'Extreme Couponing': Please, sir, I want some more

Entertainment Weekly ^ | December 30, 2010 | Sandra Gonzalez

[reformedliberal]

http://www.thegrocerygame.com/

I totally agree on the hoarding diagnosis.

I believe there is an increase in personality disorders in our society. Why else would there be at least 2 TV shows that I am aware of dedicated to hoarding, another dedicated to interventions, and another one about *strange addictions*? This doesn’t even touch all the programs devoted to obsessively observing the lifestyles of upper and upper-middle class *housewives* or of celebrities in the so-called reality shows. This is a form of voyeurism, IMO. I find it boring as can be, but it is certainly very popular. I believe it all substitutes for productive lives, just as the hoarding gets called *frugality*.

As for couponing, you would have to give it away. Who can possibly make use of dozens of boxes of dry cereal, for example? When we traveled for our business, doing trade shows, I would save all the hotel toiletries and donate those to abused women’s shelters.

[hennie pennie]

Stop by a Walgreens and pick up their flyer, and their coupon book for the month.

THEN.... notice how when you buy certain products at a Walgreen's that you get "register rewards" --- on your sales slip you'll see the register rewards, they're printed on the back.

Frankly, I consider the idea of explaining these extreme couponing practices kind of similar to verbally explaining to someone else 'HOW TO WALK.'

lol -- inotherwords, you gotta jump in and get your feet wet.

There are LOTS of sites which explain the best Walgreen's deals, you can find them on google, but to understand the entire process you need to DO it.

Here are some explanatory articles from eHow.com, but they are a poor substitute for your own experimentation.

How to shop for free at Walgreens | eHow.com

http://www.ehow.com/how_4900719_shop-walgreens.html

How to get paid to shop at Walgreens

How to Save Money and get Free Stuff at Walgreens

How to Benefit From Walgreen's Register Rewards Program

How to Get Extremely Discounted Items at Walgreens

How to Find Walgreen Coupons

[hennie pennie]

There are the 2 different shows on hoarders, and then there is also the Animal Planet show on animal hoarders.

I've read that there is an epidemic of personality disorders nowadays, but of all things, I also recently read that ... I think it's the Brits... are deleting Narcissistic Personality Disorder as a diagnosis.

Perhaps that's because narcissism is so prevalent as a key trait in other personality disorders?

It seems to me that PJ-Comix is so experienced at couponing that they don't have multiple dozens of cereal boxes -- although they obviously ADORE pizza, LOL

I'm thinking that it would be nice to figure out how to get Extreme Deals on pet foods and pet products --- as the animal shelters all have such massive needs and long wish lists. I don't know whether many Extreme Coupon Deals exist for pet-stuff, but I'd be interested in learning about that.

[Revolting cat!]

[hennie pennie]

The frozen milk in 8-oz. increments is brilliant, I’ve known people who simply freeze the entire bottle, but I much prefer the idea of single portion sizes. I’ll have to pick up an extra gallon, next time it’s on sale and do some experimenting.

Thanks!

[PJ-Comix]

I'm thinking that it would be nice to figure out how to get Extreme Deals on pet foods and pet products --- as the animal shelters all have such massive needs and long wish lists. I don't know whether many Extreme Coupon Deals exist for pet-stuff, but I'd be interested in learning about that.

A few months ago I picked up a TON of FREE Chef Michaels cans for a friend's dog and also for my sister-in-law's dog. The latter dog LOVED the stuff since she ATTACKED it hungrily. I also got her a lot of Whiska's for her cat for almost nothing. Ditto back in March when I picked up 3 lb bags of Good Life Recipe for cats.

[reformedliberal]

My belief about deleting personality disorders from the diagnostic manuals (IIRC, the US is doing that, as well), is that there is no cure. Cognitive therapy helps, but it has to be ongoing and is expensive. Some meds for anxiety help some people, some of the time, to some degree, but, again, it isn’t a cure, per se.

I have no idea about pet food coupons, but some beef or pork producers who process their own animals for their own use might be willing to make a deal for liver and other offal and scraps. I am actually working on this for beef liver from a farmer, as we have discovered that liver perks up our elderly Akita to am amazing degree. His vet suggested fish oil, which I add in capsules when he has canned dog food, but I also give him canned mackerel (about $1.42 for a large can) as often as possible. He loves it!

[reformedliberal]

My problem with freezing an entire bottle is, first of all, the space needed. Then, it can take a day or more to freeze solid and to defrost. Finally, the water will separate out and you have to make sure to mix it really well, once it it is defrosted.

There are only two of us and even a half-gallon will spoil before we get to use it all.

Just make sure to not fill the inner bag to the top. Expel all excess air and place the totally sealed bag with the milk inside another completely sealed bag. Defrost in the microwave for a few minutes, in increments, at 30% power. The outer bag is reusable, as is and the inner bag can be rinsed and reused. I have some that I froze in September and it is still fine.

[hennie pennie]

Basically, it seems that people are focusing purchases on items for which Walgreens will give a "Register Reward."

They also try to use a coupon for both the initial purchase, and for anything bought with the Register Rewards.

Presumably, there also are still a few manufacturer's mail-in rebates around, too.

Here's official information from the Walgreens website:

[hennie pennie]

Coupon Policy Help | Walgreens Coupon Policy

As a customer-focused retailer, Walgreens encourages the use of coupons by our customers in our retail stores, in accordance ...

http://www.walgreens.com/topic/help/generalhelp/coupon_policy_main.jsp

Register Rewards | Walgreens

The Walgreens Jingle Ca$h coupon value cannot exceed the total purchase amount.

No cash back and no cash value for the Walgreens Jingle Ca$h coupon. ...

http://www.walgreens.com/topic/save-money/register-rewards.jsp

[Oshkalaboomboom]

You are limited on stockpiling by CVS since you are only allowed one deal (or whatever they say) per card. So that theory of CVS stockpiling doesn’t hold up.

Baloney. I'm on other forums besides this one, ones with threads specifically for the weekly CVS deals. It's easy to get around CVS limits and the ones doing sales are hitting every store within a 50-mile radius just to get free stuff that they can sell later on.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

So you're saying that you're for the lazy and unimaginative, vs the creative and dilligent.

No, I'm for people looking for a deal as opposed to those gaming the system.

[BreitbartSentMe]

Please sir, can I have some more????

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/01/06/tlc-extreme-couponing-series/