Extreme couponing has become quite the craze and there’s no denying there can be significant savings to be had; but at what cost? This sounds like an oxymoron – but depending on the circumstances, couponing can come with a hefty price tag. There are some great deals to be had out there and there is no debate that coupons can save you a bit of money but let’s closely examination this activity.
Couponing has evolved over the past thirty years. It used to be that cutting out coupons that appeared in the local paper or the weekly flyers was the craze. Back in the 80’s those on a tight budget saving $2 or $3 on the weekly grocery bill was the equivalent of buying about 3 loaves of bread and milk. As the years went by envelopes appeared in mailboxes by companies who put together coupons and deals for stores and manufacturers, and some of these are still around today. Stores started printing coupons on the back of their receipts (CATS) and some companies will send out a coupon if a customer emails them to compliment them on an item (or complain).
When the Internet came along, couponing became a way of life for many people. There are no shortages of websites out there that cater to those who coupon and in some cases there is “extreme couponing.” For those who dedicate time to research and collect coupons a lot of money can be saved. The drawback to this is that this is time taken away from another activity in order to search for a deal; in some cases, this is quality time taken away from the family.
There is also a monetary loss to couponing. In order to get coupons off the Internet it requires a printer, paper and ink cartridges. If the coupons are for deals that are at several stores, then the wear and tear of the vehicle comes into this equation as well as the high price of fuel. For those out to save a few dollars, they may end up losing money in the process.
You also have an opportunity cost of time. Opportunity cost is basically the next best thing you could be doing instead of what you chose. The way I see it, rather than spend so much time seeking out the best coupons, you could be working on building a side business of your own or even working part time at a local retailer. Extreme couponing focuses on lowering your grocery bill while instead, a person could use their time to increase their income.
And then there’s clutter. A great deal isn’t so great if it takes up valuable space in your house or apartment. I don’t see the point in 50 boxes of mac & cheese if it creates visual clutter (which is a form of stress). Of course this is an extreme example, but we’re talking about extreme couponing.
When TLC aired “Extreme Couponing,” a reality TV show, some Americans watched hoping to learn a trick or two about how to coupon their way to saving money. What many people realized is that living a “coupon lifestyle” can be an obsession that creates stress. This show provides tips and ideas on how to save a couple of dollars here and there and this can have some advantages; however living life to the far end of the spectrum like some people on this show is taking a good thing too far. The extreme coupon lifestyle requires countless hours of coupon clipping and research on the computer which can be laborious; and when saving money becomes that much of a chore then getting a part time job will put more money in the pocket than the savings to be had from couponing.
In the wake of this TV show came countless blogs and forums questioning the validity of what TLC aired. Many bloggers are making accusations that fraud may be rearing its ugly head. This has also caught the media’s attention. In “Discounting coupon rules might get you in trouble, ” The Chicago Tribune writes, “The controversy has raised awareness that manufacturers don’t see coupon use as an “anything goes” game. The show has caught manufacturers’ and stores’ attention, and it could lead to policy changes.” In this news story, TLC spokesman, Dustin Smith stated that they are looking into the allegations of fraud. In regards to this show Smith stated, “It’s not an instructional or how-to program.”
I’m not against coupons. I’ll use what I can to save a few bucks here and there. I’ll look through my mail and save what I think may be useful. But in general, I find that putting too much time into looking for great coupon deals isn’t worth it to me. My time is better spent elsewhere. I also found that when I was more into using coupons, I would be stressed out keeping track of the coupons. I’d get bummed if I missed out on a deal I should have gotten. I don’t need more stress in my life. Saving is good, but if it costs you more than the actual savings then it’s no longer worth it!
This all falls back to an old saying that if something is too good to be true – then it generally is. Saving money via extreme couponing is exhaustive, time consuming and can be very stressful. Having a part time job two or three hours a week will put more money in your pocket and more free time to spend with the family, friends or having fun with hobbies. It seems common sense to choose the easier way to put cash in your pocket than to take an extreme route that holds no guarantees.
