We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
The following is a guest post from my husband Steve, who share his thoughts on Extreme Couponing and the value of time vs. money.
In the movie, โThe Karate Kidโ, Mr. Miyagi does more than teach Daniel about Karate, he teaches him about life.
Miyagi: Lesson not just karate only.ย ย Lesson for whole life.ย ย Whole life have a balance, everything be better. Understand?
Daniel: When do I learn how to punch?
Miyagi: Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance good, karate good, everything good. Balance bad, better pack up, go home.
Mr. Miyagiโs profound wisdom applies equally to couponing and thrifty living.
Having recently seen some of the focus placed on โExtreme Couponingโ with the commercialized exposรฉs done on television, I am slightly concerned by the superficial glorification of the coupon craft.ย ย Like so many things showcased by Hollywood, in their attempt to make something interesting and exciting, they have suffocated the simplicity and utility of couponing by applying layers of artificial, gaudy, โcoupon cosmeticsโ; so much so that their attempts to be titillating have tarnished and concealed the virtues extolled by common-sense couponers.
I will concede that these types of shows have brought awareness to the pursuit of couponing, which is a positive thing, but I want to ensure that those who may be just embarking upon the path of coupons and bargain shopping do not find themselves demoralized and giving up because they feel inadequate if their coupon pursuits pale in comparison.
There is far more value to developing shopping habits that are moderate, but functional and consistent, than to merely dabbling briefly with coupons while trying to duplicate the glitz, glam, and sensationalism that seems so prevalent in the examples shown by the media.ย ย After all, Mr. Miyagi did not need a Black Belt to prove his martial arts prowess; rather, his canvas belt from JC Penney was just used to hold up his pants, and only cost $3.98 (not a bad deal).ย ย It is this principle of everyday couponing, the down to earth actions which leave out the fluff, but demonstrate the realities of disciplined thrift, that I wish to applaud.
To be clear, I think people that use coupons areย mostly normal.ย ย I sayย mostly normal because even my wife can get a little crazy during Target clearance days.ย ย But what you see on Extreme Couponing and similar programs is about as real as WWF professional wrestling.ย ย (If Hulk Hogan clips coupons I am going to be in real trouble.)ย ย Even hardcore coupon enthusiasts donโt shop like that.ย ย Those are staged events that have at their foundation some truths of thrifty living, but the absurdity of the execution casts a disparaging light on the noble practice of sensible savers.
There must be balance in all things, including couponing.ย ย At the risk of sounding blasphemous to some couponers, let me express a view that perhaps does not echo the more widely embraced mantra of many coupon clippers.ย ย There is more to thrifty living than just the amount ofย money you save.
For me,ย time has as much value, if not more value, than dollars and cents.ย ย If stores had coupons for โ50% Off Your Time In Lineโ, or โGet 15 Minutes of Free Timeโ I would be a more eager coupon user.ย ย ย Using coupons is a wonderful attribute and can pay rich dividends.ย ย It has been a blessing in our lives and I am grateful for my wifeโs efforts.ย ย But we must all weigh the return on our investments.
If the time it takes to use, or research, a particular coupon or deal is overly burdensome and means sacrificing time with the family, or if the requirements for redeeming a rebate or receiving certain savings are so complex that you run the risk of forfeiting the advertised savings, it may be a more balanced approach to forgo the deal.ย ย Likewise, if you are using coupons in such a way that you need to rent a trailer to get your purchases home, you may not have the most prudent approach to frugal living.
In other words, just like Daniel-son from the Karate Kid, we must have balance.ย ย It is not just the punch or the attack that brings victory, it is the balanced approach to the fight.ย ย Am I saying that clipping coupons or researching deals is a waste of time, absolutely not.ย ย Should you use coupons and bargain shopping to build up reserves for your family and stretch your family finances, yes.ย ย But we must have balance in all things.
So listen to your inner Miyagi. You may hear him say, โBalance is key. If balance good, coupons good, everything good. If balance bad, better pack up, go home.โ
Liv says
Agreed!! Thanks for posting this!
Valora Palmer says
What a wise husband you have. I couldn’t agree more.
Heather @Queen Bee Coupons says
I could not have said this better myself. Balance and moderation are key.
Thank you for your refreshing post!
Kathy says
Well said … thank you for taking the time to put the thoughts of many into words for the public!
