Have you guys tried watching the show called Extreme Couponing on The Learning Channel? We’ve been watching this show for a few months now. It really got me interested and got me thinking. To be totally honest if we still lived in the States I’m pretty sure I will do some couponing but not as good as this people on the show. I’m not even going to do a third of what they are doing. They really are good at it. I’m really impressed and in awe of them. Wishing though that lots of people will do the same. This show is also a big hit for my kids.
I wonder if there is a time that the Philippines will use coupons for something to buy in the store. I doubt it. But you’ll never know I guess. Couponing will really a big hit here. A lot of people here will definitely use the coupon. I really wonder what will happened to the cash register here if the coupon will almost wipe out the amount that was suppose to be paid. In the States the cash register sometimes has some problems, and it will take a long time to check out. They have to call the manager so that he/she can adjust something at the computer system. Hmm, It ain’t gonna happen here. In here the manager will just say our machine will not accept it and they won’t do anything. I have seen on the show that the people that uses the coupon, it will take like an hour or so at the cashier to check out. If it takes that long there, how much more here? It will be much longer here, on top of that if the register starts rejecting the coupon, another hours on that too.
I was thinking of the couponing, because with the economy right now. I know its really hard work and total dedication, but hey if it help the family, why not. Some ladies even go to the extreme of dumpster diving for more coupons. Wow, they really are something. They will do anything to save money. Who will not try to save money nowadays. The last episode we saw the husband and wife were saving for a cruise in Europe. They wanted to buy groceries for under $50 and they want that they will not buy any groceries within 2 months so that they can used the money for the trip. They went to the grocery store and got all the groceries they wanted with the coupon of course. The total bill was $1,800-$1,900. With the coupon they just paid less than $20. I was really amazed by it. They were the best extreme couponing I’ve seen so far. Even our kids was in awe by it. It really amazes them that lots of the products were free and some of them the store would even pay them to get the product out of the shelves. Really amazing. My kids wanting and wishing for a coupon here to use at the store. At Toys R Us especially. Ha ha ha…
I am also overjoyed watching some of the coupon guru helping the troops and other charities. They will shop and spent some money and lots of the stuff they bought with coupon and the products they bought will go to the charity they support. I’m really humbled by what they did. One couple even bought like 200 pair of blue jeans and gave them to the homeless or something. At the check out counter they look like celebrities. People would take pictures, and when the cashier would say that your total cost and the saving and you save 97%. The other customer would usually grasp in disbelief and made comment like amazing, wish I could do that.
Well, if one of you tried already, good for you. Keep it up. To those who are wanting to save, try to watch the show. If you can save a hundred bucks or two every purchase its worth it a try then. Happy shopping everybody. Wish we have coupon here now with the Abreeza shopping mall and the True Value just open. Man I wish we have that coupon thing here. Wishful thinking you guys. Really I wish, 😉
Cheers!
Hi Feyma…that was fun to read your latest post….hahaha I am thinking that couponing would go over good with the Fillipino people…but also I do not think the stores there would like it. From what I have read in the past here on LIP…the wait in line at a store there can some times be a nite mare or something near that….Now can one even think in their mind..a check out lady scaning all them coupons that the Fillipinos would bring in??? I think that would make a real zoo at the check out stand…Of course they could set up..cash only check out and coupon check out….hahah but still do not think it would work there….to many Fillipinos have 2 many coupons and hey if they did it right the store owe them?? I know that does not happen, but can just see in my mind…it now……..big cart of groceries with a big bag of coupons on the hope of going home with many fun things to eat for free….so..but hey……one never knows it could happen, but I do not think so for a long time…not like here……because only those who have time here dink around with coupons…you can save, but I know when ever I am in check out I see very few use coupons…..but do see many use the other coupon!! The good old food stamp credit card….of course that is another subject for another time…….
Hi Dan – Thank you. Yes, couponing would really be a big hit here. But the cashier will hate it. Can you imagine the long line on the check out counter. Sometimes here the stores they just have a few check out counter opened. That would be hell for everyone waiting though.
