[momto4kids]

Do you ever feel like you have become obsessed with coupons? That are are spending more time thinking about them than the really important things in life? I'm starting to worry lately. I feel guilty actually. I think I need to slow down and stop stock piling so much free and cheap stuff. Do any of you ever feel this way? Do you think glutiny is a crime? I'm being serious and would like serious answers from yal.

[Daytime Daddy]

I don't think you're off base. With anything, too much of one thing can be a problem. There are lots of things in life much more important then coupons. Doing it to make ends meet is one thing, but to make trip after trip, and buy things that you'll never use doesn't make a lot of sense.

[sweetsali]

Yes, I have to agree you with. I got my revelation when DH said, "Boy, I wish I was coupon". That made me realize that I had to cut back on the time I spent sorting Q's and pay him more attention. I was spending alot of time sorting, cutting and working out deals for the stores at and would go to bed thinking about what I was going to purchase in the morning. Sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night several times checking the clock to see if I should get up and out only to see its only 2 hours after I just went to sleep!

I made an ajustment and to the time I spend with my coupons and now only touch them twice per week.

[Ladyflower10]

There was a time when I was spending a lot of time with coupons and coupon sights and working all my CVS deals. Dh let me know a couple times that he thought I was spending too much time with all that. I have since scaled way back (I've even gotten only 1 newspaper for the past few weeks!) I really haven't missed much. If there's a must have deal I'll spend time on it, but it's really not worth all my time to just get more free things that I really don't need.

[PamMc]

It's great that you recognize that this could be a problem for you and want to do something about it. I do think it can get out of control. Maybe you should allocate so much time per week you are willing to spend working on coupons and shopping and stick with it.

[maybaby]

Obsessed.......ABSOLUTELY, feeling guilty....... NO WAY!! As long as you are using the coupons the right way & you don't pig up everything on the shelfs theres no need to feel guilt!

[baracuda]

In the times we live in, making ends meet is a full time job...especially if you have a large family and or little income. I limit my obsession to just CVS and rely on AFC to open my eyes to other great deals in other stores. Also, I have a great group of friends (2) on my block who all do this and it is nice to sometimes rely on one of them for "must haves" and spend no personal time scheming. At the end of the day if you think you have a regret about not spending enough time with kids or hubby, then you may want to alter some of the things you are doing. Make sure you make your changes slowly....one at a time. I find that being organized really helps free up time. Good luck and have a wonderful Holiday Season.

[babymacksmom]

Yes, I feel the same way. DH says its an obsession. I've just got to figure out a way to balance everything myself. My problem is staying up late at night to get all of my coupon stuff done.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

[sunshine32118]

Sometimes...We were out taking Landon for a walk the other day, and I saw a coupon blowing around on the beach...so I chased it I didn't take it cause it was only for potatos.

[momto4kids]

I would get it all if I have coupons!! That's where the guilt comes from. My sister told me that the cashier at CVS said something to her about someone having 5 cards, well I have 3 one for me and one for each of my teenage kids-they enjoy it sometimes also, But I still wonder if she was complaining about me. I even copied some coupons until I found out that it is illegal. I thought that if you print them out then why can't you copy them. I found out here that you can't. So now I feel guilt about that also. I must have PMS today or something??

[schatz]

don't worry you wwill find a balance between everything

[baracuda]

Guilt is like a bag of potatoes, it's heavy and uncomfortable....you have but to put the bag down and walk away. No one thinks half the bad things you think of yourself....keep your chin up. Maybe you want to talk to a professional? Couponing should not make you feel bad, but proud to save money and help your family.

[owutaqt]

When I think of all the horrible addictions you and all of us really could possibly have is saving money really a bad one? It is hard someday, my DH wants to have a B1G1 coupon for me.
Thinks that will improve our "time" together. He enjoys the coupon thing though too, he comes home and tells me about the deals he heard about.

Obsessed, sometimes, but just like everything else, life has a way of balancing out.
My whole family I was more obsessed with using the cleaning stuff I get free with coupons....

[6dogowner]

Don't feel bad this morning my little dog woke me as I was dreaming about a sale and coupons. LOL. Though my husband knows why I do it to save money as he always tells me thats my girl. I even got him into looking for sales and saving money. When he finds one though he talks about it for hours like he just gave birth though when I talk about it he is used to hearing it. LOL. Ok so they can be addictive though look at it this way they are a great drug of choice don't you think. I do. Yesterday I used my raincheck for Walgreen's and got him more altoids, enough to choke a horse I think 7 packs, though only paid 14 cents and that is way cheaper than one alone.

Alana.

Proud house wife to DH, 6 dogs, 14 cats, 3 guinea pigs.

[sunshine32118]

A bit off-topic but: I had an old friend come stay with us for a week. He commented how nice my house smelled. Lol. I'm like maybe it's because I have glade plug-in's in every outlet in my house (well, almost). Lol. I wouldn't have all thse plug-ins if it weren't for this website

[CouponCrazyWoman]

Thanks for the post! I've been feeling the same way and I do think that I have become somewhat obsessed with finding good deals. I want to work on coupons and shopping more than my regular job! I get sort of a rush & a high when I find a really good deal or get something free!! It is very addictive! I'm never home anymore on the weekends--I'm always out shopping for the next bargain! My house is overrun with bags of stuff I have gotten thru good deals. Well my solution and action plan is as follows: I am creating Christmas gift baskets for family & friends, plus along with their gifts each family household is getting a recycle grocery tote bag full of cleaning supplies then the rest of the excess toothpastes, toothbrushes, shampoos, razors, cleaning supplies, you name it, etc are being donated between a local food bank , woman's shelter, children's home and a homeless shelter for men that I have adopted. I acquired some empty boxes today to start my sorting. I hope to get it sorted this weekend and started making my charity donations next week! Hopefully, then I can start the new year off with a clean house with a lot less clutter. As for shopping, I'm not sure I will slow down but I will try to make donations on a more regular basis so things don't stack up. I hate to pass up something free in this economy when somebody can probably use it. Hope this helps! Keep in touch and let me know your ideas! Being addicted to saving money can't be too bad!!! Can It?

[dancer2]

Yep, coupons and the deals are my drug of choice!! I knew it was bad when I was at my car, in the parking lot, towel around my shoulder, cape underneath the towel and my hair was piled on my head with hair color. What was I doing?? Going thru my coupons while my hair processed. My cell phone rang and my friend said I needed an intervention.

DH also said I have the luckiest cat in the world because HE can sit on my lap while I coupon.

I am finding the balance now, just know there is ALWAYS a deal.

[TaraLynn]

When I first started serious couponing a few months ago I felt EXACTLY the same way. I would dream about my deals at night and spend a lot of the day on here working them out. I made several trips to the stores each week on top of that and it was just getting too out of control for me. Plus, now I'm pretty much out of room to store anything else, so I limit my deals to frees and food, as we have all the toothpaste, shampoo, medicine, etc. that we will need for a LONG time! I just recently cleared quite a bit out to help someone who had lost everything in a flood last summer and just lost her job on top of that, so that felt good to be able to put some of my obsession to good use

Now I try to limit my trips out to no more than twice per week and try not to go to any store more than once per week. I'm at a comfortable place with it all right now since I have toned it down. Like the previous poster said, "there is ALWAYS a deal."

[CouponCrazyWoman]

Originally Posted by dancer2

Yep, coupons and the deals are my drug of choice!! I knew it was bad when I was at my car, in the parking lot, towel around my shoulder, cape underneath the towel and my hair was piled on my head with hair color. What was I doing?? Going thru my coupons while my hair processed. My cell phone rang and my friend said I needed an intervention.

DH also said I have the luckiest cat in the world because HE can sit on my lap while I coupon.

I am finding the balance now, just know there is ALWAYS a deal.

Drug of choice is so true and a good description!!! Plus I had to laugh because my DH said the same thing about my three cats! They are always helping me couponing!

[mandarn]

Originally Posted by dancer2

Yep, coupons and the deals are my drug of choice!! I knew it was bad when I was at my car, in the parking lot, towel around my shoulder, cape underneath the towel and my hair was piled on my head with hair color. What was I doing?? Going thru my coupons while my hair processed. My cell phone rang and my friend said I needed an intervention.

DH also said I have the luckiest cat in the world because HE can sit on my lap while I coupon.

I am finding the balance now, just know there is ALWAYS a deal.

I love it!!!!! Has anyone clipped coupons while they are sitting on the toilet? I know but I have done it before to save a little time and I always crack up at myself. On a serious note, OP, it is funny that you posted this today because just last night I was lying in bed thinking to myself about how obsessed I have become. That is all I can think about and I am starting to get on my own nerves There has got to be some balance, but I have yet to find it.

[catlover7731]

I am guilty of this!!!! Wednesday I found a $4/$20 beauty supplies that I thought I lost for CVS. Yesterday I was so wanting to go to CVS and use it but I had no need to . I felt like an alcoholic who wanted to go to the bar to get a drink( no I don't drink). Daily I check these boards for new sales or ideas to get things cheaply or free. Now I do stock pile things, but I also collect things to give away. My husband's family is in Honduras, Central America and the things that we take as important is impossible for them to buy.. soaps, shampoos, lotions make up ect.. So I have a gigantic box of clothes and toiletries that is going down there, the only problem is that I have filled up the box so much it is over flowing with things, it can't be closed at the moment and I still need to get some rubber boats in, a tool box and Nutella. cheryl

[Liv'sMom]

I just posted about this in another thread. I feel like I'm spending way too much time looking for deals and trying to sort through my coupons. For me though, I feel like I'm looking constantly and not ever actually finding these deals for myself. I either don't have the right coupons or I don't have the store or my store doesn't have the particular thing....I find myself obsessing and worrying about those things. My family desperately needs me to find cheap and free things right now and yet I feel as though I'm coming up empty handed, which is so frustrating for me. I think I need to just walk away for a while because it's just overwhelming to me sometimes. I don't know, I do feel like I have so many other things I could and probably should be doing besides looking for deals but on the other hand, I feel like my family is depending on me to find deals. Is there coupon therapy somewhere?!

[stephanie586]

I never really felt guilty about it because i had really just started and then i recieved a promotion at work and me moved to a new state and our life has been crazy ever since especially now with the holidays and settling in and not to mention starting a new job with alot more work! What i feel guilty about is all the deals i have been missing since i have been so busy. I let some of my ECB's and RR's expire and it made me sick to my stomach. Even if i didn't roll them i could have used them.

[MeAndPhoenix]

Originally Posted by sunshine32118

Sometimes...We were out taking Landon for a walk the other day, and I saw a coupon blowing around on the beach...so I chased it I didn't take it cause it was only for potatos.

OMG! Am I the only one who thinks this was freaking hilarious! I believe that you have just set the stage for an AFC commercial. Picture this....

Scene opens:
Lovely piano music playing, Sweet family-mom, dad, little child- walking on the beach hand in hand together, sunset glistening in the distance. Mom talking and laughing with Dad, then leans over to give child a hug.
Then--suddenly--something catches her eye and she freezes--the suspense builds and then you see it--slow motion--coupon rolling down the beach. Mom shoves child and Dad out of the way--still in slow motion--begins running after coupon. Maybe knocks over a kid's sand castle. Dives through the air--still slow motion--and lands flat out, face down clutching the coupon.
Suddenly becomes aware of what she just did and turns to see a stunned Dad and child behind her she smiles weakly.
Scene fades to black then the words "A Full Cup" come up on a screen and a woman's voice says, "Because we understand"

[dancer2]

My friend saw a coupon in the bushes at CVS and went in after it....it was for Nicorrett gum(spelling) and she went in and found it in the sale stuff and bought it. She doesn't smoke, but got the 'high' anyway.

Beginners couponing is like being on your honeymoon, it all settles down after a while.