Saturday, May 14, 2011

Coupon Frustration

The longer that you coupon (and at the beginning stages of couponing), the more likely you are to experience what I like to call coupon frustration.  I'm sure that my husband does not enjoy the phone calls he receives from me after a bad couponing experience, but bless his heart, he tolerates them anyways.  I experienced some coupon frustration tonight at one of my favorite stores, and had to make a phone call to their corporate office to find out why my coupon scenario worked at one of their stores yesterday, but did not work out today at another, even after consulting with a manager.  The customer service representative at the corporate office informed me that they have had numerous phone calls surrounding this issue and said that their supervisors are addressing the issue due to the recent problems that have arisen with extreme couponers wanting to be like the couponers profiled on the Extreme Couponing show.

Some of you may be familiar with the show Extreme Couponing on TLC.  The show focuses on couponers who put a lot of hours into hunting for and buying mass quantities of coupons to get as many products as they can for a mere fraction of the retail price.  Unfortunately, the original intent of this show was not to show how couponers can hoard products for themselves.  It was originally slated as a show to teach the art of couponing and how to save money on products your family would normally use, especially during a time when money is tight for so many.  Once the producers learned that there were individuals who could take this to the extreme, the show's original intent was lost.

I have been frustrated with this show as it does not showcase a "normal" couponer.  So many of us were using coupons before this show hit the airwaves (if you read the about me in this blog, you will learn that my mother, grandmother, and great grandmother have all used coupons and rebates for decades).  Those of us who use coupons now face added scrutiny from cashiers and are sometimes made to feel like criminals (especially when a coupon is used to get a product for FREE) thanks to the bad rap this show is giving couponers.

Now there are some positives to the Extreme Couponing show.  It has motivated a good number of people to try to use coupons to help with their family's budget.  It has also raised an awareness among merchants that people still do use coupons and have made some stores more welcoming to coupon users.  I still feel that the show could portray more real life scenarios.  A lot of the show is filmed just to get your attention and is played up.  There is also some skepticism as to whether or not fraud is being committed by some on the show.  You can find a post written by Nathan Engles (he has appeared on Extreme Couponing twice) on that topic HERE.


Will I stop using coupons due to this coupon frustration?  Heck no!  It's still worth it to me to save that extra money for my family and allow me to continue on our debt snowball.  Does this coupon frustration happen every time I use coupons?  Definitely not.  Most of my transactions are smooth as can be.

I want to be honest and ethical with my use of coupons.  Individuals are finding more and more ways to "work the system" and this blog is not what that is about.  I will not knowingly misuse a coupon.  When you're new to using coupons, you have lots of questions and will learn by trial and error.  If you ever have any questions, please let me know and I will try to answer them from my own experiences.  Please know that the links you find in this site are not fraudulent and that I am committed to ethical coupon use.  I welcome your questions and comments!

May your coupon frustrations be few and far between.  Blessings to you and your family!

Read more...

Friday, May 13, 2011

FREE items this week (5/8/11)



Here's a look at the items I got for FREE with coupons this week:

*Uncle Bens Ready Rice
*Two 3 packs of Ivory Soap (used two $1/1 regional coupons found in the 5/1 P&G - these were in the Lincoln and Omaha Sunday papers)
*Two 100 Grand candy bars (used 50 cents off 2 single bars coupon from the 5/1 Smart Source at People's in Crofton on Wednesday so the coupon doubled, making them FREE)
*Two Butterfinger candy bars (see above)
*Two Aquafresh toothpastes
*Two tubes of KY ( the overage at Walmart from the two coupons I used paid for my tax on these and my other FREE items I got there.  AND, the next person with an over the hill birthday is going to get these - *insert evil grin here*)
*Two boxes of Tampax (FREE coupons I receive as one of my school nurse perks, these stock my cupboards at school)
*One pack of Always pads (see above)
*Bath and Body Works Travel Size Lotion (I purchased a $1 lotion to get this freebie)

Read more...

$2 off Freschetta Coupon

This post brought to you by FRESCHETTA®. All opinions are 100% mine.




Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a pizza lover.  The more toppings, the better!!  I am willing to try any flavor, any brand.  I especially love when I can get a good deal on a frozen pizza.  (you know I can't resist a good deal!)  I can keep them in my freezer for an extended period of time, and a pizza makes for a quick meal when I'm running behind and need something quick.  Not to mention that pizza is a family favorite around here!  This Freschetta brand pizza has a FRESCH-TASTE SEAL™ Packing that locks in the vibrant flavors, while using 30% less packaging material.  Here's a link for a coupon that will hopefully make for a good deal on a new brand of pizza:

"Like" Freschetta Simply Inspired on facebook HERE and print a coupon for $2 off Freschetta Simply Inspired Pizza.  Doesn't this look delicious?  I took the "what's your flavor" quiz found at FRESCHETTA® Simply…Inspired™ and it looks like the Chicken Bianco fits my taste for the refined and sublime.  Once you've taken the quiz, you can also enter to win a $100 itunes gift card.


Visit Sponsor's Site

Read more...