Can you imagine also having a food stamp here in the Philippines… Too many standby(people don’t have job) in every corner then, waiting for the hand outs.
Anyway, thank you so much for stopping by. I really appreciates your thoughts here.
Take care!
hi Feyma
here in the Philippines, we also used coupons but in a limited number only compared to us…in Philippines for every purchase of any goods in some stores offering coupons customers are only allowed to use 2 to 5 coupons depending on the store you where…not in us or any country where coupons are used they used all the coupons they have in a single purchased, i wish it will be like that in the philippines…i’ve watched Extreme Couponing on TLC one of my fav. show in that channel..thanks for telling me what is the meaning of TLC…hahaha…
im just 17 years old and interested in saving money so i really love that show 🙂
I really wish grocery coupons were available in the Philippines. Yes, absolutely, clog up the grocery stores until they learn the lesson what _customer_service_ really means instead of just falsely pretending and blaming the lower-level employees for management negligence.
Here in the philippines? Ithink it will not happen here to have a couponing cause i think the employee of the groceries the’yre will be the one to get this coupon…. Andthe filipinos they have a bad attitude instead they will give the coupon for free, they will sell it hahaha…. And the manager, supervisor they’re the one to get the coupon, for example here iin some grocery if there,s a buy one take one,the sales lady or the employee they will put it at the back of the stocks so that you cannot see the product so if they will go home or after work they will get it and pay after work hahaha
Hi Feyma,
We have coupons here,but not on a grand scale like the US.
Problem i find here is that many grocery coupons are on stuff i never buy,or don’t wish to buy.
I prefer to keep my eyes open for the 25 or 50% off items,or 2 for the price of one that i would normally buy,then stock up.
If i need one off items i search the net for the best deals,or go and barter at the store lol.
Some of the best deals i’ve had were end of line (new but old/superceeded model) like tv,hi fi,laptop,car etc.
However,i only have me to shop for and i only shop out of neccessity,like most men,Lol.
Regards,
Chas.
Hi Chas – 25 – 50% is good enough discount too. I wish we had that here. The discounted stuff here in the Philippines is too different than there.
Good to see you again. Have a good day shopping. 😉
Take care!
Yes, it’s a different system in Phils. We can’t expect junior grocery store employees to have *ANY* sort of authority, they’re lucky and happy just to have minimum-wage (literally a few pesos/hr) jobs, and if your request doesn’t fit what the higher-ups care to entertain, expect to leave very frustrated and nor return to that store.
The system in Phils (and most of the world outside Canada/US) is bargain! Sempre importante ng usap Tagalog di ba? Pero … but if you’ve been smart enough to learn the functional rudiments of the local language, you will rarely pay the “advertised price”. Depending on the item/product, you can reasonably ask 10% discount (for food at palengke) – do like they like to say to you “up to you” and be prepared to by next-door and make sure they subtedly know that. A few times and they will know you and they will be happy for 90% of your pesos. Don’t let them fool you with compost instead of groceries either. You want lettuce but it maybe was lettuce _last_ week? Ask for something you care to eat. Funny how the good stuff materializes when they have it. Be clear to your “katulong” too not to buy ‘basura’ with your limited money; mine came home and told me nothing good to buy and that’s the right thing for them to tell me. Tommorrow I will personally go find what I want to feed my family and at a proper price.
As for non-food items, the markup is usually much more.
Why would I want to buy a lighter for 20 pesos when I know I can buy a box for *two* pesos each? My wife asked me for a cheap radio – there’s lots between P650 – P850. Half a minute later the price was 400, my choice of all their stock,
which tells me they’re still happy with a profit.
Ok, no coupons, but learn to decently live in the country you’re in and everyone still gets to eat. 🙂
Filipinos, even in the past for many hundreds of years ago, have always been discriminated or underestimated. But the fact is, Filipinos are known for being gumptious or resourceful, and others could not accept that due to their own negative mindsets. Filipinos will definitely seize every fighting chances. if given even the slightest opportunities. But when probabilities are slim, they will surely make one.
