Last night, TLC aired Extreme Couponing. As we watched, many of us were thinking – what will they do with all of that? Why can’t they help others? While I can’t answer what they did (or did not do) with all of that food, I do have a way you can help others yourself! It is called Couponing for Community.
What is this about? Simply put – it is YOUR chance to pay it forward. So many of us are able to get items for free (or close to it) each week. I know we all see those deals for products we don’t personally use, but they are so good we hate passing them up. Now we can ALL take advantage of those deals and share them with those we don’t even know.
You simply using your sharp couponing and saving skills and donate the items you get for free (or close to it) to your local food pantry or shelter. You could even donate it to a family you know who has fallen upon hard times. It doesn’t matter where your items go – as long as they go to someone who can use them.
This year’s event will launch on May 8th and run through May 14th. The goal is to donate 10,000 items between bloggers and readers. You will be able to share your story on the Community for Community Facebook page. We’ll all be able to see where we are at with a tracker to keep a tally of everyone’s progress.
While this event doesn’t officially kick off for another month, there are some things you can do right now:
- Follow Couponing for Community on Facebook. You can stay up to date with the latest happenings and keep the excitement high as we gear up for the launch.
- Start shopping now! Just because the donations don’t start for another month, you can pick up non-perishables, toiletries and paper goods you find on sale now and just set them aside. Then, come May 8th, you’ll be ready to go!
Remember that you will want to keep track of the number of items you donate – not the value. You’ll be able to add yours to the total tally list — to help us all reach our goal of 10,000 items donated! Let’s all put our extreme couponing skills to work in a way that they are really inteneded – to pay it forward to those who are less fortunate than all of us!
Thanks Cha Ching on a Shoestrai
Tracie is a stay at home mom to three young children; ages 8, 9 and 12. In November 2007, she and her husband decided to eliminate their debt and made many changes in their lifestyle to do just that.
candy says
i am so glad i wasn’t the only one thinking this while watching! Not to mention that clearing out store shelves is driving up demand which in turn, drives up prices for all of us who DO have to pay for things occassionally!
Karen M. says
Yes I was also thinking the same thing while watching this show. I mean who really needs 50 some bottles of Mustard? Come on now!! They are the kind of people that I don’t like. When I go do my shopping there have been many times when the shelves are empty and now I think I know why.
d says
This sounds great! I have been collecting free/cheap goods for donations for several months now. I will be very happy to join this movement!
Jennifer Hillis says
I often give my extras to friends and families I know that are in need. I am appaulled by this show personally for the very reasons listed in the previous comments. I coupon to save my family money and I do stock my shelves…however I DO NOT STOCK PILE MY HOUSE! I love your new idea of paying it forward even morthan I already do. I have often wondered how we coupon savey people could help shelters of all kinds and start up free classes to teach those less fortunate how to make their tight budgets stretch farther……food for thought for sure!
Laura S says
I love this! We have been collecting items to make more Care Kits for Heart to Heart International. We also found out when volunteering at Harvesters, our food bank, that they not only need food items but non food items as well. This is great since I have been able to nail close to free or free dish soap lately!
Amber Wojo says
Also speaking of this giving, I have some expired coupons and I have heard that military families can use them. Where can I send my expired coupons to? If someone else can use them after I can’t I’d love to get them to them 🙂
Also, I like this movement, and would love to be a part of it!!!
Tracie says
Here’s info on the expired coupons: https://www.pennypinchinmom.com/2011/04/first-of-the-month-send-your-expired-coupons-to-us-military-6/
Jennifer says
SOOO excited about this! Thanks for joining and promoting such a great cause!
Hopefully we can bring more attention to THIS type of couponing benefit, and not the HOARDING that Extreme Couponing is showing!
Tina Klein says
I just joined the challenge. Without knowing about this page, I started something similar where are looking for 100 couponers to donate 1,000.00 each..the first one due at the beginning of august, We just post a picture of the donations, retail value, and how much spent if any. We have about 40 Participating in the 100,000 Coupon Challenge..Its Fun..Join Us! http://on.fb.me/ezFJU7
I hope you guys will join this one as well. Together we can show the power of coupons!