You may have already seen episodes of TLC's Extreme Couponing. Lately I've been stopped almost every week by someone who wants to know how to become an Extreme Couponer. Follow the steps below in hopes of landing a spot on this hit show.
#1
Move! You read that right, pack up your family and relocate to another part of the country that has a super-competitive grocery market. We're talking "Competitor's Price Matching", "$1 Coupons Doubled To $2, Everyday", "Clip-Free Coupons" and "Unlimited Coupons" all in one store. Most areas (including Richmond, VA) don't have a single grocer that will offer so many ways to save.
#2
Quit Your Job. Actually, you'll need to quit your regular job, your part-time job and whatever volunteer work you may have committed to. Extreme Couponers have admitted (during taping) to spending up to 70+ hours per week surfing the web, obtaining coupons, shopping and organizing their stash. Of course there's no need to worry about missing whatever fulfillment you get from these, because your new career can bring "joy" in even basic necessities (like a 40-year supply of toilet paper, see YouTube video HERE).
#3
Add On. Unless you've got an extra room in your house, you're going to have to build some additional space. (You probably should consider this, when you move. See tip #1.) Plan to spend $50,000+, but you've got to have somewhere to keep all those cans, boxes and bags. Most products need to be kept in a climate-controlled area, so you'd better include heating and air-conditioning. Furthermore, you may need to insure your stock-pile against theft and natural disasters (talk to your insurance agent about adding a rider to your home owner's policy).
#4
Hoard Your Best Coupons. No video tapped shopping trip would be as impressive if the featured guest had not saved up all the best coupons she'd gotten for weeks (or months) to use on a single trip. Redeem all your my coke rewards points for free product coupons. Check Kraft's First Taste Website frequently. Call manufacturer's to make comments about their products and to ask for free product coupons. Stuff all these into one envelope for the big shopping day. You'll probably end up with a lot of junk you don't need, but you'll have a really impressive receipt!
#5
Steal. Forget what you learned in Sunday School. Ignore limits, make copies of printed coupons and use coupons for anything that the register will allow. Of course this is "Coupon Fraud" and could lead to a fine and/or jail-time, but you gotta do what you gotta do to become an Extreme Couponer! You looking for at least a 99% savings, so use coupons to steal. Shoplifting might be easier, but that's not going to show up on your receipt. If you're wondering how folks have taken advantage of their knowledge of coupons, read the article HERE. (Of course, this tip is even more sarcastic than the first three. There are enough deals to be had without stealing!)
#6
Forget About Becoming An Extreme Couponer. Really, is it worth the effort? How about trying to purchase the things you really use at the lowest price possible? Doesn't it make more sense to spend 1 - 5 hours a week couponing and shopping for your family and spend the rest of your week enjoying those you want to provide for? Sure, there's a thrill in exiting a retailer with a bag of free items, but at some point it becomes a burden. If you'd gotten 50 free bags, where would you put all that stuff? Don't you have enough to keep organized without having to note expiration dates on thousands of products? Even products without expiration dates have a shelf life. For example, that 40-year-supply of toilet paper may turn yellow in less than a decade. I don't know about you, but I hope I never have to use yellow toilet paper!