There is always a way to inspire ourselves to do it and make it happen. We see things the way our minds have instructed our eyes to see. And I have seen a lot of Filipinos, with their positive mindsets, see their accomplishments, be it great or humble, as something excellent and worth all the efforts.
If this couponing will happen in the Philippines, I will certainly be the first to pursue it, regardless of all those contradictions ,as long lineup and bad attitudes of the staff at the supermarket, computer bug downs, no room for stock-ups or what not. They are the least of my worries, but my goal is to be able to accomplish something greater. For one, I will be able help my husband alleviate in the burden of financing, because, if carefully planned, all I will be getting from the supermarket are essentially free. Stock-up will not be a problem, as I can give some to my extended families and even use the rest for relief efforts. If others see you help and consider them in your efforts to make it happen, shouldn’t they be inspired to support you to make it possible too?
It is all in the mind, nonetheless, to create something exceptional, your mindset must be relentlessly focused on the smallest detail, but steadfast enough to make it work.
Hi Feyma,
Now for the real truth on mass couponers from a grocery clerk. Do you really want to see that much salt and sugar in your kids? Most of the coupons are for the worst junk food that you could buy. Some are ok but you can save more money by buying store brands here and usually the quality of the store brands is higher than the mass advertised brand. Those people who spend so much time on coupons figure now value on the time sorting the coupons and hunting them down. Some people even steal them from papers that are not sold on the store racks so the person who pays for the paper is out of luck. If you spend fifteen or twenty hours a week colecting coupons what is you time worth. It does slow the lines down as many couponers try to slip by out of date coupons on use so we take a lot of time checking the dates.
It takes more time to check everyone out (Iget paid by the hour) so the cost is passed on to everyone else –everyone ends up paying for it.
DonM
Totally agree with you, i think with store brands you really save alot of money and alot of the store brands are actually made by the national brands. i wouldn’t have time to spend on searching for coupons and really the stuff i buy most of the time does not have coupons.
As far as I know, there are no store brands in the Philippines. I know that I have never seen them before.
sounds like a marketing idea to me!!!!!!!lol
Hi donm. – To be honest if they save money for the family good for them. A lot of the stuff they bought its not even food. Hats off to them. They just are smart shopper.
Well, if you had the money to spend the expensive stuff go for it. The people on the show just want to saved. Nothing wrong with that.
Take care!
Coupons are marketing ploys. A sutdy was done in the US in that they determined the average shopper actually spends more because they are buying items they really dont need pr they go out of their way to find the store and waste gas. Rarely see coupons on milk, eggs, etc, on staples. Like the above Don, shopping store brands are better.
Also, the store I shop has a decent scanner so if the coupons were store coupons and in the system, then should not be a problem.
Hi Don – The people on the show that we watched they make a list of stuff what they want to buy ahead of time. I’m sure those people they are a pro. They know what to do. Of course the average people they will just spends and over spends money, that’s why they get in trouble with their spending habits.
Good thing the stores there can easily fixed the coupon problems when it occurs.
Take care!
Hi Feyma – I’m afraid there is no such thing as a free lunch. For every coupon used there is a price to pay on something else. If you were back in the US living you would probably be too busy working to collect coupons.
Regards.
Jim.
Hi Jim – True… With the bad economy right now, I will do something to help feed my family. If I had to spend a lot of time cutting coupons? Hey why not.
Good to see you here again Jim.
Take care!
Hi Feyma,
No, I don’t watch the show… (channel surfing, I saw the family with a lifetime supply of deodorant convinced me the show was not worth watching) but if you are planning on using the Extreme Couponing show as a shopping strategy you need to be doing it quickly rather than waiting months. That show is ticking off a lot of stores and manufacturers and some are already taking steps to put a stop to that sort of loophole in their profits. Some stores are now limiting the amount of coupons, things like that.