{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
Having tried just “mild” couponing (vs. the “extreme” variety) – it became apparent pretty quickly to me that spending more than just a few minutes per week on the activity isn’t worthwhile. Couponing isn’t as fun as the other pursuits, there are limits to your “income” (or money saved) from couponing, it’s a hassle, and it’s more efficient to stick with one grocery store, for us. That store, by the way, doesn’t use its own coupons – it has “couponless” specials – though it does accept manufacturer coupons. The danger of buying products one doesn’t need or use is also prevelant – you buy an item you may not use regularly because it’s a “deal”.
We tend to shop at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Costco so we really don’t have opportunity to use coupons there.
I used to have a small folder I’d keep coupons in. I’d feverishly try to organize the coupons by type and date but it was really a pain. We ended up giving up the folder completely. If we happen to have coupons handy we use them (like if we leave them in the car and remember). Otherwise it is a lot of work for us to keep up on.
Extreme couponing is simply a natural extension of our economic environment with the cable channels following the latest fad to get viewers much like all the real estate and property flipping shows that aired during the real estate bubble.
Look, any show on TV is about the viewers, market share, and advertising (perhaps not so much PBS). The more fantastic the show is the better it is to get viewers and people talking about it.
But it can also get more people interested in a subject, trying to replicate something like extreme couponing.
To me, personally, it is nothing short of hoarding under the disguise of saving money. My gosh! Buying 25 tubes of lipstick! And not to mention that most all of what they buy is so unhealthy! Frozen foods and frozen processed meats, quick foods, like pot pies, KoolAid, soda pop, candy! The canned foods with all of that heart stopping sodium! Where are they fresh fruits and vegetables?? You can tell by the body sizes of some of the particpants that they need to eat alot more healthier. I find that having too much food around encourages over eating and in this age of skyrocketing obesity rates, these couponers need to take into account how unhealthy their purchases are. Perhaps they will need the savings to pay for their medical bills. 60 hours a week couponing?? My gosh, that is so silly and insane! Time IS money and that is something that you can not put a dollar amount on.
I can’t imagine 60 hours/week couponing. Man, I wish I had 60 hours to work!
And you are right, a lot of the coupons that are out there is for food I wouldn’t normally eat anyway. No wonder there aren’t many coupons to use at Whole Foods.
Hoarding food because it was a great deal to me, is a waste. Takes up space and it still costs something, even if it was a great deal.
Great article and great comments so far. I agree with Matt on the dangers of buying products one usually doesn’t consume just to take advantage of the “deal”. I believe these ‘Extreme Couponers’ pride themselves on being penny wise but they may actually be pound foolish. The amount of time they spend cutting their grocery bills is potentially wasted; especially if their budget is poorly allocated. I wrote a blog warning individuals who wish to pursue this lifestyle to review their monthly cash flow before dedicating all their free time ‘couponing’:
http://www.adviserassistant.com/1/post/2011/04/before-you-partake-in-extreme-couponing-look-at-your-fixed-expenses-first.html
Cheri brought up a great point regarding the risks of extreme couponing and how it may hinder these individuals’ health. My buddy bought 4 large bags of chips because they were half price (he discovered this past weekend deal flipping through a flier), and he would have never purchased that amount of chips if there wasn’t a deal. Therefore, one could assume an individual is better off financially and physically if they are not going out of their way to find “deals”. I go to the store and buy what I need when I need it; if the store has a deal of the day that is on my grocery list then I will partake. Any additional time allocated to finding coupons is a waste of time in my honest opinion.
The lure of the deal is a tough one to resist for many, even when it’s for an item they don’t need. I get big eyes when I go to Costco, salivating over the great deals. But then I remember how many things went to waste when they either weren’t used at all or not consumed before they expired. When I see a good deal I pause to ask myself if I really need it.
