Extreme Couponing

Extreme Couponing is a great television show featured on TLC. It has quickly become a favorite of mine and many others that would love to able able to save money especially in this economy. Many of the couponers featured save 95% or more. I would love to begin learning how to coupon in preparation for when I have a family of my own. My mother has asked me to help her begin finding coupons and couponing. I doubt (nor my mom) will go to the "extreme" level but I think it is a great way to utilise resources available to you and be a wise steward fo the money God has blessed you/your family with.

Many of the featured couponers have "stockpiles" which are huge pantries/cupboards of food and toiletries that could basically keep a homeless shelter running for a month. I do not like the idea of stockpiling that many items. One lady had a shelf full of packages of feminine hygiene products. I think a better idea would be to donate things such as personal hygiene products, toothpaste (one man had over 100 tubes), dog food (one lady had 170 cans of dog food). One of the featured couponers donated lots of his things out of his stockpile which is what really opened my eyes to how much donation of these excessive items would be a great idea. Local shelters, whether  battered/women's, men's, childrens, or even an animal shelter would benefit greatly from some of these stockpiles.

Couponing? Have you tried it?