Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Extreme LiQuponing

Don’t ever get sick. I mean besides the obvious reasons, I don’t need to tell you it’s not fun. But as you start to feel a little better, where do you end up? I end up on the couch with the TV on. I’m not a daytime TV watcher, I think years of Barney cured me of that, so it’s a whole new world out there. And it’s a perfect world to get involved in when you’re not feeling well.

So there I was, camped out on the couch; napping, switching channels, rolled up in a warn throw. And on comes a show about people who have made couponing their full time job. Perfect show for when you’re sick.

Extreme LiQuoponing | graphic designed by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics



I have to say that I think saving money is great. I see no reason to spend more for something than you need to spend. I wrote about it in The Price of Saving. So I do get the “high” they feel. I won’t be doing any happy dances in the check-out line. I’ve never had the employees stand at the door clapping and high-fiving me on my way out, but I do love to leave feeling like I’ve done well and saved money.

So I watched this whole show. I see the woman buy 96 rolls of paper towels, 78 boxes of artificial sweetener, 57 rolls of mint candies, 110 sports drinks, 40 bags of dog food, 25 boxes of pasta, 75 sponges, every roll of no-name toilet paper on the shelf, and 60 boxes of croutons.

Before coupons her total comes to around $800. Yikes.

After coupons she pays around $18.

Now this woman has worked hard at this. She’s spent hours and hours clipping coupons, organizing them, she has spreadsheets and circulars and literally does more work in a week than I did in a year of college (please don’t be reading this, Mom, and if so I’m sure I’m over exaggerating).

Back to the woman who spends 6 to 7 hours in the grocery store per trip. Think about that. Six to seven hours. She has to be in great shape, both physically and mentally.

But in the end I was left with some lingering questions and I hate that. It’s frustrating and especially when I’m sick and want to watch a show and move on, I don’t want to be sitting there wondering. So help me out, I need to know:

*Does someone who doesn’t have a dog see value in having to store 40 bags of dog food in their bedroom, even if it was free?

*How do I make this “spend $20 for $800 worth of products” thing happen at the liquor store?

*Most importantly, and this is the one that’s really bothering me the most: What exactly is she serving for dinner?



Whipped Raspberry | recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #drink

Whipped Raspberry


Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics




Whipped Raspberry
                                         ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients (per cocktail):
2 ounces Whipped Cream Vodka
1 ounce Chambord
6 ounces Ginger Ale
 
Directions:
*Fill a glass with ice.
*Add the Whipped Cream Vodka and Chambord. Mix.
*Slowly pour in the Ginger Ale.

30 comments:

  1. I'm all for saving money on products and don't mind collecting a coupon or two if I come across them. But to spend hour upon hour coupon hunting, no way mate. And to have a house filled with products that you're stuck with for 2 years, I don't think so. For some people it's a full time job. If you're sharing out the goods to others then it becomes less of an issue but to hoard it all to yourself, naaa.

    I must try that tipple you gave. Vodka always improves the mind.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm all about spending as little as possible on consumables, especially since prices seem to rise at an amazingly fast rate. But I'm also not someone who would buy a bunch of stuff I don't use or need. I sure would love to be able to coupon alcohol, though. You know I'd use that!

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  2. These are all valid questions. I think many of these people need help. Serious help. It's not by accident that these couponing shows are always on back-to-back with the shows about extreme hoarders. Most coupons are for products that I wouldn't buy if they PAID me to take them. Maybe when they start handing out coupons for fruits and vegetables and vodka then I'll change my mind.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I think there's a lot of value in spending less for what you need. And I think there's value in donating what you don't need, if buying what you don't need is your best option for paying less for what you do need. But I really don't get turning your home into a grocery store and still not necessarily having a healthy dinner to put on the table.

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  3. I love that you have a printable version of that "recipe." I also hate coupon shows. Those women are complete freaks. I would rather pay full price for things I actually NEED then spend more time and less money on 40 bags of dog food for a dog I don't have. Yeah, what a bargain. Hope you're feeling better!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think ALL drink recipes should be printable. For all moms, anyway!

      Can't stop sneezing but doing better otherwise. Thanks.

      Delete
  4. I guess if you have nothing better to do, it would be fun to be able to take a bunch of that stuff to the animal shelter or food bank. But it sounds WAY too involved to me. Most of the time my coupons are stuck on the fridge, and are at least 6 months past expiration! At least your program was sort of educational. I'd be watching "Snapped".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think in retrospect I should have been making a drink!

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  5. After reading that amazing drink recipe, I'm trying really hard to focus on the post before it.....
    Nope. Can't.
    *Running to liquor store for ingredients*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You seriously have to try this drink, it's so simple and we loved them.

