With a TV show dedicated to it and the economy in a nose dive with families scrambling to make ends meet, Extreme Couponing has become the new buzz word on the Internet and around the water cooler. Shoppers with reams of coupons are seen loading up pallet loads of groceries and dry goods, and checking out with thousands of dollars worth of goods for next-to-nothing. Could this be the answer to your self reliance storage plan?
Many years ago there was a television show called Dragnet. Sergeant Joe Friday was heard in every episode reminding his witness, “Just the facts ma'am, just the facts”. Let's examine the facts.
Those involved in this new couponing trend admit to spending an average of 30 to 40 hours per week clipping coupons, printing coupons from the Internet, comparing prices at local grocery and drug store chains, preparing a strategy for their purchases. Once they have coupons in hand, they spend another three to four hours at the store filling carts and checking out. Once the shopping is complete items are brought home and another several hours are spent putting things away. In other words couponing is their full-time job. Finally, there is the time and money spent on store hopping to get the best deals.
When asked how much value there is in their home storage inventory, couponers will often tell you it is between twelve and fifteen thousand dollars. For a full time job which requires an obsessive commitment, distracts you from family, church responsibilities and service opportunities, this is a very low paying job. In other words they are making $15,000 a year for their full time job or, if you take four weeks off a year, $7.80 an hour and little time with the spouse and kids and friends.
A typical stash for those who coupon with such extreme objectives, includes enough toothpaste, laundry detergent, cereal and shampoo to last through the millennium, but no dairy products and very few proteins, fruits and vegetables. This is not intentional, it just reflects what is available to buy with coupons. Storage shelves will be stocked to overflowing with packaged foods which are high in calories and low in nutritional value.
But what is self reliance? Self reliance by definition is using one's own efforts and abilities, with dependence on one's own powers and judgment. We trust in our own capabilities to gather resources. “Reliance” is a state of being dependent upon or confident in something or someone, in this case, trusting in ourselves. In other words, “self reliance” is the faith and confidence in your own judgment and capability to be independent, no matter the circumstance.
Will becoming a coupon king or queen achieve this goal? No. Self reliance requires not only the stocking of a “General Store” in our own homes, but also learning and practicing skills which help us to remain independent of the world. Self reliance requires the accumulation of tools to practice those skills including the equipment needed for canning, sewing, car repair, and gardening. It requires a reference library should we be required to fend for our own food, clothing, shelter and health care for some period of time.
Clipping coupons is a great way to save money but going to extremes is not a good plan. Slow and steady still wins the race. If your family needs extra income to purchase items without sabotaging the family budget consider other methods for making some extra.
Lets' ask! What are some ways you have earned extra money for your family budget without getting a full time job?
PLAN TO CAN THIS YEAR
Some of my favorite canning tools:
Canning discovery kit A great gift for a beginner.
Victorio Strainer and Sauce Maker My absolute favorite item in my canning supplies! Accessories kit You will be son happy you added this!
Steam Juicer Never waste anything! Juice it and use the juice for drinking or making jelly and syrups.
Steam Canner some people prefer the water bath some the steam bath. I have both. If using a steam canner be sure to add five minutes to all processing times.
1/2 Gallon canning jars Since there has been so much interest in these in our Yahoo group…a link!
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