Read about it in these 2 link:
http://www.mashupmom.com/?p=40435
http://www.weusecoupons.com/upload/wuc-public-archives/158294-extreme-couponing-abc-news.html
Actually I have a brother who has been doing couponing for years. last time I visited I noticed he parked his car in the driveway since his garage was full to the point of overflowing with toilet paper, paper towels, canned foods, dry cereal and things like that.
Hi Rich321 (Rich Bowen) – I think even with the limited store coupon accepted in the stores those coupon guru still knows how to saved a ton of money. I’m pretty sure that the stores in the States will forever gives out coupon. Hey, with the limited coupon your brother might be out of supply and can park his car inside his garage anytime soon. 🙂
Happy to see you here.
Take care!
Hi maam Feyma!
Like you i want to try this couponing shopping, since you posted this article i browsed on YT and found so many videos about couponing and for normal people too. But, couponing is not a hit here in Japan, we have news paper everyday with commercial flyers for big discount items of different stores No coupons! hehe. I was very amazed of these extreme people on their couponing shopping and have thought “how much they really saved every month for getting the family’s food for free or almost free” wow! . These people are unbelievable. But like you said with this economy who wouldn’t want to live well and spend less.
Anyway, as a plain housekeeper i may not be as extreme tricky like these people are but for food and for health i think i am doing good with our budget.. it’s a challenge indeed how to find a way to stretch the hard earned Yen of my husband since i am not helping him providing on money matters cos I’m just a plain housewife and a Yaya’ to our 3 year old.
I lovin this site more. It’s now part of my routine (lol) the day won’t end without dropping LiP! Maayong Gabii!
Hi Katty – It’s really amazing watching the people on the show. Welcome to the club. No coupons here in the Philippines as you know. But really trying to saved money as much as we could even without coupons. We will just enjoy watching and cheering the people on the show then… lol… Hey we are the pretty yaya’s to our kids. 🙂
I’m glad you like our site. Keep reading and good to hear from you.
Take care!
I use coupons and discount codes when shopping here —–from online coupons, rebates and promo codes. I never get anything in regular retail price except probably if we need it in emergency cases.
I think , like you do, couponing in the Philippines will never be that big ….even if the Filipino people will embrace the concept, it’s hard for businesses to establish it. Look, even the return-policy in the Philippines is so flawed and so “discriminating.” YOu can’t just return anything without their scrutiny first. The stores and supermarkets there don’t give you the exact change…so coupons are gonna be a pain in the ass for consumers rather than a benefit.
I don’t think that couponing is seen as a marketing ploy—because I know people who pay $10 for groceries worth $100. I’m a member of Costco and BJ’s and as members we have coupons aside from the advantage of buying discounted items by the bulk. And in the end, I save over 50 % off from the regular price of the item. If you buy more items , I think it would not hurt if you are going to use them anyway , esp. if you have a big family. That is big savings.
And before I buy something, I always check out the regular retail prices first.
Feyma, thanks for sharing this post.
Hi bingkaycoy – Geez, its going to be a nightmare here at the check out counter. As you know even if the clerk lady just munched the wrong key on the register they had to call the supervisor, how much more with the jammed register due to the coupons. Its going to be a pain in the butt.
Hey, saving money on shopping. Good for you. You really are a wise shopper. Keep it up. Who would not want to save money.
Happy to see you here.
Take care!
Not too long ago, one particular Philippines major retailer *twice* (two years apart) repaired a product I had purchased there – YEARS out-of-warranty. Perhaps they got used to seeing me as a regular customer, someone who would talk to them in Tagalog and they would overlook my appearance as a foreigner.
I asked nicely, I was prepared to pay for the repair. I was patient, and when it was back, repaired, it was “libre” when I asked “magkano”, even the last time when they knew I would be moving to a remote province. People are good as much as they can be when they know you’re decent too.
Another comment your posting made me think of ….
I’ve been at my new location now 5 months. The local retailers know me now.