Sometimes having snacks in the house means eating them. If you can grab them you consume them. It’s not everyone but I know I’m susceptible to it. Better for me to not have 19 pints of ice cream in the house because they were on sale (3 or 4 maybe).
Funny that you mention Costco, that is the only store that I have coupons physically handed to me as I walk in. Therefore, I am likely to look at what is on special, but there are never any good deals that line up with my shopping list.
Hmm, I haven’t seen that yet, new member, but they used to have that at the door of BJ’s. I’d definitely grab what was there and glance through them and I’d welcome any coupon books that were sent in the mail, but that was the extent of my coupon research there.
Not worth it. When it controls your lifestyle, and makes you consume more than necessary, you have lost the point. Save a few bucks here and there, sure, But a draw the line at dumpster diving with my kids and neighbors for coupons.
Dumpster diving for coupons…yes, I’d say that’s too much!
The show does a few things that can’t be done here in Canada, and likely will be soon prohibited in the USA. Most coupons or other savings tools in Canada say very expressly that they cannot be combined with any other offer. So if you have a coupon for 25% off, that’s all you get. You can’t buy $230 of groceries for $9.32.
Better than clipping coupons and creating a whole filing system for them if to keep track of what the major specials are in the grocery flyers. Turkeys at $1/pound? You bet I’ll buy a couple. Salsa at $1.50 off. Sure, I’ll buy 6-8 jars instead of just 2. If I can save $500/year on groceries (Around $750 of before tax income?), it’s worth being a little organized. If I can save an additional $250 by getting all stressed out about coupons – not so much.
Yes, organize and plan your meals and if you can find some great savings then take advantage of it. There definitely are ways you can save on your groceries.
But the stress of looking to reduce your grocery bill to near zero and keep up with organizing coupons? Not worth it in my book.
Hi There Glen,
Well it’s nice to hear from someone who isn’t gushing about extreme couponing! I love that you included opportunity cost (Economics major in college). So many people just think about the money they’re saving, but what about the time they’re losing? I like your idea about growing a side business instead. I suppose you could say that’s what I’m doing instead of clipping coupons! I’m helping to create something that could offer future passive income, rather than focusing on today’s savings. Great article!
Humbly Yours,
The Mayor
Uh-oh, I guess the economics major in me snuck out with that one!
Saving is great, but it’s limited. Building a business, on the other hand, can potentially have no bounds.
Hi Glen,
I agree with the Mayor, it’s nice to see someone who’s willing to say there’s more efficient ways to allocate your time than “extreme couponing.” I don’t have cable, so I’ve never seen the show in its entirety, but I did manage to see a short clip from Extreme Couponing on Youtube. One woman took a full day off of work, spent 6 hours browsing through the store, came home (having not bought anything), and then spent hours researching coupons. I’m sorry, that seems like way too much effort to buy absurd quantities of things I don’t need.
Thanks for the read,
Timothy
Can you imagine taking a day off of work, and if I had to guess the woman probably doesn’t get that many days, and then not do anything productive?!?
To me a day off either means I’m taking care of a bunch of things I couldn’t otherwise do, like doctor appointments, oil changes, etc…, OR I’m trying to do something cool with the family.
If you can turn the coupon thing around and make something of it then go ahead (maybe a frugal consultant), but otherwise time is precious and we have to do out best not to waste it.
I tend to agree with your point of view on this. There seem to be much better ways to generate more money for oneself or family – such as putting time into a career or even extra job. People who have bought enough toothpaste to last 5 years seem to be directing their energies in a suboptimal way….but if it makes them happy, to each his or her own!
A little extra time at a job could be the difference maker for a promotion!
I save about $100-$120 month by using coupons I buy from thecouponclippers.com and buying what is on sale in the sale flier at my local grocery. Then for every $100 I spend I get 10 cents off per gallon of gas at their gas station, which is usually between 20 cents and 30 cents by the time the month is out.
