Hello. My name is Sarah. I am a habitual coupon user.

"Let's go to this restaurant instead - I have a coupon!"

"I had a half-off certificate to that new place down the street and went for their $5 lunch special - it was great!"

"Have you tried so-and-so? There was a coupon in last week's mail..."

I admit: I use coupons. A lot. I use them online and in stores. I watch the mail, I request them, I scan every insert, I live by my Sunday paper. Coupons are awesome. I get frustrated when I have to pay the sticker price on anything. It's a problem, I know.

And coupons are getting attention! Both good and bad. Have you seen the show TLC's Extreme Couponing (which, I admit, I have not watched)? Have you read any of the news articles online, like this one calling out a woman in Georgia? The "stigma" of coupons is changing. Sites like Groupon, and one of my favorite local NH site Couptopia, allow you to purchase things at deep discounts - no stigma attached! People actually have asked me "where did you get that?" and are shocked when I tell them I just paid 37% of what they paid for the same thing simply because I pre-bought with the coupon!

How much do I save? Well, typically 50% then I combine with other deals to maximize my savings (a 50% off gift certificate, a 20% off coupon, shop the clearance rack, and a BOGO sale...woah...my head just exploded.)

What do I buy? Anything I need, really. Notice I said need. I do not purchase 10 of one item just because I can. It's like my rule for fishing: keep only what you can eat (use). Coupon policies exist for nearly every store. In my opinion, extreme couponers know this, exploit every little loophole, and spend $.08 to end up with 23 boxes of instant rice. This 1) angers the store as it totally messes with inventory, 2) makes the people who shop after you (and NEED the rice) furious at the store (and you, if they see you doing it) because you've completely depleted the supply, and 3) discourages the average couponer because of the unfair "label" attached to couponing.

Groceries have one of the most visible coupons yet I think it's the hardest to use - there are some extreme coupon shoppers out there. I am not one of them. My grocery bills are typically cut by about 25-30% with my coupons.

Grocery coupons can also be dangerous and **gasp** expensive. If you have a coupon for something you would NEVER buy under normal situations, please don't use it. It'll actually increase your grocery bill and you'll end up with a random (often unhealthy!) thing. Save your money.

Having said that, yes, I use coupons, but I am not an extreme couponer. I buy what I need, what I can afford, and what I know we will use. I get excited when I get a good deal. If you are a family of 10 and your annual income is $40,000, then yes, extreme couponing might be for you. Maybe you DO need all the things in that cart, and good for you for spending pennies on the dollar (or even less!) to feed your family! But it takes hours and hours and hours to organize a shopping trip like this. I, for one, am not that organized nor do I have the time to dedicate to this activity. Most people do not.

Therefore, I encourage you to pay attention! There are lots and lots of coupons out there. Ask around: need a haircut? Ask in a forum like this - are there any coupons for local places available right now? You will be surprised at how much you save. My second request: be respectful and responsible. Think about what you are buying and ask if you need it and will you use it within a reasonable time. If the answer is no...walk away.

Now, what you do with that savings...that's another story!

What are you thoughts on coupons? Are they socially accepted now or do you still frown upon people using coupons? Do you work for a store that accepts coupons? If so, what is your experience? Let me know!