Extreme couponing leads to backlash: What not to do

It used to be that people brought four or five coupons to the grocery store and saved a couple of bucks.

Now, extreme couponers are bringing dozens of coupons and saving hundreds of dollars.

Only problem: Some are making it tough for other shoppers, and as a result, some stores are now saying enough is enough.

Krazy Coupon Lady

Extreme couponing is all the rage thanks to the TLC series of the same name and shoppers like the self-proclaimed Krazy Coupon Lady.

Last year, one of the stars of the TLC show, who goes by the name Mr. Coupon, showed me how he has filled his two-car garage in Northern Kentucky with items he bought for pennies on the dollar.

Nathan Engels has racks and racks of grocery products filling his two-car garage.

"We have our toothpaste supply for an entire year we don't have to spend any money for the next year, because we have enough for the whole year," Engels said.

Not Hoarders...but

Engels, TLC's Krazy Coupon Lady and other extreme couponers insist they are not hoarders, and in fact they do give a lot of food to charity.

But supermarket chains are not impressed. Many are tired of extreme couponers clearing out their shelves and leaving nothing for anyone else.

Andrea Deckard is a mommy blogger behind Savings Lifestyle.com, a popular money saving blog.

"People are coming in and clearing shelves and they a re not being respectful to other shoppers who only need 3 or a minimum amount for their family," Deckard said. "And they are not being respectful to the store."

So more and more stores are tightening coupon policies this year.

Among the chains cracking down :

CVS: It has just announced no shelf-clearing is allowed.

Rite aid: Only four similar coupons per visit.

Target: Only one buy-one-get-one coupon per purchase.

Kroger: No more stacking paper coupons and e-coupons.

Publix: Limits on number of coupons that can be used.

Giant Eagle: Only 12 similar coupons per visit.

Andrea says couponers should play by the rules and should not coupon during the busiest times of day when lines are long. In additon, she says always leave something for someone else.

She said responsible couponing is purchasing the amount your family needs. If you are going in to buy 30 items and there are only 30 bottles on the shelf, then don't take all 30.

Want to know how to save substantial money on your weekly grocery bill couponing without angering stores and other shoppers?

Click here for a free e-book filled with couponing secrets from Savings Lifestyle.com.... so you don't waste your money.

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