With the new Extreme Couponing show that’s on tonight on TLC (10/5), I thought it would be a good time to bring back some posts I’ve done from the past for new coupon users!! I also want to remind you all to remember that this show is indeed “EXTREME” and couponing is so much better on a more sane level and easier too! Just start out slow, get the deals you LIKE and remember….you are trying to SAVE money, not spend it!

I want to hear your opinions of the show, extreme couponing, stockpiles, etc! I will tell you mine…

So, I believe in the “Only get what you need/use, or what you can donate” theory. I do not believe in clearing the shelves or taking away from others. In fact, I have a personal rule of mine that I go by, I never clear the shelves…..I always make sure I leave enough for others, even if I have a TON of coupons for the item. If I show up to a store and there are only 2 items left and I have 5 coupons for that item, guess what?! I only grab one and leave the other for another couponer.

I always think to myself, “what if the person that grabs that last item is a newbie coupon user”?? They will get to feel the thrill and rush of getting it for FREE! Rather than finding out that the empty shelf they are starring at is the Crest toothpaste they would have gotten for free if they didn’t have to haul along their 2 kiddos. Ok, I guess it’s just a pet peeve of mine to find empty shelves. 😉

(Definitely don’t want to be couponing and end up like the lady above….or leave anyone feeling that way!)

Something I always recommend is to only get what your family needs (that doesn’t mean you can’t have a stockpile, instead only stockpile 3-6 months worth of items). When I first started using coupons I would run out and grab ANY deal I could…free ear plugs “hey, why not, their free”…..free baby food, “um, my youngest is over 2 but it’s free”…..free prunes, “umm yuck but hey it’s free”….free bausch…huh, what is that, I DON’T CARE, it’s FREE!! Ok, so I admit, that was a bad way to start couponing but you know we all do it. Actually, it was probably a pretty good way because it taught me that I really could do this and save money.

I stopped doing that…I stopped being such an Extreme couponer! I hated getting home and not having anywhere to put my free bausch, prunes, and baby food! I  had already filled my pantry with 20 boxes of free cereal and 10 jars of $0.50 pasta sauce!

I learned to only use coupons on the items my family uses!! When I did this, couponing was a lot less stressful. I enjoy using the items now and feel a whole lot more organized.

Those are my thoughts on Extreme couponing….what are yours?!