Coupon Stockpile Challenge!

I think it's a great idea, here's part of my coupon stockpile

YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!

WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WILL TELL YOU :rotfl::rotfl: Errr maybe Hasland if you people "MSE mod" have not banned him ages ago :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Thriftygifty wrote: »

I agree with everybody elses views, this is crazy, I've just started thinking about using coupons as our circumstances have changed, I've spent time reading the various threads on here by genuine people and doing research and thank everyone for their contributions but as far as I can see all this thread will achieve is new people walking in looking at the stash photos and then walking back out to go and exploit the coupons which then the companies wont want to issue anymore and if companies see these photos its not going to have a positive outcome! Genuine people who use coupons put the time and effort into it.

I agree it will lead to exploitation and abuse of coupons.

I frequent the Extreme Couponing UK facebook page as one of the places to find links for coupons (as well as the boards on here, of course). I've noticed in the last couple of weeks that the page has gotten increasingly popular, with many of those 'liking' it seeming to be newbies to couponing. Unfortunately, these newbies are already being given the wrong idea about couponing by many people on there - I've witnessed others advising them to break coupon T&Cs knowingly, because they themselves have 'gotten away with it'. It's no coincidence that in that same time frame stores (including Asda at least) have started to crack down on coupon usage, limiting the amount of coupons to be used and even cutting out the use of many kinds of coupons altogether (mostly internet and/or pdf ones). These stores are changing their policies because of coupon misuse.

The one thing I'm sick to death of seeing on said page currently is the amount of people using those £1 Sure/Dove coupons from ATm machines on the wrong products (it is for a product that costs £5, but they are being used on a different product currently on offer for £1 - making said item free). These people are bragging about how they've gotten 30-50 of these free deodorants, knowing full well they have abused the system as it clearly states on the coupon which item the coupon is for. Some have gone so far as to admit they knew it was for a different item, but wanted to see if they could get away with it, then when it's pointed out they shouldn't be doing that, they have the cheek to say things like 'well why not, if we can get away with it' or even better, that it's not their fault if the checkout operator didn't realise it was the wrong item! This is a brand new item, so the operators won't have seen many (if any) being sold yet, so they probably think the cheaper one is the right item as it's the same brand and more recognisable to them.

I've couponed for a long time, and it's only recently I've seen this level of abuse and stupidity on such a grand scale, and I can't help but think it's the popularity of certain facebook pages causing this. It's the lazy person's forum after all, where everything is handed to you on a platter, then idiots tell you how to break the rules and show off about how they get away with it - so of course many others are tempted to do the same!

I put time and effort into couponing as we genuinely need to save money in our household. We are a young couple that have a baby on the way in a few weeks and my partner has a 3 year old son that stays with us at the weekends. Our £45 a week grocery budget (for food AND toiletries/household items) wouldn't stretch as far without my coupons. I shop every Monday, and each Saturday evening I sit at the computer with my coupon folder, Lidl's offer booklet, MySupermarket's website open, and the coupon threads I use. I meal plan for the week ahead and work out the best way to use the £45 without going a penny over if possible.

If we lost the ability to use coupons due to other people abusing them, not only would I be angry, we'd lose out (as many people would) on necessities and treats alike. On our budget necessities come first, and treats are a rarity - but couponing has allowed us the odd treat here and there and I'd love for that to continue. I also wish to continue getting money off expensive things like baby food/nappies etc - something that is really going to test our budget from September onwards. We have no spare income - coupons help take the price of our shopping down and without them I'm not sure how we'd manage.

Sorry for the extra long post/slight rant. I love couponing, and sharing finds with others than can also benefit, but I hate seeing how many people are starting to abuse coupons now due to facebook pages like 10 ways and extreme couponing uk. I do fear slightly that this part of the forum may do the same if it draws too much attention from people with little to no morals.

MSE_Zorica wrote: »

Post pictures of your biggest and best coupon-assisted purchases

NO.

That would be total madness.

AS IS THIS BOARD :mad:

Jenna_Appleseed wrote: »

Yay more encouragement of selfishness, greed, buying loads of things you don't want/need and hoarding.

I try to get as much free stuff as possible,I keep what I need and the rest is given to the local food bank,they are always really pleased because they are really struggling to feed everyone at the moment,with all the benefit cuts coming in.