Now is the time for Serious Extreme Couponing.

I went to the local grocery store today for my “extreme couponing” with my fresh stash of coupons and a list of my anticipated savings…Hoping and wishing, I could still get what I really wanted. When I got there, I found the store more deserted than I’ve seen it this year. Where are the other extreme couponing shoppers?

Compare this to two months ago when the same store was swamped with fellow shoppers with coupon books and the buzz alive about extreme couponing. As a result, many of my favorite stores had empty shelves with high value items that could be purchased as a discount.

What changed? Well for starters, the novelty of extreme couponing has worn off a lot compared to earlier this year from my experience. It seems many of the new comers have either dropped off or stopped in shopping with coupons. Don’t get me wrong…I have nothing against newcomers participating in coupon shopping and reaching for the extreme couponing goal. In fact, I encourage it. I made a lot of new friends by just walking up and sharing coupons and having conversations with my fellow shoppers. It’s just that like everything else, once the newness comes off, a lot of people don’t follow through.

 
This brings me to my main point. In my experience, whatever you plan to do, whatever goals you have. There is one big golden rule or one big “secret” that separates the achievers from everyone else. And that is, when the novelty wears off, when it’s not “in season anymore” or when it’s no longer easy. The successful people are the ones who continue to strive and work hard for what they want. It was so easy before to find friends and acquaintances that would bargain shop and plan extreme couponing with me. Now, many are nowhere to be found. I have nothing against anyone. In fact, I believe this is just human nature. So now is the real time to get all the bargains and valuable coupons you want.
So what should you be doing? Continue to gather, archive and stockpile your coupons. Continue to watch the local sales papers and local grocery marts for sales you can take advantage of with them. Continue print online and store coupons from couponing websites that are just as valuable now as they were when it was “in” to get them. This is what separates serious people who get the real savings from others.