition to the free coupon to replace the product). From unsealed bags in cereal boxes...to lunch meat that gets slimy within 2 days of opening...to a PUR water filter that filtered slower than the others.

[savememore]

Ladies thank you sooooo much! Some of what you have suggested I have already been doing for 3 years. But, there are some new tips for me. I noticed a couple of you are from Illinois. Is there a place on here where people who live near one another can get together?

[donepayingtoomuch]

I have always been a moderate couponer until I started watching the show. Then I too wanted to achieve what they do, afterall I am OCD so I figured I could do it no problem. After three weeks I have had trips in the 50-70%'s, highest being 78%. I already have found a cluster of 5 recycling dumpsters to get inserts from, learned their dump schedules, my children think its a grand adventure and have amassed a great coupon collection in a binder with card slot inserts. I would like to think I am doing a great job but I feel I am still putting too much OOP for now. I will perfect and regulate this over some time but I will also still try to shoot for a smaller scale trip like those on the show at least once.

MrsPinecone- you are right and I said as much to my husband who says I am a 'freak' for my newfound addiction and that I am still 'spending too much money and not coming close to them (he watches with me). I said yeah well they are buying 100 bottles of Powerade and mustard, not real groceries. Over the next couple months he will change his tune as I grow my newly started stockpile. (Today I got 5 50ft Reynolds Aluminum Foil for $3.50!) I hope to take part in stockpile challenges and such as time goes on!