Extreme Couponing

Okay, I am going to step up on my soapbox and let loose my opinion.

Extreme Couponing.

There is a show on TLC about it and many people do it. This is when a person takes a bunch of coupons for one item and "stacks" them with a store offer or another coupon and does this multiple times until they get basically all of their items for free or just a few cents more (heck, even in some cases getting a credit back).

Now, my opinion I am about to give may be in the minority or unpopular, but I think I need say it. First, I am all for saving money. who doesn't like to spend less cash at the grocery line, but when a person is taking a $500 grocery bill, for example, and only paying $5 for it, well, to me that just seems a bit immoral.

Let's look at it this way: It takes the company money to produce their products. Yes, they do price them with a pretty high profit margin, but you also need to factor in that the store adds to that price as well because they need to make money.

But if a person is getting their entire shopping cart for free, then both the store and the company are getting the shaft, to put it mildly.

And guess where they take out that loss?

Good-bye employees! Oh, you want a raise? Yeah, not happening.

And then there is the mass amounts of food these people are, well, let's be honest, hoarding. I am one hundred percent a supporter of having a food storage for a year. We do need to be prepared for whatever may happen; job loss or what have you.

But when a person is making out with over $600 in food and having to only paid $10 for it, and they are doing this EVERY month or more, I think that goes well beyond "being prepared". What are these people doing with the excess amounts of food? Are they donating half of these groceries to food banks and those in need? Most of them probably are not.

And now people are stealing the coupon inserts from newspaper stands, without purchasing the news paper. This is what it's led to.

And finally, pretty soon companies and stores are going to get tired of all of this "extreme couponing" and start to put major limits on things or just stop offering deals all together. Then, that will ruin it for all of the rest of us, who just are happy to save a few dollars.

There is nothing wrong with saving a few, heck, even a few dozen dollars on a few hundred dollar grocery bill. But to be paying 98% less or even getting it with a credit due to you, then we are going well beyond the intention and good grace of the offer.

The economy is bad and it is struggling to get a footing back into the world. And I'm sorry, but these "couponers" are doing anything but helping. Spending money in a prudent manner will stimulate the economy. Not taking money from companies and stores. When you don't spend the money it doesn't help at all for some person to get their pay check.

Okay, so that's my opinion. Sorry if I have offended anyone. I wasn't trying to single anyone out, but rather, hopefully, have a more conscientious outlook on this new trend. Save money, but don't be unethical about it. And if you just must be an "extreme couponer" then please, please, donate your food!

Service and helping others brings greater joy than greed and selfishness.

Okay, off my soapbox.