As I cannot sleep, and have many little thoughts racing around my brain tonight, thought I would get some of them out, and down on "paper" so to speak..lol. I truly enjoy weds. nights watching TLC's extreme couponing show..very entertaining, has been getting better each week, showing more donations, little lessons snuck in, like pre-ordering(go amber for mentioning that one loud and clear) not shelf clearing, takes time, this is not the NORMAL, etc. It is even more exciting knowing a celebrity on the show, lol(amber..you rock). However, I came across a not-so-pleasant side effect of the show yesterday. I drug myself out to go get papers, as my usual way of getting inserts is no longer valid..sad...anyway, i wasn't able to walk well at all, and driving was even more painful, as my foot with the gout is the driving foot, of course, lol. I would advise the herald deal for folks that amber describes on her blog..i figured it out, and it like paying about $0.83 PER insert..way cheaper than a paper. However, in my apartment complex, anytime I have ever ordered the herald, it always gets stolen from in front of my door. 5 papers on sunday....you know that would be gone before I even woke up..so..i go buy them now. While out sunday, what I told my son would be a 20 minute journey turned into an hour and a half..yes, thats right...1.5 hours...I drove all over town hunting papers, seriously, from the paper boxes, 7-elevens, dollar stores, etc..finally got some down by lynnwood....crazy..many seattle times, but I dont' buy them because they do NOT carry the redplum inserts..no heralds most anywhere..the couple i did find in the roadside boxes..no coupons in them..made me mad...i paid, got no coupons..3 times!! the dollar store said some lady came in, said she was a new couponer, and bought every one he had..heard this alot around town. does not make me happy...papers should not be that hard to find and buy..guess i will need to get going earlier than my usual 2 pm.......but it also makes me sad..sad that its getting harder for those of us that really NEED to shop this way. I am a single mom, with 2 teenaged boys, on a VERY fixed low income from social security disability. I have to stretch it far, or we don't eat...period..facts of life...I love that folks are saving money, but sad that the show is making it harder for those of us doing this legitimately and ethically. I see folks clearing the shelves, trying to use coupons on items not meant for that specific coupon, and even stealing inserts from papers. When I see something like this, I do speak up...nicely, but feel it is my duty, as unethical couponing, and shelf clearing hurts us all in the end. Rosario texted me tonight about a blurb on komo 4 news and couponing..how stores are changing policies, etc due to fraud, etc. Bonnie was telling em how when she went to QFC sunday to get her papers like every sunday, a lady who said she was "new to couponing" was taking all the inserts from all the papers, and stuffing into like, only a couple papers to buy..folks, that is plain STEALING... bonnie spoke up, and also told the manager, yeah bonnie...we all need to speak up, and let folks know the right/correct/ethical way to coupon. If not, it will get harder and harder for us ALL..as stores crack down, manufacturers crack down, fraud becomes more rampant, etc..don't hide your head in the sand..it really does affect us ALL when one person does it wrong, and commits fraud or theft. folks are getting jail time, huge fines, etc for fraud..yes, there is a "coupon police" the CIC.....
http://www.couponinformationcenter.com/extremecoupon.php?st=5fe98
a guy was just arrested on may 12 and given jail time will be his next step..
so..lets all "play nice" not shelf-clear, not steal inserts, make sure we use coupons correctly and gently talk to those who are not following the rules, etc..maybe they don't know the "right" way , as they are new..etc.., and remind them how it affects all of us when they do these things......
just my 2 cents!
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