I don’t have the time or patients for “extreme” couponing, but taking a few minutes once or twice a month to order coupons for items I regularly use, and shopping the sale fliers to plan my meals is certainly worth the extra $100-$120 a month to me.
Taking some time to organize your shopping is fine. It’s when it becomes an obsession that I think it’s problematic.
Now did I read that correctly? You buy coupons?
Yeah, they cost around 10-20 cents each, usually they are $.50-$2.00 off, so I make my money back and then can usually get another $10-$20 off my groceries each month with them.
That is interesting. I can see someone buying them but what kind of volume has to be sold to make it worth while for the seller?
Well they require you buy a $4 minimum of coupons. They list expiration dates so if it’s a coupon that doesn’t expire for a few months I will get a couple of them if it’s something I buy regularly. Problem is I don’t always have enough coupons I can buy to use the service. They ship via a regular envelop so it only costs them 40-some cents to send out and whatever help they have clipping/organizing coupons.
I’m not sure how they get the coupons exactly, but I imagine they are involved in some sort of clipping network. Saves me a lot of hassle trying to go around looking for coupons if I can just click and pay via paypal to have them mailed to me in about 2-3 days.
We shop almost exclusively (for food items) at Whole Foods. They do have specials every week and we take advantage of those. There are also coupons available for the things we buy at WFM. On my last shopping trip to WFM I saved just a little over $50.00 by combining coupons with specials. We also use their case lot discount of 10%. There is a Trader Joes across the street from our WFM so we don’t need to use any more gas to go to both stores. For non-food items we scour the sales flyers of close local stores and buy whenever we can get an item for less than 50%. I’m retired so I have more time than those who work outside the home but still only need about 90 minutes, at most, per week to organize my shopping, clip and file coupons, etc.
The point about the cost of printing internet coupons is valid. Paper and ink is costly so buying them at discount is important.
I too noticed that the “food” being purchased by extreme couponers is largely unhealthy, processed, junk food. In my house we call these items POISON. You couldn’t pay me to carry them out of the store.
There are some ways to save at Whole Foods, like making sure you check their flyer when you enter (though one time a cashier was awesome and found the coupons for us!). But Whole Foods, and more so Trader Joe’s, doesn’t offer the extreme cases for couponing that other supermarkets and super stores offer.
But I’d much rather shop at WFM or TJ because the food itself, and the service, is better. In many cases you get what you pay for.
An hour and a half to save money when you have the time to do it is perfectly reasonable.
As with anything, there’s this graph in my head (I know, strange) where the first hour/week can get you a high return, like the eBay purchase of 10% off Lowe’s coupons, then used at Home Depot to save $80 on the grill we wanted. The $1 off coupons for staples (toothpaste, TP, etc) and other things you need. But the next hours’ return diminishes to the point you’re just wasting your time. If you look at the curve, you just need to stop where the next time unit’s return is less than what makes you happy.
The hoarding/clutter issue has its own place. If the kids eat the Mac every day (I hope not) for some, 50 boxes = 25 Mac days, which isn’t too crazy. I have the closet space to store 6months of TP, and when it’s half price and less with coupons, I’ll use that space. A 100% tax free return over a 6 month period can’t be beat, and these things aren’t cheap.
Yes, if you have the space and you will really use the item and you’ll save then go for it.
But here’s the thing, isn’t there something wrong in eating that much Mac & Cheese? A lot of the coupon items are for food that’s really not that great for you in the first place.
I think any time you are making a big purchase then it’s worth spending a little time doing research, on both the best item to get and the best price. I like your “graph.” I’d think for most people this is the case (I think it is for me).
My husband got into this couponing after watching a show and sometimes he gets annoying but it really can save you money and we get free samples all the time as well. I won’t use coupons for stuff I know I will never use though because if your not going to use it who cares if it was only 30 cents its still just going to sit there.
Seems like the smaller coupons, under $1, are a lot harder to justify using.
Sounds like you are saving money but your husband is close to crossing a line? Do you think the savings so far have been worth the time and effort? Just curious. Thanks.