Sometimes I buy diesel fuel or gas. Sometimes, I prepay. Sometimes I leave with a piece of paper saying they owe me 700pesos fuel that I can collect later at my convenience. Sometimes their POS device is down and I sign that I owe them P1k, and I go back and pay for it later when they can accept my payment. Funny but only lately we exchanged landline#s; it’s been decent human trust all along. They’re good for it and I’m good for it and life is good. We all live in Mindanao and we all complain when the power goes out. Again. 🙂
HI Everyone
I am one of those people who also watched the show and was sooo amazed on how did do it, Were from Minnesota and i have tried to use coupon on retail stores and on groceries as well but i only saves a few bucks. After watching the show i have learned a few tricks and turns on how to use the coupons to the extent that i could get the items for FREE. I have started doing it for a month now and may stockpile of colgate, toothbrushes(free) is getting higher and bigger so are may pantene, dove shampoos, make-up, chocolate, cereals, etc etc etc. everything under the sun has coupon. So since may stockpile is getting bigger i started filling may balikbayan box for my family.
But the downside of it is they keep on stocking thing they don’t use like cat food but they don’t have a cat. I dont do that i only buy/get things we need or we might need or may family in the Phils might need. like the Bengay, may dad loves it and it was for free with 2 coupons and i got him 6 of those. anyways just wanted to share it to everyone.
Hi Ms. Feyma,
I just have seen the show last night at a cable program. I was really curious if the couponing system in the States is evident in the Philippines. I only am aware of those discount coupons you can get from magazine/calendars.
Hey Feyma,
I have watched the Extreme Couponing only last night. I’ve heard it before and seen groupons every now and then while doing some stuff for my client but I wasn’t amaze by those discount, not until I’ve seen Extreme Couponing. First thing I did today was I tried to search for coupons! hahaha Unfortunately, I couldn’t see any coupons for grocery items. I found travel discount or expensive gadgets or something. I agree with you it will never ever happen here in the Philippines.
hi!
we watched that too! and it was so amazing that you could able to do that here in the Philippines. Imagine how much saving you can get and be able to sustain the education for your kids. How i wished we could have it here…not just restaurant, hotels and spa coupons but also groceries too!
Hi Feyma,
I love watching Extreme Couponing too..! after I saw the first episode (not sure if it was the first episode), I couldn’t stop thinking about it and so excited to do couponing too…I just thought that it’s really a big help to our family and must be a fun thing to do too…but as the others said, it’s impossible to happen here in the Philippines co’z most of the grocery stores here (or all the grocery stores) can’t even give you the exact change and that’s why every time I go to the grocery stores I bring 5 or 10 cents with me…but of course, hoping that one day they we can have that couponing here too in our beloved country…
Good day guys..!
I used to (within the rules) use coupons most of my decades in Canada between birth and emigrating. Now as an immigrant in the Philippines, it’s virtually impossible to obtain any useable grocery coupons. I just spent a few hours trying online and none such. I managed to locate *one* coupon for a product I can get here, installed the website “printer” and the end result was a piece of paper that I could use at Walmart in the US with rather prohibitive travel cost!
Locally, they’d laugh at me if I tried it. In Canada pounds of coupons used to show up in my postal mailbox and were in all the print media to just easily clip and use. Here, nothing. Best to hope for in the Philippines are in-store promos – buy1-take-1 or maybe a free pack of cotton-buds (I bought all 4 they had). Anyone with better ideas, please post!
What i do not understand is why do you need to have so much, very much more that you and your family can consume.
I want to start this out also..
Good for you Cindy. Good luck & Have fun!
Have a great day!
