“Extreme Couponing” or “Centsible Couponing” – which one is right for you?

I am sure everyone has by now heard of, if not watched, the “Extreme Couponing” show on TLC.  While I find it interesting, there are many reasons why it is not possible (the stores break their own rules/policies for the show) and not necessary (50+ bottles of mustard??  I don’t think I will use that much mustard in my lifetime!)

While I am not about to debate the right or wrong of the show, I do want to share with you that you can be “extreme” in your couponing (by some people’s estimation) and feed your family on a $40-50 weekly budget without installing grocery store shelves in your garage to store your stockpile, clearing shelves at the nearby supermarket, or buying 100 newspapers each week.

I have shared many times before that I strive to stick to a $40 weekly grocery budget for our family (my husband and I).  We only eat out 1-2 times a month (usually with coupons!) and eat fast food just a few times per month.  95% of our meals will come from our $40 weekly grocery budget.  (I also giveaway/share/donate items to friends and family often, as well as fix meals for church/Sunday school a few times a month out of this budget.) 

Striving for a $40 weekly grocery budget with food to share inspires me to have a sensible approach to couponing and try to pay as few “cents'” as possible for my groceries!  I enjoy letting coupons pay for my groceries, instead of paying for them myself! :)

For example, here is what I bought at Publix today: Total: $38.54 -$5.00 off a $30 purchase (Publix coupon) -$32.45 in other coupons I paid $0.12 (+$0.97 tax) for a grand total of $1.09!! Some would say, “How did you do that?”  Others would say “That is extreme!” I say, this is “Centsible Couponing!”  (No, I do not always have trips like this; and no, I can’t base my menu just off the items purchased in this trips, but it is a start!  I still have $39 left this week to spend on other items! :)

Come back Monday as I start a series entitled “Centsible Couponing” where I will share:

• How to coupon to an extreme!
• Is it possible to reduce your grocery budget by 50% or more by using coupons?
• Maximizing your savings by basing your menu on the items you buy on sale in previous weeks
• What is the Buy-ahead principle and how does it save me money?
• How to organize your coupons at home and in the store.
• and much more!

As well as dispel the many myths out there, such as:

• “I don’t have time to coupon.”
• “Coupons are only for foods that I don’t eat.”
• “My stores don’t have as good of sales as your stores do.”
• “I don’t have access to the same coupons or the number of coupons that you do.”
• “Using coupons makes me buy items I don’t need just because they are free or cheap, making me spend more money in the long run.”

This series will run every week for the next six – eight weeks.  Read the rest of this series:

• Know when to use your coupons
• Don’t clear the shelves
• Response to a reader’s question
• How to organize your coupons
• Where to find your coupons
• Make your shopping list