ARGH! Printed Coupon-carrying Bad Etiquette Tear Pad-stealing shelf-clearers!

[TheSaltyDog]

.

[TheSaltyDog]

.

[KellyC]

You almost got me with that one...until I saw the username and thought "That Salty Dog knows better than to start $%*& like that...I think I'll open the thread and see wassup!".


What do you consider to be essential components of your Recycling-Bin Kit, if applicable?

I personally would do a bin walk, but not in my own neighbourhood. I don't want my kids to get the crap kicked out of them at school because their mom is a garbage picker. My husband has a rule about no garbage diving and he thinks I do well enough with the coupons I already get. BUT...his cousin did so well on her first bin walk that he has reconsidered and said that maybe next week we'll go for a little walk in another neighbourhood.
What do you consider to be essential components of your coupon hunting in general?

I go coupon shopping once a week and I take one of my kids and my purse with my coupon pouch in case I find a great deal. I sort what I find once I get home.

What are THREE pieces of information you would pass on to a new couponer?

1) The early bird gets the worm YES! YES! YES!
2) Stay organized. Don't let the coupons pile into a mountain...sort them!
3) Worry about yourself and not what others think.

What is one thing you'll never stockpile?

Kraft Dinner...why buy it when you can make your own with FREE pasta!?!

[KellyC]

Just realized that also sounds like a daaaamn sexy night.

You're messed up.

[TheSaltyDog]

.

[MercuryBlue]

Just realized that also sounds like a daaaamn sexy night.

Sounds like a Saturday night to me! Maybe I've been watching too much Dexter lately, but the first thing that came to mind for me was a serial killer's 'kill kit'.



What do you consider to be essential components of your Recycling-Bin Kit, if applicable?

I, unfortunately, have never done a Recycling walk. We have the bags (not the bins), so it would be VERY conspicuous. I'd have to undo bags, rifle through them, being careful not to tear... squick.

If I had the opportunity, though (I've thought about this!) I'd bring:
-Box cutter and/or my super-duty awesome snippers
-Tape
-Gloves
-A backpack
-My heart rate monitor (you know, just to figure out how many kcals I burned!)


What do you consider to be essential components of your coupon hunting in general?

A big purse. Seriously. When there are new coupons out, I do a casual stroll and grab two or three of each, then toss them in my purse (I sort them later). I always worry I look like a shop-lifter, though. I often wind up buying something during my coupon-hunting trips, just so people don't find my 'aimless' wandering to be suspicious. The thought of opening my purse to pay and having a bunch of coupons fall out is a bit embarrassing, though... so I take some time to have my debit card or cash ready (and my rewards card, if applicable) before I start putting coupons in my purse. Depending on how many new coupon pads there are, I might have twenty or thirty coupons in my purse by the time I'm done.

It's funny because I probably totally look like I'm up to something, even though I'm not. And even though I only grab two or three of a coupon (possibly more, if it's something I KNOW I will buy a lot of), I still feel like people are watching me whenever I grab coupons. I think of all the finger-pointing people here and imagine some weirdo stranger running up and smacking me in the face or shouting at me for being a coupon thief. My heart starts racing a little bit, I won't lie. Coupon hunting is a total adrenaline rush- who needs skydiving?????

What are THREE pieces of information you would pass on to a new couponer?

1) The early bird gets the worm (Can I add thirty of these? Totes agree.)
2) Don't kill yourself trying to build a stockpile right away. Good stockpiles don't happen overnight.
3) You win some, you lose some. There will be days where you are Couponing King of the World. Other days, you'll watch a carefully-crafted list go to hell because the store doesn't have ANYTHING you want in stock. You may or may not verbally abuse your spouse out of frustration. Point is, not every shopping trip is going to be brag-worthy. Frustration is a normal part of the process- so take a deep breath and try not to lash out at people (especially the rest of us SCers!) because of it.

What is one thing you'll never stockpile?

