cvs---Telling all your friends...

[shannon1189]

Thanks I sure hope so. I know alot of people in this group have been doing this for years and I just started. I really think I have really gone way out and above on getting the deals. But this month I only want the deals and not much out the pcket.

[ubankit]

Originally Posted by shannon1189 I love using coupons but I can not seem to get the mega deals. I feel so lost . I do not mind hearing about the great deals so post away anytime.

I was amazed when I started "serious" couponing (first part of this year) at the deals these folks would get and post. I thought "how the heck are they doing this?", it has taken me around 8 months to get good at this (and I'm still not on the level with some of the shoppers, but I'm gettin' better).
My OOP spending has improved, I've gotten a little more organized, and I don't have to work as hard getting ready. It does take time, patience, and effort, but it sure pays off. I do try and get between 8 to 10 coupon inserts each week because when a good deal comes along you're better prepared for it. I've also signed up with as many of the food makers (Nabisco, Betty Crocker, Unilever, etc) and the personal care websites (shampoo, deodorant, Olay, Clairol, etc), you never know when you'll get a good q or promotion.
I don't tend to brag too much about the deals I get, I've found most people aren't interested in investing the time and effort to learn. Their eyes do get big when they see the stockpile

[elizabethhouts]

I think it would be awesome to have a great couponing friend! I email a really nice woman that works with my husband but I have never met her in person. We ahve babies that are the same age. I try to get people into it with me- butit's like most of you say about them kind of glazing over and getting bored. They love the stuff I give them but are "too busy" to do it. The amount of money you can save is crazy and yet it isn't worth it to people. More for me! My mom has kinda gotten into it. She isn't trying to stockpile like I am, though. I keep saying I need more shelves and she always says "Or you could just eat the food you have and stop buying so much." This week a local grocery store is having triples and I can get bags of veggies for $.09! Now why would I not buy them now only to buy them later at $1.29? Plus it's getting to be soup season!

[meems]

I have several coupon buddies - 3 that I talk with almost daily, but honestly, it works because we live close enough for swaps, but far enough that we aren't in each others way. It can be a double edged sword..

Back to the OP, yes, I too felt the same, wanted to shout it from the rooftops early on..the glaze...or the ones who only do the deals if you cut the coupons, deliver them with the list of where to go to do the deals. After a bit, you just stop mentioning it..though somehow (thanks to DH or DD's) people tend do end up getting a tour of the stockpile..some get it, most don't, LOL! My hairdresser, she so needs to but just can't get her brain around it, I bring her 3 bags of stuff every time I go in for services.

That said..I made enough in garage sales this year that I am going to be able to pay cash for some cosmetic surgery that I've put off for 20 years...I earned it..though it's going to kill me to pull it out of the bank...that couponers mentality!

[heatcol127]

I too know what you mean. The only people that seem to be impressed with what I can do with a grocery total are the strangers who are standing behind me in line. So I guess for those few seconds I at least have that.
The man I live with does nothing but yell, he so does not understand. He even stood in line with me and watched a total go from 120.00 down to 14.00 and some change. But in the end all he could say was that was not stuff we needed right now. But he can go to the store spend 50.00 on a few items and it is ok.
My 16 yr old daughter tells me all the time her friends want to come to our house if there is ever a natural disaster because they know they will still be able to eat good...lol.
I managed to get my sister interested...but then she just became too busy...lol...whatever.
I really don't talk about it much either because alot of people make fun of me and then in the same breathe are crying they don't have money for this and that. None of these people have 6 children either (which is another topic people get on me about but is a topic for another thread) so I do what I have to do.
What I do know is that I absolutley LOVE DOING THIS!!!!! I love to trade coupons probably more then I like to shop for the deals tho...lol... but don't get me wrong...I LOVE to shop too!!!! So I really don't care what people say...I know what my bottom line is. And that is good enough for me!!!!!
Although I would LOVE to find a buddy to...lol...anyone near me??????? I think it would be so cool to find someone too hang out with that is into this as much as I am!!!!!!

[hedgehog]

Originally Posted by ekoury There is saying in my country - fewer people, more oxygen.