I think a study should be done doing a direct comparison with a person (or persons) who is using the extreme coupon method and a person (or persons) who is shopping “normally” and catching deals where they can, buying what they need vs what’s on sale, purchasing one newpaper vs 10, 20 or more to get more coupons…buying 1 or 2 boxes of mac and cheese vs 10…Yes, people say they bought 200.00 worth of items for $2.00-3.00, but how much did they spend to “earn” that deal? Maybe moderation is the key here. No coupons = minimal to no savings, some coupons/deals = savings. Extreme couponing lifestyle (and yes I believe it is a lifestyle) = putting a whole lot of $$$ in before you see the potential…POTENTIAL “benefits” (in quotes). Question is, are they really benefits if it has cost you so much to get there? Wouldn’t it cost less to buy only one tube of toothpaste than to buy 10 papers, then 16 loaves of bread, then ten 50-pound bags of dog food just so they will give you 3 “free” tubes of toothpaste? I’m just sayin. Maybe I just don’t get it…but…I just don’t get it lol. Happy couponing!
You might actually get it. Coupons don’t fall from the sky. And there is also the cost of time and space – you have to pull the coupons and clip them and research where to use them. Then you have to store all this extra stuff you accumulate. You’re right, moderation is the key.
I think I’d like to see the difference of output minus money “saved/earned.” Keep a chart of all the money spent to get the savings (e.g., purchasing 15 weekend papers, purchasing 50 deoderants to earn 1 free bar of soap…also subract back out all the products that don’t get used or expire…you get the idea). My neighbor has just begun this extreme couponing thing, and it doesn’t even sound right. She says the key to saving is to buy items that are on sale, NOT items that you need. So if she buys the shampoo that she doesn’t need, she’ll save save a fraction of the purchase price. My response to this is if you don’t buy the shampoo that you don’t need, you’ll save 100% of the purchase price. She can’t grasp that…much like I can’t buy that philosophy (pun intended).
It’s like, if a Porsche dealership is pushing out last year’s model, then getting last year’s 911 must be a good deal to take advantage of, right? It will only put you in debt but it’s a good sale.
That’s an “extreme” example but I think we get sucked into the need to take advantage of a good deal else we miss out. But like you say, we save 100% of the price by not buying.
Yeah…lol…or maybe even more specifically…buying a Porsche to get the free can of motor oil.
Extreme Couponer: “I got a free can of motor oil and all I had to do was buy this Porsche!”
Extreme Couponer didn’t need the car but they wanted the “bargain” so they bought the car to earn the free motor oil.
Just seems to me like they’d save even more by spending the 1.95 on motor oil rather than going around the merry-go-round to the tune of 100,000 for a “free” can.
Funny, I heard a car ad on the radio where they are giving a free iPad with a new card purchase. I wonder how many go for that car to get the iPad, not thinking about what that iPad is probably costing them in the car?
Please please please all of you complaining about how horrid couponers are. Keep doing it! To many people are doing it and making it hard for the rest of us who like to coupon! BTW we cook home made from scratch food 6 nights a week. We have enough self control not to hoard and as a stay at home mom while my husband works way to many hours than we like to care for his family, my not having to pay for bathroom supplies, cereal, pasta, or dish soap makes it much easier to afford the fresh fruits and veggies and meats that seem to be so much more expensive than trash food. Please continue to blame obesity or hoarding on couponing and ignore the real mental issues behind these problems because we all know that is how we fix things in America!
Carri, I know there;s a lot of negativity towards extreme couponing, as well as a lot of positives, but I certainly don’t think ALL couponers are like that. But there are some that are and that’s what we see on TV. And because people are doing it on TV other people see it and think they could be doing it as well.
That you are able to use your coupons to be able to afford fresh fruits and vegetables — awesome! And it’s great that it helps you stretch your budget further.
What is interesting is because of what’s seen on TV, companies and stores are changing their policies towards coupons. Seems it would be better if we didn’t see extreme couponing on TV.
