I’ve been getting an alarming number of comments from new couponers who can’t seem to get over the free aspect of things.  Just because something works out to be free, doesn’t mean it really is:  there is the time spent clipping the coupons, driving to the stores, standing in line and those damned taxes, all to get something that you may or may not need, like or use.  Yes, people are doing this.  Spend so much time driving around to find items in stock and when there is a problem with a cat printing, you return everything and hit another store.  Again, this is not a lottery.  If I post it, I’ve done it.  You are attempting too many deals at once so you fail to keep track of what triggers what and why.

When you first start shopping the extreme couponing way, there is a tendency to overbuy, to get way more of an item just because it’s free and you want to stock up.  This desire/urge is normal and fades after a time.   While stocking up is a great idea, it’s not so great if it’s something that you don’t use or already have a ton of.  Kidding yourself that you will donate it….puhleez.  By the time you can bring yourself to part with some of your stockpile, it’s already expired.

As you get more and more into this way of shopping, it becomes easier to sit out most deals.  You already have plenty in the basement/storage room, you didn’t particularly like the taste/way it worked, don’t have time to run around.  After a couple of years (or sooner), you spend most of your free time sitting on your fat behind not bothering to pick up many things – you can tell what part of the learning curve I’m in, right?

Also, extreme couponing allows us to free up our finite grocery budget for those things we can’t get on sale or free or just want to indulge in.  Please don’t lose sight of this, or your stockpile will be starring on Hoarders.

Remember, peeps, there will always be another deal.  Always!