I only know one country with this same saying - Russia

I do agree with everyone on this forum. Even my closest friends and family don't get my affection for couponing. Even though they do like to receive free stuff all the time Many say - it's a waste of time. Some say - rather than spending so much time on coupons, go and work - you'll make more money that way...

[jake1951]

Our local churches are putting together bags of groceries for a Thanksgiving meal for 200 families. The lists were very specific and the prices of the items were listed and were about $18. As the presentation was being made I was mentally adding up the items and I could have purchased the same items for $3-$4. This is why people have not because they coupon not. No way to buy anything without a coupon. I have preached couponing for over a year and no one wants to hear it.

[twoflowers]

I came from a country without coupon, when I came here I did not know lots about couponing, but later my younger daughter was born and I had to quit my job, for a while we depend on WIC. My husband is the only person to earn money. That was the darkest days in my life.
The first time I know the coupon was one sunday morning, when I was in a laundry, a young lady took some newspapers as she was doing her laundry, I saw some diapers coupon there, I needed the diapers coupon for the baby. so that was the first time I began to buy sunday newspaper and save.
At the begining, My husband thought I was crazy, because I bought a lot of stuffs we did not need right now. but gradually I managed to get more cheaper stuffs but they all good brands we can not afford before. last year I almost get diapers for free for my DD,and we have enough food and drink, he can get starbuck coffee and we eat good quanlity meat and eggs and we can eat out regularly, Kids are happy. I always have some gift card to use in different stores.......when I was looking back I still a little bit excited, sometimes I felt boring for some deals I just skip it, and ready for next. Of course my husband helps me to do small deals when he went shopping by himself. I found a job this year I am still couponing and saving for the family.
Couponing is changing my family's life especially the hotcouponworld, I want to thank you all.

[gina2000]

I literally scratched my head the first time I saw CVS ECBs. I couldn't figure out how this could be a break-even deal or even a moneymaker! Well, I read and read and read and it worked! So now I'm an avid couponer.

My sister has hopped on board. She buys newspapers and lets me clip coupons from them. She pays all of my OOP expenses and I let her take whatever she wants. My mother does the same. My sister also is now couponing for food/supermarket items but I do help her along when I see a deal she should be doing. So I guess she's my coupon buddy. I make the time, she has the extra cash and we share the proceeds! It works well for us.

I love playing with coupons and figuring out deals. It's become a lot tougher recently in our local supermarkets because the coupons just aren't lucrative enough. Online coupons seem to be a bit more profitable. CVS has its good weeks and baaaaaaaad weeks. I just go with the flow. I figure that even if it disappears tomorrow, I've stockpiled for many a rainy day. At first DH thought I was insane but now he asks if I have a coupon whenever he needs to go out and buy something! And he's shocked if we run out of ANYTHING! (I hate to clean so that's where we occasionally run out of things.)

I guess the bottom line is that this has become a way of life for me. We never had so much available in our household at such great prices! I always bought cheap and in bulk. Now I buy expensive items cheap or free and our basement is overflowing!

Just one downside: I get incredibly antsy when there are no deals and am ready to chuck it all. Go figure.

[BigDog]

I know this isn't kosher on THIS website. But, I do understand them not couponing. When I got really, really, really good a couponing. (I was only spending about $10 a week on EVERYTHING for 5 people.) I noticed. I was making my kids and husband sit in the car for long periods of time. For me to to run in 'just a second'.

I value my time more then I value a good deal now. I will get 2 "deals" a week now. Then actually just buy like a normal person. The only difference. I check my pantry for items. To tailor my grocery list with items in the cabinet, then items that are on sale. I spend about $100 now. But, for a family of 7. I don't find this all too bad. I I'm spending only about 2 hours (driving included) a week "couponing". Then I go to Kroger and "fill in". And my time on HCW is far less. But, we are homeschooling now. And my son loves watching animal videos to supplement science on the computer.

So, if it came down to it, and hubby lost his job. I guess I wouldn't have a choice. But, to be able to walk everynight with my kids around the neighborhood while they are still young. Priceless. (Or the best coupon, I never spent.)

ETA: When I try and they don't care. I see it this way. Good, less to compete with tomorrow. And when you need to 'brag'. Bring it on we will listen with all ears.