I'm a stay-at-home mama with only one vehicle in our family. In addition, I live in a fairly new place and tend to be somewhat of an introvert. Before I began couponing, I used to call up my husband, "Can you pick up this, or that, from the store?" He always would and, given my homebody personality, I didn't mind! It worked out swell. I could stay in my happy, little environment, and my husband could do the errands, last minute though they be.

I Actually Get Out of the House!

However, now that I coupon, I now do much of the shopping. No more last minute grocery calls to my husband, save for the occasional one. Frankly, me getting out of the house is good news. Getting out allows me to become familiar with my community, getting to know the lay of the land. Getting out allows me to talk with store workers. Basically, through my couponing adventures I now get out of my comfort zone, and this is good for me.

I Can Now, More Easily, Recognize a Good Buy at the Store!

Not only do I now greet the town with my presence, but I've become much better at knowing what's a good sale at stores, versus what's not such a good sale. To be sure, I could get even better at this. However, at one time my eyes would glaze over when I looked at the weekly store ads that come in my mailbox. I'd take one look at them and throw them in the recycle bin. It was as though they didn't make sense (the Price Chopper ad, the Hy-Vee ad, and the CVS ad!). Now that I coupon, however, 2 boxes of cereal for $4 (or less) is a good deal! I can recognize it. The weekly store ads no longer look like a foreign language . . .

I've Become Better at Taking Online Surveys!

Furthermore, by couponing I have become better at taking the online surveys that I'm a part of. At one time, not all that long ago, I wasn't particularly suited for answering questions regarding groceries. Now that I've become more familiarized with shopping, however, my survey taking ability has increased, because I'm now familiar with more products.

There you have it, a personal story of some of the benefits to extreme couponing! To be sure, there are other benefits as well, such as the obvious one of saving money with coupons. However, what I mentioned above are just some of the benefits that quickly come to mind . . . for me personally.