Couponing

I have a new favorite TV show.  It's called  Extreme Couponing.  Every week, I meet two people who have gone nuts with their coupons.  Most of these people spend 30-35 hours a week going through inserts, clipping, checking sales online, and writing lists.  Some people leave the grocery store with a savings of 90%, often more.  They buy things whether they need them or not.  They all call their collections of items their "stockpile".  Some people devote garages, a room, or multiple rooms of their house to their stockpile.  Some people donate items to food pantries.  One lady has a whole shelf full of diapers, but no children.  Another women has a huge collection of cat food, but no cat.  Many of the people seem like they are hoarders, just a little more organized and clean than those on Hoarders, another of TLC's amazing shows.  I watch the show, half fascinated that it's possible to save so much money (some people even get PAID to take items out of the store, they have so many coupons) and half fascinated by the fact that some people are so obsessed with couponing that it doesn't matter whether they need the item or not - they still buy it.

While I know that I could never be so diligent and organized as to spend 30 hours a week looking through inserts, cutting out hundreds of coupons, and making and checking and checking again lists, I could certainly learn something from these people.    

After watching the show, I pulled out my coupon folder and checked - empty.

I think I know what my summer project will be!