In between dinner and dessert I thought I would run through the guide on tv. We don't watch much TV these days but I like to look for silly things here and there for fun. "Extreme Couponing" caught my eye. Think "Hoarders" but with sales flyers and organized shelves of detergent. At first I was excited. I mean I've been pretty proud of the return to my old shopping habits. Supermarket circulars are perused for sale items which then inspire my week's menu. Then I get crazy and find a few coupons to make it even juicier. For about a month now there have been savings right around $60 per week. I am wasting no food. Lunches and snacks are getting packed for two children as much as possible. Leftovers are even cleverly disguised for repeat meals if possible.
The two ladies that I watched were insane. Hours were spent clipping hundreds of coupons. Shopping trips included four and five carts. Houses were packed with shelving units. One mother loaded extra things in every open space in the house. I might not be a fire marshal but putting rolls of paper products under a kid's bed just seems wrong. One woman had an estimated $35,000 worth of food and cleaning products in her home. She bought 70 bottles of mustard just because she had coupons. At two bottles a year (since her husband didn't even like mustard) it would take her 35 years to use it up. What are they thinking? I understand saving but to spend money and hoard food just for the rush of the final number seems a bit extreme. Maybe I'll buy a binder and start hitting the recycling bins to steal coupons...or maybe I'll just keep up the good habits I'm returning to and hope for a good sale! I'm not sure if I was horrified or inspired by these women but I sure was entertained!
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