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Sign Up for Runza emails

You can get coupons from Runza emailed to you for signing up for their email club.  Go HERE to sign up.  The first coupon emailed to you is a B1G1 FREE combo meal.  Then, click on the Psst, over here link on the left sidebar to get another coupon offer.

Read more...

Double Coupon Event at Pamida

For those of you around the Wayne, NE area, you can get some great deals on items at Pamida this week.  They're doubling coupons up to $1 through May 13.  Go HERE to find out the details.

Read more...

Sunday, May 8, 2011

FREE stuff at Walgreens Week of 5/8/11



Travel sized Dial Skin Lotion 99 cents
Use the $1/1 coupon found HERE (coupon value will have to be adjusted to 99 cents)
Final cost - FREE!

Clean & Clear morning burst body wash 16 oz Buy 1 at $5.99 get 1 Free
Use the Buy 1 get 1 Free coupon found in the 3/27 SS (up to $5.99 value!)
Final cost – both FREE!  (These smell soooo good!)

Nexcare bandages waterproof 20 pk, soft n’ flex, or active waterproof 30 pk are $2.99 each
Use the $1/1 any Nexcare product coupon found HERE
Look for the packages that have a rebate peelie on the front of them.  You can submit for a rebate of up to 3.99 per each type of the Nexcare bandages listed above, up to 3 types of Nexcare Bandages per household.  Total maximum rebate of up to $11.97.
I was only able to find the active waterproof and soft n flex bandages.  Each of the three different types can be submitted on one rebate form.  So once I've submitted the rebate and subtracted the cost of the stamp and tax since you do have to pay tax on BOGO free items, I will actually make 78 cents on purchasing these two boxes of bandages - something we seem to never have enough of in our house!
Final cost - Money Maker of 78 cents!

Total out of pocket cost: $4.76.  Total advertised savings: $6.99.  Manufacturer Coupon savings: $8.98.  Rebate: $5.98.

I can finally post my own pictures of my shopping trips now that I have a camera that works!  Yay!

Read more...

10 point Pampers Gifts to Grow code


Go HERE if you haven't signed up yet for Pampers rewards points, or go HERE if you already have an account to enter this code for 10 points:
VMF776C7HMEXT4P

Read more...

$12 Rebate from the Gap

Right now through June 10th when you make a Gap purchase of $15 or more you may get a card (pictured above) with a code that you can then use HERE to get a $12 rebate.
You can also choose to get a Lucky magazine subscription, but if you don't want the subscription, you can get cash instead!
Just print the form HERE and mail it to the address on the bottom with your receipt showing your $15 purchase.  Your final cost on a $15 purchase could be just $3!

Thanks, Mamas Spot!

Read more...

FREE Itune: Listen to the Sound - Building 429



I fell in love with this song the moment I heard it and I'm so excited that KLove is offering it as a FREE download!  Go HERE to get yours. 

Read more...

FREE Fiber Choice Samples



Go HERE to request a FREE sample from Fiber Choice
Go HERE to request a FREE sample from Sam's Club - must have member ID

Thanks, Hip2Save!

Read more...

FREE travel sized Dial lotion



"Like" Dial on facebook HERE and print a coupon for $1 off any one dial lotion, no size restrictions.  This means that you can use it on the travel sized Dial lotions at Walgreens or WalMart and get one for FREE!

Read more...

FREE Travel Sized Item at Bath & Body Works



Go HERE to print a coupon good for a FREE Signature Collection Travel Size Item with ANY purchase (up to a $5 value). Valid through May 18th.

Read more...

FREE Goodnites Sample

Go HERE to request a FREE sample of GoodNites underwear. This is a new offer, so go ahead and put in your request even if you've done one recently.

Thanks, I Love Free Things!

Read more...

5 Pampers Gifts to Grow Points



Go HERE if you haven't signed up yet for Pampers rewards points, or go HERE if you already have an account to enter this code for 5 points:  YIYY9Y6DPDPD6DT

Read more...

FREE Emeril's Seasoning Packet



Head over HERE to get a FREE Emeril’s Original Sample Seasoning Packet.

Thanks, Coupon Pro!

Read more...

Tyson Rebate on Chicken Nuggets or Chicken Strips



Purchase Tyson Chicken Nuggets and/or Tyson Crispy Chicken Strips from 5/1/11 through 5/31/11 and you can submit your UPC and rebate form found HERE to receive the following by mail…
Purchase 1 qualifying product and receive a Free KODAK Photo Book.
Purchase 2 qualifying products and receive a Free Fun Pass
Purchase 3 qualifying products and receive a Free Salon Treatment
Must be postmarked no later than June 15, 2011.

Thanks, Hip2Save!

Read more...

25 more points at Recyclebank



Go to the earn points tab at Recyclebank and take the Purina quiz to earn 25 more points.

What can you do with all these Recyclebank points?  Use these points to score even more high value coupons!

Read more...
Save 5% more your purchases!

About This Blog

Real life frugal living experiences are found here. Learn to cut your grocery bills by combining sales and coupons. Unleash the power of giving through SAVING!

Blog Archive

  © Blogger templates Newspaper III by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP