[jskell911]

We can't all possibly have the SAME friends and family members, can we? Seriously, my favorite is when they tell ME they don't have the time and want me to get it all for them. Uh, noooooooo..... I work a 9 hr day w/ a hr commute each way. Yup, I am a parent as well, so all that goes with that. But, you want me to shop for both our families.

Actually this bothers my husband way more than it bothers me. And he gets so mad at me for giving stuff away! LOL he thinks they should go get their own darn free stuff!

[jackireno]

I only let my mom shop my coupon stockpile. She does try to do some of her own, but still can't quite grasp the whole keeping a mini store of stuff you use a lot of concept. She also refuses to shop except for every other week which doesnt work well for couponing. But it is just her and dad, so they dont need a lot. And frankly, she supported me for 18+ years, so if I can share my freebies with her...its the least I can do.

Hubby likes to brag about my coupon prowess, so I do get more than a few questions from his friends, but unless the shopper of the family is willing to do the work...waste of their time and mine.

I have had more than a few success stories in teaching others tho. Those willing to learn. I even have one friend that I buy newspapers for when she is out of town on Sunday. Her hubby recently thanked me for all the money they have been saving because she started couponing..they have 2 teenage boys..and you know how much they eat!

Another story is from my favorite cashier at kroger. She always asked me the how to questions. Single widowed mom working her butt off to make ends meet. I went in there one sunday for my papers..and she swore she was going to try. The next time I was in..she told me all the papers were gone by the time she was done with her shift. I happened to have some uncut inserts and gave her that weeks set. The next time I was in, I went thru the line next to hers and she pauses to tell me "I saved over $25 with those papers you gave me!! and from now on, I'm getting here early to make sure I get my papers on sunday!" So every time I go in now, she gives me her savings story.

And one last one...a client at work...a male client who just happens to do the shopping for his family. He caught me one day clipping instead of working(hey, I cant fire myself..darn) and starts asking questions. A few weeks later..we are comparing coupon deals and now email each other when we find good stuff on sale!

So, its not always wasted time. You just have to learn to read ppl who are really interested.

[BeckyScott]

I have mixed feelings about it.

In many ways, I'm perfectly happy about the general ignorance. But. I live in a town with one Wags and one WalMart. There is only so much RR and clearance to go around. If I got even 2 or 3 friends doing Wags RRs, they'd be out of stock in a heartbeat. Not to sound like a pig, but what would you do? If the only Wags you could get to stocks 6 Fusions a week, and there are already a couple other people buying them some of the time, how many people are you going to blab to?

That's why, although I've thought about it, I've never pursued teaching a class. It's hard enough to find the deals here, I can't imagine if there were a dozen of me running around. I love the internet. You all 'get it' but I don't have to fight you for Wag swag or the inserts at the recycle bin.

The other thing is, and this is just all kinds of awful on my part, using q's makes me able to pull off some stuff that normally I couldn't do. Makes me look good, so I keep my mouth shut. For example- my DS's class is gathering stuff for a gift basket auction. I contributed three fairly nice little items that you know I paid about $3 for all of them (it was themed so I had to do some juggling on what to buy). They don't need to know how much I paid, but it looks like much more than I really did. His teachers are all getting gift baskets this year. If someone asks I'll tell them, but I'm not going to advertise that all the stuff was almost free.

I do get what you're saying though, because I'm proud of what I'm doing and would like to be able to share the knowledge. I do have one friend-in-training. I used to try to tell people, but I either gave up (since they didn't care) or decided it was in my best interest to lay low.

[bennyrn12]

I swear I could have written all of these posts. When I worked weekends in the hospital I would get teased for clipping my coupons. It was such a "mom thing" to do, and that was before I was hardcore like I am now! My friends think it is awesome I get all this stuff for free/cheap but then turn around and make fun of my stockpile! Im self employed now and heaven forbid I lose my job I take comfort in the fact I can go 2-3 months at least with only buying milk, bread and produce. Thank goodness my husband is supportive (he wasnt always)!

[frogprincess]

I think we all know people that make fun of our couponing or have friends that go "wow, you got that stuff so cheap" but they don't want to make the effort to save the money. Both of which I would be fine with - more coupon deals for me. What I cannot stand are the rude employees or managers at the stores we redeem coupons at and other customers who treat us couponers like we're bad for using coupons and combining them with deals to get the best deals. Its not bad to save money - its being smart.

[Ocean26]

Originally Posted by amandatockert

stores make money on coupons! they make the face value of the coupon plus the handling fee of 8 cents or so. so in reality the nicer they are to couponers the better since coupons wont bounce but a check might.

I didn't know that!

[cherylrc]

Wow this post sure struck a chord with everyone. I hear you all. My friends look at me like I'm nuts or with a blank stare when I bring up my couponing stories. In fact I don't mention it much anymore. They either don't get it or don't believe me. One in paritcular always comments on how I spend money. She is fairly tight with her money but she thinks I spend a lot, I can't seem to convince her there is a better way to maximize her spending. I coupon and shop clearance racks for the deep discounts (80% off clearance at Elder Beermans etc.) and she is convinced I spend alot of money... I just let her comments go now and keep my savings to myself. I sure would like to help everyone learn though, learning to coupon and and stretch my familiy's budget has been such a blessing. I am grateful I found AFC.

[graciousmom]

I tried one time to explain it to my girlfriend in WA, even told her AFC and she joined up. She was on the site a whopping 15 minutes before she called me to say it was all too confusing. I offered to email her some of the best deals if she would just let me know where she shops but she never does. She also says shopping at Wags and CVS is too difficult w/ 3 kids. I just shake my head at her. I tried at least.

The funny part was when their checking account was down to under $20 (or something like that) and it ws 4 days until payday she was calling me asking if I knew where she could find printable coupons for Pepsi and Hamburger Helper.

I did get my sister (13) turned on to couponing. I bought her a little divider and stuffed it with q's for Christmas last year and she loved it! She takes it with her whenever she grocery shops with my mom. While they're not as into it as I am, they are saving money every time they shop and my sister is getting better at suggesting sale items or store brand to my mom. With my step-dad out of work at the moment, every penny counts for them.

[mommamerri]

I now exactly what you all mean! I have told my mom about how I save so much money couponing. Ever since I can remeber she has couponed, and always shopped for the best deal even price compared at Wal Mart. I even gave her this website, and she created a log on..... But, she still has no idea when I talk about the wonderful deals! She sits at home and basically does not do anything all day long, and still tells me that she does not have enough time. I find the time (barely!) between 2 kids, going to school full time and working 30 hours a week!

But, oh well! I like having bragging rights when it comes to who can find the best deals!

BTW~ My response to people who tell me taht they do not have the time is: You mean to tell me taht you do not have the time to cut atleast 60% off your grocery bill everytime you go shopping?

[Alexdur85]

I have ONE friend out of the many that I've spoken to about coupons that actually seems interested in learning.

The first thing I tell them that it's not easy, there is work, and there will be times when you want to cry, laugh, and punch someone in the face. So if you think you can handle using coupons, then I'd be happy to teach you.

Alot of them laugh like I'm crazy but really.. it's just sadly true.

[kimbra923]

My family is the same way! I showed my mom all of the things I can get a CVS for free so she decided to go get a card and I sent her some coupons and scenarios for 2 weeks. She did the first week and got frustrated then skipped out on the next so there goes my coupons and all that effort! They just want me to share the wealth when I visit!

[washedlikeadish]

YEP, EXTRA LOUD, I HEAR YOU -- I try to be the helpful one and show friends and family how to get things for FREE, did I say FREE, FREE, FREE but FREE doesn't ring loud enough for them!

The bottom line is that the reason only about 20% of the population uses coupons is because the other 80% just wants to continue to complain about not having enough...enough food, enough money, enough cool items.

What would they do if they couldn't complain?

So, I just go on my merry way getting all the free things I want and living my life.

[thekains]

yep been there done that!! And im done with that, I love helping people but come on put alittle effort in to it, I could have use those qs i clipped and gave them to get them started. But oh well, Im sure ill do it again..

[frogprincess]

I hear you on the crazy looks. My one friend that I was talking about looks at me like I spend alot and I tell her I really don't. I tell her I just gather the coupons, combine them with deals and save lots. Of course, its more work then that but you know. Anyway, she looks at me in disbelief and disinterest. So basically, I'm not going to mention it to her anymore.

I could probably do the work for her but I just don't feel like wasting the coupons or effort on someone who isn't interested. The coupons would probably sit on her desk or get colored on by her kids instead of being used.