Glen,
I don’t know how I happened to stumble upon this post, but I must say how thoroughly impressed I am with your comments. I very RARELY bother to read lengthy posts, but this one caught my eye. Mainly, and (sadly), truthfully, because it was an eye opener for me. I recently started couponing in October 2011. If it means anything to anyone, I would like to share with you my personal experience with couponing. I do not mean to influence or bring down couponing— rather give my honest opinion. My husband and I have 3 little kids under the age of 4 and have quickly realized that our budget is becoming veeerrry tight. I began researching online how to coupon after watching TLC’s “Extreme Couponing” in October. I was impressed to see how much money it could save people, however, I never would do it to their extreme. And I’ve made sure to stick to that. I have NEVER purchased an item I have not needed since I began couponing. For one, I simply do not have the money to waste on unneeded items. Second, I wouldn’t buy and store an unneeded item even if I had the money to do it!
But I wouldn’t have continued couponing into November, December, soon to be going on January 2012 had I not FIRST done plenty of research and most of all— calculated my actual savings right at the start. I used an excel program to actually calculate and compare my spending with coupons vs no coupons according to my monthly budget on things I would normally buy that month anyways. I did one for food items, and one for nonfood items. Although it took a loooong time after each purchase to enter it in, it really gave me an idea if the whole “couponing” thing was worth it. Once I tracked about a month’s worth of spending, I was convinced couponing was worth it.
I feel my perspective as far as spending goes has been completely transformed. Just about four months ago I saw an old woman in front of me with a file full of coupons shuffling through them for a mere $0.25 off this or $1 off that and I thought, “Oh my gosh how petty and ridiculous!” I was even irritated with her to be waiting in line behind her for so long. I thought, “Does she realize how silly looks to all of us while she’s holding up a line trying to find a $0.25 off coupon?” I know, I know, that’s rude of me. But that’s how I felt. I mean, all of my life I had never clipped a coupon unless it was for at least $10 off an item or more. I just didn’t see the sense in wasting time to cut out a little coupon like that. But see, that is partly the “perspective” I am referring to when I say that my perspective has been changed. It’s less about what coupon you use (because like mentioned many of them are for unhealthy items anyway) but it’s much more about WHEN you use the coupon you WILL use and HOW you use it. I know, I am getting really lengthy now– but let me just say that it’s hard for me to think any other way with spending now. It’s hard for me to just run into the store for 5 minutes and pick up an item at full price, even if I know I’m in a hurry.
But see, that’s kind of the problem with couponing. I love that I know how to get paid to bring home a large tube of toothpaste or get $5 knocked of each steak, but I am beginning to wonder if it is worth the stress of it all. There are times that couponing can be VERY exciting and rewarding, however, there are other times that I honestly wish I could have what I have learned about couponing erased from memory, revert back to my old spending habits and spend like any other (most) normal people do. But it’s difficult for me to stop now that I’ve learned it and see the value in it. And that is where the stress of couponing comes in. The constant, almost routine pushing and pushing yourself to find deals because you know how much money it will save you but at the same time beginning to get tired (literally) of putting the energy into it and loosing valuable time with family as a result.
I probably sound crazy. But anyone who’s couponed before would be lying if they say they do not spend a lot of time with it! It’s basically like a part-time job. Couponing takes work, literally. Be prepared for that. If any of you want to begin doing it, you might want to consider what Glen said about finding a job instead. And that’s coming from a NON-extremist couponer like myself!
I used to clip coupons and use them whenever I could, especially in those days when we were buying stuff like baby food.
But it was always kind of a pain for me.
I still love getting a great deal and at times find it hard to give up a great deal, thank you Costco, but to spend so much time finding coupons — for me it’s not worth the time.
But I understand that it works for some people. For me, my time can be better used for my online publishing. Heck, I’d rather shop online so I don’t have to go through the trouble of packing the kids in the car and running out with them.