Pet food! But then, I don't have pets.

Also, I'm careful about how much meat/frozen foods I stockpile. Freezing is a great way to preserve your food, but things don't last forever! I've had food go freezer-burnt and then felt like crap when I had to throw it out.

[TheSaltyDog]

.

[TheOriginalTruffles]

What are THREE pieces of information you would pass on to a new couponer?

1) Utilize rainchecks and price-matching
2) Always thank the cashier and the customer behind you for their patience
3) Leave the sense of entitlement at home

What is one thing you'll never stockpile?

Diapers. I'm done with babies. D-O-N-E. Done, I tell ya.

[TheSaltyDog]

.

[MercuryBlue]

What are THREE pieces of information you would pass on to a new couponer?

1) Utilize rainchecks and price-matching
2) Always thank the cashier and the customer behind you for their patience
3) Leave the sense of entitlement at home

What is one thing you'll never stockpile?

Diapers. I'm done with babies. D-O-N-E. Done, I tell ya.

OH, I can't tell you how jealous I am. I've got a two and a half year old who is very very VERY gradually potty training. Things are looking up... in some ways. He's started removing his own diaper when it's dirty, though, and hiding it. He'll suddenly appear in the room naked from the waist down (and often covered in crap!). He has also developed a fascination with diapers, and I find them everywhere because he tries to put them on himself. I found one in my lunch bag today- clean, thankfully.

Yeah, I'll seriously be happy to finish with diapers for good.

[TheSaltyDog]

.

[xox2010]

What do you consider to be essential components of your Recycling-Bin Kit, if applicable?

I just bring myself. I think I will start bringing scissors with me though since tearing apart boxes takes awhile.

What do you consider to be essential components of your coupon hunting in general?

a pen, and I usually just shove them all in my wallet or my pocket

What are THREE pieces of information you would pass on to a new couponer?

1) The early bird gets the worm (within reason)
2) Don't give up, even if you have a bad experience
3) Have fun!

What is one thing you'll never stockpile?

[reallyloveyourstuff]

-My heart rate monitor (you know, just to figure out how many kcals I burned!)

What do you consider to be essential components of your coupon hunting in general?

A big purse. Seriously. When there are new coupons out, I do a casual stroll and grab two or three of each, then toss them in my purse (I sort them later). I always worry I look like a shop-lifter, though. I often wind up buying something during my coupon-hunting trips, just so people don't find my 'aimless' wandering to be suspicious. The thought of opening my purse to pay and having a bunch of coupons fall out is a bit embarrassing, though... so I take some time to have my debit card or cash ready (and my rewards card, if applicable) before I start putting coupons in my purse. Depending on how many new coupon pads there are, I might have twenty or thirty coupons in my purse by the time I'm done.

It's funny because I probably totally look like I'm up to something, even though I'm not. And even though I only grab two or three of a coupon (possibly more, if it's something I KNOW I will buy a lot of), I still feel like people are watching me whenever I grab coupons. I think of all the finger-pointing people here and imagine some weirdo stranger running up and smacking me in the face or shouting at me for being a coupon thief. My heart starts racing a little bit, I won't lie. Coupon hunting is a total adrenaline rush- who needs skydiving?????

As for the heart rate monitor it would be relatively useless as it wouldn't be accurate because of all the starting and stopping. The calories burned component of a heart rate monitor is inherently flawed. There are so many things that throw them off. They're also only relatively accurate for aerobic activity.

As for the coupon hunting, minus the purse that's exactly how I am when I'm in the stores. I always think people must think I'm up to something, so I always try to buy something on my coupon hunting adventures just so it doesn't look as bad. I don't know if you do the same but I always try to buy one of the cheapest things I can, usually some form of produce I need.

[KellyC]

I'm wondering...where do the MEN put their coupons when they are coupon shopping? Especially now that it's too hot to wear a jacket.

[TheSaltyDog]

.