I am all for saving a buck and I use coupons. In fact, my daughter is trying to be an "extreme couponer" (yes! that's a word. I just made it up) and we have had several conversations on this subject. I will now share them with you. This has become something that people who have "hoarding tendancies" are able to cripple themselves with. Those who do not have "hoarding tendancies" seem to be "stockpiling"......I know! I know! This is JUST my view and my opinion (and we all know what opinions are worth).
At any rate, I am fully supportive of individuals who cut coupons to save money, even to the point of what they are now terming "extreme couponing". What I am NOT supportive of is people who are stocking up on these things like they are pirates treasure. On one of the shows I glanced at, one person had rows and rows of Maalox bottles (it may have been another product....does it really matter WHAT the product was?) The fact of the matter was, unless she and everybody in her family has chronic ulcers, those items will expire long before they will ever be used. This seems to be a trend for some of these "extreme couponers". Notice my wording there -- THIS SEEMS TO BE A TREND FOR SOME OF THESE "EXTREME COUPONERS".
This is what I am proposing....For those of you who are "stockpiling" items such as cleaning supplies, toiletries, health and beauty items and yes....even some of the food you and your family may not eat....Take some of those items and put them in baskets give them as housewarming gifts, wedding shower gifts, off to college gifts -- that kind of thing. Here is where I believe your extreme couponing can do some real help in our depleting economy. Especially for some of those individuals who have fallen upon rough times -- look at our men and women in our Armed Forces. They are fighting for our country all the while worrying about what their families are going to survive on while you have the means to help them.
Yes, I know you have worked HARD to amass this collection of "things" that you are so proud of. Heck! I would be too. The thing about it is, there are Women's Shelters, Homeless Shelters, Churches, Food Banks and all kinds of charities that will take the items (as long as they aren't out of date) and pass them to people who can use them.
So, you're obviously very good with math so let's work this out. Obviously, you, in a month, can get (lets just say) $1500 worth of groceries and other toiletries/health & beauty items for a paultry $100. If you've done this over a year or more, 6 months or even 3 months you have amassed a plethera of items that can be donated if you or your family aren't using them. Seriously, if you can get 30 bottles of shampoo for 10 cents each in one month and you've done this for approximately 3 months, you've got somewhere in the vacinity of 90 bottles of shampoo.
There is thing called Karma -- I won't get into it but you know what it is. If you want to go another direction with this thought, you can say "Give unto others as you would have them give unto you."
These kindnesses will be payed back to you 3-fold. Everything comes back to you my friends. If you're having such wonderful luck couponing, share that luck with someone who is "down on their luck." If you're affiliated with a church of any kind, go to them, they will point you in the right direction. They will probably know of a specific family that truly needs the help.
So....now that I've gotten that off my chest...Hope you're having a wonderful weekend and.....
Keep Reading Dearhearts
Bakin_Goddess
2 comments:
This is exactly why I am not into extreme couponing, or even much couponing in general. I find that I purchase items I don't really need because I have some 50 cents off coupon.
Just wanted to stop by and say thanks for visiting my blog and entering my Mother's Day giveaways! Good luck to you!
Aleks
Hi Aleks!
I'm not totally opposed to extreme couponing. I think it's great that, in some places, people are able to save on their grocery bills and such. My problem with it is the hoarding, like I said. Just spread the wealth with people that are on hard times. It's called being a good neighbor (to your actual neighbors, the neighbors in your community and the neighbors in, sometimes, the next town).
Thanks for stopping by. I loved your blog! Tammy's too!!!
Bakin_Goddess
Post a Comment