      Delete
  6. I use to be really in to couponing, but, ironically enough, couldn't afford to keep up the habit. I had a HUGE stock pile. But mine was all household stuff. I couldn't get the hang of doing well for food, because I'm not a brand snob. Maybe after the holidays, I'll get back in to it.

    And sorry bout passing that nasty virus to ya! lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm no expert but from what I can tell, most stockpiles are household stuff, but when you watch them check out you see almost no meats, fruits or veggies. I honestly don't know, after getting home with $800 worth of groceries, what they serve for dinner.

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  7. I feel the same way you do. What are they going to do with all that crap, sorry I mean groceries? I can see doing it and donating or something. But really? I'm all for couponing at the liqour store. Show me how to coupon my way into $800 in booze for $18 and I'll watch each and every show. :) ~Nicky

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too. Still trying to figure out a way to do that. If I ever figure it out, I promise to share.

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  8. I don't use coupons to often, I don't have the time to do all that involves with it. It amazing to me that someone would buy 40 bags of dog food. Where would they store it all and wouldn't go bad before they could use all of it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know. I'm sure they understand it, it's just not somewhere I'd ever want to go.

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  9. I've watched some of these extreme couponing shows even as I can appreciate the discipline and determination these people have for saving money bit I think some of them are a bit crazy! It's almost like they are hoarding away for the zombie apocalypse!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, now I get it. That's the piece of the puzzle I was missing, the motivation. Zombie Apocalypse . . . now it all makes sense!

      Delete
  10. First, I'm one of those people who will have all the right intentions when it comes to a coupon, but none of the follow through. I've had so many expire in my wallet, that I don't even bother with them anymore. I know me. I don't have the motivation, drive, or memory to bother with a single one of them.
    Now, for the people who make it a lifestyle. I think it's a disease. Like obsessive handwashing. I mean, like you said, what's the point of having 96 of anything if you don't use it, OR EVEN IF YOU DO USE IT, you spent half your damn week to get it for free....I don't have that kind of time. There has to be better things in life going on than to spend your time couponing to get paper towels for two cents....I mean, seriously...garden or something.
    Then there are the in-betweeners. The ones that coupon "normal". That keep a few here and there, and use them moderately and save what I still deem as a impressive amount of money. THOSE are the people I think are doing it right. They aren't giving up their lives over it, ya know? Okay, off soap box. *bows*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. *clapping*'
      Yes, I'm one who uses them but doesn't make it my life's work. I've got blogging for that.

      Delete
  11. OH my goodness! This is serious! I just clipped a few coupons and this post caught my eye. I don't know if I could spend this much time clipping coupons and what about the brands and things that are offering it. How do I get the most out of it? I think some of the brands I buy barely have coupons or true sales - this is what happens when you try to use more natural, ecofriendly products. You end up making things at home for a cheaper price instead of using so many coupons lol.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I have to admit that's another one of the reasons I love reading blogs, so many people know how to make good quality products right at home. Way cheaper than buying (for me anyway) even with coupons.

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  12. Always with the comic relief! I have so many questions... normally, it's the third one, but come to think of it, the second one is great as well. I don't know if they double or triple liquor store coupons. I normally just get the discount at Costco and that does it for me!

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    1. That third one seriously bothers me. I see what they spend 6 hours buying and I want to know what's for dinner . . .

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  13. Hilarious! I needed a laugh tonight. Perhaps she is serving dog food. Love your drink recipe!
    Patty at Home and Lifestyle Design

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    1. Thanks, Patty. You can be guaranteed I won't be accepting any dinner invitations at her house.

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  14. Oh dear, that amount of time dedicated to saving on heaps of "stuff" is intense! I love your take on it and think that my husband would love take up extreme beverage couponing! Fantastic recipe by the way.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, I hope you get a chance to try it (the recipe, not the beverage couponing . . . well both, really).

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  15. Fact I'm broke, another fact I'm unemployed. Perhaps the smart thing to do should be clipping coupons and save some much needed money or watch 10 episodes of extreme cheapstakes and start filling my ketchup bottles with McDonald's free ketchup packages but if I ever do that and start pilling up on dog food, when I actually have cats, buy enough no name brand toilet paper to wrap the whole wide world around like 6 times or replacing cat food instead of tuna because I'm saving .30 cents I would be A)Broke B) Unemployed C) Divorced because Hubs must likely with the kids support will kick me to the curve, LOL...I will keep my eyes peeled for booze coupons...at least alcohol doesn't have a "better before" date! Hugs girl! cheers

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I absolutely believe in saving money, but I have a line and I don't cross it. And that line is WAY before buying dog food for no dog or feeding my family cat food. Blech. But I sure would love to be able to save some money on what goes into the liquor cabinet. Now that would be fun!

      Delete

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