What’s the end goal and what is the opportunity cost (what you could be doing instead) of couponing? This is something everyone should consider. If it truly works for you — awesome. But I suspect there are a lot of people who could be finding better things to do with their time.
Thanks for leaving your perspective. Really appreciate it!
I completely understand. But you can’t let couponing ruin that for you. There are times I run into the store without my coupons. That happens. No big deal. My big grocery trip is planned and I still save a ton of money each month and that’s what counts. I LOVE to coupon and wish I did it when my son was a baby. The formula deals and diaper deals could have saved me so much more money. Couponing is just a way to help your family save a little extra each month. The thrill of that great deal is awesome! But I don’t do that each week. Sometime I only save 40%. That’s still way better then I did before! Couponing is only stressful if you make it stressful.
I had to post my opinion on the subject. I’m a couponer, not extreme but I do have a stockpile and I’m able to save around $360.00 to $400.00 per month couponing. My husband lost a lot of income last year and buying generic products and not using coupons found myself with a $170.00 grocery bill for a small shopping trip to feed 5 people. I researched and found out HOW to coupon. When is the right time to use coupon to get the BEST savings. It does take some work and you need to be organized but it’s well worth the time and effort. Yes, it’s like a part-time job but the money I save is equal to me getting a part-time job. Best thing, I’m at home with my family while I cut my coupons. Not working outside the home. I also have a full time job and I have a 2 year old son. I make time to coupon. It only takes me a few hours a week if you are organized well. Building a stock pile is not hoarding. That saves you money. If you buy say 10 packages of toilet paper for $.50. You don’t have to buy toilet paper for several months. You can knock that off your list. You knock toothpaste, shampoo, cleaners, soup, cereal, mustard, ketchup, etc. Pretty soon your grocery list will only have a few items for you to buy each week. I spend now $50.00 to $80.00 per week for 5 people a dog and a cat. Before I spent $170.00 to $200.00 per week!
I think to add to your conversation, you have a website about couponing, so you make the time you put into it a possible side-income as well. Researching coupons can be as much about savings as it is about creating content for you site.
I think if you can justify your time well then it’s not a waste. But you have to be able to honestly justify the time and effort that’s put into the coupons.
I agree Jennifer….I do as you do.
We are a family of 6…4 kids. We are also a military family and I stay at home so we are on a very tight budget.
I understand what a lot of you are saying but for us, we don’t make the kind of money where we can only eat organic or only on the outside edges of the grocery store. Does anybody ever ask or wonder if processed foods are so bad, why do they make them so affordable? And why are the good for you foods so expensive and why isn’t there coupons for healthy food?
It seems like the poor are at the mercy of these rich manufacturers….it makes me sad. When I have to feed so many, I hate to say its cheaper for me to feed them mac and cheese vs. fresh fish. So therefore sometimes we are at the mercy of coupons and processed foods.
I do plan on starting a garden and since I stay at home, I don’t look at couponing as taking away time, I feel like that is part of my job of staying at home….a way to save us money in return for my husband working hard to make a living for us.
“Does anybody ever ask or wonder if processed foods are so bad, why do they make them so affordable?”
I believe it’s because the bad foods tend to be made with cheaper ingredients that can be mass-produced at low costs. Because they are low-cost they become more in demand which allows manufacturers to use economy of scale to produce even more at lower costs.
It’s difficult to produce fresh food at the same scale. And because the expense is higher, the demand is lower making it even harder to scale. It’s changing as more people are demanding better foods but we have a long way to go.
I totally understand though. With a limited budget you have to do what you need to in order to get by.
Thanks for explaining Glen! It sucks really that it has to be that way!!! Maybe if we do as you say and make more noise, we can get that all changed!!!!
Make noise and use your shopping dollars to talk for you. If you don’t like what a place offers, let them know and don’t spend your money there. When enough consumers make their opinions heard (that is, buying preferences), manufacturers/stores listen.