Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
The popular show, Extreme Couponing begins it's second season September 28 at 10pm on TLC. There are many mixed reviews in the couponing world regarding the program. Questions have been raised regarding the techniques a few of the extreme couponers have employed. Many mainstream couponers aren't thrilled about the image that the show presents: that couponers clear the shelves of all the sale products, they hoard up tens of thousands of dollars of products in their basements and garages, they unethically acquire stacks of coupons, and exhibit somewhat of a selfish attitude toward getting all the deals only for themselves.
A search of the term “˜extreme couponer' will turn up news stories of coupon theft and outright stealing. Personally, I think it's a bit of a stretch to apply the term “˜couponing' to outright shoplifting in some cases. This ends up being pretty frustrating for those of us who play by the rules. As a result of the show, coupon redemption policies have tightened up a bit at some retailers – although I haven't seen anything yet that has disheartened me. Most policy changes have actually helped those of us who aren't interested in cheating the system.
A small percentage of shoppers, however, have developed a negative view of all couponers as a result of the program and the extension of the term “Extreme Couponer.” This is a myth I'd like to bust: that your typical couponer – even someone who is using years of experience and / or the latest in technology to their advantage is taking unfair advantage of the system while others suffer.
The reality is that most couponers are simply being proactive with their shopping dollars during a tough economic time. They are using a little bit of knowledge, effort, and technology to save their families precious money from their budgets. In my years of helping families save money on their groceries, nearly every couponer I've met shares with me the good they've been able to create by donating from their good fortune. When they are able to buy a few extra boxes of pasta or bottles of shampoo they won't immediately need, they've come to see that nothing feels as good as helping their local churches, charities, and non profits.
A huge moment of inspiration came when my wife had been selected to attend of taping of the Oprah Winfrey show. I'm grateful she brought me along as the special guests for the show were Bono and Alicia Keys. During a break, Bono chatted with the audience and said, “We will one day get to the point where we look at our success at eliminating poverty, and ask, why did we let that go on so long when the solution was so simple all along?” It was my own “aha!” moment… everybody can do just a little and we can end big problems.
My mission, when I started SavingsAngel.com in 2007, has been to help end need and lack in our local communities and beyond. The solution is simple: empower enough people to do what they really want to do. I truly believe that the vast majority of people are good. The fear of lack, however, can keep all of us from fulfilling our desire to serve and give.
My wife and I used to pass on opportunities to give – and we hated that. Once we were able to develop a system to show us where free and next to free products could be purchased each week, we suddenly were in a better position to give to the causes we really believed in. We may have been short on time and money, but we could gather up some groceries with our coupons and start making “in kind” contributions.
If you'd like to give more to your church, a local non-profit, or any other cause you support, might I suggest a different approach to your Sunday coupons? Feel free to take care of your family with your grocery savings, but start building a donation pantry. It will be an extremely rewarding experience, and with each family new to “˜generous couponing', we can create more good among us.
The easiest way to cut your grocery bill in half is through using manufacturers coupons combined with the best sales at local stores. Normally, this takes a lot of work to create a winning shopping list for your family. Each week, SavingsAngel.com combines over 2,000 products on sale at local grocery and drug stores with their enormous database of manufacturer coupons ““ which are found in your Sunday paper and throughout the Internet. This combination results in access to over 300 products each week for 50% off or better. Here are a few examples of deals that are available until Saturday at midnight. Please look in Tuesday's Grand Rapids Press each week for tips on how you can easily start cutting your grocery bill!
Josh Elledge is the Chief Executive “Angel” of SavingsAngel, Inc. ““ launched from his home in January 2007. A husband and father of three, he now appears each week on Fox 35 Orlando, in the Grand Rapids Press, and a number of radio stations across the country teaching families how to cut their grocery bill in half using the Internet. Elledge created the technology found on SavingsAngel.com through the need to save his own family's money. Successfully able to cut his own grocery bill from $600 a month to less than $300 a month, his message has reached hundreds of thousands of families. SavingsAngel.com is now growing rapidly throughout the country. You can watch a short video at SavingsAngel.com that will explain more information about how to cut your own grocery bill in half with the help of SavingsAngel.com.