Natalie says
Very well said. I linked this article from my blog, because I really couldn’t have said it better. Thank you!
Natalie
WildTribe.Wordpress.com
Maegen says
Well said, Mr.Thrifty and Thriving!
Rebecca says
Expertly written and perfectly balanced advice. Thank you.
Kristie says
Bravo!
Tameaka says
The balance you share with your wife is a perfect example! As a couple you’re living it:)
I find it interesting that some shows seek to shine a negative light on “extreme couponing” while our national deficit continues. Maybe if our government would adopt SOME couponing practices we’d see a turn around:)
Celina says
Great to put it all in perspective. I have watch the extremem couponing twice…never again! That is to the extreme and it makes me wonder why are these people not donating items to charities in their neighborhoods. Seems to me like a hoarding show…no one in their right mind needs 55 mustards, or 1000+ rolls of toilet paper under their childs bed. WOW
I coupon but will never coupon to the extreme like that and I don’t purchase things that I will never use just to say I got a good deal.
Juliet says
Great post! I love that you used mr.miyagi in this! One of my favorite eighties movies.thanks again for your awesome website
Carrot Jello says
Hallelujah!
I was getting really discouraged watching that show. It made me want to poke my eyes out.
I kept thinking, “Where is the line between saving money, and hoarding?
I swear some people just use saving money to make hoarding acceptable.
It also gives me hypertension thinking these people are in the store with me grabbing all the dental floss.
Even on the best sale, I always leave at least two items left for others. It’s just polite.
Tami says
My husband said the same thing, lol.
Kelly says
Love this post!!! We completely agree!! Thanks for sharing!!
Jeanne says
I always love it when Steve writes! Thanks for sharing. ๐
Irene says
And if you buy so much of a product that can go bad (like pain relievers) why are you getting so many? Only buy what you use and only as much as you can use reasonably soon. Those coupon shows are crazy.
Tania says
2 thumbs up!!!
Sadie says
50% off your time in line! Where do I sign up??? ๐ Just stopping by to let you know you were featured on my blog today!
Sadie
https://www.randomosityblog.com
Direct link to featured post:
https://nelliebugs-swaps.blogspot.com/2011/04/week-3-couponing.html
Beth says
Celina,
What you said about the 1000 rolls of toilet paper under your kids bed is so true. When I saw that the first thing I thought was that it was a fire hazard. If it caught on fire your kid would be toast. No pun intended. I don’t think that mother thought of that when she put all that toilet paper under the bed.
jolene says
Love this post. I had this ‘ah ha’ moment over toothpaste. I had planned to stop at couple store chasing the deals. I started at Fred Meyer and while I was there I saw everyone coming in the store soaked. I decided that I didn’t need free toothpaste from the drugstore. Gas wasn’t really an issue the other stores were on my route home. So instead of getting the free toothpaste I paid $1 for 4 tubes of toothpaste. And 20 minutes later I was at home on the couch under a throw blanket with a cup of coco listening to the rain beat down on on the roof instead of on me running in and out of stores.
Brandy says
Great points–I know one lady who was on the show (Missy) and I know for a fact she donates a large portion of what she buys to create overage (ie. the pain meds. and cat food) to a local food bank called Oasis. Since starting couponing, she supplies about 50% of the donations give to the food bank–because of this-members of her church and community give her inserts to use–sad to say that part was NOT on the show-but is know widely–she also teaches classes for FREE on how she does this to almost any group that asks. In my heart I want to believe others on the show have similar stories–
Melanie says
Well written. There must be a balance.
Tracy says
I think a person can go overboard on just about anything. People can get a ‘high’ from excessive food, cats, shoes, exercise, Facebook. Like Miss Carrot Jello wondered: hoarding. Their family might be benefiting financially from it, but I wonder in how many other ways they are paying dearly. I watched that show once, and I have no desire ever to see it again.
Deidra says
Hello,
My name is Deidra Ross and I write for a blog called momcoloredglass.com. I am in charge of a monthly column called “Good Cents”. This month, I am writing a piece on finding the balance between fruguality and stinginess. I was wondering if you would mind if I quoted the top paragraph from the Karate Kid in the piece? I wanted to check before publishing anything online.
Please give the thumbs up or down. I appreciate it!
Deidra
Christy says
Hi Deidra
Thanks for asking. Yes, you are more than welcome to quote from this post. Can’t wait to read your article.