Hi Feyma, that would be great if extreme couponing will be effective here in the philippines.. there are some coupons available however it will not take effect to a product on sale.. so u cant get free goodies.. lol
you till gonna pay though discounted.. 😛 unlike what you see on the show that supe extreme discount. you have discount on sale product that u get to a point of getting it free. that would be impossible here.. coupons are not valid on discounted items… tsk tsk .. 😛
HOW I WISH COUPONS WILL BE AVAILABLE HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES SOOON.. ALWAYS WATCHING EXTREME COUPONING, AND I ALWAYS GET OVERWHELMED ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THEY CAN SAVE AND GETTING ALMOST ALL THOSE PRODUCTS FOR FREE. IN THIS TIME OF CRISIS WE FILIPINO’S NEED TO COUPON.! IT SHOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE IN SMALL TOWNS SUCH AS HERE IN MINDANAO WHERE I LIVE. PLS SEND ME INFO’S ABOUT COUPONING AND WHERE I CAN GET DEALS FOR FREE..TY!
Hi, I totally agree with you. I also wish we could have such thing here in the Philippines. Nakakainggit ba, buying a lot of stuff with just a small amount of penny with lots of effort and patience. Pero kung magkaron nya’n dito sa Pinas naku sigurado sa dami ng gustong makatipid – papatok yan. ASTIG tlga extreme couponing. Nakakatuwang panoorin, tapos sa dami ng kanilang pinamili (in stock room) mukha na to’ng grocery. If mauso yan dito, i’ll grab the chance to try it.
I have been watching Extreme Couponing in TLC as well! And I was really amazed on how the coupon fanatics do that. The coupons are well arranged. They organized it by clippings and filed it properly for easy access. The wow part here is at the grocery store, you will see their big carts full of goods and items and then when they are at the counter you will see the amount suddenly going down from thousand to 2 digit dollars! That is really Wow! They are hacking the store with their coupons. And if you see their homes they have a room full of grocery items which will supply them for years! And they can even build a supermarket of their own! I don’t think it will happen here in the Philippines, but it will be really great if we have that kind of extreme discounts, the people will go wild! I can’t even imagine it, its like surplus shopping and bargaining. Foreign countries have a systematized process in doing such amazing things. I mean we can also do that, we have Metrodeal and Ensogo if you have heard about them, they gave 50%-90% discount on goods and services as well as trips and getaways. I am actually planning to purchase on these sites because the prices are really low and very affordable. Also, their store clients are well known and branded. Though I have heard some fraud activities from these 2 sites, I’m still hoping that we have those kind of system in our country. It will be a big help for those who are in tight budget and those who like to save a lot.
Hello Feyma,
It was nice reading your post. Like you I also enjoy watching Extreme Couponing and somehow there are companies here that use coupons although not as grand as those in the US. An example is Mercury Drugstore they have coupons attached to their calendar however I think Filipinos are not yet aware of this. Other examples are vouchers given by Jollibee, McDo, Goldilocks, Coffee Bean, Yellow Cab just to name a few. You just have to be updated. Hopefully groceries and other establishments will soon follow. Goodluck to us. :o)
hi feyma.we also have coupons here in the phil. but not like the coupons they using in u.s. they can get stuff for free… bcoz coupon here just 1 coupon-1 item…
Hello Feyma,
I am Juleah Kyla Zardilla. I’m 9 years old. It was fun reading your post. I already watched Extreme couponing and i was amazed to those people in the tv cutting coupons and go to the grosery and getting lots of items or tons of them but when you look at the total amount they have to pay was lesser or more lesser than you thought it would be. After i saw everything,there was something immedietly got into my mind and thought for a while then………………… BOOM! It made me think to search in the com. “how to get coupons in the philippines”.In a young age i was simply saving all my allowance for the future or just incase i like to buy something or whatever. I was smilling in joy that i could get coupons and save even a little money, but after i ask my tita why are’nt we getting coupons to save?. She answered me that there are no coupons in the philippines. I was sad hearing that but after an hour i search in the google and ended up here and i like your post and everything,but my real question here is why there are’nt coupons here and if it does HOW??? :-‘
I also got excited about the show. I also thought if we have this in the Philippines but the stores probably know that with the economy here people are too wise. The only discount coupons I found were obtained via membership from loyalty cards and all these coupons come with a fine print “Not to be used with other offers/promos”… See they’re soooo wise extreme couponing is impossible! hahaha