AOL’s Daily Finance has a story today entitled “Don’t Call Them ‘Extreme Couponers’: Meet the Coupon Enthusiasts.” Several of my blog readers were featured in the story, and I think it makes a nice distinction between what we do and what the world thinks we do..!
They’re thrifty, yes, but not extreme.
They don’t dumpster-dive for newspaper circulars, nor clock 40 hours a week clipping stacks of coupons and hunting them down online. Nor do they cash in counterfeit coupons trying to score 77 bottles of ketchup for $6.93.
They are frugal shoppers, but they bristle at comparisons to fervent bargain hunters like those featured on the TLC show Extreme Couponing — a phrase that, to them, describes hucksters out to game the system.
Those extreme couponers are still essentially a fringe group, but the Great Recession has given rise to a savvy new breed of mainstream shoppers who’ve finely honed the art of couponing.
For many, necessity was indeed the mother of invention. But some have simply come to love the high — and revel in the sport — of getting a good deal.
Flag1 says
Great article and happy you shared it with all of us followers. The lady from Westminster struck a chord with me as my daughter is newly divorced with a 2 1/2 year old that lives in the next town. I haven’t converted her yet, but do print coupons and mail them to her. What she does with them is up to her.
Outlander says
Just recently my DH was telling somebody that I am a Super couponer, and I told him not to tell anything to people, because I didn’t want to be confused with Extreme couponers. People who don’t do Qs don’t know the difference.
Supermom10 says
Thanks for posting! Yep, I know people have the wrong idea and think anyone that coupons are extreme couponers. It usually does not bother me. As long as I save money and do it the right way, then no problem.
jmdetz says
It is hard – when people learn I use coupons they immediately assume I am like those on tv. Of course, if they are in my home they can just look in my pantry to see I am not. And 12 bottles of garnier for a family of 6 is not extreme :)